Music Trade Review
Issue: 1906 Vol. 43 N. 7 - Page 6
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
GBO. B. KELLER.
W. N. TYLER.
F. H . THOMPSON.
BMILIB FRANCES BAUER.
L. E. BOWERS. B. BRITTAIN WILSON, War. B. WHITE. L. J. CHAMBERLIN. A. J. NICKLIN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINQBN, 195-197 Wabash Ave.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE: MINNEAPOLIS and ST.PAUL: ST. LOUIS OFFICE
BBNKST L. WAITT, 278A Trcmont St.
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
A. W. SHAW.
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGEK, 425-427 Front St.
CINCINNATI, O.:
LONDON, ENGLAND:
NINA PUQH-SMITH.
00 Bnslnghall St., K. C.
W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager.
Publlsbed 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 dlfcount Is allowed. Advertising Pages, $50.00; opposite
reading matter, $76.00.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
Directory ol Piano The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
~
; ~
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
Manufacturers
f o r dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prim
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver MedaZ.Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal..St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold 3/edal.LewIs-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE—NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
Cable address: "Elblll New York."
NEW
YORK,
AUGUST
18, 1906
EDITORIAL
O
UR special trade reports for the week which reach this office
from almost every section of the country, indicate that the
West has taken on greater trade headway in the last few days than
at any time during August for several years. This unusual activity
so early in the season is the result of the influences directly trace-
able to the crops now being harvested, or immediately in sight. The
Government reports of the week in corn crops has had the effect
of stimulating business, for whatever fears the men with pessimistic
ideas had, were dispelled when the figures were announced. There
is no doubt now, that this is to be the greatest year in the history of
the West, and that the piano men in that specially favored section
will reap a liberal reward for their activity.
M
ONEY needs have become more insistent since the reports
show that the wheat and corn crops are not only the largest
on record, but will be harvested early. Calls on Wall street have
been placed as high as 5 per cent., which is the biggest figure
reached in the middle of August since 1902. Several influences
have been worked to advance these figures in the West, among them
the looting of the Milwaukee Bank, Chicago, which was closed re-
cently ; the preliminary call for crop moving, and the persistent
heavy demands on credits the country over as the result of big
increase in all branches of business and industrv evervwhere.
I
T behooves piano merchants in every section of the country to
be in readiness for fall trade, because from present indications,
there is going to be an unusual demand for instruments, and there
is going to be a car famine which will delay shipments in every line
of product. Traffic directors of the railroad systems throughout
the country agree that the fiscal year upon which they entered a
month ago, will be one of continuous prosperity, due to the activity
in the industrial world, and they predict a big car famine when the
crops are being moved.
For several years the railroads have purchased new freight
cars, and yet they have no surplus of equipment. The car shops
are still full of orders, and the roads must be content to await their
REVIEW
turn in getting their necessities supplied. With these conditions
prevailing, it behooves the wise piano man to get his stock ware-
roomed as quickly as possible. We have passed the middle of Aug-
ust, and soon there will be an enormous demand upon the freight-
carrying capacity of the various roads, and as a consequence ship-
ments must be delayed. The time is now to get prepared for the
fall trade. Delays are not only dangerous, but they are apt to
cause a loss of business. The Review advises its readers every-
where to be in a state of preparedness as speedily as possible.
O
UR trade abroad is steadily growing in piano players and talk-
ing machines, but there is but little increase in the demand
for American pianos in Europe. The people there prefer that
which is termed "the cottage piano," which is much smaller archi-
tecturally, and possesses a tone of small volume when compared
with our large American products. These creations can be manu-
factured cheaper in Europe than they can in America, where the
wages are much higher.
The general conditions of the music trade in England and on
the Continent are however fairly satisfactory. The English fac-
tories are not as active as the business establishments in Germany.
In fact, German\- is forging ahead industrially at a rate which is
surprising to all who have watched this country's marvelous ad-
vance since the Franco-Prussian War. So active are all industries
that there is really a dearth of workmen in Germany, and many of
the factories are running overtime. The German manufacturers
are shipping pianos in great numbers to England, and to South
America as well.
