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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE MOBILIZATION OF INDUSTRY
(Continued from page 3)
Again, to keep our business going better than usual, so.that we may continue to do our patriotic duty to
the nation, we must struggle determinedly against the notion that a nation can be strong and powerful in
war, if its industries languish.
We must work to keep our business going by placing orders with manufacturers for pianos and players
now. Let us therefore heartily support every agency now existing for the advancement of interest in Music.
Let us, for instance, support the Bureau for the Advancement of Music. It needs our support!
Whoever cries down business, or fails to do his part in keeping it going, is a traitor! The man who works
to keep business going is a patriot!
"We are at War! Let us Keep Business Going; for Business is going to keep the War going to Victory!
Mobilize!
tions ought to do. Now the associations are going to do it, and
in that worthy endeavor should have the support of.the trade
at large.
If existing conditions can have the effect of bringing the
associations into closer formation and giving the members a new
idea of the associations' power for good, then war-time condi-
tions will have proved of some value to this trade at least.
HE New York Tribune one day last week carried a short
T
story to the effect that women had found a place in the
piano trade as saleswomen as a result of the war, thus replacing
men to some extent. The manager of one of the prominent local
piano companies was quoted as saying: "Selling pianos is not a
debutante's job. It has heretofore been a man's job, but women
can do it and we want them and need them right now."
The story made interesting reading, but was not absolutely
according to facts, for women have for some time past held a
more or less prominent place in the trade, not only in selling but
as managers and proprietors of piano stores and departments.
Right here in New York territory there are many women em-
ployed, and they have proven particularly successful as can-
vassers, finding little trouble in getting into homes where the
salesman would not stand a chance. Moreover, some of these
women have developed into expert closers, and have proven most
successful generally. It may be that the possible depletion in
the ranks of salesmen as a result of the war will make it neces-
sary to employ more women than formerly in piano selling, but
to speak of it as a brand new field just opened to the fair sex is
not adhering to the facts.
NDICATIONS point to the fact that the interest in the "Music
I where
in the Home" campaign is not confined to the United States,
it originated, but has swept across the border Into Canada
and over to England. As a matter of fact, as was reported by
C. M. Tremaine, Canadians were quick to plan an active part in
the campaign, and not only appointed a committee to look after
their share of the work, but raised a special fund to help fi-
nance it.
The music trade in war-ridden England is also apparently
much interested in the movement in this country but is not yet
in a position to introduce it into that country on a substantial
basis, though that may come later. Meanwhile, the work must
not be allowed to lag here. In the nine or ten months since the
Bureau for the Advancement of Music was established, there
has been a great record of accomplishment, but even the most
casual observer cannot help but realize that all the work to date
has merely scratched the surface. It has shown the way. It
represents an investment, and to produce dividends it will be
necessary for the work to be continued without delay and without
a gap.
The trade associations alone should not be looked upon to
back up the movement by themselves. Everyone who makes,
sells or is interested in any way in musical instruments should
have an active part. Making America musical is a man's job.
HE status of patents held in this country by residents of
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foreign countries with which this country is now at war will
remain unchanged until action is taken by Congress, according
to United States Patent Commissioner Thomas Ewing.
The laws of this country provide that the Government can
make use of any patents in case of emergency, and that it can
authorize the manufacture of a patented article by a concern not
owning the patent in case of need, the amount of damages to be
adjusted later. All the countries at war, with the exception of
Germany and Russia, have agreed to keep alive patents owned
by enemy subjects.
GETTING DOWN TO PLAIN PLAYER FACTS
The education of the public along player lines is a necessity for the expansion of the player business.
There is no doubt of that; and education of the piano merchants and salesmen is also a vital necessity,
because through them will come a powerful force in the education of the public; and right here we wish to
remark that we have produced a line of books upon the player-piano which comprehensively covers the
entire player situation.
In this respect this trade newspaper stands alone, for it has been the principal source from which player
information has been available for piano merchants and salesmen for a period of years. Our latest book,
"The Player-Piano Up to Date"
is the best of the series. It contains upwards of 220 pages of matter bearing directly upon the player.
Every piano merchant and piano salesman should have a copy of this book within easy reach. It
gives to readers a fund of information not obtainable elsewhere.
It contains a series of original drawings and a vast amount of instructive and educational matter, as
well as a detailed description of some of the principal player mechanisms.
It costs $1.50 to have this book delivered to any address in the United States, and your money will be
refunded if you are not satisfied with the book after examination. No one yet has availed himself of this
opportunity. Foreign countries, 15c. to cover extra postage, should be added.
Estate of EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Publisher
373 Fourth Ave., New York