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OCTOBER 19,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1918
ANSWER "YES" WHEN FILING YOUR DRAFT QUESTIONNAIRE INCREASES IN EXPORT
George W. Pound Advises Members of the Music Industry to Answer in the Affirmative the Ques-
AND IMPORT TRADE
tion Regarding the Essentiality of the Industry in Which They Are Employed
George W. Pound, general counsel of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, has
again called the attention of the members of the
trade to the fact that in filling out the new draft
questionnaire under the heading "Industrial Oc-
cupation," they should answer "Yes" to the ques-
tion as to whether the industry in which they are
employed is necessary "to the maintenance of
national interest during the emergency."
It has been brought out that a number of
piano men, salesmen and others, who have al-
ready filled out their questionnaires, have an-
swered the question in the negative without ap-
parently having a full appreciation of its sig-
nificance.
The Priorities Committee of the War Indus-
tries Board, by placing the piano industry in
Class C in the priorities list, and making a defi-
nite allotment of steel to the industry, have di-
rectly endorsed the fact that it is of genuine
importance to the nation during the war, and
thus entitled to be kept in operation. With the
industry so classified it is evident that those em-
ployed in it are engaged in essential work.
It may be that a number of local draft boards,
in exercising their prerogative, will refuse to
consider the employment of a man in the piano
industry as entitling him to exemption on in-
dustrial grounds, and the object in urging piano
men to testify to the essentiality of their oc-
cupation in the questionnaire is not in any sense
an unpatriotic move to have the men seek to
evade service, but rather to emphasize the fact
that the music industry is regarded as essential
under Government orders.
When a registered man answers "No" to that
section of the questionnaire covering industrial
occupations, he simply sacrifices all rights and
privileges under that clause. On the other hand,
when he answers "Yes," he puts himself on rec-
ord as maintaining the important character of his
work, although the draft authorities can, after
considering the matter, certify him for military
service. In other words, instead of closing the
question entirely, he leaves it open for discus-
sion and at the same time protects the interests
of his industry.
It is maintained, and quite properly, that
music, and the instruments that make music,
through the fact that they maintain morale, in
both military and civil circles, are quite neces-
sary to the maintenance of national interest dur-
ing the emergency. P>y taking that stand in
tilling out their questionnaires, the members of
the trade are simply emphasizing a privilege
granted to them by the officials in Washington.
NEW OFFICERS FOR F. G. SMITH, INC.
INDUSTRY ASKED TO BE PATIENT
Prominent Piano Manufacturing House to Have
Headquarters at 450 Fifth Avenue, in Heart of
New York, City, After November 1
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce Almost
Overwhelmed With Volume of Correspond-
ence at This Particular Time
It was announced this week that on and after
November 1 the headquarters of F. G. Smith,
Inc., the prominent piano manufacturing house,
together with its branches, will be located at
450 Fifth avenue, near Fortieth street, where an
entire floor has been leased. The new location
is in the heart of New York's Piano Row, and
most convenient in every particular. It is easily
reached by existing transit lines from all sec-
tions of the city, and is within short distance of
the leading railway terminals, which fact should
be appreciated by visiting dealers.
The headquarters of F. G. Smith, Inc., have
for a number of years been located at 774 Ful-
ton street, Brooklyn, where retail warerooms
were also maintained until a few months ago,
when the local agency for the Bradbury line was
taken over by Frederick Loeser & Co. The
big building formerly occupied by the Smith in-
terests in Brooklyn has been leased for a long
term of years, and the company is, therefore,
free to locate in the heart of the metropolitan
district. At the new headquarters, 450 Fifth
avenue, will be found the offices of F. G. Smith,
the president; Frank G. Smith, vice-president
and treasurer, and William Knabe, vice-presi-
dent and general manager, and of other officials
of the company.
The officers of the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce are being flooded these days with
letters from men in all branches of the trade
asking for information regarding the many ques-
tions concerning fuel priorities, War Revenue
provisions, and the hundred and one wartime in-
dustrial problems, with the result that the staff
has difficulty in keeping up with its work. Many
of the letters require the personal attention of
George W. Pound and considerable time spent
in research, and the result is that, although the
office staff works frequently seven days a week,
and well into the evening each day, the volume
of correspondence continues to accumulate.
The members of the industry are asked to be
patient especially when asking detailed informa-
tion regarding various matters, and accept any
delays in receiving answers to their questions
with due consideration of the work that has
been thrust upon the Chamber of Commerce and
its manager.
