Music Trade Review
Issue: 1897 Vol. 25 N. 25 - Page 4
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
. ? i EDWARD LYMAN BILL < < •
Editor and Proprietor
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage). United States
Mexico and Canada, $3.00 per year ; all other countries,
$4.00,
AnVERTISEJT'NTS, $ 2 .oo peT inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite read-
ing matter $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at fie New York Past Office as Second Class Matter.
NBW YORK, DECEMBER 18, 1897.
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745--E1QHTEEINTH STREET
THE KEYNOTE.
The first week of each month, The Review will
contain a supplement embodying the literary
and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
trade paper.
THE TRADE DIRECTORY.
The Trade Directory, which is a feature of
The Review each month, is complete. In it
appear the names and addresses of all firms
engaged in the manufacture of musical in-
struments and the allied trades. The Review
is sent to the United States Consulates through-
out the world, and is on file in the reading
rooms of the principal hotels in America.
PIANO DEVELOPMENT.
T no time since piano manufacturing
assumed rank as an industry has
there been such remarkable progress made
in case and tonal departments as have
been recorded during 1897. The old and
incongruous designs have been discarded,
and in their place have appeared instru-
ments, symmetrical and beautiful in de-
sign.
The tonal development of the piano has
kept in close touch with the architectural
development. Decorative art, too, in
pianos has advanced materially. Between
the craftsman and his material there is an
obvious sympathy which has led to a
higher development as applied to pianos.
As a result of this tendency to cultivate
the art faculty so fully, it is possible that
during the next year or two there will be
radical changes in piano case architecture.
The leading firms to-day are making a
specialty of instruments made to order,
and where years ago this was a rarity, to-
day it is quite a common thing.
It is especially interesting to note that
there has been as strong a desire on the
part of many manufacturers to improve
the tonal qualities of their instruments
as their architectural beauty. This is sig-
nificant.
1897 is a notable year in that the piano
industry as a whole has moved a long
stride forward towards higher develop-
ment in every way. That there should
A
be radical changes in the method of dis-
posing of pianos is admitted by all, and
it is possible that the New Year will
bring about needed changes — changes
quite as remarkable in the selling of mu-
sical instruments as 1897 has been in
their development.
The members of the trade are becom-
ing more intelligently sensitive to the
importance of a revision of trade meth-
ods and it is quite within the range of
possibility that the National Association
of Piano Manufacturers will play an im-
portant part in the year so soon to dawn
upon us.
That there is a strong public senti-
ment in favor of trade reforms is evi-
denced by the formation of manufactu-
rers' associations all over the country in
every line of trade. These commercial
councils add to the effectiveness of mod-
ern business machinery. Through their
agencies new avenues of trade may be
opened up, and the old steadily wid-
ened. The commercial element will un-
doubtedly become more and more influ-
ential in our national development.
Our manufacturing interests now exceed
all others in magnitude and are manifestly
destined to continually expand. We are
scouring the world for new markets, en-
larging our productive capacity, and put-
ting skill, ingenuity and inventive genius
into every possible form of mechanical ap-
pliances to transform raw material into
finished products. We are a thrifty, well
nourished and prosperous people, and this
country does not have to be girdled with
bayonets to keep it intact. Every day fur-
nishes renewed evidences of the growing
preponderance of America in the industrial
and commercial affairs of the universe.
There is no question—there should be
none at least—but that our music trade
markets will continually widen. We under-
stand thoroughly and intelligently the re-
quirements of trade in the different coun-
tries, and with our inventive skill, who
shall say that we will not control the music
trade market of the world?
#
#
NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY BILL.
Rapid progress is being made in the
matter of a national bankruptcy bill. As
reported elsewhere in this paper, a meas-
ure embodying substantially the features
of the Henderson-Culberson Bill, passed
by the House of Representatives last ses-
sion, will be reported to the House before
many days. The judiciary committee have
agreed on the bill, which provides for both
voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy.
The measure is framed to be fair to all
parties concerned, and to make adminis-
tration simple and inexpensive.
