Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1918 Vol. 66 N. 18

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 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 Stall:
B. BRITTAIN WILSON, CARLETON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSK, V. D. WALSH,
W K . BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
TOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
E.
P. VAN HARLINGEN,
Republic
Building,
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State St. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
LONDON, ENGIiAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $4.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $130.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
P I a -a ar P i a n n 9 n J
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
I lay er-r lanii ana
T . . L . ! . . ! PI.r.~ n ..I.*. A ..|.»
lechniCal Departments
t i ons
technical nature relating to the tuning,
o f a
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
| dealt with, will be founS in another section of
REVIEW
MAY
4, 1918
wide success. 1 le has ever been actuated by the highest ideals
in the conduct of his business, and has won the respect and
affection not only of his official family but of all members
of the trade who have come in contact with him and with his
house. His career is virtually an inspiration to his associates,
and is in keeping with the best traditions of the industry.
Mr. White has turned over the actual management of the
business to a group of men of exceptional ability and trainiijg,
headed by B. H. Janssen, whose wide experience, sound judg-
ment and enthusiasm should enable him to win new records in
the field of manufacturing and merchandising with which he is
so thoroughly acquainted. Assisting him are a splendid body
of executives, each of whom has won high standing.
As general sales manager F. E. Edgar will have new and
larger responsibilities which mean much for the expansion of
the Wilcox & White Co., for he has earned the good will and
esteem of every member of the trade, and with Mr. Janssen as
general manager and Mr. Edgar as general sales manager, there
will be team work that should bring the best kind of results.
With a New York factory for the production of the Wilcox
& White piano and an office and salesrooms in the metropolis,
this famous concern, which ranks as a pioneer in the domain of
player-piano manufacture, enters on a new era that means much
for the future of this institution.
EPORTS from Review correspondents in widely separated
R
sections of the country would indicate that while business
in the music trade field has been somewhat disarranged through
the great campaign for putting the Third Liberty Loan "over the
top," yet sales have been of fair average in many sections of the
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
country, particularly in the South. But a more serious dis-
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
turbance
is the scarcity of instruments which is due very largely
Diploma.. .Pan-American Exposition. 1901 Gold Medal. ...St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
to the delay in shipments. The railroads, while making a better
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982—6983 MADISON SQ.
record than some months ago, are still far behind in the trans-
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
portation and delivery of pianos, with the result that dealers are
bombarding the manufacturers with complaints.
NEW YORK, MAY 4, 1918
Dealers are hoping for a greater use of automobile service,
particularly to towns and cities not too far removed from piano
manufacturing centers. If the railroad congestion doesn't lighten
EDITORIAL;
such a service may be considered more seriously.
The Merchants' Association of New York, at the request
of the Highways Transport Committee of the Council of National
HE close of the Third Liberty Loan campaign finds the piano,
Defense, is carrying on a great campaign in the advocacy of a
talking machine and allied industries again giving tangible
greater
utilization of motor transportation of freight, particu-
evidence of their loyalty and patriotism. While exact figures
larly
for
short hauls of from twenty to a hundred miles. In this
are not obtainable as we go to press, the trade in New York City
1
connection
a "Return Loads" Bureau has just been created for
put its quota "over the top ' in splendid shape, and reports from
the
purpose
of facilitating the movement of merchandise by
the various centers throughout the country are unanimous in
trucks.
giving due praise and credit to the industry as a whole, and to
It is pointed out that there are many firms, companies, or
the work of the individual members of the trade as well, in bring-
individuals that own trucks which they use only in their own
ing the campaign to a successful termination.
business and which stand idle part of the time, or which from
Unlike many other industries, the piano trade has in no way
benefited directly through wartime conditions. On the contrary, time to time deliver a load in a neighboring city and return home
empty. There are also shippers who have depended on the rail-
supplies have been harder to obtain, labor has grown scarcer, and
road
but in emergency wish to make a quick shipment.
the coal and freight embargoes have added to the burden the
The bureau will keep a daily record of these and act as a
piano manufacturer has had to bear. Juicy war orders, which
kind of information bureau or "clearing house" between truck
have been bonanzas for other industries, have not given the piano
owner and shipper, both of whom, of course, will keep in touch
manufacturer cause for much rejoicing, for those few orders
which have come into the industry have barely made up for the with the bureau.
