Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE
6
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
Quo. B. KELLEK.
W. N. TYLKK.
F. H. THOMPSON.
EMILIE FHANCBS BACKS.
L. B. BOWEBS. B. BHITTAIN WILSON, Wsf. B. WHITE. L. J. CHAMBERLIN. A. J. NICKLIN.
REVIEW
well as those of the dealers will be protected by the establishment
of one price, and that price by the manufacturer.
We have received a number of splendid contributions, and
while there is not the slightest obligation on our part to offer a
second prize, because this was not mentioned in our offer, yet we
shall give a second prize of $10 each to E. J. Delfrasse, New
()rleans, La., and Arthur Bissell, Chicago, 111.
We regret that we are unable to assigr. • rizes to others who
have sent in deserving contributions. The- would, too, be well
worthy of reproductions in the columns of '. lie Review, but inas-
much as we made no provision in our offer f jr their retention and
publication, we have been compelled to return the various manu-
scripts to all contributors.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HAHLINQHN, 195-197 Wabasb Ave.
TELEPHONES : Central 414 ; Automatic 8643
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE: MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL: ST. LOUIS OFFICE
BJKNEST L. WAITT, 278A Tremont St.
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
A. W. SHAW.
CHAS. N. VAN BUKEN.
SAN FRANCISCO OFFICE: ALFRED METZGEB, 425-427 Front St.
CINCINNATI, O.:
LONDON, ENGLAND:
NINA PUGH-SMITH.
09 Baslnghall St., E. C.
W. Lionel Sturdy, Manager.
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 pec
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; opposltp
reading matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
Directory ol Piano The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporation
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
Manufacturers for dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal.Charleston. Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal. .St. Louis Exposition, 1904
GoldMedol.Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE—NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
Cable address: "Elblll New York."
NEW
YORK,
SEPTEMBER
T,
1906
I
T was some years ago when The Review first began the con-
tinuous advocacy of one price, and at that time we offered a
series of cash prizes in order to stimulate interest in this subject by
arousing the argumentative element in the minds of our readers.
We offered a series of prizes amounting to one hundred dollars
and the publicity which we gave this subject created widespread
interest which has never been permitted to lag. This course has
been consistently held without resorting to flamboyant methods.
For over a year The Review has advocated the establishing by
the manufacturers of the prices at which their pianos should be
offered at retail, and in the advocacy of this subject we stood alone,
but persistency won and later the matter was considered of sufficient
importance to be taken up by the National Association, and the
retiring president did not hesitate to commend The Review for its
attitude, and as a result, resolutions favoring the absolute establish-
ment of a one price system fixed by the manufacturers in their
contract with the retailer, was unanimously passed before the
close of the Washington sessions, and we have no record of any
other publication urging its adoption.
T
EDITORIAL
T VACATIONS are nearly over, and next week thousands of
V
men in all parts of the country will have returned to their
respective business posts renewed in health and vigor, ready for the
active prosecution of business affairs.
Vacations are needed, for every man requires some rest from
the strain of business which grows more arduous and exacting each
year. Relief at the seashore and mountain side is necessary, and
when the vacationists return they go at their work with a determi-
nation and vigor which augurs well for the future of their enter-
prises.
This fall everything points to a most prosperous season, and
one which will begin very early. The'crops are assured, many of
them harvested. Good prices are certain and the business condi-
tions must be satisfactory to piano men in all sections of the country.
There will be from present indications a dearth of pianos—at
least appearances so predicate at the present time. The Middle West
will demand more instruments than ever before in its history. The
Southern call also will be emphatic, and from shipments which are
constantly being made to California, it is shown that earthquake
and fire in one locality did not in the slightest crush the onward
march of a great people. In New England there are evidences of
an early demand for pianos, the factories are going ahead at full
speed in the various manufacturing cities, which will mean that the
distribution of wages will be large and steady, therefore people will
be in a splendid position to purchase pianos and other articles of
home comfort.
W
E take pleasure in presenting in another part of this paper
an article written by C. S. Peregrine, a piano dealer of
Colville, Wash., to whom is awarded the $25 prize which The
Review offered for the best article embodying arguments in sup-
port of the one price system.
Mr. Peregrine is a practical man, having had many years of
experience in music trade affairs in various sections of the country.
He advances sound reasons why the manufacturers' interests as
O-DAY there are large numbers of manufacturers as well as
retailers who believe that the stability of the piano trade will
be best preserved by the manufacturers themselves fixing the prices
at which their instruments shall be offered at retail. One price in
all lines of merchandise is commonly accepted as meaning business
honesty, and there is no reason why the piano trade should fail to
recognize those principles which exist in all other mercantile lines.
It is generally admitted that there is no room for argument
on the one price system; and conceding that, who is better qualified
to fix the price than the man w T ho manufactures the product? This
sentiment favoring one price must and will grow, because it is right,
and correct principles in business are bound to survive.
PREACHMENT by Elbert Hubbard on "The Folly of Listen-
A
ing to the Credit Man" contains special reference to piano
buying. This has been used by one of the great department stores
which sells for cash only. Fra Elbertus says the credit system is
the most insidious form of borrowing money. We may quote a
part of his preachment, which is as follows:
"The evil to which I refer is the credit account and the 'easy
payment plan,' the siren song which lures us on to buying things
we do not need. Of all the snares to entrap mortals on their little
journey from the cradle to the grave I do not know of any that
cause more tears and heartaches than the credit account and the in-
stalment plan.
"A credit account is the most insidious form of borrowing
money. When you don't pay the merchant at once for the goods
you buy from him you arc borrowing money from him, and dis-
guised in the price is much more than the legal rate of interest.
"Better to borrow the actual cash and know how much you
have to pay for the accommodation.
"But it is better still to practice self-denial and go without the
thing you want till you have the cash to pay for it.
"I understand how one might buy food on credit, because food
is necessary to sustain life, but the fact that people buy pianos,
carpets, furniture and books on the instalment plan is only proof
of their gullibility.
"Debt is a rope to your foot, cockleburrs in your hair and a
clothespin on your tongue.
"The man in debt for things he could have done without is in a
continual ducking-stool of disgrace. The fact that if you should