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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NOVEMBER 22, 1919
German pins, however, have been offered at something like
forty or fifty cents below American tuning pin prices, with the
result that the selling of them has been a very simple problem.
If the handling of these initial shipments may be accepted at
its face value, American tuning pin manufacturers must now be
prepared to meet German competition on a straight dollar-for-
dollar basis and cannot expect to hold the market on any so-called
patriotic grounds. That much appears to be certain.
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
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J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
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CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Stall
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L. M. ROBINSON, C. A. LEONARD, EDWARD LTMAN BILL, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
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'
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
p
are dealt with, will be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be -cheerfully given upon request.
an<1
AN EXAMPLE THAT SHOULD BE FOLLOWED
Germer, the piano man of Beardstown, 111., is one
A RTHUR
of the progressive sort, who does not wait for the coming
of a National Music Show, but who makes a practice of holding
an annual music show entirely "on his own." Mr. Germer also
does things on a big scale, this year's show, which was recently
closed, having lasted through five days with elaborate programs
of music each day. There was a "women's day," a "business
men's day," a "children's day," and a "farmers' day," with special
programs for each. The local band and orchestra, as well as local
artists, were employed to provide the music, and the attendance
broke all records.
Mr. Germer's spirit of progressiveness should prove a rule
and guide for other piano merchants who are inclined to sit
tight and let their business take care of itself. He is carrying
out locally and in a most effective way the principles that are
the foundation of the National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music. It is hoped the example will be followed quite generally.
THE PLAYER COMES INTO ITS OWN
T
HE progress that has been made by the player-piano and
its later development, the reproducing piano, in creating a
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma... .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal.... .St. Louts Exposition, 1904
favorable impression as to its importance upon musicians and
Gold Medal—Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
music critics generally, is evidenced in the newspaper criticisms
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5083—5883 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
of
the concerts in which reproducing pianos are featured in the
Cable address: "Elbill, New York"
roles of soloists. It is no uncommon thing nowadays to find
Vol. LXIX NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 2 2 , 1 9 1 9
No. 2 1 in the daily papers a half column or column review of the per-
formance of a reproducing piano accompanied by some noted
orchestra. In short, the art of mechanical piano playing through
The printing strike in New York City is still in pro-
the medium of hand played and personally recorded rolls has de-
gress, and the severe handicaps arising therefrom make it
veloped to a point where it is a distinct factor in the world
practically impossible for the publishers of The Music Trade
of music.
Review to issue this publication on schedule time.
Great credit is due to the progressive members of the trade
for their efforts in bringing about this condition. Some few
GET STATISTICS ON MUSIC
years ago the player-piano was considered a thing apart by the
UST how musical is your city? This is a question any music musically cultured. Its music was "canned" music. It was
dealer who is interested in music advancement and the devel- likened to the hurdy-gurdy and otherwise held in contempt.
opment of the trade should be able to answer most convincingly Constant improvement, however, and the ability of manufactur-
and without delay; yet, in how few cities have the music men ers to set high ideals and persist in those ideals in carrying on
attempted to gather statistics? That it is possible is evidenced their work has won for the player-piano and the reproducing
in the case of Dallas, Texas, where the Music Industries' Asso- piano a genuine place in American music. The player-piano
ciation, at the request of the Chamber of Commerce, collated a is now regarded as an aid to the musician rather than a hindrance.
group of facts regarding the importance of music in.that city, Tt provides for the student means for studying the interpreta-
published elsewhere in this issue of The Review, that are dis- tions of various elaborate compositions as these compositions
tinctly impressive.
are played by master pianists.
Perhaps there are other cities that will make just as good a
The player has grown to be an educational force as well as
showing, but Dallas has apparently beaten the rest of the country a means for entertainment. When the music critics of daily
to it. Certainly, the figures presented give a new importance papers comment seriously upon the performance of a noted artist,
to music.
as it is presented through the medium of the reproducing piano,
then it may be said that the ultimate goal of perfection is being
FOREIGN COMPETITION AGAIN A FACTOR
approached rapidly. This new attitude is a matter for con-
gratulation.
T least one trade question regarding post-war practices
appears to have been answered, with the arrival from Ger-
UPHOLDING LAW AND ORDER
many of fifty cases of tuning pins and with the announcement
HE Supreme Court of Illinois, in upholding the conviction
that more are on the way. It is understood that the entire lot
of Charles Dold and his associates of the Piano, Organ and
was disposed of to piano manufacturers before they arrived in
Musical Instrument Workers' Union, in connection with the
this country.
During the war, when imports of tuning pins from Europe disorders growing out of the strike at the Lyon & Healy plant in
were cut off, the occasion was regarded in some quarters as the 1917, offers the radical labor element something to think about.
opportunity for the development of the tuning pin industry in The court decision should teach strikers that being out on strike
this country, and many manufacturers agreed, tentatively, to does not give the individual the privilege of indulging in assault
support their home institutions. The result was the develop- and battery without being amenable to the law. It may be that
ment of several tuning pin manufacturing plants, the output of the wheels of justice grind slowly, but they have at least ground
which, at the present time, is quite sufficient to take care of all out a decision in this case that should prove most timely in its
application.
current demands.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
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