Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1919 Vol. 69 N. 21

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
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.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373, Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
T. 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, B. B. WILSON, Associate Editors
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Stall
WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH, W M . BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH,
L. M. ROBINSON, C. A. LEONARD, EDWARD LTMAN BILL, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO O F F I C E :
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
E. P. V A N HARLINGEN, Republic Building,
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State St. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
LONDON, ENGLAND:
1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR 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, Inc.
'
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
J
A
T
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
NOVEMBER 22, 1919
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
EXPORT TRADE INCREASES; IMPORTS ALSO SHOW INCREASE
Exports of Musical Instruments for Nine Months Ending September 30, 1919, Show a Gain of
$1,487,572 for Exports Over Preceding Year—Statistics on Importations Show Increase
WASHINGTON, D. C, November 17.—The summary
of exports and imports of the commerce of the
United States, for the month of September, 1919,
the latest period for which it has been compiled,
has just been issued as follows:
The dutiable imports of musical instruments
during September, 1919 amounted to $105,222 as
compared with $21,443 which were imported dur-
ing the same month of 1918. The nine months
ending September, 1919, showed importations
valued at $747,847 against $439,881 worth of mus-
ical instruments imported during the same period
of 1918, and $456,313 in 1917. This gives an in-
crease in imports for the nine months of $308,016.
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
ments for September, 1919, amount to $611,741 as
compared with $369,793 for the same month of
.he previous year. The nine months exportations
of musical instruments amounted to $5,031,339 in
1919, as against $3,543,767 in 1918, and $3,212,559
in 1917. This shows an increase for the nine
months of $1,487,572.
Of the aggregate exportations in September,
1919, there were 237 organs, valued at $13,158 as
compared with 179 organs, in 1918, valued at
$7,923. The nine months showed that we ex-
ported 1,768 organs, valued at $141,061 in 1919.
1.281 organs, valued at $88,014 for the same period
of 1918, and 1,685 organs, valued at $92,894 during
1917.
In September, 1919, we exported 1,221 pianos,
valued at $318,547 as compared with 395 pianos,
valued at $88,888 for the same period of the pre-
vious year. The nine months total shows 9,591
SCHIRMER HAS GRUNEWALD DEPT.
Prominent New York Publisher Adds Sheet
Music Department of M. Grunewald & Son to
Present Chain of Sheet Music Stores
An important deal was closed this week by Bene-
dict M. Grunewald, of L. Grunewald & Co., New
Orleans, La., with G. Schirmer, Inc., New York, in
which the sheet music department of the Grunewald
store is taken over by the Schirmer interests and
will form another link in the chain of sheet music
houses maintained by G. Schirmer. Mr. Grunewald
came to New York the first of the week to confer
with the New York house and the deal was closed
on Tuesday. The Schirmer music interests have
expanded considerably during the past year and now
control a large number of sheet music stores in dif-
ferent parts of the country. The addition of the
New Orleans music department is an important
addition to the chain of stores in the southern states
and new numbers are now sure of an extensive pub-
licity and sale in the Gulf States.
ELABORATE DISPLAY IN MIAMI
S. E. Philpitt One of the Live Exhibitors in the
Miami Fair Building
MIAMI, FLA., November 17.—One of the most in-
teresting exhibits at the recent exhibition held in
the Miami Fair Building was that of S. Ernest
Philpitt, who occupied three booths immediately
inside the entrance with a full display of pianos,
including the Steinway grand and a Francis Bacon
player. He also exhibited an Estey organ and a
full range of Victrolas and Q R S rolls, which
were used for demonstrating the Bacon player.
Special concerts were given each evening, one of
them, featuring the Hawaiian steel guitar, ukulele
and the banjo mandolin, proving most interesting.
Mr. Philpitt also had a piano and Victrola in the
exhibit arranged by the Miami Electric Co., which
occupied a large space on the stage.
The Philpitt exhibit served to draw the atten-
tion of a large majority of the visitors and the
space was always crowded.
ume pestknou)n
muric&fname
JntfteWor/d.
pianos, valued at $2,204,966 as compared with
8.005 pianos, valued at $1,505,586 for the same per-
iod of 1918, and 8,444 pianos, valued at $1,364,544
sent abroad in 1917.
The exports of player-pianos show that 290 of
these instruments valued at $108,244 were export-
ed during September, 1919, as compared with 457
valued at $180,084 exported in 1918. The nine
months total shows that 3,371 player-pianos, val-
.ued at $1,267,602 were exported during 1919, as
compared with 2,875 valued at $941,664 for the
same period of 1918, and 2,503 valued at $756,822
in 1917.
Of the aggregate exportations there were 37
piano players, valued at $8,935 in September, 1919,
as against 13 piano players, valued at $2,467 for
tl.e same period of 1918. For the nine months
period 140 of these instruments, valued at $43,670
were sent abroad, as compared with 166 valued at
$43,169 in 1918, and 136 valued at $42,954 sent
abroad during 1917.
The exports of perforated music rolls for the
month of September, 1919, amounted in value to
$25,187 as compared with $10,143 in September,
1918. The nine months total amounted in value
to $192,532 as compared with $112,854 in exports
for the same period in 1918 and $77,008 in 1917.
