Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1918 Vol. 66 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 Aye., 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 Stall:
B. BBITTAIN WILSON, CAILKTON CHACK, L. ML ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
W H . BRAID W H I T I (Technical Editor), £ . B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. £ . B O W K S
BOSTON O F F I C E :
CHICAGO O F F I C E :
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St. E. P. VAN HAILINGKN, Republic Building.
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State St. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall S t , D. C.
N E W S SERVICE I S S U P P L I E D W E E K L Y B T 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.
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.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of m technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
p
a r e 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.
PiamA
* ! lallO
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Mtdal. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal... .St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal..Lewis-Clark
Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982—S98S MADISON 8Q.
Connecting- all Departments
Cable address: "ElblU, New York."
NEW YORK, JUNE 22, 1918
EDITORIAL
HERE has been considerable indulgence in post mortems
T
over the National Music Show, and wiseacres have come
forward with a great number of "mights" and "ifs" regarding
the exposition,, as well as hints as to what they would have
done if they had been running the show. It is more than prob-
able that, had the public mobbed the building to gain entrance
each evening, these same critics would have claimed credit for
the support that was given the show and its various features.
It reminds one of the conditions on the Western Front facing
Verdun, where, if the German army wins a slight success, it is
reported that the Crown Prince has achieved a great victory,
but if, upon the other hand, they are repulsed, the Crown Prince
wasn't there, and some other subordinate general made the mis-
take. There is nothing easier than criticizing after a thing is
done. One wonders why, if the music show was so apparently
doomed to failure months ago, as the writers of the post mortems
would have us believe, the benefit of their superior advice was
not given to the committee and the several trade bodies before
the opening of the exhibition.
REVIEW
JUNE 22, 1918
of mineral resources that are spectacular, but the impetus given
to agriculture is even more important.
As has been pointed out nearly all the Southern States are
actually or potentially self-supporting as to their food supply,
differing radically from the Northern tier, and even surpassing
the Middle West in this respect. They can supply all their food
needs, thus saving the expense of transportation, and helping
to reduce the necessary cost of living.
The National Government has also been generous in the
placing of war contracts in the South, with the result that this
section of the country is doing its share in supplying Uncle Sam's
forces with the wherewithal to do their share in the great fight
for National honor.
T
HE action taken by the Federal Trade Commission against
the Clayton F. Summy Co., music publishers of Chicago, in
which the latter concern is ordered to "cease and desist" from
the use of methods heretofore employed to fix and maintain the
price at which its sheet music is sold to the public, gives a new
angle to the apparent Government desire to prevent the fixing
of retail prices under all conditions. The courts have already
ruled against the fixing of resale prices, based upon patent prices,
but the Copyright Law under which music is published has never
been and cannot be interpreted to provide for any price govern-
ment.
Music publishers have felt, however, that, inasmuch as the
Copyright Law vests in them absolute rights in musical com-
position, and permits them to collect specified royalties for
mechanical reproduction, and for public performance, that they
at least had some right to exercise their copyright privileges in
the ultimate distribution of the printed work. Now the Federal
Trade Commission declares that no such right exists and that
retail price fixing methods must cease. The ruling in this in-
stance is somewhat paradoxical inasmuch as the Government
itself in the Copyright Law fixes the royalty for mechanical re-
production of music at 2 cents per copy. In other words, the
Government fixes the royalty, but objects to the publisher fixing
the price.
The action of the Government, through the courts, and
through the Federal Trade Commission recently, has in-
dicated clearly that all attempts at the fixing of retail prices
are now looked upon officially as against public policy, if not
against existing law. The only opening left for those who de-
sire to enjoy the proper returns from the products which they
control under the law is to support strongly an amended
Stephens Bill, or some new measure designed to legalize the
fixing and maintenance of retail prices on products protected by
the Trade-mark, Patent or Copyright Laws, and to make every
effort to see that some such measure is passed by Congress with;
out undue delay.
T
HE efforts of the Merchants' Association of New York,
through its Industrial Bureau, to obtain from the Provost
Marshal General definite information regarding the application
of the Selective Service Regulations, to take effect on July 1,
should receive the support of all business men. This new order
states that any registrant who is found by a local board to be
"not engaged in some useful occupation" shall be inducted into
military service in the absence of satisfactory explanation.
The Merchants' Association feels that there should be some
official interpretation as to what is meant by "useful occupa-
IANO travelers who have made a close study of conditions
tion," and whether any recognized occupation, irrespective of
throughout the country are unanimous in declaring that no the standpoint of essentiality, is a useful one, excepting those
s.ection of the United States has experienced greater develop- occupations enumerated, such as elevator operators, bartenders,
etc. There is no question but that if the definition of useful oc-
ment under the pressure of war demands than the South. It is
experiencing a new life industrially and agriculturally, and its cupation is left to the local draft board there will be endless con-
fusion and possibly some unfairness, even though unintention-
vastly increased economic efficiency has resulted in a larger sur-
ally. In its letter the Merchants' Association says:
plus of wealth than it has possessed at any time in its history.
