Music Trade Review

Issue: 1914 Vol. 58 N. 18

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC
TRADE
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Staff:
B. BIITTAIH WILSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
CARLETON CHACE,
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
BOSTON OFFICE:
T»_« IT w , , m » *9i Wa.Viinirtnn Jo»M H. WILSON, 124 Washington M.
Telephone, Main 6950.
PHILADELPHIA:
L. M. ROBINSON,
W M . B. WHITE,
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, Consumers' Building.
m
g o State S t f M t
T £ , h o n e > Wabash 5774.
HENRY S. KINGWIIX, Associate,
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL:
R. W. KAUFTMAN.
GLAD HENDERSON,
L. E. BOWERS.
ADOLJ EMTBK.
ST. LOUIS :
CLYDE JENNINGS,
SAN FRANCISCO: S. H. GRAY, 88 First St.
DETROIT MICH.: MORRIS J. WHITE.
CINCINNATI, O.: JACOB W. WALTERS.
BALTIMORE. MD.: A. ROBERT FRENCH.
INDIANAPOLIS,IND.: STANLEY H. SMITH.
MILWAUKEE, W I S . L. E. MEYER.
KANSAS CITY, MO.: E. P. ALLEN.
PITTSBURG, PA.: GEORGE G. SNYDBR.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
Pmbllsbed Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION (including- postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year; Canada,
$8.60; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS,
$3.00 per inch, single column, per insertion.
On quarterly or
yearly contracts, a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages $90.00.
REMITTANCES, In other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
PlUVPF Pifinn And
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
• l a j t l -I MUU ailU
t ; o n s o f a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
Tpi*hnipal Flj>nai*fmi>nfc
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
itXlUllldl ITCpdl Illieilto. d e a ] t w i t h > w i n b e f o u n d i n a n other section of this
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning which
will be cheerfully given upon request.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Pri*
Diploma
Paris Exposition, 1000
Silver Medal... Charleston Exposition, 1008
Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
S t Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Mtda}. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
CrOVO DISTANCE TELEPSONES—NUMBERS 5982—5983 MADISON 8Q.
Connecting- all Departments
Cable address:
NEW
"Elblll, New York."
Y O R K , MAY 2 ,
1914
EDITORIAL
T
HE value of service in every department of trade is appre-
ciated more and more, and it is impossible to have efficient
service unless there be a warm co-operation existing between every
division of the enterprise.
The average business man perhaps does not realize how a
higher grade of efficiency may be created through intelligent co-
operation.
Some of the greatest and most successful corporations in the
world have been keenly alive to the advantages accruing through
co-operation in all departments of their creating and distributing
enterprises. This element appeals more and more to business men,
because they realize how dependent each one is upon the other.
A man who is conducting a retail establishment cannot con-
tinue a profitable enterprise unless he has the helpful co-operation
of an efficient body of salesmen, no more than a manufacturer can
put forth a product unless he has been successful in eliminating
waste through helpful co-operation of the various departments of
his enterprise.
Along these lines, Frank E. Morton, acoustic engineer of the
American Steel & Wire Co., Chicago, 111., recently delivered an
address before the Tuners' Guild in Cincinnati.
Mr. Morton, in the course of his remarks on service, said:
"Service means co-operation with the manufacturer and with the
workmen, looking to the intelligent utilization of this material. To
this end specialists or experts in the employ of the company are
collaborating with the workmen and the artisan in every possible
manner. You will readily understand that our opportunity for
service in this line is limited by the responsiveness of the manu-
facturer and his employes. An ounce of ca-operation then becomes
much more valuable than a pound of competition. Competition in
this respect means wastefulness. Mutual helpfulness is the secret
of high efficiency. Suppose there were only five men in this
world; then by competition, or each man working for himself,
each roan would receive the results of one man's efforts.
By co-
REVIEW
operation, or each man working for each of the other men, each
man then receives the results of five men's labor.
