Music Trade Review
Issue: 1919 Vol. 69 N. 25 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
DECEMBER 20,
1919
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE CHEAP COMMERCIAL PIANO AN INJURY TO TRADE
HANDSOME STORE IN SPRINGFIELD
Canadian Writer Discusses Relation of American and Canadian Piano Trade and Points Out Trade
Evils—"Thump Box" Hurts U. S. Trade—National Policy Aids Industry
Retail Store of Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.
Equipped and Decorated in Most Modern
Style—S. E. Secoy the Local Manager
TORONTO, CAN., December 15.—A writer who is
conversant with the conditions in the piano
trade both in this country and the United States
recently said in the Toronto Globe:
Subsidiary factors in encouraging the Cana-
dian piano industry were the leveling up of
exchange, which had been heavily against the
United States, and the injury to its name which
the American piano received from the pro-
duction and sale of the cheap commercial piano
known to the trade as the "thump-box." It is
difficult to realize to-day that at the time of
the American Civil War, and for a number of
years afterward, as a result of it, American
money was worth much less in Canada than
Canadian money is worth now in the United
States. So low was the value of the greenback
that Canadian music dealers could buy a piano
in the United States, bring it into Canada, pay
the duty which was imposed after the abro-
gation of the Reciprocity Treaty, and, selling
it for the same number of Canadian dollars as
they had paid greenbacks, realize a handsome
profit. This condition encouraged them to push
the sale of American pianos at a time, more-
over, when the number of Canadian-made pianos
was insignificant, even in the limited Canadian
market. As the value of the American dollar
rose to its normal state the profit on dealing
in American pianos decreased, and with it the
salesman's eagerness to push sales.
Closely allied with the exchange situation was
the other condition. In contrast with the Ameri-
can, a marked characteristic of the Canadian
was his slow, careful buying. When he pur-
chased a piano he looked for merit, and did not
readily allow himself to be led into buying
something not really good. American pianos
in general, until well into the seventies, had
held a name in Canada for quality and durability,
and Canadian firms had to combat a definite
desire on the part of the purchasing public for
American pianos. The seller of a Canadian
piano had often to give a contract that if it
proved unsatisfactory he would exchange it for
a named American piano.
The "thump-box" injured this confidence in
the American piano in general, although it did
not affect certain well-established names. It
was the result of the appearance of a purely
commercial spirit in an industry in which qual-
ity must come before quantity. The manu-
facturer of the "thump-box" reversed the order.
He was ready to sell an unnamed product to
any dealer anxious to put his name on it. He
had no pride in his product, such as the manu-
facturer who sold his product under his own
name. His single aim was to make a profit.
The result was the widespread sale of cheap
pianos under the utmost diversity of names and
by dealers who often knew little or nothing
about a piano. Attempts were made to sell
these cheap pianos in Canada, but with only
temporary success. The conservative habits
of the Canadian buying public prevented them
from being "taken in" to any extent, and the
chief effect was to lower the high name of the
American piano.
The advent of the "thump box" is of interest
chiefly because at this time the Canadian manu-
facture of pianos scarcely existed. The piano
business was a dealer's business, and in it the
American manufacturer occupied the largest
place. There had been some slight importation
of English and German pianos, but it was found
that they d d not stand the Canadian climate,
and they failed to gain an established place in
the market.
The adoption of the national policy occurring
at a time when other conditions were favorable
encouraged several dealers to take up the manu-
facture of pianos. In some, cases this consiste 1
in the assembling and Finishing of pianos, of
which all, or nearly all, the parts were imported.
But this gave the foundation for experience and
the development of the industry. It tended, too,
to. shift the balance oi production in Canadian
firms already manufacturing pianos and organs,
in which the output of the latter was the greater.
SPRINGFIELD, I I I . , December 15.—The new store
of the Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., in the
DeWitt Smith Building on East Monroe street,
this city, is one of the most attractive music
JAS. F. BOWERS MAKES COMMENT
Believes That Association of "Erring Brethren"
With the Better Members of the Trade Will
Serve to Offset Evils Now Prevalent Therein
The director of the Music Industries Better
Business Bureau, C. L. Dennis, at times has
cause to submit problems of trade derelictions
to his advisory committee of the executive board
of the National Association of Music Merchants.
In the course of development of one case, a
complaint was submitted to Jas. F. Bowers,
president of Lyon & Healy and chairman of
the executive board of the Music Merchants.
