Music Trade Review
Issue: 1906 Vol. 42 N. 10 - Page 6
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
MEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
GBO. B. KELLER.
L. B. BOWERS.
W. N. TILER.
WM. B. WHITE.
F. H. THOMPSON.
EMILIE FRANCES BADER.
L. J. CHAMBERLIN.
A. J. NICKLIN.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
K. P. VAN HARLINQEK, 195-197 Wabash Ave.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8C-13.
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE: MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL: ST. LOUIS OFFICE
BOSTON OFFICE:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 173 Tremont St.
R. W. KADFFMAK.
E. C. TORREY.
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGER, 425-427 Front St.
CINCINNATI, O.:
NINA PUGH-SMITH.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
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.
Directory ol Piano
Manufacturers
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
for dealers and others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
.NEW
YORK,
MARCH
10, 1906
EDITORIAL
WhLL-KXOW'X manufacturer remarked recently to The
Review, "I have arranged for the head of the practical
department of my business to visit a few of our best known agencies
yearly. He has already made one trip, and from the results reached
I feel that I have inaugurated a plan which will prove beneficial
to me as well as to the dealers who purchase my instruments."
No doubt much good can come from a meeting between the
selling and creative forces in any industry. They can easily discuss
points at a short range, and perhaps smooth over difficulties more
easily in a five-minute conversation than can be accomplished
through weeks of correspondence.
There are some dealers who make unreasonable demands upon
manufacturers, and from the tone of some of their communications
it would seem that they knew more about piano-making than
the proprietor himself. They can make innumerable suggestions
as to this point and that, and what should be done for the better-
ment of the piano, and still when they meet those who can answer
all of their objections from the viewpoints of the practical man, a
good many of their objections and complaints disappear like a wreith
of mist before a morning sun. The practical side of the business
is one which needs careful attention.
A
T
HE federal bankruptcy law is now in serious danger and unless
its friends among the business men of the country come to its
support it may be stricken from the statute books.
The House Judiciary Committee, yielding to pressure brought
to bear upon it by. the authorities, have nearly a dozen bills pro-
vided for the repeal of the law, and have decided to take the question
up at a special meeting.
The advocates of repeal are extremely aggressive, and in view
of the experience of the committee in the last Congress, it is quite
possible that a bill may be reported to wipe out this important
statute. Much will depend upon the activity shown by the various
credit men's associations, and other organizations of business men
who strongly approve of the law, and earnestly desire its retention.
OME time last year The Review suggested that the music
traders all over the country should interest themselves in an
important matter which might become a great factor in changing
trade centers.
We refer to the passage of the Parcel Post bill, and in a series
of articles we endeavored to show how it would be possible for the
S
REVIEW
great catalogue houses, through the machinery offered them by
the Government, to deliver packages thousands of miles from
homes, at a cost out of all comparison with express rates, thus com-
peting with the retail merchant in small localities, much to his
disadvantage.
We have received from a number of dealers communications
stating that they have already written their Congressmen, urging
them to vote against the passage of this measure, which unques-
tionably would operate disadvantageous^ to the interests of the
regular merchant.
T
H E R E are those who believe firmly that the great catalogue
houses are behind this scheme, and if successful it will mean
that they have a greater power than ever, and one which they can
control for the cheap dissemination of their wares to the uttermost
points of the nation.
This is a matter which should not be overlooked, and every
dealer can be a factor in opposing it, if he so desires. The mail-
order houses are engineered by brainy, intelligent and progressive
men, and they are not likely to overlook any point which will assist
in their business augmentation.
In our mail within the last week we found communications
which show that some men in this trade do not favor organization
against the mail-order houses. They say that this method would
be both unbusinesslike, and at the same time favorable to the cata-
logue houses themselves.
In the first place they affirm that it would be a practical admis-
sion that the mail-order houses were succeeding in their chosen
field. Combinations in any line are hardly ever effective, for while
every man undoubtedly has a right to purchase goods wherever he
pleases, he has not the right to dictate as to where and how another
man shall sell it. The moment such an organization adopts the
policy of boycotting, or coercion, it defeats its own ends.
