Prescott journal. [volume] (Prescott, Wis.) 1861-1871, 1871-03-29
Cabinet Organs.

To say that the Mason IL HamIin Cab
met Organs have attained degree OF
! excellence not found in other instrume nls
of tho class, e1celling in musical power
as well as quality of tone, is but TO ex-
press the opinion Of musicians generally,
and of others who are connoiseurs. Uu-
| questionably, these instruments rank de-
servedy, highest of their kind.
! Among the evidence of superiority
most gratifying to these makers. must be
the growing demand for their work in
England, where competition by any
American manufacturer is necessarily 40
difficult, because of the greater cost Of
labor 10 this country, and the expense Of
transportation. These compel much
higher prices in EugIaU d than can be af-
forded for corresponding Instruments Of
English or French make. Their export.
alton this year is likely to aggregate
$4,000 in value The fact that Eng.
lish makers are Initiating them, and ad.
vertising their productions as American
Organs. is significant indication of the
reputation of the Mason Il Hamlin or
gans abroad.
Sales ut home have increased propor.
tiOnately, so that the addition Of another
new factory last sulnmer-a large one
has not yet enabled this Company to
supply their orders.
1t is doubtless true, however, that the
demand for these organs-several times
as great as for any others-is not to be
ascrbed solely to their superiority, but
comes in part from the reasonable pricrs
at which they are sold. 1t is the policy
of some instrument makers TO tx upon
their work higher prices than are asked
by others, for similar Instruments, on the
theory that the public prefer the best
article. and will .djudge that the best for
which most is demanded; which if not
true of the public. is undoubtedly SO Of
not few individuals.
The Mason & HamIin Company, have
adopted the more correct theory, that the
best article at the lowest price is that
which, in the end, must command largest
aud most permanent sale. and, acting up
on Ibis principle. pursue the policy Of
adding "a fixed, and the least remunera.
tive per centage profit" 10 the coat of all
their instruments, rs the selling price,
This they do, not from any pretended
benevolence toward the public, but sim.
ply with business view to their own in
terest, in the belief that the aggregate of
many small profits is greater than that of
a few large ones.
Tue theory is correct, and the policy
wise. But it is very difficult, not to say
for small maker to follow
them successfully. In the first place. to
IS scarcely pracIIcaOfe 10 one VINO nGsHrs
but few. Msnv parts Of the instrument
such as the reeds. tube boards, actions,
Keys, &c, must be made by machinery,
both because they can thus be made Let~
Ter and cheaper. Making them by hand
i out of the question at present selling
prices. But the small manufacturer can
neither afford, nor use TO- advantage, such
Therefore be must buy the
different parts of the instruments ready
made; his own work being scarcely moro
han to put them together. Two or three
of each Of these paris of
supply alI the small makers.
They have, however, no reputation at
stake, and the strife among them is, nat
irally, as to WAC shall sell cheapest
Thus the quality of their work suffers,
md the small manufacturers find it i'm.
possible to obtain the best, however much
hey may desire it. There is some res-
ION, at least, in the remnrk frequently
beard from small makers, II could make
organs equal to the Mason & Harnlin, if
[ could only get their reeds. or their tube
boards. or actions" &c. Another diff
,uity of the small manufacturer, is the
,ast of his instrument, for though be has
got inferior articles, he has himself paid
. profit on them, and thus is unable TO
compete with the extensive makers, either
q quality or price.
And SO it happens. that the largest
makers have immense advantages.-aDd
he tendency TO concentration of the bus
ness in few hands goes on. But the
,u'.lic are not the losers, for they get
peter article at lower piico.-Ns'O York
Weekty RsUiew.