Music Trade Review
Issue: 1897 Vol. 25 N. 11 - Page 7
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
From the Editor's Nate Book.
EVIDENCES OF BUSINESS RECRUDESCENCE—BETTER QUALITY OF MANUFACTURES DEMANDED
TRADE IN NEW ENGLAND—JOURNALISTIC METHODS—BOSTON NEWS BUDGET.
HERE are unmistakable evi-
dences of the recrudescence
of business prosperity seen
on every hand. The agricul-
turist will spend his winter
evenings clipping coupons,
and the rest of mankind will applaud. The
boom has struck many trades with a good
solid thud, and the reverberations are heard
all along the line where there have been for
years anxious listeners.
Talking the other day with one of the
oldest clothing manufacturers in New York,
he said: "Our business has far exceeded
our expectations. We have had a more
satisfactory demand for clothing than dur-
ing any fall for the past five years. It
seems like old times, and I am confident
that we will have good times for a period
of years."
"And," I asked, "how does the trade
demand run this year, is there the call for
the large proportion of cheap suitings that
has existed for the past few years or do you
find an increased demand for the higher
priced stock? "
" We find that the orders invariably call
fora greater proportion of the better grades
and that in itself I consider a strong in-
dication of the bettered conditions of the
country. My experience, which covers a
long period of years, is to the effect that
there is no surer or more positive proof of
the rising tide of business prosperity after
a period of prostration than is evidenced in
the wholesale demand for better quality of
manufactures. When the American people
have the money they want a good article.
They are not in any sense a cheap people."
The same economic law applies to the
piano trade and the very cheap piano must
soon become obsolete. After all it was
only an emergency piano.
With the increased cost of manufacture
prices must advance. One by one the dif-
ferent manufacturers who have cheapened
their product will advance their prices. It
must be so.
*
*
*
*
The bank clearings of the country last
week amounted to the enormous sum of
$1,130,000,000, which by the way is 37 per
cent, above last year's in the same week,
and only 20 per cent, smaller than in any
preceding month. That looks as if McKin-
ley wasn't such a powerful distance ahead
of his show after all—does it not?
*
*
*
*
I am now fairly started on a jaunt
through New England and before my re-
turn to New York shall cover the most im-
portant points of our country known in the
vernacular as " Down East."
Thus far I have witnessed demonstrations
on every hand which show clearly to my
mind that the day of the calamity howler
is now history—that our people will turn
a deaf ear to all of the teachings of those
"isms" which are offered as a panacea when
the fever hour of business prostration
strikes us. In the music trade there can
be no surer barometer than that part of
the industry designated as the "supply
trade."
If there is activity there it is always ac-
centuated in a reflex way in the manufac-
ture of the entire instrument.
When I paid a visit to the great plant of
Comstock, Cheney & Co.at Ivoryton, Conn.,
who by the way take front rank as pro-
ducers of actions, keys and hammers, I
found that the last haze of depression had
been wafted away by the early fall breeze
of business activity. There is business
there—lots of it, and that big factory gong
which echoes up and down the valley sum-
mons daily an army of workmen to their
respective posts.
SjC
Jp
5(5
SjC
The retail trade in New Haven, New
London and Providence is better. The
midsummer flatulency is past, and the
dealers upon whom I have called have ex-
pressed themselves as being well satisfied
with the present and believe the future to
be radiant with promise.
*
*
*
*
As I wrote you last week, there are
changes going on in music trade journal-
ism. Go out in the broad field of the trade
and find out from the men who sell the
goods what papers they rely upon. Find
out too where manufacturers are placing
their patronage. The day of the black-
mailer is past, and in the new order of
things the journalist who relies upon his
profession and the exercise of its legitimate
functions to win him position is fast ad-
vancing to a front seat while the play goes
on.
There may be the enactment of a stern
drama, but there will be less and less men
who will settle according to the Kimball
code.
The fountain of the Little Pinklet's in-
spiration is fast drying, and the play draws
nearer to its close.
