Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
DEALERS TALK OF TRADE CONDITIONS.
Some of the Opinions Show a Most Encouraging State of Affairs—Crop Report Excellent and
the Election Will Not Seriously Interfere With Business—Roosevelt Tide Runs Strongly
and lndicates_£ontinuance of Present Administration—Every Reason Why a Good Volume
/* of Business Is Anticipated.
It has been our annual custom to interview leading dealers in all sections regarding trade
conditions.
This year the opinions of the men who sell the produce of our factories to the consumers, will
be of added interest, inasmuch as we are facing a Presidential election. The questions pro-
founded included the following:
|
How, in your opinion, will the coming Presidential campaign affect business in your locality?
Do you look for a reduced trade until after election?
'What are the general conditions of crops in your locality?
Would you care to compare business, both in character and volume, with that of 1903?
Have you found collections slower than last year?
Do you believe in placing orders no\V for fall stock for future delivery?
The interviews appearing each week will be of much interest to manufacturers, as they will
portray the opinions of men who are in close touch with the trade situation in all parts of the
country.
11
the mills have shut down for thirty days. With
the city trade, the strike here have affected our
collections some.
"As to placing orders for future delivery, will
say we always anticipate our trade to a certain
extent, ranging several months' shipments ahead
as a rule."
EILERS' PIANO HOUSE, Portland, Ore.
"We do not feel that the coming Presidential
campaign is going to affect business in this terri-
tory.
"No, we do not look for a reduced trade, but
quite to the contrary. Our business for June and
July this year has shown a very satisfactory in-
crease over that for the corresponding period a
year ago.
"As to the general crop conditions, we think it
is a well conceded fact that the wheat crop for
Oregon and Washington is fully 25 per cent,
ahead of the best crop we have ever had hereto-
fore.
"As to a comparison of the present year's busi-
ness to that of a year ago, it appears to us that
the volume of business compares very favorably,
although the character of the business appears to
be not quite as good. There seems to be more
long-time business. People seem to demand
smaller payments. This, no doubt, is due to the
fact that many people are investing in property
and building their own homes and this we feel
also accounts for the fact that collections are not
quite up to what they were a year ago."
not look for a reduced trade until after the elec-
SECOND SERIES.
HOLLENBERG MUSIC CO., Little Rock, Ark. tion. The general condition of crops in this ter-
"Arkansas is overwhelmingly Democratic, and ritory is very good except in some portions where
I do not believe that the business interest, locally, there has been too much rain. We think business
will be affected during this Presidential election. will compare fully as well as in 1903, both in
It has often been stated by my good Republican character and body. Collections are somewhat
friends that if the strength of the two parties slower than last year. We think the World's Fair
were more equal it would be a great stimulus to has effected it to some extent.
"We will not place heavy orders at this time
business. While there are certain peculiar lines
of business that might be stimulated, yet I am for fall stock; however, we expect a good trade
satisfied, in a Presidential year at least, to live this fall."
in a State that is overwhelmingly one way, as no
one has to give up much of his time or bother E. E. FORBES PIANO CO., Birmingham, Ala. MORRIS & THRALL, Eugene, Ore.
other people trying to get them convinced as to
"I do not think that the Presidential campaign
"We do not think the coming Presidential cam-
their line of thought.
will affect business in our locality a great deal. paign will affect business, as there seems to be no
"I therefore feel that it will in no way affect Should the Democrats succeed in electing their doubt but what the present administration will
business locally. On what it will do outside of candidate for president, I think the majority of be continued.
Arkansas there is no cause for alarm either way the people on both sides have confidence in the
"The crops are a little short, but quality of
the election may result, and for that reason I will man and they will be willing to go along with grain good. Our business has been much better
be inclined to hazard the opinion that there shall their business the same as though Roosevelt had than 1903. We have just ordered our fall stock,
be no special reduction in trade because of the been elected. Our business depends greatly on and are buying quite heavily, as we expect good
election.
prices of iron and cotton. Birmingham being an trade.