RECENT DEATH OF D. M. JONES
Well-Known Piano Dealer of Mankato, Minn.,
Passes Away After, a Brief Illness
Word has just been received of the recent
death of D. M. Jones, well-known piano dealer
of Mankato, Minn., who passed away after a
brief illness. Mr. Jones was forty-one years
old, was a native of Wales, and came to this
country fifteen years ago, settling in Mankato,
where he established his place of business. He
was a musician of ability, and possessed a fine
tenor voice. He composed a number of sacred
songs, and trained a large chorus of Welsh
singers in Mankato. Mr. Jones is survived by a
widow.
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F. A. DENNISON APPOINTED MANAGER
Takes Charge of Columbia Co. Branch in Buf-
falo, Succeeding O. M. Kiess, Who Enters Y.
M. C. A. Overseas Service
Fred A. Dennison, formerly manager of the
Columbia Graphophone Co.'s San Francisco
branch, has been appointed manager of the com-
pany's Buffalo branch, succeeding O. M. Kiess,
who has resigned in order to enter the Y. M. C.
A. overseas service. Mr. Dennison is one of
the "veterans" of the talking machine industry,
and his host of friends throughout the country
will be glad to learn of his appointment to the
management of the Buffalo branch. He has
for some time been desirous of residing in the
East, and his wish is now gratified. Mr. Kiess,
who has achieved signal success as Buffalo man-
ager, will undoubtedly be a valuable addition
to the Y. M. C. A. Overseas Corps, and in all
probability will leave for France shortly.
Go shopping on Saturday for one more Bond,
PIANOS
Exports of Musical Instruments for Year End-
ing July 31 Show Gain of $6,436 Over Pre-
vious Year—Imports Also Increase
WASHINGTON, D. C, October 15.—The summary
of exports and imports of the commerce of the
United States for the month of July, 1918, the
latest period for which it has been compiled,
has just been issued, and is as follows:
The dutiable imports of musical instruments
during July, 1918, amounted to $12,043, as com-
pared with $47,674, which were imported during
the same month of 1917. The seven months'
total, ending July, 1918, showed importations
valued at $382,636, against $330,854 worth of
musical instruments imported during the same
period of 1917, and $319,888 in 1916. This gives
an increase in imports for the seven months of
$51,782.
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
ments for July, 1918, amounted to $346,910, as
compared with $360,138 for the same month of
the previous year. The seven months' expor-
tation of musical instruments amounted to $2,-
585,343, as against $2,578,907 for the same period
of 1917, and $2,190,757 in 1916. This shows an
increase for the seven months of $6,436, as com-
pared with last year.
Of the aggregate exportations in July, 1918,
there were 57 organs, valued at $4,898, as com-
pared with 236 organs in 1917, valued at $12,020.
The seven mouths' total showed that we ex-
ported 983 organs, valued at $57,444, as against
1,435 organs, valued at $75,381, for the same
period of 1917, and 1,643 organs, valued at $91,-
275, during 1916.
In July, 1918, we exported 769 pianos, valued
at $170,496, as compared with 732 pianos, valued
at $129,238, for the same period of the previous
year. The seven months' total shows 6,430
pianos, valued at $1,137,162, as compared with
6,675 pianos, valued at $1,066,552, for the s^me
period of 1917, and 6,252 pianos, valued at $993,-
018, sent abroad in 1916.
The exports of player-pianos show that 275
of these instruments, valued at $83,483, were
exported during July, 1918, as compared with
308, valued at $101,203, exported in July, 1917.
The seven months' total shows that 1,944 play-
er-pianos, valued at $604,041, were exported dur-
ing 1918, as compared with 2,041, valued at $614,-
964, in 1917, and 1,254, vahted at $411,385, in 1916.
Of the aggregate exportations there were 24
piano players, valued at $7,533, in July, 1918, as
against 19 piano players, valued at $4,913, for
the same period of 1917. For the seven months'
period 147 of these instruments, valued at $38,-
845, were sent abroad, as compared with 114,
valued at $34,767, in 1917, and 186, valued at
$50,893, sent abroad during 1916.
The exports of perforated music rolls for the
month of July, 1918, amounted in value to $11,-
645, as compared with $7,652 in July, 1917. The
seven months' total amounted in value to $85,-
441, as compared with $63,596, in exports for
the same period in 1917, and $41,769 in 1916.
The value of all other musical instruments
and parts thereof sent abroad during July, 1918,
amounted to $68,855, as compared with $105,112
in 1917. The total exports for the seven
months under this heading foot up $662,410, as
against $723,647, exported during the same
period of last year, and $602,417 in 1916.
EXHIBIT AT READING FAIR
A number of piano and music houses had dis-
plays at the annual Reading Fair held in Read-
ing. Pa., last week, among them being Arthur
Wittigh and J. M. Acker, who exhibited pianos,
and the Metropolitan Phonograph Co., showing
ij>- machines.
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