Music Trade Review

Issue: 1928 Vol. 87 N. 24

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
DECEMBER IS, 1928
The Music Trade Review
nesota, and 1 in Missouri. In 1925 the industry
was represented by 68 establishments, the de-
crease to 59 in 1927 being the net result of a loss
of 21 establishments and a gain of 12. Of the
21 lost, 16 went out of business prior to the be-
ginning of 1927, 2 were idle throughout the
year, 2 reported commodities other than phono-
graphs and phonograph parts and accessories as
their chief products in 1927 and were therefore
Census Figures Place Increase at 63 Per Cent in Units and 117 transferred to the appropriate industries, and 1
reported products valued at less than $5,000.
Per Cent in Valuation—Record Production Rises 28 Per
(No data are tabulated at the biennial censuses
for establishments with products under $5,000
Cent—59 Concerns Listed in Report
in value.) Of the 12 establishments gained, 2
manufactured other classes of commodities as
their principal products in 1925 and 10 reported
ASHINGTON, D. C, December 11.— siderable number of combination phonographs for the first time at the present census.
According to the preliminary data col- and radio sets with a much higher value than
lected during the biennial census of that of ordinary phonographs. The production
manufactures taken in 1927 by the Department of records and blanks increased from 82,125,- O. K. Houck Go. Sponsors
of Commerce and just released, the phonograph 060, valued at $26,790,847, in 1925, to 105,701,-
New Educational Movement
industry from the time of the preceding census 302, valued at $31,781,443, in 1927, the rates of
of manufactures for 1925 shows an increase of increase in number and value being 28.7 per Arranges Through Its Various Stores in the
63 per cent in the production of instruments, cent and 18.6 per cent, respectively.
South for the Free Training of Boys and
In addition, phonographs and parts are made
and of 117.8 per cent in their value, with parts
Girls In the Playing of Instruments
Over Million Phonographs
Were Manufactured in 1927
W
PHONOGRAPHS
STATISTICS FOR 1927 AND 1925 ARE SUMMARIZED IN FOLLOWING TABLE
NASHVILLE, TENN., December 11.—Continuing
the movement already begun in Memphis, the
O. K. Houck Piano Co., of Nashville, together
Per cent of
increase or
with the other Houck stores located over the
1927
1925
decrease (—)
South, will sponsor an educational musical pro-
59
Number of establishments
".....
68
gram to be given under the direction of Ralph
14,066
Wager-earners
(average for the year) 2
11,267
24.8
s
$19,985,140 $14,144,955
41.3
Wages
R. Story, for many years an organizer of State"
Cost of materials, mill supplies, containers
for prod-
associations
of this character.
3
$24,847,094
50.0
$37,262,711
ucts, fuel and purchased power, total
The
movement
conceived some years ago by
$35,581,472
Materials, supplies and containers
the late O. K. Houck and now fostered by the
$1,681,239
Fuel and power
Products:
firm that bears his name will give the boys and
$94,815,873 $61,057,147
55.3
Aggregate value'
girls
of Nashville and vicinity, between the ages
Phonographs (including dictating machines
and
B
of
9
and 11, an opportunity to become accom-
combination phonographs and radios) —
plished musicians on wind instruments by tak-
1,046,387
63.0
642,015
Number
$49,242,170 $22,613,909 117.8
Value
ing advantage of the classes to be given at the
25.7
Parts and accessories for sale as such, total value $41,624,220 $33,111,775
Houck Piano Co., free of charge, to begin in
Records and blanks—
the near future.
28.7
105,701,302 82,125,060
Number
The Houck company is backing the move-
$31,781,443 $26,790,847
18.6
Value
9.6
£1,053,479
$960,831
Needles, value
ment financially and guarantees all profits taken
6
52,016,039 $2,816,718 —28.4
Phonograph cabinets, value
on instruments, sold to members of the organ-
16,773,259 $2,543,379 166.3
Other parts, value
ization, to be funded for the Association's ad-
53,299,937 $5,035,880 —34.5
All other products, value
vancement.
119.8
$649,546
$295,583
Receipts for custom work and repairing
$57,553,162 $36,210,053
58.9
Value added by manufacture '
Mr. Story, who has led similar movements
43,927
41,342
6.3
Horsepower
in Ohio, Missouri, Colorado and Kentucky,
said:
Per cent not computed where base is less than 100.
Not including salaried employes.
"The announcement of our newly created
The amount of manufacturers' profits cannot be calculated from the census figures, for the reason
that no data are collected in regard to a number of items of expense, such as interest on investment, rent,
educational
music department is made with
depreciation, taxes, insurance and advertising.
pride and pleasure. Pride because the forty-
* Not reported separately.
Separate figures for dictating machines and for combination phonographs and radios can not be
five years of honest endeavor in the distribu-
given without disclosing the production of individual establishments.
* Phonograph cabinets are also made to some extent by establishments classified in the furniture industry.
tion of tools and accessories of the greatest art,
The figures here given relate only to cabinets made for sale as such by establishments engaged primarily in
music, has placed us in a position whereby the
the manufacture of phonographs.
Value of products less cost of materials, mill supplies, containers for products, fuel and purchased power.
financial contribution necessary to this great
movement for 'more and better music' in Ten-
and accessories showing an increase of 25.7 per to some extent as secondary products by estab- nessee is possible, and 'pleasure,' because by
lishments classified in other industries. In 1925 the installation of our educational department
cent and records in units 28.7 per cent.
According to the report, there were made the value of phonographs and parts thus made we are making it possible for boys and girls to
during 1927 1,046,387 phonographs (including outside the industry amounted to $3,603,378, or study instrumental music who have never had
dictating machines and combination phono- 5.9 per cent of the total value of products re- the opportunity before. Our records show that
graphs and radios, for which separate figures ported for the industry proper. The correspond- it is a decided step toward eliminating delin-
