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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN BILL - Editor and Proprietor
J. B. SPILLANE, Managing Editor
Executive and Reportorlal Staff:
B. BBITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NicKxiN,
^AKLETON CHACE,
AUGUST J. TIMPE,
L. M. ROBINSON,
WM. B. WHITE,
GLAD HENDERSON,
L. E. BOWEBS.
BOSTON OFFICE
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
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v e p d i i i i i e i u a . d e a l t w i t h i w |jj b e f o u n | i n a n o t h e r 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
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Paris Exposition, 1000 Silver Medal- • .Charleston Exposition, 1901
Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal
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NEW
YORK,
JANUARY
16,
1915
EDITORIAL
T
HE growth and development of the talking" machine industry
has been phenomenal, and it was only a few years ago that
the talking machine—and we use it as a generic term covering all
creations of the phonographic type—was viewed in the nature of
a novelty, having perhaps an ephemeral existence. Developments,
however, have brought about entirely new conditions, and instead
of being regarded as a passing whim, it has become a powerful
adjunct to the development of music in the life of the nation. It
is not only an entertainer of marked powers, but it has carried
the cause of music into thousands of places where it would have
been impossible to have reached the people by any other means.
Some of the largest dealers in the United States have suc-
cessfully sold the talking machine in such quantities that their
annual sales have exceeded those of pianos.
It has brought new money into the business and has helped
piano merchants to carry their overhead expenses in a satisfactory
manner.
It has been known for some time past that the Aeolian Co.,
having purchased the control of certain valuable rights and pat-
ents, was about to enter the talking machine field as a manufac-
turer. The mechanical experts of this great corporation have been
experimenting and investigating until at the close of last year the
new product, the Aeolian Vocalion, was placed on sale at Aeolian
Hall. It met with almost instantaneous favor and the Christmas
sales were exceedingly large. Shortly after the first of the year
formal announcement of the new move was made in the New York
papers. Elsewhere in this issue some amplified facts are given con-
cerning this product, which becomes a matter of material interest
to piano merchants.
The Aeolian Vocalion possesses attractive features which are
new and original, and no one can question that its tonal powers
are of a surprising character.
With the forces of this great music trade organization behind
the hew product, it is but fair to assume that its commercial de-
velopment will be rapid, because with the progressive policy of
Aeolian exploitation it means that the attention of millions of
people will be drawn to it.
.
" . ••'
- , .••,". '•,
It might be we,ll to remark that this is the first time that a"
music trade institution has entered the talking machine field as
manufacturers, and the development of this enterprise will be
watched with exceeding interest.
I
N The Review recently. J. Henry Ling, the prominent-piano
merchant of Detroit, set forth a suggestion which he has
placed before some members of Congress, and which may lead to
a revision of the Eederal laws which prohibit, price maintenance.'*
The suggestion i< that as the law against price fi.ving is to guard
against unfair prices, fixed by combinations in restraint of trade,,'
the Interstate Commerce Commission be empowered to, .grant to ,
manufacturers the ri-jht to fix prices provided the prices are
fair. He would have the manufacturers who apply for license
to fix a price upon their product submit a detailed cost.statement.
1o the Interstate Commerce Commission, and have the commission '
investigate that statement and if the price the manufacturer has
decided upon is found to be fair authorize him- to establish it, -
If at any time the manufacturer desired to change the price of
his product, he would have to submit detailed reasons and another
cost statement before being given permission. If at 1 any time «
the commerce commission believed that the price had ceased to be :
a fair one, owing to changed conditions and ought to be lowered,
it could institute an inquiry on its own initiative.
Such a plan, Mr. Ling contends, would make the one-price
system a guarantee to the public that the price was equitable.
Any manufacturer who might'decline to submit'a'cost statement
to the commission and fix a price upon his product would b? at
least suspected of attempting to sell his goods at unfair prices,
even if he would not actually be confessing it by his tactics.
For this reason Mr. Ling believe that nearly every manufacturer
would apply for the right to fix a price upon his goods, and that
none would dare to try to fix too high a price when he knew that
his price was to be investigated. Thus no elaborate investigations
would be necessary, and the bureau to be established within the
commission to handle the licensing need not b? large or expensive
even though hundreds of thousands of manufacturers came in
under the law. A small license fee would easily pay the expenses.
Mr. Ling believes that some such law as this would tend to
prevent much of the misrepresentation that now prevails in the
way of selling cheap pianos as high-grade instruments, thus in-
juring the reputable product as well as doing an injury to the
purchaser.
........
C
ONSIDERABLE opposition is springing up in well-informed
patent circles against a bill drawn up for presentation to
Congress by the American Patent Law Association providing for
the temporary extension of the time of filing applications for letters
patent and registration in the Patent Office and fees therefor.
This bill is broadly drawn, in order to cover all possible contin-
gencies growing out of the war, and purports to follow closely a
law passed in Germany since the outbreak of hostilities for ap-
proximately the same purpose. It has already been considered
and favorably reported by the House Committee on Patents, prin-
cipally because it is liked by the Patent Commissioner.
The present wording of the bill, however, affords to the Ger-
mans, as well as other foreigners, more definite advantages than
are given to American inventors, or other interested persons, by
the German act. In addition to this, the wording of the bill is
said to discriminate in favor of foreigners in that it offers them
the chance of pleading that, owing to their financial condition on
account of the war, they were unable to file their applications in
good time, whereas citizens of this country, who are also adversely
affected in a financial way by the war, might not be granted simi-
lar privileges.
So apparent are the advantages offered to foreigners by the
present bill that the Merchants' Association has appointed a sub-
committee to consider a more satisfactory wording of it.
I
N view of conditions in the piano trade bearing particularly on
the trade-in or used piano, it is interesting to note how our
friends in the automobile industry are handling- the trade-in or
used-car problem. For the used car, like the used piano, is rapidly
assuming an important position in the automobile field, and a
prominent automabile man, in discussing this vital situation, said: