Music Trade Review
Issue: 1910 Vol. 51 N. 15 - Page 7
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THE:
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MUSIC TRADE NEWS FROM GERMANY
Slow Up in Business Progress in Germany During the Pact Few Weeks—Piano Manufacturers
Doing Well Both in Domestic and Foreign Markets—Room for Reliable Talking Machine
in German Market—Something of the Instruments Exhibited at the Recent Fair Held in
Leipzig—Piano-Players Continue to Grow in Favor—Other Interesting Comments.
(Special to The Review.)
Berlin, Germany, Sept. 24, li)ll).
In Germany, the same as in England and Amer-
ica, the improvement in ths commercial situation
is not making such rapid progress as was generally
anticipated even a few weeks ago. Nevertheless,
there has been a great advance since last year.
Many people prefer that this should be so, on the
ground that a slow upward movement is sounder
and not exposed to so many unexpected relapses
as a more sudden rise.
Piano manufacturers are well employed, both
for the export business and also for the home
market. The position in the mechanical instrument
trade is less favorable, and in the talking machine
branch the outlook is very black. It seems as if
this latter article is entirely done for in Germany.
Purchasers ha've been scared off by the inferior
machines with which the market has been flooded
and by the miserable discs. The bare mention of
the words talking machine is sufficient to make
people instinctively turn a deaf ear. In spite of
this the large factories are fairly well supplied
with orders. This is first of all due to the fact
that almost all second and third grade firms have
gone out of the business, and secondly, the foreign
markets are capable of absorbing large quantities
of machines. This demand in the foreign markets
should continue for a long time to come, especially
in the more thinly populated countries, where the
playing of the machines does not inconvenience
the neighbors. Tn Germany the talking machine
is about played out, unless a really good machine
is put on the market at a low price. Up to
now the good machines have been very expensive.
The great hopes which the German trade placed in
machines without horns have also not been real-
ized.
Opening of Technical School Postponed.
The opening of the technical school of the piano
trade in Stuttgart, which was fixed to take place
on Sept. 5, has been postponed owing to lack of
pupils. It is most regrettable that for such a rea-
son a model institution of this kind, the result of
twelve years of constant striving, should be un-
able to open its doors at the appointed time. It
is, however, expected that the school will be
opened on Jan. 1 without fail.
Leipzig Fair Not a Success.
a cabinet, the strings being played by artificial
lingers. Both the playing of the mandolin and
the piano accompaniment are effected quite auto-
matically by means of music rolls. This machine
is an invention of the enterprising firm Popper
& Co.
Display of Automatic Self-Playing Instruments
As regards piano players, the inside system was
in the ascendant. The manufacture of cabinet
players in Germany has almost ceased. Another
new specialty was a combined piano and organ
with inside player, with which very fine effects
were produced. The most salable article proved
to be the so-called violin-pianos. These instru-
ments consist of a reproducing piano and a set of
flute pipes, which very cleverly imitate the play-
ing of a violin. They are not noisy, they are not
expensive, and they are very versatile in their
musical effects, so that their large sale and popu-
larity are no cause for surprise.
Eighty-Seven Pianos Destroyed at Brussels.
The fire at the Brussels Exhibition destroyed
all the Belgian pianos and also all the French in-
struments—with the exception of a Pleyel grand,
which was saved. Altogether 87 pianos were
burned, and also the greater part of the string and
wind instruments exhibited in the Belgian and
French sections. A large organ for pleasure pal-
aces, the product of an Antwerp firm, was also
lost. On the other hand the grand organ built
by Messrs. E. F. Walcker & Co., Ludwigsburg,
which was erected in the grand hall, remained in-
tact. This organ is one of Messrs. Walcker &
Co.'s finest efforts. At the close of the exhibition
it will be permanently set up in a large concert
hall which is to be built in Brussels. Al! the
other German instruments were in the German
section, which, as is well known, was not injured
by the fire at all.
Orchestrion Has New Uses.
An attempted burglary, which is reported from
Haspe, is not without its humorous side. Thieves
had forced an entrance during the night into a res-
taurant, and in order to better proceed with their
dark work, they decided to turn on the electric
light. In the darkness, however^, they found the
wrong button. A stirring march, played by the
electric orchestrion, speedily convinced them that
they had made a mistake. They decamped with
all possible speed. When the landlord, who was
awakened by the music, entered the room, the
thieves had already left.