While this measure may not be as
acceptable to the business interests as
the Torrey Bill, yet it is a step in
the right direction. The incongruities of
the many different bankruptcy laws in our
States and Territories have, up to date,
been more of a gold mine for lawyers than
a benefit to the mercantile community.
The interests of debtor ^and creditor alike
require uniformity of laws affecting bank-
ruptcy. This alone can be secured by a
national measure.
Of course the ideal law which would do
full justice to the wishes of every creditor
and every debtor under every possible
combination of circumstances is almost an
impossibility, and the business interests of
the country can afford to be satisfied if a
start is made in the right direction. This,
according to the news from Washington,
we are almost assured of now. It has
been a long time coming, but "everything
comes to him who waits."
#
#
It is apparent from the latest figures of
exports and imports of musical instru-
ments which appear in another part of The
Review that the new tariff law is resulting
in a big decrease in imports. For the
month of October alone there has been a
falling off in imports of some $40,103,
while for the ten months the decrease
amounts to over $160,000. On the other
hand, the exports for the ten months show
an increase of some $36,000. Of course
the decrease in imports is not helping to
make the Dingley law successful from a
revenue standpoint, but there can be no
question as to the increased demand for
musical instruments during the past nine
months, and this increased demand, and
the greater portion of the money which
goes to make this increased demand, is
being spent with American manufacturers
instead of being sent abroad.
Failure of Very & Osborne.
[Special to The Review.]
Wellsville, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1897.
Very & Osborne, well-known music
dealers of this place, made an assignment
this afternoon. Particulars are not yet
forthcoming, and no statement of liabili-
ties or assets has been made. The failure
is not considered an important or bad one.
Among the members of the trade in
town during the week were: Mr. Sonnen-
berg, of the Sonnenberg Piano Co., New
Haven, Conn.; Mr. Bates, of the Bates
Piano Co., Worcester, Mass.; Mr. Sanders,
of Sanders & Stayman, Baltimore, and
Washington, D. C.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
. ? i EDWARD LYMAN BILL < < •
Editor and Proprietor
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
3 East 14th St., New York
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage). United States
Mexico and Canada, $3.00 per year ; all other countries,
$4.00,
AnVERTISEJT'NTS, $ 2 .oo peT inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special dis-
count is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite read-
ing matter $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should
be made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
Entered at fie New York Past Office as Second Class Matter.
NBW YORK, DECEMBER 18, 1897.
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745--E1QHTEEINTH STREET
THE KEYNOTE.
The first week of each month, The Review will
contain a supplement embodying the literary
and musical features which have heretofore
appeared in The Keynote. This amalgamation
will be effected without in any way trespassing
on our regular news service. The Review will
continue to remain, as before, essentially a
trade paper.
THE TRADE DIRECTORY.
The Trade Directory, which is a feature of
The Review each month, is complete. In it
appear the names and addresses of all firms
engaged in the manufacture of musical in-
struments and the allied trades. The Review
is sent to the United States Consulates through-
out the world, and is on file in the reading
rooms of the principal hotels in America.
PIANO DEVELOPMENT.
T no time since piano manufacturing
assumed rank as an industry has
there been such remarkable progress made
in case and tonal departments as have
been recorded during 1897. The old and
incongruous designs have been discarded,
and in their place have appeared instru-
ments, symmetrical and beautiful in de-
sign.
The tonal development of the piano has
kept in close touch with the architectural
development. Decorative art, too, in
pianos has advanced materially. Between
the craftsman and his material there is an
obvious sympathy which has led to a
higher development as applied to pianos.
As a result of this tendency to cultivate
the art faculty so fully, it is possible that
during the next year or two there will be
radical changes in piano case architecture.
The leading firms to-day are making a
specialty of instruments made to order,
and where years ago this was a rarity, to-
day it is quite a common thing.
It is especially interesting to note that
there has been as strong a desire on the
part of many manufacturers to improve
the tonal qualities of their instruments
as their architectural beauty. This is sig-
nificant.
