Arizona republican., 1906-05-20
MUSIC IN SOUTH AFRICA.
Large Purchases of lnstruments-A
 Chance for American Pianos.

Recently Consul Snodgrass of Preto- ria was requested by a number of American manufacturers of musical instruments to give them information concerning the trade in South Africa, for the purpose of extending their lines in competition with the United King dom and Germany, the two nations that appear to have made the greatest advances during the past three years in that market. He replied:
 While the war and droughts have had a bad effect on these colonies and the purchase of luxuries for the home, such as pianos and organs, $1,OOO. OOO to s1.5OO.OOO is being spent annually from the Cape to the Zambesi uTSn musical instruments. The Transvaal has become great purchaser of mus ical instruments. Where in 1902 $1O9.31O was thus spent, in 1903 the figures increased to $176, ,120. and in 1904 a grand total of $31O,4S5 was ex- pended. This indicates somewhat the permanence of home making against the prevalent theory that South Afri- ca is only transient abiding place since the discovery of rich minerals. The Transvaal country purchased mu- sical instruments in 1904 frou Ger many to the value of $163,2SO, from England s92,O15 worth and $39,59O from the United States.
 Germany has far outstripped all competitors, having increased its sales in musical instruments tenfold in two years, and leading the United Kingdom q ifS al OF cent, by almost double the importa- tions. The United States increased its trade about four fold in the same pc riod. but enjoys only one-fourth of the trade of Germany, while France. though making spall showing in the grand total multiplied it's exports of 1903 by 20. Great Britain holds about 40 per cent of this important musical trade in the whole of South Africa, the proportion being about $6O0,O00 Of this, one-fifth represents tranship- ped foreign goods. Germany's share is about Al per cent and that of the United States only s per cent. Great Britain and Germany have the honors almost equally divided in the case of pianos, though American pianos are gaining in public favor, and by observ- ing the suggestions of dealers, sales will increase. The organ trade how ever, has gone to America, in the first four months of 1904, 17OO organs. val ued at S140.000, were shipped for Af- rica from the port of New York.
 '"The South African trade in musical instruments is expanding and the American manufacturer should have a larger proportion of 1t than he has hitherto enjoyed. If he will follow the advice given by dealers in Preto- ria and Johannesburg he will find that he can extend his sales. They say:
 CD Study the climate and manufac- ture instruments that will stand the humid atmosphere of Cape Colony and the dry, hot atmosphere of the north ern colonies. CD Make the instru- ments strong and season the timber to a degree that it will withstand the heat of the tropics. (3) The sounding boards of pianos should be carefully studied, for unless they are seasoned to perfection they will split in a short time, which of course destroys the value of the plano. (D The same at tention should be given to the pegs, for they soon shrink and frequent tun- ing is necessary. There is a field here for the high priced as well as the cheaper instruments, the latter being sold now upon the monthly payment system, which has only been in vogue for the past year or so.'