Music Trade Review
Issue: 1899 Vol. 28 N. 25 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MUSIC TfcADE REVIEW
PASSING REMARKS.
1VJO plainer exhibit of editorial unfitness
could be made than in the statement
that an industrial publication should al-
ways follow manufacturers, waiting for
suggestions from them, rather than to ex-
hibit originality in making recommenda-
tions for trade betterments.
It is easy to understand why such a
publication has never advanced beyond
purely a local influence. The suggestions
made by industrial publications may not
always be correct, or prove by application
the advantage which their originators pre-
dicted, yet at the same time it is only by
the agitation and discussion of trade bet-
terments that the entire matter is kept
boiling, so to speak, and as a direct result
much of the dross of business life is sepa-
rated from the pure metal.
We recollect in 1895 when The Review
for the first time visited Mexico many
spoke slightingly of the project. Yet The
Review toured those countries which lie
south of us and as a direct result of the
original tour, published an edition in Span-
ish which was circulated in all parts of
Latin America. A thorough analysis of
the trade conditions was intelligently pre-
sented to our readers, manufacturers be-
came interested, and as a finale, to-day
scores of them are doing a very profitable
business in those Spanish-American coun-
tries.
Others may have followed where The
Review led, but the fact remains that The
Review was the first to interest manufac-
turers in the southern trade.
Another illustration: More than eleven
years ago, after months of continued advo-
cacy in which we were antagonized by
practically the entire music trade press,
we succeeded in bringing the manufactur-
ers together at Clarendon Hall, at which
time a National Piano Manufacturers' Asso-
ciation was formed.
This was the inceptive move, the parent,
as it were, of all the associations which
have come to life in all parts of the coun-
try. The association move had its origin
in The Review.
^
The Review later advocated an advance
of duty on pianos and organs, and we may
say here that it was The Review that gained
the signatures of nearly all the piano
manufacturers in this country in favor of
an increase in duties. These original
signatures we still have in our possession,
and it was the editor of The Review who
visited Washington upon business directly
connected with the advance upon musical
instruments. So we go on almost ad
infinitum, showing illustrations where an
independent industrial publication has
never waited to be shoved ahead, but has
endeavored to lead in the advocacy of
those principles which lead to trade ad-
vance.
We only refer to these matters inci-
dentally because the plaintive wail is made
that trade papers should say nothing, just
simply acquiesce and be pulseless ejacu-
latorsof glittering generalities and honeyed
phrases as applied to advertisers.
mer there has not been that dropping off
in trade that we usually anticipate at this
season. Extra exertion must be made if a
stock is accumulated in readiness for the
increased demand for instruments which
surely will come with the early fall.
JUNIOR "EDS."
TTHE personal organ idea as applied to the
music trade journals appears to be
fatal and the surprising part is that there
are those in the industry who will at this
late day persist in following the path which
has proven so destructive in the past.
SHORTER HOURS.
'"THE tendency towards shorter hours in
business is apparent in every industry.
It was only a few years ago when all of the
CNGAGED in the business of selling
piano warerooms in our city were kept
pianos is a Hobson in Colorado and a
open all day Saturday, and as for five
Dewey in New York, thus the historic
o'clock daily closing, that was unheard of.
names are perpetuated along industrial
Now, practically without exception, the
lines.
curtains of the warerooms are all drawn
Dewey & Co., by the way, have quarters
promptly at twelve on Saturday and at five
next door to the offices of The Review, and
o'clock week days.
on pleasant days they usually have a band
One well-known Fifth Avenue salesman
in attendance which at times disconcerts
told us that last year he kept a complete
the staff of The Review to such an extent
record of all sales made after five o'clock
that it is an ordinary event to see the
during the months of June, July and August
members doing rag-time on The Review
of 1898. In all that time there were only
floors.
two calls made in the warerooms, one from
a renting customer, and the other from a QUMMER is here, a fairly active one,
man who desired a repair job, surely not
too, and manufacturers will do well
much of a business loss.
