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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
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, CARLETON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, GLAD HENDERSON, WILSON D. BUSH
A. J. NICKLIN, WM. BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), L. E. BOWERS, V. D. WALSH
BOSTON OFFICE»
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone, Main 6950.
CHICAGO OFFICE j
E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, Consumers' Building,
220 So. State Street. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
HENRY S. KINGWILL, Associate.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall S't., E. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
REVIEW
to hear their favorite machine demonstrated or to enjoy the
opportunity of making comparisons.
What man has done man can do. If nine talking machine
dealers not only general competitors, but retailers of exactly the
same line of machines and records, can so far forget their dif-
ferences as to get together, share in the expense of general
advertising for the benefit of all, and make the talking machine
itself, rather than any particular make of talking machine, the
subject of argument, piano dealers can do the same tiling.
With such an example before them piano dealers in many
cities should be able to work out their own salvation in develop-
ing musical interests locally without waiting for assistance from
the national organization. It will cost some money, but if the
expense is divided among a number, the individual burden is
small. The results on the other hand will be general and with-
out doubt satisfactory.
ABOR troubles in the piano trade are fortunately few and
L
far between, but a strike in a piano factory sometime ago
was the means of developing a co-operative arrangement be-
tween the executives and employes of that particular factory that
will probably make a strike an unknown factor in the future.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
The details are interesting.
Canada, $3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
In the factory in question the ordinary conditions existed.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $3.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $no.
The
men received the regular scale of wages for the ordinary sort
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to the Estate of
Edward Lyman Bill.
of work. There came a time, however, when one of the depart-
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
Dlai/AP
Pionn dllU
anil
ments, devoted to the making of organs, was to be discontinued,
n«ljvr-rl«IIlU
tions
a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
l a t i n of
S a n d r e P a i r i n S o f pianos and player-pianos are
and arrangements were made to take care of the men in that
i c l l l U I l d l i f c p d n U I C . dealt with, will be found in another section of this
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
department
until permanent places could be found ,for them in
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
other sections of the factory.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Naturally under these temporary conditions, there was some
Grand Priv
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma. .. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
loss of income, and the result was labor troubles. The effect of
Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905.
the strike as described by one of the executives was this: "We
1.027 G DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS
5982—5983 MADISON SQ.
were employing the men, paying them their wages, and they
Connecting 1 all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
were practically depending upon us for their livelihood, and yet
outsiders in whom they had no financial interest, upon whom
NEW Y O R K , J U L Y 1 5 , 1 9 1 6 .
they were in no sense dependent, were able to get so close to the
men that they were willing to accept the guidance of these out-
siders and forfeit their jobs. We quickly came to the conclusion
EDITORIAL
that if an outside agitator could get so much closer to our men
than we could, the blame lay not so much upon the men as upon
HP HE business situation in the piano trade, as in every branch
us, that our system was wrong somewhere."
•I of industry, showed considerable improvement the past
With this idea in mind the executives of this particular fac-
week, due in a large measure to the relief from the tension which
tory set about to find the proper system. Organization and
prevailed over the critical Mexican situation. Developments
efficiency experts were employed, with the ultimate result that a
would now indicate that the stay.of the National Guardsmen at
system was evolved whereby the men had an actual voice in the
the border will be of brief duration, and that these men will
conduct of the business, the system being built upon four-cor-
return to their various occupations in due course and normal
nered stones, the first of which was justice. At that factory now
conditions again prevail.
weekly meetings are held and the opinions of the men are lis-
It is noteworthy that comparisons of failures in June by
tened to. Through the spirit of co-operation the men themselves
Dun's Review with those of many preceding months show a
in certain departments have found ways and means for reduc-
marked reduction in the country's business mortality and reflect
ing the number of men employed on certain work, reducing pro-
complete recovery from the economic depression caused by the duction costs and shortening the number of hours without cut-
outbreak of the European war. And they suggest that with the
ting down the output.
present better organization of banking resources and credits
When unfavorable conditions struck the trade and the de-
the possibilities of financial embarrassment have been materially
mand fell off and the cost of supplies advanced rapidly, the men
lessened. There were fewer insolvencies in June than in any were taken into the confidence of the executives regarding con-
preceding months in two years, and it is necessary to go back to
ditions, and were largely responsible for the reduction in manu-
1911 to find a lighter indebtedness. In the first half of 1916
facturing costs. As the executive further explained the ordinary
strictly commercial defaults were about 27 per cent, less numer-
workman under ordinary conditions puts only his hands into his
ous than in the corresponding time last year and about 40 per
work. Under the proper stimulus he uses both hands and
cent. less in amount.
brains, while in the genuine spirit of co-operation he uses heart,
brains and hands. When the last point has been reached the
HILE piano manufacturers and dealers are discussing
manufacturer can rest assured that he has made a very near
plans for trade advancement and ways and means for
approach to solving the labor question.
awakening local interest in music, it might be well to call atten-
tion to the action of nine talking machine dealers in Louisville,
HE convention of the National Association of Talking
Ky., handling between them the Victor, Columbia and Edison
Machine Jobbers, which took place at Atlantic City during
lines, in forming an association to promote interest in talking-
the past week, was unusually successful, not alone in attend-
machines through the medium of a special talking machine
ance, but in the importance and value of the various subjects
week.
discussed and acted upon. Much time was devoted to the sub-
The association published large, attractive and impressive
ject of musical education, for no one can gainsay that the leading
joint advertisements in the local papers, including the names of
talking machine manufacturers and jobbers have been tremend-
the concerns interested, the lines they carried and the names of
ous factors in educating the public to a desire for better music
the managers. Daily concerts were given throughout the week,
in the home.
June 26 to July 1, in each of the stores and the public was urged
Leading educators have not been slow to acknowledge the
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
W
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