The morning news. [volume] (Savannah, Ga.) 1887-1900, 1894-09-11
The MUSIC TRADE.
What The Great Southern Music House
Of Ludden and Bates
Has to Say About the Leading Art
Industry of the Country-A Grand
Revival Predicted.

ELUUdUlA NEIJ 4CA VI UlE ECd4CL5 I'D F6
ever realized the immense Importance
and extent of the music trade of America.
u is no exaggeration TO say that in no
country of the civilized world has so
much time. skill, energy and wealth
been devoted to the production of a high
grade of musical instruments as in this
country, and in no country, strange as it
may seem, has a more exalted pitch of
artistic excellence been reached. The
names Of such great American institu-
tions as Stein way s. Son, Mason & Ham
lin, are known wherever the art of music
is recognized, and their productions
command. in the markets of the world,
the highest prices ever OBJ
tanned for pianos and organs. The sue
cesses attained by the two great houses
above named have been closely followed
up by other enteyprising American man
ufacturers, with the result that there is
now being turned out from the factories
Of this country a surprising number of
instruments of every variety of style and
of excellence. So bewiidering indeed is
the number of manufacturers in
this line that it becomes
matter of the greatest skill
TO properly select and determine among
them as to those instruments which
should. in their respective classes, com
mand the con fdence of the public. AS in
all other lines of manufacture, there are
many pianos and organs which hold a DO
sltlon in the musical world merely by vir-
tue of the brilliant and energetic adver-
Using which they receive at the hands of
their enterprising makers. II is not
dlncult task to make good
enough" piano or organ for the
average buyer, as there is scarcely
anything about which people in
general are so profoundly ignorant as
proper construction and fine tone quality
1t is something to be proud of if a house
can point TO the fact that during a long
business career it has mad the skill and
ability TO associate itself only with the
best and most remarkable productions of
the instrument makers skill. This is
the proud record of the Great Southern
Music House of Ludden q Bates. Or
gained twenty-five years ago, at a time
when the south was Just beginning to re-
vlve from its time of terrible depres-
sion, the organizers of this well-known
southern institution, by their foresight
and enterprise, succeeded in springing at
once into great popular favor and building
up an immense business. This placed
greatest instruments then produced in
America, and maintaining an ever in
creasing lead, it has added to its list from
time to time the names of the most sue
cessful producers, and main tanned always
the highest possible standard in its par
ticular line.
A PHENOMENAL SUCCESS.
1t is no exaggeration to say that there
are very few sections of the south in
yErf1 gh fIa ~. L Y =
at least as familiar, and possibly better
known, than that of any other southern
business institution. This is to be largely
attributed to the unique, Thorough and
persistent advertising which it has al.
ways put forth at the right time and in
the right way. But no profuse spread of
printers ink and no amount of
energy could have made the great success
attained by this house, had not all
this been followed up by the best of in
struments, the squarest kind of business
dealing, as well as solid business judg-
ment In common with nearly all bust
ness industries of this country, the music
trade has not had much to be thankful
for during the great stress of the past
two years. Never has any such ordeal
confronted the general business of the
country, and never especially has the
music trade been subjected to such an
enormous strain because of the immense
number of lnstallment buyers who had
to be tided over to better times. Pianos
and organs being a luxury, even those
with the Strictest sense of honor and
strongest desire to live up to their con-
| tracts were under the necessity of supply
| ing their needs in preference to the
| aesthetic tastes and the consequence was
that not only have few new instruments
been sold, but an enormous number of
customers have asked for favors,
J h HTsNn
! could grant. Notwithstanding this
| the music trade in general
! has come through the troubled waters
| In splendid shape. and it is one of the
| proudest boasts of the house of Ludden
! x Bates that during all the great strain
| ing ana pressure of the panicky times, it
has not refused consideration and help to
| single deserving customer. OF course
there have been some disasters in the
music trade, and, many of the smaller
| houses, and especially those whose bust
ness methods were not of the soundest
have been forced 10 the wall and their
unfortunate customers, being in the hands
of those who held their contracts
as security, have been obliged to
suffer the loss of their instruments
No stronger test of the reliability
and sound methods of Ludden &
Bates could be found than in
the fact that during the worst
| times ever known in the history of
the trade, it has been compelled to receive
back from its customers but a small pro-
portion more instruments than at apy
other period of its history. During the
dizziness caused by the great panic, the
management of Ludden & Bates has de-
voted itself TO getting its business in
shape for the great revival which it fore
saw must surely come. II has weeded
out many of its less efficient agencies and
has established in the leading cities Of
the south a number of local branch houses
under its direct control, and, at no time
in the history Of the house has it been in
such healthful and vigorous condition, or
so well prepared to transact an enormous
business
BRIGHTER TINES AHEAD.
We learn from the management of
/ Ludden y Bates that the confidence il
has shown in a great revival of business
seems about TO be realized. Beginning
with the month of June, there has been a
steady and progressive improvement of
trade, until the month of August lust
| closed shows total of sales as large as
any ever recorded for that month This
good showing is doubtless in large part
due to the vigorous campaign pursued by
the management of Ludden ~ Bates in
spite OF the dlscouragipg times, and the
large branch houses established at so
heavy an expense during the preceding
| dizziness are pNNU hanfpnfnu 70 mn To-, 81 -.