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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
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J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Staff:
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
CARLETON CHACE,
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
L. M. ROBINSON,
W M . B. W H I T E ,
GLAD HENDERSON,
L. E. BOWEKS.
BOSTON OFFICE
CHICAGO OFFICE:
i n n « T i WixsnM *5U Washington St
E. P. VAN HABLINGEN, Consumers' Building.
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220 So. State Street. Telephone, Wabash 6774.
Telephone, Main 6950.
HKNRY S. KINGWILL, Associate,
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
NEWS SERVICE I S SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
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Lyman Bill.
Departments conducted by an expert
technical nature relating to
lating and repairing of pianos and
dealt with> will b e f o u n d i n an( , ther
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information
will be cheerfully given upon request
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player-pianos are
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concerning which
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Diploma
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal• • .Charleston Exposition, 1908
Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal..Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1906
&OVG DIBTAHCE TELEPHONES—1VT7MBEB8 5983—5983 MADISOXT «Q
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Connecting 1 all Departments
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Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
NEW Y O R K , S E P T E M B E R 1 9 , 1914
EDITORIAL
A FEATURE of the meeting of the Piano Merchants' Associa-
l \
tion of Ohio of particular interest was the suggestion of
F. B. Beinkamp, president of the association, and later adopted as a
resolution, that the association emplpy an attorney to censor piano
advertising. In most cases where the "Printers' Ink" statute or
other measures against misleading advertising have been put into
force, much of the effectiveness of the legislation has been lost
through the fact that individual piano merchants hesitated about
starting action to have the provisions of the law apply to competi-
tors. It is one thing to believe that advertising is misleading and
quite another thing for the laymen to prove in court that such is
the case. Then, too, it means an expenditure of time and money
that the average dealer considers not commensurate with the results.
With an attorney representing the entire association, however,
the prosecution of dealers who practice misleading or fraudulent
publicity becomes at once simplified. The attorney is certain of
; his ground before he takes action and the action, when taken, has
the force of .the association behind it. .
.
The move of the Ohio piano merchants is certainly a move in
the right direction and might be emulated with advantage by piano
men in other States.
The fact that an attorney has been retained to prosecute mis-
leading advertisers is in itself a factor that will tend to discourage
the average unethical dealer from engaging in such practices.
S announced in The Review last week, the opening of the
A
classes in piano construction at the Murray Hill Evening
Trade School, will occur on next Monday evening, September 21.
Registration has been going on during the current week, and early
reports have lead to the belief that it will be very satisfactory.
The manufacturers of player actions and player-pianos in New
York, however, owe something more to the classes than a passing
interest in their welfare. It is true that the benefits derived from
the course redound primarily to the student himself, but the fact
remains that increased efficiency on the part of the workman means
a better product. This is a rule with no exceptions.
The player-piano field of to-day has reached the point where
actual knowledge and not chance plays the chief part in the making
of a satisfactory product.
Player-pianos are plentiful now and are getting more and more
numerous every month, and, therefore, the demand for trained
workmen increases in like ratio.
The Board of Education supplies the class room, the light and
other service in connection therewith, and also the necessary in-
structors. All it asks of the piano manufacturer is that he advise his
employes of the opportunities afforded by the school and suggest
that they enroll. He can also aid in a more material way by
donating equipment, such as player actions, old player-pianos or
cabinet players, and sections of player mechanism which are of
small value to him, but of great value to the students in ttiieir prac-
tical work.
The gift of a player-piano to the school has a big sound, but
if the contribution of an old 65-note player will result in greater
skill on the part of half a dozen of the manufacturer's employes
who attend the classes, the profits will be the largest that the manu-
facturer can ever secure on an investment of equal size.
British piano men who have visited New York recently have
stated that it is practically impossible to have a first-class player
action made in England, owing to the fact that the workmen can-
not be depended upon to be accurate, and, therefore, wherever
possible, all the actions used in England come from the United States
or other countries. The American manufacturer may well feel
proud of the reputation of his player action, but he must not forget
that the ability of the actions themselves to live up to that reputa-
tion lies largely in the hands of the workmen.
It is the aim of the Murray Hill Evening Trade School to
give to ambitious workmen the necessary skill and knowledge to
uphold the American tradition in the player-piano world. With
Fhree-score or more piano manufacturers in the City of New York,
just a little support from each will insure the success of the class
in player-piano construction for years to come.
Technical education is not something abstract—something for
the other fellow to consider—it is a subject in which every piano
man is vitally interested.
The association has recognized the necessity for this form of
education by endorsing the classes and the individual manufacturer
should back up that endorsement with his personal support.
It's good business!
T
HE work of the piano merchants at the Convention of the
Piano Merchants' Association of Ohio, held in Columbus
last week, serves to prove that association conventions, particularly
the meeting of State organizations, are far from being simply in-
formal gatherings with a general good time as the principal object.
The chief accomplishment of the Ohio association has been
the bringing about of a better feeling between piano dealers of the
State, and is the greatest work that any trade body can do. With
mutual confidence paramount the evils of the trade that bring the
merchants together in the first instance lose their terror, for
united action is powerful.
It is greatly to be regretted that despite the recommendations
of the National Association officers, there are not more State
organizations of piano men similar to those existing in Connecticut,
Indiana and Ohio, for there is room in every State for such a body.
The tendency of the piano business is toward better trade
methods, and although the individual dealer can accomplish much
in his own territory, through association work with feilttw dealers
of the State, the power of the individual is increased manyfold.
State associations protect the trade from legislation inimical to their
interests, prove strong factors in bringing about measures against
misleading advertising and fraudulent business methods, have a
strong influence for the one-price system of piano selling, and in
short prove ideal defensive bodies for the trade.
When the occasion arises, as happens in almost every State,
when the piano men must take the offensive to accomplish their
ends, a solid organization, backed by the representative dealers of
the State, has much more influence in securing results than have a
number of dealers, equal to its membership, but fighting as indi-
viduals.
The merchant in any line of business who keeps within his
shell and believes that he is sufficient unto himself is rapidly be-