Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1921 Vol. 72 N. 18

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
10
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
RENEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Kill, 37i Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
J. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave, New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Kill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York;- Secretary, Edward Lyman Dill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York;
Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAY BILL, B. B. WILSON, BRAID WHITE, Associate Editors
WILSON D. BUSH, Managing Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
L. E. BOWERS, Circulation Manager
Executive and Reportorial Staff
EDWARD VAN HARLINGEN, V. D. WALSH, E. B. MUNCH, C. A. LEONARD, LEE ROBINSON,
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, ScQtT KINGWILL, T.HOS. W. BRESNAHAN, A. J. NICKLIN.
WESTERN DIVISION:
BOSTON OFFICE:
Republic Bldg., 209 So. State St., Chicago.
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone, Wabash 5774.
Telephone, Main 6yS0.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
N E W S SERVICE IS S U P P L I E D WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN T H E LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered at tecond-clatt
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, $6.00 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $150.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency iorms, 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
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.
Player-Piano and
Technical Departments
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma,. ..Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal—Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG
DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—6983 MADISON
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "Elbtll, New York"
Vol. LXXII
NEW YORK, APRIL 30, 1921
APRIL 30,
1921
orders. Piano merchants should realize and capitalize the fact that
the demand for musical merchandise is very active even though the
sales of pianos may have declined somewhat.
Why is this so? The price, for one thing; the steadily growing
market, for another. A small goods sale does not as a general rule
represent a large sum of money, which means a great deal considering
the present state of mind of the buying public. The market for small
instruments has been greatly broadened during the past few years.
The movies have meant more and larger orchestras; industrial mu-
sical organizations have multiplied many-fold; the popularity of the
saxophone and the music of the talking machine have stimulated
kome use of orchestral instruments. It is to be hoped that the piano
merchants at the convention will consider the avenue of profit open
to them in small goods.
A SUGGESTION T O MUSIC CRITICS
I
N suggesting that music critics in their reviews of concerts and
comments on musical subjects generally use language under-
standable to the public at large rather than to the musically educated
few, R. K. Paynter has brought forth a question that is deserving
of special attention in view of the work that is being done in and
out of the trade for the advancement of music and of music appre-
ciation.
Just as the public taste must be elevated by degrees to a jx)int
where there is a real appreciation of the classics, so must the edu-
cation of the public in musical matters, carried on through the
medium of the printed word, be gradual. The individual, even
though he seeks musical education, cannot be expected to maintain
interest in a mass of terms of which he has no comprehension.
It might be well for numerous music critics .to sacrifice their
desire to display their own particular vocabularies to an effort to
express themselves and their opinions in words quite as effective and
more generally understandable. It can be done, even though it may
mean a little extra work for such writers to get away from the habit
of using their own particular sort of language.
SQ.
T H E QUESTION OF INTEREST
No. 18
T H E P R E - C O N V E N T I O N ISSUE
NCE again the annual Pre-Conventibn Issue of The Review
makes its appearance for the purpose of conveying to its readers
complete and detailed information regarding the programs of the
national conventions to be held at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, during
the week of May 9. The Review is distinctly the pioneer in originat-
ing and carrying out the idea of presenting concrete advance informa-
tion regarding convention plans in a special issue prior to the
meeting, thus giving to the trade at one time and in one volume the
programs for the convention proceedings.
This work of The Review has been highly commented upon
by members of the trade in the past, who have realized the effort put
forth in having the information as accurate and complete as possible.
A liberal supply of the PrerConvention Number will be available
at the conventions for the use of those who desire to keep in touch
with what is going on not .only in the matter of the conventions
themselves,^ but- also, in the matter of social affairs, exhibits, etc.
The great importance of the convention sessions this year makes
the advance information of what is going to happen of particular
value.
O
MUSICAL M E R C H A N D I S E IN D E M A N D
T
REVIEW
H E R E is a saying in the musical merchandise division of the
music industry that business is best when times are hardest. No
matter what general business conditions may be the demand for small
instruments goes on steadily and often improves. It is worth the
earnest consideration of the piano dealers assembled in convention
that the present general depression finds the small goods field prac-
tically untouched, with wholesale and retail orders coming in merrily.
