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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
AUGUST 28, 1920
49
IN THE MUSICAL MERCHANDISE DOMAIN—(Continued from page 47)
THE GROWTH O F THE SMALL GOODS INDUSTRY IN JAPAN
OLD=TIME MELODIES UNEOUALED
Musical Merchandise of Japanese Manufacture Has Found an Extensive Market in the United
States, Due to Lack of Imports From Europe During the War—Some Interesting Statistics
One of the important industries centering in
the district of Yokkaichi, Japan, is the manu-
facture of European musical instruments. The
industry, says the Bureau of Foreign and Do-
mestic Commerce, is practically controlled by
two establishments, one in Nagoya, which makes
violins, violoncellos, violas, guitars, etc., together
with bows, cases and other accessories. The
other establishment is located at Hammamatsu
and specializes in pianos, organs and har-
monica. The foreign and domestic trade in the
stringed instruments and bows since 1916 by the
first-named house may be summarized as fol-
lows:
In 1916 the articles in trade numbered 156,181,
valued at $131,389. Of this number the domestic
were 24,132, valued at $43,443, while the foreign
were 132,049, valued at $87,946. In 1917 the
total was 399,004, valued at $297,676. The do-
mestic were 60,580, valued at $82,087, and the
foreign were 338,424, valued at $215,589. In 1918
the total was 429,375, valued at $382,284. The
domestic articles numbered 79,734, valued at
$114,285, and the foreign trade took in 349,641
articles, valued at $267,999.
More than 80 per cent of the instruments
exported go to the United States, and the de-
mand for these goods is greater than the pro-
ductive capacity of the plant. The manufac-
turer is now building his third factory in the
attempt to keep up with his expanding business,
which already employs 1,200 workmen.
The output of the second concern referred to
is shown by the following figures: 1917, pianos,
$62,479, and organs, $112,439; 1918, pianos,
$137,216, and organs, $145,680. The instru-
ments of this house are sold largely in Japan,
but a good export business has also developed
in Australia, South America, India, China and
the South Seas. The company is capitalized at
$1,495,500 and has 2,000 employes. This indus-
try has especially benefited from the enforced
withdrawal of German competition, and the
manufacturers are confident that they can re-
tain their present markets and increase their
business despite future efforts of European
rivals.
Other industries of the district are wooden-
ware and bamboo manufactures valued in 1917
at $7,631,825 (about one-fourth of the total for
the country), and the making of safety matches
and toys, valued at $506,758 and $408,287, re-
spectively. Although complete figures are not
obtainable, it is apparent that these values were
exceeded in 1918.
Despite American war trade restrictions, the
value of the direct exports from this district in
1918 was increased by more than 20 per cent
over the preceding year. The leading com-
modities exported were earthenware and porce-
lain, tea, vegetables (beans, peas, starch, etc.),
matches, musical instruments and toys. The
increased value, however, does not indicate that
the gross shipments for the year were greater,
but rather that the unit value was higher.
The following table gives a comparative state-
ment of the exports of musical instruments and
parts to the United States invoice from Yok-
kaichi in 1917 and 1918:
Articles (dozen)
Cellos
Cello bows
llarmoiucas
Violas
Violins
Violin bows
Violin bridges
Violin strings
Parts of
Other
1917
Quantity Value
....
. . • •
.. . .
1918
Quantity Value
2
$261
3,023 $58,556
18,183
71,478
28,888
3,162
22,608 1,0D4
47,854
10,145
313,095
7,106
56
636
33,977
14,387
1
132
1,674
27,310
1,680
68,7£0
36,763
63,771
48,900
22,491
MELVILLE A. CLARK'S VACATION
Enjoys Hydroplane Trips and Gives Concert
While Guest of Sir John and Lady Eaton
SYRACUSE, N. Y., August 23.—Making frequent
trips in a hydroplane in the Muskoka Lakes re-
gion in Canada with Col. William Bishop, a
celebrated ace in the world war, and giving a
concert with Edward Johnson, tenor, at the
country home of Sir John Eaton, near Rasseau,
were features of Melville A. Clark's vacation
passed as guest of Sir John and Lady Eaton,
of Toronto.
