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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
RMDV
PUBLISHED BY THE ESTATE OF EDWARD LYMAN BILL
(C. L. BILL, Executrix.)
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
J. RAYMOND BILL, Associate Editor
AUGUST J. TIMPE
Business Manager
Executive and Reportorial Staff:
B. BRITTAIN WILSON,
A. J. NICKLIN,
BOSTON
CARLETON CHACE,
W M . 15. WHITE,
OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone, Main 6950.
L. M. ROBINSON,
WILSON D. BUSH,
GLAD HENDERSON,
L. K. BOWERS.
CHICAGO O F F I C E :
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, Consumers' Building,
220 So. State Street. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
HENRY S. KINGWILL, Associate.
LONDOX, EXGLAND; 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
N E W S S E R V I C E IS S U P P L I E D W E E K L Y BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN T H E LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SLBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $3.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $uo.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to the Estate of
Edward Lyman Bill.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
dealt with, will be found in another section of this
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be cheerfully given upon re'iuest.
public that piano dealers are a lot of rascals and robbers. An
honorable industry, like ours, should not tolerate puzzle contest
schemes or other questionable methods of doing business.
UCH has been done in the last year or two to simplify
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the entry of American merchants and manufacturers
into foreign commerce, according to a recent letter of the
National Association of Credit Men, but the question of credits
still seems to present difficulties. In order to make it easier,
the association is endeavoring to establish a bureau of informa-
tion on foreign credits. Information is not to be assembled on
individual risks but, through the bureau, credit managers may
find out sources through which the desired information can be
obtained, as well as get information on standards and condi-
tions which affect credits. Co-operation has been promised by
the Bureau of Domestic and Foreign Commerce of the Federal
Department of Commerce. The association points out that,
naturally, its facilities, to begin with, will be meager, but that
they will increase through co-operation.
INCE the breaking out of the war and the cutting off prac-
S
tically of all the exports of pianos and other musical goods
from European countries, there has been much talked and
printed regarding the opportunities for the American manufac-
turers in developing South American markets for pianos, etc.
There is something more to the development of the export
Player-Piano and
trade, however, than the taking of the order, and, as will be gleaned
Technical Departments.
from the interview with D. R. Martinez, published in The Review
of March 18, there are problems to face that call for hard and
consistent work on the part of the piano men seeking to enter
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. . .Charleston Exposition, 1902
the South American field. In the first place, the financial con-
Diploma. . . . Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905.
nections between this country and South America are not as
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982—5983 MADISON SQ.
satisfactory
as might be desired, the rate of exchange being dis-
Connecting' all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
tinctly disadvantageous at the present time. Then, too, although
no German pianos are being received at present, the countries
NEW YORK, A P R I L 1, 1 9 1 6 .
were flooded with those instruments before the war, and many
of the dealers have several hundred German pianos on hand,
which they will dispose of before ordering from the United
EDITORIAL
States. Another and most important drawback is the lack of
shipping facilities and the tremendous increase in freight rates.
HE puzzle contest scheme of doing business in the piano
Through the work of the National City Bank, financial con-
trade has run up against a big obstruction, thanks to the nections between this country and South America are being
activity of the Post Office Department of the United States
much improved, but the change is gradual. Freight rates at
Government, which, as remarked in The Review some time
the present time, however, are almost prohibitive, and the piano
ago, has been giving serious attention for some time past to
man who wants to develop his export business must be willing
those engaged in this kind of business throughout the country.
to make a great sacrifice of time and money to attain the desired
The developments in Baltimore last week whereby the con- end. The work can only be done through a special department
ductors of a piano house which recently opened in that city with
thoroughly understanding the export business, and conversant with
the object of conducting a puzzle coupon business were arrested,
South American languages and business methods.
emphasizes that the post office authorities do not intend that
the United States mails shall be used for the purposes of fooling
HE National Association of Manufacturers has inaugurated
the public and interfering with the trade of legitimate dealers.
a nationwide movement in behalf of business, according to
The Review was the first paper to start the fight on the an announcement made this week by Col. George Pope, presi-
puzzle contest plan of doing business, and the campaign was
dent of the association. A campaign will be undertaken by the
conducted assiduously and with a large degree of success. It
association to enlist the co-operation of all Americans, regardless
was pointed out that the dealers who indulged in this puzzle
of occupation, age or sex, without concern as to their political
scheme of doing business were not only misleading the intelli-
affiliations, in taking steps to preserve the sovereignty of Amer-
gence of the public, but, moreover, undermining the faith of the ican business and to rebuke those who assail or harass it.
purchasing public in the piano trade as a whole, and thereby
"Great economical, commercial and financial changes are
working an injury to legitimate dealers throughout the country
bound to follow the end of the European upheaval," said Col.
For a period, the. puzzle contest sank into a position of
Pope. "In international adjustment the stability of American
innocuous desuetude, to use a phrase of a noted statesman, but
industry can be maintained and promoted only by the intelli-
recently the puzzle scheme has again raised its head, and daily
gent and concurrent action of all our citizens. Our purpose is
papers are reaching us in which the most ridiculous puzzles are
fundamentally patriotic. The problem involves equally the
set forth for the elucidation of the purchasing public, all de- worker, investor, merchant, manufacturer, farmer and every one
signed to mislead and defraud.
directly or indirectly concerned in our national industrial welfare.
It is most creditable to the piano merchants of Baltimore
"Employer, employee and capitalist should compare notes
that when a puzzle contest store was opened in their city, they
on our industrial and commercial outlook. Joint action is abso-
came together, consulted with the authorities in the music trade
lutely necessary if we are to preserve the sovereignty of our
field, and then got in touch with the post office officials, so that
business and the welfare of the millions of our citizens who are
this latest plan of making money quick was nipped in the bud. its beneficiaries. The best thought, the wisest counsel, must
Were this action taken by piano merchants whenever puzzle
unite and determine broad plans for industrial security.
contest schemes are inaugurated, much would be done to keep
"The gravity of the situation is too great to tolerate attacks
the industry free from this despicable form of publicity. It
by zealous incompetents and social experimenters. It is impera-
cheapens the industry, and conveys the idea to the purchasing
tive that we take an inventory of American industry and appraise
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