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Music Trade Review

Issue: 1921 Vol. 72 N. 21

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
T. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Secretary, Edward Lyman Bill, 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, SCOTT KINGWILL, THOS. W. BRESNAHAN, A. J. NICKLIN.
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Vol. LXXII
NEW YORK, MAY 21, 1921
No. 21
THE TAX FIGHT BEGINS
T
HE tax fight in Washington began in real earnest with the
opening of the hearings on the revised Revenue Bill before the
Senate Finance Committee on last Friday. At the very opening of
the hearing it was quite apparent that the opponents of the com-
modity sales tax are numerous and, likewise, that there are some
among the Senators who are not favorably inclined toward lifting
the excise tax from musical instruments. In view of these circum-
stances, it is not sufficient that the industry rest secure in the thought
that they have a direct representative in Washington, in the person
of George W. Pound, general counsel of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, but they must back up that representative
and his work by taking up the tax question direct with their respective
Senators.
I It is no time for idle speculation or for indulging in a false
sense of security, for the opposition must be met and met firmly.
On the very first day of the Senate hearing Senator Penrose was
quoted as saying that he "would like to destroy every piano in the
country." It is hard to believe that even the strongest opponent to
the lifting of the excise tax on pianos, gifted with ordinary intelli-
gence, would make such a statement and, lacking verification, it is
to be hoped and assumed that the Senator was misquoted. The fact
remains, however, that it is not going to be plain sailing by any
means, and the industry has a chance to make its unity felt in fight-
ing for its right to existence.
A SPLENDID CONVENTION ABLY HANDLED
I
N the handling of the convention the members of the Chicago trade,
particularly of the Chicago Piano Club, have set a mark that
will probably remain untouched for many years to come, owing to
the fact that in probably no other city in the country just now could
facilities be found for the handling and entertainment of the conven-
tion crowd in such elaborate fashion. The Drake Hotel is an im-
tnense structure and, inasmuch as practically all its space and all
its facilities were turned over to the music men for the week, there
. _
MAY
21, 1921
was found no difficulty in handling the parties of from 500 to 1,500
that gathered for the various events. Everything was under one
roof, and there were a number of those attending the conventions
who had no occasion to go outdoors for two or three days.
To Matt Kennedy, president of the Chicago Piano Club, and
to James T. Bristol and his co-workers are due the thanks of the
trade, for these men practically gave up business for several weeks
in order to plan the big things that were put over without a hitch.
These Chicago Piano Club men succeeded admirably in hooking up
the art of music with the trade. Such people as Harold McCormick,
patron of the Chicago Opera; Mary Garden, the directoress of that
organization; the young ladies of the Junior League, and a score of
stars of the musical comedy and vaudeville stage patronized the
various assemblies and spoke or otherwise entertained.
There were at first some doubts about guaranteeing the presence
of 300 at the daily luncheons, but as a matter of fact the attendance
on each of the four days approximated the 500 mark, and each day
there was a new surprise offered for the entertainment of the visitors.
From the time the out-of-town delegates were met at the stations by
Piano Club members until the great Midnight Frolic which wound
up the convention activities on Thursday night, something had been
provided for every leisure moment. There was not a hitch in the
entire program, not a promise unfulfilled. New York, in handling
next year's convention, has a high mark to aim at and will have to
start right away.
THE FOREIGN TRADE SITUATION
T
H E falling off of foreign trade is causing considerable concern
to manufacturers throughout the country and, at the recent
annual convention of the National Foreign Council, the recom-
mendation that an independent Government bureau for the extension
of foreign trade be created was emphasized by the leading speakers
—that is, a department which would function independently of the
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce which now exists.
Such an instrument for the intelligent development of foreign trade
now exists in Great Britain, and it has been found most effective.
The settlement of the reparations matter on the part of Germany
is undoubtedly the first step toward restoring normal conditions in
foreign trade. If the agreement signed recently by Germany is car-
ried out, or if there is shown an honest determination in this direc-
tion, the result must be most beneficial to the trade of the whole
world. And this includes Germany itself, because until that country
gets its economic house in order uncertainty must prevail regarding
the interchange of trade.
The changed condition is already most favorably evidenced in the
increased value of the monetary units of France and Great Britain,
and the value of the German mark is already rising—proof that
Germany's attitude in assuming its responsibilities and endeavoring
to meet them in a businesslike way is having a favorable effect on all
concerned.
A N E W PHASE OF MUSIC ADVANCEMENT
of course, designed primarily to advertise the
A LTHOUGH,
Ampico, the fact remains that the wonderful motion picture,
"Immortalized," presented for the first time officially in Chicago
during the convention by the American Piano Co., is of direct interest
to the trade at large as marking a new development in music advance-
ment work, while bringing to the attention of the general public not
only the wonders of the reproducing piano, but also the personalities
of famous artists, such as Godowsky, Ornstein, Zimbalist, Gluck,
Rachmaninoff and others.
