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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President, J. B. Spillane,
373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, J. Raymond Bill, 373 Fourth Ave.,
New York; Secretary and Treasurer, August J. Timpe, 373 Fourth Ave., New York.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
J. RAYMOND BILL, Associate Editor
AUGUST J. TIMPE
Business Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
B. BmiTTAiH WILSON, CARLITON CHACB, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BOSH, V. D. WALSH,
WM. BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St. E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, Republic Building,
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State Street. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
H.
SCOTT KING WILL, Assistant Manager.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE I S SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OCR CORRESPONDENTS
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yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $130.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
Pionn anil
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
-riaUU aUU
tions of
a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
latin
IW>n2)l*fniPnfc
« a n d repairing of pianos «nrf player-pianos are
I i e p a i I l l i e i l l S . 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.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma ...Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
S t Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. ..Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
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NEW
YORK,
JULY
7. 1917
EDITORIAL
JNviU bi^nc'beg'of't.he industry there is a steadily improving
I strates
•feeling of ,cojifjde.nce, with increasing business, which demon-
ftiat 'th'*:hysteria following the declaration of war is fast
disappearing...•P.i.-jno^ and players of the more expensive styles
are selfrng- w.elh.&n/I* in increasing numbers. With the better
feeling growing among the working classes, it is to be expected
that there will be a broadening out of sales of the more popular
priced instruments as the summer progresses.
The question of the hour is the placing of orders by dealers
sufficiently early to enable manufacturers to supply instruments
for fall and winter needs before congestion or embargo develops
on the railroads. And then there is the matter of increasing
costs of manufacturing. This subject, so vital to the manufac-
turers, is referred to elsewhere in The Review and it means
that dealers must fully recognize the seriousness of the situation
now confronting the industry.
Discussing the business situation for the first six months
of 1917, Dun's, in the latest review, says:
The half-year ends with various uncertainties in evidence,
and with many economic problems still to be met and further
changes effected. Yet the absence of conspicuous unsettlement
during the present period of readjustment, with failures rela-
tively moderate, has demonstrated that business and finance
rest on a solid basis, and confidence remains the predominating
sentiment. The question of prices compels general attention,
and doubts about the future of certain of the leading markets
tend to induce hesitancy and waiting in many quarters, and
cause some degree of uneasiness. Not a few important com-
modities, as was expected, have attained an even more extraordi-
nary position and, where supplies are needed with especial
urgency, exceptional offers are made for rush shipments. Such
deliveries, however, are not often possible, with the handicaps
of shortage of raw materials and labor and of transportation de-
lays continuing, and in all cases the requirements of private in-
terests are subordinate to those of the Government, which in-
crease and become more diversified.
The enormous war buying sustains manufacturing at high
pitch and mercantile branches are in turn favorably affected,
while maintenance of seasonable temperatures imparts added
stimulus to retail trade over a wide area, though many con-
sumers still purchase sparingly because of the extreme prices.
Yet, while distribution in most sections has been in lessened
volume, there is comparatively little complaint regarding col-
lections, and, with the completion of present special financial
operations, easier conditions in money are to be expected. One
of the best features of the general situation is the steady im-
provement in grain crop prospects, with wheat now promising
more abundant yields than recent official forecasts indicated.
With its total of $613,000,000, last January retains the record
in domestic merchandise exports; but May set a new precedent
in imports, which reached $281,000,000. This is $11,000,000
above the previous maximum of March and $52,000,000 larger
than in May, 1916, while for the eleven months of the fiscal
year there appears a similar difference of $390,000,000. The
gain in shipments, as all know, has been very much greater,
$1,850,000,000, and the outgo in May exceeded $550,000,000, or
$20,000,000 more than in April. Yet this week's official figures
told nothing of quantities, and it can only be surmised how
much of the increased value of this nation's oversea commerce
is due to the higher prices. Still, it is the values which deter-
mine the foreign credit position, and the $270,000,000 export
excess in May partly explains why gold has again been coming
here in enormous volume.
DMUND GRAM, president of the National Association of
E
Piano Merchants, appointed last week a very representative
body of men as State Commissioners. He has covered the
country very thoroughly, and in this way secured an imposing
body of ambassadors, or missionaries, whose duty it is to spread
and practise the doctrines of the association in their respective
cities or States, and to encourage the highest ethical standards.
The State Commissioners have big responsibilities, and can
do much to uplift and improve the industry by an active inter-
est in promoting local associations where none now exists. They
can also help in propagating in an intelligent way the various
aims of the association as well as stimulating a knowledge and
appreciation of music in the home and the conduct of business
along lines that will win the support of the purchasing public—
in other words, discouraging the use of dishonest advertising and
other practices which might tend to lower the standard of the
industry.
This year the State Commissioners have behind them a number
of Bureaus, organized by the National Association of Piano
Merchants, which by co-operation and association, enable them
to exercise more power to secure results for the benefit and pro-
tection of the music trade in general. With the association
branching out into new spheres of usefulness, and with such a
body of progressive business men as State representatives of the
National Council, it goes without saying that the Association
should mark a new record in the organization of local associa-
tions, the expansion of membership, as well as securing other
results that will inure to the benefit of the industry in a national
way.
HAT constructive work on the part of a trade newspaper
T
received a due measure of appreciation from members of
the trade who are really interested in its development is indi-
cated by recent letters received at The Review office from men
of prominence in the industry.
P. E. Conroy, head of the Conroy Piano Co., St. Louis, and
chairman of the Better Business Bureau of the National Asso-
ciation of Piano Merchants, writes in part as follows: "I think
the department in your paper wherein you illustrate some of the
good advertising being done by different piano houses is very
good indeed, as one can often learn something to his advantage
by perusing same, and I always take a great deal of interest in it."
Franklin Ford, advertising manager of the Lauter Piano
Co., Newark, N. J., writes: "Let me wish continued success
to The Review, and all those connected with it. It is surely a
clean, constructive paper, which keeps out of the mud, gives us