Music Trade Review

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THE
7VSUSIC TRKDE
EDWARD LYMAN BILL,
EBITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
J. B. S P I L L A N E , MANAGING EDITOR.
THOS. CAMPBELL-COP ELAND
EMILIE FRANCIS BAUER
Executive Staff: •{ WALDO E. LADD
GEO. W. QUERIPEL
A. J. NICKLIN
PiUiilHi Even Saturday at 3 East lffl street, New Yort
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NEW YORK, MAY 17, J902.
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On the first Saturday of each month
THE
The Review contains in its "Artists' De-
ARTIBTB
partment" all the current musical news.
DEPARTMENT This is effected without in any way tres-
passing cm the size or service of the trade
section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and
therefore augments materially the value of The Review
to advertisers.
T1
DIRECTORY OF
>e directory of piano manufac-
PIANO
turlng firms and corporations found
MANUFACTURERS on page 67 will be of great value as
a reference for dealers and others.
REVIEW
O OME of the greatest successes in com-
mercial life are largely due to intui-
tion, if you will—of rightly ..sizing up subor-
dinates. There was a deep truth underlying
the wit in Carnegie's recent suggestion as
to the wording of his own epitaph : "Here
lies a man who knew enough to avail him-
self of the ability of abler men."
If we scan the history of this industry we
will find that successful men surrounded
themselves with able lieutenants. It is the
man who embodies the happy gifts of the
agreeable man, alertness, capacity, and tact-
fulness, who compels recognition.
Every employer is on the watch for such
men. A great many men imagine they pos-
sess all these qualities and wonder why
others do not recognize their superior ability.
There are some men, to use the term or-
iginated by Devery, who are exceedingly
"chesty." That word "chesty" is a very ex-
pressive w T ord, for before its coinage, or ad-
mission to general circulation, what word or
combination of words could express that ex-
act shade of meaning? Vanity, bumptious-
ness, self-assertiveness, each stood for its
own particular shading of the same meaning.
But chestiness covers them all and much more
Now does "chestiness" pay?
Depends upon circumstances and the view-
point, one may reply.
Very well, let us limit the area of the in-
quiry. Does an assiduous blowing of one's
horn and a continuous belching of hot air
inure to a man's advantage? In other
words, does an extravagant self-estimate
tend to produce conviction in others as to the
accuracy of such an appraisement?
The young piano man should avoid being
too "chesty."
What changes have taken place, when we
go back more than a dozen years since the
first coming together of piano men in a na-
tional way!
At that time William Steinway was elected
the first president, and to enumerate the num-
ber of men who have filled prominent
places and who are no longer with us, would
require more space that is at our disposal
at time of writing.
A N interesting case occurred recently,
wherein a manufacturer who forgot to
notify the insurance company that his part-
ner had withdrawn from the firm, has been
obliged to sue for the amount named in his
policy. A few days after the change of the
firm, he sustained a considerable loss by fire,
and the company contend that at the time
of the damage he was doing business under
a fictitious name. It might be well for pi-
ano men to remember this case and see that
their policies are all right when making firm
changes.
HP HE catalogue houses have not increased
their business in pianos during the
present year. At least we have been advised
from a number of localities that the piano
EDITORIAL
dealers themselves assert that this competi-
tion is not as warm as during 1901.
TOPICSIOF THE HOUR.
These communications come from various
' T H A T association interest is steadily
parts of the South, where last year the sa.nc
growing, was evidenced in the enthu-
men stood in great fear of the catalogue
siastic meeting which occurred in Baltimore
house competition.
this week, a complete report of which ap-
The small dealers in every line have felt
pears elsewhere in this issue.
this competition to a considerable extent.
Early Monday morning many delegates
It is interesting to note what some of the
were on hand and remained until the fitting
country merchants say regarding the rural
finale to a memorable week occurred.
free delivery and catalogue house competi-
It cannot be truthfully stated that such a
tion, They assert that the former has been a
large proportion of the industry as were pres- r~\ NE man, a hike-warm organization positive detriment to their business, for the
member, remarked, "What has the farmer who formerly went to the post-office
ent in Baltimore would give a week of val-
uable time for simply the pleasure of a jun- Association done in the way of practical ben- for his mail invariably purchased something
keting trip, as has been alleged by some. efit?"
at the store. Under the free delivery sys-
They were in Baltimore for a serious pur-
It has done many things directly—and in- tem he stays at home, and the merchant is
pose. Of course, naturally some pleasure directly—its work is beyond estimate.
minus his former purchases.
was combined with business, but the main
Is it not a fact that the piano business to-
In the meanwhile, mail-order houses se-
point which drew manufacturers and deal- day throughout the land is run on cleaner cure lists of names on their route, and send
ers together was the wish to accomplish trade and fairer lines than ever before, and is it their huge catalogues to the various farm
betterment. To one who observed the sit- not a fact that much of this betterment may houses and to-day with everyone supplied by
uation critically in Baltimore, it was obvious be traced to association influence?
the huge Chicago catalogue houses, the
that there was a universal desire on the part
We can name a number of men who used country merchants find failure staring them
of the manufacturers and dealers to stand to walk about with razors in their boots a in the face. They assert that the free rural
together as a bulwark of defense in the pro- few years ago, and to-day they complacently delivery is a powerful factor in working their
tection of the legitimate interests of the smoke the pipe of peace with their late an- ruin, for it not only stops the farmer from
industry.
tagonists.
visiting their stores as frequently as in days
Members of the trade will frankly ack-
They have met during association times gone by, but it also enables the catalogue
nowledge that there are many things exist- and have warmed up to each other a bit.
houses to deliver by the free delivery system
ing which are not just as they should be
One thing that is bound to impress itself articles of merchandise to everv farm house.
but they affirm that single-handed, it is al- upon the trade veteran who visited Balti-
most impossible to accomplish the desired re- more this week, is the absence of many men T"" HE Manufactuers'Association, as it stands
sults, and, as the whole is greater than any who years ago occupied prominent places in
to-day, is completely national in char-
of its parts, so is the organization to-day the ranks of piano workers. These men have acter. Every section is fairly well repre-
a power for trade good which cannot be been garnered in to the great granary by the sented, and there is a general desire to pro-
equalled by a single individual.
Reaper Death.
mote the interests of the industry in a fair