Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1916 Vol. 63 N. 10

Page 4 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
THE
fTOJICTJADE
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 Stall:
B. BRITTAIN WILSON, CARLETON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
A. J. NICKLIN,
WM. BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor),
L. E. BOWERS,
BOSTON OFFICE I
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
CHICAGO O F F I C E :
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, Consumers* Building,
220 So. State Street. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
Telephone, Main 6950.
HENRY S. KINGWILL, Associate.
LONDON, ENGLAND: l Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., E. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED 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.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
.
Edward Lyman Bill.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
' I U I I I U aUU
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
npnarlmonfc
lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
U t p a r ! m e i l l ! > . 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 request.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal., .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma... .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
« Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5983—5983 HASXSOH SQ.
Connecting' all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 2 , 1916
EDITORIAL
REVIEW
the foreign corporations are working strategically together in
combine, as they naturally will be after the world war, the Amer-
ican business men need something more than regulating laws of
restraint—they need governmental co-operation, because they
must attack world commerce shoulder to shoulder, and arm in
arm, if they are to succeed in keeping American commerce promi-
nent in foreign fields. The Webb bill is a really constructive
measure, designed to promote American export trade, and we,
as a trade journal representing the music industries of the United
States, urge you to support the Webb bill.
" T H E MUSIC TRADE REVIEW."
In response to the above telegram, Secretary Tumulty, on
behalf of President Wilson, sent the following letter:
"The Music Trade Review, New York City.
"Gentlemen : The President directs me to acknowledge the
receipt of your telegram of August 18, and to say to you that
he not only has this matter very much at heart, but has taken
an active part in attempting to find the right solution for it. He
feels confident that legislation of this sort can be accomplished,
n not at this session of Congress, at any rate in time to meet the
necessities of the case. Sincerely yours,
"J. H. TUMULTY, Secretary to the President."
The President's response to the telegram sent by this pub-
lication is not only a cheering indication that the ultimate enact-
ment of the Webb bill into the Federal statutes is practically
assured, but is also practical evidence of the influence which
progressive trade papers of the day have upon the larger ques-
tions which influence our national economic life.
The policy of this publication has always been to do all
within its power to aid the enactment of laws and the promul-
gation of ideas and methods which in any measure were deemed
beneficial to the music industry at large. The Music Trade Re-
view has been a staunch advocate of the Stephens bill ever since
it was introduced in Congress and is still doing all within its
power to impress upon its readers the necessity of a law of this
kind. Likewise, the Webb bill has received the unstinted sup-
port of this publication, and will continue to receive it until the
bill, or one similar to it, has become part of the Federal statutes.
It is this spirit which is making of the trade press of this
country a powerful influence for good, an influence which, be-
cause of the broad and unselfish spirit which actuates it, is grow-
ing stronger and more beneficial with the passing of each suc-
ceeding year.
IANO manufacturers all over the country have been greatly
interested in the Webb bill, which at present is before the
House for consideration. This bill provides that American manu-
facturers may enter into trade combinations for the purpose
N all lines of business the instalment or deferred payment
of standardizing prices and facilitating the opening up of export
plan of purchasing has steadily grown, notwithstanding the
fact that credit men are not* over partial to this plan of doing
fields. It is, in reality, an abrogation of the spirit of the Sher-
business.
man Act, in so far as export trade in concerned. It is a measure
which will prove of vast benefit to American manufacturers who
Despite the efforts made by the automobile manufacturers
seek a wider expansion in foreign fields.
and dealers to keep that industry on a cash basis, they are now
When the present war is over, European industry will en-
doing business on the instalment plan, but on a much more satis-
deavor to recoup its export trade, and each European govern-
factory system than exists in the piano industry. Large initial
ment, following plans which were in operation even before the
payments are required, as well as a definite time when the entire
beginning of hostilities, will lend every possible assistance to
amount must be cleared up. The time limit of six or seven
those manufacturers within its borders who are engaged in
months makes the arrangement seem like a cash transaction as
export trade. In order to contend successfully with the keen
compared with the long time instalment methods which exist in
competition offered by European industries, American manu-
the piano trade.
