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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
RLVFW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
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RAY BILL, B. B. WILSON, BRAID WHITE, Associate Editors
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P P i a n A anil
"lldllU allU
I W h n f r a l IW»nartmpntC
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
I C l l l U l l a l V C f f a l UIIClllS
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.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
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Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal. . . . Charleston Exposition, 1902
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Gold Medal
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LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982—5983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
Cable Address: "Elbill, New York"
Vol. LXXV
NEW YORK, JULY 8, 1922
No. 2
SIGNS OF RETURNING CONFIDENCE
T
H E announcement made by several piano manufacturers in Chi-
cago that they plan to run their plants at full capacity throughout
the Summer in order to meet current and prospective demands, and
reports from manufacturers in other sections of an increasing volume
of orders, including a number of orders for Fall delivery, may be
accepted as proof of the turning of the business tide as it affects the
piano trade.
The plans of the manufacturers for maintaining an increasing
production are based not merely upon optimism, but upon orders in
hand and actually in prospect. It means that retailers in many sec-
tions are finding sales more plentiful and are recovering their con-
fidence in the immediate future of the business in which they are
engaged. All signs for Fall and Winter business are most encouraging
and, barring the unexpected, the results should be most satisfactory.
THE COAL STRIKE SITUATION
T
H E efforts of President Harding to bring together the repre-
sentatives of the coal mine operators and the coal miners for the
purpose of discussing ways and means for ending the coal strike have
the hearty indorsement of business men generally, who have come
to realize that the continued idleness at the mines and the steady
inroads into none too substantial coal reserves threaten to put the
brakes on the business development expected in the Fall and perhaps
may lead to genuine suffering.
The hint thrown out in connection with the call to the confer-
ence of drastic governmental action unless some early solution was
found for the difficulties of the miners and the operators is expected
to have an excellent effect in developing a conciliatory attitude on
the part of the warring interests.
There is no question that public opinion, while perhaps not
taking definite sides in the controversy, is nevertheless becoming
strongly antagonistic to those strikes that cause loss and suffering to
practically the entire population of the country because of disagree-
ments between minorities. The threatened strike of the railroad
shopmen is a case in point, and it is not difficult to foresee the time
REVIEW
JULY
8, 1922
when strong governmental action will be demanded, not as a last
resort but as a preventive measure.
Such action on the part of the Government can only be effective
when ways are found through legislation or by other means to force
respect for government and for the decisions in labor controversies.
Simply to use Federal agencies as clubs for the benefit of one side
or another in controversies, as has been done in the past, does not
answer the problem. Where the public welfare as a whole is con-
cerned means must be found for forcing the minority to give heed
to reason, whether that minority be made up of employers or em-
ployees.
THE SCHOOL FOR PIANO SALESMEN
U
NUSUAL interest attaches to the announcement of the formu-
lation of plans by the New York Piano Merchants' Association
for a school for piano salesmen to be opened in New York in Sep-
tember, with a course covering two weeks.
There has been for some time past considerable discussion re-
garding the desirability of some organized course of instruction for
piano salesmen to make them familiar with the latest developments
in selling methods, and the New York Association deserves credit
for taking the initiative and going ahead with the experiment.
Although new in the piano trade, the idea of schools for sales-
men has been tried out most successfully in other lines of industry,
particularly in the talking machine field, where excellent results have
been obtained. There are those of the old school who claim that
piano salesmen are born and not made and that the best instruction
is that obtained through actual experience on the floor and out in
the field. The fact must not be overlooked, however, that in the
selling of pianos throughout the country there has been accumulated
in the aggregate a vast amount of practical experience which under
ordinary circumstances is not available for the individual salesman.
Through the medium of the school he can receive instruction and
suggestions based upon the experience of those who have won
success.
The committee in charge of the plans for the school, of which
George A. Scofield is president, have gone about the work in a sys-
tematic manner and have arranged for a course that, when all details
are completed, will be most thorough and practical.
The subjects already suggested appear elsewhere in The
Review this week and give an excellent idea of the thought that has
been given to preparing a course that will be of genuine value. Cer-
tainly the experiment will be watched with unusual interest by piano
men all over the country, and it is to be hoped that its success will be
commensurate with the thought and the effort that is being put
into it.
PRACTICAL MUSIC ADVANCEMENT WORK
"To any child whose parents are unable to pay for music
lessons we offer one music lesson a week free and the use
of the piano in our studio to practice upon as our little help
and contribution to the cause of music."
This is the very plain and direct offer made by the DuBarry Piano
Co., of Seattle, Wash., in connection with the distribution by that
company of a number of interesting little booklets issued by the
National Bureau for the Advancement of Music. Regardless of how
many children take advantage of the offer, the fact that it is made
in good faith reflects a spirit on the part of the company that might
well be emulated in other quarters by music merchants who see in
the development of appreciation of music in children the real hope
for future business.
MONEY NOW MORE PLENTIFUL
F
ROM various cities of the country come reports of a notable
improvement in collections which has a significant bearing on
general business during the months to come. The willingness and
ability of instalment purchasers not only to keep up with current
obligations, but to catch up on lapsed payments, indicates a substantial
improvement in industrial conditions, sufficiently strong and perma-
nent to put thousands of workers again on their feet financially.
Improved collections are not only gratifying to the music mer-
chants who profit to the extent of having their accounts cleaned up,
but also to those who, being on the lookout for new business, find
consolation in the proof of more money being available. It speaks
well for future prospects.