The value of all other musical instruments and
parts thereof sent abroad during September, 1919,
amounted to $137,670 as compared with $80,288
in 1918. The total exports for the nine months
under this heading foot up $1,181,508 as against
$852,480 exported during the same period of last
year, and $878,327 in 1917.
CLEAN UP TRADE, SAYS
MARESH
Secretary of Cleveland Music Trades' Association
Declares that Dishonesty and False Representa-
tion Must Be Eliminated from the Piano Busi-
ness by the Better Element Therein
CLEVELAND, O., November 18.—The leading fea-
ture of the monthly meeting of members of the
Cleveland Music Trades Association, the evening of
November 11, was an address by A. L. Maresh, who
has been secretary of the organization continuously
for seven years. He is one of a committee of three
appointed at a session of the National Association
of Music Merchants, in Chicago, three years ago, to
devote their efforts to the "advancement of music
in America."
Mr. Maresh is also ad censor of the Cleveland
organization, and, in co-operation with Edward L.
Greene, secretary of the better business commission
of the Cleveland Advertising Club, has brougl-.t
about reform in the methods some piano dealers in
this city had formerly been guilty of following
in "fooling the public."
Mr. Maresh said that a certain mayor of Cleve-
land once said in a welcome address that "the only
entertainment in heaven that the bible speaks of is
music, and therefore he (the mayor) was pleased
to welcome an assembly engaged in such a lofty
vocation—that of stimulating the cause of music."
Mr. Marsh deplored the fact that Americans have
allowed themselves to become "a nation of ragtime
and jazz," but was pleased that there are more mu-
sical instruments in the homes of Americans today
than ever before.
"What have we given our foreign-born children
in exchange for their music?" he asked. "The jazz
band and ragtime. Our civilization might receive a
new soul from the spirit of music, for in music lies
the power to kill care and grief."
APPOINTED ASSISTANT MANAGER
He said that music as a palliative to ease the
nerves was recognized 3,000 years ago and con-
H. L. Moorey Takes Important Post with Colum-
tinned : "King Saul in his dejected and melan-
bia Co. Wholesale Branch in New York—Four choly moments would send for David, the shepherd
New Salesmen Added to Present Staff
hoy, to have him soothe his nerves with music from
the harp. Music entertains delightfully, soothes the
Lambert Friedl, manager of the New York whole-
weary and calms the restless. Why not do our best
sa'e branch of the Columbia Graphophone Co., an-
to advance it to an honorable station ? Militarists
nounced this week the appointment of H. L. Moorey
have long recognized the value of music in armies
as assistant manager of the branch, succeeding Ken-
and navies as an inspiring influence to greater zeal,
neth Mills, who goes to Chicago to act as manager
bravery and long-suffering for the support of any
there. In order to give more attention to local ter-
pood cause. So, then, let the question resolve itself
ritory, four new salesmen have been added to the
into this: How can this God-given blessing be best
New York wholesale staff and have already been
advanced in Cleveland, not alone for commercial rea-
assigned to their territories. The quartet includes
sons but for moral uplift as well?
Allen Bennett, Kenneth Crombie, Albert Neubauer
"To begin, let us clean house by hurling the ig-
and Vincent Ferchie.
nited bomb of honesty and truth Into the business,
to accomplish a reforming work. A good name is
DEATH OF MAJOR HIGGINSON
rather to be chosen than rJthes. Let us stop cut-
Founder of Boston Symphony Orchestra Passes throat methods and lift the vocation to a high plane
of honor, so it will receive and enjoy the confidence
Away in Boston in 86th Year
of the public."
In the course of his talk Mr. Maresh made a bit-
Major Henry Lee Higginson, banker and founder
of the Boston Symphony Orchestra, died last Satur- ter arraignment of certain factors in the music trade
day in Boston following an operation. He was 85 today who, he declared, were conducting their busi-
years old. Major Higginson founded the Boston nesses on a basis of dishonesty and false represe-
Symphony Orchestra, declared to be the greatest sentation and thus tearing down the confidence of
string band in the Western Hemisphere, 38 years ago, the public as a whole. He declared that this was the
the first concert being given on October 22, 1881. time to clean up the trade in general and force the
S'nce that time he had been a consistent supporter of adoption of better business practices and urged that
the Orchestra, and had made up cheerfully the deficit the better element of the trade carry on such work
realized during practically every season. His inter- to a successful conclusion. Mr. Maresh did not
est in music was purely that of an amateur, but his mince his words and his address made a strong im-
practical support of the art entitled him to high pression on his audience.
tribute.
A. B. CHASE GRAND FOR OBERLIN
PIANO CLUB BEEFSTEAK
The annual beefsteak dinner of the Piano Club
of New York will be held at the club rooms, East
137th street and Third avenue, on Saturday even-
ing. December 6, at 7 o'clock. Albert Behning.
chairman of the entertainment committee, has
planned to have a first class entertainment as well
as the most palatable beefsteak to be found and
everything that goes with it.
PIANOS
EETEY PIANO COMPANY NEW YORK CITY-
Warren C. Whitney, president of the A. B.
Chase Piano Co., New York, announced this week
that another A. B. Chase small parlor grand has
been sold to the Oberlin Factory Club in that
Ohio city. Over 100 A. B. Chase pianos are al-
ready in use in Oberlin and in the conservatory
there and this instrument is winning much favor
in that section as well as in other parts of the
country.
7ftePest profii
prodacerfgrfhe
dealer intheTrade.

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