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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
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 Rcportorial Staff
EDWARD VAN IIARLINGEN, 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.
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone, Wabash 5242-5243.
Telephone, Main 6950.
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NEWS SEKVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at New York, N. Y'.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
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•
ADVERTISEMENTS, $6.00 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $150.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
are 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.
Player-Piano and
Technical Departments
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Diploma
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver. Medal
Charleston Exposition, 1902
Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal—Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—5983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
Cable Address: "Elbill, New York"
Vol. LXX1V
NEW YORK, JANUARY 14, 1922
MAINTAINING ASSOCIATION
T
THE AUTOPIANO CO.'S SPLENDID RECORD
U
NDER ordinary conditions the progressive manufacturer judges
the success of his year's effort by the increase he can show over
the business of the previous year. Ordinary conditions, however,
did not prevail in 1921 and as a consequence the average manufac-
turer measured his success not by the increase over the previous year's
output, but rather by his success in keeping his output as little below
normal as could possibly be done.
In the face of the fact that, according to more or less authorita-
tive figures, the general output of pianos during 1921 was only about
40 per cent of normal, the statement of the Autopiano Co. to the
effect that more Autopianos were made and sold last year than during
1920 is significant.
There is no question but that this record sets a new mark for
piano manufacturers to attempt to equal. It indicates that there was
business to be had if it was gone after properly. Perhaps there are
some other factories that can show a similar record, but they have
not announced the fact. Perhaps, too, the Autopiano dealers have
had some of the business that would have gone to the other fellow
if he had been more aggressive. But the main thing after all is that,
in the face of general conditions and a drop of 50 per cent or more
in piano production throughout the country, one concern was able,
through the standing of its product and aggressive selling methods,
to go over the top most emphatically.
From the standpoint of factory production the record set by
the Autopiano Co. is worthy of study, particularly on the part of
those who are regarding prospective business for 1922 with more or
less concern.
No. 2
INTEREST
H E question of associations in the industry, both local and
national, is one that will be of utmost importance during the
coming year, for upon the success of the efforts of men of vision in
the industry to keep the association spirit active will depend whether
or not the organizations of the industry will hold their own during
the year now before us.
In times of danger the association is a wonderful thing to the
individual manufacturer or merchant. When he finds his interests
in jeopardy, either through local or national legislation, he is .quick
to rally with his fellows as a matter of self-protection and for the
feeling of security such contact gives him. When things are sailing
along smoothly there are too many members of the industry who
figure that membership in an association is a waste of time and
money.
What the industry as a whole can accomplish in the matter of
organized effort has been amply proven during the past few months
in connection with the fight against the continuation of excise taxes,
but with the victory won and no other danger apparent in the imme-
diate offing there has already been evident an inclination to relax
and let association interest lapse.
During the past few years a score or more of local associations
have been organized in various sections of the country. They started
off with a bang and much promise of accomplishment. When the
novelty wore off, however, interest lagged and in numerous cases
efforts to revive organizations on an active basis have been
unsuccessful.
The trade association cannot accomplish the impossible in making
all merchants follow the higher standard of ethics in selling and
advertising or in business practices generally. It cannot be expected
to double automatically the volume of business handled by any one of
its members, but it can be made to represent an important and aggres-
sive factor in the business life of a community. It can be made to
reflect the broad scope and high standing of the industry locally
and prove a means of successful publicity, and most of all it repre-
JANUARY 14, 1922
sents a constant protective alliance that can be developed almost
immediately into a strong force and protest against any sudden
movement inimical to the interests of the industry.
The associations of the music industry, particularly the national
organizations, have proven their value emphatically during the past
year or more, and any letting down of association interests is to be
regarded as a move that is harmful and distinctly in the wrong
direction.
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.
REVIEW
DEVELOPING INTEREST IN MUSIC
T
HE many members of the music industry in this country who
have, during the past few years, taken a more general interest in
things musical because of the realization that the development of
their business depends upon widespread musical appreciation may
find something to think about in the recent action of the Piano
Dealers' Association of Ottawa, Canada, which has come out strongly
in favor of the erection of a Temple of Music in that city.
The piano men have not confined themselves to the passing of
resolutions advocating the erection of such a Temple, but have set
to work to enlist the co-operation of the other interests of the city,
particularly clubs and other organizations, in the project and have
placed the matter before the city officials in a way that is calculated
to demand attention and produce results.
The music merchant of to-day is in many respects different from
his fellow of a decade or more ago, for he realizes that his work lies
not alone in selling a musical instrument of some sort, but in aiding
in the development of musical appreciation with the idea of creating
a demand for his products. Advocating a Temple of Music, for
instance, brings the Ottawa piano men strongly to the fore and there
are many similar movements that can be sponsored by music mer-
chants in other cities that will serve to bring themselves and their
business into the limelight and as a natural result will greatly in-
crease sales.
THE PASSING OF ALFRED DOLGE
T
HE death of Alfred Dolge in Milan, Italy, last week is a matter
of deepest regret to the members of the music industry of Amer-
ica, for it marks the passing of one of the outstanding figures of the
piano trade, who in his prime was a dominating factor in trade
activities. It was Mr. Dolge who realized many of the possibilities
for development that center in the piano business and developed his
ideas along that line into real accomplishments. He possessed an
intimate knowledge of the industry in all its phases, and although
not actively connected with it recently, his passing leaves a gap that
cannot readily be filled. He was a piano man of the old school
with new school ideas.