Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1918 Vol. 66 N. 22

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
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 Reportorlal Staff:
B. BEITTAIN WILSON, CARLETON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
W u . BRAID W H I T E (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St. E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, Republic Building.
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State St, Telephone, Wabash 5774.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
N E W S SERVICE IS S U P P L I E D WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED I N T H E LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
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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.
A
'K Piann
1OUU O an
UU
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tiona of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
p
a r * dealt with, will 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.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal.... S t Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal..Lewis-Clark
Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5082—6983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
NEW YORK,
JUNE
1, 1918
EDITORIAL=
T the time this issue of The Review reaches its readers, piano
A
men, manufacturers and travelers will be on their way to
New York to attend what in many respects will be the most
important national convention the trade ever held.
The delegates will come with the serious purpose in mind
of discussing wartime conditions as they actually exist and de-
vising way and means whereby the trade in itself can be most
fully protected while its members do their full share with others
of the country's citizens in supporting the Government in this
the greatest war in the world's history.
If ever there was occasion for members of this industry
to gather together for earnest discussion and for the exchange
of views, this is undoubtedly that time, and this seems to be
the feeling of members of the trade in general.
In the Pre-Convention Number of The Review last week,
regarding which there have been numerous expressions of com-
mendation from prominent members of the trade, the complete
programs of the various convention sessions, the National Music
Show and the other features of the week, were presented in a
form that should serve as a most convenient guide for the man
who comes to the metropolis next week. The details given in
The Review should stimulate those who have debated whether
or not to attend the conventions and set aside their own business
for the nonce and gather with the other men of the industry
for mutual protection, if nothing else.
the up-building of our export trade in pianos at
I N the discussing
final gathering for the season of the piano technicians held
in Chicago last week, E. P. Lapham, the well-known piano
merchant of that city, made a suggestion of more than usual
interest. In emphasizing the need of the expansion of our for-
eign trade he pointed out that the Government should take some
steps to assemble an army of bright young men in the com-
mercial high schools and colleges in the country where they
JUNE 1, 1918
could be educated in the commercial usages and customs of
foreign countries. This selection should be made somewhat
along the lines as those whereby young men are secured for
military training at West Point, the idea in mind being that
in times of war it is well to prepare for peace, and when peace
is with us, we certainly will have to battle for markets, and
when we have found them, we will have to hold them by being
able to supply the goods when desired, and in sufficient
quantities.
To enable us to accomplish this end it will be necessary to
have an army of commercial ambassadors who must have a
thorough knowledge of the markets of the countries to which
they are assigned. Mr. Lapham would have the Government
arrange to have these young men, after taking a course in the
American schools, visit the various countries to which they
are assigned, to learn their commercial ways and teach them
ours so that there will be a thorough understanding and a com-
plete co-operation in the matter of mutual service. This pre
paratory work done, the merchants of both countries would take
up the work and continue it.
Aside from action by the Government Mr. Lapham would
have the National Piano Manufacturers' Association appoint a
commission, or committee, to visit South America and learn the
commercial customs and practices in the various countries. This
commission would then report back to the national body for
the benefit of the whole of the United States. Such work would
be of great benefit to the industry inasmuch as many members
of the trade are lacking in authentic knowledge regarding the
requirements of the South American market for musical instru-
ments.
In view of the attitude of the Government toward the indus-
try at the present time and the restrictions on output imposed,
it is obvious that with the present domestic demand there will
not be a great surplus of pianos and players for export, never-
theless, the suggestion made is timely. The association or
manufacturer who plans ahead, to the end that they know the
foreign markets thoroughly, are in a strong position to score a
success when they are equipped to supply the goods needed.
Preparedness should be the watchword of the manufacturers
to-day and every step towards gaining a knowledge of foreign
markets, the requirements of the people, and the inauguration
of a campaign of publicity that will bring to the people of
South America and other countries a knowledge of our products
and their unusual qualities of excellence, cannot be started too
soon.
AST week an attempt was made to line up the piano indus-
L
try 'with the theatrical interests in the Red Cross drive
ostensibly for the purpose of making a better showing for what
the theatrical men termed themselves "non-essential" industries.
The logic was that theatres must be depended upon to make song
hits; that without song hits, popular music publishers could not
exist, and that music roll and record manufacturers would have
a hard time keeping their lists in salable shape, and that without
hits pianos and player-pianos would lose much of their popu-
larity with the public. Therefore, pianos were directly linked
with the theatre. It is true that music publishers depend upon
the theatre to give popularity to their songs, but if no pianos
were made or sold where would the music publishers find the
market for the popular and standard songs sold each year? It
looks like a fifty-fifty argument at least.
President Campbell of the New York Piano Manufacturers'
Association summed up the matter succinctly when he declared
that piano men had been fighting their fight alone, and with
considerable success; had put time, effort and money into a
powerful organization, and could see no reason for affiliating
with theatrical interests that were not permanently organized.
Although nothing may come of the plan to line up the theatrical
and piano trade interests together, the subject of the relation-
ship of these two interests will still remain an interesting one.
VEN prosperity brings problems with it—problems at least
E
for those who desire to profit directly by such a pleasing
condition. Much has been said about the earnings of the work-
ers and those engaged in big industrial centers in working on
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JUNE 1, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE
war orders. The point has been made that these men, having
plenty of money^ are particularly desirable prospects for pianos
and talking machines.
