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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NO DRASTIC STEP CONTEMPLATED
S. ERNEST PHILPITT IN NEW YORK
GIVES THREE SONS TO UNCLE SAM
By Government Officials as to Restriction of Well-Known Piano and Music Dealer of Wash- The Three Boys of G. R. Hash, Secretary and
ington, D. C, and Florida, on Buying Trip in
Treasurer of the Grand Piano Co., Roanoke,
Any Branch of Industry—Main Aim Is to Get
the North—Makes Pleasing Report
Va., All Enlist in Army on Same Day
Rid of Waste—Business Men Shouldn't Scare
The daily papers are so full of inaccurate and
destructive views when it comes to discussing
what industries are "essential" and "non-essen-
tial" in war times that it was refreshing to read
in the New York Times of Sunday the following
sane and sensible review of the work of the
conference of war industries held at Washington
last week:
"A vast number of producers and merchants
in many lines of industry breathed easier after
the conference on war industries held in Wash-
ington during the past week. From publica-
tions, apparently by official sanction, they had
been led to believe that a hard and fast line had
been drawn between what were deemed to be
essential and non-essential industries, and that
the latter were to be suppressed more or less
speedily. One statement, which was allowed to
go uncontradicted for several weeks, was that
a list had been prepared of some hundreds
of articles, the manufacture of which was to be
checked. What this would mean in the way of
dislocating domestic business and causing un-
employment was obvious. Its disturbing effect
on finance and exchange was another feature
to which the Times called attention and which
the Chamber of Commerce of the United States
dwelt upon in a report of great value. From
the remarks at the recent conference it appears
that no drastic step is in contemplation and
that, at the utmost, all that is asked is that waste
—whether of fuel, needed raw materials, or of
labor—be avoided. Between the two extremes—
the exploded 'business as usual' notion and the
restriction of industries to those needed for
military uses and the feeding and clothing, of
the civilian population—there is a rational mid-
dle ground conserving production that will pre-
serve trade organizations during the war for
their value thereafter, and that will also permit
the extension of exports which will aid in paying
for raw materials brought in from abroad."
S. Ernest Philpitt, proprietor of Philpitt's
Music House, Miami, Fla., and who operates
piano and music stores and departments in
Tampa and Jacksonville, Fla., and also in Wash-
ington, D. C, was a visitor to New York last
week, 011 a buying trip, in the course of which he
also stopped off at Baltimore and Washington.
Mr. Philpitt declared that business was excellent
with his Florida stores and particularly good in
Miami.
Mr. Philpitt has become closely associated
with the musical interests in the cities where he
has stores. In Miami, for instance, he was in-
strumental in organizing an orchestra in the
local high school and provided instruction for
the pupils without charge. He has placed Vic-
trolas in practically every school in Miami and
vicinity and pianos in a number of schools and
churches.
While in the North Mr. Philpitt took occa-
sion to look up many of his old friends made
during his long connection with the trade, par-
ticularly in the sheet music and musical mer-
chandise divisions.
THRELKELD CO. OPENS NEW STORE
Jesse French & Sons Line Is Carried by Ken-
tucky Concern at Its New Headquarters
ROANOKE, VA., December 17.—An example of
patriotism that should serve to interest the trade
has been brought to light right in this city,
where G. R. Hash, secretary and treasurer of
the Grand Piano Co., has given his three sons
to the service of Uncle Sam. All three sons
were associated with the Grand Piano Co. and
are G. Lester Hash, manager of the piano de-
partment; Dwight R. Hash and Paul G. Hash,
salesmen in the piano department. All three
boys were trained in the piano business by their
father. They all enlisted in the army on De-
cember 12, G. Lester Hash and Dwight Hash
going to the camp at Fort Thomas, Ky., and
Paul G. Hash to Camp McCullen, Anniston, Ala.
What the sacrifice meant to Mr. Hash is indi-
cated by the fact that he was left with only one
floor salesman in the piano department, but is
extremely proud of his boys and of the fact that
they have answered the call to service.
The Grand Piano Co. handles the Kurtzmann,
Sohmer, Estey, Milton and other makes of
pianos and players.
MUST HOLDJEXPORT TRADE
Secretary Redfield Says That Is the Way to
Protect Gold Reserve
WASHINGTON, D. C, December 17.—Measures for
making the most of America's world trade op-
portunity are foremost in Secretary Redfield's
report of the many activities of the Depart-
ment of Commerce presented to-day to Con-
gress.
