Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
65
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
HOW THE WICKHAM CO. KEEPS IN TOUCH WITH THE TRADE
Piano Plate Manufacturers Issue Monthly Bulletin Filled With Pertinent Suggestions for Those
in the Piano Industry—Some of the Principles Which Have Built Up the Wickham Success
"You simply can't let the hearts of men brood
SPRINGFIELD, O., July 24.—The Wickham Piano
Plate Co., prominent manufacturer of piano and get the snap and purpose in their minds
plates and other metal accessories for the piano, that they must have if you will win.
"Quality is not the product of materials or
has issued a very attractive series of talks under
the title of the Wickham Suggestion Exchange men or money alone. It is the outcome of
Bulletin, which is mailed to piano makers and methods—methods that unite the best in men,
piano workers generally. The contents of the and help their art enter untarnished into the
bulletin are the result of suggestions furnished work they do.
"They need all their intellect to concentrate
by department heads, superintendents, foremen
and others in various piano plants. Each bul- on their labors—or else they merely do a day's
letin contains a return postal card, on which work that is without even the slightest reflec-
the recipient is asked to send in any suggestions tion of the souls that are in them.
which he may think will be of value to his fel-
"And it can never be the time-clock that
low-workers. The July bulletin, under the title makes a product right.
of "It Takes Pride and Spirit and Contentment
"It is something that the finest microscope
to Produce Results Worth While," contains the can't see, or the finest instruments measure: the
following very excellent article:
human something that keeps the hum of ma-
"It isn't human to do things against the grain. chinery singing a psalm.
"The Wickham way never uncovered any new
You can't keep minds stirred up, fretted and
harassed, and get the best results of their or wonderful principles—because, in human
owners. It's just as unreasonable and as im- things, there is nothing new.
"It simply took what all time has been prov-
possible as trying to grow a crop of golden
ing, and decided that the vote of the ages was
wheat on cobblestones.
"But—the mind at ease—the mind that has something to tie to. And the Wickham way
no little side-tracks of worry, discouragement has worked out—and that is the test.
"Theories are good—if they are proved-—but
and malcontent running from its main line—is
what are all theories pitted against every-day
the mind that produces quality.
"It's as impossible to keep one eye on work, human happiness?
"The moment the men in the plant are re-
and the other on the boss, as it is to serve a
garded as questionable, uncertain elements, that
master that you're seeking to destroy.
"And serving masters is contrary to liberty, moment the best that skill can supply ceases
anyway. The man who serves himself—and to exist.
"And what you think must necessarily re-
who knows that he is serving himself, is the
fellow who walks away from the field when it flect in what you say and do, and doubt is worse
than a fire and as bad as failure. It is the
comes to quality production.
"There never was a sweeter word in any beginning of the end of things worth while,
and the starting of retrogression.
language than—liberty.
"The Wickham way has figured on all these
"And they are at liberty who are working
with others, and who are profiting in propor- elements, and has thought most about the hu-
man side of Wickham piano plates.
tion.
"And results have proved that it is a way
"The Wickham way is to build men—to give
men the honor they merit—and to take away that is not far from the quality path—a way
from them the sordid little bickerings and sus- that needs only the addition of the best mate-
picions that will wreck not only a plant, but rials and tools for the workmen to produce their
art.
a government.
"We must believe what we live and what we
"You've got to have the spirit there—the sort
of spirit that enables a man to look squarely experience.
"Our finest ideas are nothing unless they
at his reflection in the mirror and say, ' J o n n '
you are a man, doing a man's work, and occupy- work out in practice.
"Is one necessarily a preacher to voice
ing a man's place in the world.'
opinions that deal with the hearts and minds of
'"Is the Wickham way very wrong?
"Back in the pages of history, there are a good men?
"Not at all!
many stories of slavery, but—where are the
"Business was once only shrewd bartering,
slave-owning nations now? As distant as Mars
but money was also once only wampum.
—as dead as Babylon.
"Things change—and all changes upward and
"Putting irons on men, and lashing them into
service, wasn't the kind of treatment that builded onward must depend on betterment.