Some idea of the importance of musical merchandise may be
giained from the report last month of a band instrument manufacturer
whose books showed nearly three-quarters of a million dollars in
unfilled orders. It is also significant that some of the large New
York wholesalers of musical merchandise are forced to remain open
until ten o'clock at night in an effort to clear away the steady pile of
T
H E decision of the piano merchants of Philadelphia to cancel
their agreement regarding the charging of interest on instal-
ment sales is to be particularly regretted at this time when the general
financial situation is such that the merchant needs greater protec-
tion on the money he has outstanding to keep the balance on the
right side of his ledger.
That one or two concerns were moving to ignore the interest
agreement and to advertise long terms without interest to the public
naturally had the effect of undermining the confidence of competing
dealers in the wisdom of sticking to the interest plan, but it would
seem that with the majority of the reputable houses of the city
insisting upon interest the actual loss of business through such a
demand would have been insignificant.
Of the wisdom, and, in fact, actual necessity, of establishing some
sort of interest charge, open or concealed, on instalment accounts
there is no question, and it is to be hoped that even with the formal
agreement abrogated the majority of Philadelphia merchants will see
fit to continue the charging of interest for their own protection.
OUR
EXPORT
TRADE
OR a number of months we have heard most discouraging re-
ports regarding the falling off of American export business.
We have been told, and quite frequently with truth, that the foreign
demand for American goods, due to difference in exchange and other
reasons, has dropped to an embarrassing degree, and that the music
trade was affected among many other industries. Yet in the face
of all this the Government reports covering domestic exports of
musical instruments during the month of February show some sur-
prising figures. Spain, for instance, took American musical in-
struments to the value of $38,654 during the month, of which $21,-
452 represented player-pianos. During the same month Canada took
$138,000 worth of our musical goods; Mexico, $95,700; Cuba, $59.-
500; Peru, $37,000; Japan, $73,000. and Australia, $237,619, all in
one month, the shortest month in the year.
This grand total of nearly $700,000 worth of musical instru-
ments sent abroad from this country less than two months ago is
impressive and significant and forms a mighty solid foundation on
which to build for the future.
F
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
APRIL 30, 1921
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
11
ASSOCIATION OFFICIALS URGE
I
ATTENDANCE AT CONVENTIONS |
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—
^
•
I
Representatives of the Various Music Trade Bodies Set Forth Their Opinions Con- j
cerning the Importance of the Coming Conventions in Chicago
j
The average member of the music industry need not be an Association fan in order to have a full appreciation of the importance
of attending the trade conventions in Chicago next month, if only to hear what the other fellow has to say about conditions. In order
that there may be no mistake as to the importance of the meetings, or of the matters to be discussed therein. The Review presents herewith
the views of the president of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, and of the officers of various allied Associations, setting forth
why Chicago should prove the Mecca of trade members during the week of May 9.
President Aldcroftt, of the Chamber, sums up the situation to a nicety when he emphasizes the importance of the members of the
industry coming to Chicago imbued with the spirit of organization, and a realization that through the medium of a perfected and func-
tioning organization the industry finds the necessary strength for offensive and defensive operations—a strength so necessary right now
with the tax tight and other matters to engage attention.
In setting forth the chief matters to come up for consideration at the various Association meetings the Association officers
have provided prospective delegates with material for thought, and there is no excuse for Association members coming to Chicago without
some understanding at least of the questions to be brought up for consideration. The papers which follow should l>e read carefully.
Come to the Conventions Imbued With the
Spirit of Organization, Says R. B. Aldcroftt
If I were to send any message to the mem-
bers in the industry for the forthcoming con-
vention, I would especially urge that the mem-
bers attend the convention; first, with the spirit
of organization, and, secondly, with a firm re-
solve to be present at and participate in the
words, we have not taken the position that we
simply want our own tax removed, but we went
further and offered our assistance in presenting
a revenue b.ll which distributes the burden of
taxation among all citizens, as it should be.