"The visible balance of trade in favor of the
United States on merchandise transactions for
the fiscal year ended June 30, 1917, was
$3,634,450,905," says the report. "The total of
our merchandise export trade was $6,293,806,000
and of our import trade $2,659,355,185. During
the three months' period from the close of the
fiscal year to October 1 the merchandise ex-
ports have been $1,319,213,625, the imports $729,-
PATENTS MOVABLE KEYBOARD
978,017, and the net visible balance $589,235,608.
Patent Granted on Transposing Keyboard for
"The department earnestly hopes for the
PRAISE FOR THE_HOL1DAY NUMBER passage
Upright Pianos
early in the coming session of the so-
called Webb Bill. This measure will have an
Recent
Issue
of
The
Review
Still
Subject
of
WASHINGTON, D. C, December 17.—Patent No.
important bearing in promoting our foreign
High Praise From the Trade
1,248,736 was last week granted to Thomas H.
commerce. It will strengthen one of the weak-
Sledge, Montgomery, Ala., for a transposing
The Review continues to receive letters from est points in our foreign trade and will give
piano, which relates to improvements in piano
advertisers
and subscribers, expressing appre- confidence to many a manufacturer and mer-
construction and has particular application to a
ciation
of
the
Holiday Number of The Review chant to undertake foreign business from which
longitudinally movable keyboard for pianos.
issued
on
December
8. It is impossible to print now, for lack of the authority this measure will
In carrying out the present invention, it is
all
of
these
communications,
but their general give, he feels himself excluded.
the purpose to provide a piano wherein by means
"This country now holds the greatest reserve
character
may
be
gleaned
from
the following
of a movable keyboard the piano may be played
of gold the world has ever seen. It is a great
letter
received
from
A.
Somlyo,
manager
of
the
in any key, using the same fingering and the
Eastern headquarters of the Baldwin Piano Co., economic prize. On it, as a secure base, rest
same keys in each octave.
our national, State, municipal, corporate and
who writes as follows:
It is also the purpose to provide a piano con-
private credits. Let it be seriously diminished
"I
read
with
very
much
interest
the
Holiday
struction wherein the keyboard will be capable
and the volume of credits that we can give is
of longitudinal sliding movement and under the Number of The Review, and I can compliment thereby diminished also. There are but few
you
on
this
splendid
and
interesting
edition.
It
control of locking mechanism for holding the
ways in which this reserve, based on which our
keyboard in adjusted position, means being em- is an excellent specimen of what a clean cut, credits depend, can be adequately protected
well
edited
trade
paper
ought
to
be."
ployed for relieving the keyboard of the weight
from economic attack. Among these methods
of the hammers when it is desired to shift the
are
loans abroad, investments abroad, sales
NEW PIANO DEPARTMENT IN BRONX abroad,
keyboard so that the keyboard may be moved
services abroad."
longitudinally easily, and wherein the keyboard
Piser
&
Co.,
Furniture
Dealers,
to
Handle
the
may be unlocked and relieved of the weight of
Francis Bacon Line of Instruments
the hammers simultaneously.
December 17.—The Threl-
keld Piano Co. held the public opening of its
new headquarters, on Water street, this city,
last Saturday. The Jesse French & Sons line
of pianos and players is being featured by the
concern and a full line of these instruments is
on display at the new store. The showrooms
are most artistic in appearance, and the music
lovers who attended the opening of the store
were enthusiastic in their praises of the decora-
tions and the efficiency shown in the arrange-
ment of the store. Talking machines, records
and an extensive line of small goods are also
carried by the company.
FLEMINGSBURG, KY.,
RETURNS FROM NEW ENGLAND TRIP
DEATH OF HENRYJXAY BARNABEE
Henry Clay Barnabee, one of America's fore-
most, comic opera stars, and who was best
known to thousands of playgoers as the Sheriff
of Nottingham, in DeKoven's comic opera
"Robin Hood," died at his home in Boston last
Saturday in his eighty-fourth year.
Piser & Co., furniture dealers at 150th street
and Third avenue, the Bronx, announce the
opening of a new piano department in which
will be featured the Francis Bacon line of pianos
and player-pianos. Piser & Co. were estab-
lished thirty-nine years ago, and for some years
past have conducted a successful talking machine
department.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
Arnold Somlyo, manager of the Eastern head-
quarters of the Baldwin Piano Co., 665 Fifth
avenue, New York, returned recently from a
visit to the company's dealers in New England.
He states that general business conditions in
this territory are satisfactory, and that the Bald-
win representatives are closing a healthy holiday
business.
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos