Music Trade Review
Issue: 1899 Vol. 29 N. 12 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
which are being put into practice by his
live competitors.
Even the town or village store, when
conducted on right lines, is unable to get
along without the trade journal, because
the day of the catalogues has arrived, and
the local merchant is forced to face com-
petition in his own town from big city
stores hundreds of miles away. To meet
this successfully he wants to know the
newest things, and the cheapest and quick-
est way is to read a trade paper.
CONCERNING PRICES.
C O M E piano manufacturers have been
following the lead of Checkering &
Sons in the advance of their prices, and
the sentiment is steadily growing that only
a short time will have elapsed before the
advance will have become almost universal.
Piano dealers know full well that manu-
facturers cannot continue to supply the
finished product at the same old schedule
of prices, and really when one thinks of it
it is a little singular that the manufacturers
have not advanced prices sooner.
If we look to the iron and steel trade we
find that manufacturers there are seriously
wondering whether a mistake has not been
made in advancing prices slowly. It has
taken a long time to reach the present level
of values since the turn was made toward
better times. Regardless of the opinions
of buyers, it is a fact susceptible of proof
that manufacturers themselves did almost
everything possible to prevent prices from
rising any further after the first slight re-
action from the profitless prices ruling
during the worst of the depression. As
soon as they saw a reasonable margin of
profit, as if concerted action had been
agreed upon, they continued to accept
business in steadily increasing quantities
without advancing prices, and persisted in
maintaining that policy until the world
wondered at their forbearance.
It is pointed out by close students of the
situation that perhaps the interests of all
concerned would have been promoted if
concerted action had been taken months
ago.
Then if we turn to the lumber world, many
other materials which enter into the man-
ufacture of the piano have scored a notable
advance in price since the beginning of the
recent improvement in industry and trade
in this country, coincident with a greater
degree of activity throughout the world.
The high prices in lumber have come to
stay, for it is plain that the most extensive
forests must have become exhausted in
time if cut constantly, while no provision
has been made for replacing the felled
trees.
The situation to-day is that the most ac-
cessible forests have become exhausted in
some important varieties of woods and
further demand can be supplied only on a
higher level of prices.
By that we do not mean that a lumber
famine is imminent, but the exhaustion of
the accessible forests is near enough to sug-
gest its possibility and the wisdom in try-
ing to avert it.
In our opinion the prices for lumber will
remain high, and piano manufacturers will
have to figure on increased rather than de-
creased lumber bills from now on.
When we consider all these important
points, the wonder is how the manufac-
turers can delay marking up their prices
a good bit higher.
A large piano manufacturing concern in
the West, carrying an enormous stock of
lumber, was recently offered by local
dealers an advance of from ten to thirty
per cent, for their lumber over the price
paid for it. Now, if the manufacturer is
fortunate enough to have on hand a goodly
stock of materials, then we say unquali-
fiedly that he should profit by it. A manu-
factured article is worth what it costs to
produce it to-day, and it is like giving
away money for a manufacturer in any line
to follow any different policy.
We know that one noted firm of piano
plate makers could have made a clean
$18,000 on their stock alone if disposed of
at the present ruling price of iron.
Did they do this ?
No, they are still sharing the profit
which they could have made and which
rightfully belonged to them, with the
manufacturers. The whole thing is wrong,
the reasoning is false. They might just
as well pro rata $18,000 among their custo-
mers in cold cash. It amounts to that.
PIANOS ABROAD.
""TEN years ago American competition
was not regarded seriously by English
hardware merchants. They knew only in
a vague sort of way that there Were few
hardware factories in the New England
states. But never did the British manu-
facturer Imagine that he was about to face
a competition so keen and skillful as to
dwarf the significance of the German trade
expansion which was then taking place.
In ten years, however, a wonderful
change has been wrought, and the preva-
lence of American metal throughout Eng-
land and her colonies is now a matter for
serious consideration.
Why is it not possible for such a meta-
morphosis to be wrought in the piano in-
dustry?
