Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
APRIL 30,
1921
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE CHICAGO CONVENTIONS—(Continued from page 5)
this direction the trail of fhe incompetent, or careless, manufacturer
would be shortened materially, and the more substantial members of
the trade saved from that much harmful competition. However,
those things are of the past, and having had the enjoyable experience
of demanding and receiving cash, or the equivalent therefor, for their
product, the supply men should take up with earnestness the ques-
tion of maintaining their credits on a sound conservative basis in the
future, to the safety and profit of their own interests.
After credits conies the question of standardization—a question
just as vital now as when the scarcity and high cost of supplies
brought itself clearly to the fore. If standardization is worthy of
consideration under one condition it is worthy of consideration
under another, and, although an agreeable plan along this line cannot
be expected to revolutionize the industry, it should prove a very
substantial factor in aiding in the work of price readjustment, just
as it would any move that was calculated to reduce production costs.
This matter of standardization has been under consideration for
many months, and it is expected that some definite and practical
plan along this line will be offered at the Chicago meetings.
The question of using American-made supplies exclusively in
American-made pianos will again come up at the convention and
probably lead to some interesting discussions. It is apparent, how-
ever, that if it is really desired to adopt this policy, some strong
arguments will have to be presented to overcome certain advantages
in price, and certain reputations, real or fancied, enjoyed by foreign
products. Perhaps the forthcoming tariff bill may help in the solu-
tion of this problem.
Greater Recognition for the Tuners
One of the Associations to meet in Chicago whose work is
perhaps not receiving the recognition it really deserves is the Na-
tional Association of Piano Tuners. The work being carried on by
this body is of direct, and in fact vital, interest to both manufacturers
and retailers of pianos, for upon the skill and honesty of the tuner
depends in no small measure the impression regarding the instru-
ment that is created in the mind of the prospective buyer or the
ultimate owner. The Tuners' Association has made remarkable
progress during the past year in the matter of extending the organ-
iza'ion through the establishment of branches in various cities. Its
booklet offering suggestions as to the care of the piano is a mighty
valuable piece of trade literature, and retailers should take more
interest than they do at present in seeing that copies of the booklet
are distributed among the public at large.
In inspiring tuners to do better work, and to hold their pro-
fession in higher regard, the Association has been working along
the right line. It has been endeavoring to educate both the trade
and public to the fact that proper tuning should be regarded as a
welcome essential to good music rather than a necessary evil. It
might be well for the members of the Manufacturers' and Mer-
chants' Associations to journey to the LaSalle Hotel during the
course of the week for the purpose of seeing the good work the
Tuners' Association is doing.
To Revive the Music Roll Association
An organization that will require rejuvenating at the Chicago
convention is the National Music Roll Manufacturers' Association.
The music roll men have been faced with problems during the past
year that for a time seemed too stupendous for even an association
to handle, with the result that the body representing that branch of
the industry entered a period of inactivity. In this particular case
the problems of the music roll trade directly affect all the individual
concerns in that trade. Each manufacturer must face the problems
of higher production costs, heavy royalties, and a more or less dor-
mant market, and, although perhaps association meetings might not
bring forth solutions for these several problems, the individual can
at least gain some measure of comfort from talking with his neigh-
bor in the same line.
Moreover, these problems of the music roll men are calculated
to affect the whole trade, for upon the quantity and popularity of
the music rolls offered to the public depends in no small measure
the attractiveness and continued popularity of the player-piano. It
is the attractiveness of the music rolls that makes worth while for
the purchaser the difference in price between the straight piano and
the player.
What Other Associations Will Offer
The conventions of the several other associations, fhose of the
travelers, musical merchandise men, band instrument manufacturers,
organ builders, etc., naturally hold a full measure of interest for
those connected directly or indirectly with the several branches of
the industry. They are part and parcel of the trade, and as such
have a direct bearing upon the success which is enjoyed by the
industry as a whole.
The development of the manufacture of musical merchandise
and band instruments in the United States during and since the war
has lent increased importance to these branches of the industry, and
their problem, as it stands now, is to maintain the prestige they have
won in competition with the products of European manufacture
frequently offered at lower prices. The consideration of a tariff
measure that will give the necessary protection to these particular
divisions of the industry will likely prove one of the features of
that section of the convention.
The Question of Exhibits
There will be no Music Show this year, which fact will pre-
clude a formal general display of the new products of the industry,
Through the letting down of the bars against exhibits in the con-
vention hotel, however, the way has been left open for a sort of
composite music show at the Hotel Drake, and approximately sixty
manufacturers have availed themselves of the opportunity of pre-
senting their lines to the dealers under the same roof with the
convention sessions.
The argument is used, and rightly, that many retailers come
to the convention from the larger cities with the fixed purpose of
getting in touch with the manufacturers and seeing what they have
to offer. The trade will again have the opportunity of seeing how
the hotel exhibit plan works out on a large scale and be able to
judge whether such a system does, or does not, work to the dis-
advantage of the convention sessions proper. Perhaps it is just as
well that if the manufacturers and merchants are agreed on the
desirability of exhibits, such exhibits be held in the convention hotel,
where the dealers are in contact with the business sessions, rather
than at some distant point, making it necessary for the retailer to
leave the convention headquarters for extended periods.
The convention stage is set in Chicago. A practical program
has been drafted, and the next thing in order is accomplishment.
May the record of that accomplishment be great!