Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
J. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAYMOND BILL, Associate Editor
Executive and.Reportorial Stall:
B. BRITTAIN WILSON, CARLETON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
W M . BKAID W H I T E (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington
CHICAGO
St.
E.
P.
OFFICE:
VAN HARLINGEN,
Republic
Building,
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State St. Telephone, Wabash S774.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
N E W S SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OCR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED I N T H E LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at New York, N. Y.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
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, I n c
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
are 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.
Player-Piano and
Technical Departments
FEBRUARY 8,
export trade will rest in a considerable measure the future pros-
perity of American industry.
The members of the National Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
tion, and of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, with
which it is affiliated, have on numerous occasions emphasized just
what a substantial export trade in pianos means to the industry,
and to the country as a whole, in providing an outlet for increased
factory production and in serving to maintain a trade balance with
foreign countries. The export trade that has been handled by
American manufacturers has been done generally on an individual
basis, the manufacturer either digging up for himself facts regard-
ing foreign trade practices or doing business through some export
commission house. Both methods have their limitations, and for
the manufacturer to depend upon his own resources in handling
foreign business proves a rather expensive proposition unless the
volume of business is unusually large.
An export clearing department established by the Manufac-
turers' Association, or by the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce, could secure this information and have it available for all
members of the trade at a pro rata charge that would prove very
small. Mr. Setley's suggestion is neither premature nor idealistic.
It represents a practical idea that should at least be given fair con-
sideration.
is not the money outstanding or the favorable terms upon which
I on T goods
are sold that keep business going, it is the money collected
outstanding accounts that serves that important purpose. A
realization of this fact is indicated by the importance attached to
collection work by both manufacturers and retailers, and particu-
larly the latter.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Reports from various sections of the country indicate that col-
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal. . . . S t . Louis Exposition, 1904
lections
have not only been improved, but are keeping up to a high
Gold Medal. .Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
standard, and with the practice once established among his cus-
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—6083 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
tomers of meeting obligations promptly the piano merchant should
Cable address: "Elblll, New York."
see to it that the idea is spread and gains ground rather than allowing
Vol. LXVIII
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 8, 1919
No. 6
it to languish.
It is, of course, but natural that collections right now should
be satisfactory. Wages are abnormally high, money is plentiful,
EDITORIAL
despite the Liberty Loan and War Fund drives, and the customer
who has not the money to meet his instalments right now is not likely
MERICAN export trade will be greatly benefited by the drastic to have money in the future. The answer is, therefore, to collect
cut in cargo rates made by the Shipping Board to European
or repossess, making due allowances, of course, for special cases
ports last week, and which has been followed this week by a 50 in which misfortune figures.
per cent, rate reduction on shipments to Australian, South African
An instalment sale is only completed when the final payment
and Far Eastern ports. These moves make it possible for American
is made, and title transferred to the purchaser. While the account
shipping and commercial interests to compete with the interests of
is being carried on, it costs money in the bookkeeping department,
Great Britain and other foreign nations which recently cut prices
in the collection department and in the bank. Proper attention to
to all world ports.
the collecting system serves to clean accounts up quickly and reduce
The announced cuts in rates will meet with popular favor, for
this expense. The order of the day is to collect promptly and ener-
maritime freights have assumed enormous figures during the past
getically. Either the customer can pay for the instrument or he
few years, owing to the war. The cost of shipping pianos and
cannot—if he can he must; if he can't let the instrument be repos-
talking machines to Australia and South Africa has been almost
sessed and sold to somebody who can pay. It is not a question of
prohibitive, and now that a reduction of 50 per cent, goes into force
sentiment. It is a question of getting cold cash with which to carry
it means that freights come within a reasonable basis in the con- on and protect the retailer's business at a time when the future, even
sideration of an enlarged export trade of American goods.
though bright, is uncertain.
Another move on the part of the War Trade Board, announced
ROMINENT business authorities throughout the country are
this week, will tend to give export trade a broadened scope, and
as a unit in agreeing that the future prosperity of the United
give the American exporter more freedom for the conduct of his
business. This is to be found in a relaxation of restrictions and a States depends in a large measure on the consistent and energetic
development of a world trade on the part of the manufacturers of
simplification of procedure which in most cases takes the form of
this country. These men see in the increase in foreign commerce
easing the exporter's task of procuring export licenses.
the means for keeping our factories working at capacity, our work-
A great deal of red tape was compulsory during the war. It
men employed at substantial wages, and the attainment of a note-
was vitally necessary while actual hostilities were in progress, and
worthy position in the commercial circles of the world by this
of course it was necessarily cumbersome. The present policy and
country.
tendency of the War Trade Board in the relaxation of export re-
Musical instrument exports are playing, or should play, a promi-
strictions is to transfer as many kinds of export shipments as is
nent part in the development and maintenance of this foreign busi-
possible from the first class to the second class; in other words,
ness that is to come to us. We have been told in the past that
present policies aim to do away with individual licensing whenever
one
of the faults of the piano industry has been overproduction, and
possible, and to substitute for this a system of licensing governed
that
this overproduction has been responsible for long wholesale
by the commodity in question, or the country of destination.
terms and various other abuses growing out of strenuous competi-
tion. With the foreign markets taking a good proportion of our
HE very pertinent suggestion made by A. V. W'. Setley, vice-
products, this question of overproduction should not rise up before
president of the Estey Piano Co., to the effect that the National
us as a ghost of the past, but the output of our factories should be
Piano Manufacturers' Association might with profit establish an
absorbed so readily and so easily as to make good business practice
export clearing house department, is worthy of considerable con-
the usual rather than the unusual thing.
sideration, by those who realize that upon their development of
A
P
T