Music Trade Review
Issue: 1903 Vol. 36 N. 6 - Page 12
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
12
THE 7VUJSIC TRMDE
REVIEW
EDWARD
LYMAN
BILL,
up and handle consistently for the general betterment of the retail
trade.
• While, in the opinion of a majority of dealers, the one-price
system is the leading topic of to-day, the letters received this week
show that many dealers are of the opinion that the system of ad-
vertising pianos which are handled by competitors at practically
wholesale prices, could be considered advantageously by the National
Piano Dealers Association.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
J. B. S P I L L A N E , MANAGING EDITOR
EXECUTIVE STAFF :
THOS. CAMPBELL-COPELAND
WALDO E. LADD
GEO. B. KELLER
REVIEW
EMILIE FRANCES BAUER
GEO. W QUERIPEL
A. J. NICKLtN
"\ X ^ E have taken up this matter with the desire of serving the
" "
best interests of the trade, and we have named an instance
^ Published Every Saturday at I Madison Avenue, New Y o r k . *
where methods were adopted by a leading concern which were not
SUBSCRIPTION (Including postage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
year; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount Is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00 ; opposite
reading matter, $75.00
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
in accordance with good trade ethics.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
The dealers themselves can do much to stamp out this despica-
ble practice, which should be totally eradicated from the trade sys-
tem.
The circulation of such poisonous matter through the va-
rious trade arteries has a tendency to weaken the industry in the
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 7, J903.
estimation of the public.
TELEPHONE NUHBER, 1745-EldHTEENTH STREET.
TH E
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in Its
ARTISTS'
"Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is
**
effected without in any way trespassing on the size or service
DEPARTMENT of the trade section of the paper. Jt has a special circulation, and
therefore augments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
When dealers receive fair prices for in-
struments, and have built up a splendid reputation both artistically
and commercially for certain makes of pianos in local districts, it
at once becomes a serious matter when competitors procure, in an
unfair way, instruments of the same brand and advertise them at
EDITORIAL
prices which closely approximate wholesale rates.
It has the effect
not only to nullify the good work of the dealer for those particular
A RECENT illustration of the insularism and decadence of the
**
French people is the decree of the Minister of Fine Arts that
pianos of foreign make are hereafter to be excluded from all the
subsidized concerts of France.
pianos in that section, but it throws discredit upon his entire trade
operations.
He is presented to the purchasing public as a man who
has asked unfair prices for his pianos.
This action is the result of a clique
This is a leading topic, for vital interests are at stake which
in the French capital who are solidly against every thing foreign—
affect the entire industry, because no one can tell how soon his
men who almost disgraced France by their action in the Dreyfus
position may be threatened.
affair.
system, the disease may break out at any point.
The piano manufacturers
As long as the germ remains in the
of France instead of supporting
such a move ought to strongly protest against it because, rightly
or wrongly, it creates the impression that they are afraid of the
competition of pianos of foreign manufacture.
Among those gener-
ally played in the French capital, and which will be excluded by this
pronunciamento, are the Steinway, the Bechstein, the Bliithner, the
*
pianos at cut rates has provoked the ire of dealers in whose
territory the papers have been circulated bearing these announce-
ments.
It is practically impossible for the department stores to keep
the bargain feature out of their general advertisements,
Schiedmayer, the Broad wood and others.
For some time past Paris has witnessed a disgraceful cam-
paign against instrumental solo music, more particularly when a for-
eign artist, or a foreign piano has been used.
H P H E fact that some department stores have advertised certain
The experience of
Fannie Bloomfield-Zeisler, who played the Steinway, is fresh in mind
the adoption of alluring announcements that they draw purchasers to
their stores, and it seems perfectly natural that the selling of pianos
should conform to the same rules which are operative in the various
departments of these big mercantile emporiums.
It matters little
whether pianos be "used," or "sample pianos," or "scratched with
in this connection.
The friends of France, and they are legion in this country, regret
to note the present trend in public life in that country.
How men
and women of culture can allow themselves to be dominated by the
rabble in a matter of this kind is incomprehensible..
It is by
It might have
been au fait in the days of the Commune, but in this enlightened
age—in the year 1903—it is an anachronism.
a diamond ring," or "roughly handled," sa that a sufficient dis-
count may be made to attract the public.
The department store
must cling to its fixed principles of drawing people through cut rate
announcements.
OME manufacturers have wisely stipulated that no prices be
named in connection with the advertising of their instru-
expression of opinions of leading dealers regarding impor-
tant trade topics, which have been appearing in The Review,
ments.
In this way they are saved a good deal of annoyance, but
the regular dealers are not studying the special cut rates of pianos
They have
as advertised by the department stores with delight nowadays. The
been interesting in that they have portrayed the individual views of
department store's zone of action in the piano line, will not be materi-
dealers regarding the adoption of methods for possible trade ad-
ally enlarged within the near future.
vancement.
houses in both Boston and Chicago try the piano experiment is there
have created a great deal of discussion in trade circles.
One of the queries submitted was, what was the most im-
portant question which the Dealers National Association could take
At least not until leading
a probability that the department store move will extend to other
States in a large sense.