S
( )ME well-known men in the trade expressed themselves in prac-
tically the above words, and there are others who favor, how-
ever, an organization which shall encourage a boycotting of all
instruments made by concerns which sell to catalogue houses. They
say that if the concerns manufacture instruments which are offered
for sale for $87.50 by the catalogue house, that the same men who
help to keep alive this kind of competition should not be supported
by the regular trade.
Some of them have stated unhesitatingly that they would
gladly support such a move. Well, it is a good subject to argue
upon, and as association times promise to be lively in Washington
this spring, it might be an excellent idea for some good debater
to take this topic: "Can a manufacturer of pianos sell to both cata-
logue houses and to the regular dealers?"
It seems that an antagonistic sentiment of this kind is but
natural, for the regular trade in any industry is sure to become
aroused sooner or later against a competition which is bound to be
hurtful. And they will not feel like patronizing the men who keep
it alive unless those men are absolutely necessary to their own
business existence.
P
IANO manufacturers have been from time to time put to all
sorts of expense by reason of the present form of guarantee
which we have long since outgrown as an industry. They are
having troubles in other lines than our own regarding guarantees.
The subjoined letter we have received from a Review reader in
another industry. He says :
"We realize that the word guarantee is subject to much abuse.
We are so accustomed to seeing at the conclusion of advertisements,
possibly of painless dentists or chiropodists of high degree, 'satisfac-
tion guaranteed' that the form has almost lost its value and signi-
ficance for us, but where it comes in as a part of the consideration of
the properties of an intricate machine for instance it should be as
valuable as ever.
"To cite a concrete example for the benefit of your readers:
We had occasion to purchase some typewriters lately under the
assurance of the company that they were fully guaranteed for a
year. The machines were duly installed, and when we called for
the guarantee, it read this way: 'We hereby guarantee Typewriter
No.
to be free from imperfections in material and workman-
ship, and agree with the purchaser to make good by repair or re-
placement, when delivered at our factory, transportation charges
THE
MUSIC TRADE
MEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
GBO. B. KELLER.
L. B. BOWERS.
W. N. TILER.
WM. B. WHITE.
F. H. THOMPSON.
EMILIE FRANCES BADER.
L. J. CHAMBERLIN.
A. J. NICKLIN.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
K. P. VAN HARLINQEK, 195-197 Wabash Ave.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8C-13.
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE: MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL: ST. LOUIS OFFICE
BOSTON OFFICE:
ERNEST L. WAITT, 173 Tremont St.
R. W. KADFFMAK.
E. C. TORREY.
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGER, 425-427 Front St.
CINCINNATI, O.:
NINA PUGH-SMITH.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
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.
Directory ol Piano
Manufacturers
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
for dealers and others.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
.NEW
YORK,
MARCH
10, 1906
EDITORIAL
WhLL-KXOW'X manufacturer remarked recently to The
Review, "I have arranged for the head of the practical
department of my business to visit a few of our best known agencies
yearly. He has already made one trip, and from the results reached
I feel that I have inaugurated a plan which will prove beneficial
to me as well as to the dealers who purchase my instruments."
No doubt much good can come from a meeting between the
selling and creative forces in any industry. They can easily discuss
points at a short range, and perhaps smooth over difficulties more
easily in a five-minute conversation than can be accomplished
through weeks of correspondence.
There are some dealers who make unreasonable demands upon
manufacturers, and from the tone of some of their communications
it would seem that they knew more about piano-making than
the proprietor himself. They can make innumerable suggestions
as to this point and that, and what should be done for the better-
ment of the piano, and still when they meet those who can answer
all of their objections from the viewpoints of the practical man, a
good many of their objections and complaints disappear like a wreith
of mist before a morning sun. The practical side of the business
is one which needs careful attention.
A
T
HE federal bankruptcy law is now in serious danger and unless
its friends among the business men of the country come to its
support it may be stricken from the statute books.
