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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 Reportorial Staff:
off the elevator and hang it over his desk, where he can see it
constantly and be guided by it, for the cautious man, who hesi-
tates to pay his money for storage, or to tie up capital with the
temporary loss of income from it, is looking in the wrong end of
the horn. He knows to-day what he can buy pianos for. If he
delays and is fortunate enough to get them in the fall, he will
find that the increased prices he will have to pay will probably
be so great that it will overshadow any possible storage or lose
interest charges. It is not the time for talking, but the time
for action.
HE successful type of business executive long ago came to
T
the realization that labor was to be valued not upon the basis
of how cheaply it could be obtained, but on the basis of intelli-
gence ; that the untrained, unambitious laborer can be more ex-
pensive at $1.50 a day than the intelligent, ambitious and skilled
man at $5 a day; that even with all the modern labor saving
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St. E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, Republic Building,
machinery
brains have a productive money value.
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State Street. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
H. SCOTT KINGWILL, Assistant Manager.
Industries
without number, appreciating the value of intelli-
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
gent
training,
have either arranged for private instruction for
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OCR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
their younger employes or have put into effect plans whereby
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
young employes can find opportunity to study while still earning
their way in the factory. The Weaver Piano Co., of York, Pa.,
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
for instance, has worked this idea out to a nicety by taking their
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
young
apprentices from the local high schools. The arrangement
ADVERTISEMENTS, $4.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $130.
is such that the boys go to school and work in the factory
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
alternate weeks, and the system is so laid out that two boys are
Departments conducted by an expert whereinall ques-
kept on one particular job, one being in school while the other
Player-Piano and
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning, regu-
i lating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos are
is at the bench, and vice versa. By this method the youths can
--•——•""— — «-j»— ....„—.•>• dealt with, will be found in another section of this
paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
improve their education and, through a more intelligent under-
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
standing of their work, become more valuable to the industry.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Getting them while they are young, and training them in the
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma ...Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal
St Louis Exposition, 1904
factory
while they are still enjoying the privileges of the school,
Gold Medal. ..Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
gives
the
Weaver Co. a grip on the apprentices that is not soon
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982—5983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
broken.
It
is an idea that will bear close watching.
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
The question has often been asked: "Where are the new
NEW YORK, JULY 1 4 , 1917
piano factory superintendents to come from?" In many of the
factories the work has been so specialized that only men of
exceptional intelligence and application, or those to whom un-
usual privileges are extended, can hope to obtain the necessary
= EDITORIAL
working knowledge concerning all parts of the instruments. The
days when one man worked on all parts of the piano, assembled
LARGE number of piano manufacturers and dealers during
the case, strung the instrument, installed the action and keys,
the week have expressed themselves most forcibly in com- and finally polished it, have gone, which would show that the
mendation of the stand taken in the leading editorial in The Weaver Co.'s apprenticeship system should offset to some degree
Review last week, urging that the" retailers, for their own pro- the effect of this specialization. If interest is shown in the
tection, should place fall orders up to the limit right now and workman right through the factory, and his education is care-
have deliveries made just as soon as possible. If the merchant
fully looked after, he will in all probability develop into a type
finds that there is not room enough on his floors for a surplus
of employe who not only knows that a certain thing is done in
stock of pianos, he will find that it will pay him well to rent
a certain way, but knows why it is done that way, and how that
storage space outside in order to be sure of having the goods on
particular piece of work fits in with the other work of the
hand when he wants them. Every manufacturer knows just
factory. In other words, he will obtain of his own volition the
what conditions are, and can come very close to predicting what
comprehensive knowledge that should make him a fit superin-
they are likely to be in the near future, and he bases his knowl-
tendent.
edge on experience. The retailers, too, realize the delays that
have been occasioned by insufficient freight equipment and con-
AST week there were announced the new committees of both
gestion during the past few months, and do not require a great
the National Piano Manufacturers' Association and the
amount of imagination to foresee what will happen when the
National Association of Piano Merchants, and a glance at the
freight lines are still further congested and an embargo is placed
list indicates that men have been placed on the committees with
on all freights except absolute necessities.
special regard for their fitness for the work in hand. With the
This is not a time for discussion. It is all very well for the trade organization assuming a militant attitude; with the broad
retailer to declare that he can appreciate the situation, but that
programs laid out for the coming year, it will require men of
will not suffice. He must act and act quickly. Every week, in understanding, of judgment and of energy to do their part in
fact every day, of delay will simply tend to make matters worse.
carrying the proposed progressive policy to success.
The merchant who takes time by the forelock will probably have
A large proportion of the trade has not yet recovered from
little to worry about. There is going to be a big demand for
the shock of the Chicago convention. They had become so used
pianos this fall, heavier than normal in fact, because there will
to the perfunctory association meetings, with the reading of
not be enough instruments to meet it, and the man with pianos
more or less dry reports, and without any forceful action being
on his floor or in the warehouse is going to be in a position to
taken, that the reversal of form proved a tremendous surprise.
make a clean up. On the other hand, the merchant who pro- It will indeed be most regrettable if the energy .displayed at the
crastinates for any reason is taking some mighty big chances.
Chicago meetings is allowed to languish outside of convention
It may be that the supply market will ease off and that the freight
hall. The appointment of the committees indicates that the
situation will become normal before fall business develops, but to languishing plan does not appeal to the officers; that the action
gamble on such a probability is to take long chances. The men taken at the meetings was not simply for effect, but rather
who really know conditions are not taking those chances. It is
marked the inauguration of a new policy.
time for the average piano dealer to take the "Safety First" sign
For years and years the talk has been of what the associa-
B. BRITTAIN WILSON, CARLBTON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSOM D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
W K . BUMD WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L, E. BOWERS
A
L