Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JANUARY 19, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
grand—"In the Space of an Upright"—a very
effective catch line in view of the extent to
Severe Weather and Shortage of Help Handicapping Local Trade—Tax Must Be Paid on For- which Washington is finding it necessary to
"double up" in living quarters under the strain
feited Payments—Social Affairs for Soldiers Creating Market for Instruments—Other News
upon housing facilities. Incidentally, it may be
WASHINGTON, D. C, January 15.—Competition sical instruments and their delivery to soldiers noted that a number of the Washington dealers
in the local piano trade was not affected, but in the camps and cantonments who have the abil- are using newspaper space more liberally than
distribution in the talking machine trade may ity to play but who are without instruments. usual as a result of the congestion and the con-
be influenced by an agreement entered into this The call issued at Washington specifies as sequent slow deliveries in the mail service. The
week by all the leading Washington department "wants" ukuleles, banjos, mandolins, guitars, national capital, as the gateway to the camps
stores whereby there is adopted a platform of cornets, drums, alto horns, trombones, saxo- and cantonments, is worse off in this respect than
one delivery per day, no special deliveries, no phones, etc. The original thought was that the any other city in the country, its volume of mail
C. O. D. business, etc., etc. Washington de- movement would turn to good purpose dis- having multiplied ten times over. All direct-
partment stores have never handled pianos to carded or unused instruments in the homes of by-mail.advertising is therefore liable to be "de-
any extent, but a number of the stores, includ- patriotic citizens, but as it is working out such tained," and Droop & Sons, De Moll & Co., the
ing Woodward & Lothrop, S. Kann, Sons & Co. interest has been aroused that not a few Arthur Jordan Piano G?o. and other local houses
and Hecht & Co. have big talking machine de- well-wishers of the project are purchasing new have concentrated on newspaper display. Sev-
partments and special deliveries on telephonic instruments out of hand for the boys in camp eral of the local piano firms are advertising War
whereas others who have no used instruments Savings and Thrift Stamps for sale, but every
order have been a feature.
to donate are giving small sums of money which piano merchant here has, in deference to the
The Delivery Problem Acute
The delivery problem has been acute at the Mrs. Hight is accumulating in a fund that will expressed wish of Secretary of the Treasury
McAdoo, discontinued the use of all advertising
national capital ever since the "war boom" be used for the purchase of new instruments.
Washington Dealers Using the Newspapers
copy in which offers were made to accept Lib-
struck the seat of Government several months
E. F. Droop & Sons Co. have run an effective erty Bonds as cash in payment for musical in-
ago, but as luck would have it most of the piano
men have fared better than the rank and file advertisement this week of the Brambach baby struments.
of merchants in other lines. The experienced
piano movers at Uncle Sam's headquarters are
ISSUES LETTER REGARDING TAX
ASSOCIATION DUES NOT TAXABLE
almost without exception colored men—the very
class of labor that has been drafted into the Geo. W. Pound Advises Trade That Tax Re- War Tax Law Held to Apply Only to Social
and Athletic Organizations
turns for November Have Now Been Called
Government service as porters and messengers
for and Outlines Method for Filing Returns
at fancy wages, but most of the piano houses
WASHINGTON, D. C, January 14.—Commercial
have been able to hold their crews intact. And
organizations,
eve'h though they have social fea-
Geo.
W.
Pound,
general
counsel
of
the
Music
it) the severest winter weather that Washington
has known in a decade these men have given a Industries Chamber of Commerce, has sent the tures, are not subject to the war tax, according
good account of themselves. For instance, following letter to the "Piano Playing Mecha- to a ruling Just issued by the Commissioner of
Charles M. Stieff has a motor truck whose crew, nism Industry" regarding the payment of the Internal Revenue. The Commissioner ruled:
"Particular attention is called to the fact that
bent upon delivering players, have negotiated excise tax:
''Pursuant to my letter of January 2, you have the tax is imposed only upon dues or member-
the notoriously bad roads of nearby Virginia
to points inaccessible by most of the horse- undoubtedly made your return and paid your ship fees, including initiation fees, paid to any
tax under the War Revenue Act for October 4 social, athletic or sporting club or organization,
drawn delivery vehicles.
where such dues or fees are in excess of $12
Forfeited Payments Must Be Figured as Income to 31 inclusive.
per year. The tax does not attach upon dues
"The
Internal
Revenue
Department
has
now
Washington dealers were not especially
called
for
the
November
return
and
tax,
and
this
paid
to chambers of commerce or other business
shocked by the announcement from the Bureau
of Internal Revenue of the Treasury Depart- should be made and paid at once, covering No- organizations primarily organized and main-
ment that the forfeited payments on repos- vember 1 to 30 inclusive. Blanks can be had tained for the furtherance of business interests.
