Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
OUR EXPORT AND IMPORT TRADE.
FITZGERALD'S BOND PLAN.
Import Trade of Musical Instruments Shows
Increase—Exports for the Month Are Also
Larger—Player Shipments Make Fine Rec-
ord—The Figures in Detail Regarding the
Various Instruments Furnish Some Interest-
ing Particulars to Our Readers.
California Dealer Puts Forth Puzzle Plan by
Which He Offers "Manufacturers Bonds"—
The Local Dealers Petition Papers to Refuse
"Puzzle" Advertising.
(Special to The Review.)
Los Angeles, Cal, June 27, 1910.
The dealers of the city of Los Angeles, as an-
Washington, D. C, July 6, 1910.
nounced in a recent issue of The Review, presented
The summary of exports and imports of the a petition to the papers of this city in which they
commerce of the United States for the month of
request the newspapers to refuse coupon advertising
May, 1910, the latest period for which it has matter. The following is the petition :
been compiled, has just been issued by the
A PETITION.
Bureau of Statistics of the Department of Com-
New York, March 10, 1910.
merce and Labor. The figures relating to musi-
We, the undersigned, believing that piano con-
cal merchandise, including pianos, organs, piano
tests advertising through which certificates or
players and miscellaneous "small goods" in the
"checks" are given to contestants is detrimental to
musical field are as follows:
the interests of the trade at large and tends to
The duitable imports of musical instruments
destroy public confidence in all advertising, thereby
during May amounted to $108,931. as compared
depreciating the value of newspaper space, respect-
with $102,998 worth which were imported the
fully request the newspaper publishers of Greater
same month of 1909. The eleven months' total
New York and vicinity not to accept any form of
ending May shows importations valued at $1,249,-
this objectionable advertising.
777, as against $1,124,902 worth of musical in-
Signed.—Steinway & Sons; the Sterling Piano Co.
struments imported during the same period of
(W. S. Denslow, president); Kranich & Bach;
1909. This gives an increase in imports for the
the Aeolian Co. (Romer) ; Hardman, Peck &
eleven months ending May of $124,875.
Co.; Horace Waters & Co. (Samuel T. White,
The import figures for the eleven months' period
president and treasurer) ; Krakauer Bros. (An-
for the three years are as follows: 1908, $1,304,-
drew Mangold, manager); John Wanamaker;
373; 1909, $1,124,902; 1910, $1,249,777.
Frederick Loeser & Co.; Hazelton Bros.;
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
Sohmer & Co.; Decker & Son (Frank C.
ments for May, 1910, amounted to $290,138, as
Decker) ; Mehlin & Sons (H. Paul Mehlin) ;
compared with $243,523 for the same month of the
Mason & Hamlin Co. (Lewis H. Clement, man-
previous year. The eleven months' exportation
ager).
of musical instruments amounted to $2,896,838, as
We, the piano dealers of Los Angeles, heartily
against $2,301,752 for the same period in 1909.
endorse the views of the New York manufacturers
This shows an- increase in exports for the eleven
and dealers who have signed the above petition.
months ending May of $411,650.
"NOT AGAINST THE INDIVIDUAL, BUT THE PRINCIPLE."
The export figures for the eleven months' period
"Resolved, That this association dis-
for the three years are as follows: 1908, $3,109,-
countenance the use of certificates in con-
477; 1909, $2,361,752; 1910, $2,896,838.
ducting special sales, and requests its mem-
Of the aggregate exportations in May there were
bers to aid in the crusade against the use
910 organs, valued at $68,748, as compared with
of sales issuing such certificates."
725 organs in 1909, valued at $56,324. The eleven
Believing in the above resolution, wh'ch was
months' total shows that we exported 8,815 organs,
adopted by "the National Association of Piano
valued at $666,879, as against 8,424 organs, valued
Dealers in America" at Richmond last month
at $612,818, for the same period in 1909, and
(May, 1910), condemning certificate, prize, bond
10,880, valued at $691,481, for the same period in
and other illegitimate forms of advertising, we
1908.
respectfully request the newspapers of Los Angeles
In May, 1910, we exported 428 pianos, valued
and vicinity to join the New York, Chicago, Min-
at $97,004, as against 351 pianos, valued at $81,004,
neapolis and Milwaukee newspapers who have re-
in May, 1909. The eleven months' total exports
fused such advertisements. We believe the news-
show 4,588 pianos, valued at $1,072,938, as com-
papers of this city will not suffer and that the
pared with 3,113, valued at $726,882 exported in
ethics of trade demand this reform.
the same period of 1909 and 4,031 valued at 981,-
Tlie Bartlett Music Co. (J. F. Salyer, president) ;
128, for the same period in 1908.
Southern California Music Co. (G. S. Mary-
Of the aggregate exportations in May there
gold, secretary) ; George J. Birkel Co. (Geo. J.
were 243 piano players valued at $71,713. For the
Birkel, president) ; the Wiley B. Allen Co. (E.
eleven months' period, 2,477 of these instruments,
P. Tucker, manager) ; J. B. Brown Music Co.
valued at $669,329, were sent abroad.
(H. M. Marquis, vice-president) ; the Frank B.
