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REVIEW
THE
VOL. LXV1I. No. 18
Published Every Saturday by Edward Lyman Bill, Inc., at 373 4th Ave., New York. Nov. 2, 1918
Single Copies 10 Cents
$2.00 Per Year
Prepare For After-War Trade
T
H E war has undoubtedly made us more appreciative of the value of organization in all branches of
industry. The brightest minds in this country believe that no manufacturer can operate his business
along the lines of highest intelligence and efficiency without some form of team work with his competi-
tors, and without that co-operative study of trade tendencies and trade problems that is only possible by
means of a well-organized association composed of the main body of the members of the industry, banded
together for mutual benefit and progress.
The war has brought about remarkable changes in industrial practices throughout the nation, and we are
enabled to comprehend as never before the value of a centralized body, like our own Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce, as a means of getting a knowledge of the vital statistics of the industry, and of getting in closer
touch with the best minds and the best methods of production and distribution, all of which inure to the benefit,
not only of the individual manufacturer, but of every branch of the industry.
The value of trade co-operation these days is especially necessary, now that the great war is nearing its
close, because there are new and greater problems to be faced in connection with trade development and expan-
sion during the reconstruction period. In this connection the export trade and its development looms up as
one of the great essential moves for the prosperity and advancement of the industry.
This cannot be the work of a single man or a single manufacturer. In order to secure success there must
be a broad co-operative movement that will arouse the enthusiastic spirit of every member of the industry.
While we are facing production problems to-day, owing to restrictions by the Government in the matter of steel
and other supplies, this condition will not continue to prevail and the time to work for the future is now. We
must act very much like Wall street— : we must anticipate the market.
The war may be over soon, or it may last a considerable time, but the fact remains that the Central Powers
must eventually capitulate. It is, therefore, pertinent to give close consideration to plans bearing on business
conditions after the war—to put our business houses in order so that we may be able to take advantage of a
most unusual situation, not only in the matter of domestic trade, but also in the development of our relations
with foreign countries.
There is an immense opportunity for the expansion of our trade in musical instruments with all our Allied
countries, and particularly with South America and Australia, and we should be prepared not only to hold the
trade we have, but to develop it to a point that will keep our factories busy, not only in seasons, but throughout
the entire year.
The war has enabled us to get a more intimate knowledge of the value of factory floor space, and the produc-
ing power of our factories has been, and can be, increased at a minimum cost, provided there is a sufficient
volume of business to keep a large organization constantly going. Hence the necessity of working out a
campaign now, to capture markets and orders so as to make the American piano, player and talking machine—
in fact, the entire family of musical instruments—known and appreciated for their intrinsic worth throughout
the world.
If American piano manufacturers will prepare adequately for the post-war expansion that is surely coming,
they will be enabled to gain a standing for American musical instruments that cannot be shaken, no matter what
efforts our European competitors may make in the economic struggle for the markets of the world that will
follow the present great struggle for military supremacy.
There are immense possibilities here, and now that we have such an effective trade parliament as the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, there is no reason why the entire industry should not act in concert in
outlining and perfecting plans for the expansion of our export business after the great war comes to an end.