Music Trade Review

Issue: 1922 Vol. 74 N. 14

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
J. 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 Reportorlal Stall
EDWAXD VAH HAKLINCEN, V. D. WALSH, E. B. MUNCH, LEE ROBINSON, C. R. TIGHE,
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, SCOTT KINGWILL, THOS. W. BRESNAHAN, A. J. NICKLIN
WESTERN DIVISION!
BOSTON OFFICE:
Republic Bldg., 209 So. State St., Chicago.
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Telephone, Main 6950.
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NEWS 8ERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Intend as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at New York, N. Y.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
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REMITTANCE
Lyman Bill Inc
Lyman Bill, Inc.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
anil
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
l l P n a r t n U > n R regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
l l C | l a l UIIclllS a r e 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.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal
Charleston Exposition, 1902
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Pan-American Exposition, 1901
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LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—6983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting: all Departments
Cable Address: "Elblll, New York"
Vol. LXX1V
NEW YORK, APRIL 8, 1922
No. 14
THE COMING CONVENTIONS
H E annual convention of the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce and of the various trade organizations allied with it,
including the National Association of Music Merchants and the
National Piano Manufacturers' Association, is less than two months
off and the time has come for starting work on a program that will
not simply serve to fill up the three or four days of the convention
period, but will prove of sufficient constructive value to enable the
convention delegates to take home with them some thoughts that
will tend to help them meet current business conditions.
The conventions of the past two or three years have been much
different from those of a decade or more ago, and the tendency has
been distinctly toward providing for discussions and the distribution
of information that is of real value, and that gives the manufacturer
and retailer something tangible in return for their investment of time
and money in association work. The end is not yet, however, and
there is need this year for particular thought to the problem of pro-
viding a convention program that will mean something.
The officers of the National Association of Music Merchants
have, first, hit upon the happy slogan, "The Jubilee Convention,"
and they have made a countrywide canvass to arouse interest in the
forthcoming meeting. The big thing now is so to arrange the con-
vention activities that promises will be kept and expectations met.
The work is in the hands of prominent men and the results should
be satisfying.
T
STEADILY IMPROVING CONDITIONS
M
USIC trade travelers who are returning from trips to various
sections of the country are bringing back with them rather
encouraging reports regarding improved conditions—not a complete
reversal from bad business to good, but rather a steady movement
toward a better situation generally.
It must be said the improvement is not in any sense countrywide,
but there are enough sections reporting a better trend due to local
conditions to warrant a certain measure of optimism regarding the
REVIEW
APRIL 8,
1922
business outlook as a whole during the coming months. In the South,
for instance, the farmers are planting their crops at a greatly
reduced cost, both for labor and material, and should even fair
prices prevail at harvest time there promises to be a substantial
amount of money in circulation.
In many industrial centers there has been a distinct picking up.
Iron and steel works in various sections are being reopened, and
although they are now operating below normal the amount of
unemployment is being reduced gradually, but steadily. This, in
itself, is another good sign.
Men who have traveled the country over and who are not
regarded as confirmed optimists bring back with them these
promising reports, which indicate that there is something tangible to
the statements regarding the passing of the peak of the depression.
NEW PATENT LEGISLATION
S
ENATOR LADD, of North Dakota, has introduced a bill into
the Senate designed to limit the life of a patent to five years
where the patentee fails to make use of his invention, and limiting
its life to two years in cases where patentee has sold his patent and
the purchaser has not utilized it.
It is likely that the progress of the I^idd bill will be regarded
with mixed emotion by business men, although it has been advocated
in this country for a long period. The idea, however, is not new and
has been the rule in some European countries for a number of years.
The primary purpose of the new bill is to put a stop to the practice of
individual corporations in buying up patents likely to interfere with
their products, and storing the patents carefully away in vaults for
protection, rather than for use.
It may be that the passage of the bill would work some hardship
on inventors who for one reason or another are unable to put their
patents into use within the prescribed limit of five years, but a far
greater number of inventors would be benefited by having their
patents put into service and realizing some profits from their
ingenuity.
It is claimed, and likely with some authority, that a law pro-
viding for the use of patents by prescribing penalties for their
non-use is calculated to promote business development by causing to
be put on the market new devices and improvements in existing
products that are calculated to benefit the public and arouse its
interest. Meanwhile, the attitude taken by business interests toward
the new Ladd bill will be interesting.
EXPORT TRADE INCREASING
R
EPORTS from a number of piano manufacturers who have
been engaged, more or less successfully, in catering to foreign
markets are to the effect that there has recently been a marked
improvement in the export trade situation, particularly in the demand
for American-made instruments from many South American coun-
tries and from Australia. There is no reason given for this satisfy-
ing change in conditions, but it is likely that the slow but steady
improvement in exchange may have had some effect. One thing
indicated by the export demand, however, is that American-made
instruments have found a definite place in foreign markets, and as
the world's trade gets back on a normal basis we may expect to find
foreign countries taking a very satisfactory proportion of our factory
output. Any development along this line, however, will not come
automatically. The export situation must be studied carefully so
that no opportunity be overlooked.