The general character of the film has been described in the news
columns, but a study of the picture, which is really a complete photo-
play, leads to the belief that there is room for more work of this
kind. It is true that the cost runs into many thousands of dollars,
but it would seem that there is room in the trade for co-operative
effort in producing and presenting other film dramas concerning
music. Certainly if one company can conceive and bring forth such
a masterpiece, there are combined interests in the trade that might
attempt something similar on even a larger scale.
The American Piano Co., in the presentation of "Immortal-
ized," has done something more than simply offer a clever piece of
publicity. It has opened a new and, it is safe to say, heretofore
unused channel for music advancement work, one which should be
prolific in results.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY
21, 1921
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
GEORGE W. POUND URGES ADOPTION OF SALES TAX PLAN
WHAT THE TUNERS DID LAST YEAR
General Counsel of Music Industries Chamber of Commerce Makes Strong Plea at Hearing Be-
fore Senate Finance Committee—Labor and Agricultural Interests Oppose Plan
Interesting Report of the Accomplishments of
the National Association of Piano Tuners
WASHINGTON, D. C, May 16.—At the hearing on
the proposed sales tax, which was resumed on
Friday by the Senate Finance Committee,
George W. Pound, general counsel of the Mu-
sic Industries Chamber of Commerce, presented
a strong plea in behalf of this measure along
the lines now well known in the industry, and
which is set forth substantially in the little
booklet issued by the Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Pound pointed out that the sales tax had
practically the unanimous approval of the ex-
tensive membership of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce and the industry as a
whole.
The hearings resulted in a spirited debate in
support and opposition to the tax. Senator Pen-
rose, chairman of the Finance Committee, left
an impression of an unsympathetic attitude to-
ward music and pianos in particular. The chief
point at issue was whether the tax would be
passed on to the ultimate consumer.
Senator Smoot, Republican, of Utah, author
of the sales tax plan, contended that the tax
would be passed on in the vast majority of the
cases, while other Senators and witnesses argued
that it would not, but would become a tax on
capital of business.
The tax plan was attacked as unsound by H.
C. McKenzie, Walton, N. Y., representing the
American Farm Bureau Federation, which, Mr.
McKenzie said, represented "roughly" about
5,000,000 persons. He contended that the in-
come surtaxes were not passed on to consumers
and questioned advisability of their repeal.
Guy Cox, representing the Boston Chamber
of Commerce, and C. F. Bacon, of a Boston de-
partment store, adrvocated the sales tax. Mr. Cox
said his chamber had voted overwhelmingly in
its favor. Mr. Bacon said that the sales tax
would afford merchants an exact tax, while the
excess profits tax left them in doubt regarding
their obligations.
Briefly summarized, it may be stated that the
situation here on the topic of war revenue legis-
lation is chaotic and undecisive. There is a
strong sentiment among the agricultural and
labor interests against it. On the other hand,
the business men and communities are very
strongly for it. The vast majority of the busi-
At the annual convention of the National As-
sociation of Piano Tuners held in Chicago last
week the accomplishments of that organization
during the past year were summed up in the
following paragraph:
!
The developments of the past year have been
the greatest in the history of the organization;
eleven new divisions have been organized, with
an increase of 100 per cent in membership. The
new ' divisions are as follows: Grand Rapids,
Mich.; Detroit, Indianapolis, St. Paul, Minne-
apolis, Omaha, Kansas City, St. Louis, Colum-
bus, Providence, R. I., and Rochester, N. Y.,
which is all very gratifying, but the most signifi-
cant and important progress made during the
past year is the great amount of propaganda or
advertising matter put into circulation dealing
with the nature and care of the piano and the
need for regular twice-a-year tuning. One hun-
dred and fifty thousand pamphlets have been dis-
tributed to the public by the tuners in the vari-
ous parts of the country. Together with this,
there has been quite a large amount of "Care of
the Piano" literature distributed by the Manu-
facturers' and Merchants' Associations and many
individual piano concerns, the most notable of
which is the display ad of the Gulbransen-Dick-
inson Co. in the Saturday Evening Post and
thirteen farm journals, the pamphlet on the
nature and care of the piano by the New York
Piano Merchants' Association, the page ad on
tuning in the new booklet issued to dealers and
owners throughout the country by the Standard
Pneumatic Action Co., and many others. An-
other very gratifying aspect of the work is the
recognition or preference given the Association
tuner by the general public, and it is now a well-
established fact that the Association emblem
or trade-mark transcends all other recommenda-
tions and is recognized and accepted by the
great piano-owning public as positive proof of
the tuner's ability without any further question.
