Music Trade Review
Issue: 1905 Vol. 41 N. 10 - Page 6
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
apart from other influences which might be enumerated, justify great
faith in the future. The power of piano absorption of this country
is tremendous, and has shattered all predictions made by the pessi-
mists of years ago, who believed that piano making would be in
its decadence by 1900.
D
EDWABD LYMAN DILL.
Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SP1LLANE, Managing Editor.
EXECVTIVE AND REPORTORIAL STAFF:
GEO. B. KELLER,
WM. B. WHITB,
W. N. TYLER,
EMILIB FRANCIS BAUER,
W. L. WILLIAMS,
A. J. NICKLIN,
GEO. W. QUERIPKL.
BOSTON OFFICE:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 255 Washington St.
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE:
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
CH1CAOO OFFICE
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 1362 Monadnock Block.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL:
E. C. TORREY.
ST. LOUIS OFFICE.
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGER. 425-427 Front. St.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Nadison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SVBSCRIPTION (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 B11L
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains In Its
THE ARTISTS' "Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This Is effected
without In any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
DEPARTMENT section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and therefore
augments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
PIANA T h e directory o f Ptano manufacturing firms and corporations
M«iT
V.
riANU f o u n ( j o n a n o t h e r page will be of great value, as a reference
MANVTACTUR.ER.S
f or dealers and others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NVMBER 1745 GRAMERCY.
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 9, 19O3.
O
NE does not have to look for evidences of activity in the piano
trade when passing the various local factories. On every
side they force themselves on one's attention. Teams in front,
materials pouring in, loads of pianos boxed, going forth to various
parts of the country, all give unmistakable evidences that fall trade
is fairly under way, and it will be of enormous proportions. All
indications point that way, and as we have stated in earlier issues,
the dealers who have placed their orders early will profit by their
business acumen, for there will be a shortage of pianos in some lo-
calities.
ECADENCE! Rot! We are only in our infancy as far as
piano output is concerned. The time will come, not so many
years in the future, when we can handle a half million pianos annu-
ally in this country. Under the modern selling plan, pianos have
ceased to be a luxury, and in most homes they have become an
actual necessity. New conditions, of course, will arise, but the new
conditions will not create a repression of trade in the piano line.
Companies will be formed which will supply the necessary capital
to carry the instalment paper. Within a very few years there
will be a number of great loan companies in the principal cities
which will purchase instalment paper at prices nearly approximat-
ing its real value, with of course proper deductions for interest
and risks, but still sufficient to enable dealers to press on and put
out the instruments. It will be a question of banking facilities to
carry the paper, but the loan companies will be the banking insti-
tutions.
T
HERE are some concerns to-day which act as loan institutions
for the smaller dealers, and they have, in many cases, financed
the business of numbers of their dealers. In other words, they have
acted in the capacity of loan companies, but each year will see
more of these loan companies in the field, because piano instalment
paper will form an enticing attraction to capital.
In the book business loaning has been found to be extremely
profitable, and vast sums of instalment paper have been purchased
by loan companies which have been formed for the sole purple of
carrying instalment paper. When the pessimists ask where the
money will come from to conduct the piano business the question
is at once answered by stating that it will be supplied by loan com-
panies, organized for the especial purpose of purchasing instalment
paper.
It is known to-day that the officers of one large piano concern
are directly interested, and, in fact, practically control a company
formed for the purpose which we have stated—of simply handling
the dealers' paper. It is true, the names of the officers do not appear,
but they are the power behind the throne, nevertheless.
A
WELL-KNOWN piano merchant, while discussing possibili-
ties with The Review recently, said: "There are no dull sea-
sons in the trade for the man who understands his business."