The English and continental piano man-
ufacturer knows in that same vague way,
that pianos are being manufactured in
large quantities in this country, but he
does not know what that competition will
be when he meets it.
And he will meet it, and meet it in a
way that he little dreams of to-day, for
soon the American piano manufacturer will
branch out for world-wide conquests.
He will not carry on a campaign which
means a scattering of a few pianos here
and there, but it will be a well organized
campaign for the trade of the world.
Depend upon it, European piano manu-
facturers will have to learn a serious lesson
from the competition of American piano
manufacturers.
EXTENDS A HEARTY WELCOME.
T F we may be permitted to judge from
the reports which have reached us,
there will be a large influx of dealers to
New York during the Dewey celebration.
Many faraway residents propose to take
advantage of the reduced railroad rates to
visit New York to join in the hearty wel-
come to be accorded to the great Admiral.
They will also find time incidentally to
leave a few orders for pianos and other
musical accessories. The boys will all be
on hand to entertain them, and see that
they are comfortably housed and taken
care of.
The Review extends to the visiting trade
a hearty welcome. We shall be glad to
see you. Come on and make the welkin
ring with shouts of welcome for Dewey
and his heroes. The Review will be glad
to greet you. There is always plenty of
room at the offices for writing, telegraph-
ing, and telephoning. The prayer rug,
also, may be used if desired.
T H E vacation season is fast drawing to a
close. Manufacturers, dealers and
salesmen are getting back into the harness
again well equipped with health and vigor
for a season of hard work. Many are
bronzed from a season in the mountains
and at the seashore, and we are safe to
predict, ready to enter upon the business
campaign in the best mode possible for
adequate results. There are a few de*
layed ones, who are sojourning in foreign
lands, but within two or three weeks we
shall have them all with us again ready to
carry trade conquests on to greater ac-
complishments.
""THERE is an interesting story told in
another portion of this issue which
will be of great interest to members of
this trade. We refer to the article en-
titled ''Right to Use a Name." Consider-
ing past legal battles which have been
fought over the use of names, and possible
encounters which may come in the near
future, the article is brimful of interest.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
which are being put into practice by his
live competitors.
Even the town or village store, when
conducted on right lines, is unable to get
along without the trade journal, because
the day of the catalogues has arrived, and
the local merchant is forced to face com-
petition in his own town from big city
stores hundreds of miles away. To meet
this successfully he wants to know the
newest things, and the cheapest and quick-
est way is to read a trade paper.
CONCERNING PRICES.
C O M E piano manufacturers have been
following the lead of Checkering &
Sons in the advance of their prices, and
the sentiment is steadily growing that only
a short time will have elapsed before the
advance will have become almost universal.
Piano dealers know full well that manu-
facturers cannot continue to supply the
finished product at the same old schedule
of prices, and really when one thinks of it
it is a little singular that the manufacturers
have not advanced prices sooner.
If we look to the iron and steel trade we
find that manufacturers there are seriously
wondering whether a mistake has not been
made in advancing prices slowly. It has
taken a long time to reach the present level
of values since the turn was made toward
better times. Regardless of the opinions
of buyers, it is a fact susceptible of proof
that manufacturers themselves did almost
everything possible to prevent prices from
rising any further after the first slight re-
action from the profitless prices ruling
during the worst of the depression. As
soon as they saw a reasonable margin of
profit, as if concerted action had been
agreed upon, they continued to accept
business in steadily increasing quantities
without advancing prices, and persisted in
maintaining that policy until the world
wondered at their forbearance.
It is pointed out by close students of the
situation that perhaps the interests of all
concerned would have been promoted if
concerted action had been taken months
ago.
Then if we turn to the lumber world, many
other materials which enter into the man-
ufacture of the piano have scored a notable
advance in price since the beginning of the
recent improvement in industry and trade
in this country, coincident with a greater
degree of activity throughout the world.
The high prices in lumber have come to
stay, for it is plain that the most extensive
forests must have become exhausted in
time if cut constantly, while no provision
has been made for replacing the felled
trees.