3 Great Pianos
With 3 sounding boards
in each (Patented) nave the
greatest talking points in
the trade.
ness men's associations heard here have been
in favor of the sales tax. The difficulty is in the
House. It is generally believed that the Senate
would favor a sales tax if it thought the bill
could go through the House. Meanwhile the
sales tax idea continues to grow in favor with
converts being recorded all the time. It may
be, however, that the time is too short to edu-
cate the opponents of the measure to a sense
of its righteousness.
Senator Smoot thinks that if the sales tax
plan does not pass now it will ultimately. Any-
way, Col. Pound and the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce have carried on a strong edu-
cational campaign. A hard and good fight has
been put up, and the music industry and its
needs and the unfairness of taxing musical in-
struments unjustly had been put well before the
public and Congress. Col. Pound is on the spot
and is watching developments very carefully.
It is safe to say that nothing will be left undone
on his part to meet, with his usual diplomatic
skill, all emergencies as they arise.
NEW OFFICERS OF AMPICO SOCIETY
H. E. Weisert, of Chicago, Named as Head of
Organization for Coming Year
At the second session of the annual conven-
tion of the Ampico Art Society, held at the
Drake Hotel on Friday of last week, the first
session being reported in the convention num-
ber of The Review, the following officers were
elected for the coming year: President, H. E.
Weisert, Bissell-Weisert Co., Chicago; first vice-
president, Robert O. Foster, Foster & Waldo,
Minneapolis; second vice-president, Robert N.
Watkin, the Will A. Watkin Co., Dallas, Tex.;
third 1 vice-president, Harry Wunderlich, Wun-
derlich Piano Co., Kansas City, Mo.; secretary,
W. W. Smith, J. W. Greene Co., Toledo, O.;
and treasurer, Wm. C. Hamilton, S. Hamilton
Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., and directors, E. P. Andrew,
J. H. Hudson Co., Detroit; J. T. Fitzgerald,
Fitzgerald Music Co., Los Angeles, Cal.; Mor-
ris R. Lamb, John Wanamaker, New York, and
John T. Ditzell, Famous & Barr Co., St. Louis.
Grievance Committee, John T. Ditzell, chair-
man; Allowance Committee, M. R. Lamb, and
Membership Committee, C. M. Kesselman. •
NEW OUARTERS FOR MUSIC STORE
Hooper's Music Store, of Oil City, Pa., has an-
nounced its removal from 13 Main street, that
city, to 25 Main street, where it occupies one
large floor and basement. The steady growth of
the business was responsible for the change
of location. This house carries a full line of the
noted Emerson and Lindeman pianos and one
of the largest stocks of sheet music and musical
instruments in that section of the State. Open-
ing day, Saturday, May 14, was celebrated by
the store with a musical program by the Lyric
Orchestra, of Oil City, and piano, vocal and vio-
lin recitals.
HOLD SUCCESSFUL MUSIC WEEK
GREAT FALLS, MONT., May 16.—Barbour's Music
We fix " o n e p r i c e d -
wholesale and retail.
The Heppe Piano Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
House, of this city, has just completed a highly
successful music week. It was the second event
of the kind this year, the first having been held
a year ago. The music week succeeded in arous-
ing great interest among the residents of Great
Falls and Barbour's Music House thinks that it
is going to do much for the advancement of
music in that territory.
Maurice D. Manning, of Charlotte, N. C, has
become manager of the Stieff piano store, at
Lancaster, Pa., 109 East King street, Lancaster,
Pa. Mr. Manning has been connected with the
Stieff company for a number of years.
OTTO HEINEMAN RETURNS
Otto Heineman, president of the General
Phonograph Corp., returned to New York Satur-
day, after visiting Okeh jobbers as far West as
Omaha. Mr. Heineman states that business con-
ditions throughout the West are steadily im-
proving and that the jobbers expressed optimism
and confidence in their predictions for the fu-
ture. Okeh records are increasing in popularity
in all sections of the country, and Mr. Heine-
man was gratified to find that the Okeh jobber
organization was co-operating with the dealers
to splendid advantage.
MUSIC STORE FOR LONG BRANCH
Robert A. Tusting, of Asbury Park, N. J., will
shortly open a piano and music shop in Long
Branch, N. J., the date of opening being con-
tingent upon the completion of alterations being
made to the former National Hotel in the latter
city, the first floor of which will be remodeled
into a store for Mr. Tusting's business.
PROMPT ACTION SAVES ORGAN PLANT
The Hook & Hastings organ factory of Ken-
dal Green, Waltham, Mass., was recently saved
from probable destruction by fire by the pres-
ence of mind of Carrol Berry, an employe, who
discovered a blaze in a highly inflammable part
of the structure and extinguished it single-
handed.
Max Levian, sales manager of Weser Bros.,
524 West Forty-third street, New York, was
compelled to return to his home in New York
while attending the convention in Chicago and
has been confined to the house with a very severe
case of grip.

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