Music Trade Review

Issue: 1918 Vol. 67 N. 10

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-Pfesident, J. B. Spillane,
373 Fourth ATC, 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
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
B. BBITTAIN WILSON, CAKLITON CHACB, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
WM. BKAID WHIT* (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOW U S
BOSTON OFFICE:
TOBH H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
CHICAGO OFFICE:
E. P. VAN HAKLINGEN,
Republic Building.
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State St Telephone, Wabash 5774.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OCR 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.
P i a n A and
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
*! laUO aUU
ti o n s o f a technical nature relating to the tuning,
n > n « * t m A i i l > regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
D e p a r t m e n t s ar » 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.
REVIEW
7, ly 18
sponding period of 1916-1917. This definite promise of the War
Industries Board should put an end to the uneasiness that has
existed for a considerable period. Based on a 1916-1917 output,
the supplies offered are much more generous than would be ap-
parent at first glance. It will mean that the piano trade will
have to curtail, but in view of the general situation as regards
labor and other matters the curtailment is not going to prove
disastrous.
It must be remembered that the trade has won consideration
on a fair basis, and on the promise to keep faith with the Govern-
ment. In view of this fact every individual manufacturer must
see to it that he obeys the ruling of the War Industries Hoard
to the letter and co-operates with Mr. Pound in seeing that the
trade as a whole plays fair. There will likely be a howl from
some quarters. There generally is. There are those who will
maintain that steel and iron supplies should be more liberal, and
that this and that should have been done, but those in touch
with the situation who realize conditions as they actually are
will quickly appreciate the fact that the Government—through
the War Industries Board, as proven by this latest decision—
is not in any sense working against the piano industry or en-
deavoring to wipe it out. In fact, any discrimination is shown
in favor of the industry and not against it.
-troops actively engaged in holding sectors
W on ITH the American
Western Front, it will not be long before people will
have grim evidence of the destructiveness of war in the shape
of returning soldiers crippled permanently in battle. As the
size of the armies in France grows, so will the number of cripples
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
increase, and their coming brings on an economic and industrial
Grind PriM
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medai. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
problem that must be met, and met intelligently. In other
Diplomm.. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal. . . . S t Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Mtdal..Lewis-Clark Exposition, 190S
words, these unfortunate war cripples, though may they be few,
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982—W8S MADISON SQ.
must be provided with definite places in the industrial fabric
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
of the country. They must be given work that they can handle
efficiently and thus be made self-supporting and made to offset
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 7, 1918
in some small measure the shortage of man power in the fac-
tories of the country.
The Government, through the American Red Cross, and
EDITORIAL^
other channels, is already giving serious thought to the problem
of the war cripple, and the work that he can do. or be trained to
ITH the introduction of the new Revenue bill in the House
do. The blind man, and the returning soldier with one arm or
of Representatives this week the business men of the United one leg, can be used in the industry as long as a job can be found
States are called upon to bear the greatest burden of taxation
suited to his capabilities. It rests with the American manufac-
in the history of the country. The enormous amount involved,
turer, including piano men. to analyze the work of their plants,
over eight billions of dollars, emphasizes the part this country
and find out in just what departments crippled men can be placed
is taking in the great world war and its determination to "win to the advantage of themselves and the business.
out" at any cost and re-establish the principle of justice through-
Government officials in Fiance, England and Canada have
out the world.
worked out some very fair solutions to this problem, and America
Probably before this new Revenue bill becomes a law we can profit by their experience. Canadian piano manufacturers
will have inaugurated the great campaign for the Fourth Liberty are utilizing the services of crippled veterans to a considerable
Loan, through which it is expected to raise about six billion
extent under Governmental supervision. It has been found that
dollars. The country is facing the situation optimistically. Crop
the blind, and those with only one arm, can be utilized as tuners
conditions have been unusually satisfactory, our financial situa-
and that the legless and those with missing fingers can be used
tion, nationally considered, is healthy, and the business men of in the varnishing and polishing departments, after due training.
the nation are joining hands with their brethren in all other lines
The question is one that our own trade will have to face in the
of effort to the end that the aims of the Government be fully
future, and it is, therefore, pertinent to refer to the facts regard-
achieved. Hence the Fourth Liberty Loan will go "over the
ing the employment of war cripples gathered in this country and
top" like its predecessors in a way to demonstrate that the people
Canada by The Review, which were presented at length in last
of this country are a unit back of the authorities in this great
week's issue.
world war.
