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MAY
8, 1920
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NO INDICATION OF PROFITEERING IN THE PIANO TRADE
Manufacturer of Piano Cases Produces Facts Regarding Conditions Existing in the Lumber Indus-
try to Prove That Present Costs Are Entirely Legitimate—Further Increases Hard to Stop
In view of the criticism in regard to the con-
tinued increase in the cost of pianos which has
been indulged in by certain members of the re-
tail industry during the last few weeks, a rep-
resentative of The Review recently called on a
well-known manufacturer of piano cases in or-
der to get a few facts regarding the situation
as to the supply and prices which prevail in the
lumber industry, where it becomes necessary
for him to purchase his raw material.
When it was mentioned to him that some
dealers felt that the piano manufacturers were
profiteering, he came back in his usual forceful
manner with: "The talk of profiteering in con-
nection with the piano business to my mind is
ridiculous. Profiteering, in the piano trade, is
an impossibility, at least insofar as the supply
manufacturers are concerned. There is a cer-
tain type of piano dealer who, 1 am < sorry
to say, has been familiar with this word many
years before this unfortunate war turned con-
ditions topsy-turvy. Undoubtedly he is the same
type of individual who is now squealing. The
clean-cut, intelligent dealer, who is in touch with
conditions, is not the man who is making a noise
just now. I just want you to see what we are
up against here, and you can judge for your-
self." Turning to a file he took from it a letter
and continuing said: "Now just read this. This
letter is from one of the largest lumber opera-
tors in the United States, a very far-sighted
man, and a man who tries to keep his finger on
the pulse of the lumber situation at all times.
It came to me a short time ago, and since 1 re-
ceived it the predictions of this lumber man in
regards to lumber conditions on account of
rains and high water throughout the hardwood
section in the South have more than proven
true. Here is what he says:
" 'We hope that the peak of high prices in
the lumber business is at hand, and. what we
look for is a leveling of prices, bringing closer
together the differential between the various
grades, so that we can receive for our full log-
run product a fair price. Common and better
lumber has advanced rapidly because the de-
mand was unusually great, the supply very
small. But we have had for the last year or
two a big accumulation of low-grade lumber
which we have found very difficult to move, the
demand being for the cream of our product.
We are now beginning to find low-grades more
in demand, the box trade seems to h; livening
up, many furniture factories are beginning to
buy lower grades, and we believe this tendency,
if it continues, will have the effect of creating
a better demand for the lower grades, and
enable us to liquidate our lower grades and re-
lieve us of the necessity of asking such extreme
high prices for the upper grades. This is really
a condition we would like to see. There is one
situation, however, that is an unknown quan-
tity just now, and that is the foreign demand
We are very much afraid with the exchange
rate improving, as it has within the last few
weeks, there will be a recurrence in the active
export buying, and owing to the limited stocks
in this country we may find conditions the same
as a year ago.
" 'From the advices we have, and in which we
have considerable confidence, the export market
is ready for a large amount of lumber, and it
now is only waiting until the export situation as-
sumes a more favorable aspect and that seems
close at hand. It is our frank opinion that any-
one who has covered himself for the higher
grade of lumber fcr the next six months is in
luck, and has shown good judgment. We be-
lieve there are many firms who have withheld
buying, thinking prices would get lower. We
believe they will' have some difficulty in obtain
FOR TONE, BEAUTY
AND LASTING
A
ACCOMPLISHMENT
ing stocks. We are striving to get our produc-
tion to normal, the labor situation is bad and
promises to grow worse, and on top of this the
weather conditions are possibly the prime factor
in keeping production down at the present time.
We have had incessant rains since last Septem-
ber, and now that we can hope for pleasant
weather we are confronted with the high water,
that has already forced one of our mills to shut
down on account of lack of logs, and our big
mill we are afraid will be down this week on
account of the rapidly rising river, which has
filled up the bayous so that it has cut off the
supply of our logs, and until the river recedes
we cannot get shipments over our railroad.'
"So you see," continued the cas« man, "that
the lumber situation is anything but promising,
and I sincerely hope that dealers who have
criticized the piano trade and class it as
profiteers will take cognizance of this condition.
