Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1917 Vol. 65 N. 25

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President, C. L, Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President, J. B. Spillane,
373 Fourth Are., 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
REVIEW
concerned, but the latter is now forcing co-operation and putting
other plans into being to the end that the German manufacturers
may be able to carry on a larger and more active campaign for
foreign trade after the war.
All these moves are significant and should not be over-
looked by the American manufacturer and the American Govern-
ment. A step in the right direction will be the passage of the
Webb Bill, but in addition to this there should be manifested a
greater spirit of support and encouragement on the part of the
Government to our business men desirous of placing American
products in foreign countries.
T
HE transportation problem is one of the vital topics of the
day. The railroads of this country are facing conditions
which are unprecedented in the nation's history, due in a large
Executive and Reportorial Stall:
B. BKITTAIM WILSON, CAKLETON CRACI, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
measure to the demands made upon them by the Government
WM. BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
and their inability to increase freight rates in conformity with
JOHK H. WlLfON, 324 Washington St.E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, Republic Building.
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State St. Telephone, Wahash 5774.
the increasing cost of labor and operation.
H. SCOTT KINGWILL, Assistant Manager.
No matter how we may criticise the railroads and blame
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
them for mistakes made in the past, it is time now for every-
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
body to look at the country's transportation problem with a large
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
unbiased vision.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
The railroads are the arteries of the nation. Unless they
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
are
placed
in a condition to operate successfully there can be
Canada, $3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $4.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
no business health or business progress. At the present time
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $130.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
the railway situation is such that private capital is not inclined
Lyman Bill, Inc.
to
support these enterprises, and the belief is now that some sort
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
Plavoi*
Piann and
lldJCl -ridUU
allU
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
of Government credit, or perhaps Government control during
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
p
the war, may become absolutely necessary in the interests of
a r ° d e a l t * w i t h i w fri be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concern-
ing which will be cheerfully given upon request.
the country.
Be that as it may, it is quite evident that a broad, construc-
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
tive program is needed for the transportation service of the coun-
Grand Prix
Parif Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. .Charleston Expositjon, 1902
Diploma.. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
try, and everyone interested, including all branches of industries of
Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
the country, should co-operate to this end.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—6983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
The country cannot be prosperous, or the nation safe, unless
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
our railroad systems are working along harmonious, co-operative
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 2 2 , 1917
lines and given such financial support as will enable them to
secure a fair profit on their labors. We permit of a fair profit
to manufacturers of war supplies, and we must observe the same
EDITORIAL
attitude toward the railroads, for it must be admitted that they are
also absolutely essential to the successful prosecution of the war
HE development of export trade not only during the war, Despite unusual conditions and dissatisfying results in a finan-
cial way, they have met all the demands of the Government in
but after peace is declared, is considered by every student
a manner to win the approval of those in authority. Of course
of the nation's needs to be absolutely essential to the progress ot
the transportation of manufactured articles has suffered to some
our country. A forward step in this direction was the passage
extent, but this has been largely due to the lack of money to
last week by the Senate of the Webb Export Combination Bill,
buy cars to insure the enlarged transportation which becomes
which it is expected will be enacted into law at an early date.
necessary in war times.
This measure is a highly desirable recognition of the principle
We must play fair with the railroads despite the tricky,
of co-operation in foreign trade which has had the support not
political record of some of them in the past. Conditions have
only of the National Foreign Trade Council but of the leaders
changed, and so have the railroads, and the entire situation must
in all branches of industry.
be analyzed and estimated as it exists to-day and not as in the
For a considerable time past American exporters have been
past.
greatly hampered in their efforts to compete with foreign ex-
porters in the markets of the world by their apprehension that
the Sherman Act forbade combined effort, including even the
NOTHER bugaboo has been scotched by W. S. Gifford,
organization of joint selling agencies. The Webb Bill removes
Director of the Council of National Defense, who stated
such disadvantages as may now be imposed by our anti-trust
this week that, contrary to the general belief, there is no "non-
laws to the end that American exporters may be free to utilize
essential industry" list on file at the office of the United States
all the advantages of co-operative action in coping with com-
Fuel Administration. He added further that no orders have
binations of foreign rivals united to resist American competition
gone forth to coal handlers to refuse necessary supplies to cer-
and a combination of foreign buyers equipped to depress the
tain manufacturers, or certain industries. Thus disappears an-
prices of American goods.
other of those war scares that have annoyed business men all
The passage of the Webb Bill will mean the definite recog-
over the country and the facts regarding which have been so
nition by Congress of the principle of co-operation, and it should
exaggerated by Washington correspondents of the daily papers.
prove a very substantial benefit to the export trade of the United
For some weeks past members of various industries have
States.
been journeying to Washington to find out if their line was or
In Great Britain, as in Germany, the war has not prevented
was not "essential," and this has resulted in harmful rumors
most exhaustive preparations for increased international trade
that have seriously disturbed the general business situation.
after the restoration of peace. In Great Britain industrial co-
This report from Washington is entirely in keeping with
operation is being encouraged, and exporters are to be aided by
the remarks of Geo. W. Pound, general manager of the Musical
the new Trade Bank and British Trade Corporation. The latter
Industries Chamber of Commerce, who in his address to the
bodies will enable England to co-ordinate her forces and thus
piano men of Chicago recently pointed out to his hearers that
fill a void which was apparent before the war.
he has received definite assurances from Washington officials
that no drastic action will be taken against the music trade,
In Germany there has always been a close union between
and that full and fair consideration will be given the industry
the manufacturers and the Government as far as exports are
T
A
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
to present facts whenever issues may arise involving its interests.
These assurances will undoubtedly serve to instill confidence in
those members of the trade who have been inclined to give
credence to alarmist reports originating from various unofficial
sources. Mr. Pound also explained the various conditions that
prevail in the fuel and transportation fields, and while recogniz-
ing the extreme importance of these two problems, his comments
tended to inspire confidence that the music trade need expect in
the main only temporary difficulties.
HE suggestion of the Washington correspondent of The
T
Review that a Bureau of Musical Industries be established
in Washington for the period of the war, at least, in order that
the trade might have permanent representation at the National
Capital, to supplement the worthy efforts to Geo. W.. Pound,
should not be dropped without some consideration.
Mr. Pound and those of the trade who have given their
time and efforts to co-operating with him, cannot be in two
places at once. There are matters that demand the general man-
ager's attention in New York, Chicago and other points. He
must give some time to the work at his headquarters in New
York, and although Mr. Pound spent much time in Washington
and gets results from his efforts to protect the interests of the
trade there, it would seem that some sort of bureau established
in that city would not only insure constant touch with govern-
mental doings, but would serve to take some of the load off the
shoulders of Mr. Pound, and it is an idea worth thinking about.
HE employment of women in the practical branches of the
T
music trade industry is no longer a possibility, but a fait
accompli. The reference in The Review recently to the use of
women in various piano manufacturing and supply plants demon-
strates the beginning of a new era in the manufacturing domain
of the music trade industry—a move which is destined to grow
in view of the increasing utilization of men for military purposes.
In an interesting and comprehensive article recently written
by Henry Franklin Porter, of the Industrial Service Department
of the National City Bank of New York, he furnished some in-
teresting statistics which may surprise the average casual reader
regarding the part which women are not only now taking, but
have been taking, in work which was formerly done only by men.
Mr. Porter's figures are closely summarized in this wise:
"From only a few thousand in 1860 the number has multiplied
at double the rate of population increase. In 1880, the first year
for which detailed statistics are available, 2,647,157 women were
listed as breadwinners. This was approximately 5.3 per cent, of
the population. A decade later the number had increased to
4,005,532, which was roughly 6.3 per cent, of the population. In
1900 the total was 5,319,397, or about 7 per cent.; while in 1910"
the figure was 8,075,722, being nearly 9 per cent, of the popula-
tion. Between 1900 and 1910 the percentage of increase was
52 per cent., as against a gain in population of only 21 per cent.
Assuming the same rate of increase since then, the number of
women now partially or wholly self-supporting must easily ex-
ceed 10,000,000."
In the foregoing statement it will be noticed that the first
real entry of women in this country into positions which have
been almost entirely occupied by men was at the beginning of
the Civil War. Now that this country is again engaged in a war
which is destined to be vastly more important than the great
struggle between the North and the South, we are face to face
with the fact that women are bound to play a greater part in
the economic affairs of this country—in fact of the world—than
ever before. They are entering business and industrial life in a
manner that is as impressive as it is significant. What the out-
come will be when peace is again restored, and the effect from
an economic standpoint, are questions that are engaging the at-
tention of many of our deepest thinkers. These developments
will have a bearing on the labor situation that will be interesting
to follow, for in England, as already in this country, women
engaged in factory operations have displayed a skill and ability
that has surprised many, and in some occupations have a deft-
ness in handling their work that has shown better returns than
when done by those of the male sex. The employment of women
in the music trade industry will be followed with interest.
HE advertising campaign to arouse interest in music gen-
T
erally now being conducted by the Philadelphia North
American, and which was commented upon in a recent issue of
The Review, should receive the earnest consideration of both
newspapers and piano men all over the country. The advertising
is being done in a big way and is frankly designed to develop
interest in, and increase the sales of, pianos, player-pianos and
talking machines, and the copy is large enough and striking
enough to demand attention. This new policy of the North
American reflects great credit not only upon E. S. Edmondson,
advertising manager of the newspaper, who had sufficiently
broad vision to start the project, but upon the local piano men,
who succeeded in convincing the newspaper of the practical
wisdom of such publicity. If piano men in other cities could suc-
ceed in influencing their local newspapers to adopt a similar policy,
and in turn lend proper support, good results would accrue.
HE enthusiastic reception accorded Geo. W. Pound, counsel
T
and general manager of the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce, on his recent visit to Chicago, is significant as an
indication that the great majority of the Chicago trade are back
of the Chamber of Commerce in its important work. It means
the bringing together of the trade interests of the country into
closer harmony and working for one common end.
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

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