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JULY 9,
THE
1921
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Graphite, which is used largely by phonograph
manufacturers, is taken off the free list and given
a rate of 10 per cent.
Minor miscellaneous metal products which at
various times in the past have been imported to
some extent, such as steel springs, will generally
carry a higher rate under the Fordney Bill, the
rate on wire valued higher than 6 cents per pound
being increased from 15 to 20 per cent.
The so-called American valuation provision is of
particular interest to those members of the music
industry who are faced with actual foreign compe-
tition, especially from Germany. This provision
is designed to offset the effects of a depreciated
foreign currency, which is perhaps a greater fac-
tor of strength in German competition at the pres-
ent time than lower real costs of production.
TO WRITE ABOUT MEHLIN PIANO
FEELING EFFECTS OF MUSIC WEEK
Prizes Offered to School Children of Holyoke,
Mass., for Best Composition About Piano to
Be Used in Concert at Local High School
Retail Business in Little Rock Much Stimulated
as a Result of the Music Week Celebration
Held in That City Last Fall •
To incite higher and better musical tastes
among the younger school students Haven W.
Lunn, Holyoke, Mass., is to award three prizes
of $5, $2.50 and $1 for the best composition
written on the subject "The Merits of the Mch-
lin," the piano to be used at the Artists' Class
Concert at the Holyoke High School auditorium
next Monday evening.
The conditions of the contest are: (1) Contest
is open to all eighth and ninth grade and high
school pupils attending the concert. (2) Com-
positions shall not contain more than 350 words.
(3) Name, address and school of each contestant
must be plainly written. (4) Compositions must
be mailed not later than July 29 to H. W. Lunn,
380 High street, who, with two other prominent
citizens, will act as judges. Should there be two
compositions of equal merit prizes will be
awarded both contestants.
The artists' class is composed of Mr. Lunn's
most advanced piano students. They have been
especially coached for this concert by Mr. Lunn
during the last two months and an excellent
program is assured.
The Mehlin piano to be used is a concert
grand sent from the Mehlin factory in West
New York, N. J., for the artists' class. Con-
testants who desire any information regarding
the Mehlin to use in connection with their com-
positions may get literature on the subject at
J. G. Heidner & Son's warerooms, Maple street,
Holyoke, Mass.
That Music Weeks such as those conducted
at Little Rock last Fall under the direction of
Robert Lawrence, of the advisory staff of the
National Bureau for the Advancement of Music
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce,
backed by the Hollenberg and Houck Piano
companies, have a lasting effect upon local
music business is positively testified to by J. F.
Houck, vice-president of the O. K. Houck Piano
Co., of Memphis, Nashville and Little Rock,
and W. P. Hamilton, manager of the Little
Rock store, in letters to C. M. Tremaine, direc-
tor of the Bureau.
"Frankly," writes Mr. Houck, "we did not,
for a while, believe that Mr. Lawrence's work
would have as lasting effect as we had expected,
but subsequent developments have proven that
we were mistaken. Community singing is still
practiced in public gatherings, lodges, business
men's clubs and other places. Generally, the
interest in music is much greater than for-
merly.
"The business of our Little Rock house has
held up much better than that of our Memphis
and Nashville houses, and this we attribute to
a very large extent to the effect of Mr. Law-
rence's work.
"The above is based on our Little Rock man-
ager's reports. He assisted Mr. Lawrence in
some phases of his work and has been con-
stantly in intimate touch with the local situa-
tion."
Mr. Hamilton writes that the Houck com-
pany was "very much pleased" with Mr. Law-
rence's work in Little Rock, and adds:
"The interest in this work has been kept up
remarkably well, we think, and we feel that our
business of to-day is, in part, due to the work
put on here during the Fall and Winter.
"We have had a splendid business here in
our Victor department all the year, and in the
face of present conditions we are going to give
a certain amount of credit to the wonderful
work by Mr. Lawrence here last Fall."
MUSIC INDUSTRY SATISFIED WITH NEW TARIFF BILL
Fordney Bill Contains Most of the Changes Desired by the Various Branches of the Trade—Tariff
on Pianos Unchanged, but Greater Protection Is Afforded Tuning Pins and Wire
In a statement issued this week by the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce it was declared
that most of the changes in the tariff schedules
and rates desired by various branches of the
music industry and as advocated in the brief
presented before the Ways and Means Commit-
tee in January by the Chamber have been incor-
porated in the Fordney Bill introduced in the
House last week.
The brief of the Chamber emphasized particu-
larly the need for increased protection on tuning
pins, music wire and small instruments. While
the request of the Chamber for an increase from
35 per cent to 45 per cent on pianos and all parts
was not complied with the bill carries increased
rates on tuning pins as was requested by the
industry, and by including music wire in the
musical instrument paragraph gives that com-
modity the same protection as other piano parts
instead of 15 per cent, which it would have if in-
cluded under the metal schedules. Cheap violins
and similar instruments receive special protection
by a specific duty of $1.50 each, in addition to the
regular ad valorem rate. All other musical instru-
ments and parts thereof, excepting phonographs,
carry the present rate of 35 per cent.
The 30 per cent rate provided for in the bill on
phonographs, records and parts is a 5 per cent
increase over the present rate.
At present raw ivory is subject to a rate of 20
per cent. The Chamber advocated putting it on
the free list, being, as far as it is known, the only
advocate of such a change appearing at the hear-
ings of the committee.
The free list also contains "discs of soft wax
commonly known as master records or metal
matrices obtained therefrom for use in the manu-
facture of sound records for export purposes."
The Chamber did not advocate any particular
duty for piano felts, stating merely that German
felt has always been a serious competitor and
leaving specific recommendations on the subject
to representatives of the wool industry.
Piano action leather now imported on a 10 per
cent rate has a proposed increase to 15 per cent.
The industry is a large user of imported cabinet
woods, especially mahogany. The proposed rate
is 15 per cent as against the present 10 per cent
rate. The rate on veneers is increased from 15
to 20 per cent.
Paints and varnishes are increased somewhat.
George Christman, of the Christman Piano
Co., New York, left on a three weeks' vacation
Saturday, July 2. He is spending his time on
his farm in Sullivan County, resting up for his
Fall activities.
Have you ever heard
the Ludwig Player?
If not—do so, particularly if you specialize in players.
There's a surprise coming to you if you will play the
Ludwig yourself. You'll wonder how such a perfect
player could exist without your knowing it. There are
only one or two of the costliest players in the Ludwig
class.
We are proving it daily and
can do so to you.
Write.
Ludwig & Co.
Willow Avenue and 136th Street
New York
GOOD PUBLICITY FOR MUSIC WEEK
Frederic J. Haskin, Through Syndicated Stories,
Helps to Arouse General Interest
One of the most effective factors in the dis-
semination of the Music Week idea is Frederic
J. Haskin, of Washington, a special writer who
conducts a sjmdicate of his own with a list of
more than one hundred newspapers.
Following the recent Washington Music
Week celebration, which he witnessed, Mr. Has-
kin sent out a column and a half story about
it, with an interview with Robert Lawrence, of
the advisory staff of the National Bureau for
the Advancement of Music of the Music In-
dustries Chamber of Commerce, who directed
the event.
Clippings of this story are coming in to the
Chamber from all parts of the country, indicat-
ing, at least, a receptive mood on the part of
the newspaper editors. Most of the clippings
thus far received are from towns in which no
Music Week has yet been held. The Chamber
regards the planting of the Music Week germ
in this manner as a long step forward in the
development of the idea.