Such organizations may have social features
sessed instruments must be figured as income from your local collector. If not, write here.
'Only
manufacturers
who
make,
produce
or
without
incurring liability to tax, provided such
on the theory that they constitute rental. Some
such attitude on the part of the tax arbiters import 'Piano Players,' piano playing actions social features are entirely subordinated to the
was expected. An outcome that is anticipated, or mechanisms, piano music rolls, phonographs predominant purpose of the organization."
however, is the exercise of increased effort to or records, should make these returns or pay
AMERICAN PIANO^FOR ENGLAND
secure an initial payment in the case of each these taxes to the Government. It makes no
sale that will surely take care of all the ex- 'difference whether you make these actions to 1 Import Duty of 33^ Per Cent. Has Affected
penses incident to repossession without en- sell to the trade or to sell in your own instru-
Chances of Creating a British Market
croaching on the rental equivalent. The Treas- ments. The tax attaches when sold in any
manner
or
form.
Those
who
do
not
produce
ury Department in the opinion rendered has
WASHINGTON, D. C, January 14.—A representa-,
indicated that a deduction for depreciation is a their actions, but buy them, pay their tax not tive of the American consulate in Hull, England, ;
proper allowance but has not indicated its at- to the Government, but to the action maker.
"I have been, able to arrange with the de- recently made inquiries among the piano dealers
titude with respect to repossession expenses.
partment
to furnish it with a mailing list for in Hull to ascertain whether there was a market
Pianos, Players and Talkers for Churches
this
purpose,
and commencing with the Decem- for American pianop. It was learned that the
Churches in Washington and small social or-
ber
returns
blanks
will be mailed the industry import duty of 33^Sper cent., imposed since the^
ganizations have lately come into the market
direct
from
Washington.
This will save much beginning of the war, had affected their chances.'
to an unprecedented extent as prospects for
Nevertheless, American pianos were noted on!
delay
and
annoyance."
pianos, players and talking machines. It all
exhibition, a^id, of four firms visited, one ex-
comes about through the spread of the reigning
pressed a wish to be put in correspondence with
fad for giving dances for the soldiers. There LOCAL PIANO MERCHANTS TO MEET a manufacturer of low and medium-priced in-
are numerous modest club rooms and church Regular Session of Association to Be Held at struments, while tHe three others stated that
auditoriums which have been used for such
they would be glad to receive communications ;
Boulevard Restaurant on January 22
a purpose for the first time, and the innovation
from American manufacturers when the war ends. :
has disclosed them as devoid of musical ap-
A regular meeting and dinner of the New
pointments. A two-piece orchestra costs $10 York Piano Merchants' Association will be held
TRADE CONVENTION POSTPONED
per night and many of the organizations have at the Boulevard Restaurant, New York, on
concluded that it is better to buy or rent an Tuesday evening, January 22, at 6.30 p. mi', when Fifth National Foreign Trade Convention to Be
instrument that can be operated by volunteers matters of general importance will be discussed.*
' Held April 18, 19 and 20
among the hostesses.
The speakers of the evening will be Wm. F. H.
War Helping Small Goods Business
The executive committee of the National For-
Koelsch, former president of the Credit Mien's
Dealers in small goods in the District of Co- Association, and Geo. W. Pound, •counsel' and eign Trade Council announced this week that,
lumbia are profiting by the latest novelty in "war general manager of the Music Industries Cham- owing to the railroad congestion and the desire
service" stunts—one that merchants in other ber of Commerce.
of the Council to co-operate with the Govern-
communities may find it worth while to encour-
ment in the relief of the situation due to the
age in their respective localities. This new
The Lamb Piano Co., Nashville, Tenn., has war, the dates of the fifth national foreign
form of project, which has been inaugurated at filed amendments to its charter changing the trade convention, to be held at Cincinnati, O.,
the national capital by Mrs. Frank S. Hight, name of the corporation to the Southern Piano have been changed from February 7, 8 and 9
aims at the collection of all kinds of small mu- Co.
to April 18, 19 and 20.
WASHINGTON DEALERS TRY TO SOLVE DELIVERY PROBLEM
WINTER & CO.
RUDOLF
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
22O SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK