Music Trade Review
Issue: 1900 Vol. 31 N. 11 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ed, shall be at least reduced materially
in its influence.
The public, too, is not entirely unaware
of these existing conditions, and it is said
that in several states commission clubs
have been formed to bleed piano men so
that at least four individuals shall get a
commission slice off from certain sales,
whether they have the slightest influence
in effecting the sales or not.
A friend of ours outside of the piano
trade, recently related to us his experience
in disposing of a piano which he had se-
cured in a trade deal. A friend of his saw
the piano, admired it and decided to pur-
chase it. Incidentally this friend invited
a lady acquaintance to accompany him to
look over the piano. He stated that he did
this, because he wished to have the opinion
of some musical friend who was not inter-
ested in securing a commission on a sale,
which, as he understood, was the usual
practice in piano stores. Incidentally, he
made the lady a handsome present for call-
ing with him and examining the piano
which he purchased. He learned from
our friend, from whom he purchased the
piano, that three days after,the lady whom
he had invited called upon him at his of-
fice and demanded a commission for hav-
ing made the sale. To this, our friend ob-
jected, saying that he was not in the piano
business, he had nothing to do with her
calling and it was purely a matter outside
his province.
The lady persisted, claiming that she
had earned the commission, and added the
statement that the music stores paid a com-
mission to any one who [even handed in a
name.
So this evil, which has honeycombed the
trade, is well known to the public, and it
seems that there are commission demands
made galore solely upon the flimsiest of
allegations.
The agitation of this important matter
can only be of general benefit as it may
bring about some concerted action upon
the commission demands made upon piano
merchants which in many instances amount
to genuine blackmail.
C A I L U R E S in this country for the month
of August are the fewest reported in
any month for eleven months passed.
Such a condition of affairs is gratifying
from every standpoint, as it forms a sta-
tistical argument in favor of business
prosperity.
We know of some piano manufacturing
institutions which have enjoyed the busiest
times in August. In fact even by work-
ing full time they have not been able to
accumulate the smallest amount of fin-
ished stock for future demand, Indica-
tions now point to an excellent September
and it is extremely probable that dealers
in certain lines will find it somewhat diffi-
cult to have their orders filled with any-
thing approximating promptitude. They
will have to take their turn.
tion of property by the rising waters of
the Mississippi.
'"THE trust movement in this country is
distinctly on the wane. Investors
are finding out that the promises of big
dividends are not working out in practice
and consequently they are withholding
THE TEXAS CALAMITY.
their support. In England, too, the trust
'T'HE nation's response to the needs of craze has materially subsided.
Galveston and the Gulf sufferers is
As a matter of fact, these combinations
magnificent. It has been purely Ameri- have worked disadvantageously to many
can—that is, spontaneous and generous— stock holders and to those manufacturers
and there never has been an hour in our who pooled their holdings in certain com-
country's history when the need of extend- binations. To-day it seems comparatively
ed charity was greater, or when it should easy to secure capital for competing fac-
be poured out more quickly, for the disas- tories when it can be demonstrated that
ter in Texas is not confined to any one there are large profits in the business.
spot, as at Johnstown. The loss of life Some of these great trust organizations
and the injury to property is appalling, have been unable to declare dividends on
while the isolated location of the city and their largely watered stock.
the torrid heat which now prevails there
makes it imperative that relief should not CONCERNING COMPETING WARES.
only be more abundant than it was in the A PIANO man of prominence, in the
terrible days in Pennsylvania in 1889, but
course of an interview last week,
that it should be more speedy.
touched upon a point which is frequently
At that time there was hardly a hamlet overlooked by piano men and their sales-
in the country that did not send its share, men, especially the latter.
and more than three million dollars was
The matter referred to is the assumption
raised for the Johnstown sufferers.
of a hostile attitude toward a compet-
There is need of even a greater sum at itor's wares and the practice of talking
Galveston. Music trade men have always against him or his goods. Happily, we
been liberal contributors to the wants of may say that this feeling has been gradu-
the needy, and, if our memory serves us ally simmering down, and to the credit of
correctly, William Steinway sent a check the Piano Manufacturers' Association it
for a thousand dollars to the New York may be said that it has been a powerful
fund for the Johnstown sufferers. Many factor in bringing about bettered condi-
other members of the trade gave also in tions.
generous proportions.
