Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
WAR TAX ON MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS MAY BE RESTORED
13
The Salesmaking
Combination—
High Quality and
Low Price
House Conferees Fight Hard to Include Tax on Musical Instruments Eliminated by Senate in
Original War Revenue Bill—Plants Doing Government Work Restricted as to Publicity
WASHINGTON, D. C, September 18.—Announce- care of. Finally, whatever residue of fuel re-
ment that the manufacturers' tax on musical in- mains will be at the disposal of "non-essential
struments—or a modified form of that tax— industries." Officials at Washington do not say
was likely to be put back in the War Revenue so in so many words, but they intimate to your
bill in conference was not the only jolt received correspondent that under this plan, piano fac-
this week from Governmental quarters by music tories engaged upon aeroplane construction or
trade interests. Indeed, the intimation that cer- other Government contracts can rest assured
The Playotone is a fine in-,
tain classes of musical instruments might have of all the fuel they need, but that other plants
strument.
It is an easy seller
to stand a special tax, after all, was the least in the industry cannot have such reliance. In-
because
it
has
many of the fea-
of the surprises that originated at the national deed, it is frankly admitted that it is expected
tures that make higher-priced
capital.
that many factories producing "non-essentials"
player-pianos so desirable. It
Music trade leaders who have kept in close will have to shut down for intervals during the
touch with legislative developments at Wash- winter of 1917-1918. The railroads are, under
is slightly less luxurious; but
ington and who were consequently in a position the new status, to work in close co-operation
its
tone is exquisite and last-
to appreciate the resentment on the part of the with the coal administration so that it will be
ing;
its control is perfect.
House of Representatives at the drastic revi- not only a question of locating coal that can
It is made throughout by
sion of the war tax bill carried out in the Sen- be purchased but of arranging for its trans-
ate Finance Committee, guessed in advance that portation, unless mayhap a manufacturer is so
the same craftsmen who make
when the bill went to conference the spokes- placed as to be able to transport coal by motor
the famous Hardman and the
men for the Lower House would make a stren- truck direct from the mine.
Autotone—the perfect player-
uous effort to "restore" some of their pet plans.
A Little "Joker" in the Contract
piano.
They have been master
To the same end, music trade factors who have
Surprise No. 3 that has been handed to manu-
craftsmen since 1842.
followed the public utterances of Congress- facturers has taken the form of a sudden
man Kitchin since the revenue measure has been awakening to the significance of a little joker
Quantity production brings
undergoing reconstruction in the Senate readily with respect to advertising that appears in most
down
the Playotone's price.
surmised that the musical instrument tax was of the contracts signed by music trade concerns
It
is
a
musical,
beautiful, prac-
one for which the Representatives whose pride that have engaged to devote all or a portion of
tical instrument. The great
had been ruffled were prepared to make a stand. their plants to Government work—contracts
Military Exemption Will Be Harder
Hardman organization makes
such as these, for instance, for aeroplane con-
The other jolts of the week to the music struction. The clause in question which does
the Playotone for so little
trade came without warning as bolts from a not appear in all Uncle Sam's war contracts,
money because it has the ex-
clear sky. Number 1 of these developments but is included in a good many of them, is
perience, the resources and
was the disclosure that it is not going to be known as Article XX and reads as follows:
the will necessary to do it.
so easy as many business men had imagined
"The contractor agrees to refrain from exploit-
to secure exemption from military service for ing by publicity or otherwise its product manu-
industrial workers even if the workers happen factured in the pursuance of this contract, or in
to be engaged, for instance, in piano factories a any way publicly advertising the fact of the
considerable portion of the capacity of which is manufacture of said product and to refrain from
devoted to aeroplane construction. In answer publishing or causing or allowing to be pub-
to the impatience over the tardiness of exemp- lished any photographs, drawings, written or
tion boards in authorizing needed industrial printed matter, or other data disclosing the arti-
workers to remain on the job, has come the in- cles or parts of same, or the process of manu-
timation of the past week from Washington facture or the plans of the Government, or any
that Uncle Sam is disposed to go mighty slow information concerning the same, or which shall
in excusing from military service drafted men result in such disclosure."
who put up the plea, or whose employers put
It will be noted that, on the face of the thing,
up the plea, that they can render more valuable the scope of this prohibition is very broad and
service at lathe or workbench than in the sweeping. A. number of manufacturers who
trenches.
have Government contracts have, in sudden
The Coal Situation and Manufacturing
alarm, applied for official interpretation of this
As though to emphasize Gen. Sherman's defi- limitation in its effect upon their general ad-
nition of war there has come to manufacturing vertising and the exploitation of products which
interests in the music trade unpleasant awaken- they make for the commercial trade rather than
ing No. 2 in the guise of quiet intimation from for Uncle Sam. _ At this writing the official in-
Washington that when it comes to coal distri- terpretation asked for has not been completed,
bution this winter it is going to be a case of although legal experts of the Council of Na-
"essential industries first." This is the first tional Defense are at work upon it. However,
sequel of the inauguration of the new system of it is intimated to your correspondent that manu-
Governmental fuel control.
facturers may find themselves pretty closely tied
When Administrator Garfield took hold of up and in time the effect may be felt even by re-
coal distribution he and his associates speedily tail merchants if this clause is incorporated in
convinced themselves that there is not going to contracts covering pianos and other musical in-
be enough fuel to "go around" this winter. struments designed for use in either the army
Thereupon was formulated the general policy or the navy.
that is calculated to prove more or less discon-
The Wool Situation and the Felt Market
certing to manufacturers who have not had the
As
though all these new angles to the war
foresight or the opportunity to place surplus
coal in storage against winter requirements. situation were not enough to provide music
The Federal coal regulatory agency has decided trade men with food for thought there has
This is a great player-piano from the
that in apportioning coal the actual needs of the been disclosed this past week one more dilemma
dealer's
standpoint. It brings big, quick
in
the
possible
effect
upon
the
felt
market
of
householders of the country must receive first
profits. It is easy to sell and sells
consideration. After that, or simultaneously in the growing scarcity of wool. The Commercial
more Playotones through recommenda-
a sense, the "essential industries" will be taken Economy Board of the Council of National De-
tion.
fense has sounded a new alarm on the wool sit-
uation, declaring that immediate action is neces-
Ask us today about the sales pos-
sary and advocating such remedial measures as
sibilities of the Playotone. Add this
OU ought to see the Schaff
absolute discontinuance of the manufacture of
instrument to your line. Get your
B r o s . Style 23 Solotone
all-wool cloth for garments, clothing, etc. The
share of Playotone profits.
Player, for it is the most mod-
Commercial Economy Board does not make
ern player. The price is right, too.
specific recommendation with respect to felts,
but any person with half an eye can see that
WANT OUR SPECIAL PHOTO OF IT?
if the wool situation is as serious as this well-
informed body solemnly declares, it is inevitable
Established 184,2
that the influence of existing conditions will be
4 3 3 FIFTH AVENUE - NEW YORK
transmitted to the felt market with respect to
HARDMAN HOUSE
both prices and limitation of supply. This will Chicago Office and Warerooms, where there's a
affect piano felts.
complete stock of Playotones, Republic Building,
HUNTINGTON, IND.
PLAYOTONE
Y
HanlmanJPeck&Co.
Corner Adams and State Streets.