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