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Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
VOL. LXVI. No. 7
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., at 373 4th Ave., New York.
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Feb. 16, 1918
Single Copies 10 Cent*
$3.00 Per Year
REPAREDNESS is a word that has been somewhat over-used during the last couple of years, but it is
nevertheless a most important word, for on preparedness will depend success or failure, whether it be
in the business of an individual or in the conduct of war by a nation. When the United States was com-
pelled to declare war on Germany we were not prepared in the full sense of the word, although wonderful
results have been accomplished since last April.
An excuse for this unpreparedness in our military establishment may be found in the fact that there were
many who did not believe we would ever find ourselves in the war, but this excuse can never be used as an alibi
in our commercial domain. Every business man who has given any thought to conditions, and who knows any-
thing about the trend of the times, must realize that the military war that is now 7 being conducted is simply a
forerunner of a tremendous commercial war that will come after peace has been declared. It will be a fight by
the business interests of the various nations for the commerce of the world; it will be a fight where no quarter
will be given, and where the victor will be the country that is best prepared to capture and hold business.
Every country in Europe, and particularly England and Germany, are right now, even while their armies
are at grips, laying definite plans for larger after-the-war commerce. In both countries the Governments have
given official recognition to the necessity for making such preparations and are backing the efforts of their <
industries in that connection. We in.America cannot remain indifferent as to what the future holds. There
have been some spasmodic efforts to organize forces for export trade expansion under Government supervision,
but such expansion or development must depend almost entirely upon the initiative and labors of the various
industries themselves.
We of the piano trade have already benefited in some measure, and in a business way, by the war. The
cutting off of all European exports has opened the markets of South America, Australia and the Orient to
American pianos and player-pianos. Exports to neutral countries and the "British Colonies are steadily
becoming greater factors in our trade. The war has given us an opportunity of placing our instruments at
points where they never had a chance before, and they have met with favor. Australians, for instance, refer
to American pianos as instruments worthy in every particular and of high merit. And that country is constantly
taking more of them.
This trade is being handled, however, under most favorable conditions, for American manufacturers for
the time being are enjoying what is practically a monopoly. England, however, is alive to this situation, as is
evidenced by the fact that the British manufacturers must depend for their supplies on the fact that they will
agree to export 50 per cent, or 60 per cent, of their output.
With the belligerent countries again returning to industrial pursuits there will be a scramble to get as much
foreign trade as possible. The home countries will, for a long time, be negative factors so far as extensive
purchasing power is concerned. They must depend upon export trade to keep their industries going, and there
is no fight stronger than the fight for life, whether it be on the part of an individual or the part of an industry.
It is, therefore, up to piano manufacturers not only to lake what export trade they can get, but to endeavor to
build that trade up consistently and earnestly; to put aside haphazard methods and organize systematic cam-
paigns that will not only get business, but will hold business in competition with Europe.
Foreign markets are now accepting American pianos in their present styles, sizes and finishes because
they want the instruments badly and do not care to quibble about details. With supplies coming from other coun-
tries, however, these foreign buyers are going to make their special requirements known, with the assurance
that they will be filled. We in America must study these special requirements and use every endeavor to fill
.
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