Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
RMFW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPUJLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
Gno. B. K I L L U .
w . N. TTI.BR.
F. H. THOMPSON.
EMILIB FRANCIS BADBH.
L. B. BOWERS. B. BRITTAIN WILSON, WM. B. WHITE. L. J. CHAMBKBLIN. A. J. NICKLIN.
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.
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Directory ol P l s a o
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporation
found on another page will be of great value, as a reference
Manufacturer*
for dealers and others.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Prim
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal..St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Meriol.LewlB-CIark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NUMBER 1745 GRAMERCY
Cable a d d r e s s : "Elbill N e w York.**
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 22, 1906
EDITORIAL
F
OR years The Review has steadily advocated the establishing
by the manufacturer of the prices at which his instruments
should be offered in every section to retail purchasers. When we
first began to urge the adoption of this principle as a necessity to
^maintain the piano industry on an elevated plane some looked upon
the plan with suspicion. Others said that it was impracticable, but
month after month we presented arguments showing that the very
stability of the trade and its future existence as a great industry
depended upon making this move. After a while our views began
to be received with favor, and last year II. Paul Mehlin, president
of the Piano Manufacturers' Association, said to The Review that
he was heartily in favor of the general adoption of a plan which
would fix the status of each piano and do away with misrepresenta-
tion. With The Review he believed that this plan was not only
feasible, but that manufacturers could advance their own interests
materially by establishing a general plan along these lines. Mr.
Mehlin referred to this in his annual report and brought it up in
the convention at Atlantic City. However, no definite action was
taken. The dealers, however, viewed the matter in a different light;
they passed resolutions favoring the fixing of the retail prices of each
instrument by the manufacturer in his contract with the dealer.
OME manufacturers have adopted the national price plan with
most pleasing results, and in order to stimulate greater
interest The Review gave cash prizes for articles showing how the
general trade interests might be advanced by the establishment of
these rules by manufacturers in every section of the Union. We
presented a number of interesting contributions, and from our cor-
respondence during the past two months it is plain that this idea
of a nationalization of prices is steadily gaining ground.
Dawson J. P.lackmore, president of the Piano Manufacturers'
National Association, clearly agrees with the position maintained by
The Review, and he proposes that all members of the Manu-
facturers' Association shall set a retail price upon their instruments,
and that the Association distribute a booklet containing retail prices
of all pianos of reputation in the United States. It is doubtful
whether the manufacturers would advance as far as this this year.
Radical moves of this kind, are not made at once, It requires
S
REVIEW
to break down the barriers of prejudice which have existed for gen-
erations, and many will say that it is far better to go slowly than to
attempt to accomplish too much at one time. The trade stands for
conservatism rather than radicalism.
W
E have stated in previous issues that this price adjustment
was the one great question which was of vital interest to
every manufacturer in the United States. We have predicted thjit
it would occupy a greater share of attention at the convention meet-
ings next year than ever before. We are pleased to say that Presi-
dent Blackmore is 1 in sympathy with this move, lie says that he
has come to the conclusion that the question of retail price regula-
tion is the most important issue before the trade, and that the retail
trade alone can never establish the one-price system; that when
manufacturers establish and publish retail prices on each of their
various makes or styles those prices will prevail from one end of
the country to the other within a short time. One price cannot
be national as long as dealers in adjoining territory ask prices which
greatly vary for the same make and style of instrument. Manufac-
turers themselves can settle this whole matter, and the president of
the National Association has now become a convert to this plan
and proposes to push it forward energetically.
Such advocacy certainly must interest the Association members,
and this great question will, without doubt, occupy the center of the
convention stage when the various manufacturers gather in Chicago
next June.
I
E the piano trade is to be preserved on a high plane, it must be
by the men whose interests are materially advanced by holding
it there. The entire sentiment of the trade must be aroused. It
may be well to study other trades. The nationalization of prices
has been proven by years of use to be a strong bulwark to a number
of important industries. We hardly think that the general adoption
of the plan suggested by us will be immediate.
It should be understood that a move of this kind, in order to be
successful, must be made by at least one-third of the piano manu-
facturers of the country. All will not come at once, but gradually
others would join the movement, until within a short time it would
have the sanction of nearly all the piano manufacturers of America.
Then we should have one price in truth for pianos, and there can be
no one price until this plan is general from ocean to ocean. We are
simply killing time and beating around the bush when we are advo-
cating one price, unless that price is fixed by the manufacturer for
purchasers in all cities and in all States, with, of course, a reason-
able advance for remote districts where there is an excessive freight
tariff.
T
RADE for the past two weeks in the larger cities has not been
as brisk as many anticipated, according to our reports, and
yet the showing for the month should be satisfying. We have
enjoyed such a splendid trade throughout the year that many have
expected that the holiday trade would simply break all bounds,
when, as a matter of fact, in the larger cities throughout the coun-
try it has not reached the astonishing proportions that many pre-
dicted for it. Have we not grown so accustomed to good business
that anything less than an astonishing trade would hardly satisfy
the average piano merchant this year. Business is good, that is
certain, and the greatest year in piano history will be closed when
December ends. One hundred and sixty-five thousand pianos for
ir»o6 is The Review's estimate, and when the figures are all in it will
be found that our figures are close to facts.
HE announcement made in last week's Review that Wessell,
Nickel & Gross would advance prices on actions after Janu-
ary i was not surprising. In fact, this move had been anticipated
for a long time. Every department of trade must become adjusted
to new conditions. The advancing cost of raw materials and labor
adds tremendously to the factory valuation of the finished product,
and advances may be expected not only in parts of pianos, but in
the completed product.
It is probable that when the officers of the Piano Manufac-
turers and Dealers' Association meet in Cincinnati next month they
may consider the advisability of announcing a general advance in
pianos.
Some, however, do not believe that this will be feasible; they
it rnore reasonable that every manufacturer should
T