Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
The Music Trade Review
REVIEW
(Registered in the U. S. Patent Office)
Published Every Saturday by
Federated Business Publications, Inc.
at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York
President, Raymond Bill; Vice-Presidents, J. B. Spillane, Randolph Brown; Secretary
and Treasurer, Edward Lyman Bill; Assistant Secretary, L. B. McDonald; Assistant
Treasurer, Wtn. A. Low.
B. BRITTAIN WILSON, Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manuger
WM. J. DOUGHERTY, Managing Editor
RAY BILL, Associate Editor
F. L. AVERY, Circulation Manager
E. B. MUNCH, Eastern Representative
WESTERN DIVISION:
FRANK W. KIRK, Manager
E. J. NEALY
333 No. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Telephone: State 1266
Telephone:
Vol. 88
I
BOSTON OFFICE:
JOHN H. "WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone: Main 6950
Lexington 1760-71
Cable: Elbill New York
April 27, 1929
No. 17
Watch Congress!
T will be well for those of the trade who are interested in
tariff copyright or resale price maintenance legislature, and
this would seem to mean the majority of the members of the
industry, to keep their eyes on Washington and their ears to the
ground during the special session of Congress. It is understood
of course that the session will be called by the President primarily
for the purpose of considering farm relief and tariff measures.
Despite this fact it is estimated that over two thousand bills of
other types have been introduced or reintroduced in the hope that
they may squeeze through and be acted upon.
Legislation at any time bears watching and the trade organiza-
tions will have to bear in mind that there is always the opportunity
for slipping something through while those opposed to the measure
are resting quietly and peacefully in the belief that there is no
immediate cause for alarm. The probabilities are, of course, that
the matters for which it was originally convened will take up all the
time of the special session and that the many extraneous bills will
have to be presented again at the next regular session of Congress
Musical Instrument Imports
Show Increase in Brazil
Germany Still Chief Source for Pianos but
United States Holds the Lead in Phonographs
and Records
WASHINGTON, I). C, April 20.—Brazilian im-
ports of musical instruments were much great-
er during the first eleven months of 1928 than
in 1927, totaling $2,982,137, an increase of thirty-
seven per cent or $803,712 over the entire previ-
ous year, according to a report from Vice-Con-
sul J. F. Burt, Rio dc Janeiro, made public by
the Department of Commerce.
The United States is the leading supplier to
this market of the most important class of
musical instruments, that is, phonographs and
phonograph records and accessories. Brazilian
import statistics show that sixty-one per cent
of the imports of phonographs and eighty-three
per cent of the imports of records came from
the United States during 1927 and importers
state that this high percentage was maintained
during 1928.
Germany is by far the most important source
of supply for pianos of all kinds and for "musi-
cal instruments unenumerated," having received
APRIL 27, 1929
in December. However, until the final gavel announces adjourn-
ment every move should be watched.
1
A Notable Tribute
HE fact that President Hoover has decided to serve
as Honorary Chairman of the National Music Week
Committee this year, is a matter for congratulation
because in a large measure it gives official endorsement to this in-
creasingly important annual musical event. The use of the Presi-
dent's name coupled with those of the governors of many of the
States and the mayors of hundreds of cities gives to the music week-
celebration an official status that is impressive and frees it entirely
from any taint of commercialism.
Within a week after this issue of The Review reaches its read-
ers the music week celebration will be under way throughout the
country and on a scale that is expected to exceed all previous
records. What the members of the music industry themselves, and
particularly the retailers, are going to do about it remains to be
seen, but under existing conditions it would appear as though the
celebration marks an opportunity for developing contact with the
musical element that should in no sense be neglected. A full meas-
ure of co-operation extended by the dealer during Music Week
will win for him the business support during the months to come.
M
The Future of Radio
USIC merchants who are handling radio or plan to
enter that field, and that means about 90 per cent
of the trade, will do well to watch radio develop-
ments carefully within the next month or so. Already there are
announcements of new and radical improvements in existing lines
of receivers, the preparation of new products for the market and
price readjustment calculated to give the public the most imposing
radio values since the industry was established.
To the dealer who would be successful in the handling of radio
receivers a thorough knowledge of the lines he is keeping as well
as the competing products is essential. To acquire accurate knowl-
edge of this sort means constant watchfulness. To the dealer who
studies radio merchandise and takes proper care of his stock there
are none of the dangers that often face the retailer who works on
the hit-and-miss plan. It would seem that the retailer who faces
stock liquidation this year has not been attending to his knitting.
eighty-seven per cent of the business in pianos
other than automatics, sixty-seven per cent of
that in automatic pianos, and fifty-four per cent
of that in musical instruments unenumerated,
during 1927. It is understood that that coun-
try also led the business during 1928.
The increased imports of phonograph records
from $301,025 to $438,885 are worthy of note,
inasmuch as an unusually large number of rec-
ords were made in Brazil during 1928 by sub-
sidiaries of American and European companies.
New Schiller Styles Soon
The Schiller Piano Co., of Oregon, 111., is
working on a number of new grand styles
which will be introduced at the national conven-
tion of the Music Industries next June. The
company's grand business is exceptionally good
and at the present time the grand department
is working overtime.
A. M. Nelson Dies
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, April 22.—Death has
claimed Anthony M. Nelson, widely known in
Utah music trade circles for many years. Im-
mediate cause of death was apoplexy. He was
in his sixty-fifth year. Mr. Nelson was the
founder of the former Nelson Piano Co. and
one of the founders of the Utah-Idaho Music
Co., now known as the Utah Music Co. For a
time he was associated with the Daynes-Beebe
Music Co. He was born in Denmark.
Ashley B. Cone, president of Hardman, Peck
& Co., New York, returned this week from a
five-weeks' trip to the Pacific Coast. Mr. Cone
made stops in all the important Western cities,
including Los Angeles, Seattle, Portland, San
Francisco and many others.
A recent addition to the membership list of
the National Association of Music Merchants
The partnership business heretofore con- was Albert T. Strauch, for many years head
ducted by Harry Barry and I.. M. Hussey at of Strauch Bros., Inc., manufacturers of piano
529 South Broadway, Greenville, O., has been actions, and who is now engaged in the retail
incorporated as the Greenville Piano Co. music business with his son, Albert T. Strauch,
There will be no change of policy in the man- Jr., with a store at 421 South Broadway,
agement of the company.
.
Yonkers, N. Y.