There are no opportunities lacking to
encourage the maintenance of consistent
journalism as applied to the music trade
industry. I wonder if some men who sit
calmly by and chuckle while their neigh-
bors are the objects of abusive attacks
realize that in the course of human events
their names may be next on the list. What
power does their armor possess that will
render them invulnerable? Kimball suc-
cumbed, and for a while he parried the
thrust.
Strong, too, was he not?
Is it surrender or is it fight?
How shall we play the little game of
destiny?
These are paramount questions and they
will not, down.
Throwing aside the individual, you must
look beyond for the motive.
Under which flag, messieurs?
I can only speak in the warmest terms
of the policy of the Music Trades in
this particular. A paper of acknowledged
influence, ably conducted, it is operated
upon those lines which should win a gener-
ous support from all interested in the eleva-
tion of journalistic principles.
*
*
*
*
Boston—Boston with the subway and all
the frills thereunto appertaining. I can
only give a glimpse of the trade here, but
in my next week's letter will devote more
space to it in review.
The members of the Boston trade are
returning from vacation brimful of energy
for the fall campaign.
P. H. Powers,
bronzed and hearty after a three weeks
sojourn in the maritime provinces,returned
Tuesday. Mr. Powers, who by the way is
an enthusiastic devotee at the Waltonian
shrine, made some excellent catches while
up in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and
Maine. E. N. Kimball, Jr., came into town
Monday also, and is enthusiastic over Hal-
let & Davis prospects for the fall. With the
new H. & D. styles, together with the spick
and span baby grand, the conquest is easy.
S. A. Gould, the dual Estey manager,
fairly effervescing with good nature and
replete with sea bronze, is in from his
Maine cottage.
C. A. Hyde has just closed a deal with
Alex. Steinert whereby that celebrated
house will control the exclusive sale of
the Norris & Hyde pianos for all of New
England. Alex. Steinert enjoys, shall I say,
the reputation of being a shrewd buyer and
his securing the sole agency for the New
England district, for the Norris & Hyde
piano, is a compliment to the merits of
the " N. & H." The transposing key
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
From the Editor's Nate Book.
EVIDENCES OF BUSINESS RECRUDESCENCE—BETTER QUALITY OF MANUFACTURES DEMANDED
TRADE IN NEW ENGLAND—JOURNALISTIC METHODS—BOSTON NEWS BUDGET.
HERE are unmistakable evi-
dences of the recrudescence
of business prosperity seen
on every hand. The agricul-
turist will spend his winter
evenings clipping coupons,
and the rest of mankind will applaud. The
boom has struck many trades with a good
solid thud, and the reverberations are heard
all along the line where there have been for
years anxious listeners.
Talking the other day with one of the
oldest clothing manufacturers in New York,
he said: "Our business has far exceeded
our expectations. We have had a more
satisfactory demand for clothing than dur-
ing any fall for the past five years. It
seems like old times, and I am confident
that we will have good times for a period
of years."
"And," I asked, "how does the trade
demand run this year, is there the call for
the large proportion of cheap suitings that
has existed for the past few years or do you
find an increased demand for the higher
priced stock? "
" We find that the orders invariably call
fora greater proportion of the better grades
and that in itself I consider a strong in-
dication of the bettered conditions of the
country. My experience, which covers a
long period of years, is to the effect that
there is no surer or more positive proof of
the rising tide of business prosperity after
a period of prostration than is evidenced in
the wholesale demand for better quality of
manufactures. When the American people
have the money they want a good article.
They are not in any sense a cheap people."
The same economic law applies to the
piano trade and the very cheap piano must
soon become obsolete. After all it was
only an emergency piano.
With the increased cost of manufacture
prices must advance. One by one the dif-
ferent manufacturers who have cheapened
their product will advance their prices. It
must be so.
*
*
*
*
The bank clearings of the country last
week amounted to the enormous sum of
$1,130,000,000, which by the way is 37 per
cent, above last year's in the same week,
and only 20 per cent, smaller than in any
preceding month. That looks as if McKin-
ley wasn't such a powerful distance ahead
of his show after all—does it not?