It is not'necessary to emphasize the need in war times of
curtailed output of musical instruments. Yet the members of
keeping freight moving freely in view of the congestion which is
the piano industry, from the presidents of the largest piano manu-
almost constant on the usual transportation lines. Hence the
facturing concerns down to the boys who sweep up the shavings,
Merchants' Association of New York hope to be able to remedy
have "done their bit," be it large or small, towards showing
much of the difficulty by providing a means for shippers and
Uncle Sam that they are Americans first, and piano men after-
truckmen to learn each others' needs, and thus keep business as
wards. There are no slackers in the piano trade. The three
nearly normal as war conditions permit. The co-operation of
Liberty Loan campaigns stand as irrefutable evidence of this
manufacturers and shippers generally is solicited by this bureau
fact.
and the move, which is a most interesting development of war
time needs, is certainly worthy of support.
HE reorganization of the Wilcox & White Co., reported in
last week's Review, not only makes an important forward
step in the productive and distributing policy of this old-time
HE necessity for "better selling" in the retail piano field was
institution, but it takes long borne responsibilities off the shoul-
pointed out by C. B. Garritson, president of the Kroeger
ders of James H. White, the honored president of this company,
Piano Co., in an article of more than usual interest in last week's
and transfers them to the shoulders of younger men who, by
Review in which he emphasized that there are five things the
training and experience, are fully competent to bear them.
piano dealer has to contend with: First, a shortage of stock
that will become more acute as time goes on; second, an increase
Mr. White has steered the destinies of his house to world-
ar
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concern-
ing which will be cheerfully given upon request.
T
T
T
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY
4, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
in wholesale prices; third, a shortening of wholesale terms;
fourth, a rise in the overhead cost of running his store; and fifth,
a hesitancy on the part of the public, due to the economy propa-
ganda.
All these difficulties can be overcome only by the elimina-
tion of cut-throat competition, with its "nothing-down and noth-
ing-a-week," and the securing of a just and proper price for the
instruments sold in view of present-day conditions. Of course
the majority of piano sales have been, and will be, on instalments,
but war conditions in the industry make it imperative that the
piano merchant to-day must sell pianos and players on his oivn
terms. Initial payments must be larger, and the balance spread
over a very much shorter time than has hitherto been the custom.
This is a subject of vital interest to piano merchants, and
one which should receive their most immediate and earnest at-
tention. The war is destined to revolutionize selling conditions,
not only in this industry, but in all lines of trade. In the retail
piano field, where, owing to ridiculous competition, terms on
instalment sales have reached a most absurd figure, reform in the
matter of time sales has become an absolute necessity to con-
serve the health of the industry.
seem superfluous, as existing agencies, with the aid of recent
legislation, appear to be able to deal with whatever conditions
may arise, and multiplying agencies usually means muddling.
Curiously enough, Germany, at which most of the proposed
measures are aimed, seems seriously bothered by what this and
other countries are doing to secure a measure of foreign trade
and is getting up organizations based on those which have been
started here like the American International Corporation. Japan,
whose work in foreign fields is practical, is proceeding in a dif-
ferent way. In that country they are taking measures to see
that products poor in quality are excluded from export. They
are trying to make a success in their foreign trade on the merits
of what they sell. Who knows but what there may be more
of a valuable suggestion in this than in all -the high-flown notions
of Government aids and bureaucratic supervision?
