Music Trade Review

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 Reportorlal Staff :
GLAD. HBNDEESON, EUGENE C. MAYER, H. E. JAMASON B. BRITTAIN WILSON, W. H. DYKES,
A. J. NICKLIN,
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
WM. B. WHITE,
L. E. BOWEBS.
BOSTON OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON 824 Washington St.
Telephone, Main 6950.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 37 South Wabash Ave.
Telephone, Central 414.
Room 806.
ST. LOUIS:
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
REVIEW
people, and can anyone doubt for a single moment but that the
association of these names with Wanamaker helped his busi-
ness in all other departments?
Mr. Stanley argued in his contribution that customers who
were attracted to department stores by the fact that their
favorite instruments were sold there are at once convinced that
if the department store deals in the very best grade of goods
the patron is directed to other channels of the store's mer-
chandise.
The department store leaders at once saw the advantage of
having well known piano names associated with their business
enterprise and without question their general business has been
helped very materially by such association.
I A HE first week of the new year opens more auspiciously for
X
business than did its predecessor. The feeling in the
PHILADELPHIA:
music
trade field, as in the principal industries throughout the
CLYDE JENNINGS
R. W. KAUFFMAN.
ADOLF EDSTEN.
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First Street.
country, is that of cheerfulness and optimism. No one expects
CINCINNATI, O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
a boom, but nearly everyone believes that the worst of the busi-
BALTIMORE, MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
ness depression has been seen, and that the future has better
W. LIONEL STURDY, Manager.
times in store.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madison Avenue, New York
With the beginning of this week fully one hundred thou-
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
sand idle workmen found employment in the iron and steel and
SUBSCRIPTION, (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year; Can-
allied industries of the country. Many of these men have been
ada. $8.50; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $2.50 per inch, single column, per insertion.
On quarterly or
out of work since last spring, and others have been employed
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages, $75.00.
only part time.
REMITTANCES,
in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
This pleasing condition of things is not confined to these
A" important feature of this publication is a complete aec-
industries,
but in the textile and other lines there is also a dis-
j
devnted
to
the
interests
of
music
publishers
and
dealers.
t on
tinct
betterment
in evidence which must have a favorable effect
anil
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
allU
in developing confidence as well as business in other branches
t j o n s o f a technical nature relating to the tuning, reg-
nonarfmontc
ulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
11141 ISCpdl lIlltTllO. d e a i t w ; t h j w jfj t e f ou nd in another section of this
of trade. Activity in any special manufacturing line must affect
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
the railroads favorably, and so the links of activity will extend
until, let us hope, a chain of prosperity and confidence is built
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1800
Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
up throughout the entire country.
Diploma. ...Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. ...Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
There has been some fear expressed anent the influence of
politics on business owing to the Presidential contest this year,
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES-NUMBERS 4677 and 4678 GRAMERCY
Connecting all Departments.
but the idea that politics and not the forces of supply and de-
Cable address •• "Elbill, N e w York."
mand is the cause of business prosperity, or the reverse, is losing
its hold on the popular imagination.
NEW YORK, JANUARY 6, 1912
It is getting to be appreciated, as yet rather dimly, that
even a Presidential election contest that has half frightened
people to death a year in advance and a tariff revision program
that
has likewise been talked of incessantly during the same
EDITORIAL
period come to lose weight as time goes on as business factors.-
When a process of replenishment of stocks of merchandise
HE topical work outlined in the series of prize articles
and of general new life, having its origin in deep seated economic
which have been appearing in The Review for the past
conditions, once begins to work it brushes away politics and
few weeks has a close relation to the retail selling- forces in
tariff revision like an incoming tide.
every section of the country.
The President of the United States has taken his stand
It was intended at the start to take up for serious considera-
firmly upon one point, and that is that there shall be no tariff
tion some of the everyday problems which confront the retail
revision that is not based upon a thorough and impartial investi-
piano merchant and endeavor to present a number of opinions
gation of the questions specifically concerned, such as that made
concerning a solution of these problems.
in the case of the wool by the Emery tariff board.
It is our purpose to continue the work after the present
The overwhelming probability is that the sentiment of the
series have expired, and a number of subjects are now being country will support Mr. Taft in this position; and in the mean-
prepared which will be announced later.
time, even though no bill authorizing a reduction in the wool
The subject last week: "In What Manner Has Piano
duties has yet been offered in Congress, the woolen trade in
Reputation Built the Trade of Department Stores?" was
December became more active than at any time in 1911.
answered successfully by Charles Stanley, Brazil, Ind. Mr.
The views of leading members of the music trade industry
Stanley states that the store possessing the prestige of a piano
which appeared in The Review last week regarding the general
with a musical following is lucky, as it not only imparts confi-
prospects for the year just opened are all couched along lines
dence to the buyers of pianos, but also convinces the patrons of
of hopefulness. The holiday business in most of the leading
the store that the institution aims high in other lines of mer- cities throughout the country was unusually large, and in some
chandise, and that which is good and reputable in one line is in cities the heaviest ever reported, thus indicating increasing
most likelihood dependable in another.
employment of wage earners. This condition combined with
That expresses in concrete form the situation very clearly,
the improvement in labor conditions as reported this week all
and that great merchant, John Wanamaker, realized this condi-
tend to make one view the future optimistically.
tion years ago, for, it will be recalled, that for a while he con-
It would be unwise to even suggest that there is any un-
ducted a piano department on a very indifferent basis and he usual business revival in sight, nor such conditions as afford
handled pianos of commercial standing only. His piano busi-
basis for expecting an immediate boom in all branches of in-
ness did not pay appreciably, but when he secured the Chicker-
dustry. The fact remains, however, that the year opens with
ing piano and later the Knabe the piano business of Wanamaker
the business interests of the United States in a strong position,
at once took on character.
with the pessimists being converted to the belief that despite
The names of such pianos were familiar to millions of
the country's many ills there is much to look forward to.
T
r