The dealer should realize that the supply is far
below the demand, and the piano manufacturers
should also realize it. The fact that a few deal-
ers who are not alive to the true situation pre-
vailing have' become frightened and canceled
a few orders should not prevent the wide-awake
manufacturers pushing right ahead on the manu-
facture of pianos. There should be no curtail-
ing of production, because the manufacturers
are selling a sellers' market. With the rumors
of possible further labor troubles in the piano
industry within this year, dealers should take
time by the forelock and buy all the pianos they
can. The dealers should realize that the manu-
DONAHUE TO PLAY THE CHICKERING
Gifted Young American Pianist to Use That
Piano on Tour Next Season—Also to Record
for Ampico—Stands High in Profession
Lester Donahue, the gifted young American
pianist who has been proclaimed as one of the
5
facturers must necessarily run* their business
throughout the year, trying to keep up a steady
volume of output, and that none can help them
reach this point better than the dealer himself,
and if the dealer would do this he would solve,
or at least help solve, the problem of holding
prices down. Nothing is to be gained by the
dealer, or the manufacturer for that matter,
trying to prevent increased prices under pre-
vailing conditions. We are all helpless.
"The piano manufacturer should get in touch
with his line of dealers and advise them that
it will be necessary for them to place orders
for regular monthly shipments, viz.: that he
will be in a position to take care of rush
orders only during the holiday period. 1 think
many manufacturers have done this, and in a
great many factories production is gradually
becoming normal. But if the dealers could go
back to the source of supply of materials which
enter into the construction of pianos and player-
pianos, as we supply men are compelled to, and
once realize what we are compelled to pay and
put up with, I am sure they would not be so
ready to consider that either supply men or
piano manufacturers are profiteering. One needs
only to look at the prevailing prices of pianos
to-day in comparison with other commodities,
artd even the necessities of life. As one illustra-
tion, let us take potatoes. Before the war pota-
toes were selling from $4.80 to $6.00 a barrel,
containing three bushels. To-day potatoes are
selling at $2 a peck, or $6 a bushel, or $18 for a
barrel. If the price of pianos had been increased
proportionately, it is very certain that dealers
and manufacturers would have a just cause in
connecting the word 'profiteer' with the piano
industry. As it stands to-day, they have no
just cause."
more than ordinary talent. His playing dis-
plays much musical instinct, natural beauty,
temperament and technique, and it is predicted
that he is destined to obtain a high place among
contemporary pianists. He has already made
numerous appearances in Berlin, Munich, Frank-
fort and London, and has invariably achieved
success.
MAKE LARGE GIFT FOR ORCHESTRA
Grinnell Bros. Start Endowment Fund of New
Toledo Symphony Orchestra With a Donation
of $2,500—Lewis H. Clement Director
TOLEDO, O., May 3.—Grinnell Bros., of Detroit,
through their Toledo branch, have just started
the endowment fund for the new Toledo Sym-
phony Orchestra with a gift of $2,500. In mak-
ing the donation Grinnell Bros, wrote the com-
mittee that the value of the symphony orchestra
to a community was demonstrated so fully by
the Detroit Symphony Orchestra, under Ossip
•Gabrilowitsch, that they were glad to help To-
ledo secure the same advantages as Detroit had
enjoyed.
Several other large donations have been made
to the endowment fund, and it is expected that
the orchestra will prove a strong factor in the
local music world during the coming season.
Lewis H. Clement, formerly connected with the
piano trade in an important capacity, and mu-
sician of recognized- ability, is director of the
new orchestra.
Lester Donahue
most interesting exponents of piano music in
this country, has made arrangements to play
the Chickering piano exclusively in his recital
tour of the United States next season. He will
also make a number of records of his favorite
selections for the Ampico, the recording to be
done immediately after his return from Eng-
land, where he is now going to fulfil a number
of concert engagements.
Mr. Donahue made his debut in Berlin in 1913
and critics agreed immediately that he displayed
FLOYD PIANO CO. INCORPORATES
The Floyd Piano Co., Memphis, Tenn., has
completed plans for expansion and has secured
a charter with a capital of $125,000. This com-
pany was begun some years ago by L. H.
Floyd and has grown to such proportions that
it was decided to incorporate the business. The
incorporators are L. H. Floyd, O. R. Bowman,
W. H. Dilatush, Myrtle Davis and John H.
Poston.