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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
The most dangerous competitor to-day is the man who is making
goods and selling them below cost. He hurts the industry as
a whole, because he gives a false idea of values, and unsettles
both wholesale and retail prices.
HE piano houses located on Fifth Avenue and vicinity have
T
been greatly interested in the "Save New York" movement,
the leaders of which since February have been laboring to elimi-
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions
of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
latin
K a n d repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
ICCllDlCal UCpHriulCIlIS. 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.
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nate the manufacturers of clothing, cloaks, suits, furs, and other
kindred articles, from the retail business zone, the boundaries of
which roughly are as follows: On the South by a line halfway
between Thirty-second and Thirty-third streets; on the East by
Third avenue and on the West by Seventh avenue.
The most remarkable thing in connection with this move-
ment is that of the two hundred manufacturing firms in the
zone, only eight so far have declined to move their factories,
while one hundred and thirty-six firms have already signed an
agreement to move from this zone when their leases expire.
The aim, of course, is to make this territory purely retail and
residential. In the meantime hundreds of lofts south of Thirty-
third street, many of which are idle, can be utilized purely for
manufacturing purposes. It is significant that since the move-
ment started no manufacturer has hired an establishment in the
Thirty-third street district.
These manufacturers have displayed a very fine civic spirit
in agreeing to remove, and their sacrifice cannot lightly be
passed over, as nearly all these firms spent from $2,500 to $20,000*
in fixing up their showrooms and offices, which in addition to the
expense of moving and settling in new quarters, means a large
outlay. They recognize, however, that the presence of factories
in this retail district is harmful, and they recognize how neces-
sary it is for the future benefit of the city that manufacturing
should not invade and destroy upper Fifth Avenue."
With the new retail zone system in effect the one serious
danger to Fifth avenue as a leading retail center is removed, and
piano men are naturally rejoicing that the entire matter is devel-
oping so successfully.
EDITORIAL
another part of The Review will be found the report of a
I July N decision
handed down by the Court of Appeals, at Albany, on
11th, which is of importance to piano dealers throughout
NUMBER of important suggestions have been made from
A
time to time by the Federal Trade Commission which have
proven of quite some value to business men. Edward N. Hurley,
the State, inasmuch as it affects very vitally the conditional sales
contract law.
According to this decision in an action by the seller under
a conditional sale agreement to reclaim the goods by replevin,
the buyer may defend by pleading a breach of warranty by way
of recoupment in diminution or extinction of the price. This is
contrary to what has heretofore been the law in this State.
Judging from this decision greater care will have to be exer-
cised in future by dealers and salesmen making statements to
customers at the time contracts are entered into.
the chairman of this Commission, is not a theorist, but a practical
business man and manufacturer who is in close touch with con-
ditions in all lines of industry, hence his views have been re-
ceived with considerable interest, because he always has some-
thing of value to say.
The Federal Trade Commission, it appears, has found that
an amazing number of manufacturers, particularly the smaller
ones, have no adequate system for determining their costs and
price their goods arbitrarily, and maintains there must be an
improvement in this direction before competition can be placed
on a sound, economic basis.
In this connection, a pamphlet bearing the title, "Funda-
mentals of a Cost System for Manufacturers," is soon to be issued
by the Commission. This little volume has been prepared by
Chairman Hurley, and his assistants, R. E. Belt and R. W. Gardi-
ner, who have studied this cost system as applied to manufactur-
ing for quite a period.
Reference is made to this pamphlet in another part of The
Review, and while everyone will not agree with Mr. Hurley
that "not more than ten per cent, of the manufacturers of the
country know exactly what their products cost" there are un-
fortunately quite a large number, and a few in the piano trade,
who are handicapped by their ignorance of what it costs to do
business, with the result that they are absolutely dangerous
competitors to the men who run their business on safe lines and
pay their bills.
This is a very live and timely subject, and we are glad that
the Federal Trade Commission is taking it up, for our manufac-
turers cannot build up domestic and foreign business on a sound
and enduring basis unless they know exactly how to run it, what
it costs them to make and sell goods, whether they are in business
to make a fair profit on their investment or merely for pastime.
N analysis of the exports and imports of musical instruments
A
for the eleven months, ending May, 1916, which appeared
in last week's Review, would indicate that the greatest export
gain is to be found in pianos. Eight thousand four hundred and
fifty-five of these instruments, valued at $1,484,021 were sent
abroad in that period as compared with 3,756 pianos, valued at
$712,580 exported in 1915, and 5,960 pianos, valued at $1,306,682
sent abroad during the eleven months of 1914. The figures show
that our loss in exports to European countries which prevailed
last year has been made up this year by exports to South America
and other countries not now engaged in warfare.
Player-pianos also showed an excellent export growth, but
the increase was not as marked as in that of pianos. For in-
stance, for the eleven months, ending May 1, 265 player-pianos,
valued at $405,445 were exported, as well as 254 piano players,
valued at $67,175, which are still in demand abroad. There was
a falling off in the exports of perforated music rolls, the eleven
months' total exports amounting in value to $53,959, as compared
with $64,109 for the same period of 1915.
The total exports of miscellaneous musical instruments and
supplies sent abroad for the eleven months ending May, footed
up $941,918 as compared with $479,773, which were sent abroad
during the same period of last year—a substantial increase.
The import trade in musical instruments necessarily shows a