Lady Eaton, a singer of splendid attainments,
assisted Mr. Johnson and Mr. Clark at the con-
cert, which was given in the presence of a
large number of guests at Kawandag. Lady
Eaton announced the formation of the Toronto
Symphony Orchestra, which will start with a
budget of $100,000. It is to be a high-grade in-
stitution, and will probably make a road tour
during its first year. This orchestra was con-
ceived in Syracuse last May during the festival,
when Mr. Clark gave a dinner in honor of Lady
Eaton and Edward Johnson, tenor, from the
Chicago Opera Company.
WALDO OTTINGER A BENEDICT
Member of Musicians Supply Co. of Boston
Marries Miss Carolyn Goldberg of Columbus
Waldo Ottinger, of the Musicians Supply Co.,
-218 Tremont street, Boston, musical merchan-
dise jobbers, was married last week to Miss
Carolyn J. Goldberg, of Columbus, Ga., at the
Hotel Princeton, Boston. The ceremony was
performed in the presence of the immediate
relatives and the honeymoon trip will include
Niagara Falls, the Thousand Isles, Lake Cham-
plain and Lake George, after which the couple
will reside in Brookline. Mrs. Ottinger is a
graduate of Smith College. Mr. Ottinger saw
service with the Yankee division in France.
OSBORN CO. INCREASES CAPITAL
At a meeting of the stockholders of the
Samuel C. Osborn Mfg. Co., Chicago musical
instrument maker, an increase of capital stock
was authorized from $250,000 to $1,000,000 for
the purpose of expanding its business. This
new increase in size will make the Osborn Co.
one of the largest houses in the trade.
OLIVER DITSON CO.
T H E O L D E S T AND
tAROEST
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE HOUSE
JN A M E R I C A
UTMDtMCD 1034
Victor Distributors
198
3,072
MumlMtuim
•mpertan and Jvfcbm tt
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
Cleveland Violin and Guitar Teacher Says
Modern Youth Prefer Joy Rides and Jazz
to Real Music, as Shown in the Old Songs
CLEVELAND, O., August 23.—G. C. Urban, seventy-
four, claims to be Cleveland's oldest active musi-
cian. "One person out of every ten studies
music now," he said. "There j s too much going
on to distract attention from music. Young
people prefer to go to parties, movies and
theatres and dances, or take auto rides. All
the new jazz selections can never equal the old
melodies of sixty years ago, such as 'Old Folks
at Home,' 'My Old Kentucky Home' and
others."
Mr. Urban has a studio at 2172 East 105th
street, where he gives music lessons on every
sort of instrument, although most of his
pupils are devoted to the guitar and violin. He
arranges his own music and in some instances
writes the scores used by beginners. He does
not coach his pupils superficially, music with
him being a serious occupation.
He says the jazz music, with its crash of
symbols and other noises, suggests an African
forest with savages dancing. He was a mem-
ber of the R. Papworth band during the 60's
and has played on many notable occasions.
COURTESY WOULD BE APPRECIATED
WASHINGTON, D. C , August 23.—Complaint is
being made by dealers in certain lines of musi-
cal merchandise over the lack of attention given
to correspondence relating, in many instances,
to matters of vital importance. One company in
particular appears to take an incomprehensible
pride in ignoring communications. It seems a
tremendous waste of money for one branch of a
business to spend hundreds of thousands of
dollars in building up a good will for its com-
pany, only to have another department of the
same company do everything possible to get
the ill will of those with whom it is brought in
contact. To many business men there is no
greater breach of courtesy than the ignoring
of communciations.
E. S. HAFSOOS ON WESTERN TRIP
Eric S. Hafsoos, general manager of the
Flanner-Hafsoos Music House, 417 Broadway,
Milwaukee, is on an extended trip through the
West. He will be gone until the first week in
September.
HOWARD WURLITZER SAILS
Howard E. Wurlitzer, of the Rudolph Wur-
litzer Co., sailed last week on the steamship
"Ryndam" of the Holland-American Line for
Rotterdam. He was accompanied by Mrs. Wur-
litzer and her mother and daughter.
NEW VIOLIN ROSIN
A new violin rosin has been introduced to the
trade by the Universal Music String Co., 80
W T alker street, New York City. The new rosin
is known as the Universal violin rosin.
Black Diamond
Strings
THE WORLD'S BEST
AttractlT* Specialties
M o d i r n Service
National Musical String Co.
UTAJBLUHKO 1IM
New Brunswick, N. J.