Music Trade Review
Issue: 1907 Vol. 44 N. 14 - Page 42
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TRADE CONTINUES SATISFACTORY
With the Small
Goods People—Prices of
Foreign Goods Remain Unsettled—Selling
Terms and Discounts Discussed—The Situa-
tion Analyzed.
Trade has suffered no slump of any kind with
the small goods contingent; on the contrary,
business is not only holding its own, but is up to
the expectations of the most sanguine. Prices on
foreign goods remain unsettled up to a point,
yet no curtailment in orders has ensued, though
something of the kind was among the possibili-
ties, as heretofore referred to in this column of
The Review. Invoices covering pretty nearly all
the staple lines are coming in more promptly,
but stock is not accumulating as rapidly as is
wished, considering the brisk spring trade now
in evidence.
Advices from German small goods headquar-
ters are of an unsatisfactory nature, so far as
prices are concerned. The impression that ex-
porters are taking advantage of the situation
to raise the cost of musical merchandise to the
American trade is resented abroad. Facts and
figures are quoted to justify their position, with
which importers are familiar. The European
producer, however, having about all the orders
he can swing, is not loath to display an inde-
pendence far from palatable, hence more or less
friction has ensued. This will doubtless sub-
side as the season advances, and by the time
orders for fall delivery are accepted the alleged
misunderstanding will have been cleared up, and,
like Richard's trouble, will be in the deep bosom
of the ocean buried.
Selling terms and discounts, matters of peren-
nial moment, are again being discussed in influ-
ential quarters. According to the opinions ex-
pressed on the subject, very few dealers seem to
be aware of the real meaning of the term "2 off
10 days"; or else they do not care to observe
them to the letter, and take all kinds of liber-
ties with the term, even sixty days, and then
discounting. Time was when prices were such
as to allow buyers to take off the two per cent,
discount after the expiration of the limit period
and still permit the wholesaler to make a profit;
but, with the very sharp competition, that day
has gone by. Another topic referred to, in lan-
guage more forcible than elegant is that of
many dealers who avoid living up to the terms
of shipment by offering some such trifling excuse
as "the goods did not arrive," or "we could not The Steinnusz button manufacturers have in-
check up your invoice until to-day," or "the creased their prices 10 per cent. The cabinet
goods were damaged in shipment," or "they were makers, 30 per cent. The Casualty Co., which
lost on the way and we waited to see the goods insures the employer in case of accident to em-
before paying." These excuses are not made by ploye, have raised their premium 10 per cent.
up-to-date dealers, and when they materialize, Brass has been raised to 8 kronen ($1.63). Cop-
the jobbers and importers aver, the guilty party per wire to 4.50 kronen (90 cents); copper rolled
should have his name entered up in the "bear ware raised to 10 kronen ($2.03) for every hun-
watching" list.
dred kilo (200 pounds)."
GREAT DITSON BUSINESS.
LESTER AND MONARCH ACCORDEONS.
This week Buegeleisen & Jacobson, New York,
received upward of sixty cases of miscellaneous
goods, with a preponderance of Lester and Mon-
arch accordeons, from Europe. A like invoice is
Every one of the Ditson houses—Oliver Ditson due to arrive within a few days. Lou Buegelei-
Co., Boston; Chas. H. Ditson & Co., New York; sen is contemplating "hitting the trail" shortly,
J. E. Ditson & Co., Philadelphia—have broken and R. Berg will return to his field of usefulness
records for each month, and the mark hitherto probably next week. Harry J. Metzler keeps
attained was hign at that. The current year things moving in the city and nearby trade. The
each of the small goods departments in these chief and I. E. Harris, head of the office force,
respective branches are setting a hot pace, and with a number of capable assistants, take care
sales are mounting up with neatness and dis- of a swell house business.
patch.
The new building of Chas. H. Ditson & Co.,
THE KOCH SPECIALTIES.
8, 10 and 12 East 34th street, New York, is
rapidly nearing completion. The store and three
The specialties of the house of Ands. Koch, of
lofts to be occupied by the company will be in Trossingen, Germany, whose American head-
readiness for the removal from 867 Broadway quarters are at 296 Broadway, New York, have
near the close of the month, as Manager Cragin been receiving an unusual amount of attention
stated, "we have got to move."
from the jobbers and dealers in every section of
the country. One of their popular instruments
NO "LEMONS" FOR AMERICAN IMPORTERS. is their "Signal" harmonica, and it is seen in
practically every store where these instruments
are sold. Their construction is of the high qual-
Brunndoebra, Saxony, March 21, 1907.
ity that characterizes all the Koch output, and
Editor The Music Trade Review, New York:
With reference to the article written in your the tone and finish leaves nothing to be desired.
last edition, No. 10 (March 9),. page 48, under
the heading, "No Falling Away of Business,"
BIG DEMAND FOR PIANO SCARFS.
