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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
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. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-president, Raymond Bill, 373
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t
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EDWARD VAN HAKUNGEN, V. D. WALSH, E. B. MUNCH, LEE ROBINSON, C. R. TICHE,
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D Dion A anil
F'm lallU dllU
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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.
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Vol. LXX1V
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 11, 1922
No. 6
AN ACTION WORTHY OF PRAISE
T
H E action of the creditors of the Behning Piano Co. last week
in agreeing to a plan of reorganization whereby they would re-
ceive preferred stock in the Behning Piano Co. for the amount of
their claims, the business being returned to Henry and Gustave Behn-
ing for operation under the supervision of a creditors' committee,
is a development of much interest to the trade in general, for it
indicates a spirit of reasonableness and justice that is worthy of
high praise and emulation.
As has been pointed out frequently by officials of leading credit
organizations, existing conditions must be taken into consideration
in the handling by creditors of the affairs of companies which have
suffered temporary embarrassment as a result of the general business
situation rather than through any careless or unethical acts of their
own. It not only means in most cases a more substantial return to
the creditors when the affairs are adjusted, but also means the con-
tinuance of a growing business and the stabilization of the trade
itself.
In the case of the Behning Co. such consideration on the part of
the creditors is well deserved, for the Behning name stands high
among the pianos of the country and is the type of instrument for
which a definite appeal has been, and can be, found. The unselfish
efforts of the creditors will assure to the industry the continuance
of a good name and a good product.
Business men in other lines have frequently had occasion to
remark on the stability of the piano industry which, despite the
oft-discussed evils that exist in it—the long terms and the other fac-
tors—manages to keep going steadily through periods of depression.
The number of genuine business embarrassments that have been
reported in the trade is far below the average of other industries
apparently more favorably situated. Action such as that taken in the
Behning case is calculated to maintain the stability and reputation
of the industry and prove thoroughly encouraging not only to manu-
facturers but to dealers.
The latter, by the way, have given their support to the reor-
FEBRUARY 11, 1922
ganization program by manifesting their willingness to order many
thousand dollars' worth of instruments bearing the Behning name
when they are offered as the product of the Behning family. This
move means that the retailers will be able to keep before the public
the Behning name and to realize upon the effort and money they have
spent in advertising that instrument locally during many years in the
past.
• ,
On the whole, the Behning arrangement demonstrates what can
be done, and what should be done, in handling business embarrass-
ments of that sort. It represents a process of building up and con-
serving rather than tearing down.
THE DE FOREEST TOUR STARTS
A S this is being written the coast-to-coast tour of M. V. DeForeest,
^ • p r e s i d e n t of the National Association of Music Merchants,
accompanied by Alex McDonald and Charles Jacob, is actually under
way, the "jump-off" occurring in Chicago on Monday of this week.
details regarding which will be found on another page of The Review.
It is to be expected that the music merchants of the country, and
particularly those sections visited by Mr. DeForeest and his com-
panions, will prove fully alive to the importance of the tour and not
only receive the travelers with proper enthusiasm, but exhibit the
sort of interest that will make for a bigger and better,association and
for a jubilee convention in June that will live up to its title in every
possible manner.
Nothing quite so big as Mr. DeForeest's tour, made on his own
time and at his own expense, has ever before been attempted in the
music industry, and it displays a belief in association benefits on the
part of Mr. DeForeest that should prove an inspiration to those music
merchants who have heretofore been lukewarm to association oppor-
tunities or have neglected them entirely.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Diploma
REVIEW
BUSINESS MEN AND MUSIC
T
H E plan of piano and particularly reproducing piano exploita-
tion, which is of unusual interest, is that which provides for the
appearance of well-known artists with the instruments they are fea-
turing before the various organizations of business men in various
parts of the country. When the members of the Rotary Clubs, the
Kiwanis Clubs, Chambers of Commerce and other business organiza-
tions display enthusiasm when several artists and a reproducing
piano are presented as entertainment and educational features at
their weekly luncheons, then music has won a place among those
whose interest is well worth the having.
During the many months that have passed when business was
somewhat slow the advice to those charged with the selling of
musical instruments was to seek those in a position to buy and
cater particularly to that class rather than waste time on a general
assortment of prospects. In offering demonstrations to the business
men of the country, when they gather together for a business meeting,
those in charge of exploitation work are going right to the people
in a position to buy. It strikes us as an ideal example of efficient
publicity.
A BILL TO REGISTER REMOVALS
T
H E efforts of the piano, talking machine and furniture dealers
of New York, who have passed a bill now before the State Leg-
islature making it obligatory upon moving men to report to the police
all removals of household goods with the name of the householder,
together with both the old and new addresses, should meet with
success, for such registration provides a most direct means of avoid-
ing loss of goods out on instalment contracts. Although the piano
dealers have not suffered greatly through the disappearance of in-
struments out on contract, the furniture and talking machine men
have not been so fortunate and are particularly interested in any
measure that will give them protection.
The plan of having all movers of household goods registered has
for a number of years worked out successfully in various cities of
the country and has unquestionably saved to merchants many hun-
dreds of thousands of dollars, not only in the value of the goods
taken away by careless or dishonest purchasers, but in the expense
of maintaining searchers to trace up such goods. The bill is one of
the sort that imposes no hardship on the honest citizen, while at the
same time serving to discourage the activities of the type whose
ethics are wabbly.