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MUSIC TRADE
1
PLAYER SECTON
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NEW YORK, DECEMBER
30, 1916
A Summarization of the Opinion of Several Representative Piano Manufac-
turers and Dealers Regarding the Prospects for the Coming Year—The New
Year Promises to See a Still Further Increasing Popularity for the Player
Everybody lias been pretty busy during 1916,
and if it were not for the increased cost of all
sorts of raw material, the probability is that
the satisfaction already pretty generally ex-
pressed would be even more profound. What
the prospects may be for 1917 no one seems to
know for sure, and there is quite a general
disinclination to talk at any length on the sub-
ject. As a general thing it may be said that
most people are cheerful, if not wildly enthusi-
astic, and that there is little or no inclination to
look forward towards the next year with any
apprehension of difficulty or danger to come.
The Player Section of The Review presents
herewith a summarization of the opinion of
some representative manufacturers and dealers,
regarding the prospects for the coming year.
THE MANUFACTURERS' POSITION
New York District
A consensus of opinion from piano and player-
piano manufacturers in the New York dis-
trict shows that in general the player-piano out-
put has been larger than ever before. There
are exceptions, but this the general condition.
It shows also that the proportion between play-
ers and straight piano is steadily approaching
the even or fifty-fifty division. It likewise dis-
closes a quite widespread feeling of dissatis-
faction, owing to the enormous cost of produc-
tion and scarcity of labor.
The proportion between player-pianos and
straight instruments is steadily closing up.
Some manufacturers in this district report as
low as 25 per cent, of players; some as high as
50 per cent.; but in general it might be said that
about 35 per cent., or a little more than one-
third of the production, is now player-pianos.
Complaints as to the scarcity of labor and
the high price of material are perhaps more gen-
eral from this district than from anywhere else.
In general, there is a disinclination to form
predictions regarding the year 1917, but the
common opinion is by no means the reverse of
cheerful.
One or two of the very large houses are ex-
tremely cheerful and aie looking forward to
an enormous 1917 business, while leaving behind
them a magnificent 1916 year.
New York, the.n, is divided; conservative but
not depressed.
Boston and New England
The high-grade manufacturers who pre-
dominate in Boston are feeling quite happy and
are looking forward to a prosperous 1917.
They are also looking backward at a prosperous
1916.
In fact the high-grade men are this
year the prosperous ones. The people have
been buying better pianos and player-pianos ap-
parently. One of the largest of Boston pro-
ducers of both types of instrument, produced
during 1916 about one-third players to two-thirds
pianos.
Breezy and Cheerful: That Is Chicago
The Chicago manufacturers in general are
large and solid concerns, with large output,
large ways of doing things and a broad outlook.
They are in an unusually cheerful and optimis-
tic mood this Christmas, and are bigger rooters
for the player-piano than ever. Some of them
are producing as many players as pianos.
Scarcely any one is producing less than one-
third players to two-thirds .pianos.
All are
enjoying a period of tremendous business ac-
tivity and look forward to equal prosperity dur-
ing 1917.
It is true that the shortage of labor and high
prices of all material combine to temper some-
what the aggressive cheerfulness of the Chi-
cagoans; but on the whole they are by all means
the most optimistic of American player-piano
manufacturers.
It is a rather curious, but highly significant
fact, that the demand for the power-driven
player seems to be less evident in Chicago than
elsewhere, at least among manufacturers.
Those who are engaged in supplying the enor-
mous Central Western territory do not report
any big call for power-driven players as yet,
while they do report a remarkably healthy de-
mand for foot-driven players. The foot-driven
player of moderate price and reliable quality,
technically perfected and satisfactory to the
general consumer, is something which the Cen-
tral West has greatly developed; and this type
is likely to rule the game for some years to
come. Inquiries among Chicago manufacturers
certainly point to this conclusion.
Summing It Up
Allowing that there are proper diversities of
opinion, we may say nevertheless that the
player manufacturer's opinion about business
prospects is cheerful, and that he has had
a satisfactory year. The following points are
to be noted:
1. The proportion between players and pianos
is about, one to two and is gradually approach-
ing one to one.
2. 1916 has been a good year but profits have
not been up to the volume of business on ac-
count of production costs.
3. 1917 will be a good year.
4. The foot-driven player still holds the field.
THE DEALERS' VIEWPOINT
The dealers, of course, look at matters from
a different standpoint, and it is much harder
to get at retail views in anything like a repre-,
sentative way. The following remarks can onlyj
be taken as indicating what a number of dealers,
interviewed during brief visits to New York
and Chicago, appear to think about player mat-
ters in general.
1. Player sales are increasing rapidly in pro-
portion to those of straight pianos.
2. However, player sales are not as rapid as
they might be, mainly owing to general public
misunderstanding of them and unintelligent pres-
entation.
3. Ignorance of the mechanism on the part
of tuners is responsible for much of the rela-
tively slow progress of the player-piano in
many sections.
4. The small dealers are not yet aware of the
real advantages of pushing the player-piano and
are largely unwilling to make a serious attempt
in this direction.
5. Prices and terms are as yet in a more
or less chaotic state, and there is a dearth of
constructive advertising on the merits of the
player-piano, aside from prices and terms.
6. The power-driven piano has created a trade
flurry in some large cities and certain special
advertised lines are being pushed with fair
interest and considerable success; but it would,
be wrong to suppose that this portends the
death of the foot-driven type; for the reason
that the latter is not yet developed to its full
possibilities.
7. 1916 has been a good year and the holiday
business has been really tremendous. Indus-
trial conditions continue to look good, and the
prospects for 1917 are excellent.
A Good Outlook
The above represents a summary of opinions
expressed and implied. In general it may be
said that the Middle Western men are the more
aggressive and the Easterners the more cautious,
in talking about these matters and especially
in predicting. Yet, all in all, it looks very good.
The New Year
In leaving 1916 and approaching 1917 then,
we may say with no little confidence that the
past year has been a good player year, that
the player piano rapidly approaches equality
with the straight instrument in point of num-
ber and value of sales, that 1917 is likely to be
just as good as 1916 and that more intelligence
is still the great need of the player business..™