The value of "all other instrments and parts
Long Co. (Frank B. Long, president) ; the Starr
thereof" sent abroad during May, 1910, amounted
Piano Co. (Pacific division, Ff. Shuman Jones,
to $52,673, in the same month of 1909 the value
vice-president) ; S. A. Brown& Co. (S. A. Brown) ;
was estimated at $56,102.
Smith Music Co. (E. E. Smith, manager) ;
The total exports for the eleven months under
Sturgis-Bowring Music Co.; Hamburger Piano
this heading foot up $487,692, as against $625,768
Department (by W. M. Hathaway) ; the Holmes
exported during the same period of 1909, and
Musx Co. (Ralph H. Holmes, president) ; the
$672,749 exported during the same period in 1908.
Burton Music Co. (John H. Burton, president) ;
This shows a decrease of $138,076.
Van Sant Piano Co. (J. W. Van Sant, presi-
(Special to The Review.)
FITZGEKALIl
MUSIC
CO. S 1>UZZLE.
and cut out various sections of the disjointed
sentence which appears above, paste them on a
separate sheet and make a sentence which describes
the policy of the Fitzgerald house.
Certainly that is not as easy to guess as John-
son's face or Jeffries', the spelling of cow, or
some of the ridiculous other alleged puzzles which
have appeared.
The prizes offered by the Fitzgerald house are,
first prize a piano, and various other prizes con-
sisting of diamond rings, cuff buttons, pins, etc.
For a number who do not succeed in winning the
first prize "manufacturers' bonds" for $100 and $150
are offered.
For this special plan the Fitzgerald house evi-
dently succeeded in interesting a number of eastern
manufacturers, for letters appear in the Los
Angeles papers in the Fitzgerald advertisements
signed by the Krell-French Piano Co., the Krell
Piano Co., the Krell Auto-Grand Piano Co., Steger
& Sons Piano Co., Haddorff Piano Co., Paul G.
Mehlin & Sons, Behning Piano Co. and Singer
Piano Co., authorizing discounts on retail prices
to be made from $18.50 to $125. The interpretation
being that the manufacturers endorsed the scheme.
The Bartlett Music Co. has been most aggressive
in carrying on a campaign to open the eyes of the
public against this scheme advertising, and what is
more, their plan is having its effect, and the people
are beginning to see these contest schemes in their
true light.
STERLING CO. GETTING READY
For a Busy Fall Season—Looking Over and
Getting Equipment Ready This Week—
Sterling Representatives Look for a Busy
Time.
The Sterling Co.'s plant at Derby, Conn., has
been closed down the past week for the customary
period of repairs and adjustments, starting up
again next week for the purpose of preparing
stock for fall trade. James R. Mason, president
of the Sterling Co., states that while business at
the present time is quiet, yet he looks forward to
a fall trade of ample proportions. He doesn't take
any stock in the pessimistic feeling which pre-
vails in Wall street circles, believing that the
fundamental conditions are sound, which is borne
out by the letters received from Sterling repre-
sentatives throughout the country.
The improvement in crop conditions and the
assurance that the farmers will have an excellent
margin of profit on their investment indicates that
they will have an ample amount set aside for the
purpose of purchasing "necessities," such as musi-
cal instruments.
Extensive additions have been made to the Ster-
dent) ; H. O. Brooks Piano Store (John Mehlig, ling plant at Derby, Conn., during the past twelve
DO NOT FILE LEASES.
manager) ; B. Platt & Co. (D. Benjamin) ; months, and they now enjoy facilities which permit
Cornelius Walker; Angelus Music Co. (E. H. them to meet all demands that may be made upon
Omaha, Neb. f Believes That Publication of
Hardinghaus) ; Barker Bros. (W. T. Hoskins) ; them. The Sterling player-piano is one of the
Mortgage List Keeps Sensitive Purchasers
A. G. Gardner; N. W. Fisher.
special favorites at the present time, and it will
Away—Do Not Run Much Risk.
The editors of the Los Angeles papers decided undoubtedly prove one of the big sellers with this
A number of the piano dealers of Omaha, Neb., that they could not refuse to accept such advertis- house the coming fall.
have discontinued the practice of recording leases ing inasmuch as the Post Office authorities had
and piano sale contracts with the county clerk out passed on the copy submitted.
THAT COMPETITOR OF YOURS.
The evidence placed before them that the news-
of deference to the wishes of their customers,
School yourself to meet your competitor as
many of whom hesitate about buying a piano on papers of New York and Minneapolis had refused
the instalment plan for fear of having such mort- to publish such advertisements appeared to have no you do your other friends.
Discard your old prejudices if you have any.
gages published in the "Daily Legal Record" and weight with them.
Justify his existence as your competitor by the
The Fitzgerald Music Co. has been carrying on a
thereby having a bad impression created. The
dealers figure out that the increase in sales will contest, advertising "$12,500 in prizes" given away same law that entitles you to engage in any lawful
means of support.
recompense them for the risk they run of having to successful contestants.
Forgive any small transgressions over the line
It certainly may be said of the Fitzgerald plan
the instrument attached. Hayden Bros., who have
never recorded their leases, have not lost a single that it is not quite so simple as some of the others, of healthy competition, because we are all prone to
because it is necessary to take a pair of scissors error.
piano as a result.