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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
CLOSING A YEAR OF BUSINESS PROGRESS
{Continued from page 3)
One need not be a prophet or the son of a prophet to predict that with the present upward trend in the
music trade industry, prices, both retail and wholesale, must advance still further, for a condition and not
a theory confronts us.
A notable feature of the year's business has been the marked trend toward the grand piano and the
player-piano and it would now seem as if 1916 will be the banner year in the production of these instruments.
The grand piano is finding especial favor, because of the unusual degree of prosperity prevailing throughout
the country. People of means desire the best in their home, and the best, and most expensive, of course, is
the grand. Aside from that, the popular priced grands of the smaller type have also experienced a demand
that is unparalleled, all of which lends color to the belief that these smaller grand styles are in a measure
replacing the uprights, l>e that as it may, the fact remains that the present year stands forth as the most
active in the demand for grands.
The popularity of the player-piano has been greatly enhanced the present year, owing to the more general
use of the hand-played music rolls which enables the user to get more satisfactory musical effects from the
instrument.
The electrically operated player has also come rapidly into vogue, but there is still a huge army
of purchasers who like and desire the player because it affords them a means of personally interpreting the
works of the great composers whose works are to be found in the regular music roll library—to these people
the pneumatic player is a joy forever.
The commercial importance of the holidays looms up larger than ever before, and everywhere in this
broad land of ours there is activity—there is an increased desire on the part of men engaged in all lines of
trade to place in the homes all the wonderful products of the loom or factory.
They profit by the Christmas spirit, which is a buying spirit—a spirit which tends to scatter happiness—
a time when gifts of all kinds are in order. And it is the time when efforts should be put forth by piano
merchants everywhere to stimulate interest in the piano and player-piano as one of the most necessary seasonable
gifts. For music in the home brings a permanent joy, an exaltation of spirit, and an educational influence
that cannot be easily measured.
Another Christmas is almost here—in fact another year, for we are virtually on the last lap of 191.6, and
it is timely to wish Review- readers an abundance of Christmas cheer, and a New Yea.r that will be bright,
gladsome, and abounding in prosperity and happiness for all.
chant who engages in that form of publicity must do so with the
knowledge that he is not only violating ethics, which may or may
not be of any consequence to him, but is in grave danger of run-
ning afoul of definite laws designed just to serve his particular
class of business men.
It cost a man in New York recently $25 to advertise fake
sales of household goods. Another man in this city has been held
in heavy bail for trial on the charge of selling as a Victor talking
machine an instrument made on the lower East Side. Several
piano men have faced the judge in various cities on similar com-
plaints brought either by advertising clubs or by the newspapers.
A law against misleading advertising does not mean anything
unless it can be enforced and is enforced. The misleading advertiser
is also learning that technicalities won't save him. The busi-
ness man who is carrying on a legitimate trade, and who is spending
good money for honest advertising is against him, as are the news-
papers that have been held to account for taking his advertising.
The advertising clubs have vigilance committees on the war path
after his scalp, and altogether things are not healthy for the man
who tells the public through his advertising things that are not so.
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 w r e 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