The autumn fair was held in Leipzig at the be-
ginning of September, unfortunately with but
little success. New taxes are being constantly im-
posed on mechanical instruments in Germany, or
They Want a Quiet Time.
the police authorities oppose their use on the
ground that the loud playing of the instruments is
The police authorities are proceeding with con-
disturbing for the general public. For these rea- siderable energy against music playing with open
sons our trade is becoming more and more de- windows. For instance, a short time ago the
pendent on the export business, and the autumn authorities in Ludwigshafen described especially
fair is of practically no importance from an ex- the operation of the talking machines as "a noisy
port point of view. Several years ago this fact disturbance, injurious to health, which could not
was realized by the Berlin manufacturers of talk- be too strongly condemned." The police have
ing machines and it induced them to consider the strict instructions to see that the windows are
advisability of altogether abstaining from partici- closed in any restaurant or private house where a
pating in the autumn fair. It was found impos- gramophone is playing and to report all instances
sible to come to any agreement, especially as Leip- where this order is not complied with.
zig firms were taking up the manufacture of such
The sheriff of Lankwitz, a suburb of Berlin, has
machines on a constantly increasing scale. Con- also seen fit to issue the following notice to res-
sequently if Berlin had held back, Leipzig alone taurant proprietors in his district: "No objection
would have derived the advantage. As matters can be raised to the automatic musical machines
now stand the entire mechanical instrument trade which are now to be found in so many restaurants,
labors under the expenses of the autumn fair, not as long as the music can be heard only by the par-
excluding even those Leipzig firms whose factories ties patronizing the establishment. On the other
are situated in the suburbs and who have no per-
hand, it does not seem to be permissible to disturb
manent showrooms in the city itself.
other people by such entertainments, and it is
An Interesting Novelty.
therefore the duty of every restaurant proprietor
Manufacturers had again made every effort to owning such machines to see that they play only in
stir up the demand. One of the most interesting closed rooms and above all with closed windows.
novelties was a mechanical instrument reproduc- It cannot therefore be allowed, for instance, that
ing the playing of the mandolin. This is effected the machines are set up and play in a garden. In
by means of a number of mandolins arranged in calling particular attention to this matter, I re-
Start in to handle
the Victor
It won't interfere with
your piano trade. Not
a question of selling the
Victor or pianos—it's
the Victor and pianos.
They work well together
and the Victor helps
to sell pianos.
Victor profits are
liberal and assured—no
price-cutting permitted
—and the selling is easy,
not only because we
advertise the Victor so
extensively, but because
a n y o n e can play a
Victor, and because the
Victor really sells itself.
And every Victor
sold brings in steady
Victor Record sales
equal to five times the
price of the Victor. Ex-
perience shows that the
sale of a $40 Victor
means future sales of
$200 worth of Victor
Records.
Lots of other interesting facts
about the Victor—facts that are
worth money to you. So write
to-day for full information.
Victor Talking Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., U. S. A.
Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal,
Canadian Distributors.
To get best results, use only Victor Needles
on Victor Records.
,7
THE:
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MUSIC TRADE NEWS FROM GERMANY
Slow Up in Business Progress in Germany During the Pact Few Weeks—Piano Manufacturers
Doing Well Both in Domestic and Foreign Markets—Room for Reliable Talking Machine
in German Market—Something of the Instruments Exhibited at the Recent Fair Held in
Leipzig—Piano-Players Continue to Grow in Favor—Other Interesting Comments.
(Special to The Review.)
Berlin, Germany, Sept. 24, li)ll).
In Germany, the same as in England and Amer-
ica, the improvement in ths commercial situation
is not making such rapid progress as was generally
anticipated even a few weeks ago. Nevertheless,
there has been a great advance since last year.
Many people prefer that this should be so, on the
ground that a slow upward movement is sounder
and not exposed to so many unexpected relapses
as a more sudden rise.
Piano manufacturers are well employed, both
for the export business and also for the home
market. The position in the mechanical instrument
trade is less favorable, and in the talking machine
branch the outlook is very black. It seems as if
this latter article is entirely done for in Germany.
Purchasers ha've been scared off by the inferior
machines with which the market has been flooded
and by the miserable discs. The bare mention of
the words talking machine is sufficient to make
people instinctively turn a deaf ear. In spite of
this the large factories are fairly well supplied
with orders. This is first of all due to the fact
that almost all second and third grade firms have
gone out of the business, and secondly, the foreign
markets are capable of absorbing large quantities
of machines. This demand in the foreign markets
should continue for a long time to come, especially
in the more thinly populated countries, where the
playing of the machines does not inconvenience
the neighbors. Tn Germany the talking machine
is about played out, unless a really good machine
is put on the market at a low price. Up to
now the good machines have been very expensive.
The great hopes which the German trade placed in
machines without horns have also not been real-
ized.
Opening of Technical School Postponed.
The opening of the technical school of the piano
trade in Stuttgart, which was fixed to take place
on Sept. 5, has been postponed owing to lack of
pupils. It is most regrettable that for such a rea-
son a model institution of this kind, the result of
twelve years of constant striving, should be un-
able to open its doors at the appointed time. It
is, however, expected that the school will be
opened on Jan. 1 without fail.
Leipzig Fair Not a Success.
a cabinet, the strings being played by artificial
lingers. Both the playing of the mandolin and
the piano accompaniment are effected quite auto-
matically by means of music rolls. This machine
is an invention of the enterprising firm Popper
& Co.