"Ages past have produced their great sculp-
either a firm foundation or a worthy super-
tors and painters, their playwrights and poets,
structure.
but our age must produce artisans of the highest
"And human nature never changes.
"If shivery and driving didn't do any good a type.
"For if it is not their art that converts raw
thousand years ago, or ten thousand years ago,
materials into articles of price, then what is it?
it cannot do any more good to-day.
"The markets of to-day are governed by the
"And the Wickham way is just opposite from
thought
and spirit that go into goods—and
the direction of slavery.
"The spy system simply brings up all the contentment has wrought more marvels than
any other element—than all the invention, that
hatred men have in their hearts.
"It is opposition—and that means resentment, merely supplies the tools for minds to teach
cross-purposes, politics instead of work—distrust hands how to excel.
"The Wickham way has dealt with men be-
in place of achievement.
"And—what becomes of the results you had cause we believe in men—and they return our
planned on so carefully? Where is the quality? trust.
"After all, what is business but a steward-
ship? What is success but co-operation?
"And if the Wickham way has proved itself,
can it be very far wrong? If is has been able
to serve you better, does it not merit your
CINCINNATI, O.
thought?
Importers and Manufacturers of Figured
"You are buying the product of human skill,
Mahogany and Foreign Woods for high-
and without that element, what has been de-
grade piano cases and cabinets.
livered for your money?
m
"Without the human side, what has gone into
New York Office and Sample Room
Wickham piano plates that can help you carry
Grand Central Palace Bldg.
out your ideas of quality and service?
Lexington Ave. and 46th St.
"You can help—if you will—and we are sure
G. H. VAUGHAN. Eastern Representative
that you will.
"What suggestions can you make to help
The Ohio Veneer Co.
And when you're satisfied
that we've the best punch-
ings on the market, cut
clean and accurately from
the best of material in cellu-
loid, cloth, felt, fibre,
leather, paper, rubber or
whatever you want, give
us credit and send your
orders to
GEGOEPEL*C0
137 E A S T I3 T ~H ST.
NEW
YORK
these bulletins be of greater value and of more
help to you?
"If your suggestion is a criticism, well and
good; that's one line of march that progress
must take.
"Perhaps you have some idea—something you
have tried out. It may be a method, a plan,
a little way of doing things. Tell us about it—
and perhaps in that way you can aid us in em-
bodying in these bulletins something more help-
ful—more worthy of reading and thought.
"And should any one connected with your
business wish these bulletins, won't you send
the name and address?
"We hope you will acknowledge receipt of
this bulletin, and we look forward to whatever
you can say. So—criticize—suggest—co-operate!
It pays!
"It is a pleasure to us to work along with
you—to-day—to-morrow—all the while."
GOOD PRICES FORjUJSTRALIAN WOOL
British Consumers Take Nearly All Wool Of-
fered at Recent Auctions
\
At the last wool sale at Wellington, New
Zealand, there were offered 19,000 bales, being
a very large quantity for any one sale in this
Dominion. Prices ranged about the same as in
February in some lines, while some of the better,
grades made good gains.
The last sale of the season in this Dominion
was held at Auckland a few days after the
Wellington sale. Offerings were comparatively
light and the prices ruled about as given above. .
There were no American buyers in the market
at either of the sales, practically all of the sup-
plies going forward to British destinations.
BRANCH OFFICES:
Chicago
160 No. Fifth Are.
San Francises
164 Haaiiord Bldf.
are Apparent
Some of the sizes shown indicate the
variety of " S O S S " Hinges which » t
manufacture for use on pianos, player-
pianos, talking machines and music
cabinets.
There is a particular "SOSS" Hinge
best suited for your requirements.
Our illustrated catalog " S " gives
complete and interesting information.
Write for a copy and for quotations on
vour particular requirements.
So»t Manufacturing Company,
435-443 Atlantic Av«.. Brooklyn, N. Y.
Lot Anselei
224 Central Bldf.
Minneapolis
3416SecondATe.,So.
Detroit
922 David Whitney
Buldinc