. • ,
THE TARIFF QUESTION
LTHOUGH the Senate Finance Committee is said to have
agreed on the re-imposition of the duties levied under the
Payne-Aldrich Tariff of 1909, with substantial duties on musical
instruments and parts included for the protection of the industry,
there is no indication that the prolonged argument over the tariff
will be ended in the Senate for a couple of months at least.
The announcement of the action of the Senate Finance Com-
mittee simply brings to mind again the fact that the tariff question
is still a live one, and continues to have its deterring effect upon
business, both domestic and export. The House of Representatives
passed the bill on July 21, 1921, which means that the Senate has
wasted practically a year dilly-dallying while the country is waiting
for a definite decision.
A
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
APRIL 8,
1922
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
COMPLETING ARRANGEMENTS FOR NEW YORK MUSIC WEEK
Third Annual Music Week, to Be Held From April 30 to May 6, Promises to Be the Most Success-
ful Celebration Yet Held—Civic, Economic and Social Leaders Co-operating
There is every prospect at present that New
York's Third Music Week, to be held from April
30 to May 6, will prove the most successful yet
held by a very substantial margin, in view of the
active participation of thiriy-seven special com-
mittees covering different fields under the aus-
pices of the general committee, of which C. M.
Tremaine, director of the National Bureau for the
Advancement of Music, is chairman.
Some of the more important committees this
year and their chairmen are: Actors' Equity
Association, John Emerson, chairman; Artists'
Co-operation, Berthold Neuer, chairman; Boys'
Clubs, Major Edwin W. Dayton, chairman;
Camp Fire Girls, Mrs. Henrietta Baker Low,
chairman; Churches, Rev. Ernest L. Stires, D.D.,
chairman; Synagogues, Rev. Dr. Joseph Silver-
man, chairman; Church Organists, Lynnwood
Farnam, chairman; City Government, Hon. Philip
Berolzheimer, chairman; Colleges and Universi-
ties, Prof. Samuel A. Baldwin, chairman; Concert
Managers, Milton Diamond, chairman; Council
of Jewish Women, Mrs. N. Taylor Phillips, chair-
man; United Neighborhood Houses, Miss Harriet
Righter, chairman; Girl Scouts, Mrs. J. D. Rippin,
honorary chairman; Inter-Racial Council, Felix
M. Warburg, chairman; Motion Picture Houses,
Hugo Riesenfeld, chairman; Music Clubs and
Organizations, Mme. Edna Marione, chairman;
Music Schools and Conservatories, J. Lawrence
Erb, chairman; New York City Federation of
Women's Clubs, Miss M. Louise Mundell, chair-
man; Parochial Schools, Mgr. Joseph Smith,
chairman; Private Schools, Prof. Charles H.
Farnsworth, chairman; Public Schools, Music
Department, George H. Gartlan, chairman; Lec-
ture Bureau, Dr. Ernest L. Crandall, chairman;
Public Welfare, Kenneth Clark, chairman; Salva-
tion Army, Staff Captain George Darby, chair-
man; Y. M. C. A., Walter Diack, chairman.
A proper conception of the extent and quality
of this voluntary co-operation can be had by
reading the newly issued folder of the General
Committee, giving the complete personnel of the
various special committees, or, better still, by
examining the hundreds of replies received to
date from churches, clubs, schools, colleges, etc.,
whose participation in the observance the com-
mittees have helped to secure. The work of
organizing the special committees and supervising
the huge correspondence for which they are re-
sponsible has been in charge of Miss Isabel
Lowden, director of Music Week.
The committee for the co-operation of the city
government includes, besides Mr. Berolzheimer,
Thomas J. Drennan, Fire Commissioner; Richard
E. Enright, Police Commissioner; Francis D.
Gallatin, President, Park Board; Joseph Haag,
Secretary, Board of Estimate; Murray Hulbert,
President, Board of Aldermen; Joseph Johnson,
Commissioner of Public Works; Julius Miller,
Borough President; Anning S- Prall, Tax Com-
missioner; Alfred A. Taylor, Street Cleaning
Commissioner. The participation of the city ad-
ministration along definite and most helpful lines
has already been promised and more detailed
announcement will be made in the near future.
The Music Industries Special Committee is
divided into five parts as follows: Piano Manu-
facturers and Merchants, Theodore E. Steinway,
chairman; Musical Merchandise, S. Buegeleisen,
chairman; Music Publishers, George Fischer,
chairman; Phonograph Dealers, Irwin Kurtz,
chairman, and Phonograph Manufacturers and
Distributors, J. Newcomb Blackmail, chairman.
