Rensselaer Semi-Weekly Republican, Volume 35, Number 128, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 November 1903 — PIANOS IN GERMANY. • [ARTICLE]

PIANOS IN GERMANY. •

Enormous Product of Fine Instruments at Half the American Price. E. L. Harris, United States commercial agent at Eibenstock, Germany, lias lately transmitted to the State Department In Washington, some interesting information on the subject of the piano Industry in Germany. Among other things he says: “The manufacture of pianos In Germany has reached a state of perfection attained by no other nation. Admitting that in other countries particular firms produce Instruments which in every respect are equal to the best German make, It is claimed that as an industry, considering the number of factor ries and the high exports to nearly every country in the world, the manufacturers of this empire are a long distance in advance of all their rivals. In spite of the enormous sale of pianos every year within the limits of .the empire, the manufacturers are dependent upon the markets of foreign countries for the sale of fully one-half of the number produced. The success of the German piano Is due to the fact that they aro cheap, comparatively speaking. Two hundred and fifty dollars will buy a very fine piano In this country. The construction Is always apace with the latest art designs, special attention being paid to the woodwork; they not only present an elegant appearance, but are solid and durable.” With this Introduction Mr. Harris goes on to state that there are 435 piano factories iri Germany, which manufacture 80,000 instruments annually. Of this number 140 are located In Berlin, 27 in Stuttgart, 21 in Dresden, 16 in Leipzig, 15 in Hamburg, 10 in Lelgnitz, 9 in Zeltz, and the remaining 197 in Munich, Halle, and Brunswick. In the past 20 years the export of pianos from Germany has increased from $1,900,000 to $6,110,000 annually. Great Britain is at present Germany’s best customer, baying 40 per cent of the total exports, although prior to 1890 the Argentine Republic, which now ranks second, was the best market for German pianos. Belgium ranks next after Great Britain and Argentine, and then comes Australia, which takes $1,000,000 worth of German piano® annually. Russia $1,000,000 wortlv and Holland $1,000,000; Brazil, Norway, Sweden, South Africa and Chile coming next in order. Mr. Harris also tells us thart Germany is a large manufacturer of stringed instruments, the chief factories being located in the towns of Klingentlial, Mittenwnld, and Johanngeorgenstadt. The first named town sold $684,000 worth of violins, mandolins, etc., to the United States last year. “The manufacturer of the different parts of stringed instruments,” he states, “is carried on chiefly in the worker’s own home.”