Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1918 Vol. 66 N. 23

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 Reportorlal Staff:
B. B«ITTAIK WILSON, CARLETON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
W H . BUMD WHITE (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 S t 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.
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I layer*! lttllU anu
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
T e c h n i c a l D e n a r t m e n t s "gulf^n* »?£ repairing of pianos and player-pianos
l e C U n i C a i U e p a r i m e n i S a r e d e a i t w ; t i, ( v \i\ b e 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
REVIEW
JUNE 8, 1918
pointed out the exact increase of taxation which they consider
should be applied to musical instruments. In this attitude they
are aided and abetted by a few Congressmen who apparently
ignore the importance and value of music in war times; as a
result there is a great deal of absurd and inaccurate information
being retailed.
It is amazing what a fund of misinformation some of our
daily paper friends can supply when it comes to discussing the
products of certain industries, notably musical instruments.
They have long possessed the idea that every piano and talking
machine man is a millionaire, and that their profits are extraor-
dinary. Heaven knows some piano dealers have helped to
propagate this viewpoint in the past, because of their peculiar
methods of merchandising. As a matter of fact profits are far
from abnormal to-day, either for the manufacturer or the dealer.
Furthermore, musical instruments cannot be considered lux-
uries in view of the innumerable articles and news items which
are appearing day after day in every conceivable form of litera-
ture, showing how music is an absolute necessity during war
time.
Evidently there is a big opportunity for the Director of the
National Bureau for the Advancement of Music to educate the
Washington correspondents of the daily papers to the end that
they properly realize the part music is playing in our civilization,
and particularly what a tremendous and noble mission it is ful-
filling in these days that are trying men's souls.
HATEVER may be ultimately thought of the zone plan
W
for building up and strengthening the National Association
of Piano Merchants as advocated by H. W. Yeager in his paper,
read at one of the sessions this week, the fact remains that any
plan designed to increase the membership, and particularly the
effectiveness of the National Association, should be considered
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5B82—5983 MADISON SQ.
with a view to adopting any suggestions that prove to have
Connecting; all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
genuine merit.
Perhaps Mr. Yeager's ideas may be regarded as somewhat
NEW YORK, JUNE 8, 1918
advanced at the present time, but any move for reform or im-
provement must of necessity be radical, if it is to be at all effec-
tive. It must be remembered that a few years ago the Cham-
EDITORIAL*
ber of Commerce plan was regarded as Utopian by a great ma-
jority of trade members, and yet to-day it is working smoothly
and has actually been a factor in the bringing together of trade
OVERNOR WHITMAN, in his address at the opening of
interests.
the National Music Show on Saturday night, paid a great
If the zone plan as outlined by Mr. Yeager is not considered
tribute to music as a necessity in fostering the courage of the
practical by the majority of the Merchants' Association, there
soldiers in the cantonments and trenches, and in stimulating the
are no doubt certain phases of it that could be adapted to the
patriotism of those at home, saying: "It is almost as essential to
needs of that body. The great advantage of the zone plan is that
the soldiers as well-cooked food, for while the army travels on
every member, no matter how small the town in which he is
its stomach it rights on its spirit."
located, or no matter how remote from association headquarters,
This expresses succinctly the policy long advocated by this
is in a position to enjoy a physical connection with some repre-
publication. We have believed that music is an absolute neces-
sentative of the national body with authority, and to enjoy for
sity in these days of world strife, and in order to emphasize this
subject more fully The Review has inaugurated a contest for the himself some of the fruits of the National Association's work.
best articles on "The Value and Importance of Music in War- When the time comes that the small piano dealer can feel that
time," for which a first prize of $50.00 in thrift stamps and a sec- the national body is in a position to do things for him right in
his own territory, then that small dealer is going to be interested,
ond prize of $10.00 in thrift stamps will be awarded. Lieut. John
Philip Sousa, the distinguished conductor and composer, C. M. and it is the hundreds of small dealers scattered all over the
country who will serve to make the association powerful and
Tremaine, director of the National Bureau for the Advancement
really national in scope.
of Music, and the Editor of The Review will act as judges.
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
G
This contest was introduced to the general public through
The Review booth at the National Music Show the past week.
It is open to all members of the music trade industry who feel
as we do that music is doing a great part, and can do even a
greater part in helping to win the war. Particulars of the con-
test appear elsewhere in this issue.
HE new War Revenue Bill, which, at the request of Presi-
T
dent Wilson, will soon be taken up for consideration by the
House Committee on Ways and Means, is naturally receiving
considerable mention in the daily papers, particularly because
high hopes are held out that certain defects and inequalities of
the 1917 law will be remedied.
Washington correspondents of the daily papers are giving
much attention to increased taxation on so-called luxuries, and
they seem to delight in emphasizing that musical instruments
come within that category. They have very considerately
proof that the courts of the United States intend
F URTHER
to protect name values and name equities was illustrated
in the report in last week's Review that Judge Sullivan of the
Superior Court approved the report of the Master in Chancery
in the suit brought by Decker & Son, New York, against the
Decker Bros. Co., of Chicago, in which he recommended an
absolute injunction restraining the Chicago company from using
the name Decker on pianos or other musical instruments. The
attorneys for the prosecution are now preparing the final decree.
