Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
satisfactory influence which the average
professional was supposed to return in ex-
change for the favors bestowed upon him
by piano manufacturers.
The professional who receives the loan
TWENTY-FIRST YEAR.
of a piano in exchange for influence is un-
EDWARD LYMAN
fair to himself as well as to the manu-
Editor and Proprietor.
facturer. If his influence results in actual
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY
business, the piano manufacturer should
pay him for that which is delivered.
3 East 14th St., New York
In other words, resolve all of this pro-
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States, Mexico
and Canada, $2.00 per year ; all other countries, $4.00.
fessional
courtesy and consideration
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per
insertion. On quarterly or yearly contracts a special discount down to a practical basis of dollars and
is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00, opposite reading matter
$75.00.
cents. If a musician obtains a piano from
REMITTANCES,^ other than currency form, should be
made payable to Edward Lyman Bill.
a manufacturer, he should return actual
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter. money, or directly traceable service. If
NEW YORK, JUNE 16, 1900.
he is acting as salesman on a commission
basis, he shotild be treated accordingly,
TELEPHONE NUMBER, 1745--EIQHTEENTH STREET.
but the whole loaning and commission
THE KEYNOTE.
The first week of each month, The Review
business has had rather of a deteriorating
contains a supplement embodying the literary
and musical features which have heretofore
influence upon the art side of the business
appeared in The Keynote. The amalgamation
and it has not placed the professional mu-
is affected without in any way trespassing on
our regular news service. The Review con-
sician in just exactly the position to which
tinues to remain, as before, essentially a trade
paper.
his profession should entitle him. He is
either an employee or not, and surely his
THE PRACTICAL WAY.
position
should have a definiteness which
1 F one compares the business-like methods
which are steadily being introduced should not be lowering in self-respect.
into every department of piano manufac-
From a piano manufacturer's standpoint
turing and selling with the ofttimes loose it is manifestly illogical that hundreds of
and slipshod lines on which the manufac- thousands of dollars worth of property
ture and sale of pianos was conducted in should be lying idle in the studios of mu-
early years, it will be admitted that the in- sicians, which has been the case for years
dustry has responded appreciably to the past. Not only lying idle, but the manu-
changing industrial conditions of the age. facturers have been put to great expense
Time was when the manufacture and sale in addition thereto, to keep their property
of pianos were carried on in a characterless in condition by frequent tunings, polish-
and irresponsible manner and glaring abuses ing, movings, etc. It is just as sound
were a direct outgrowth of those unbusiness- business to ask a loan, we will say, of $500
like conditions. Intrigue became rampant from a piano manufacturer, and then, in-
in certain departments of the business stead of paying him interest on same, ask
and many evils were introduced, but all him to pay for the privilege of loaning his
,of these misty problems are becoming dis- money, it being a special favor that is
sipated in the practical business light of granted to him to permit him to use his
the present day. The trend of the times funds. The money should earn something,
in all lines is to use the keen scalpel of likewise the piano holdings of the manu-
common sense to remove certain excres- facturer.
cences which have clung to the business
Pianos are property and the sooner all
body, hampering it in its progressive manufacturers assume the position recent-
growth. One by one all of these so-called ly taken by the distinguished house of
problems are being steadily and sensibly Steinway in regard to loaned stock, the
solved.
#
better it will be for all. When a house of
Perhaps in no division of the industry such international prominence breaks away
has there been more abuses than in the from ancient traditions it is easy for others
giving of commissions and the loaning of to follow.
pianos to musicians. The old way in
A painter does not secure his paint and
vogue years ago was for professional mu- brushes with which to depict upon the
sicians and teachers to secure all sorts of canvas some superb work without cost to
privileges from manufacturers in the way himself. He is compelled to pay for every-
of commissions and loaned instruments.
thing which he uses in the discharge of
It was years ago that The Review made his professional duties. The sculptor pays
the statement that there was a vast unre- for his tools and materials, and why should
munerative capital lying in the possession the position of the professional musician
of professionals which should pay the pi- or artist be different from all others en-
ano manufacturers a greater profit than gaged in high-class work?
that vague, mysterious, and too often un-
The same principle should be applicable
to all and, as we have frequently said, the
matter of loaned pianos and commissions
should be placed upon a strictly business
basis. Valuable properties are not given
away by business men unless they receive
an equivalent, and has the professional
musician rendered an equivalent for the
values which he has received from piano
manufacturers ? The sooner this depart-
ment is denuded of all superficialities the
better for all concerned.
THE STATE OF TRADE.
TIRADE thus far during the month of
June has been surprisingly good. In
fact a comparison of the volume of busi-
ness transacted during the first half of
June, will show up favorably with the
same period during the preceding month.
Piano manufacturers have evidenced the
keenest satisfaction at the trade conditions
which have been dominant during the
month. There has been as yet no heavy
dropping off in orders at the factories and
more than one mantif acturer has expressed
surprise concerning the way in which the
trade has held up thus far in June.
Factories have not commenced to re-
duce their working force or hours
thus far, and there is every probability
that the summer, as far as the piano in-
dustry is concerned, will be excellent.
Local retail trade has been far from active,
but that is not surprising, for trade during
the summer months in New York is usual-
ly extremely dull, and in this particular,
1900 probably will not vary from former
years. While it will be impossible to pass
through the excitement incident to a pres-
idential campaign without the business in-
terests of the country suffering to some ex-
tent, yet there is every indication that the
effect of the election upon trade interests
will be reduced to a minimum unless there
are unforeseen sensations injected in the
coming campaign.
It would seem, however, that nothing
can seriously check the magnificent
volume of business which is sure to come
during the early fall months. There is
such an obvious desire on the part of the
business element to press on to further
conquests, that the very enthusiasm will
act as a powerful stimulus in the promo-
tion of trade. There is not that uneasi-
ness apparent which was so dominant in
the last presidential struggle. There is
no reasonable doubt that there will be
plenty of business for all during the year.
The ranks of the piano industry too will
be augmented by some additional manu-
facturers, as several new concerns have an-
nounced to us their intention of entering
the arena as manufacturers of pianos.
This industry is constantly broadening,