This is only possible through effective organ-
ization. All of the members of the industry
should know what we have done and what we
propose to do in the future, and the only way
to intelligently find out about this is to attend
the convention and listen to its officers and
staff making their reports and presenting their
activities in person.
Heretofore our conventions have very largely
consisted of social or business relations. That
is to say, that we attended conventions to meet
the other fellow and have a good time, and in
addition to that to sell merchandise. Of course,
these things are not primarily the object of
conventions and it is now time for the music
industry to take a more serious and settled atti-
tude of mind towards its organization work.
The officers, directors and staff of the Chamber
of Commerce and the constituent organizations
composing it have had their burden of organi-
zation work and now wish to make reports and
bear the comments of the trade upon their
stewardship for the past year. Their reports
concern the vital and important interests of the
whole trade.
The organization is fighting the battles of its
members and building constantly in such a way
that the business of the members is bound to
be vastly benefited.
We particularly urge that the members attend
the opening session of the Chamber on Monday
morning, so that the work of the convention
may be begun before a full and representative
assemblage of its members.
Alfred L. Smith Points Out the Need of Individual
Work for the Benefit of the Entire Industry
Richard B. Aldcroftt
convention sessions and thus derive the bene-
fit which they will surely get in the reports,
speeches and debates which affect their inter-
ests.
There are two outstanding subjects of vital
interest to all members; one of these will be the
reports on the work actually accomplished by
the Chamber of Commerce for the past year,
including the reorganization of the Chamber and
the actual constructive work done, and, second-
ly, the work of the Chamber upon the great tax
fight.
We have labored unremittingly for many
months upon a comprehensive, constructive and
sound tax campaign. We have enlisted the in-
terest of the members of the industry in the
work so that they themselves are aiding in the
campaign. With our association and co-opera-
tion with other trade organizations and tax as-
sociations, we have succeeded in rendering very
material assistance in centering the fight upon
a commodity sales tax. The object of this, of
course, was to furnish a proper tax substitute
measure which would have the effect of elimi-
nating the present oppressive excise tax on
pianos and phonographs and at the same time
providing a way by which adequate revenue
could be raised for the Government. In other
Someone has very aptly said: "The year of
1-921 will reward fighters." This surely applies to
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce as
much as to an individual firm, but if the Cham-
ber is to be a good fighter it must have the thou-
sands of members of the music industry all over
the country cheerfully doing their part as work-
ers.
Xot the least of the reasons why all members
of the music industry should attend the con-
ventions is the opportunity offered to learn how
to become an effective worker for "the ad-
vancement of music and the development and
protection of the music industry."
Unfortunately the difficulty the Chamber has
at times in stirring up the trade to local activi-
ties shows that many members do not realize
the importance of local work. "A chain is no
stronger than its weakest link." Trade asso-
ciations are no more active than the general
run of their membership. To the non-workers
in our industry the conventions will be an in-
spiration to personal responsibility and activity.
There are evidences everywhere that scores,
if not hundreds, of members of the industry
are very anxious to do their part, but are puz-
zled about opportunities and methods. To these
potential workers conventions will be a great
source of education. The active workers will
receive renewed inspiration and new ideas.
I cannot refrain from mentioning especially
the need of more active and intelligent work
by the entire trade in the tax fight, as the elimi-
nation of the present discriminatory and bur-
densome 5 per cent tax—to say nothing of pre-
vention of its increase to the unbearable rate
of 10 per cent—is of the utmost importance to
the trade and can be accomplished only through
persistent and intense work by the industry all
over the country. If for no other reason every
member of the trade should attend the conven-
tion in order to find out how to assist the Cham-
ber to get rid of this terrific drain on the cash
Alfred L. Smith
resources of his business. The elimination of
this tax and the substitution of a just one would
itself almost immediately repay the average
member of the industry for the time and ex-
pense of the trip. Of course, a man who is
willing to "let the other fellow do it" can take
the chance that enough members of the indus-
(Continucd on page 13)

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