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FEBRUARY 6,
1926
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
51
IN THE WORLD OF MUSIC PUBLISHING
Conducted By V. D. Walsh
Richmond in Toronto—A Survey of the
Sheet Music Trade in the Dominion City
Head of the Richmond Music Supply Corp., New York, Makes a Flying Visit to the Sheet Music
Trade Across the Border and Finds That Things Are Booming
T P O R O N T O , CAN., January 30.—The music
*• department of the Nordheimer Piano & Music
Co., Ltd., Canada's oldest music house, estab-
ished in 1840, is indeed pleased with the present
outlook for business.
A. J. Seyler, the man-
ager of the department,
reports a healthy in-
crease during 1925 over
the year previous. He
stated "everything on
t h e horizon l o o k s
good." The most ex-
acting Canadians find
in this institution the
kind of service that is
most pleasing, and they
are truly appreciative
of the opportunity to
select from a limitless
Maurice Richmond
stock of publications
gathered from the old as well as the new
world. For the benefit of those that do
not know Mr. Seyler as I do, he is quite the
reverse from most of us. He knows how to
make a mole out of a mountain. Being in prac-
tice, he does it well, and that's why he hasn't
any wrinkles.
Let me tell you this little incident: A few of
us music men gathered at luncheon at the best
cafeteria in town, which was recommended by
Lou Sekinger, also of Nordheimer's. When the
coffee was over with, Louie suggested that the
remaining thirty minutes of the luncheon hour
be spent at the bowling alleys. The participants
were Holmes Maddock and Lou Sekinger
against A. J. Seyler and yours truly. The first
game was over and I felt my chest line was
swelling up a bit. You might know the result,
but I won't tell you what happened in the sec-
ond game. When that was over, Daddy Seyler
looked at his watch, with the remark: "Well,
boys, the hour is up—we must go back from
refreshment to labor."
Whaley Royce & Co.
Thanks to the Lord, our friend, Holmes Mad-
dock, the chief of all music in the house, is
back on the job with his usual lively athletic
step. He had quite a siege of it, but that's,
past history, and he won't get sick any more,
not even with a pretty nurse beside him. He
is, without a doubt, one of Canada's greatest
boosters. He missed his vocation—he should
be in Ottawa, among the senators and states-
men. To him Canada to-day is a nation whose
business arteries reach two ocean coasts, whose
products go to the people of the seven seas
and, as for everything musical, it is up to the
standard considering its population. An ex-
tremely important message was given to me by
Holmes Maddock on the copyright question, in
which he states as follows:
"Copyright is practically the basis of the
sheet music business. At least, the publisher's
equity in his work is his only by virtue of com-
plying with the law of copyright.
"To my mind, it is doubtful if the rank and
file of the music publishing business of the
United States realize the advantages that accrue
to them through copyrighting their publications
in Canada as well as in the United States.
"By securing a copyright in Canada the pub-
lisher secures a Berne Convention copyright.
This means that the work is protected in Cana-
da, England, Ireland and Scotland, in Africa,
India, Australia, New Zealand and all the coun-
tries and colonies of the British Empire, also
Germany, France, Spain, Italy, Holland, Japan
and several other smaller countries.
"I am sure the large publishers realize the
importance of properly protecting their works.
But it is rather unfortunate that so many of
the smaller publishers, who have just as good
a chance of having hits in the industry, either
are careless or do not understand the pro-
cedure under which they can secure to them-
selves all of the benefits of copyright.
"A great many smaller publishers to-day are
producing hits. They eventually are prevailed
upon to dispose of them to a larger publisher.
The larger publishers will only purchase a com-
position on which copyright exists in other
countries. It is necessary, therefore, that the
smaller publisher should take advantage of
every avenue open to him to protect his com-
position."
Holmes Maddock is a specialist in procuring
copyrights and any information required by
anybody is theirs for the asking by writing
to him.
Wise sayings are only good when acted upon.
Old saws cut no woodpiles. W. 'H. Myhill,
the manager of the musical merchandise depart-
ment of every kind and type, had this much to
say: "Our business showed a decided increase
over the previous year. The demand for vio-
lins is certainly coming back, also American
string instruments, banjos and ukuleles. Banjo-
ukes are selling strong from Halifax to Van-
couver. All over the Dominion our traveler
reports that, on account of large crops, prices
good and less unemployment, business generally
is good. All Canadian stocks, as well as in-
dustrials, are holding up well."
The morning I was in conference with Mr.
Myhill he read me a communication in the form
of an order received from a country musician,
in which the latter stated that in a previous
letter he had been told the best way to limber
up his cornet was to use saliva. In this second
communication the individual stated that he had
tried every drug store and grocery, but they did
not sell saliva.
W. H. Hunter, the treasurer of the company,
has promised himself a holiday. He is consid-
ering a trip to the Mediterranean. He asked
my advice, and I promptly replied: "See Ameri-
ca first." Mr. Hunter pleasantly remarked:
"We are still discounting our bills, and from
the best of my knowledge and belief we are
going to continue." That this firm is operating
on conservative lines can be accepted as a fact,
quite unlike the fellow of modern times who is
operating an eight-cylinder car on a four-cylin-
der income.
Wasn't it nice of Mr. Hunter, in bidding me
farewell, when he said: "As you turn back to
'25, may all its blessings still survive, and '26
add many more, to fill your cup to running
o'er."
Anglo-Canadian Music Co.
Somehow or other I have been unfortunate
on the many trips I have made to this city, for
I have never had the pleasure of meeting Arthur
H. Downing, the manager of this house. This
concern specializes in classic material, church
music, anthems and all British publications. Mr.
Downing has been connected with this firm for
SONGS THAT SELL
—
—
Always (Irving Berlin) (New)
Remember (Irving Berlin)
Then I'll Be Happy
I Never Knew
That Certain Party
In the Middle of the Night
I Wish That I'd Been Satisfied With Mary
I Wonder Where My Baby Is Tonight?
Cecilia
I Wish't I Was in Peoria
Yes, Sir! That's My Baby
Oh, How I Miss You Tonight
The Roses Brought Me You
Venetian Isles (Irving Berlin)
Yearning
Say It Again
My Sweetie Turned Me Down
Don't Wait Too Long (Irving Berlin)
Miami You Owe A Lot To Me
When Autumn Leaves Are Falling
Take This Rose
Tell Me Why You and I Should Be Strangers
Feelin' Kind O' Blue '
The Day That I Met You
I Care For Her and She Cares For Me
—
—
—
—
—
BOOKS THAT SELL
X
—
—
New Universal Dance Folio
No. 10
Special Edition for 1926
Peterson's Ukulele Method
World's Favorite Songs
Tiddle De Ukes
Strum It With Crumit
Irvinj Berlin's Song Gems
from the Musical Comedy Sensation
"THE COCOANUTS"
A Little Bungalow
Florida By the Sea
We Should Care
The Monkey Doodle Doo
Lucky Boy
IRVING BERLIN, Inc.
1607 Broadway, New York
thirty years. He reports business for the year
just ended slightly ahead of last year. The
firm is the sole Canadian agent for Enoch &
Sons, J. B. Cramer & Co., J. H. Larway, Gould
& Bolttler, Ambrose Abbott Edition of anthems
and part songs and the Choir Series of anthems
and part songs, all of London, England, and
are importers for the best-known publishers of
standard material of Great Britain and the
United States. "In a Monastery Garden," vocal
and instrumental, is the best seller in the Lar-
way catalog.
Armand-Greig Music Co.
This business has been operating for two
years as a music jobber for the Dominion of
Canada. Mr. Greig reports the business for the
year just ended "very much better than last."
He stated: "We are now equipped to fill orders
(Continued on page 52)