The House Judiciary Committee, yielding to pressure brought
to bear upon it by. the authorities, have nearly a dozen bills pro-
vided for the repeal of the law, and have decided to take the question
up at a special meeting.
The advocates of repeal are extremely aggressive, and in view
of the experience of the committee in the last Congress, it is quite
possible that a bill may be reported to wipe out this important
statute. Much will depend upon the activity shown by the various
credit men's associations, and other organizations of business men
who strongly approve of the law, and earnestly desire its retention.
OME time last year The Review suggested that the music
traders all over the country should interest themselves in an
important matter which might become a great factor in changing
trade centers.
We refer to the passage of the Parcel Post bill, and in a series
of articles we endeavored to show how it would be possible for the
S
REVIEW
great catalogue houses, through the machinery offered them by
the Government, to deliver packages thousands of miles from
homes, at a cost out of all comparison with express rates, thus com-
peting with the retail merchant in small localities, much to his
disadvantage.
We have received from a number of dealers communications
stating that they have already written their Congressmen, urging
them to vote against the passage of this measure, which unques-
tionably would operate disadvantageous^ to the interests of the
regular merchant.
T
H E R E are those who believe firmly that the great catalogue
houses are behind this scheme, and if successful it will mean
that they have a greater power than ever, and one which they can
control for the cheap dissemination of their wares to the uttermost
points of the nation.
This is a matter which should not be overlooked, and every
dealer can be a factor in opposing it, if he so desires. The mail-
order houses are engineered by brainy, intelligent and progressive
men, and they are not likely to overlook any point which will assist
in their business augmentation.
In our mail within the last week we found communications
which show that some men in this trade do not favor organization
against the mail-order houses. They say that this method would
be both unbusinesslike, and at the same time favorable to the cata-
logue houses themselves.
In the first place they affirm that it would be a practical admis-
sion that the mail-order houses were succeeding in their chosen
field. Combinations in any line are hardly ever effective, for while
every man undoubtedly has a right to purchase goods wherever he
pleases, he has not the right to dictate as to where and how another
man shall sell it. The moment such an organization adopts the
policy of boycotting, or coercion, it defeats its own ends.
S
( )ME well-known men in the trade expressed themselves in prac-
tically the above words, and there are others who favor, how-
ever, an organization which shall encourage a boycotting of all
instruments made by concerns which sell to catalogue houses. They
say that if the concerns manufacture instruments which are offered
for sale for $87.50 by the catalogue house, that the same men who
help to keep alive this kind of competition should not be supported
by the regular trade.
Some of them have stated unhesitatingly that they would
gladly support such a move. Well, it is a good subject to argue
upon, and as association times promise to be lively in Washington
this spring, it might be an excellent idea for some good debater
to take this topic: "Can a manufacturer of pianos sell to both cata-
logue houses and to the regular dealers?"
It seems that an antagonistic sentiment of this kind is but
natural, for the regular trade in any industry is sure to become
aroused sooner or later against a competition which is bound to be
hurtful. And they will not feel like patronizing the men who keep
it alive unless those men are absolutely necessary to their own
business existence.
P
IANO manufacturers have been from time to time put to all
sorts of expense by reason of the present form of guarantee
which we have long since outgrown as an industry. They are
having troubles in other lines than our own regarding guarantees.
The subjoined letter we have received from a Review reader in
another industry. He says :
"We realize that the word guarantee is subject to much abuse.
We are so accustomed to seeing at the conclusion of advertisements,
possibly of painless dentists or chiropodists of high degree, 'satisfac-
tion guaranteed' that the form has almost lost its value and signi-
ficance for us, but where it comes in as a part of the consideration of
the properties of an intricate machine for instance it should be as
valuable as ever.
"To cite a concrete example for the benefit of your readers:
We had occasion to purchase some typewriters lately under the
assurance of the company that they were fully guaranteed for a
year. The machines were duly installed, and when we called for
the guarantee, it read this way: 'We hereby guarantee Typewriter
No.
to be free from imperfections in material and workman-
ship, and agree with the purchaser to make good by repair or re-
placement, when delivered at our factory, transportation charges
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).