facturers need every possible assistance, both governmental and
The instalment plan of developing business is unquestionably
otherwise. The Webb bill, which has been approved by the here to stay, and all that can be done by piano merchants is to
Federal Trade Commission, will enable American business men
endeavor so to control the sales as to shorten the time limit, and
to co-operate in the export field. The Associated Business
particularly to get larger initial payments.
Papers, an organization which grew out of the Federation of
A prominent man in touch with industrial conditions stated
Trade Press Associations, has been doing some very active work
the other day that the county clerk's office is now reporting an
in creating sentiment in favor of the Webb bill. Realizing the
unusually large number of conditional bills of sale, representing
importance of this bill and the benefit which it will bring to those articles purchased on the instalment plan, notably automobiles,
manufacturers in the piano industry who are seeking to enlarge
pianos, player-pianos and talking machines. This condition is
their export business, The Music Trade Review sent the follow-
due to the larger employment of labor, and to the better wages
ing telegram to President Wilson last week:
being received. It is not confined to one district, but is general
"Hon. Woodrow Wilson, White House, Washington. D. C.
throughout the country.
"Of over sixty-two thousand laws passed in the various
Discussing the instalment tendency, the following remarks
States, .more than fifty thousand are designed to regulate busi-
from the Credit Men's Bulletin are timely: "From the economic
ness in some particular. To this legal restraint must be added
side and the credit standpoint, the theory of instalment payment
the vigorous activities of the Federal Government, under the
is undoubtedly not good. A thing purchased on the instalment
commerce clause of the Constitution, and yet the business men
plan must, of necessity, cost the buyer more than if he accumu-
are the real foundation of the nation, and big business is the back- lated enough to put down the cash, and again the expectation
bone of all business. Truly, when the foreign governments and
that involves one, two or more years is a great factor of uncer-
P
I

Page 5 Text:

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
tainty. Yet, on the other hand, if in some way the instalment
principle were absolutely cut out, a vast number of homes and
lives would be deprived of comforts and facilities which make
largely for the joy of living and the culture and education of our
youth. So again the crux is the proper use of the instalment
system, the necessity of so instilling the sense of thrift into the
hearts of our people that they shall appreciate the extravagance
and danger of overindulgence in instalment purchases. Again,
instalment credits must be examined sharply and persistently,
remembering that they rest far more upon continued prosperity
than do ordinary merchandise credits."
FTER a lapse of fifteen years music lovers of New York are
A
again privileged to listen to and inspect the famous Chick-
ering piano in showrooms directly under the control of Chick-
ering & Sons of Boston. Those who remember the old
Chickering Hall, at Eighteenth street and Fifth avenue, and
the musical associations connected therewith, cannot fail to
appreciate not alone the commercial, but also the sentimental
importance of the taking over by Chickering & Sons of the
piano department of the Lord & Taylor store. According to
the plans of Chickering & Sons, Chickering Hall will take on
a new meaning for New Yorkers, and will bring that time hon-
ored trade name again prominently into the limelight.
TIMELY picture of New York as the world's greatest
A
manufacturing city is painted in vivid colors by an item
in the New York World, based upon the census of manufactures
for 1914, which says:
"Though 1914 was the year when the opening of the war
disorganized industry and checked the rise of prices, so that in-
crease did not mean, even in part, merely marking up tags, the
total of New York's factory product had risen since 1909 bv
$265,000,000, or 13.1 per cent.; more swiftly than the growth in
population.
"The total of $2,292,000,000 is nearly three-fifths the product
of the State and one-tenth that of the whole United States. It
is $352,000,000 more than double the interest-bearing national
debt. It employs as many people as the entire population of
manufacturing Rhode Island.