The situation to-day is that the most ac-
cessible forests have become exhausted in
some important varieties of woods and
further demand can be supplied only on a
higher level of prices.
By that we do not mean that a lumber
famine is imminent, but the exhaustion of
the accessible forests is near enough to sug-
gest its possibility and the wisdom in try-
ing to avert it.
In our opinion the prices for lumber will
remain high, and piano manufacturers will
have to figure on increased rather than de-
creased lumber bills from now on.
When we consider all these important
points, the wonder is how the manufac-
turers can delay marking up their prices
a good bit higher.
A large piano manufacturing concern in
the West, carrying an enormous stock of
lumber, was recently offered by local
dealers an advance of from ten to thirty
per cent, for their lumber over the price
paid for it. Now, if the manufacturer is
fortunate enough to have on hand a goodly
stock of materials, then we say unquali-
fiedly that he should profit by it. A manu-
factured article is worth what it costs to
produce it to-day, and it is like giving
away money for a manufacturer in any line
to follow any different policy.
We know that one noted firm of piano
plate makers could have made a clean
$18,000 on their stock alone if disposed of
at the present ruling price of iron.
Did they do this ?
No, they are still sharing the profit
which they could have made and which
rightfully belonged to them, with the
manufacturers. The whole thing is wrong,
the reasoning is false. They might just
as well pro rata $18,000 among their custo-
mers in cold cash. It amounts to that.
PIANOS ABROAD.
""TEN years ago American competition
was not regarded seriously by English
hardware merchants. They knew only in
a vague sort of way that there Were few
hardware factories in the New England
states. But never did the British manu-
facturer Imagine that he was about to face
a competition so keen and skillful as to
dwarf the significance of the German trade
expansion which was then taking place.
In ten years, however, a wonderful
change has been wrought, and the preva-
lence of American metal throughout Eng-
land and her colonies is now a matter for
serious consideration.
Why is it not possible for such a meta-
morphosis to be wrought in the piano in-
dustry?
The English and continental piano man-
ufacturer knows in that same vague way,
that pianos are being manufactured in
large quantities in this country, but he
does not know what that competition will
be when he meets it.
And he will meet it, and meet it in a
way that he little dreams of to-day, for
soon the American piano manufacturer will
branch out for world-wide conquests.
He will not carry on a campaign which
means a scattering of a few pianos here
and there, but it will be a well organized
campaign for the trade of the world.
Depend upon it, European piano manu-
facturers will have to learn a serious lesson
from the competition of American piano
manufacturers.
EXTENDS A HEARTY WELCOME.
T F we may be permitted to judge from
the reports which have reached us,
there will be a large influx of dealers to
New York during the Dewey celebration.
Many faraway residents propose to take
advantage of the reduced railroad rates to
visit New York to join in the hearty wel-
come to be accorded to the great Admiral.
They will also find time incidentally to
leave a few orders for pianos and other
musical accessories. The boys will all be
on hand to entertain them, and see that
they are comfortably housed and taken
care of.
The Review extends to the visiting trade
a hearty welcome. We shall be glad to
see you. Come on and make the welkin
ring with shouts of welcome for Dewey
and his heroes. The Review will be glad
to greet you. There is always plenty of
room at the offices for writing, telegraph-
ing, and telephoning. The prayer rug,
also, may be used if desired.
T H E vacation season is fast drawing to a
close. Manufacturers, dealers and
salesmen are getting back into the harness
again well equipped with health and vigor
for a season of hard work. Many are
bronzed from a season in the mountains
and at the seashore, and we are safe to
predict, ready to enter upon the business
campaign in the best mode possible for
adequate results. There are a few de*
layed ones, who are sojourning in foreign
lands, but within two or three weeks we
shall have them all with us again ready to
carry trade conquests on to greater ac-
complishments.
""THERE is an interesting story told in
another portion of this issue which
will be of great interest to members of
this trade. We refer to the article en-
titled ''Right to Use a Name." Consider-
ing past legal battles which have been
fought over the use of names, and possible
encounters which may come in the near
future, the article is brimful of interest.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).