EVISION and extension of the statistical classification of
R
imports and exports has been undertaken by the Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce, which invites trade organiza-
tions and individual importers and exporters to transmit to it
promptly any suggestions for improvement in the classification
that will make the statistics more helpful for trade-promotion
HE question of export trade, particularly after the war, con- purposes. Recommendations for new classes not now shown
separately or for a more detailed subdivision of the present classi-
tinues to be a subject of universal interest and importance,
fication, as well as suggestions regarding the form of publication,
judging from the attention it is receiving from leading business
are welcomed and will be carefully considered and adopted if
organizations throughout the nation. The report submitted to
the National Foreign Trades Council by the Committee on Ex- practicable.
ports Control points out that the restoration of peace is bound
In making recommendations for extension of the export
to be followed by a renewed struggle for the markets of the
classification, it should be borne in mind that the statistics are
world, which, to judge from the way nations are preparing, will
based on the description of the merchandise as shown on the
surpass the commercial competition of the epoch that ended
export declarations filed by the shipper with the collector of cus-
in 1914, as the present war surpasses that of 1870 to 1871. "Eng- toms at the port of clearance. A too detailed classification going
land is preparing, France is preparing, Germany is preparing,"
beyond commonly u?ed commercial terms must be avoided, as
says the report, "and just as in the military struggle, each side
this would make it difficult for the exporter or shipper to show
learns constantly from the other and their methods become in
such detail in the return. Likewise, suggestions regarding im-
various respects more and more alike." In fact, before two repre-
ports should be made with due regard to the fact that statistics
sentative bodies of business men, the Chamber of Commerce of
of imports follow the tariff classification and that subdivisions for
the United States and the National Foreign Trades Convention,
statistical purposes beyond customs requirement are difficult to
this matter of overseas trade has been the subject of keen dis-
obtain and are apt to result in inaccurate and misleading figures.
cussion. Most of the suggestions made were in favor of Govern-
The immediate object of the more detailed classification that
ment help of one kind or another which, it was declared, was
is contemplated is to furnish accurate information for the use of
necessary in order to meet some supposedly fierce competition
the Tariff Commission, the Food Administration, War Trade,
after the war. Two specific things were pointed out by a keen
Shipping, and other war boards in carrying on their work of
observer and writer in the New York Times as having received
licensing imports and exports and taking the proper measures
especial attention. One was a proposal for a new member of for conserving tonnage, foodstuffs, and raw materials essential
the Cabinet, who should look after foreign trade; the other was in carrying on the war. These war boards are co-operating with
for the creation of a board "to collect and collate the facts and
the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce in obtaining sug-
data relating to foreign trade, so that we may be ready to de- gestions for a more detailed classification and will take measures
cide upon a national foreign trade policy." Both propositions
to insure compliance with the official regulations.
T
Do You Want to Expand the Retail Market
For Player-Pianos and Music Rolls?
You can do this by educating the people in your territory to a keener appreciation of the amazing
possibilities of the player-piano. This will be admirably done for you by the volume entitled
Price, $1
THE PLAYER PIANIST
The Player Pianist deals with lucidity and
clearness upon the many problems which from
time to time confront the player-pianist and
player student.
This new volume is designed to afford a
complete and accurate guide to music appre-
ciation, player technic, music roll reading, etc.
This work is the result of many years' close
study of the player situation, and is put forth
to meet the requirements of music lovers who
desire to acquaint themselves with the artistic
possibilities of the player-piano.
The book deals with the elements of music,
of musical form, and incidentally gives a short
sketch of musical history from early times
to the present day.
There are chapters devoted to practical talks
upon the management of the various expres-
sion devices, pedals and tempo levers.
A perusal of the volume will provide the
player-pianist with a complete course of in-
struction in all of the aspects of expressive
and artistic playing.
There are chapters in The Player Pianist
upon practical .studies in player interpretation,
illustrated with special drawings made from
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc., Publisher
DISCOUNT TO
THE TRADE
music rolls and designed to show how, step by
step, the interpretation of pieces may be
worked out artistically and satisfactorily.
It is conceded that interest must be main-
tained in the player-piano—that its marvelous
possibilities must be r xplained to purchasers,
and there is no worl< put forth in the entire
world—and we say this unqualifiedly—which
will compare with The Player Pianist as a
stimulator and educator.
If you are not perfectly satisfied with the
hook after examination, your dollar will be
refunded upon the return of the hook. That
is fair, is it not?
373 Fourth Ave., New York

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