Music Trade Review
Issue: 1901 Vol. 32 N. 2 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
hey rightly take the view that protection individual sales has gone probably forever.
of that property should be well guarded by The new year opens with a confidence
and healthful tone and apparently a well-
a protective legal environment.
According to the opinion of attorneys grounded belief that everything is on a
who have been prominently connected solid basis for trade. There is regnant a
with cases relating to name infringers the spirit of confidence which is assuring to
courts now view names as a property of a business affairs. This confidence exists
definite kind, and while it is not the inten- not only in commercial circles, but among
tion of the courts to deprive a man of the the people at large, all of which promises
right to use his name in any business, yet well for the year on which we have entered.
in a case like the Millers', a man whose Financial conditions at the present time
name was Miller, for argument we will are excellent, and there is nothing to jus-
say even Henry F. Miller, it would be tify financial disturbance in the near fu-
necessary for him to show in order to use ture.
1901 opens with the country enjoying
the name that he had been actively en-
gaged in the piano business, and it would prosperity, which is duly shared by the
be also necessary for him to place in a piano trade.
conspicuous place upon his instruments
THE OPENING OF THE YEAR.
the words "Henry F. Miller, not the origi-
nal Henry F. Miller," or words to that P E W piano factories enter upon the year
with empty order books. We know
effect. In other words, to place his wares
before the public with a definite brand of some factories which could run to the
thereon in order that there might be no middle of February with the orders now
in hand, and we may say that in many in-
possibility of purchasers being misled in
stances orders for pianos still come in in a
the matter.
surprising volume for the first of January.
It was nearly a year and a half ago when
There is always a disposition not to be in
suit was first brought and its progress has
a hurry about ordering Spring goods after
been watched with particular interest by
the first of the year, but a great many
some whose names have also been used in
dealers are evidently influenced by the
certain ways by infringers.
idea that trade will be good during the
While referring to this matter recently,
Spring months, and they know that they
Henry F. Miller said: "We feel that others
will be in better shape to cater to its needs
in the trade have used the name of Miller
when their warerooms are well stocked
on pianos in an illegal way, and it is our
with fresh instruments.
intention to put a stop to this wherever
Many manufacturers are planning with
the information, in regard to such names,
the view of accumulating a stock of in-
shall come to us."
struments, and thus far, judging from the
This is precisely the kind of spirit which
present outlook, they are taking but little
should receive the heartiest endorsement
risk in so doing. It is probable that prices
from the industry. The Miller concern is
for the cheap and medium priced pianos
to be commended for its action in defense
will vary little from last year, although
of its rights, for it has created out of the
there is likelihood of a marked advance in
name Miller as applied to pianos, some-
materials. That is one of the problems
thing more than a mere patronymic which
which the piano manufacturer has had to
constitutes a valuable trademark when
solve, the adjusting of his wholesale prices
used in connection with pianos.
to the rising tide in the cost of manufac-
ture.
BUSINESS CONDITIONS.
WOULD IT STARTLE YOU?
\17HATEVER may have been the result
in individual cases of the business T H E colossal combinations in the rail-
way world during the past few days
of 1900, the year will probably be remem-
may
be only forerunners of still greater
bered by most as characterized by more
than the usual measure of success. All combinations which will occur in every
piano manufacturers have experienced a line of trade.
John Wanamaker, as will be seen by ref-
good demand for their products, and while
the profits have been materially curtailed erence to the news columns of this paper,
from those of former years, yet piano man- has been investing heavily in New York
ufacturers and merchants have transacted real estate in the vicinity of his present
business which in volume is far beyond store.
the average. The matter of individual
Would it startle you to learn that within
profits has been steadily cut down, and it the near future John Wanamaker has made
becomes more and more a question of a combination with Marshall Field in Chi-
amount of business to clear the profit cago and Jordan, Marsh & Co. in Boston,
for the year's work. The large profit on thus making the greatest colossal mercan-
tile combination which the world has ever
seen?
Others, too, will be included in a deal of
this kind.
Would it startle you?
Of course they would handle pianos, and
in vast numbers at that, as well as all mu-
sical accessories.
Don't be surprised if you hear of enor-
mous combinations—combinations which
will become vast distributing mediums
for musical instruments.
Would it startle you, if this combination
which we have outlined should come to
pass, to see the united forces plant their
banners firmly in London and show the
Britishers how to sell goods at retail?
A department store of the magnitude of
our American institutions is unknown in
the British metropolis, and, naturally,
pianos would be included in the wares dis-
tributed.
Would it startle you, when the London
branch should have become a success, to
see them cross to Paris and duplicate the
same?
Recollect, Chas. T. Yerkes has awakened
sleepy old London with electrical schemes
and it may be that Londoners have still
further surprises in store, which will be
brought about by progressive Americans.
Recollect, we do not say actually that
these things will all come to pass, but
would it startle you?
There are a number of combinations ex-
isting between manufacturers in our own
line, and that they will be materially in-
creased within the near future is certain.
Would it startle you to see larger and
greater aggregations of capital such as we
have outlined, which have never been
dreamt of heretofore in the mercantile
world?
If combinations which will effect the pi-
ano industry should materialize in the near
future, would it startle you?
ORGANIZATION AND OUTLAY.
YJL 7E have received a number of compli-
ments upon the complete report of
the Boston Music Trade Banquet which
appeared in last week's Review.
There is no special secret about how this
was accomplished. It was simply a matter
of having a quartet of expert stenogra-
phers and typewriters working expedi-
tiously so that the entire report was in
manuscript form for the twelve o'clock
train from Boston. At twenty minutes past
seven on Friday morning it was distribu-
ted to our compositors in The Review
printing establishment. Ample provision
for this matter had been made, and
there was really no delay in completing a
paper of over sixty pages so that it was
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
hey rightly take the view that protection individual sales has gone probably forever.
of that property should be well guarded by The new year opens with a confidence
and healthful tone and apparently a well-
a protective legal environment.
According to the opinion of attorneys grounded belief that everything is on a
who have been prominently connected solid basis for trade. There is regnant a
with cases relating to name infringers the spirit of confidence which is assuring to
courts now view names as a property of a business affairs. This confidence exists
definite kind, and while it is not the inten- not only in commercial circles, but among
tion of the courts to deprive a man of the the people at large, all of which promises
right to use his name in any business, yet well for the year on which we have entered.
in a case like the Millers', a man whose Financial conditions at the present time
name was Miller, for argument we will are excellent, and there is nothing to jus-
say even Henry F. Miller, it would be tify financial disturbance in the near fu-
necessary for him to show in order to use ture.
1901 opens with the country enjoying
the name that he had been actively en-
gaged in the piano business, and it would prosperity, which is duly shared by the
be also necessary for him to place in a piano trade.
conspicuous place upon his instruments
THE OPENING OF THE YEAR.
the words "Henry F. Miller, not the origi-
nal Henry F. Miller," or words to that P E W piano factories enter upon the year
with empty order books. We know
effect. In other words, to place his wares
before the public with a definite brand of some factories which could run to the
thereon in order that there might be no middle of February with the orders now
in hand, and we may say that in many in-
possibility of purchasers being misled in
stances orders for pianos still come in in a
the matter.
surprising volume for the first of January.
It was nearly a year and a half ago when
There is always a disposition not to be in
suit was first brought and its progress has
a hurry about ordering Spring goods after
been watched with particular interest by
the first of the year, but a great many
some whose names have also been used in
dealers are evidently influenced by the
certain ways by infringers.
idea that trade will be good during the
While referring to this matter recently,
Spring months, and they know that they
Henry F. Miller said: "We feel that others
will be in better shape to cater to its needs
in the trade have used the name of Miller
when their warerooms are well stocked
on pianos in an illegal way, and it is our
with fresh instruments.
intention to put a stop to this wherever
Many manufacturers are planning with
the information, in regard to such names,
the view of accumulating a stock of in-
shall come to us."
struments, and thus far, judging from the
This is precisely the kind of spirit which
present outlook, they are taking but little
should receive the heartiest endorsement
risk in so doing. It is probable that prices
from the industry. The Miller concern is
for the cheap and medium priced pianos
to be commended for its action in defense
will vary little from last year, although
of its rights, for it has created out of the
there is likelihood of a marked advance in
name Miller as applied to pianos, some-
materials. That is one of the problems
thing more than a mere patronymic which
which the piano manufacturer has had to
constitutes a valuable trademark when
solve, the adjusting of his wholesale prices
used in connection with pianos.
to the rising tide in the cost of manufac-
ture.
BUSINESS CONDITIONS.
WOULD IT STARTLE YOU?
\17HATEVER may have been the result
in individual cases of the business T H E colossal combinations in the rail-
way world during the past few days
of 1900, the year will probably be remem-
may
be only forerunners of still greater
bered by most as characterized by more
than the usual measure of success. All combinations which will occur in every
piano manufacturers have experienced a line of trade.
John Wanamaker, as will be seen by ref-
good demand for their products, and while
the profits have been materially curtailed erence to the news columns of this paper,
from those of former years, yet piano man- has been investing heavily in New York
ufacturers and merchants have transacted real estate in the vicinity of his present
business which in volume is far beyond store.
the average. The matter of individual
Would it startle you to learn that within
profits has been steadily cut down, and it the near future John Wanamaker has made
becomes more and more a question of a combination with Marshall Field in Chi-
amount of business to clear the profit cago and Jordan, Marsh & Co. in Boston,
for the year's work. The large profit on thus making the greatest colossal mercan-
tile combination which the world has ever
seen?
Others, too, will be included in a deal of
this kind.
Would it startle you?
Of course they would handle pianos, and
in vast numbers at that, as well as all mu-
sical accessories.
Don't be surprised if you hear of enor-
mous combinations—combinations which
will become vast distributing mediums
for musical instruments.
Would it startle you, if this combination
which we have outlined should come to
pass, to see the united forces plant their
banners firmly in London and show the
Britishers how to sell goods at retail?
A department store of the magnitude of
our American institutions is unknown in
the British metropolis, and, naturally,
pianos would be included in the wares dis-
tributed.
Would it startle you, when the London
branch should have become a success, to
see them cross to Paris and duplicate the
same?
Recollect, Chas. T. Yerkes has awakened
sleepy old London with electrical schemes
and it may be that Londoners have still
further surprises in store, which will be
brought about by progressive Americans.
Recollect, we do not say actually that
these things will all come to pass, but
would it startle you?
There are a number of combinations ex-
isting between manufacturers in our own
line, and that they will be materially in-
creased within the near future is certain.
Would it startle you to see larger and
greater aggregations of capital such as we
have outlined, which have never been
dreamt of heretofore in the mercantile
world?
If combinations which will effect the pi-
ano industry should materialize in the near
future, would it startle you?
ORGANIZATION AND OUTLAY.
YJL 7E have received a number of compli-
ments upon the complete report of
the Boston Music Trade Banquet which
appeared in last week's Review.
There is no special secret about how this
was accomplished. It was simply a matter
of having a quartet of expert stenogra-
phers and typewriters working expedi-
tiously so that the entire report was in
manuscript form for the twelve o'clock
train from Boston. At twenty minutes past
seven on Friday morning it was distribu-
ted to our compositors in The Review
printing establishment. Ample provision
for this matter had been made, and
there was really no delay in completing a
paper of over sixty pages so that it was
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