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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; VicePresident, J. B. Spillane,
373 Fourth Aye., 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
AUGUST J. TIMPE
Business Manager
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WM. BKAID W H I T I (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWEKS
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
p
a r ° 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.
t i ons
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.. .Pan-American Exposition. 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Mtdal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
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NEW Y O R K , JULY 1 3 , 1 9 1 8
= EDITORIAL=
The names of the winners in The Review's War Essay
Contest on the subject, "The Value and Importance of Music
in War Time," will be announced in next week's issue.
HEN P. E. Conroy was selected to look after the operation
W
of the Music-Industries Preservation Fund of the National
Association of Piano Merchants, for the purpose of supporting
the work of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, the
association chose the right man for the job, which was probably
known beforehand. Mr. Conroy in the first place made an
enviable record for himself and for the association in the build-
ing up and operation of the Better Business Bureau in its early
stages, and now he is showing the same energy in organizing
the State Commissioners-and other members of the association
for the purpose of raising the Preservation Fund. Just to show
that he was capable of doing what he asked his appointees to do
in the matter of collecting funds from among piano merchants
he collected over $1,000 in his home city of St. Louis in some-
thing like a day or two.
The trade, through the various associations, particularly
through the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, has
planned big things for the future in the way of the development
of music generally, in publicity, in the Better Business Bureau
work, and along many other lines. The trade has committed
itself to see that these things are done, .and they can only be
done if the money is available. Piano merchants do not hesi-
tate to contribute liberally to the movement, for they have seen
what it has already accomplished and know just how the money
is to be spent in the future. There is nothing visionary about
the program. It is built on solid facts and is designed to accom-
plish specific purposes. Mr. Conroy, therefore, should receive
every assistance in carrying his work to a successful conclusion.
In other words, subscriptions should be liberal enough to cover
the share of the expense allotted to the Merchants' Association
and if possible provide a safe surplus.
JULY 13, 1918
By thus contributing to the building up of an organization
working in his interests, the merchant will find he is pursuing a
much more economical course than in holding back his subscrip-
tion and financing his offensive and defensive campaigns by him-
self. The merchant cannot sit back and let the manufacturer
do it all, nor can he sit back and let his fellow merchants sup-
port the work that is going to benefit him as much as it is them.
JJE personal statement of the Hon. P. B. Noyes, Director
T
of Conservation of the United States Fuel Administration, to
the general effect that the Government had accepted the word
of piano and talking machine manufacturers to curtail their use
of fuel 30 per cent, and, relying upon this gentlemen's agree-
ment, had issued no mandatory order, is to be accepted as sig-
nificant of the Government's attitude towards industries in gen-
eral and the music industry in particular.
The attitude of the Fuel Administration in this one particular
should set at rest the idea that the Government is inclined to
make wartime rules and regulations without regard for the men
of business. It indicates that the Fuel Administrator has con-
fidence in the piano manufacturers, and rather than place them
under direct orders avoids any semblance of hardship by con-
sulting with them regarding their status and requirements and
relying upon their assurances to aid the Administration in meet-
ing the coal shortage situation.
If, during the balance of the war, the music trade receives
the same consideration from the Government and its various
departments, then the men of the industry have little to fear. It
is an attitude that makes for confidence.
T
HE action of the Ship Control Committee last week in re-
versing its embargo ruling and agreeing to license the ship-
ments of pianos and organs to ports on the East Coast of South
America is of more than ordinary significance in that it offers
further proof of the fact that the Federal Government and its
representatives are open to reason and are appreciative of the
important part that the export of pianos and other musical in-
struments can, and for that matter does, play in preserving the
trade and gold balance of the nation at a time when this service
is particularly necessary and valuable.
The piano export trade of the United States is growing
slowly but surely, and it may be expected to increase rapidly
as the situation is better understood by the manufacturers. Con-
ditions here permit of a more general manufacturing operation.
The instruments shipped out of the country serve a double pur-
pose of giving employment to thousands of men and women in
the factory, and providing support for their dependents without
competing in any material degree with the labor or material
problems of war work, while on the other hand pianos take the
place of food, metals and other essential factors in the mainte-
nance of the army and navy which otherwise would have to be
sent abroad to preserve in some measure the trade balance.
Likewise, musical instruments thus exported do not in any
sense interfere with the program of economy set down for the
people of this country, or take for their purchase dollars that
might perchance go for the purchase of Liberty Bonds or War
Stamps, for it is very doubtful if the purchase of a piano has
yet interfered directly with the purchase of Government securities
or prevented contributions to funds for various war movements.
The increasing exports of pianos and the arguments thus
made for presentation to the Government will go a long way
towards offsetting any possible action taken toward a further
curtailment of the industry. As the war progresses conditions
become more serious, every argument has its value and no mem-
ber of the trade should lose sight of this fact.
both in the retail and wholesale branches of
C ONDITIONS
the music trade industry continue to be above normal for
this season of the year. A great many retail stores throughout
the country reported the past week an unusually large volume
of business for June with an excellent outlook for July. Analyz-
ing the general business situation throughout the country Dun's
in its latest review says:
"Measured by all of the traditional barometers, business
enters on the second half of the year in a highly prosperous