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THE. MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
4
RMLW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
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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
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are dealt with, will be found in another section of
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NEW YORK, AUGUST 23, 1919
for $300. To him it is a $450 piano, worth that much according
to the dealer's assurance, and he is willing to pay $450 for it.
"Why fill his mind with the fact that the plate and the felt
and the wire in the piano cost the manufacturer from fifty to one
hundred per cent, increase over pre-war prices and that he is paying
that increase? If it were necessary to force business, and there
was a surplus of instruments on hand, it might be good business to
advertise coming price increases to stimulate prompt buying. Until
such time comes the less the public knows about higher prices of
pianos the less dissatisfaction will retailers have to face."
All of which offers some food for thought.
A FAR-SIGHTED MOVE
WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH, W M . BRAID W H I T E (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH,
C. A. LEONARD, EDWARD LYMAN BILL, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
"AUGUST 23, 1919
No. 8
PIANO COSTS AND THE PUBLIC
HE first annual meeting of the Organ Builders' Association
of America, held in Pittsburgh last week, is to be accepted as
significant and a precedent for all of the several organized branches
of the music industry, for it was the first meeting of the kind to
be held since the war crisis passed and free from the influence
of kindred bodies. There had been naturally more or less com-
ment regarding the possible attitude of the newer trade organiza-
tions when conditions began to shape themselves normally and
the danger of the elimination of the industry had passed. The
action of the organ builders, however, in voting $3,000 to the
support of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and to
the campaign for the development of music in itself reflects the
attitude of that body, and refutes the belief of some elements that
a certain amount of indifference would develop.
The organ builders realized that the present and the immediate
future offers an unexampled opportunity for the development of
musical interests generally and other departments of the industry
particularly. What was done during the war period might possibly
be construed as being done in an effort to save the life of the
trade. What is being done now is done for the future. The money
spent is not a tax paid to war, but an investment made for the
future of the trade. The action of the organ builders, therefore,
at their meeting in Pittsburgh is a matter of congratulation not
only to that body itself, but to those interested in the plans for
trade development generally.
OUR FOREIGN TRADE EXPANSION
IANO manufacturers and retailers have, and with reason, dis-
P
cussed since the beginning of the war the steady increase in
ITH the signing of the Peace Treaty and the opening of rela-
W
raw material prices and production costs, and it is but natural that
tions with foreign countries heretofore at war, it is evident
more or less accurate information regarding these increases should
reach the public, even though not intended for the attention of the
consumer. One prominent concern has gone so far, however, as to
call the attention of the public to the actual percentage of increased
cost through the medium of advertisements, and the move has
attracted considerable attention, and likewise considerable comment,
favorable and unfavorable.
Some piano men feel that in advising the public of the steady-
advance of piano prices the prospect who has hesitated about pur-
chasing may be stirred into immediate action, while there are others
who are of the opinion that some prospective customers, with hazy
ideas of piano cost, may be scared off for fear that the instruments
are beyond their means.
One of the opponents of the publicity idea said: "It is a
recognized fact that a large proportion of the public has had, and
still has, only the haziest ideas regarding piano values, the majority
of purchasers being quite willing to select their instrument and
take the dealer's word that the quality and price were right. Peop'e
of any intelligence know that every manufactured product has
gone up in price within the last two years, for they have that fact
impressed upon them every time they make a purchase. Even in
these days of prosperity the average man does not buy a piano
like he would a collar, but is inclined to give thought to whether
he is in a position to afford the instrument or not. If he is con-
stantly reminded of increasing prices, in my opinion, he will be
inclined to hesitate, and perhaps fail to buy, on the presumption
that although able to afford a piano on a pre-war basis he would
be unable to finance the purchase of one on present-day terms. On
the other hand, if he is not impressed with the increased cost he
will be inclined to go into the piano warerooms when he is ready
and select an instrument that will suit his purse. It will not increase
his satisfaction in his purchase to know that the piano for which he
is about to pay $450 to-day could be purchased a year or two ago
that the foreign trade of America will expand tremendously. Our
prominent manufacturers and exporters have a big task before them
in the matter of production, and also in financing our shipments
abroad. But while the situation is somewhat complex and disturbing
at present, there is no reason to doubt but that the entire matter will
be clarified and plans perfected whereby foreign business will materi-
ally expand from now on.
While the complete figures are not yet available for the coun-
try's foreign trade for the fiscal year which ended June 30, the
approximations show a total of $10,000,000,000 in round numbers.
Of these values the imports were about $3,102,000,000 and the
exports about $6,806,000,000, showing an excess of the latter
amounting to about $3,704,000,000. This excess, or balance of
trade, is greater in value than was the total of exports and imports
combined in any one year prior to 1912, and almost equal to the
similar totals of 1912 and 1913. In the exports a decrease is
shown of nearly $300,000,000 in manufactures for further use in
manufacturing, doubtless due to the cessation of demand for war
materials and the like.
Exports of manufactures ready for consumption were prac-
tically stationary, while those of all other groups of exports showed
increases. Imports from Europe and South America showed de-
creases, and those from Asia were practically the same as in the
year before, while those from North America, Oceania, and Africa
increased. As to the exports, these showed increases to all the
grand divisions, the largest gain—that to Europe—being over $500,-
000,000. Taking up specific countries, increases in imports for
the eleven months ended with May were shown from Austria-Hun-
gary, Belgium, Germany, Canada, Mexico, Brazil, Japan, Australia,
the Philippines and Egypt. There were decreases in those from
France, Italy, Russia, Sweden, United Kingdom, Cuba, Argentina,
China and the British East Indies. Decreases in exports were
shown only to Russia, United Kingdom and Cuba.