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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
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allU
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
«"Wlating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
j
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.
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Vol. LX1X
NEW YORK, AUGUST 16, 1919
No. 7
TRANSPORTATION PROBLEM AND THE TRADE
HE strike of the railroad shopmen and other employes on roads
in the East as well as the West is beginning to cause consider-
able uneasiness among both manufacturers and retailers of pianos
and other musical instruments. In the New England territory,
where the worst trouble seems to exist, the New Haven road has
declared an embargo on all freight, with the exception of foodstuffs
and the necessities of life, and have canceled over a hundred pas-
senger trains in an effort to relieve the situation and keep their
freight-carrying business moving. Although the New Haven road
seems to be the worst hit so far, other railroads have also suffered
much, and where they have not as yet taken the drastic step of
placing a freight embargo, they have nevertheless been compelled
to disrupt their, freight schedules very seriously.
The strike of the shopmen displays an attitude of labor that is
disquieting, but Government officials still in charge of the rail-
roads have promised relief either through increased wages or
some other means, in order to enable the shopmen and other em-
ployes of the railroads to meet higher living costs, and have asked
that the men remain in their positions until the question can be
investigated and some mutually satisfactory arrangement entered
into. The strikers have left their posts not only in the face of the
Government's request but in opposition to the orders of the union
officials themselves.
Meanwhile the difficulties of the railroads serve to add one
more to the problems members of the music trade are called upon
to face to-day. Not only does production continue to prove inade-
quate to meet demands, but now it is found difficult and entirely
impossible to deliver instruments completed at the factory and
required so desperately by dealers.
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THE BUGABOO OF GERMAN-MADE PIANOS
TORIES have reached this country recently from England,
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which have been featured sensationally, to the effect that
German piano manufacturers have an excess of 40,000 instruments
ready to dump on the British market, at prices far below those pre-
REVIEW
AUGUST 16, 1919
vailing in Great Britain, and setting forth the alarm felt by British
piano men over the announcement.
There are a number of features to the story that might well
bear investigation to establish whether or not they have any basis
in fact. One statement is to the effect that sales of pianos were
discontinued in Germany during the war, yet previous reports, which
might be considered authoritative, were to the effect that with war-
time wages and high profits there was a demand for pianos in that
country that could not be satisfied.
Even though the United States did not feel the full pinch of
the war, the demand for increased production of war materials and
the draft on the man-power of the nation combined to curtail piano
production to a considerable degree, and even now, nearly a year
after the signing of the armistice, the trade has not yet caught up
to the demand. Jn England the cutting down of piano production
was still more serious, and yet neither this country nor England
suffered from the effects of a .blockade. An explanation of how
Germany, with the heavy drain on her man-power and her indus-
tries, managed to keep up piano production to a high pitch would
be highly interesting as a guide to our own trade during the next war.
There is no question but that German piano manufacturers are
going to make a strong drive to regain their former grip on the
world's markets—that is to be expected. But to say that the
country devoted its energies during the war to the production of
pianos, with a view to meeting after-war conditions, appears to be
a trifle far-fetched. The physical handicaps were too great.
There has been much talk in (Ireat Britain during and since
the war regarding the necessity for British manufacturers carrying
out plans to so build up their supplies industry as to close the market
to German products. During the war there was no opportunity
for carrying out such plans and since the war there has not been,
apparently, the desired amount of attention given to the matter.
Perhaps the story of the proposed dumping of German'pianos has
been published to spur English piano and supply makers to greater
efforts.
STUDYING THE HIGH COST OF LIVING
HE announcement that the Eederal Government and the
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executives thereof plan to devote earnest attention to the high
cost of living problem, with a view to stop profiteering and bring-
about, a downward readjustment of prices, not only of foodstuffs,
but of clothing and the other necessities of life, together with the
basic materials that enter into manufacturing, should prove particu-
larly interesting to retailers of musical instruments.
If the Government's campaign meets with success, and there
is really a reduction in prices, instead of a still further increase, as
has most generally made itself apparent when the Government has
taken hold of anything, then it will mean that the hopes of the
trade that the present prosperous condition so far as demand goes
may continue indefinitely will have a solid foundation.
The effect of high living costs has not been felt by the retail
music trade to any great extent, due to the existing situation where-
in production is inadequate to meet even normal demands. The
fact remains, however, that the family faced with the problem of
paying from fifty to one hundred and fifty per cent, more for
food, clothing, and housing, even though its income has increased
in some small measure, may hesitate some about tying up several
hundred dollars in a musical instrument when the money may be
needed next winter, or the winter after, to provide the necessities
of life.
PROOF OF NATIONAL PROSPERITY
HERE is no evidence of inactivity or dulness in the music
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trade industry these summer months. The demand still continues
unprecedentedly large, with a special call for player-pianos and
grands—in fact every branch of the industry is facing demands
which emphasize that the people of the nation are enjoying pros-
perity and desire such necessities in their homes as musical instru-
ments. It is clear that the prosperity of the country's agricultural
sections will establish new records this year. Based on the Govern-
ment's July 1 report, the value of the wheat, corn and oats crop
combined will reach the enormous figure of $8,340,622,000. The
winter wheat and rye crops now being harvested are the largest on
record.