"The present status of the tuner is that of a mechanic, rather
than that of an artisan, because he has failed to interest the public
in the elements of his art and science. The science of acoustics
is a closed book to the public, and the tuner has helped to keep it
closed. A man calls for a tuner much as he calls for the plumber,
the carpenter, the bricklayer, and he knows much les&about the
science of acoustics than he does about mechanics, and tSais is tfue,
largely, because the tuners themselves never have taken • any difect
measures to interest the public in the science of acoustics.;
"The average school child of seven knows that light is
posite, knows that light can be broken up into its component
rts,
each part
p
a different color ranging
gg from red to violet.,. , Be(jjz
jj use
of this we are a people here in the United States whcW having well-painted pictures upon our walls, beautifully* tfecol; ted
rooms for public assemblages, contrast of color in lanciscapeij ar-
dening, thus placing the artist who paints the picture on a si; tus
other than that of the day laborer or mechanic. When'fcdne^com-
position is taught in our public schools and in our kindergartens,
then will our present tuners and tone regulators become tone build-
ers, classed as they should be classed, their opinions-jfliven full
weight and their ideas utilized in the making of text-boe|lji ™F use
in the public schools and technological institutions of th^'ediy try.
The United States to-day has some of the most able ,-icoiis.tic ans
in the world. Their text-books, however,, have been \V,irittoyn and
compiled by theoreticians, lacking that element of practical ap-
plicability so essential for popularity in a utilitarian race. '**•
"Art is an influence for constructive thought and action.
Therefore, for your own benefit, place your ideas, youTVheories,
your experiences before the world as an artisan, not as a day
laborer. You cannot stop itinerant tuners, and you cannot legis-
late good work, but you can make popular with the people the
study of tone composition. To-day the man who styles t himself
an artist and paints a picture which might be called a Mapb' (Joes
not find an easy market for his output, because the public does
know something about color composition. Just so, when tone com-
position becomes equally well known, will it fare with U man at-
tempting to learn a trade upon his customer's piano." lUi
T
HAT the constructive work of The Review in all 'lines of
journalistic endeavor is becoming more and more accentuated
is admitted by all. Go where you will among piano manufacturers,
merchants, salesmen and tuners and you will find that The Review
has advanced almost phenomenally within the past few years.
We are in receipt of daily communications from men in all
sections who do not hesitate to praise our policy and to frankly
admit the value of The Review to them in their work.
Here is one from J. W. Ong, manager piano departme'tU of Stix,
Baer & Fuller Dry Goods Co., St. Louis, Mo., who write*s. "I am
almost ashamed to admit that I am not a subscriber to Tne! Review.
I do want to say that wherever I have been it has been always in
evidence and I get a great deal of pleasure and helpful'informa-
tion from its pages. I want to thank you for the many notices
you have given me, and for the reason that I consider The Review
one of the cleanest trade publications, and, being in sympathy With
high grade and clean methods, I take pleasure in encasing my
check for $2 to cover subscription for one year.''
Every manager should subscribe, then he does not wait to
have the paper passed around in the house where he is employed.
He has his own copy and can read it at his leisure.
S
PEAKING of how some credit men are so ultra-conservative
that they drive good trade away and deprive their houses of
the patronage of concerns which perhaps are not very strong, but
are making progress, a business man said that the credit depart-
ment that does not think of itself as a business builder, >a leader
in extending its concern's business into new fields and among new
customers, is failing truly to fulfil its functions.
He said that in many cases the term "ultra-conservative" does
not fit at all, rather it is downright indolence which is the matter.
That community, he said, is certainly fortunate which has at
its credit desks big, broad-gauge men, men energetic enough to
delve down and get all the. facts, and broad enough to work v ; th
each other earnestly.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE WEAK LINK IN THE CHAIN.
(Continued from page 3.)
.
tion which would be most distressing. They were fearful of the quality of the piano leases, but
an expert analysis of the entire accounts showed but a trifling difference between the value of
the assets as estimated by the owners and the value estimated by expert accountants. That cer-
tainly showed that the management had the right iclea of its own resources.