T
HE retail conditions in Germany are so wholly different from
our own trade environment that they are not to be compared.
Outside of three or four important German cities, there is no piano
dealer employing more than one man as an assistant in his estab-
lishment and few there are who have even an assistant. The Ger-
man piano man not only does his own selling and bookkeeping, but
attends to his correspondence as well. In this latter he does not
even have the aid of a stenographer. He is content to plod along
this way for years, retiring from trade shortly after reaching middle
age with enough to live on with comfort to the end of his days.
As far as big retail piano establishments go, they do not exist save
in rare instances in the largest German cities.
The retail dealer in Germany does not believe in the benefits of
advertising, and rarely indeed do we find piano advertisements ap-
pearing in the papers outside of a few of the leading cities of the
German Empire.
I
N France similar conditions exist in the retail line, but as far
as manufacturing is concerned the business energy in that
country does not compare in the remotest degree with the German
conditions.
Notwithstanding the marvelous wealth of the French, which
is fairly distributed among its people, we may say that last year
there were manufactured only thirteen thousand pianos in the en-
tire Republic of France, less than the output of one of our Amer-
ican factories. This seems a remarkable condition, when we con-
sider that France has a population of over forty millions. There
are only two or' three French piano manufacturers whose products
occupy high positions. These concerns have been long established
and the proprietors have acquired great wealth and now exhibit
apparent indifference as to the further developments of the manu-
facturing enterprises which they control. They get good prices
for their instruments, and at the end of the year ample money has
been made to satisfy the owners who already have large means at
their command. There are no new manufacturers coming along
to increase the numbers, and we may say that the tonal develop-
ment of the French piano has practically ceased. There are few
acoustical experiments going on in any of the factories. The
manufacturers seem perfectly content with the present status of the
piano, and if we study the record of French inventions it will be
seen that there have been few recent contributions intended to ad-
vance the piano.
T
HE French factories, as a rule, are far behind even what we
may term the non-progressive institutions in this country in
their mechanical equipment. The discipline, too, which is in evi-
dence in this country is not observable in Paris factories. There
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
GBO. B. KELLER.
W. N. TYLER.
F. H . THOMPSON.
BMILIB FRANCES BAUER.
L. E. BOWERS. B. BRITTAIN WILSON, War. B. WHITE. L. J. CHAMBERLIN. A. J. NICKLIN.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINQBN, 195-197 Wabash Ave.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE: MINNEAPOLIS and ST.PAUL: ST. LOUIS OFFICE
BBNKST L. WAITT, 278A Trcmont St.
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
A. W. SHAW.
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGEK, 425-427 Front St.
CINCINNATI, O.:
LONDON, ENGLAND:
NINA PUQH-SMITH.
00 Bnslnghall St., K. C.
W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager.
Publlsbed 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 dlfcount Is allowed. Advertising Pages, $50.00; opposite
reading matter, $76.00.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
Directory ol Piano The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
~
; ~
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
Manufacturers
f o r dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prim
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver MedaZ.Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal..St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold 3/edal.LewIs-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE—NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
Cable address: "Elblll New York."
NEW
YORK,
AUGUST
18, 1906
EDITORIAL
O
UR special trade reports for the week which reach this office
from almost every section of the country, indicate that the
West has taken on greater trade headway in the last few days than
at any time during August for several years. This unusual activity
so early in the season is the result of the influences directly trace-
able to the crops now being harvested, or immediately in sight. The
Government reports of the week in corn crops has had the effect
of stimulating business, for whatever fears the men with pessimistic
ideas had, were dispelled when the figures were announced. There
is no doubt now, that this is to be the greatest year in the history of
the West, and that the piano men in that specially favored section
will reap a liberal reward for their activity.
M
ONEY needs have become more insistent since the reports
show that the wheat and corn crops are not only the largest
on record, but will be harvested early. Calls on Wall street have
been placed as high as 5 per cent., which is the biggest figure
reached in the middle of August since 1902. Several influences
have been worked to advance these figures in the West, among them
the looting of the Milwaukee Bank, Chicago, which was closed re-
cently ; the preliminary call for crop moving, and the persistent
heavy demands on credits the country over as the result of big
increase in all branches of business and industrv evervwhere.
