Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
10
Music Trade Conditions Prevailing in Australasia
Great Opportunities Awaiting American Manufacturers of Pianos in Australia Reported By
American Consuls Located There—Player Pianos and Talking Machines Also in Demand
WASHINGTON, D. C, October 30.—Reports from
several American Consuls located in Australia
regarding the status of the musical instrument
industry have just been compiled by the Bureau
of Foreign and Domestic Commerce. Consul
General J. I. Brittain, located in Sydney, makes
the following report:
Since the beginning of the war, imports of
pianos into the Australian market have been
largely from the United Kingdom and the
United States. American pianos sold in this
market include many well-known makes, such
as the Steinway, the Chickering," and the Knabe.
A representative of one piano house in Syd-
ney states that his firm is now importing from
forty to fifty pianos a month from the United
States. These are made by five or six Ameri-
can manufacturers, in accordance with a design
specially prepared and perfected by this house.
They are moderate-priced pianos, selling at
$300 to $400 each. This firm believes that the
American manufacturers have an excellent op-
portunity in spite of the preferential tariff on
English pianos.
The latest statistics of imports of pianos into
Australia, with comparisons with recent years,
are as follows:
In 1913 the United States exported 684 pianos,
valued at $126,777, the United Kingdom exported
1,609 pianos, valued at $242,457, and Germany
exported 12,409 pianos, valued at $1,504,039.
During the period ' from January 1, 1914, to
June 30, 1915, the statistics show that the
United States exported 1,511 pianos to Australia,
valued at $239,243, the United Kingdom . ex-
ported 2,168 pianos, valued at $316,994, and
Germany exported 3,338 pianos, valued at
$429,951.
There are practically no imports
from other countries.
English Pianos Imported Are High Priced
Most of the English pianos imported here are
very high priced.
The upright is preferred,
and very few grand pianos are imported. Most
of the instruments are shipped direct to the im-
porting houses, which are invariably the retail
sellers, and the freight or transportation charges
are payable at New York or London. It is
very difficult here to ascertain what such costs
are, but one dealer informs me that as much as
$97.30 (£20) has been paid for the transporta-
tion of one piano from the factory in the United
States to Sydney. I am endeavoring, however,
to ascertain with greater accuracy, if possible,
what the freight rates are from the I'nited
States. Pianos are sold frequently on install-
ment terms. The customs duty on grand pianos
imported from the United Kingdom is now
$58.40 (£12) on each instrument, or 30 per
cent, ad valorem; from other countries $73
(£15) on each instrument, or 40 per cent, ad
valorem; on upright pianos from the United
Kingdom, $34.06, or 30 per cent, ad valorem,
and from other countries, $38.93, or 40 per cent,
ad valorem.
Whichever duty returns the
higher revenue is the one levied on the imported
instrument.
Trade Relations of Newcastle and Sydney
Consul Lucien N. Sullivan, located at New-
castle, Australia, reports as follows concern-
ing the musical instrument trade in that dis-
trict:
From a commercial point of view, Newcastle
is practically a suburb of Sydney. Pianos are
not imported into Newcastle direct. The two
stores here selling foreign makes are branches
of Sydney houses. One store which sells only
Australian pianos is likewise a branch of a Syd-
ney house.
The freight on upright pianos from Sydney
to Newcastle is about $4. This would have to
be added to the cost of freight from the United
States to Sydney.
Cost prices of pianos from the countries
which have been exporting pianos to Australia,
calculated from official statistics of the Com-
monwealth for 1914-15, are: Grand pianos—
United Kingdom, $471; Canada, $441; Germany,
$334; United States, $324; upright p i a n o s -
United Kingdom, $152; Canada, $163; Belgium,
$ ( )8; Germany, $117; United States, $150.
Average Selling Price of Upright Pianos
The average selling price of upright pianos
ranges from $321 to $341. The difference be-
tween the cost price and the selling price rep-
resents transportation, customs charges, insur-
ance, and dealer's profit.
The manager of one of the stores in New-
castle reports that during the past four years
1,205 pianos were sold here by his firm. Prior
to the war not more than 5 per cent, of the
pianos sold were of American make.
Since
June 1, 1915, however, 128 American pianos have
been sold at one store in Newcastle. The
dealers report that the piano trade at present
might be considered fair.
One dealer states
that there is no prejudice against American
pianos, and, in fact, in his showroom out of
twenty pianos on view seventeen were of Amer-
ican make. There are so few grand pianos
sold in this district that the type need not be
considered.
The cost price of that type is
somewhat higher for those of Continental make
than for those of American make. The fig-
ures are $344 and $324.
In upright pianos the cost price of Amer-
ican makes is $150 against $117 for the Con-
tinental makes.
Prospect for American Sales Very Good
The manager of an Australian firm was sent
to the United States early in 1915 to arrange
for buying pianos there. The general opinion
prevails that the prospect for American pianos
is very good.
A firm which maintains a
branch house in Newcastle has had two or
three men in the United States to superintend
the placing of Australian improvements on
American pianos. This is also done in Eng-
land. The improvements are considered essen-
tial for the Australian trade.
They consist
chiefly in changing the piano from a brilliant
tone to a softer one. The dealers here buy
direct from the manufacturers.
There is a
good sale for American Steinway instruments.
It is possible to do a much larger business
in cheaper grades of pianos than in those of
better quality.
The time-payment system is
considered successful here.
Last year an American firm had a man in this
district to introduce pianos which were sent
on approval, but the cost of cartage was so
large that the plan was not a good proposi-
tion financially. There is evidence, however,
that American pianos are coming more into
favor in this district. The State of Queens-
land during the year ended June 30, 1915, im-
ported four grand and 580 upright pianos of
all makes, valued at $83,168—average, $142—
and during the year ended June 30, 1916, 605,
valued at $88,372—average, $146. This would
indicate that the annual trade in imported pianos
in the State of Queensland is in the neighbor-
hood of 600.
Trade in Tasmania
Consul W. A. Bickers reports as follows on
conditions in Tasmania:
Soon after the outbreak of the war a prominent
Tasmanian firm dealing in musical instruments
placed an inquiry for pianos in Commerce Re-
ports. Considerable business has resulted, al-
though I am informed by a member of this
firm that so far it has not been possible to in-
duce American manufacturers to conform to
LOGIC!
Reason—Judgment—
Horse-Sense:—
There are many words express-
ing the same thing.
They are all incorporated in
the manufacture of the
Straube Piano, Style "K"
traute
Straube Player, Style "C"
The average buyer can recognize quality. That's why dealers find it the seller it is. Not too
high priced — not too low. A rich, full tone of quality and a case of finish and refinement.
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