Then, again, what was most pleasing, when the character of the leases was placed under the
strongest possible test, and careful analysis was made, every lease was carefully checked, it was
found that payments had been made with such regularity and exactness that the amount of cash
received each month was surprising even to those who had manifested the greatest confidence in
the enterprise at the start. It proved not only the stability of that particular business, but shows
the strength of good leases. When a man makes his estimates of worth upon good leases, he is on
pretty sound ground because piano leases are good property, and I have always contended that
while the piano business is conducted on the deferred payment plan, it is perfectly safe if piano
merchants would only safeguard their own interests with reasonable precaution, and sell their
instruments only to people whose record is found reliable and show responsibility. So long as
those elements exist the piano business is a safe enterprise, and under any kind of stress, no matter
how severe, it will show up splendidly, because the true fundamentals of soundness will stand any
strain that may come.
Sell pianos to people who have responsibility—then there is no weak link in the chain.
And dealers should see to it that they do not cumber up their warerooms with a lot of ancient
and out of date instruments which have been taken as part payment on new player-pianos.
The system whereby exaggerated valuations have been placed upon traded-in stock has been
one of the fundamental weaknesses of the retail trnde. It is a weakness which could be easily reme-
died, provided concerted national action be taken, and it is to be hoped that when the piano men
convene in New York next month that there will be put into effect
strong measures whereby the business situation may be cleared mate-
rially by reason of the adoption of intelligent and businesslike plans
which shall govern all allowances made for trade-ins. Strengthen the
weak link in the trade chain.
Better Terms on Retail Piano Sales
R
ESOLUTIONS passed by trade associations may not be en-
forceable, but to tbe thinking member of the trade the fact
that a gathering of his fellow merchants thought enough to indorse
such resolutions should give them weight and make the subject
matter o'f the resolutions worthy of earnest thought.
Such is the case with the following resolution passed by the
Connecticut Piano Dealers' Association at their annual meeting
held in Waterbury recently.
"Be It Resolved, That the members of the Connecticut Piano
Dealers' Association do all in their power in the conduct of their
several businesses to elevate the terms at which pianos are sold, both
as to initial and monthly payments."
The resolution preceded a long and comprehensive discussion
of the question of terms, and it was strongly suggested that the
minimum terms be fixed at 10 per cent, of the purchase as initial
payment and 4 per cent, monthly on instalment payments.
The question of better terms demands the consideration df
every live piano dealer who expects to remain in business and meet
his financial obligations, especially so since the player-piano, and
its higher price, has become such a strong factor in the trade. If
a resolution, such as that reproduced, will set the piano merchants
of the country thinking it will have accomplished a most desirable
result. The National Association of Piano Merchants at the con-
vention in June might well consider the drafting of a similar reso-
lution for the consideration of piano merchants both in and out of
the association.
The handling of trade-ins and the elimination of misleading
advertising are mighty important subjects, but the consideration
of financial methods and their improvement are also vital.
That is the main foundation of any business and the other ques-
tions, also distinctly important and worth while, are accessories to
the main question—finance.
To Prevent Discrimination in Prices
T
HERE seems to be a growing sentiment throughout the country
in favor of the Stevens Fair Trade Bill which is now before
Congress. This bill, according to its title, aims to prevent discrimi-
nation in prices and to provide for publicity of prices to dealers and
the public. It is especially designed to prevent so-called price-
cutting. If enacted, it will permit the producer or manufacturer of
an article under a trade-mark or special brand to fix the price at
which such article may be resold at wholesale or retail and will
make valid contracts prescribing such uniform price. This would
put an end to cut rates, and also to many kinds of bargain sales.
The bill forbids monopoly or combination, requires the retail
price to be affixed to the article and the filing of trade-marks and
brands with the Bureau o f Corporations, together with a statement
of the wholesale and retail prices, and forbids any discrimination.
At the recent annual convention of the Connecticut Piano
Dealers' Association this bill won unanimous approval and was
highly commended. Again the retail merchants of New York,
including many members of the talking machine industry, held a
public meeting at Aeolian Hall late last week favoring the passage
of this measure, while this week full expression of the views of
the members of the Merchants' Association of New York was
arranged for at a meeting which was held on Wednesday.
Business men everywhere are in favor of this measure, inas-
much as it takes a definite step toward preventing- price cutting
and that elasticity in prices which lead to questionable practices
in merchandising. ^
......

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