Musical Merchandise Department, I beg to hand
you herewith a report from one of our leading
"The demand for piano scarfs this spring is
papers, to show you how the manufacturers over the greatest in the history of the trade," said
here are threatened, on the other. hand. This Charles Kaffenberger, of the firm of Kaffenberger
report is not newspaper talk, but is a fact; and & Cantor to The Review the past week. "The
I cannot understand why some people in the piano dealers who have ordered early in the
States think that the small goods manufacturers season were wise, as they took advantage of the
abroad are "handing the importers a lemon."
Every One of Their Houses Show a Substantial
Increase in Business Over Last Year—Their
New York Building.
Yours faithfully,
MAX MEISEL,
For Louis Meisel.
The translation of the extract from the news-
paper of March 20 referred to follows:
"Graslitz, Bohemia, Austria.—The past week
presented us with another increase in prices.
THE TRIO CORNET
THE HAMBURG 20th CENTURY"™.
MILANO ORGANETTO ACCORDEONS"
FOR • *
PIANO
STOOLS
BENCHES
CHAIRS
SCARFS
COVERS
Weaver's New Method of
Instruction for the Reed
Organ. 38,000 copies sold
in 10 months.
WEAVER & CO.
o. D. 195-197
Wabasta Avenue, Chicago
»• "2 2 2 222 25"j 5553!•••••••••••!!•••••5!•SIS••£•••5!
WM. R.GRATZ IMPORT COMPANY, 35 and 37 West 31st St., New York
c. F .
& CO.'S
MAR1
GUITARS and MANDOLINS
Re no tune d
Sold only by BVEGELEISEN ® JACOBSON
UrtI Ji!r,i
1
|, &o . New York
Eagle Brand Drum and Banjo Heads; 20th Century Drums,
Rex Banjos, Mandolins and Guitars.
FACTORS
THE TRADE,
Prof. Hugo Heermann
The Eminent Violinist and
BLACK DIAMOND Strings
GHNTUDMBN :—
I am sailing to Australia next week, and
shall pass through New York between th« 5th
and 8th of May ("Blucher," Hamburg-Amerlka
Line).
Will you send enclosed order for Violin Q
•tringa BLACK DIAMOND to address given be-
low, or do you have a Dealer's shop in New
York where I might find your strings? If BO
please let me know at the same addresi.
The strings are most excellent.
Yours sincerely,
H. HEERMANN.
Frankfort o/M., April, 1905.
NATIONAL MUSICAL STRING COMPANY
Hew Brunswick, New Jersey
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
TRADE CONTINUES SATISFACTORY
With the Small
Goods People—Prices of
Foreign Goods Remain Unsettled—Selling
Terms and Discounts Discussed—The Situa-
tion Analyzed.
Trade has suffered no slump of any kind with
the small goods contingent; on the contrary,
business is not only holding its own, but is up to
the expectations of the most sanguine. Prices on
foreign goods remain unsettled up to a point,
yet no curtailment in orders has ensued, though
something of the kind was among the possibili-
ties, as heretofore referred to in this column of
The Review. Invoices covering pretty nearly all
the staple lines are coming in more promptly,
but stock is not accumulating as rapidly as is
wished, considering the brisk spring trade now
in evidence.
Advices from German small goods headquar-
ters are of an unsatisfactory nature, so far as
prices are concerned. The impression that ex-
porters are taking advantage of the situation
to raise the cost of musical merchandise to the
American trade is resented abroad. Facts and
figures are quoted to justify their position, with
which importers are familiar. The European
producer, however, having about all the orders
he can swing, is not loath to display an inde-
pendence far from palatable, hence more or less
friction has ensued. This will doubtless sub-
side as the season advances, and by the time
orders for fall delivery are accepted the alleged
misunderstanding will have been cleared up, and,
like Richard's trouble, will be in the deep bosom
of the ocean buried.
Selling terms and discounts, matters of peren-
nial moment, are again being discussed in influ-
ential quarters. According to the opinions ex-
pressed on the subject, very few dealers seem to
be aware of the real meaning of the term "2 off
10 days"; or else they do not care to observe
them to the letter, and take all kinds of liber-
ties with the term, even sixty days, and then
discounting. Time was when prices were such
as to allow buyers to take off the two per cent,
discount after the expiration of the limit period
and still permit the wholesaler to make a profit;
but, with the very sharp competition, that day
has gone by. Another topic referred to, in lan-
guage more forcible than elegant is that of
many dealers who avoid living up to the terms
of shipment by offering some such trifling excuse
as "the goods did not arrive," or "we could not The Steinnusz button manufacturers have in-
check up your invoice until to-day," or "the creased their prices 10 per cent. The cabinet
goods were damaged in shipment," or "they were makers, 30 per cent. The Casualty Co., which
lost on the way and we waited to see the goods insures the employer in case of accident to em-
before paying." These excuses are not made by ploye, have raised their premium 10 per cent.
up-to-date dealers, and when they materialize, Brass has been raised to 8 kronen ($1.63). Cop-
the jobbers and importers aver, the guilty party per wire to 4.50 kronen (90 cents); copper rolled
should have his name entered up in the "bear ware raised to 10 kronen ($2.03) for every hun-
watching" list.
dred kilo (200 pounds)."
