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The Music Trade Review
Radio Production Given
as $191,848,665 for 1927
Despite Decrease in Number of Receivers and
Tubes Made During Two-Year Period Value
of Products Shows Gain From 1925
WASHINGTON, D. C, December 11.—Preliminary
figures covering radio and accessories compiled
with the biennial census^of manufacturers dur-
ing 1927 and just released by the United States
Department of Commerce show that radio
manufacturers produced radio apparatus and
tubes aggregating $191,848,665 in 1927, an in-
crease of 8.4 per cent over the production of
1925. In 1927 1,928,192 tube-type receiving sets
were produced, a decrease of 19.1 per cent from
1925, but an increase in value as the sets were
valued at $94,050,031 as compared with a value
of $93,356,546 for the 2,385,790 receivers pro-
duced in 1925.
The complete table of statistics for 1927 and
1925 is herewith presented:
1927
Aggregate value
$191,848,665
Radio apparatus: Total value $174,802,051
Loud speakers—
Number
2,446,264
Value
$18,868,849
Head s e t s -
Number
267,349
Value
$316,726
Receiving sets—
4-tube and s m a l l e r -
Number
30,962
Value
$613,715
5-tube and l a r g e r -
Number
1,907,230
Value
$93,436,316
Transmitting set, value
$2,233,483
Transformers—
Number
'.
4,093,160
Value
$5,446,550
Rheostats-
Number
2,327,275
Value
$1,420,780
Socket-power d e v i c e s -
Number
1,405,191
Value
$23,357,814
Miscellaneous parts, value . . . .
$29,107,818
Radio tubes, value
$17,046,614
Krakauer Executive Predicts Bright
Future Ahead for Piano Merchants
After Careful Analysis of Fundamental Conditions A. L. Bretzfelder Believes 1929
Will Produce Big Results for Those Who Work
A
L. BRETZKELDER, president of Kra-
• kauer Bros., New York piano manufac-
turers, is one member of the industry having
an abundance of confidence in the future of
the piano business.
Interviewed by The Review Mr. Brctzfelder
expressed his belief that the piano business is
scraping bottom at the present time, but every-
thing indicates an early return to prosperity
with a big demand for the piano in the home.
"You may say for me," declared Mr. Bretz-
felder, "that I confidently believe the outlook
for the piano business to be excellent. A great
many pianos are going to be sold during the
1925
$176,990,334
$155,819,724
2,844,652
$18,955,916
1,352,422
$2,164,529
2,395,790
$93,356,546
$1,355,76K
5,295,507
$7,614,774
3,562,543
$2,018,592
$30,353,599
$21,170,610
*Not including combination phonographs and radios,
which are classified for census purposes in the "Phono-
graphs" industry.
The total value of all batteries produced in
1927 is given as $150,451,796 as compared with
$155,247,811 for 1925, a decrease of 3.1 per cent.
The figures for 1927 are preliminary and sub-
ject to correction.
N. Y. Piano Club Dines
The annual beefsteak dinner of the Piano
Club of New York was held at the club rooms
on Saturday evening last, and over 100 members
and their guests were present. The entertain-
ment committee outdid themselves in providing
for the guests both in the matter of eats and
entertainment. Joseph McGeveran acted as
master of ceremonies and wound up the eve-
ning by assembling what he called the "Club's
Beefsteak Dinner Double-Quartet," which not
only thrilled those present but manifested that
the members of the club still believed that
"music hath charms."
Theodore Hoffmann
Still Seriously 111
PITTSBURGH, PA., December 10.—Theodore
Hoffmann, treasurer of the J. M. Hoffmann Co.,
the well-known music house of this city, is
seriously ill at his home here. He has been
confined to his room for more than a month,
and slight improvement only is noted. Mr.
Hoffmann is one of the best-known piano mer-
chants in the- country. He has always been a
regular attendant at national conventions and
is a firm believer in association work. His
friends are hopeful of his ultimate recovery, al-
though realizing that his condition is critical
at the present time.
