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JULY 26,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1924
Taking the Long View of the Player
Seeing the Piano and the Player-Piano as Complementary Elements of the Same Large Idea, With a Proper
Place for Each and Every Type of Instrument That Time and Experience Has Shown to Be
Practical, Is the One Way in Which to Consider the Industry Properly
imitating him in every possible way. Doubt-
less this is the history of all trades; but it is
a discouraging history, nevertheless.
That which one would like to see done by all
the thinking minds in our industry is indicated
in the first paragraph of this article, where the
duty of a trade journal is being considered.
We should like every manufacturer and every
merchant to be able to do what a trade journal
should, above all others, invariably do; namely,
take the long view and try to see the relations
and inter-relations of the industry as a whole.
The worst mistakes most of us make are mis-
takes which arise from our persistent habit of
looking each at his own little corner of an in-
dustry, and imagining its problems (foreshort-
ened by being held close to the eye until we
can see naught else) to be the problems of the
whole group.
The Long View
At the present time we of the piano and
player-piano business need particularly to learn
to take the long view and to see the problems of
our industry as a whole. It is to be presumed,
as was intimated at the beginning of these para-
graphs, that most piano and player men are in
The music industries have their faults, no the business because they like it and not be-
doubt, but one fault they have not: they are cause they think it holds unsurpassed opportu-
not nurseries for get-rich-quick artists. Those nities for rapid personal gain. It is not a game
whose ideas of business are confined to the con- which makes for quick wealth, but a game to
sideration of means for making the utmost in which men stick because it is fascinating and
personal profit in the shortest time, steer clear they are fascinated by it. There are good prof,-
of the manufacture or selling of musical instru- its in it, very good profits, to those who know
ments. There are both manufacturers and deal- how to earn them, but principally it is that the
ers, unhappily indeed, whose notions of their game itself is a fascinating game. Every sea-
appropriate place in the world are limited by soned piano or player man will agree that this
the narrowest views of personal gain; and the is so.
dealer whose point of view was exposed by
Men who like the game they are in, and stick
a piano salesman in a letter published in The to it because they like it, ought never to be
Review two weeks ago is not wholly unique. afraid of the future, for they ought to have
Yet, on the whole, our trade is an honest and become accustomed long since to taking the
a decent trade, from occupation with which long view and seeing the problems of the in-
men do not commonly amass great fortunes, dustry as a whole. They ought to be able so
but which offer to men of the appropriate ca- to do because they ought to be thoroughly con-
pacity adequate rewards, both financial and vinced that the music industries are going to
social. Piano men, on the whole, are as good live and not to die, and that the piano, in its
a lot of men as the country can produce any- pneumatic shapes especially, will always be that
where.
unsurpassed music bringer for the home, which
it now unquestionably is. Men who believe
"Safe" and Timid
Unfortunately, as in all groups, the policies this—which is the truth—are men who ought
which prevail are, for the mass of group mem- never to be afraid.
What Is This View?
bers, the timid and the "safe" policies. De-
spite the obvious fact that the great material
What, then, is meant by "taking the long
and technical successes are always made by view" and how can one see the problems of the
those who mark out new paths, the tendency industry as a whole? The answer is not diffi-
in general is always to watch carefully the cult and not complex.
trend of things and then to follow slavishly
The long view of our industry, which is the
whatever trend appears to be most marked. one and only correct view, is the view that sees
Thus, to take example from the player-piano the piano and the player-piano as complemen-
business in all its branches, we perceive that tary elements of the same large idea, which sees
its whole development has been markedly re- that there is a place and a proper place for each
tarded by the timidity of the masses of the and every instrument and type of instrument,
manufacturers and the merchants, who have felt for each and every type of music roll and for
that it was all right to share in profits made each and every type of price-level which time
possible by the audacity of path-breakers and and experience have shown to be practical; the
pioneers, but who have had neither inclination view that sees the industry not as a group of
nor ability to do their exploring for themselves. warring elements, but as a body fully equipped
Every step which has been successfully taken with limbs and organs which, despite their di-
during the development of the player-piano, versity of function, are, nevertheless, wholly
technically and commercially, has been taken by interdependent, the view which sees that there
some lone pioneer, who has usually had to fight is but one aim and one duty, which are the aim
the united opposition of a trade which within and the duty of creating a nation-wide distribu-
a very few years afterwards has been strenu- tion of every thing or idea, every instrument
ously endeavoring to make up for lost time by or piece of goods of any kind which contributes
H E business of those who write editori-
ally in trade journals is to set forth those
principles and practices which observa-
tion, experience and the writers' individual way
of looking at things together lead them to be-
lieve best for the interests of the trade they
serve. What they thus consider to be for the
trade's best interests is not always or neces-
sarily that which the common feeling of the
trade may at any time be leading it to say and
do. Merely to follow the procession and to
repeat like a parrot the phrases which happen
for the moment to be popular with manufac-
turers, merchants and their respective subordi-
nates is to destroy the best reason for the ex-
istence of trade papers, which should be neither
mere retailers of gossip nor parasitic flatterers
of trade opinion, but counselors, observers and
friends, offering the best advice and informa-
tion they can discover, but neither irritated nor
disapppointed if what they say is oftentimes
neglected and treated with indifference. If their
counsel be good, it will sooner or later come
into its own; and then, after all, no one need
care about the name of the man or the institu-
tion whence emerged the first suggestion.
T
Highest
Quality
in any way towards increasing the consumption
of music by the American people.
Those who take this view will not say that
the reproducing piano is better than the pedal
player-piano, or not so good. They will not
say that the upright piano is better than the
grand—or worse. They will not fight shy of
radio, or condemn it, any more than they will
abandon their own business to run after it.
They will use it for what it can give them and
no more. They will not fight each other or
destroy their influence with one section of the
community by confining themselves to the pro-
motion of what can only be appreciated or
bought by another section. In a word, they
will work for large ideas, and they will remem-
ber that the business will prosper, for each man
in it, proportionately as it prospers for every
other man. They will, therefore, co-operate,
and will never commit the fatal sin of trying to
gain at the expense of a brother.
That it is to take the long view; and that
also might be given as a fair explanation of
how to see the problems of the industry as a
whole. For those problems are one; and that
one is simply this: "How best can we increase
the consumption of music, not of one kind, but
of every kind, among all the people?" He who
sees these things and makes them his own takes
the long view.
Kranich & Bach Open
Chicago Quarters Aug. 1
New Warerooms in Straus Building, Michigan
Avenue at Jackson, That City, Are Practically
Ready
Word has been received this week at the
executive offices of Kranich & Bach, New York,
from Roger O'Connor, manager of the Chicago
branch of that company, that the final decora-
tions and arrangements in the new warerooms
there are being .completed so that entire
occupancy may take place August 1. The new
quarters in the Straus Building, Michigan avenue
at Jackson, have been fitted up to suit the needs
of Kranich & Bach and are modern in every
respect. Mr. O'Connor writes that he is con-
fident that the Chicago branch is embarking on
the most successful season of its existence, and
has worked out an extensive sales campaign.
Hill Piano Go. Moves
HUNTINGTON, W. VA., July 21.—The Hill Piano
Co. has just removed to new quarters at 921-
923 Fourth avenue and has resumed business at
this address. C. V. Miller, proprietor of the
concern, stated that an increased line of pianos
and phonographs would be made possible in the
new store.
Charles Duerk Go. Chartered
Papers of incorporation have been filed re-
cently for the Charles Duerk Co., which will
handle pianos in New York City. The company,
which has an authorized capital of $10,000, is
composed of the following officers: N. and A.
Brooks and P. S. Benson. J. McLaren, in the
Tribune Building, will act as attorney.
Highest
Quality