"In one respect this census, like every recent similar com-
putation, teaches a political lesson. It once more reveals the
false promise of 'productive economies' for trust methods under
the benign rays of Republican tariffs. Average wages rose
slightly in the five years, but the total of wages grew less rapidly
than product, much less rapidly than salaries and capital; and
the number of workers less rapidly than the number of proprie-
tors and firm members.
"With salaries and capital expectant of reward, both in-
creasing much more swiftly than wages and faster even than value
produced, the whole theory of just and economical manufacture
by privileged monopoly continued in 1914 to stand on the de-
fensive. T° tell what changes have sjnce been wrought will
soon be possible."
S reported in The Review last week, Frank E. Morton,
A
acoustic engineer for the American Steel & Wire Co., is
making an effort to bring together the technicians of the piano
trade that they may collaborate for their mutual benefit. The
move is one that should be heartily encouraged. The piano
trade at the present time suffers not so much from dearth of
technical knowledge, but rather from the fact that such knowl-
edge is isolated as it were. There are experts in piano tone
and construction, technicians and scientists in plenty in the trade,
but far too many of these experts apparently revolve each in
their own little sphere, and either are denied or deny them-
selves the advantages arising from association and interchange
of ideas with their fellow experts. By gathering together,
according to Mr. Morton's plan, these technicians should be able
to add to their own store of knowledge, and at the same time
impart some of their knowledge and experience to their fellow
members of the craft. A gathering such as proposed would
not be one for the purpose of passing innumerable resolutions,
and spending much time in arguing about the intricacies of con-
stitution and by-laws, but would rather confine itself strictly to
the informal discussions of piano and player building problems
in which each delegate would be vitally interested. The plan
is well worth thinking" over.
all reports the South generally should be pretty good
F ROM
stamping ground for piano and player people this fall. Con-
centration of influences which have been at work for some time
should produce conditions distinctly favorable to the sale of
musical instruments on a larger scale than ever. Travelers all
speak of the fact that a number of piano stores of the better
grade are increasing. A good deal of new blood is coming into
the business and dealers that have been contented to go along
with poorly equipped stores are remodeling, moving into new
quarters, and paying attention to window and interior displays
as the}' have not heretofore. General business conditions are
good. The European conditions have increased the demand
for cotton goods enormously and the Southern mills are un-
precedentedly prosperous. Exportation to South America of
Southern-made goods is also becoming an increasing factor in
Southern commerce. In addition to all this is the fact that
the South has learned the secret of diversified crops and buys
her meats, hay and corn elsewhere. The South has not taken
to player-pianos in the same degree as the North, but she is
awakening in this regard and the proportion of player sales in
the South this fall promises to be the greatest in her history.
GETTING DOWN TO PLAIN PLAYER FACTS
The education of the public along player lines is a necessity for the expansion of the player business.
There is no doubt of that; and education of the piano merchants and salesmen is also a vital necessity,
because through them will come a powerful force in the education of the public; and right here we wish to
remark that we have produced a line of books upon the player-piano which comprehensively covers the
entire player situation.
In this respect this trade newspaper stands alone, for it has been the principal source from which player
information has been available for piano merchants and salesmen for a period of years. Our latest book,
"The Player-Piano Up to Date"
is the best of the series. It contains upwards of 220 pages of matter bearing directly upon the player.
Every piano merchant and piano salesman should have a copy of this book within easy reach, it
gives to readers a fund of information not obtainable elsewhere.
It contains a series of original drawings and a vast amount of instructive and educational matter, as
well as a detailed description of some of the principal player mechanisms.
It costs $1.50 to have this book delivered to any address in the United States, and your money will be
refunded if you are not satisfied with the book after examination. No one yet has availed himself of this
opportunity. Foreign countries, 15c. to cover extra postage, should be added.
Estate of EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Publisher
373 Fourth Ave., New York

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