Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
F. Q. Smith'on Prosperity.
Afraid of American Competition.
>Eolian Co. Literature.
During a call at The Review sanctum on
Wednesday, the ever youthful manufac-
turer of the "Bradbury," Freeborn G.
Smith, reported the greatest activity in the
various departments of his business since
the Civil War.
"Notwithstanding our best efforts and
increased forces of employees at all our
factories, we seem to be unable to get
pianos ahead, although we are working
nights. At my case factory at Leominster,
Mass., the orders on hand are not only
unprecedented, but actually surprising,
reflecting in a most practical way that the
piano industry is enjoying a degree of
prosperity never known before."
In reply to a question by The Review as
to whether the Bradbury branches in the
West are experiencing a greater degree of
business activity than those in the East, he
replied:
"I can make no distinction. While we
are selling a vast number of instruments
in our Western houses, yet our stores in
New Jersey, New York and Brooklyn are
making a record that fully equals our
Western trade. There can be no exception
made these days, for prosperity seems to
be pretty well distributed all over this
great land.
"Will it continue? Why, bless your
heart, there is no reason to believe the con-
trary. The prospects are, as judged by
the best minds in the country, for a con-
tinuance of good times for many years to
come. And it is due us after the long
period of depression which happily came
to an end with the installation of the present
administration in Washington."
The agitation in Germany over the growth
of American trade continues to be shown
in reports to the State Department from
Consuls in Germany. Vice-Consul-Gen-
eral Hanauer has forwarded from Frank-
fort the annual reports of a number of
leading Chambers of Commerce through-
out Germany, all showing the apprehen-
sion felt in commercial classes over the
growth of American trade in China, Japan,
Australia, and elsewhere, and the effect
on German commerce.
The Solingen Chamber of Commerce re-
ports that exports from that district to the
United States have fallen off forty per
cent, as the result of the Dingley tariff.
The Dresden Chamber of Commerce com-
plains loudly of the increase of American
competition, especially in manufactured
articles, and explains that American su-
periority in the world's market is due to
the extraordinary activity of United States
Consuls and the immense capital of Ameri-
can companies, permitting the greatest
possible division of labor. The report ad-
mits that Americans sell at low, even cut-
throat prices, but explains this by the as-
sertion that high duties enable manufac-
turers to sell for high prices at home,
while they dispose of their surplus abroad
at the lowest prices. The rate at which
exports to the United States are falling
off, says the London Music Trades Journal,
leads to the belief that exportation will
in a short time cease entirely, and that it
will become necessary for German manu-
facturers to establish branches in the
United States.
Several new and attractive publications
have been issued this week at the ^Eolian
headquarters. A very artistic illustrated
descriptive catalogue of the Pianola has
been specially prepared for the London
branch, known as the Orchestrelle Co.,
limited. No pains or expense has been
spared in producing this work, which is
certain to be a valuable factor in Pianola
missionary work.
An attractive program of ^Eolian Re-
citals, containing fifty-two pages of well-
edited, interesting ^Solian reading and
pictorial matter, is a special product of un-
usual merit, and admirably adapted for its
purpose of making converts to the ^Eo-
lian faith. These publications will be
noticed at greater length in future issues
of The Review.
Kept Open House.
Many of the Steger Co. 's friends are
thankful to Mr. J. V. Steger for so kindly
opening the warerooms, thus affording
them a splendid view of the Festival parade
last week. While the parade was passing,
Miss Estella Steger had climbed to an ele-
vated position on the fire escape, and as
the president's carriage drew opposite her
she cried out, "There is President McKin-
ley!" The president, hearing the child,
looked up, and with a pleasant smile and
graceful bow recognized her. To say that
Estella is proud of the recognition does
not do her feelings justice.
The employes of the Steger Piano Co.
were given their profit-sharing cards this
week. The first dividend will be divided
about Oct. 20, 1900. — Steger Herald.
Pratt, Read Co. Abroad.
Pratt, Read & Co., the well known piano-
key manufacturers, of Deep River, Conn.,
are building up a great foreign trade.
Their shipments to London and the Euro-
pean continent are growing in frequency
and size. This is a recognition of Ameri-
can wares and American enterprise that is
pleasing.
Dewey and prosperity are now with us
to stay. If you want a souvenir of the
Spanish-American war and the great Ad-
miral read page 16,
Piano for Dewey Home.
The esteem in which Admiral Dewey is
held by the people of this country is illus-
trated not only in the generous offering of
a home at Washington, but in the offers
which have reached the committee of the
Dewey house fund from prominent men in
all sections of the country, donating furni-
ture, bric-a-brac, pianos, horses and car-
riages—in fact, everything necessary to
furnish elaborately the home of America's
great Admiral.
The Hallet & Davis Co. have the honor
of being the first to donate a special style
Hallet & Davis piano free of charge. In
their communication to the committee they
state: "We do not want to do this for ad-
vertising purposes, but from a feeling
that everyone should do as much as possi-
ble towards the success of the undertaking.
We should be glad to hear from you about
this matter as soon as possible, and should
like to make something of a special design
that would take a little time. You, no
doubt, know of our reputation of over six-
ty years as high-grade pianoforte manufac-
turers, and we have no hesitation in saying
the instrument that we would put in the
house would be an addition and a credit."
This generous offer has been acknowl-
edged in the most appreciative manner by
the committee who intend to give a defi-
nite reply as soon as Admiral Dewey is
consulted. At time of writing it seems
probable that the offer will be accepted.
The Paris Exposition.
The piano manufacturers of Great Britain
are displaying even less interest than their
American confreres in the Paris Exposi-
tion. It is stated that only two or three
English manufacturers will exhibit. We
will go them a little better, for about five
of our manufacturers have signified their
intention to take a part in the Paris Fair.
Meanwhile there is not much time left now
to make preparations. The active condi-
tion of business in the music trade field is
somewhat of a hindrance to American
manufacturers participating in the Exposi-
tion. All their time is occupied in an en-
deavor to fill orders with customary de-
spatch.
The Popular Pease.
No better illustration of the reliability
and popularity of the Pease piano is needed
than the fact that it is held so high in the
esteem of purchasers as to find a place in
the homes of the different members of the
family as they establish their own homes
later in life. W. J. Street, of the piano
department of C. J. Heppe & Sons, Phila-
delphia, tells the following Pease story in
this connection which is worthy of repro-
duction. It is only one of many similar
instances which have come to our knowl-
edge:
"Dr. Braddock, of Medford, Pa., was
here Wednesday last, and said his niece
wanted a new piano. I had sold him one
eleven years ago, and while it was still of
good tone, being a Pease, he preferred a
new one, so I got the cash for the second
piano sold the same man eleven years
afterward."
This week's report at the headquarters
of the Popular Pease is no exception to the
general rule as to existing trade conditions.
Wholesale business is very active and retail
trade is becoming more lively every day.
When The Review called on Tuesday, the
wareroom stock showed plain signs of de-
pletion. Instruments are sold just as
rapidly as they arrive from the factory.
Several new mirrors have recently been
added to the handsome selection of these
decorative features at the Bradbury ware-
rooms on Fifth avenue. The general effect
is cheerful and homelike.