12
THE 7VUJSIC TRMDE
REVIEW
EDWARD
LYMAN
BILL,
up and handle consistently for the general betterment of the retail
trade.
• While, in the opinion of a majority of dealers, the one-price
system is the leading topic of to-day, the letters received this week
show that many dealers are of the opinion that the system of ad-
vertising pianos which are handled by competitors at practically
wholesale prices, could be considered advantageously by the National
Piano Dealers Association.
EDITOR AND PROPRIETOR.
J. B. S P I L L A N E , MANAGING EDITOR
EXECUTIVE STAFF :
THOS. CAMPBELL-COPELAND
WALDO E. LADD
GEO. B. KELLER
REVIEW
EMILIE FRANCES BAUER
GEO. W QUERIPEL
A. J. NICKLtN
"\ X ^ E have taken up this matter with the desire of serving the
" "
best interests of the trade, and we have named an instance
^ Published Every Saturday at I Madison Avenue, New Y o r k . *
where methods were adopted by a leading concern which were not
SUBSCRIPTION (Including postage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
year; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.00 per inch, single column, per Insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount Is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00 ; opposite
reading matter, $75.00
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
in accordance with good trade ethics.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
The dealers themselves can do much to stamp out this despica-
ble practice, which should be totally eradicated from the trade sys-
tem.
The circulation of such poisonous matter through the va-
rious trade arteries has a tendency to weaken the industry in the
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 7, J903.
estimation of the public.
TELEPHONE NUHBER, 1745-EldHTEENTH STREET.
TH E
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in Its
ARTISTS'
"Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is
**
effected without in any way trespassing on the size or service
DEPARTMENT of the trade section of the paper. Jt has a special circulation, and
therefore augments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
When dealers receive fair prices for in-
struments, and have built up a splendid reputation both artistically
and commercially for certain makes of pianos in local districts, it
at once becomes a serious matter when competitors procure, in an
unfair way, instruments of the same brand and advertise them at
EDITORIAL
prices which closely approximate wholesale rates.
It has the effect
not only to nullify the good work of the dealer for those particular
A RECENT illustration of the insularism and decadence of the
**
French people is the decree of the Minister of Fine Arts that
pianos of foreign make are hereafter to be excluded from all the
subsidized concerts of France.
pianos in that section, but it throws discredit upon his entire trade
operations.
He is presented to the purchasing public as a man who
has asked unfair prices for his pianos.
This action is the result of a clique
This is a leading topic, for vital interests are at stake which
in the French capital who are solidly against every thing foreign—
affect the entire industry, because no one can tell how soon his
men who almost disgraced France by their action in the Dreyfus
position may be threatened.
affair.
system, the disease may break out at any point.
The piano manufacturers
As long as the germ remains in the
of France instead of supporting
such a move ought to strongly protest against it because, rightly
or wrongly, it creates the impression that they are afraid of the
competition of pianos of foreign manufacture.
Among those gener-
ally played in the French capital, and which will be excluded by this
pronunciamento, are the Steinway, the Bechstein, the Bliithner, the
*
pianos at cut rates has provoked the ire of dealers in whose
territory the papers have been circulated bearing these announce-
ments.
It is practically impossible for the department stores to keep
the bargain feature out of their general advertisements,
Schiedmayer, the Broad wood and others.
For some time past Paris has witnessed a disgraceful cam-
paign against instrumental solo music, more particularly when a for-
eign artist, or a foreign piano has been used.
H P H E fact that some department stores have advertised certain
The experience of
Fannie Bloomfield-Zeisler, who played the Steinway, is fresh in mind
the adoption of alluring announcements that they draw purchasers to
their stores, and it seems perfectly natural that the selling of pianos
should conform to the same rules which are operative in the various
departments of these big mercantile emporiums.
It matters little
whether pianos be "used," or "sample pianos," or "scratched with
in this connection.
The friends of France, and they are legion in this country, regret
to note the present trend in public life in that country.
How men
and women of culture can allow themselves to be dominated by the
rabble in a matter of this kind is incomprehensible..
It is by
It might have
been au fait in the days of the Commune, but in this enlightened
age—in the year 1903—it is an anachronism.
a diamond ring," or "roughly handled," sa that a sufficient dis-
count may be made to attract the public.
The department store
must cling to its fixed principles of drawing people through cut rate
announcements.
OME manufacturers have wisely stipulated that no prices be
named in connection with the advertising of their instru-
expression of opinions of leading dealers regarding impor-
tant trade topics, which have been appearing in The Review,
ments.
In this way they are saved a good deal of annoyance, but
the regular dealers are not studying the special cut rates of pianos
They have
as advertised by the department stores with delight nowadays. The
been interesting in that they have portrayed the individual views of
department store's zone of action in the piano line, will not be materi-
dealers regarding the adoption of methods for possible trade ad-
ally enlarged within the near future.
vancement.
houses in both Boston and Chicago try the piano experiment is there
have created a great deal of discussion in trade circles.
One of the queries submitted was, what was the most im-
portant question which the Dealers National Association could take
At least not until leading
a probability that the department store move will extend to other
States in a large sense.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).