I
T behooves piano merchants in every section of the country to
be in readiness for fall trade, because from present indications,
there is going to be an unusual demand for instruments, and there
is going to be a car famine which will delay shipments in every line
of product. Traffic directors of the railroad systems throughout
the country agree that the fiscal year upon which they entered a
month ago, will be one of continuous prosperity, due to the activity
in the industrial world, and they predict a big car famine when the
crops are being moved.
For several years the railroads have purchased new freight
cars, and yet they have no surplus of equipment. The car shops
are still full of orders, and the roads must be content to await their
REVIEW
turn in getting their necessities supplied. With these conditions
prevailing, it behooves the wise piano man to get his stock ware-
roomed as quickly as possible. We have passed the middle of Aug-
ust, and soon there will be an enormous demand upon the freight-
carrying capacity of the various roads, and as a consequence ship-
ments must be delayed. The time is now to get prepared for the
fall trade. Delays are not only dangerous, but they are apt to
cause a loss of business. The Review advises its readers every-
where to be in a state of preparedness as speedily as possible.
O
UR trade abroad is steadily growing in piano players and talk-
ing machines, but there is but little increase in the demand
for American pianos in Europe. The people there prefer that
which is termed "the cottage piano," which is much smaller archi-
tecturally, and possesses a tone of small volume when compared
with our large American products. These creations can be manu-
factured cheaper in Europe than they can in America, where the
wages are much higher.
The general conditions of the music trade in England and on
the Continent are however fairly satisfactory. The English fac-
tories are not as active as the business establishments in Germany.
In fact, German\- is forging ahead industrially at a rate which is
surprising to all who have watched this country's marvelous ad-
vance since the Franco-Prussian War. So active are all industries
that there is really a dearth of workmen in Germany, and many of
the factories are running overtime. The German manufacturers
are shipping pianos in great numbers to England, and to South
America as well.
T
HE retail conditions in Germany are so wholly different from
our own trade environment that they are not to be compared.
Outside of three or four important German cities, there is no piano
dealer employing more than one man as an assistant in his estab-
lishment and few there are who have even an assistant. The Ger-
man piano man not only does his own selling and bookkeeping, but
attends to his correspondence as well. In this latter he does not
even have the aid of a stenographer. He is content to plod along
this way for years, retiring from trade shortly after reaching middle
age with enough to live on with comfort to the end of his days.
As far as big retail piano establishments go, they do not exist save
in rare instances in the largest German cities.
The retail dealer in Germany does not believe in the benefits of
advertising, and rarely indeed do we find piano advertisements ap-
pearing in the papers outside of a few of the leading cities of the
German Empire.
I
N France similar conditions exist in the retail line, but as far
as manufacturing is concerned the business energy in that
country does not compare in the remotest degree with the German
conditions.
Notwithstanding the marvelous wealth of the French, which
is fairly distributed among its people, we may say that last year
there were manufactured only thirteen thousand pianos in the en-
tire Republic of France, less than the output of one of our Amer-
ican factories. This seems a remarkable condition, when we con-
sider that France has a population of over forty millions. There
are only two or' three French piano manufacturers whose products
occupy high positions. These concerns have been long established
and the proprietors have acquired great wealth and now exhibit
apparent indifference as to the further developments of the manu-
facturing enterprises which they control. They get good prices
for their instruments, and at the end of the year ample money has
been made to satisfy the owners who already have large means at
their command. There are no new manufacturers coming along
to increase the numbers, and we may say that the tonal develop-
ment of the French piano has practically ceased. There are few
acoustical experiments going on in any of the factories. The
manufacturers seem perfectly content with the present status of the
piano, and if we study the record of French inventions it will be
seen that there have been few recent contributions intended to ad-
vance the piano.
T
HE French factories, as a rule, are far behind even what we
may term the non-progressive institutions in this country in
their mechanical equipment. The discipline, too, which is in evi-
dence in this country is not observable in Paris factories. There
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).