1897 is a notable year in that the piano
industry as a whole has moved a long
stride forward towards higher develop-
ment in every way. That there should
A
be radical changes in the method of dis-
posing of pianos is admitted by all, and
it is possible that the New Year will
bring about needed changes — changes
quite as remarkable in the selling of mu-
sical instruments as 1897 has been in
their development.
The members of the trade are becom-
ing more intelligently sensitive to the
importance of a revision of trade meth-
ods and it is quite within the range of
possibility that the National Association
of Piano Manufacturers will play an im-
portant part in the year so soon to dawn
upon us.
That there is a strong public senti-
ment in favor of trade reforms is evi-
denced by the formation of manufactu-
rers' associations all over the country in
every line of trade. These commercial
councils add to the effectiveness of mod-
ern business machinery. Through their
agencies new avenues of trade may be
opened up, and the old steadily wid-
ened. The commercial element will un-
doubtedly become more and more influ-
ential in our national development.
Our manufacturing interests now exceed
all others in magnitude and are manifestly
destined to continually expand. We are
scouring the world for new markets, en-
larging our productive capacity, and put-
ting skill, ingenuity and inventive genius
into every possible form of mechanical ap-
pliances to transform raw material into
finished products. We are a thrifty, well
nourished and prosperous people, and this
country does not have to be girdled with
bayonets to keep it intact. Every day fur-
nishes renewed evidences of the growing
preponderance of America in the industrial
and commercial affairs of the universe.
There is no question—there should be
none at least—but that our music trade
markets will continually widen. We under-
stand thoroughly and intelligently the re-
quirements of trade in the different coun-
tries, and with our inventive skill, who
shall say that we will not control the music
trade market of the world?
#
#
NATIONAL BANKRUPTCY BILL.
Rapid progress is being made in the
matter of a national bankruptcy bill. As
reported elsewhere in this paper, a meas-
ure embodying substantially the features
of the Henderson-Culberson Bill, passed
by the House of Representatives last ses-
sion, will be reported to the House before
many days. The judiciary committee have
agreed on the bill, which provides for both
voluntary and involuntary bankruptcy.
The measure is framed to be fair to all
parties concerned, and to make adminis-
tration simple and inexpensive.
While this measure may not be as
acceptable to the business interests as
the Torrey Bill, yet it is a step in
the right direction. The incongruities of
the many different bankruptcy laws in our
States and Territories have, up to date,
been more of a gold mine for lawyers than
a benefit to the mercantile community.
The interests of debtor ^and creditor alike
require uniformity of laws affecting bank-
ruptcy. This alone can be secured by a
national measure.
Of course the ideal law which would do
full justice to the wishes of every creditor
and every debtor under every possible
combination of circumstances is almost an
impossibility, and the business interests of
the country can afford to be satisfied if a
start is made in the right direction. This,
according to the news from Washington,
we are almost assured of now. It has
been a long time coming, but "everything
comes to him who waits."
#
#
It is apparent from the latest figures of
exports and imports of musical instru-
ments which appear in another part of The
Review that the new tariff law is resulting
in a big decrease in imports. For the
month of October alone there has been a
falling off in imports of some $40,103,
while for the ten months the decrease
amounts to over $160,000. On the other
hand, the exports for the ten months show
an increase of some $36,000. Of course
the decrease in imports is not helping to
make the Dingley law successful from a
revenue standpoint, but there can be no
question as to the increased demand for
musical instruments during the past nine
months, and this increased demand, and
the greater portion of the money which
goes to make this increased demand, is
being spent with American manufacturers
instead of being sent abroad.
Failure of Very & Osborne.
[Special to The Review.]
Wellsville, N. Y., Dec. 16, 1897.
Very & Osborne, well-known music
dealers of this place, made an assignment
this afternoon. Particulars are not yet
forthcoming, and no statement of liabili-
ties or assets has been made. The failure
is not considered an important or bad one.
Among the members of the trade in
town during the week were: Mr. Sonnen-
berg, of the Sonnenberg Piano Co., New
Haven, Conn.; Mr. Bates, of the Bates
Piano Co., Worcester, Mass.; Mr. Sanders,
of Sanders & Stayman, Baltimore, and
Washington, D. C.
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