DECEMBER 15, 1928
A. L. Bretzfelder
coming year and I think the greater part of this
demand will be for high-class grands as against
the cheaper instruments. No one will deny the
fact that the general prosperity of the country
is at a high mark. The people have money and
will spend freely for the things they want. As
regards the piano I do not believe its place
in the home has been destroyed. Rather it is
my strong conviction that the piano will con-
tinue to hold its position in the home and re-
tain its popularity in the family circle.
"The piano is the logical instrument for the
home. True, radio made its inroads into our
business and has been somewhat responsible
for decreased piano sales in practically every
section of the country. But I believe the radio
splurge has passed and now that most homes
have their radios people are returning to the
piano. The American people are restless at
heart. They want things quickly—new things—
but easily tire of them and then return to the
old standards. I do not mean to disparage
radio. It is my conviction that radio has found
a place for itself in the American home. How-
ever, everything indicates that radio will not
replace the piano in the home.
"My abundance of confidence on the future
of the piano, its secure position in the home,
is based primarily on the fact that our nation
is rapidly becoming more and more each day
a great musical country with a genuine love
and appreciation of music and its value in one's
life steadily spreading to all four corners of
the land.
"Think of the great army of children through-
out the country who have taken up study of the
piano in the school room as well as through
the thousands of private teachers, and the
methods of group instruction that are in effect
everywhere. Witness the great cities of the
country where piano-playing contests and
group-instruction plans have been carried out
with astonishing enrollments of the young
people. All this can have but one salutary
effect on the piano business—namely, to bring
it back to its rightful place.
"I am convinced, most thoroughly indeed,
that as long as we continue to make good
pianos, rich in tonal quality as well as pleasing
and artistic in appearance, the people of this
land—mothers and fathers who will never lose
sight of the fact that a musical education is
an invaluable heritage to every child—will con-
tinue to buy our products. What mother or
father would not give a lot to make their child'
a talented pianist?
"My message to the piano merchants of the
country at this time when the year is drawing
to a close and the stage is being set for 1929
is this:
"Resolve now that 1929 is going to be a ban-
ner year in the piano trade and you are going
to get your share.
"Become thoroughly sold in your own mind
that there will be an abundance of piano busi-
ness in the new year for those who go after
it. And by careful analysis of the facts you
can acquire this sound conviction.
"Then and only then can you start in at the
very outset of 1929 to sell your products on a
gigantic and aggressive scale. Go after your
prospects not half-heartedly but whole-heart-
edly. Put every ounce of strength of your store
organization behind the 1929 campaign and you
will realize results far ahead of your fondest
expectations. If you are pessimistically in-
clined disrobe yourself of this cloak of depres-
sion and take on a spirit of 'do or die' determi-
nation to put your business over the top during
the new year.
"To those who adopt progressive merchan-
dising methods, strengthen the selling person-
nel, revitalize the advertising and promotional
campaign in behalf of the products handled—
everything from a reproducing grand piano
down to a piece of sheet music—and above all
spread the message of music into every nook
and corner of the community, I want to say
with all the emphasis I can summon that 1929
is going to be a successful piano year."
Reviewing conditions in foreign countries,
where he had occasion to make close personal
observance during an extended trip abroad
last Summer, Mr. Bretzfelder stated that funda-
mentally most of the European countries were
in good shape. He said that Germany is mak-
ing a remarkable comeback. He predicted that
South America will be an excellent export mar-
ket for American pianos, if this field is carefully
cultivated and an intensive selling campaign put
New Manager for Starr
Radio Department, Cleveland
CLEVELAND, O., December 3.—Hyman Stein,
formerly manager of the radio department of
the Wolfe Music Co., is now radio manager of
the Starr Piano Co. He succeeds Charles Cor-
bett, resigned. The company is doing an in-
creasingly large business in radio through the
use of placing standard sets in cabinets of
their own manufacture. The piano department
report considerable interest in studio pianos
and a number of orders are being secured for
grands for Christmas.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.