This is resulting in a greater demand for pianos, players, and
"It is stated that the new regulation will affect 'sales clerks
all kinds of musical instruments, and manufacturers must expect
and other clerks employed in stores and other mercantile estab-
an increasing call for their products in the Southern States dur-
lishments.' Will you kindly inform us what is meant by 'other
ing the next twelve months.
clerks,' that is, would the clerical force of the office fall in this
group? Also what is meant by 'other mercantile establishments'?
; No one will grudge the South its share of its vastly increased
For example, would an export and import house be considered
prosperity which is covering almost every line of effort. Recent
as a mercantile establishment?"
reports tell of the growth of manufacturing, and the opening up
P
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JUNE 22, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
This query should prove particularly interesting' to the
music trade, as there has already been some question regarding
the status of salesmen in piano, talking machine and music stores.
Whatever the ruling of the Provost Marshal General may be,
it will at least give the business men some guide for action.
HE most interesting announcement made by the Federal
T
Government for some time is that coming from the War
Industries Board, to the effect that there will be no increase of
war orders placed in the Atlantic Seaboard district, but that
an effort will be made to have these orders filled in other central
sections of the country, with a view to reducing present conges-
tion in the East and stabilizing to a greater measure the in-
dustrial problems of the whole country.
The new move, while it may not at once bring relief to
piano manufacturers in the East in the matter of increasing fuel
and metal supplies, and clearing up the transportation situation,
will, however, it is hoped, serve to prevent those problems from
becoming any worse. A more general distribution of war orders,
and the adoption of the zone plan in coal distribution, should
go far to make somewhat easier the situation of those engaged in
peace industries.
Another important Governmental announcement is that
covering the control of labor which provides that all industrial
plants employing more than 100 workers must, after July 15,
obtain any additional labor required through the Federal Em-
ployment Service. The idea, it seems, is to put a stop to what
is termed the "pirating" of labor, and primarily to stop the prac-
tice of taking men from war industries through the offer of higher
wages. The effect of this new regulation on the piano trade,
where the shortage of labor is already acute, remains to be seen.
T
HE bulletin just issued by the Department of Agriculture
containing its June crop report conveys the cheering news
that the bumper wheat crop this year may develop before harvest
into a production of a billion bushels. This is great news, not
only for the members of the music trade industry, but for every
branch of American trade. It means more bushels of wheat
than in any year except one, and, better still, it indicates more
bushels of oats, more bushels of rye, more bushels of barley than
ever before—items that will bring cheer to all the Western na-
tions leagued in the fight for world freedom, as well as to our-
selves.
No less encouraging is the state of the cotton crop, the acre-
age and condition of which for the season are much above the
average. With three hundred million more bushels of wheat this
year than last, and the ships to carry it, no worry need be felt
over the food supply for our soldiers and our allies. Better still,
this vast wealth which will go into the hands of our farming
community will mean increased buying power, and there can
be no question but that the music trade will get its share of this
surplus wealth inasmuch as musical instruments of all kinds are
an absolute need in these days of turmoil and stress.
in Missouri and Kansas piano merchants are going into
O UT
the fields to help farmers in getting in their wheat crops. In
fact, business men in every line are answering the call for farm
labor in an effort to save the crops that are so essential to the
country's welfare just now.
There is something eminently fitting in the thought of a
piano salesman aiding the farmer in his harvest, for the pros-
perity of the farmer means a great deal to the piano man to-day.
When conditions in ordinary business lines have been sub-
normal the piano man has been able to get out in the country
and pick his customers from among the farming element, for
the latter in their prosperity have turned to musical instruments
and other things, that, although considered necessary, have fre-
quently been beyond the purchasing power of the agriculturist.
This is the day of the man behind the plough and he should
be cultivated. By piano men aiding him in the harvesting of
the grain they are indirectly providing the men they are helping
at this time with more money with which to purchase pianos
and other musical instruments. In short, a fair exchange is no
robbery.
O branch of the music trade industry has made greater
N
strides in the last three years than that devoted to the pub-
lishing of music. Members of this industry have placed the
business on a sound financial basis. Old-fashioned methods of
cutthroat competition, the determination to undersell the other
man, have, with some insignificant exceptions, given way to a
larger appreciation of trade needs, with the result that the pub-
lishers as well as the dealers have been getting together, and
this spirit of co-operation and co-ordination has placed the music
publishing industry on a sounder and healthier basis than it has
ever occupied.
This was revealed at the national conventions of music pub-
lishers and sheet music dealers held in New York last week, and
which was given such prominence in the Music Section of last
week's Review.
The music publishers are doing their share toward engender-
ing the spirit of nationalism in music, and of weaning us away
from European ideas. The publishers and dealers of music are
potent factors in winning for music that wider recognition which
is bound to be accorded it in America. They are working hand
in hand with the national organizations in the musical instru-
ment industry for a larger public appreciation of the vital part
which music is exercising as an influence for good in our civiliza-
tion, and the vital part it is playing on the battlefield, in the
camp, and in the home.
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 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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