to accumulate stock for the early fall trade,
New York during the summer time is for, mind you, that trade will come early,
practically dead Saturday afternoon, and come in great big solid chunks, too. It
there is a strong sentiment growing to- will be the wise piano virgins who have
wards greater relaxation from business.
their lamps well filled. There will be
This is as it should be. Modern ma- a large and important demand for that
chinery, and modern methods of conduct- light in the near future.
ing industrial enterprises have made it un-
necessary to devote such long hours to the YX /HAT'S that, another cyclone and we
furtherance of business enterprises. It is
have scanned the reports closely
even said that the proprietors have no hol- and thus far have not encountered a single
idays ; that they are always in the grind, so Kimball piano in the head line! Well,
to speak—one of the reasons why they fill well!
premature graves. They must take more
relaxation from business cares or pay the C I G H T I N G FRED of the Philippines.
There is a catchy title for some
penalty.
embryo musical genius who desires eternal
glory as author of a spirited Philippine
TRADE CONDITIONS.
A RUN through New England this week March, dedicated to General Funston, of
demonstrates that, notwithstanding "bleeding" Kansas.
the extreme drought is widespread, there
is a very optimistic feeling existing among /~\NE well-known piano salesman who is
an enthusiast upon the subject of
manufacturers and dealers. A call at the
various factories in Boston reveals a state automatic piano players remarked to The
of affairs most encouraging to the general Review recently that he expected within
trade. The manufacturers of our sister five years to offer attachments with pianos
city are making magnificent weekly ship- in almost the same way as stools and scarfs
ments, and in no factory did we note a are included to-day.
We are inclined to think there will be
condition of affairs which showed an accu-
mulation of stock. The instruments are radical changes in the prices of piano
shipped as rapidly as built, and from the players as there will also be radical im-
present outlook it would seem as if June provements, but we think the statement of
would far surpass May in point of piano the salesman will never be realized, at
activity. While we are well in the sum- least not in our day.
MUSIC TfcADE REVIEW
PASSING REMARKS.
1VJO plainer exhibit of editorial unfitness
could be made than in the statement
that an industrial publication should al-
ways follow manufacturers, waiting for
suggestions from them, rather than to ex-
hibit originality in making recommenda-
tions for trade betterments.
It is easy to understand why such a
publication has never advanced beyond
purely a local influence. The suggestions
made by industrial publications may not
always be correct, or prove by application
the advantage which their originators pre-
dicted, yet at the same time it is only by
the agitation and discussion of trade bet-
terments that the entire matter is kept
boiling, so to speak, and as a direct result
much of the dross of business life is sepa-
rated from the pure metal.
We recollect in 1895 when The Review
for the first time visited Mexico many
spoke slightingly of the project. Yet The
Review toured those countries which lie
south of us and as a direct result of the
original tour, published an edition in Span-
ish which was circulated in all parts of
Latin America. A thorough analysis of
the trade conditions was intelligently pre-
sented to our readers, manufacturers be-
came interested, and as a finale, to-day
scores of them are doing a very profitable
business in those Spanish-American coun-
tries.
Others may have followed where The
Review led, but the fact remains that The
Review was the first to interest manufac-
turers in the southern trade.
Another illustration: More than eleven
years ago, after months of continued advo-
cacy in which we were antagonized by
practically the entire music trade press,
we succeeded in bringing the manufactur-
ers together at Clarendon Hall, at which
time a National Piano Manufacturers' Asso-
ciation was formed.
This was the inceptive move, the parent,
as it were, of all the associations which
have come to life in all parts of the coun-
try. The association move had its origin
in The Review.
^
The Review later advocated an advance
of duty on pianos and organs, and we may
say here that it was The Review that gained
the signatures of nearly all the piano
manufacturers in this country in favor of
an increase in duties. These original
signatures we still have in our possession,
and it was the editor of The Review who
visited Washington upon business directly
connected with the advance upon musical
instruments. So we go on almost ad
infinitum, showing illustrations where an
independent industrial publication has
never waited to be shoved ahead, but has
endeavored to lead in the advocacy of
those principles which lead to trade ad-
vance.