REDIT is the life-blood of every industry, and any move
HE piano trade is to be congratulated upon the success of
which.tends to interfere with its circulation is absolutely,
George W. Pound, general counsel of the Music Industries
dangerous. It is not too extreme to say that business men were
Chamber of Commerce, in obtaining from the War Industries
amazed recently at the suggestion of the Acting Governor of the
Board in Washington consideration for the trade in the matter
Federal Reserve Bank, who in a communication to the banking
of steel supplies that is to be deemed most satisfactory in view
fraternity urged the curtailment of credit to manufacturers and
of existing conditions. It has been a long and hard fight, and
merchants.
as one industry after another had its supply of steel .and iron
On what grounds this suggestion was based is beyond com-
cut down to a point where it came close to elimination, the out- prehension. Business men as a whole are working hand in hand
look appeared very gloomy. The piano trade, through Mr.
with the Government. Every demand made upon them has been
Pound, however, laid its cards on the table, showed a decided in-
answered. They are endeavoring, despite the severest restric-
clination to play fair with the Government, and the result has
tions, to keep business going, not alone on purely selfish grounds,
been that for the next six months at least piano manufacturers
but with the broad idea that business must be maintained if the
are assured of a supply of iron and steel amounting to one-third
Nation is to meet its obligations in wartime.
of the amount of such metals used by them during the corre-
In the music trade industry as in every other trade, manufac-
W
T
C
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
SEPTEMBER 7, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE
turers and dealers are in close touch with their bankers, who
know local conditions intimately, and who are governed entirely
by good judgment in the extension of credit, based upon experi-
ence and knowledge of each individual case.
For anyone to suggest ways and means to disturb the rela-
tions existing between these manufacturers and merchants with
their banks is certainly not good business, nor is it wise from a
patriotic standpoint in these days of stress. A very pertinent
editorial on this subject has just appeared in the Evening" World.
and it is well worth reproducing:
"We do not know whether Pierre Jay, Acting- Governor of
the Federal Reserve Bank, does or does not represent the views
of the Treasury Department in his letter to bankers urging" the
curtailment of credit to merchants and manufacturers, but we do
know that this policy threatens the forcing" of a moratorium for
the duration of the war.
"It has been impossible from any facts furnished by the
Government to understand the reason for the frequent and drastic
assaults upon industry. To the call to war the country has
responded with a speed and energy that neither enemy nor ally
dreamed possible. The people are as one man. They have
swallowed legislation that would have appalled them two years
ago. They meet every demand for blood or treasure.
"Why, then, should it be assumed that their business and
industry must be throttled?
"The money spent by the Government congests in the large
centres. The country banks are heavily drawn upon to meet
Liberty Loan subscriptions. If they cannot refresh local condi-
tions, complete paralysis must follow. The value of their invest-
ments has sunk to a point where they are unable to cash in, even
though income is still secure.
"They must hold up their deposits by keeping home business
in motion. To do this it is absolutely essential that full lines
of credit should be maintained."
B
USINESS conditions in the music trade industry continue to
be satisfactory, everything considered. In both wholesale
and retail fields there is a feeling of optimism and a confidence
in the future that is really stimulating-. Both in the wholesale
and retail fields credit is being conserved somewhat; instruments
are being sold on shorter time and cash orders are getting
preference. This is a healthy condition, and it is bound to lead
to better business practices.
In many sections of the country farmers and working men
are receiving unusually large incomes, and some of this surplus
is rinding its way into the purchase of musical instruments, hence
in many sections of the country there is an unusual call for
players, which seem to be the most popular instruments in war-
time, judging from the present demand.
One thing certain is that dealers who arc to-dav selling
REVIEW
instruments on long time and absurdly low monthly payments
are committing" hara-kiri, for they might much better work along
cash lines, or at least short time payments and higher cash initial
payments. Dealers who are indulging in the very foolish sales
campaigns of low prices must be viewed with suspicion by manu-
facturers who sell them because it is a policy that must lead to
disaster.
T
IIK motion picture as a general propaganda medium has
accomplished wonders, and has opened the eyes of business
men to its larger possibilities as a commercial vehicle in bringing
to public attention the special merits of the products which they
handle. There is practically no subject bearing upon the war
needs of the Nation that has not been elucidated to good pur-
pose through the motion picture, and it is not difficult to estimate
its influence in selling Liberty Bonds, War Savings-Stamps,
securing Red Cross funds, developing a wider knowledge of the
importance of food conservation, increasing the Nome Guard,
getting men to appreciate the importance of shipbuilding and
other national needs. In fact, there is no department of activity,
as applied to war work, wherein the motion picture has not been
a factor of tremendous moment.
What has been done in the way of national propaganda can
be done, at least in a limited degree, by merchants in the indus-
trial field. The piano dealer can localize the propaganda motion
picture very effectively by getting in touch with the local the-
atres, and working in some data and pictures bearing on his busi-
ness in the local news weeklies.
In Ernest A. Dench's able article, which appeared in The
Review recently, he showed very interestingly how the piano
man can utilize the movies to advertise his business, bringing his
wartime problems before the public in a manner that should not
fail to be productive of good results in a business way.
It is a form of advertising that is new and novel. At least
from the standpoint of piano retailing it seems to us that it is a
very effective and very striking means of making the public
acquainted not only with the dealer's products, but with his
house. Its possibilities in this respect are obvious.
In the manufacturing field the use of the motion picture is not
uncommon—in fact, several manufacturers in the piano trade
have used the reel for the purpose of showing how pianos are
manufactured from the raw material up to the completed product.
This is a most commendable form of publicity, and such reels
could be used by dealers in co-operation with the local movie
houses very effectively, provided they are representing the pianos
of the manufacturer who has produced them. The motion picture
is one of the most popular and the best known forms of entertain-
ment for the public. There is a strong appreciation of the value
of educational pictures, and along these lines the reels made by
merchants or manufacturers are most appropriate.
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 rxplained to purchasers,
and there is no worl) 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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