cannot be given without disclosing the produc- ing amount for 1927 has not yet been ascer- quencies in the child to have him or her learn
tion of individual establishments), valued at tained, but will be shown in the final report of the art of music.
"Every boy and girl is examined by the head
$49,242,170, together with parts and accessories the present census.
Of the 59 establishments reporting for 1927, of our educational department, and if this ex-
valued at $41,624,220. The number shows an in-
crease of 63 per cent, as compared with 642,- 12 were located in Illinois, 8 in New Jersey, 8 amination shows anything unfavorable to the
015 reported for 1925, the last preceding census in New York, 5 in Connecticut, 5 in Indiana, success of the applicant, then we feel in fair-
year, and the rate of increase in value was 4 in Pennsylvania, 3 in Massachusetts, 3 in ness to all concerned we should go no farther,
117.8 per cent. This latter rate of increase, how- Wisconsin, 2 in California, 2 in Iowa, 2 in but to those whose applications are accepted,
ever, is due in part to the production of a con- Michigan, 2 in Ohio, 1 in Maryland, 1 in Min- we guarantee their musical success."
1
2
3
6
1
ESTABLISHED 1862
L^UTER
ONE OF AMERICA'S
GRANDS
NEWARK, N. J
FINE PIANOS
UPRIGHTS
THE LAUTER-HUMANA
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
Piano Promotion Committee Outlines
the Business Prospects for 1929
In Broadside Just Sent to the Trade the Work of the Committee Is Described at
Length and Retailers Are Urged to Co-operate for More Sales
' T * H E Sales Promotion Committee of the Na-
•*• tional Piano Manufacturers' Association
through Edward C. Boykin, executive secre-
tary, has just issued a special broadside to the
piano merchants of the country which repre-
sents an optimistic message for the coming
year.
The broadside pays particular attention to
what has been and is being done to develop
greater interest in the piano on the part of
the public, and outlines the various impor-
tant activities, such as class-piano instruction;
development of modern merchandising and
sales plans; national advertising and general
publicity; easy piano lessons through the "Look
and Play" piano books; tie-up advertising for
dealers; closer contacts with music teachers
and music and civic organizations, and other
movements.
The point is emphasized that 1929 holds a
real opportunity for dealers who are willing to
take advantage of the promotion work that has
already been carried on and that which has
been planned. In this connection Mr. Boykin
says in his message:
"Little or no effort is being made by piano
merchants to sell pianos to thousands of homes
that can be sold—prove this for yourself. Se-
lect any fifty good homes in your community
and call on them conscientiously. Facts show
that you will find at least ten good prospects
in these fifty homes. Go ahead and try this
and write me the results of your trial.
"The parents of America are wide open to
welcome such a splendid influence as the piano
in keeping boys and girls at home and training
their minds in the right direction—any parent
in your community will corroborate this state-
ment.
"More interest is being created in the piano
and in learning to play the piano than ever
before in its history—this fact is basic and of
vital importance to the industry because the fu-
ture of the piano rests on the extent to which
people desire to play the piano.
"A permanent increase in the sales of pianos
depends on the creation of a permanent interest
in the piano—this applies to the smallest com-
munity as strongly as to the largest and yours
is no exception.
"The man who says people don't want pianos
to-day doesn't know what he's talking about—
among others I have before me the results of
a survey made in just one small town in the
Middle West. Out of 375 homes called on and
able to buy a piano there were 175 prospects
who did not even have an old piano!
"If you wish to sell pianos against to-day's
competition you must devote exclusive efforts
to the sale of pianos—I do not mean that a
piano merchant cannot sell other lines in his
s-tore, but I do mean that the same salesman
cannot sell both radios and pianos and at the
same time do justice to the piano, the"corner-
stone of your business.
"Modern merchandising ideas must be in-
jected into the business of selling pianos. There
are too many piano merchants who are in-
clined to let things slide—if you wish to stay
in the piano business and make money in it
you've got to keep step with the rest of the
procession.
DECEMBER 15, 1928
"One of the vital needs of the piano industry
is more real salesmen and fewer door-bell ring-
ers—you, as a piano dealer, can easily prove
the value not only of more salesmen, but also
of more salesmanship."
Motoring Santa Glaus Aids
Werlein Holiday Business
NEW ORLEANS, LA., December 10.—Philip Wer-
lein, Ltd., 605 Canal street, conducted a novel
advertising scheme in connection with the
Christmas season that, according to Miss Orrie
Summers, advertising manager, brought un-
usually good results. A man was employed to
dress and act as Santa Claus who could sing
and play the guitar. An automobile was deco-
rated and arranged so as to resemble a house
and was driven around the city by "Santa
Claus." He would also sit in the display win-
dow of the company and sing popular songs,
the window being arranged with a microphone
so that it could be heard outside, and the re-
sult was that it drew crowds every day. He
also visited the schools of the city, where he
sang and played the guitar for the children
and asked the children to tell their parents that
they would like some kind of a musical instru-
ment, a radio or a phonograph for a Christmas
present.
Brunswick Co. Dividend
The directors of the Brunswick-Balke-Col-
lender Co. have authorized a dividend of one
and one-quarter per cent on the outstanding
preferred stock of the company payable Janu-
ary 1, 1929, to stockholders of record Decem-
ber 20, 1928.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
Jlerrp Cijtisftmasf
To our friends and customers throughout
the Music Trade, we wish
& Vttv fflmy Cfjrtetmaa
with the assurance of POOLE manufacturing
standards and business methods continuing as
for two generations—an honest striving for the
finest attainable.
AVA W. POOLE, President
POOLE PIANO COMPANY
CAMBRIDGE A
BOSTON, MASS.

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