Now, there is a good deal to think about in this statement, but
is it not absolutely true when any line of merchandise is considered
in its entirety? The selling of goods, whether pianos, furniture
HERE can be no stopping the onward march of industrial
or wearing apparel, requires constant vigilance ; for, after all, the sell-
progress. Bounteous crops in all sections of the country will
ing of goods is only a part of any business undertaking, and is, as
give an impetus to business which will send it forward at a tremend-
a rule, the most visible index of success, but it is in reality nothing
ous rate, and we have advanced mightily since the dark days of a but the outcome of careful planning, calculation and preparation,
few years ago. Rapid recovery from trade depression has been
without which all seasons would be dull seasons for house and sales-
a noteworthy feature of the recent history of this country. Yet man. For this reason, it is exceedingly unwise to get into the habit
the panic of 1893, and the three dismal years that followed it, made
of talking about the seasons as having any bearing whatever upon
such a deep impression upon business men that they since have been
business.
prone to take alarm at every indication of a falling off in demand,
and to imagine that another period of slack demand, profitless prices,
E know plenty of piano merchants who figure might)' hard
and business failures is imminent.
to do business in the summer, and whose plans for sum-
It is hard for those who had a severe experience in those trying
mer campaigns are as carefully mapped out as for fall and winter
times to feel confidence in the business situation, and to believe
campaigns. Of course their output is not as large, but in order to
that such cessations of demand as are felt from time to time are
bring it up to a fair point it requires especial work on the part of
casual, and will soon give way to satisfactory activity. The moment
the management of the business.
there is a slowing up of trade men are prone to cry dull times. The
There are concerns in this trade who often place added energy
slackening of faith in the soundness of the conditions upon which
upon the selling department during the summer months, and they
the business fabric of the country rests seems unreasonable when
sell pianos and musical instruments. The man who harps on dull
the situation is satisfactory.
seasons is usually incapable of taking the broad view required to
attain substantial success, for he speaks from the standpoint of a
ONDITIONS which actively promote general business are, a part instead of the whole, and just to the extent that he indulges
steady increase in population, creative and productive energy,
in such illogical and apologetic explanations does he undermine and
and the accumulation of wealth. These factors in business develop-
weaken his whole working force—and his business.
ment are exceptionally operative in the United States. The popu-
lation of the country is increasing at a much greater rate than that
T is quite impossible that anything requisite in any line can be
which obtains in the rest of the world. The creative and productive
done at once. The fireman must get up steam before the en-
energy of our people is the admiration of other nations. No other
gineer can start his engine, but in the meantime the engineer is
country is accumulating wealth so rapidly. These three conditions,
oiling this part and that, examining and adjusting here and there.
T
W
C
I
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
apart from other influences which might be enumerated, justify great
faith in the future. The power of piano absorption of this country
is tremendous, and has shattered all predictions made by the pessi-
mists of years ago, who believed that piano making would be in
its decadence by 1900.
D
EDWABD LYMAN DILL.
Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SP1LLANE, Managing Editor.
EXECVTIVE AND REPORTORIAL STAFF:
GEO. B. KELLER,
WM. B. WHITB,
W. N. TYLER,
EMILIB FRANCIS BAUER,
W. L. WILLIAMS,
A. J. NICKLIN,
GEO. W. QUERIPKL.
BOSTON OFFICE:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 255 Washington St.
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE:
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
CH1CAOO OFFICE
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 1362 Monadnock Block.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL:
E. C. TORREY.
ST. LOUIS OFFICE.
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGER. 425-427 Front. St.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Nadison Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SVBSCRIPTION (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 B11L
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains In Its
THE ARTISTS' "Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This Is effected
without In any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
DEPARTMENT section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and therefore
augments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
PIANA T h e directory o f Ptano manufacturing firms and corporations
M«iT
V.
riANU f o u n ( j o n a n o t h e r page will be of great value, as a reference
MANVTACTUR.ER.S
f or dealers and others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NVMBER 1745 GRAMERCY.
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 9, 19O3.
O
NE does not have to look for evidences of activity in the piano
trade when passing the various local factories. On every
side they force themselves on one's attention. Teams in front,
materials pouring in, loads of pianos boxed, going forth to various
parts of the country, all give unmistakable evidences that fall trade
is fairly under way, and it will be of enormous proportions. All
indications point that way, and as we have stated in earlier issues,
the dealers who have placed their orders early will profit by their
business acumen, for there will be a shortage of pianos in some lo-
calities.
ECADENCE! Rot! We are only in our infancy as far as
piano output is concerned. The time will come, not so many
years in the future, when we can handle a half million pianos annu-
ally in this country. Under the modern selling plan, pianos have
ceased to be a luxury, and in most homes they have become an
actual necessity. New conditions, of course, will arise, but the new
conditions will not create a repression of trade in the piano line.
