Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
HE hopelessly bourgeois attitude which most of us take toward
the world in general is doubtless to be explained on educa-
tional and environmental grounds. The atmosphere of an office,
a wareroom or a factory is not, be it confessed, particularly con-
ducive to clear thought. Yet it is plain that the world is to-day
going through a period of deep self-searching, and in the process
is due, no doubt, to find the soul which so long ago it lost. We in
the United States are sitting as lookers on at a marvelous, an awful,
cataclysm. How it will end no man knows, save that the right
will triumph. But the point is, that nearly all Americans insist
on regarding it as a sort of game where the interest is in who will
win. The world-war is not a game, and when it is over and the
world, which has been reorganized during its continuance, looks
around with clearer vision, though from the midst of wounds, upon
the still standing earth and plans for the future, we are due to be
strongly and sharply reminded that we have failed to see the great
lessons offered us at no cost and in prodigal quantity. The demo-
cratic among the warring powers are learning the sharp lesson
that democracy and license are not convertible terms; that democ-
racy does not mean, "I am as good as you," with all the degrading
implications of that idea, but "y° u are as good as I am, if not now
then to-morrow to be made as good," with all that thought's splen-
did and exalting significance. Organization and service; shall we
learn these lessons in our own nation, nay, even in our own
business ?
T
A SIMPLE thought is suggested by this word, organization. It
J~\ is a triple-armored misfortune of our trade that we so gen-
erally distrust organization. Consider some conditions we all
recognize in the player industry. There is absolutely nothing
gained by a state of affairs in which fifty types of player mecha-
nism struggle for mastery when each and every one has all the
weakness directly derivable from the fact that it is the jealous pos-
session of one man or one group. These, of course, cling to indi-
vidual peculiarities of their own inside as if they were in them-
selves virtues, and so perpetuate defects not so much because they
do not recognize others' skill as because they are jealous and there-
fore weak. Not a player mechanism exists to-day which would
not be better for being subjected to. criticism by some standard
method of comparison. Consider what immense use would be
found for some sort of bureau of pneumatic engineering, supported
just as the freight bureau of the Piano Manufacturers' Association
has been supported and existing to give expert advice to those who
are engaged in the manufacture of pneumatic mechanisms! Of
course, it is true that any house which is more or less successful
in selling its goods tends at once to think that it possesses all the
mechanical and scientific genius in the industry, and only too often
11
supposes itself to have discovered mysterious, natural secrets, when
in fact it has merely made a lucky stumble on to some small part
of scientific truth. The amount of positive mechanical stupidity
not only marketed, but actually made the subject of boast, would
appall if it were once computed. Here, as in many another place,
organization would be salvation to the future of the player trade.
T is as pleasant to record some approach to standards that are
perceived to be right as it is unpleasant to see persistent disre-
gard of them. The idea that underlies organization in general,
namely, that in serving others we are really serving ourselves best
of all, and that in fact, as a great woman has written, "what blesses
one blesses all," is clearly to be seen in all really successful move-
ments. This idea is now struggling to find expression in our trade
in connection with the as yet unorganized, but significantly alive,
movement to bring about community of action in advertising the
merits of the piano and player-piano as desirable possessions in
themselves, without special regard to controversy over the merits
of any special makes as opposed to others. We speak of the agita-
tion first brought about through the efforts of Mr. Edward Lyman
Bill in this paper, and directed toward educating the trade to the
thought that the public ought to be reminded vigorously through
some sort of common action that the piano and player-piano are
in themselves, as themselves, worthy of more attention, are more
desirable objects of family possession than is sometimes supposed
and are in danger of falling into neglect through the indifference
of a lazy generation. This movement deserves all support and
we hope it will get it.
I
T is not to be supposed that a national campaign will be easily
organized, but it is not difficult to see that the existing associa-
tions might do much to secure community of action in this respect.
There is nothing to prevent piano and player manufacturers from
taking steps to see that adequate publicity for their products is
obtained at the hands of dealers; nor would it be difficult to prepare
general outlines which could be used for the presentation of gen-
eralized arguments applicable to any make of piano, but stressing
general desirability and giving real reasons in support thereof.
Already this idea is being carefully considered by many manufac-
turers and a recent example of definite thought along that line is
found in the newly published bulletin of suggested advertisements
which the M. Schulz Co. is offering to its agents. These stress
above all things the general desirability argument and at the same
time present reasons for the claimed superiority of the Schulz
piano and players. The idea is not new, but it is good; very good
The new house organ, also being published at intervals by this
company, contains much valuable suggestive matter along these
lines. Here is something concrete for the trade to look into.
I
HOW MANY BENCHES
On the market today can boast the
same grace of line and finish as this
No. 100 Standard Style ?
This bench harmonizes handsomely with numerous piano
case designs—and as for finish—well, it's STANDARD-
FINISHED and we'll leave it to your customer.
Duet Piano Bench with Music Compartment
Round Tapered Truss; 5-ply Veneer Top, 37x15 inches. 3-ply Veneer Bird's-eye
Maple Bottom Music Compartment. Height, 20^4 inches. Hand Rubbed and Polished
all over.
£";- [vTvl
;'
Sendpor Catalog
STANDARD PIANO BENCH MFG. CO.
Made in Mahogany, Walnut or Oak. Also Made Convertible for 1223JW. L a k e S t r e e t
Player Pianos.
^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^
CHICAGO