He acknowledged receipt of a copy of letter "to
one of our erring brethren," in this manner:
'T quite agree with you that the use of the
Association's name as reference in this sort of
connection is reprehensible to a degree. It does
seem at times as though our devoted trade cer-
tainly has to carry handicaps of one sort or
other. David Harum, you remember, said that
after all it was a good thing for a dog to have
fleas because it kept the dog from forgetting
that he was a dog. I suppose we are destined,
in spite of our good efforts, to have this sort of
flea attached to us. Notwithstanding these tem-
porary setbacks the trend of the trade is upward
and onward. Tennyson tells us that
" 'I doubt not through the ages one increasing
purpose runs,
" 'And the thoughts of men are widened with
the process of the suns.'
"Let us hope and continue to pray that such
of the brethren as you have mentioned to me
will have their thoughts widened by association
S. E. Secoy
centers to be found in the Middle West. The
large double store has been remodeled and re-
decorated throughout in the most elaborate
style, the finish being white mahogany, and the
furnishings of the sort to promote ease and
comfort. Both the main floor and the mezzanine
gallery are given over to the display of pianos
and talking machines, and there are a number
of sound-proof booths provided for the demon-
stration of both types of instruments. A com-
modious concert hall is also provided.
The local store, which is controlled by the
factory, and is under the management of S. E.
New Headquarters of Jesse French & Sons, Springfield, Ohio
with the better element of the trade, the which Secoy, handles the Jesse French & Sons, Chick-
I think will eventually come to pass, and these ering & Sons, Kohler & Campbell, Lagonda
evils that we now labor under and suffer from and other makes of pianos and player-pianos,
'Will fold their tents like the Arabs and si- together with Aeolian-Vocalions, Columbia
Grafonolas and Q R S and other music rolls.
lently steal away.' "
Manager Secoy has had wide experience in
the
business, having been connected with
NEW STORE OPENS IN HUNTINGTON the piano
trade for over twenty years, and he has
The Hibbard Music Shop was opened recent- done much to promote the success of the store.
ly in Huntington, W. Va., at 1031 Fourth ave-
nue. A. F. Hibbard, formerly of Athens, O., is
THE STEINWAY AT LECTURES
owner and manager and A. H. Lent is assist-
Mabel Wagnalls, the pianist-author, who has
ant manager. At the formal opening an attrac-
tive musical program was offered and several been giving a series of lecture recitals on
new player-pianos were demonstrated. All kinds "Imagery and Music" with great success in and
of pianos and musical instruments will be car- about New York, is using a Steinway piano as
the accompanying instrument.
ried.
PIANOS
ORGANS
E5TEY PIANO COMPANY NEW YORK CITY
DECEMBER 20,
1919
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE CHEAP COMMERCIAL PIANO AN INJURY TO TRADE
HANDSOME STORE IN SPRINGFIELD
Canadian Writer Discusses Relation of American and Canadian Piano Trade and Points Out Trade
Evils—"Thump Box" Hurts U. S. Trade—National Policy Aids Industry
Retail Store of Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.
Equipped and Decorated in Most Modern
Style—S. E. Secoy the Local Manager
TORONTO, CAN., December 15.—A writer who is
conversant with the conditions in the piano
trade both in this country and the United States
recently said in the Toronto Globe:
Subsidiary factors in encouraging the Cana-
dian piano industry were the leveling up of
exchange, which had been heavily against the
United States, and the injury to its name which
the American piano received from the pro-
duction and sale of the cheap commercial piano
known to the trade as the "thump-box." It is
difficult to realize to-day that at the time of
the American Civil War, and for a number of
years afterward, as a result of it, American
money was worth much less in Canada than
Canadian money is worth now in the United
States. So low was the value of the greenback
that Canadian music dealers could buy a piano
in the United States, bring it into Canada, pay
the duty which was imposed after the abro-
gation of the Reciprocity Treaty, and, selling
it for the same number of Canadian dollars as
they had paid greenbacks, realize a handsome
profit. This condition encouraged them to push
the sale of American pianos at a time, more-
over, when the number of Canadian-made pianos
was insignificant, even in the limited Canadian
market. As the value of the American dollar
rose to its normal state the profit on dealing
in American pianos decreased, and with it the
salesman's eagerness to push sales.
Closely allied with the exchange situation was
the other condition. In contrast with the Ameri-
can, a marked characteristic of the Canadian
was his slow, careful buying. When he pur-
chased a piano he looked for merit, and did not
readily allow himself to be led into buying
something not really good. American pianos
in general, until well into the seventies, had
held a name in Canada for quality and durability,
and Canadian firms had to combat a definite
desire on the part of the purchasing public for
American pianos. The seller of a Canadian
piano had often to give a contract that if it
proved unsatisfactory he would exchange it for
a named American piano.
The "thump-box" injured this confidence in
the American piano in general, although it did
not affect certain well-established names. It
was the result of the appearance of a purely
commercial spirit in an industry in which qual-
ity must come before quantity. The manu-
facturer of the "thump-box" reversed the order.
He was ready to sell an unnamed product to
any dealer anxious to put his name on it. He
had no pride in his product, such as the manu-
facturer who sold his product under his own
name. His single aim was to make a profit.
The result was the widespread sale of cheap
pianos under the utmost diversity of names and
by dealers who often knew little or nothing
about a piano. Attempts were made to sell
these cheap pianos in Canada, but with only
temporary success. The conservative habits
of the Canadian buying public prevented them
from being "taken in" to any extent, and the
chief effect was to lower the high name of the
American piano.
The advent of the "thump box" is of interest
chiefly because at this time the Canadian manu-
facture of pianos scarcely existed. The piano
business was a dealer's business, and in it the
American manufacturer occupied the largest
place. There had been some slight importation
of English and German pianos, but it was found
that they d d not stand the Canadian climate,
and they failed to gain an established place in
the market.
The adoption of the national policy occurring
at a time when other conditions were favorable
encouraged several dealers to take up the manu-
facture of pianos. In some, cases this consiste 1
in the assembling and Finishing of pianos, of
which all, or nearly all, the parts were imported.
But this gave the foundation for experience and
the development of the industry. It tended, too,
to. shift the balance oi production in Canadian
firms already manufacturing pianos and organs,
in which the output of the latter was the greater.
SPRINGFIELD, I I I . , December 15.—The new store
of the Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., in the
DeWitt Smith Building on East Monroe street,
this city, is one of the most attractive music
JAS. F. BOWERS MAKES COMMENT
Believes That Association of "Erring Brethren"
With the Better Members of the Trade Will
Serve to Offset Evils Now Prevalent Therein
The director of the Music Industries Better
Business Bureau, C. L. Dennis, at times has
cause to submit problems of trade derelictions
to his advisory committee of the executive board
of the National Association of Music Merchants.
In the course of development of one case, a
complaint was submitted to Jas. F. Bowers,
president of Lyon & Healy and chairman of
the executive board of the Music Merchants.
He acknowledged receipt of a copy of letter "to
one of our erring brethren," in this manner:
'T quite agree with you that the use of the
Association's name as reference in this sort of
connection is reprehensible to a degree. It does
seem at times as though our devoted trade cer-
tainly has to carry handicaps of one sort or
other. David Harum, you remember, said that
after all it was a good thing for a dog to have
fleas because it kept the dog from forgetting
that he was a dog. I suppose we are destined,
in spite of our good efforts, to have this sort of
flea attached to us. Notwithstanding these tem-
porary setbacks the trend of the trade is upward
and onward. Tennyson tells us that
" 'I doubt not through the ages one increasing
purpose runs,
" 'And the thoughts of men are widened with
the process of the suns.'
"Let us hope and continue to pray that such
of the brethren as you have mentioned to me
will have their thoughts widened by association
S. E. Secoy
centers to be found in the Middle West. The
large double store has been remodeled and re-
decorated throughout in the most elaborate
style, the finish being white mahogany, and the
furnishings of the sort to promote ease and
comfort. Both the main floor and the mezzanine
gallery are given over to the display of pianos
and talking machines, and there are a number
of sound-proof booths provided for the demon-
stration of both types of instruments. A com-
modious concert hall is also provided.
The local store, which is controlled by the
factory, and is under the management of S. E.
New Headquarters of Jesse French & Sons, Springfield, Ohio
with the better element of the trade, the which Secoy, handles the Jesse French & Sons, Chick-
I think will eventually come to pass, and these ering & Sons, Kohler & Campbell, Lagonda
evils that we now labor under and suffer from and other makes of pianos and player-pianos,
'Will fold their tents like the Arabs and si- together with Aeolian-Vocalions, Columbia
Grafonolas and Q R S and other music rolls.
lently steal away.' "
Manager Secoy has had wide experience in
the
business, having been connected with
NEW STORE OPENS IN HUNTINGTON the piano
trade for over twenty years, and he has
The Hibbard Music Shop was opened recent- done much to promote the success of the store.
ly in Huntington, W. Va., at 1031 Fourth ave-
nue. A. F. Hibbard, formerly of Athens, O., is
THE STEINWAY AT LECTURES
owner and manager and A. H. Lent is assist-
Mabel Wagnalls, the pianist-author, who has
ant manager. At the formal opening an attrac-
tive musical program was offered and several been giving a series of lecture recitals on
new player-pianos were demonstrated. All kinds "Imagery and Music" with great success in and
of pianos and musical instruments will be car- about New York, is using a Steinway piano as
the accompanying instrument.
ried.
PIANOS
ORGANS
E5TEY PIANO COMPANY NEW YORK CITY
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