Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
RENEW
EDWARD LYMAN DILL.
Editor and Proprietor.
J. D. S P 1 L L A N E , M a n a g i n g E d i t o r .
EXECVTIVE STAFF:
THOS. CAMFBELL-COPKLAND,
GKO. B. KEIXEB,
W. MURDOCH LIND,
A. J. NlCKLIN,
EMILIB FRANCIS BAUBR,
GKO.
BOSTON OFFICE:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 855 Washington St.
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE:
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
W. QUERIPEL.
CHICAQO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 86 La Salle St.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL:
R. J. LEFEBVRE.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE:
ST. LOUIS OFFICE :
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
ALFRED METZGEB, 425-427 Front St.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION (including posta- ) , 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, $60.00; opposite read-
ing matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES,
in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
THE ARTISTS'
DEPARTMENT
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in its
"Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is effected
without in any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and therefore aug-
ments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
m a r r T A n v „, piANft ^ e directory ot piano manufacturing firms and corporations
DIRECTORY & PIANO f o u n ( j o n p a g e 2 8 will be of great value as a reference for
MANUFACTURERS
dealers and others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NUMBER
1745 GRAMERCY.
NEW YORK, JULY 16, 19O4-
EDITORIAL
MPORTANT moves are now being made upon the trade chess-
board all of which are not open to public view. Changes are
occurring which affect leading piano agencies in important cities.
There is no doubt but that the next few months will mark many
radical changes which will effect the agencies of pianos of the high-
est grade. Agents representing some of the oldest makes will be
compelled to seek new representation. Changes will extend all along
the line, effecting representatives of the medium and lower grade
instruments as well. Combinations of great magnitude are destined
to have a far-reaching effect upon the retail interests all over
America.
I
DVICES from The Review correspondents, located in cities
reaching from the eastern seaboard to the Pacific coast, show
a bettered condition of trade during the past week. While we are
in the midst of the heated term, there is a determination on the part
of many to seek for business with unremitting vigor during the
summer.
A
USINESS conditions have brightened materially. There is un-
mistakable evidence that the business men are already begin-
ning to realize that the political situation, as it is now developing, is
favorable to business interests, pleasingly so, when compared with
former campaigns wherein populistic theories dominated.
The stock market, which, by the way, is the most sensitive of all
barometers in foretelling the financial conditions, seems to have be-
gun to reflect an era of high pressure. The activity prevailing there
since the Presidential nominations gives clear indication of a feeling
of relief and reviving" confidence.
B
T
HE reasons for this are obvious. Sane counsels have prevailed
in the Democratic party, and the disturbing elements which
have threatened the business interests of the country in a most serious
manner, are no longer in the saddle. The result is to remove from
the campaign certain dangers, and to assure business interests a
reasonable security which is so necessary to a continuance of pros-
perity.
The chances are largely in favor of the Republicans, under whose
administration eight years of established confidence have been en-
joyed. This undoubtedly plays an important part in current mani-
festations of satisfaction among business men.
T
HE country is to be congratulated, however, that the Demo-
cratic convention, under the Democratic leaders, have given
unmistakable signs of a return to sober leadership. It indicates the
partial elimination of destructive tendencies which have been greatly
in evidence in more recent Presidential campaigns.
C
ROP prospects are now most promising. But after all there
must be confidence even when crops are good in order to
promote the business interests. And the establishment of confidence
depends more upon political conditions than upon anything else.
Hence it is the assurance now given that for four years more we are
liable to transact our national affairs without unsettling interference
that will be stimulating to the best interests of this country. Viewed
from The Review masthead, all indications now point to a continu-
ance of prosperity, and there is no reason why the piano merchants
of the country in common with others should not reap their share
of the bountiful harvest promised.
I
N these modern times there have arisen methods of doing busi-
ness that are harmful to a large degree to important business
interests. The methods adopted have a depressing influence not only
upon the whole legitimate trade, but upon the interests of those di-
rectly brought in contact with unfair competition.
There are in this trade, as well as in all others, a number of
men who have not as yet conformed to the rules which are recog-
nized as correct by the most progressive business institutions.
I
T was not so far in the past when it was the custom indulged in
to a large degree to offer to the public pianos of the lowest class
at prices which should entitle the purchasers to own instruments of
admitted grade and merit.
The cheap piano, colloquially termed the "rattle box," was ad-
vanced in price many degrees over its actual worth. Many dealers
profited largely by the ignorance of their customers because a retail
piano purchaser relies, in a large degree, upon the honesty and fair-
ness of the merchant who offers the various brands of pianos. Now,
it is rank business dishonesty to offer a piano we will say that cost
$ioo wholesale at a price which should be commanded by medium
and high grade instruments.
T
HIS system has been in vogue, but happily now, it is in its de-
cadence, and the dealers themselves have found that the first
profit which seemed flatteringly large has been cut steadily down by
the expenses which were a natural sequence to a cheap piano sale.
Most of them are beginning to learn that it is better to sell reliable
instruments at a fair price than to substitute a cheaper instrument
under their individual guarantee to the customer.
Quality counts, and the people are beginning to be better edu-
cated than ever on the piano question, and are shrewder judges of
piano values.
SUBSCRIBER of The Review, C. E. Hawley, writing from
Deadwood, says: "I send you clippings from Omaha papers
as a sample of the bargain sale schemes which are continually ex-
ploited in the West. Your correspondent in the last issue is right,
and the general position of The Review is right. These concerns
are a curse to legitimate piano trade. They do not care what be-
comes of the regular trade, so long as they can huckster off instru-
ments for a few cents profit, then swell themselves up and talk
about the dignity of their house. These people are the worst enemies
the business has."
A
R. HAWLEY refers to that form of advertising which ap-
pears now and then in various sections of the country offer-
ing regular lines of goods at factory prices. The names of some of
the distinguished houses throughout the trade are used to bolster
up some of the cheapest makes, and the effect of dumping a few
carloads of pianos in certain cities where they are offered for sale
at "factory prices" does not have a tendency to help out the regular
dealer and while it may mean a temporary profit it surely cannot re-
dound to the reputation of the instruments in that particular locality,
or the man fathering the methods.
M