We only refer to these matters inci-
dentally because the plaintive wail is made
that trade papers should say nothing, just
simply acquiesce and be pulseless ejacu-
latorsof glittering generalities and honeyed
phrases as applied to advertisers.
mer there has not been that dropping off
in trade that we usually anticipate at this
season. Extra exertion must be made if a
stock is accumulated in readiness for the
increased demand for instruments which
surely will come with the early fall.
JUNIOR "EDS."
TTHE personal organ idea as applied to the
music trade journals appears to be
fatal and the surprising part is that there
are those in the industry who will at this
late day persist in following the path which
has proven so destructive in the past.
SHORTER HOURS.
'"THE tendency towards shorter hours in
business is apparent in every industry.
It was only a few years ago when all of the
CNGAGED in the business of selling
piano warerooms in our city were kept
pianos is a Hobson in Colorado and a
open all day Saturday, and as for five
Dewey in New York, thus the historic
o'clock daily closing, that was unheard of.
names are perpetuated along industrial
Now, practically without exception, the
lines.
curtains of the warerooms are all drawn
Dewey & Co., by the way, have quarters
promptly at twelve on Saturday and at five
next door to the offices of The Review, and
o'clock week days.
on pleasant days they usually have a band
One well-known Fifth Avenue salesman
in attendance which at times disconcerts
told us that last year he kept a complete
the staff of The Review to such an extent
record of all sales made after five o'clock
that it is an ordinary event to see the
during the months of June, July and August
members doing rag-time on The Review
of 1898. In all that time there were only
floors.
two calls made in the warerooms, one from
a renting customer, and the other from a QUMMER is here, a fairly active one,
man who desired a repair job, surely not
too, and manufacturers will do well
much of a business loss.
to accumulate stock for the early fall trade,
New York during the summer time is for, mind you, that trade will come early,
practically dead Saturday afternoon, and come in great big solid chunks, too. It
there is a strong sentiment growing to- will be the wise piano virgins who have
wards greater relaxation from business.
their lamps well filled. There will be
This is as it should be. Modern ma- a large and important demand for that
chinery, and modern methods of conduct- light in the near future.
ing industrial enterprises have made it un-
necessary to devote such long hours to the YX /HAT'S that, another cyclone and we
furtherance of business enterprises. It is
have scanned the reports closely
even said that the proprietors have no hol- and thus far have not encountered a single
idays ; that they are always in the grind, so Kimball piano in the head line! Well,
to speak—one of the reasons why they fill well!
premature graves. They must take more
relaxation from business cares or pay the C I G H T I N G FRED of the Philippines.
There is a catchy title for some
penalty.
embryo musical genius who desires eternal
glory as author of a spirited Philippine
TRADE CONDITIONS.
A RUN through New England this week March, dedicated to General Funston, of
demonstrates that, notwithstanding "bleeding" Kansas.
the extreme drought is widespread, there
is a very optimistic feeling existing among /~\NE well-known piano salesman who is
an enthusiast upon the subject of
manufacturers and dealers. A call at the
various factories in Boston reveals a state automatic piano players remarked to The
of affairs most encouraging to the general Review recently that he expected within
trade. The manufacturers of our sister five years to offer attachments with pianos
city are making magnificent weekly ship- in almost the same way as stools and scarfs
ments, and in no factory did we note a are included to-day.
We are inclined to think there will be
condition of affairs which showed an accu-
mulation of stock. The instruments are radical changes in the prices of piano
shipped as rapidly as built, and from the players as there will also be radical im-
present outlook it would seem as if June provements, but we think the statement of
would far surpass May in point of piano the salesman will never be realized, at
activity. While we are well in the sum- least not in our day.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).