Display of Automatic Self-Playing Instruments
As regards piano players, the inside system was
in the ascendant. The manufacture of cabinet
players in Germany has almost ceased. Another
new specialty was a combined piano and organ
with inside player, with which very fine effects
were produced. The most salable article proved
to be the so-called violin-pianos. These instru-
ments consist of a reproducing piano and a set of
flute pipes, which very cleverly imitate the play-
ing of a violin. They are not noisy, they are not
expensive, and they are very versatile in their
musical effects, so that their large sale and popu-
larity are no cause for surprise.
Eighty-Seven Pianos Destroyed at Brussels.
The fire at the Brussels Exhibition destroyed
all the Belgian pianos and also all the French in-
struments—with the exception of a Pleyel grand,
which was saved. Altogether 87 pianos were
burned, and also the greater part of the string and
wind instruments exhibited in the Belgian and
French sections. A large organ for pleasure pal-
aces, the product of an Antwerp firm, was also
lost. On the other hand the grand organ built
by Messrs. E. F. Walcker & Co., Ludwigsburg,
which was erected in the grand hall, remained in-
tact. This organ is one of Messrs. Walcker &
Co.'s finest efforts. At the close of the exhibition
it will be permanently set up in a large concert
hall which is to be built in Brussels. Al! the
other German instruments were in the German
section, which, as is well known, was not injured
by the fire at all.
Orchestrion Has New Uses.
An attempted burglary, which is reported from
Haspe, is not without its humorous side. Thieves
had forced an entrance during the night into a res-
taurant, and in order to better proceed with their
dark work, they decided to turn on the electric
light. In the darkness, however^, they found the
wrong button. A stirring march, played by the
electric orchestrion, speedily convinced them that
they had made a mistake. They decamped with
all possible speed. When the landlord, who was
awakened by the music, entered the room, the
thieves had already left.
The autumn fair was held in Leipzig at the be-
ginning of September, unfortunately with but
little success. New taxes are being constantly im-
posed on mechanical instruments in Germany, or
They Want a Quiet Time.
the police authorities oppose their use on the
ground that the loud playing of the instruments is
The police authorities are proceeding with con-
disturbing for the general public. For these rea- siderable energy against music playing with open
sons our trade is becoming more and more de- windows. For instance, a short time ago the
pendent on the export business, and the autumn authorities in Ludwigshafen described especially
fair is of practically no importance from an ex- the operation of the talking machines as "a noisy
port point of view. Several years ago this fact disturbance, injurious to health, which could not
was realized by the Berlin manufacturers of talk- be too strongly condemned." The police have
ing machines and it induced them to consider the strict instructions to see that the windows are
advisability of altogether abstaining from partici- closed in any restaurant or private house where a
pating in the autumn fair. It was found impos- gramophone is playing and to report all instances
sible to come to any agreement, especially as Leip- where this order is not complied with.
zig firms were taking up the manufacture of such
The sheriff of Lankwitz, a suburb of Berlin, has
machines on a constantly increasing scale. Con- also seen fit to issue the following notice to res-
sequently if Berlin had held back, Leipzig alone taurant proprietors in his district: "No objection
would have derived the advantage. As matters can be raised to the automatic musical machines
now stand the entire mechanical instrument trade which are now to be found in so many restaurants,
labors under the expenses of the autumn fair, not as long as the music can be heard only by the par-
excluding even those Leipzig firms whose factories ties patronizing the establishment. On the other
are situated in the suburbs and who have no per-
hand, it does not seem to be permissible to disturb
manent showrooms in the city itself.
other people by such entertainments, and it is
An Interesting Novelty.
therefore the duty of every restaurant proprietor
Manufacturers had again made every effort to owning such machines to see that they play only in
stir up the demand. One of the most interesting closed rooms and above all with closed windows.
novelties was a mechanical instrument reproduc- It cannot therefore be allowed, for instance, that
ing the playing of the mandolin. This is effected the machines are set up and play in a garden. In
by means of a number of mandolins arranged in calling particular attention to this matter, I re-
Start in to handle
the Victor
It won't interfere with
your piano trade. Not
a question of selling the
Victor or pianos—it's
the Victor and pianos.
They work well together
and the Victor helps
to sell pianos.
Victor profits are
liberal and assured—no
price-cutting permitted
—and the selling is easy,
not only because we
advertise the Victor so
extensively, but because
a n y o n e can play a
Victor, and because the
Victor really sells itself.
And every Victor
sold brings in steady
Victor Record sales
equal to five times the
price of the Victor. Ex-
perience shows that the
sale of a $40 Victor
means future sales of
$200 worth of Victor
Records.
Lots of other interesting facts
about the Victor—facts that are
worth money to you. So write
to-day for full information.
Victor Talking Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., U. S. A.
Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal,
Canadian Distributors.
To get best results, use only Victor Needles
on Victor Records.
,7
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