This is a well deserved ending to a long fought out suit in
which the widely known New York house of Decker & Son
fought for the protection of their name against a long campaign
of misleading advertising which aimed to injure their position in
the trade field and confuse the purchasing public. Only the
other day a Western dealer advertised so-called Decker pianos at
a retail price considerably lower than you could buy a Decker
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JUNE 8, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE
& Son piano at wholesale. These instruments of course were
those made in Chicago bearing the name Decker.
The final action of the court will clarify the situation and
protect the reputation of the Decker & Son name, which has ever
been associated with instruments of distinct musical worth. This
decision again emphasizes that it is a dangerous thing to try to
trade on established names of national reputation.
another section of The Review this week appears the com-
I of N prehensive
interview with George W. Pound, general counsel
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, regarding the
advantages and importance of developing export trade in pianos
and player-pianos at this particular time, and the reasons therefor.
While it is true that the export trade brings with it some diffi-
culties in the matter of transportation, particularly between the
United States and South America, due to the use of the greater
proportion of ships for the transporting of men and supplies to
Europe, it has been found that there are still ways of getting
pianos out of the country by the exercise of foresight and per-
sistence. Moreover, the difficulties in ocean transportation are
no greater, even if they are as great, as the difficulties faced by
piano manufacturers in rail transportation in this country.
The importance of the export market just now is sufficient
to warrant the putting forth of some extra effort to develop that
market for American goods, and it is firmly believed that as the
shipbuilding program is carried out to completion, ocean trans-
portation for the products of peace will become somewhat easier.
Even though the piano manufacturer is not in a position right
at this moment to enter the export field he would do well to study
it with a view to future possibilities. The fact that twenty-nine
concerns are already engaged in exporting, while sixty-seven
have applied for specific information on that subject, is in itself
significant.
REVIEW
based upon the simple form of tariff authorized by the Interstate
Commerce Commission in the past. On account of the more or
less blending of lines which do not belong together under the
corporate control and direction, there will be more or less dis-
regard of the established groupings and differentials under the
new arrangement.
These, it is said in the Director General's statement, will
be observed so far as practicable, and hereafter any important
relationships that are disturbed will be restored. At the same
time there will be an endeavor to remove any existing unjust
discrimination and bring about uniformity of rate adjustment
throughout sections where conditions are similar.
A leading writer on railroad subjects points out that here
is where the function of the Interstate Commerce Commission
which has been preserved will come in quite usefully. The
Commission will have no power to require a change of rates or
a new adjustment on lines or systems or any part of them, but
it will exercise its power of investigation in a way to indicate
to the Government directors and managers where this ought to
be done. In fact, the reasons for it are likely to be suggested
by them or derived from their testimony.
"The Director General will co-operate heartily," the ex-
planatory statement says, "with the Commission in any readjust-
ments needed to accomplish still further the object of avoiding
undue preferences which, nevertheless, may develop, upon de-
tailed consideration by the Commission."
An earnest hope is expressed that all citizens affected directly
or indirectly will support the general principle of such an in-
crease "as an unavoidable war measure, and accept the additional
burden in the same spirit of self-sacrifice in which they have
accepted other inconveniences and burdens, and the grievous
personal losses which are parts of the price that the nation is
patriotically paying for world liberty." Of this there can surely
be no doubt.
USINESS men in all industries are giving considerable atten-
B
of the music trade industry are becoming more
tion to the recent order of Director General McAdoo, order-
M EMBERS
keenly interested in the trade acceptance every day, and the
ing an increase of railroad rates covering freight and passenger
traffic on all the roads which are now under control of the
Government, and its bearing on their respective operations. The
increase in the cost of operation under Government direction,
as well as the desire to give higher wages to the employes, is
the real occasion for the advance in freight and passenger rates;
the increased wage item alone figuring about $325,000,000 a year,
while the further residue from the 25 per cent, increase brought
about in freight rates will be needed to cover the other increased
operating expenses.
It is hardly necessary to say that the practical adjustment
of .rates in different lines so as to be really equitable is not a
simple matter, and to begin with, it is pointed out that in order
to get the change promptly applied the advance in rates will be
following significant comment on this plan by the American
Exchange National Bank of New York in a recent circular is
worth noting: "Merchants, manufacturers and commercial and
industrial corporations should convert their open accounts into
trade acceptances as soon as possible. Trade acceptances are
quick assets and book accounts are merely records of liabilities.
Banks can discount eligible trade acceptances to the last dollar,
but have to exact a large margin of safety when making advances
on open accounts. Trade acceptances make easy and simple
the payment of war taxes and the purchase of Liberty Bonds
without undue pressure on the banks which can rediscount such
paper with the Federal Reserve Banks whenever cash or credit
is needed."
Do You Want to Expand the Retail Market
For Player-Pianos and Music
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 explained to purchasers,
and there is no work 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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