We all recollect not many years ago
Owing to the isolated situation of Gal- when the knives were always ready for
veston it has been almost impossible to get use, and hatchets always sharpened to a
authentic news from that town during the razor edge to slash competing wares.
week. There has been, too, much anxiety Neither the American business man nor
expressed in music trade circles regarding the American public has time or is in-
the safety of individual members of the clined to become interested in the quarrels
music trade houses of Galveston. One of of rival concerns. The piano salesman
the most important houses in the South- usually drops in the estimation of a cus-
west has its headquarters there, and from tomer when he runs down a certain com-
Galveston controls a series of branches peting piano and if he begins to tell all of
the mean and dishonorable things that so-
throughout Texas.
We refer to the house of Goggan, whose and-so has done the wandering eye of his
members are so well known in the North, prospective customer quickly betrays the
and who have extensive dealing with many weariness the subject creates in him.
leading houses in this section. It is almost
Or in the other case it interests him suf-
too early to decide -just what the future of ficiently to call upon the man whom the
that island, which was so recently the site of salesman has abused and ascertain just
a flourishing city, will be; but, notwith- what truth there is in the statement which
standing the fearful calamity which has has been made him.
overtaken it, Galveston will undoubtedly
If "the other fellow" must be spoken of
be rebuilt, for, notwithstanding the possi- at all it is the part of wisdom, either to
ble recurrence of the calamity of 1900, damn with faint praise, or better still, to
there will be plenty of business men who speak well of him and lead up to some
will take the risk, the same risk which the other topic as quickly as possible.
settlers in the rich valley of the Mississippi
Attacking a rival is a sign of weakness.
take when they face the. annual- deyastar. It indicates clearly enough that something
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ed, shall be at least reduced materially
in its influence.
The public, too, is not entirely unaware
of these existing conditions, and it is said
that in several states commission clubs
have been formed to bleed piano men so
that at least four individuals shall get a
commission slice off from certain sales,
whether they have the slightest influence
in effecting the sales or not.
A friend of ours outside of the piano
trade, recently related to us his experience
in disposing of a piano which he had se-
cured in a trade deal. A friend of his saw
the piano, admired it and decided to pur-
chase it. Incidentally this friend invited
a lady acquaintance to accompany him to
look over the piano. He stated that he did
this, because he wished to have the opinion
of some musical friend who was not inter-
ested in securing a commission on a sale,
which, as he understood, was the usual
practice in piano stores. Incidentally, he
made the lady a handsome present for call-
ing with him and examining the piano
which he purchased. He learned from
our friend, from whom he purchased the
piano, that three days after,the lady whom
he had invited called upon him at his of-
fice and demanded a commission for hav-
ing made the sale. To this, our friend ob-
jected, saying that he was not in the piano
business, he had nothing to do with her
calling and it was purely a matter outside
his province.
The lady persisted, claiming that she
had earned the commission, and added the
statement that the music stores paid a com-
mission to any one who [even handed in a
name.
So this evil, which has honeycombed the
trade, is well known to the public, and it
seems that there are commission demands
made galore solely upon the flimsiest of
allegations.
The agitation of this important matter
can only be of general benefit as it may
bring about some concerted action upon
the commission demands made upon piano
merchants which in many instances amount
to genuine blackmail.
C A I L U R E S in this country for the month
of August are the fewest reported in
any month for eleven months passed.
Such a condition of affairs is gratifying
from every standpoint, as it forms a sta-
tistical argument in favor of business
prosperity.