*
*
*
*
I am now fairly started on a jaunt
through New England and before my re-
turn to New York shall cover the most im-
portant points of our country known in the
vernacular as " Down East."
Thus far I have witnessed demonstrations
on every hand which show clearly to my
mind that the day of the calamity howler
is now history—that our people will turn
a deaf ear to all of the teachings of those
"isms" which are offered as a panacea when
the fever hour of business prostration
strikes us. In the music trade there can
be no surer barometer than that part of
the industry designated as the "supply
trade."
If there is activity there it is always ac-
centuated in a reflex way in the manufac-
ture of the entire instrument.
When I paid a visit to the great plant of
Comstock, Cheney & Co.at Ivoryton, Conn.,
who by the way take front rank as pro-
ducers of actions, keys and hammers, I
found that the last haze of depression had
been wafted away by the early fall breeze
of business activity. There is business
there—lots of it, and that big factory gong
which echoes up and down the valley sum-
mons daily an army of workmen to their
respective posts.
SjC
Jp
5(5
SjC
The retail trade in New Haven, New
London and Providence is better. The
midsummer flatulency is past, and the
dealers upon whom I have called have ex-
pressed themselves as being well satisfied
with the present and believe the future to
be radiant with promise.
*
*
*
*
As I wrote you last week, there are
changes going on in music trade journal-
ism. Go out in the broad field of the trade
and find out from the men who sell the
goods what papers they rely upon. Find
out too where manufacturers are placing
their patronage. The day of the black-
mailer is past, and in the new order of
things the journalist who relies upon his
profession and the exercise of its legitimate
functions to win him position is fast ad-
vancing to a front seat while the play goes
on.
There may be the enactment of a stern
drama, but there will be less and less men
who will settle according to the Kimball
code.
The fountain of the Little Pinklet's in-
spiration is fast drying, and the play draws
nearer to its close.
There are no opportunities lacking to
encourage the maintenance of consistent
journalism as applied to the music trade
industry. I wonder if some men who sit
calmly by and chuckle while their neigh-
bors are the objects of abusive attacks
realize that in the course of human events
their names may be next on the list. What
power does their armor possess that will
render them invulnerable? Kimball suc-
cumbed, and for a while he parried the
thrust.
Strong, too, was he not?
Is it surrender or is it fight?
How shall we play the little game of
destiny?
These are paramount questions and they
will not, down.
Throwing aside the individual, you must
look beyond for the motive.
Under which flag, messieurs?
I can only speak in the warmest terms
of the policy of the Music Trades in
this particular. A paper of acknowledged
influence, ably conducted, it is operated
upon those lines which should win a gener-
ous support from all interested in the eleva-
tion of journalistic principles.
*
*
*
*
Boston—Boston with the subway and all
the frills thereunto appertaining. I can
only give a glimpse of the trade here, but
in my next week's letter will devote more
space to it in review.
The members of the Boston trade are
returning from vacation brimful of energy
for the fall campaign.
P. H. Powers,
bronzed and hearty after a three weeks
sojourn in the maritime provinces,returned
Tuesday. Mr. Powers, who by the way is
an enthusiastic devotee at the Waltonian
shrine, made some excellent catches while
up in Nova Scotia, Newfoundland and
Maine. E. N. Kimball, Jr., came into town
Monday also, and is enthusiastic over Hal-
let & Davis prospects for the fall. With the
new H. & D. styles, together with the spick
and span baby grand, the conquest is easy.
S. A. Gould, the dual Estey manager,
fairly effervescing with good nature and
replete with sea bronze, is in from his
Maine cottage.
C. A. Hyde has just closed a deal with
Alex. Steinert whereby that celebrated
house will control the exclusive sale of
the Norris & Hyde pianos for all of New
England. Alex. Steinert enjoys, shall I say,
the reputation of being a shrewd buyer and
his securing the sole agency for the New
England district, for the Norris & Hyde
piano, is a compliment to the merits of
the " N. & H." The transposing key
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