Music Trade Review

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Adopt a Hard and Fast Rule
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Timely Talks on Timely Topics.
In the Matter of Part Payments, Says
That there are philosophers in the piano
Ferdinand flayer—Complete Payment For trade goes without saying; but on those busy
Instruments Should be Secured Within a
Year or Eighteen Honths—Mis Views Along days you have to catch them in the mood.
These Lines.
In its peregrinations the other day The Re-
Ferdinand Mayer, of William Knabe & view found "the spirit moving" the head of
Co., was asked by The Review on Monday one of the big piano plants in this city, and
if he did not think the dignity and well-being his disquisition was the much-discussed one
of the retail piano business would be great- of "system." "When I see a boy," said this
ly enhanced if dealers agreed on a hard-and- gentleman, "who has sense enough to lay
fast rule in the matter of part-payments on out his work systematically and check it,
instruments purchased, never descending be- and keep tab on what he has in hand and
low a rate such as would insure complete what he has accomplished, I say to myself:
payment within a year or eighteen months. that youngster has a future. We all know
"It would be impossible, in my estimation," how disheartening it is to find the days go
he replied, "to bring about such an agree- by, wages pile up, with a lot of people around
ment among the dealers who would be most you who do not know what they have accom-
affected by it. So far as the larger and more plished except that they have been 'busy'—
responsible houses are concerned, such a not one in fifty having the bump of system
rule is unnecessary, because their rates are sufficient to make a memorandum of what
high and will, of course, remain so. All man- they have done and what they have yet to do.
ufacturers of r-eally high-grade pianos hav- Of course, there is a way of overdoing the
ing retail wareroomsenforce strict regulations thing same as the miser overdoes the virtue
on the subject of part-payments, renting,com- of thrift; but we do not know of anything
missions and the like. They rarely deviate so necessary to the success of a business,
from the orders laid down. When they do, after one has first determined upon the work
there must be exceptionally good business in hand, as System. It not only helps the
laborer, but, in case of his absence, his rec-
•reasons.
ords
are a guide to his associates.
"The dealers who are willing to concede
almost any terms in order to effect a sale
"Why, do you know I have had two or
are not to be considered seriously in a dis- three experiences with foremen—would-be
cussion of the subject. Their scheme of superintendents—who have lived so many
operations does not admit of rules, regula- years without ever having exercised their
tions, or scale. They are guided by the 'ex- bump of order, that they haven't the first idea
igencies' of every case as it is presented, of system. In two instances they have been
and so it will continue—with them—until valuable men, but I have had to turn over to
one of our office staff the keeping of the nec-
the end of time."
essary accounts for this department, which
Talks of Convention.
the foreman ought to attend to himself; but
The indications are, even with the N. P. you can't teach an old dog new tricks, and
M. A. convention some distance ahead, that the average foreman, unless brought up from
there will be a large and representative early training to an appreciation of system,
gathering of dealers in response to the invi- lacks it. Many a managing man of a big
tations recently sent out.
firm, financial head or executive head, has
Adolph H. Fischer, of J. & C. Fischer, got to the front solely through his faculty
said on Thursday, in answer to a question, for taking infinite pains. ITe is an organizer.
that a considerable number of Fischer rep- He is systematic.
resentatives have signified their intention of
"I tell you, sir, it is a great thing; a bless-
being present if it can possibly be done. "I ing for the office boy or office man who
have also learned with pleasure," he added, counts system as part of his stock in trade."
"that numerous representatives of other
houses have expressed a desire to attend.
A crowded and enthusiastic house greeted
"I consider it a good omen to have such
Ossip Gabrilowitsch at his farewell recital
news at this early date. It points to a suc-
in Carnegie Hall, on the evening of April
cessful convention. The outlook is that the 19th. The talented young artist interpreted
convention of 1901 will be the most suc- an interesting program most delightfully. It
cessful since the N. P. M. A. was organized." is hardly necessary to individualize when
Fischer trade conditions are gratifying. speaking of his reading of the various num-
Wholesale business is decidedly active. Re- bers, for they were all given with absolute
tail business in this city is steadily devel- finish and with a poetic charm and brilliancy
oping in each of the boroughs.
that captivated. His own Caprice, the Pade-
rewski Variations, opus 16 and the Chopin
Opens May 5th.
numbers gave especial pleasure and were re-
The Melville Clark Apollo Co. announce demanded. Where required his enormous
the opening of spacious warerooms at 101 technical facility was splendidly revealed.
Fifth avenue on May 5th.
The piano which Gabrilowitsch used—a
beautiful
Everett concert grand—helped ef-
Dealers Will Display.
fectively in winning the greatest triumph
A number of manufacturers who are not of the many won at his various concerts
in evidence at the Pan-American Exposition throughout the country. It sang veritably
will make displays in the warerooms of their like a 'cello, and to those keenly musical
representatives in Buffalo. Hence it is and competent to estimate quality in piano
likely that there will be as big an exposition, tone, it was a rare privilege to hear such a
as far as musical instruments are concerned, pianist and such a piano. Several manufac-
outside as within the Exposition.
turers who were present, two of them from
out of town, by-the-way, with whom The
Review talked during the concert, became
enthusiastically eloquent over the Everett
and indulged in many superlatives when
speaking of its rich and orchestral tone qual-
ity. The Gabrilowitsch farewell closed in
many recalls in response to the cheers of his
audience, and it was necessary to turn down
the lights before they dispersed.
At the New York Press Club yesterday
afternoon, Gabrilowitsch gave a recital. The
affair was a very select one, and outside of
the members, there was a large attendance
of ladies and gentlemen who were specially
invited.
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Is a buyer entitled to credit when he re-
fuses point blank to divulge his financial re-
sources, or to make a definite statement
showing relation of assets to liabilities? This
is somewhat of a pertinent question and the
individual or business concern which is
forced to call upon others for a loan of goods
that profits may be secured from a resale of
the goods, must admit that he or it should
be willing, first of all, to prove ability and
purpose to pay for the goods at expiration
of limit to which credit is to run. Assuming
that the prospective debtor conies forward
with such a statement, would it not be wise
for the creditor to insist that the statement
be in writing, properly dated and bearing the
signature of the debtor? To go a step fur-
ther, is it possible to establish a uniform state-
ment system in every branch of the music
trade industry, and secure for it—as a fun-
damental principle of the trade—the support
and recognition of the creditor class? The
creditor would certainly be the gainer, the
honest debtor who is addicted to "plunging"
would be properly curbed and held down by
the creditor, but best of all the man who de-
liberately plans to steal your products would
be forced to show his hand, and in the event
of his making a false statement, you not only
have good ground for proceeding criminally
against him, but in many states if your goods
have been delivered and attached by a second
creditor, your replevin writ would take pre-
cedence over his writ of attachment. There
are decisions also which hold that where the
vendee has secured possession of your goods
through fraud, you may recover them from
an innocent mortgagee, to whom this ques-
tionable title has been transfered as security
for a pre-existing debt. Are there any ob-
jections to the plan?
*•.
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:j:
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In the course of a weighty article on Am-
erican progress in the domain of manufac-
tures, the London Times arrives at the con-
clusion that the whole question of American
superiority turns on "character."
"The
American is successful," says the writer of
the article, "because he treats business as a
science and follows it with the enthusiasm of
a scientific devotee."
J. C. Henderson, general manager of the
Ann Arbor Organ Co., Ann Arbor, Mich.,
left for Europe on Wednesday. He is
scheduled to visit a number of important
trade points in Great Britain, France and
Chicago in the interest of his house.
The manufactured goods of this country
equal the combined output of Great Brit-
ain and Germany.