Companies will be formed which will supply the necessary capital
to carry the instalment paper. Within a very few years there
will be a number of great loan companies in the principal cities
which will purchase instalment paper at prices nearly approximat-
ing its real value, with of course proper deductions for interest
and risks, but still sufficient to enable dealers to press on and put
out the instruments. It will be a question of banking facilities to
carry the paper, but the loan companies will be the banking insti-
tutions.
T
HERE are some concerns to-day which act as loan institutions
for the smaller dealers, and they have, in many cases, financed
the business of numbers of their dealers. In other words, they have
acted in the capacity of loan companies, but each year will see
more of these loan companies in the field, because piano instalment
paper will form an enticing attraction to capital.
In the book business loaning has been found to be extremely
profitable, and vast sums of instalment paper have been purchased
by loan companies which have been formed for the sole purple of
carrying instalment paper. When the pessimists ask where the
money will come from to conduct the piano business the question
is at once answered by stating that it will be supplied by loan com-
panies, organized for the especial purpose of purchasing instalment
paper.
It is known to-day that the officers of one large piano concern
are directly interested, and, in fact, practically control a company
formed for the purpose which we have stated—of simply handling
the dealers' paper. It is true, the names of the officers do not appear,
but they are the power behind the throne, nevertheless.
A
WELL-KNOWN piano merchant, while discussing possibili-
ties with The Review recently, said: "There are no dull sea-
sons in the trade for the man who understands his business."
Now, there is a good deal to think about in this statement, but
is it not absolutely true when any line of merchandise is considered
in its entirety? The selling of goods, whether pianos, furniture
HERE can be no stopping the onward march of industrial
or wearing apparel, requires constant vigilance ; for, after all, the sell-
progress. Bounteous crops in all sections of the country will
ing of goods is only a part of any business undertaking, and is, as
give an impetus to business which will send it forward at a tremend-
a rule, the most visible index of success, but it is in reality nothing
ous rate, and we have advanced mightily since the dark days of a but the outcome of careful planning, calculation and preparation,
few years ago. Rapid recovery from trade depression has been
without which all seasons would be dull seasons for house and sales-
a noteworthy feature of the recent history of this country. Yet man. For this reason, it is exceedingly unwise to get into the habit
the panic of 1893, and the three dismal years that followed it, made
of talking about the seasons as having any bearing whatever upon
such a deep impression upon business men that they since have been
business.
prone to take alarm at every indication of a falling off in demand,
and to imagine that another period of slack demand, profitless prices,
E know plenty of piano merchants who figure might)' hard
and business failures is imminent.
to do business in the summer, and whose plans for sum-
It is hard for those who had a severe experience in those trying
mer campaigns are as carefully mapped out as for fall and winter
times to feel confidence in the business situation, and to believe
campaigns. Of course their output is not as large, but in order to
that such cessations of demand as are felt from time to time are
bring it up to a fair point it requires especial work on the part of
casual, and will soon give way to satisfactory activity. The moment
the management of the business.
there is a slowing up of trade men are prone to cry dull times. The
There are concerns in this trade who often place added energy
slackening of faith in the soundness of the conditions upon which
upon the selling department during the summer months, and they
the business fabric of the country rests seems unreasonable when
sell pianos and musical instruments. The man who harps on dull
the situation is satisfactory.
seasons is usually incapable of taking the broad view required to
attain substantial success, for he speaks from the standpoint of a
ONDITIONS which actively promote general business are, a part instead of the whole, and just to the extent that he indulges
steady increase in population, creative and productive energy,
in such illogical and apologetic explanations does he undermine and
and the accumulation of wealth. These factors in business develop-
weaken his whole working force—and his business.
ment are exceptionally operative in the United States. The popu-
lation of the country is increasing at a much greater rate than that
T is quite impossible that anything requisite in any line can be
which obtains in the rest of the world. The creative and productive
done at once. The fireman must get up steam before the en-
energy of our people is the admiration of other nations. No other
gineer can start his engine, but in the meantime the engineer is
country is accumulating wealth so rapidly. These three conditions,
oiling this part and that, examining and adjusting here and there.
T
W
C
I
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