We know of some piano manufacturing
institutions which have enjoyed the busiest
times in August. In fact even by work-
ing full time they have not been able to
accumulate the smallest amount of fin-
ished stock for future demand, Indica-
tions now point to an excellent September
and it is extremely probable that dealers
in certain lines will find it somewhat diffi-
cult to have their orders filled with any-
thing approximating promptitude. They
will have to take their turn.
tion of property by the rising waters of
the Mississippi.
'"THE trust movement in this country is
distinctly on the wane. Investors
are finding out that the promises of big
dividends are not working out in practice
and consequently they are withholding
THE TEXAS CALAMITY.
their support. In England, too, the trust
'T'HE nation's response to the needs of craze has materially subsided.
Galveston and the Gulf sufferers is
As a matter of fact, these combinations
magnificent. It has been purely Ameri- have worked disadvantageously to many
can—that is, spontaneous and generous— stock holders and to those manufacturers
and there never has been an hour in our who pooled their holdings in certain com-
country's history when the need of extend- binations. To-day it seems comparatively
ed charity was greater, or when it should easy to secure capital for competing fac-
be poured out more quickly, for the disas- tories when it can be demonstrated that
ter in Texas is not confined to any one there are large profits in the business.
spot, as at Johnstown. The loss of life Some of these great trust organizations
and the injury to property is appalling, have been unable to declare dividends on
while the isolated location of the city and their largely watered stock.
the torrid heat which now prevails there
makes it imperative that relief should not CONCERNING COMPETING WARES.
only be more abundant than it was in the A PIANO man of prominence, in the
terrible days in Pennsylvania in 1889, but
course of an interview last week,
that it should be more speedy.
touched upon a point which is frequently
At that time there was hardly a hamlet overlooked by piano men and their sales-
in the country that did not send its share, men, especially the latter.
and more than three million dollars was
The matter referred to is the assumption
raised for the Johnstown sufferers.
of a hostile attitude toward a compet-
There is need of even a greater sum at itor's wares and the practice of talking
Galveston. Music trade men have always against him or his goods. Happily, we
been liberal contributors to the wants of may say that this feeling has been gradu-
the needy, and, if our memory serves us ally simmering down, and to the credit of
correctly, William Steinway sent a check the Piano Manufacturers' Association it
for a thousand dollars to the New York may be said that it has been a powerful
fund for the Johnstown sufferers. Many factor in bringing about bettered condi-
other members of the trade gave also in tions.
generous proportions.
We all recollect not many years ago
Owing to the isolated situation of Gal- when the knives were always ready for
veston it has been almost impossible to get use, and hatchets always sharpened to a
authentic news from that town during the razor edge to slash competing wares.
week. There has been, too, much anxiety Neither the American business man nor
expressed in music trade circles regarding the American public has time or is in-
the safety of individual members of the clined to become interested in the quarrels
music trade houses of Galveston. One of of rival concerns. The piano salesman
the most important houses in the South- usually drops in the estimation of a cus-
west has its headquarters there, and from tomer when he runs down a certain com-
Galveston controls a series of branches peting piano and if he begins to tell all of
the mean and dishonorable things that so-
throughout Texas.
We refer to the house of Goggan, whose and-so has done the wandering eye of his
members are so well known in the North, prospective customer quickly betrays the
and who have extensive dealing with many weariness the subject creates in him.
leading houses in this section. It is almost
Or in the other case it interests him suf-
too early to decide -just what the future of ficiently to call upon the man whom the
that island, which was so recently the site of salesman has abused and ascertain just
a flourishing city, will be; but, notwith- what truth there is in the statement which
standing the fearful calamity which has has been made him.
overtaken it, Galveston will undoubtedly
If "the other fellow" must be spoken of
be rebuilt, for, notwithstanding the possi- at all it is the part of wisdom, either to
ble recurrence of the calamity of 1900, damn with faint praise, or better still, to
there will be plenty of business men who speak well of him and lead up to some
will take the risk, the same risk which the other topic as quickly as possible.
settlers in the rich valley of the Mississippi
Attacking a rival is a sign of weakness.
take when they face the. annual- deyastar. It indicates clearly enough that something
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