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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
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Vol. LXXll
NEW YORK. JANUARY 8, 1921
SQ.
No. 2
CONGRESS AND THE TARIFF
T
H E doings in Washington beginning next week will hold much
interest for members of the music industry, as well as business
men generally, for Congress plans to start immediately upon the
consideration of an emergency tariff bill, and the majority of the
music trade are distinctly in favor of a tariff on musical instruments
and parts sufficiently high to prevent the dumping of cheaply made
European goods on the American market to the detriment of home
industries. It is suggested by many that the tariff on musical in-
struments and parts be fixed at 45 per cent ad valorem, and efforts
will be made to have this scale accepted by the national legislators.
During and since the war various branches of musical instru-
ment manufacture have shown unusual development. This growth
in home production is particularly notable in the case of tuning
pins, and in some measure of band instruments. Without an
adequate tariff there is a real danger that these home activities wi.l
be curtailed and that the trade that has been built up to the advan-
tage of domestic manufacturers will go to Europeans and at lower
prices. The tariff question so far as it affects the music industry
is one of protection rather than of revenue.
SUPPLIES AND LOWER PRICES
FACT that is not being forgotten by piano manufacturers,
and one that must not be forgotten by dealers in expecting any
substantial price reductions, is that these reductions will depend in
no small measure upon the prices of supplies, just as the increases
made in piano prices were largely due to supply costs, as well as
to labor.
In any scene of readjustment there must, and will be, co-
operation between the supply man and the manufacturer. The
supply man having to depend upon the raw materials markets, and
being compelled in many instances to order ahead and at top prices
in order to insure a sufficiency of materials, has his own problems
to face in meeting any demand for lower prices from the trade.
He cannot be expected to lop off large amounts at once, but he can
be expected to watch the progress of his business closely and be
A
JANUARY 8, 1921
prepared to give to the manufacturer the benefit of any lower prices
on raw materials he buys. By co-operation between the supply
man and the manufacturer there may be expected some changes
that will prove of benefit to the trade as a whole.
ADVANCEMENT OF MUSIC IN JAPAN
W
ORD comes from Japan that several men proniinen in
musical and music trade circles in the Flowery Kingdom haw
heard of the excellent work being done for the advancement of
music in the United States and are desirous of carrying on sinii.ar
work among the Japanese, not alone for the benefits that accrue
from an appreciation of music itself, but for the trade bettering ts
that are expected to be enjoyed as a result.
It is certain that the advancement of music work has mad; 1
an indelible impression upon Americans, and that the effect of the
propaganda for music, both direct and indirect, has been great and
will be lasting. The members of the British music trade, although
believed to be distinctly conservative, have seen fit to copy the
music advancement program of the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce practically in toto, and have found that the program
has worked out remarkably well in Great Britain.
It is not drawing very strongly upon the imagination to see
this advancement of music work spread throughout the world, and
the credit for this must be given in no small measure to C. M.
Tremaine and those associated with him in originating and carry-
ing out the work in this country.
THE PROPOSED PENNSYLVANIA ASSOCIATION
T
H E many members of the trade who are interested in organiza-
tion work, and who believe in the efficacy of State and local
associations in promoting harmony in the industry and in bettering
business conditions, will learn with regret of the postponement of
the plans for an organization of a State Association in Pennsyl-
vania this month. Lack of interest is given as the reason for the
calling off of the general meeting, and it is to be hoped that ways
and means will be found for bringing the Pennsylvania dealers
together at a later date, when perhaps business and traveling condi-
tions will prove more propitious.
It certainly is not an indication of pessimism to maintain that
the members of the retail music trade would do well to be organized
as solidly as possible during the year in order to act most effectively,
both offensively and defensively. Organization means in practically
every case the observance of some definite form of business stand-
ards, and it is likely that the time is coming when anything
calculated to uphold trade standards will be distinctly valuable.
THE GENERAL MUSIC STORE
T
H E advocates of the general music store in which there*may be
purchased anything of a musical nature from a jew's-harp to
a grand piano, and they are steadily increasing in number, have
apparently had their contentions strongly upheld in the volume of
holiday business done in the small goods departments of music
stores all over the country.
There have come to The Review many reports to the effect
that, although the piano business, and in some cases even the talk-
ing machine business, was hardly up to normal, the demand for
small musical instruments, violins, banjos, ukuleles, etc., surpassed
all previous records. It is hard to give any real reason why this
should be so unless it is the result of increased attention given to
the featuring of such instruments, and a more general appreciation
of their usefulness.
Summing it up, it seems as though the musical merchandise
department, properly conducted, has reached a point where it repre-
sents a real asset to the store—a point where it has an intrinsic,
rather than a merely potential, value, from the cold business point
of view.
THE PROSPERITY THAT LIES AHEAD
R
E P O R T S from all sections of the country indicate that there is al-
ready in evidence a more optimistic view concerning the business
outlook for 1921. The turn of the year has seemingly had a psycho-
logical effect on some of the more timid members of the industry, and
they are gradually beginning to realize that the business of the country
is not heading downward to the bottomless pit as fast as it can go,
and that blue glasses are going out of style. Smile, and work!