Of course they are, but some piano merchants state that
in certain localities, where industrial activity is the greatest,
the extraordinary opportunities for the sale of pianos and talk-
ing machines are not as great as they appear. This is due to the
fact that the industrial centers have developed so rapidly, and
organizations have been enlarged with such speed that fre-
quently housing facilities are inadequate.
The workman, no matter how much he is making, who is
compelled by conditions to spend his hours of leisure on a cot in
a room with several other workers, due to a scarcity of homes
and lodgings, is not liable to buy a player-piano for his amuse-
ment-^at least not until he is able to find some proper place to
put it. This condition of insufficient housing facilities exists
in a number of cities just at the present time, and until it is
relieved piano men must regard much oi the prosperity of the
workman as being beyond their immediate field.
We are glad to note that the Government is giving this
subject close consideration, and a large appropriation has been
made in an effort to solve the housing problem. So after all,
our indefatigable salesmen may soon get a chance to close some
good deals among the "new rich" in the industrial domain.
IANO men generally, retailers as well as manufacturers, are,
P
or should be, deeply interested in the situation in the metal
market, particularly as to iron and steel supplies and their regula-
tion by the Government, for every curtailment in the supply of
plates or strings means just that much dropping off in the pro-
duction of pianos, which in some localities are scarce enough as
it is. The retailer should understand the conditions governing
the manufacturing of supplies for his own protection, for knowing
what proportion of pianos he may expect, he can govern his
orders to the manufacturer and regulate his business in accord-
ance therewith. In fact, a knowledge of the manufacturer's
affairs just now is vital to the dealer.
N every complicated or distressing situation in business there
I vantage
are found those who make every effort to take selfish ad-
of existing conditions, and adopt methods to that end
regardless of the ultimate wisdom of the methods or their effect
upon fellow members of the industry.
Bvcn with the music industry laboring under the stress of
war, and with the majority of its members lining up for mutual
protection, and in an effort to make the best of things, there are
those who find in the scarcity of stock and the curtailment order
issued by the Government only an opportunity to issue some
sensational advertising on their own. account—advertising that
probably will, or at least should, prove a boomerang.
REVIEW
A piano dealer in upper New York State, for instance, re-
cently issued an advertisement in the form of a letter pub-
lished in a local newspaper, under the caption "Changes Wrought
by the Great War." After reviewing conditions in the piano
and talking machine market in Great Britain and France and
stating, incorrectly, that there had been no pianos or talking
machines manufactured in Kngland in a year, he said:
"Should this war continue, it is the belief of writer that
in less than six months no pianos will he manufactured in
U. S., or phonographs. That we will follow Kngland and
France, only faster. This will no doubt, as soon as manu-
facturing stops, mean the advancing of prices and values.
This means that the second-hand piano or phonograph in
your home will he worth more. Wages are highest in our
history. Musical instruments of all kinds as they become
scarce will naturally, as they are already, advancing in price.
Fifty per cent, of phonograph manufacturing is already
stopped; 70 per cent, of piano manufacturing also is stopped.
These factories are now manufacturing for Uncle Sam
aeroplanes, . . ., etc., 70 per cent, of the great factories
from which we buy pianos and phonographs is now devoted
to aeroplane manufacturing. Four weeks ago we had sixty
pianos on hand, now only fifty. We will not be able to pur-
chase another piano, therefore our time will be devoted to
closing out these pianos at satisfactory prices to purchasers.
Pianos and player-pianos for cash and good instalment paper.
Will accept Liberty Loan Bonds at par kept for future cir-
culation as per Government wishes. To take the place of
fast reduced stock of pianos we purchased large stocks of
sewing machines, securing the agency for the best in the
world."
Certainly the trade faces a serious situation, but there is
absolutely no indication that the industry is going to be cut off
entirely, or even curtailed to a degree that will mean its ultimate
extinction. As war plans mature, and systems are perfected, the
Government will be in a position where it can take care of all
its military requirements with a minimum of hardship to the in-
dustries of peace. To "cry wolf" at this time, even for the sake
of selling a few pianos and talking machines quickly for private
gain, is an act to be condemned by every member of the industry
who believes in his country, in its future, and in the stability of
his own trade. It is fortunate that the number of piano mer-
chants who are inclined to put sensationalism first at this time
are comparatively few.
IIIJ.K details are not yet forthcoming regarding the exact
W bearing
on the piano trade of the order of Director-General
McAcloo in raising railroad freight rates 25 per cent, and passen-
ger fares to three cents a mile, and abolishing all lower inter-
state freight rates, it is possible that the average increase will
exceed 25 per cent. Meanwhile, it is announced that necessary
changes and readjustments will be made by the railroad ad-
ministration after receiving suggestions from shippers, State or
local authorities, or the Interstate Commerce Commission.
Do You Want to Expand the Retail Market
For Player-Pianos and Music Rolls?
You ran 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 he main-
tained in the p'ayer-piano--that its marvelous
possibilities must be ' \p!ained to purchasers,
and there is no worli 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
book after examination, your dollar will be
refunded upon the return of the book. That
is fair^ is it not?
373 Fourth Ave., New York

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