GREAT DITSON BUSINESS.
LESTER AND MONARCH ACCORDEONS.
This week Buegeleisen & Jacobson, New York,
received upward of sixty cases of miscellaneous
goods, with a preponderance of Lester and Mon-
arch accordeons, from Europe. A like invoice is
Every one of the Ditson houses—Oliver Ditson due to arrive within a few days. Lou Buegelei-
Co., Boston; Chas. H. Ditson & Co., New York; sen is contemplating "hitting the trail" shortly,
J. E. Ditson & Co., Philadelphia—have broken and R. Berg will return to his field of usefulness
records for each month, and the mark hitherto probably next week. Harry J. Metzler keeps
attained was hign at that. The current year things moving in the city and nearby trade. The
each of the small goods departments in these chief and I. E. Harris, head of the office force,
respective branches are setting a hot pace, and with a number of capable assistants, take care
sales are mounting up with neatness and dis- of a swell house business.
patch.
The new building of Chas. H. Ditson & Co.,
THE KOCH SPECIALTIES.
8, 10 and 12 East 34th street, New York, is
rapidly nearing completion. The store and three
The specialties of the house of Ands. Koch, of
lofts to be occupied by the company will be in Trossingen, Germany, whose American head-
readiness for the removal from 867 Broadway quarters are at 296 Broadway, New York, have
near the close of the month, as Manager Cragin been receiving an unusual amount of attention
stated, "we have got to move."
from the jobbers and dealers in every section of
the country. One of their popular instruments
NO "LEMONS" FOR AMERICAN IMPORTERS. is their "Signal" harmonica, and it is seen in
practically every store where these instruments
are sold. Their construction is of the high qual-
Brunndoebra, Saxony, March 21, 1907.
ity that characterizes all the Koch output, and
Editor The Music Trade Review, New York:
With reference to the article written in your the tone and finish leaves nothing to be desired.
last edition, No. 10 (March 9),. page 48, under
the heading, "No Falling Away of Business,"
BIG DEMAND FOR PIANO SCARFS.
Musical Merchandise Department, I beg to hand
you herewith a report from one of our leading
"The demand for piano scarfs this spring is
papers, to show you how the manufacturers over the greatest in the history of the trade," said
here are threatened, on the other. hand. This Charles Kaffenberger, of the firm of Kaffenberger
report is not newspaper talk, but is a fact; and & Cantor to The Review the past week. "The
I cannot understand why some people in the piano dealers who have ordered early in the
States think that the small goods manufacturers season were wise, as they took advantage of the
abroad are "handing the importers a lemon."
Every One of Their Houses Show a Substantial
Increase in Business Over Last Year—Their
New York Building.
Yours faithfully,
MAX MEISEL,
For Louis Meisel.
The translation of the extract from the news-
paper of March 20 referred to follows:
"Graslitz, Bohemia, Austria.—The past week
presented us with another increase in prices.
THE TRIO CORNET
THE HAMBURG 20th CENTURY"™.
MILANO ORGANETTO ACCORDEONS"
FOR • *
PIANO
STOOLS
BENCHES
CHAIRS
SCARFS
COVERS
Weaver's New Method of
Instruction for the Reed
Organ. 38,000 copies sold
in 10 months.
WEAVER & CO.
o. D. 195-197
Wabasta Avenue, Chicago
»• "2 2 2 222 25"j 5553!•••••••••••!!•••••5!•SIS••£•••5!
WM. R.GRATZ IMPORT COMPANY, 35 and 37 West 31st St., New York
c. F .
& CO.'S
MAR1
GUITARS and MANDOLINS
Re no tune d
Sold only by BVEGELEISEN ® JACOBSON
UrtI Ji!r,i
1
|, &o . New York
Eagle Brand Drum and Banjo Heads; 20th Century Drums,
Rex Banjos, Mandolins and Guitars.
FACTORS
THE TRADE,
Prof. Hugo Heermann
The Eminent Violinist and
BLACK DIAMOND Strings
GHNTUDMBN :—
I am sailing to Australia next week, and
shall pass through New York between th« 5th
and 8th of May ("Blucher," Hamburg-Amerlka
Line).
Will you send enclosed order for Violin Q
•tringa BLACK DIAMOND to address given be-
low, or do you have a Dealer's shop in New
York where I might find your strings? If BO
please let me know at the same addresi.
The strings are most excellent.
Yours sincerely,
H. HEERMANN.
Frankfort o/M., April, 1905.
NATIONAL MUSICAL STRING COMPANY
Hew Brunswick, New Jersey
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