"Our general crop conditions are not as favor- iron district and the price very low now makes
"Collections are as good or better than last
able as in some years. Still I think with the in- business dull. This year has not been as good as year."
creased acreage and the particular good condition last in the iron and mineral districts. We hav£
of our hill lands our crop will be really larger as a strike on now among our miners and they have
C. W. HAWLEY, Deadwood, S. D.
a whole throughout Arkansas than in any year been out of work since July 1st. Prospects for
"Presidential election will not affect the piano
crops are very flattering. However, we are hav-
previous.
business in the Black Hills, to speak of, on ac-
"I would not hesitate to compare business in ing too much rain and if it continues our cotton count of their sequestered position, and the inde-
character and volume of 3 904 with that of 1903, crop will be cut off as it causes the stalks to shed. pendent nature of their leading industry, viz.:
with the prophecy that the former will exceed In a wnole, our business has been better this year mining.
that of 1903. We have not found our collections than 1903, both in the quality of sales and the
"Crops are fair.
slower than last year. The question of placing amount of collections. I contribute that to the
"Not likely business will be quite as good as
orders in advance for stock is a matter on which good price cotton brought last winter. I look for-
for
1903.
1 would not like to advise anyone, as, of course, vard to a good fall business through our sec-
"Not much difference in collections.
tion
if
the
crops
are
not
damaged
this
month.
The
the particular local conditions or capital of the
"I do not think it advisable to place full or-
concern, its volume of business and the condition next thirty days will tell the tale.
ders yet.
of its lease or note accounts, and such other mat-
"We do not place our orders any longer than a
"At present writing 'strikes' affect us, especial-
ters of purely a local character should govern in month ahead."
ly
our cattle men more than anything else.
the consideration of that subject.
"We have had the good fortune always to be
JUNIUS HART PIANO HOUSE, New Orleans. ORTON BROS., Butte, Mont.
able to place our orders sufficiently in advance so
"In our opinion the Presidential campaign will
"Undoubtedly business in general during the
that our needs were taken care of as they arose,
have some affect on business in our locality, but Presidential campaign is more or less affected,
and that is all I can say on that subject."
not to as great an extent in the South as in the but it occurs to us that a little extra 'hustling'
middle and northern States. We look for a light on the part of the dealer can offset the
THE FILLMORE BROS. CO., Cincinnati, O.
trade
between now and election.
business depression which may be caused from
"We find that our business is not affected in the
"The general condition of the crops in our lo- the fact of the public mind being diverted away
least as yet on account of the Presidential cam-
paign. In the band business the Presidential elec- cality is above the average, though in some sec- from business, usually caused in the Presidential
tion is always a great advantage, and gives us tions we have had rain nearly every day for the year when a great many business men are prone
a larger trade than any other year. There will, past thirty days and the weeds are about as to relax their energies whenever an excuse is
no doubt, be a reduction of trade after the elec- thick as the crops and it will require a good deal presented, who simply throw up their hands and
of hard labor on the part of the farmers to keep say, 'there is nothing to be done.' This, in our
tion for some few months.
"The crops in our locality are far superior this the crops in condition to reap the benefit of the opinion is where a great mistake is made with
the business men. If the city trade is a little
start they already have.
year to those of three or four years back.
"Compared to last year, our business shows quiet go out into the by-ways and hedges and it
"Comparing our business of 1904 with 1903, we
find that there has been a large increase, and that a slight increase. Collections, however, are is surprising how often a number of pianos may
the musicians are aiming at a higher grade in slower than last year, owing to the fact that in be sold in small towns by simply going out for
music, which is evident that the general bands- some sections where the lumber interests prevail, them and we are sure that the yearly average of
men of this country are becoming educated to the
necessity of good music.
"We can't say collections are any slower this
year than last.
"We certainly believe in placing further orders
for future delivery."
BEHRBROS.&CO
PIANOS,
MARTIN BROS. CO., Springfield, Mo.
"We hardly think the coming Presidential cam-
paign will affect business in this section. We do
29th Street and I Ith Ave.,
NEW YORK.
HIGHEST STANDARD OF EXCELLENCE.