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JANUARY 28,
1922
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
9
The Usual Monthly Discourse by the Editor of the Player Sec-
tion, Who Takes This Opportunity of Working Off His Personal
Views on Various Topics of General Pertinence and Interest
Morton and Players
We learned with regret, contempered by hope,
that F. E. Morton was leaving the American
Steel & Wire Co. The hope was that he would
find some way to his liking of staying in the
piano field. He has. The little Miessner piano
is to claim his attention and it will be from
now on the Jackson & Morton Piano Co. of Mil-
waukee. But, now that F. E. M. has taken up
in seriousness the practical production of pianos,
will it be too much to hope that he will apply his
talents seriously to the player-piano problem.
During the famous technical conferences which
we all enjoyed so much, both in their original
Chicago home and in the place of their later
transplantation for a season—New York—
everything under the sun was discussed at great
and detailed length; everything, that is, save the
pneumatic branches of the music industries. These
were just touched on, and it was always a matter
of regret that the technicians never got around
to these important subjects. Perhaps their Chair-
man thought there was not time for anything
more; and doubtless he was right. On the other
hand, now that he is able to develop his ideas
for his own private benefit, to the general and
succeeding use and benefit of the whole industry,
we do sincerely hope that he will put to practical
use some of those interesting, valuable and pri-
vate pneumatic data which we feel quite sure he
has tucked somewhere up his sleeve The en-
trance of F. E. Morton into piano manufacturing
is. to our mind, just as interesting for the player-
piano industry as for any other branch of the
associated music trades.
Let's Discuss It
It is not too early to begin thinking of the
annual meeting of the music industries, which will
be held in New York in June, only a few months
hence. Already we hear that the Chicago Piano
Club is making its arrangements to run a special
train from Chicago to New York. When that
sort of work is starting up it is evidently time
to think about programs. Now, last year one
of the features of the meeting of the National
Association of Music Merchants was the reading
of some papers upon the future of the player-
piano. One of these dealt with the standard
player-piano and attempted to forecast its future.
Another dealt with the reproducing piano and
with other instruments of the same general in-
tent. The two points of view, as presented to
the meeting, had all the features of a debate,
since they took virtually diametric opposites on
the question of the player industry's future de-
velopment. It was the general opinion at the
time, of those who listened to the papers, that
the music merchants were more acutely inter-
ested in this discussion than in almost anything
else which was presented to them. And naturally
enough; for questions like these present them-
selves daily to every wide-awake music merchant
in the land. Which is the better one to tie to?
And why? Or are both to develop alongside
each other? And if so how and why? Questions
like these are immensely important at this time,
and now that the conventions are approaching
again we are tempted to suggest that the pro-
gram committees of the Manufacturers' and of
the Merchants' Associations should organize a
general discussion, in the form of a debate, or,
still better, in that of a conference, led by recog-
nized experts. If two opposed views could be
forcefully presented by men who knew what
they were talking about, and if then some general
discussion could be had by the assembled dele-
gates, it should seem that much good must come
out of the proceedings. Everything no doubt
would depend upon the man in the chair. But
even so, would it not be a splendid and fruitful
occasion?
One Every Minute
It has been said that there is a sucker born
every minute, and one has but to observe the
announcements in the various newspapers and
to receive the circulars sent out regarding the
development of new "inventions," mines, etc., to
realize that the class of Wallingfords have great
faith in the saying regarding suckers and appar-
ently have reason for the faith. There have been
several instances brought to our attention re-
cently which would seem to indicate that the
music industry is not free from those who seek
to separate the easy, mark from his money by
offering him fabulous profits on things still in
an embryonic state During the past few months
there has been issued by various concerns most
alluring literature regarding the enormous profit
'that can be made in the manufacturing of this
or that device for the production of music or
for the improvement of present production meth-
ods.
We read of new methods of music roll
manufacture that promise to make the individual
wealthy simply through the medium of a few
that South Sea
Isle,
Seems I hear you a l l - i n g
hours spent at home in cutting and duplicating
rolls, and of other things that will enable the
man without experience to go into the music field
and simply clean up. Most of the literature has
the plain stamp of the stock jobber and contains
all the generalities and none of the details con-
nected with the proposition that is being offered.
It might be well for those who seek new avenues
for business development in the music industry
to investigate carefully every detail of any prop-
osition offered by someone not already known in
the industry. The proposition may be legitimate
and highly desirable, but it is better to learn of
the facts of the case before, rather than after,
investing.
Exclusiveness as a Policy
A representative of this paper has recently
been looking over the new Cecilian player action
of Bush & Lane and was much interested in the
present development of the product. Which leads
us to the observation that there is apparent a
tendency to stereotype player mechanism. Now,
with all respect to the great houses which have
refined player action practice to its present fool-
proof, musically efficient condition, we should be
very sorry indeed to see the last of exclusive
player mechanism, made by one house for its
own line and for no other. Doubtless so long
as Gulbransen, Schulz, Cecilian, Cable, Kimball,
Bay, etc., are names to conjure with, we shall
be spared the sight of triumphant standardiza-
tion. True, this very standardization, of con-
struction rather than of commercial identity or
merger, would have many advantages. In many
ways it would be a good thing if all player ac-
tions were as much alike as piano actions are—
in design if in nothing else. But in more ways
it would be a great disadvantage to the trade.
Exclusiveness may be, and perhaps is, not so
money-saving a policy as standardizing to other
folk's measurements; but when exclusiveness as
a policy in the player trade is wholly gone then
the trade will stagnate. For only by pressure of
competing ideas can the march of invention be
carried on. The great wholesale makers have
nothing to fear from the competition of those
who prefer to paddle their own canoes; but it is
;i good thing for them, and for everybody else,
that the competition does exist.
Kern's Music Shop, of Chillicothe, O., has
been purchased by Carl Snyder, former man-
ager of the establishment.
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