Ample opportunity will be offered the trade to
participate in Music Week. Beautiful posters
have been prepared for the dealer to display in
his windows during the observance, also folders,
stickers and envelope slips for use in his corre-
spondence. Other suggestions made by the com-
mittee are that the dealers give concerts in their
stores, decorate their windows appropriately and
feature Music Week in their advertising. Nearly
100 replies have already come in from dealers in
New York and the surrounding territory within
a radius of thirty miles, declaring their intention
to associate themselves with the observance in
these ways. More responses are coming in every
day.
The trade all over the country has been quick
to appreciate the business-building value of these
Music Weeks, and in many cities the leading
music merchants have taken an active part in
initiating the movement. Since the National Bu-
reau for the Advancement of Music has started
the Music Week campaign seventy-eight different
cities have held Music Weeks.
C. ALFRED WAGNER NOW A DIRECTOR
General Manager of American Piano Co. Made
a Member of the Board at Annual Meeting
of Stockholders—Well-deserved Recognition
At the annual meeting of the stockholders
of the American Piano Co., held at the offices of
the company in New York last week, C. Alfred
MPMNO^EN
ASerJesty
MARSHALL BREEDEN
P/ANO TRAVELER—LOS ANGELES
2—THE SELF=STARTER
Four or five piano travelers occasionally
find themselves in the same hotel. They
loiter around the lobby swapping lies as
each tries to impress upon the others his
own importance in the piano industry.
This one has a contract requiring only
his signature to become valid which calls
for a thousand dollars every month for five
years. (He says he won't sign it because
he doesn't like the rose stamp the factory
uses.) That one has frequently been im-
portuned—nay, urged—to become vice-pres-
ident in charge of sales at his factory, at a
princely salary. (He is still peddling on
the road because he doesn't like to live in
New York.) Another has just been offered
a 49 per cent partnership in a very large
retail store. (He says he won't accept it
unless he becomes a full 50 per cent part-
ner.)
And so they kid themselves and each
other while another man is working the
territory. This man knows the others, and
to prove it he usually grunts a couple of
grunts by way of greeting when they meet
in the lobby and then he goes right about
his business. He has never been offered
$1,000 a mouth, a vice-presidency or even a
partnership, but he works his job and, con-
sequently, owns his own home, a nice fat
bank account and an automobile, which,
like its owner, is a self-starter.
HISTORY OF MUSIC COMMISSION
C. Alfred Wagner
Wagner, general manager of the company, was
elected to the directorate in recognition of his
ability and services.
Mr. Wagner became connected with the Amer-
ican Piano Co. in 1916, after a number of years
of broad experience in the trade, and was ap-
pointed manager of the Chickering division and
also assistant general- manager of the American
Piano Co. Upon the retirement of J. Harry
Shale as general manager in 1919 Mr. Wagner
succeeded to that post and has shown great
ability in handling the important matters that
have come up and in assisting in the steady
development of the business.
In addition to being general manager of the
American Piano Co., Mr. Wagner is also presi-
dent of the Musical Instrument Sales Co. and
of the Appliance Distributing Corp.
HEFLING MUSIC CO. INCORPORATES
NEW PHILADELPHIA, O., April 3.—The Hefling
Music Co., North Broadway, has been incorpo-
rated for $10,000 at Columbus, officials of the
store announced this week. Incorporators are
G. T. Brister, Arthur Wagner and Joseph H.
Streb, all of, Dover, and Herman C. and Ida May
Hefling, of this city. The store will be greatly
enlarged, according to the new incorporators.
WILLIAM T. BROWN PASSES AWAY
JACKSONVILLE, III., April 3.—William Thomas
Brown, one of the best-known piano men in this
territory, died here following forty-six years of
activity in the piano field. At various times Mr.
Brown was connected with several piano factories,
including the Knahe plant in Baltimore.
Story of the Municipal Body in Dallas, Tex.,
Interestingly Told in Pamphlet
The National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music has just published in pamphlet form a
Short History of the Municipal Music Com-
mission of Dallas, Tex., written by Arthur L.
Kramer, chairman of the Commission, which
has accomplished so much good for the cause of
music in that section.
The Municipal Music Commission, appointed
by Mayor Frank W. Wozencraft, of Dallas, was
the first of its kind in the United States and fol-
lowed suggestions made by C. M. Tremaine,
director of the National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music. Mayor Wozencraft has been
most enthusiastic over the project, and has
given his unstinted support to the commission.
The published story, which is preceded by an
introduction by Mr. Tremaine, is a most inter-
esting one and covers briefly the work accom-
plished by the commission since it was first
established in July, 1919.
WILCOX & WHITE PLANT AT AUCTION
Property of the Bankrupt Company at Meriden,
Conn., to Be Disposed of on April 15
H. W. Davis, trustee of the bankrupt Wilcox
& White Co., Meriden, Conn., announces that the
property of the company will be disposed of at
auction on next Saturday, April 15, for the benefit
of the creditors. It is stated that a number of
valuable patents covering player-pianos will be
offered at the sale, which will be held at the plant.
For some months past the Wilcox & White
plant has been operated under the direction of
the receiver for the purpose of completing and
shipping partly finished instruments.

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