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PUBLIC LIBRARY
THE
RENEW
J1UJIC TIRADE
VOL. LVIII. N o . 1 4 Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill at 373 Fourth Ave., New York, April 4, 1914
SING E
1
$ 2 OO CO PE I R S VEAR. CENTS
Definite, Clean-Cut Action Desired/
I
T is interesting to read the numerous and varying opinions concerning the problem of the
trade-ins which have reached this office since I first inaugurated the movement in these
columns, which I trust will end in some crystallization of thought along remedial lines.
Certainly we have the work well started, for the first aid in any important move is to
arouse widespread interest therein. Now we have succeeded in that, and in The Player Section of
last week's Review a number of views of important trade representatives were presented concern-
ing this matter of vital interest to the entire trade.
There is no mistaking the trend of thought thus far, as I see it, and that is that it is making
towards some concerted action in order to secure uniform treatment on traded-in pianos.
This is precisely as I suggested in an earlier issue of The Review, when I put it squarely up
to the Piano Merchants' Association to take up this one great subject for serious consideration at
the coming convention in New York.
If the piano manufacturers and piano merchants would unite upon this one subject they would
be doing the trade a distinct service, and would aid their own individual interests more than by
almost any other single association act. Definite, clean-cut action would be worth more than a
hundred beautifully-worded resolutions with no spirit of observing behind them.
Along these lines Frederick A. Luhnow, secretary and treasurer of the M. Schulz Co., Chicago,
111., says: "The solution can only be found in concerted action by the piano manufacturers. I wish
that some of the big men would get together at the next convention and thresh this thing out. I
believe that a scale of valuations can be worked oui, based on the age and make of traded-in pianos,
and that if the bigger houses would adopt it the solution would be in sight."
0. A. Field, president of the National Association of Piano Merchants, writes me that "traded-in
pianos could not be standardized as to value until pianos were standardized themselves. I think the
only solution is to refuse to trade in anything at all on player-pianos. Quite a few dealers do this, I
believe, and the Ford Automobile Co. does this on account of the small margin of profit on the
Ford machine to the dealer, and I think it is the only means of safety for the piano merchant. Either
refuse to trade anything at all on a player-piano, or at least keep the allowance down to the lowest
possible minimum."
Robt. 0. Foster, former president of the National Association of Piano Merchants, writes from Los
Angeles: "I have read your articles in reference to trade-ins, and consider them valuable advice to
piano merchants. It is a vital question now that the player-piano is occupying so prominent a
position in the piano world. You have covered the ground very effectively, and nothing needs to
be added to the subject. The trade is again indebted to you for your timely advice on an impor-
tant question."
Edward H. Droop, former president of the Piano Merchants' Association, says: "I read the
editorial page in the last number of your valued paper, and I am glad that you are so persistent
in bringing to the attention of the trade at large the dangers and evils that beset it. I read 'Plain Facts
for Piano Merchants' several times, and I thoroughly agree with your views respecting the evil,
but I don't agree with you in respect to the methods that should be adopted to eradicate this evil.
Allowances on trade-ins must be left to the judgment of the dealer, and you will never be able to
establish a national policy regarding the treatment of trade-ins,".
.
(Continued on page 5.)