Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
other individual might take upon himself
at any time to do. It is ridiculous for one
moment to suppose that the men who are
interested in organizing this syndicate
would secure such a man as Mr. Blumen-
berg to promote their scheme. How could
greater injury be done to the formation of
the trust than to educate the piano trade
that Mr. Blumenberg was connected with
it ?
That vain-glorious, boastful man, court-
ing notoriety, has evidently given out the
impression that he was one of the confiden-
tial advisers of the men behind it, and that
his paper was to be the official organ of
this syndicate.
All this is the tommiest kind of tommy-
rot.
It may be that Mr. Blumenberg is inter-
esting manufacturers in the idea with the
hope of obtaining from them a commission
on the sale of plants to the trust.
If that is the case then he should be
shown up in his true light—that of purely
a shallow broker, and with no official au-
thority of any nature whatsoever behind
him in the piano trust idea.
If a trust is a benefit to the piano trade,
then his very attitude seems to us to be an
injury to the fostering of the scheme in
the minds of some of the most influential
men who compose the piano industry.
For some time The Review has been
aware of these movements, and it should
be understood that a paper of this kind and
standing has at all times the confidence of
men who are interested in our musico-in-
dustrial affairs. Not only do we obtain
confidential reports, but we are often re-
ferred to in the matter of advices concern-
ing great and important matters.
The editor of the Courier has always
been a capital worker on a percentage
idea. He is an authority, eminently so, on
the subject of trade percentages on sales-
men's salaries, but the question whether he
can ever rise to any greater prominence
than assuming to wear a garment which is
much too large for his calibre remains to be
demonstrated. The lion's skin does not
become him ; it is not moulded to his form,
and that blatant bray betrays the animal.
It is pleasing to a man of his inordinate
Vanity to masquerade in an official garb of
importance but his attitude in regard to
this important matter draws forth this ex-
pose. Mr, Blumenberg has a well defined
love for a dominating position but somehow
he did not succeed at Manhattan Beach
and his self assumed position on the syndi-
cate proposition shows the shallowest and
still most impudent cheap broker idea.
His soft and sinuous whispers anent his in-
side information and his semi-official posi-
tion: Fudge! Blumenberg as confidential
adviser and agent for great financiers!
Nazereth, Jordan and Mount Tabor, what
spots for battlefields!
#
#
CHEERING STATISTICS.
The figures which appear elsewhere in
The Review bearing on the exports and
imports of musical instruments disprove
unequivocally the claims made by anti-pro-
tectionists previous to the passage of the
tariff law that a decrease in imports would
necessarily be accompanied by a decrease
in exports.
What do we find to-day in the music
trade? During September, the last month
for which we have statistics, the imports
of musical instruments, as compared with
the same month last year, show a falling
off to the extent of $39,192; for the nine
months the decrease was $126,980. This
is a tremendous difference not only for the
nine months period but the amount for the
month indicates that before the year closes
some records will be broken.
In the matter of exports September has
been a phenomenal month—$33,543 of an
increase over the same period last year!
The importance of these figures can best be
estimated by the fact that the total increase
in exports for the nine months period was
$40,664.
If we make a brief analysis of the
month's shipments we find that the greater
portion of the increase can be credited to
organs—1,193, valued at $71,179, being
shipped as compared with 981 valued at
$50,242 exported during September, 1896.
Pianos also helped to augment the figures,
94 valued at $25,679 being sent abroad
during September as compared with 77
pianos in the same month a year ago.
The "other districts to hear from" swell
the foregoing figures by $4,786, giving the
total of $33,543-
View them from whatever point you will
the figures are encouraging and cheering
to American manufacturers. They mean
a bigger control of the home market and
what is better still furnish the best pos-
sible proof of the esteem in which Ameri-
can products are held abroad.
This gratifying growth in our foreign
trade will be accelerated, no doubt, by the
reciprocity treaties which will eventually
be consummated with the Southern Re-
publics, but more especially by increased
activity on the part of manufacturers and a
more thorough comprehension of the proper
methods of developing trade with these
countries. American manufacturers should
not be content merely with our great home
market, although comparatively under-de-
veloped, but should push on for other lands
to conquer. The genius of our workers—
and of course we mean all who labor with
head or hand—has never yet been found
wanting to enable manufacturers, no matter
in what line, to hold their own in the
competitive field.
#
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Jt is with extreme regret that we record
the death of young Guy Carpenter Estey,
which sad event occurred at his home in
Brattleboro, Vt., on November 18th. The
immediate cause of his death was menin-
gitis.
Guy Carpenter Estey was the
youngest son of Gen. Julius J. Estey, and
at the time of his death was only sixteen
years of age. The funeral will occur at
the Estey residence to-day at 2.30.
To the Czar of Russia.
STEINWAY & SONS APPOINTED MAKERS TO HIS
IMPERIAL MAJESTY.
Steinway & Sons received notification
by cable yesterday that they had been ap-
pointed piano manufacturers to his Im-
perial Majesty, the Czar of Russia. This
distinguished honor places them in the
extraordinary position of being able to
claim the patronage of almost every
crowned head in Europe.
In extending this compliment to Stein-
way & Sons the Czar of Russia honors
not only the recipients, but the great art
industry of which they are such prominent
representatives.
Henry Steinert Assigns.
Henry L. Steinert, trading under the
name of Wm. D. Dutton & Co., with head-
quarters at 1115 Chestnut street, Philadel-
phia, Pa., assigned last Friday, November
12th, at twelve o'clock to Mr. Talheimer,
one of a firm of lawyers in that city. In
his assignment Mr. Steinert makes pre-
ferences in the firms of Chickering &
Sons, J. & C. Fischer and Weser Bros.
Henry L. Steinert some few years ago
purchased on the installment plan the good
will and business of W. D. Dutton & Co.
As we understand the terms of sale were
$17,500 total for the name and good will.
The payments were to run for a period of
ten years.
Mr. Steinert, it is said, has become con-
vinced that he did not secure a bargain
when he made the deal, and this has had
something to do with his present financial
difficulty.
It is stated that there will be but little
loss to the firms involved, and that they
hold fair collateral for the stock advanced.
Henry L. Steinert is the oldest son of
Morris Steinert, the veteran dealer of New
Haven, Conn. Owing to family difficul-
ties which occurred some years ago his
business connections with the Steinert Co.
were concluded.