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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
1'resident, Raymond Bill; Vice-Presidents, J. B. Spillane, Randolph Brown; Secre-
tary and Treasurer, Edward Lyman Bill; Assistant Secretary, L. B. McDonald;
Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
B.
BRITTAIN WILSON, Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
WM. J. DOUGHERTY, Managing Editor
RAY BILL, Associate Editor
F. L. AVERY, Circulation Manager
E. B. MUNCH, Eastern Representative
WESTERN DIVISION:
FRANK W. KIKK, Manager
E. J. NEALY
333 No. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Telephone: State .1266
BOSTON OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone: Main 69S0
.telephone: Lexington 1760-71
Vol. 88
I
January 26, 1929
i
Cable: Elbill New York
No. 4
The Spread of Piano Promotion
HE movement for the promotion of greater public in-
terest in the piano, which in a sense may be considered
as only in its infancy, has nevertheless developed to a
point where it has assumed international importance, for although it
may be said truthfully to have originated in these United States, it
has been adopted and sponsored in the other English-speaking coun-
tries, and from reports received bids fair to make its impress in
the musical activities of many other nations.
In The Review this week Robert A. Willis, president of the
Canadian Piano Manufacturers' Association, tells what is being done
across the border for the general introduction of group piano in-
struction in the schools of the Dominion, and what is contemplated
in the matter of general publicity for the piano, while the trade at
large is, or should be, more or less familiar with the work along the
same lines that is being carried on in Great Britain and particularly
with the marked success of the national piano-playing contest held
in England last year.
It is more or less natural for the individual piano manufacturer
or dealer to regard his problem at close hand, and to visualize de-
velopment only as they affect him directly. Yet it is not display-
A. L. Maresh Again Heads
Cleveland Association
Harry Valentine Named Vice-President and
Rexford C. Hyre, Secretary and Treasurer of
Organization—Revived Interest Seen
CLEVELAND, 0., January 21.—The annual meet-
ing and election of officers for the ensuing year
of the Cleveland Music Trades Association was
held on Wednesday evening, January 16, in the
Rainbow room of the Hotel Winton. Represent-
atives of the large downtown musw store were
all present. A. L. Maresh was re-elected presi-
dent, this making it his fourth consecutive term.
Harry Valentine, of Lyon & Healy, was named
vice-president, and Rexford C. Hyre, secretary
and treasurer.
It is felt in the trade that the Association is
starting a new lease of life with the appoint-
ment of Mr. Hyre as secretary. As is gener-
ally known, the State Association owes its
flourishing condition largely to his efforts as
secretary and manager. He was assistant secre-
tary and treasurer of the Cleveland Association
JANUARY 26, 1929
ing unwarranted optimism to assume that this international move-
ment for the promotion of the piano as the musical instrument for
the home and for child training is bound to have results that will
be distinctly beneficial.
The appeal of the piano does not lie in one community, in one
state or one country, but is distinctly international, and although
the demand may be disappointing in certain localities, manufacturers
who have world-wide connections tell us that the past year has seen
a marked increase in sales of such instruments in far-off territories,
even so far as the South Sea Island and the Malay Archipelago.
It may not be of direct interest to a dealer in Indiana that the
Malays are buying more pianos, but indirectly it reflects widespread
appreciation for the instrument and its sound status. With this
basis to build on there is hope for the future.
D
Essential in War or Peace
URING the World War with the man-power of the
nation fully mobilized in carrying our arms to victory
either through service overseas or in the factories at
home producing essential supplies, the Government officially
recognized musical instruments as included among those es-
sentials and not as luxuries. This recognition was not simply a
gesture, for musical instrument factories generally were allowed to
continue with a minimum curtailment, while plants in many other
lines were either ordered to cease operation or engage exclusively
in the manufacturing of military supplies. This is a matter of
record.
Now, although music was regarded as essential in the midst of a
national emergency, we find authorities in West Virginia sponsoring
a bill to assess a State tax of ten per cent on the sale of all luxuries
and including pianos, phonographs, radio receivers, etc., in that
category. The movement is particularly pernicious because the bill
in question is backed by the educational authorities of the State, so
it is said, in order that the funds derived may be used for educa-
tional work.
Here we find the nation practically united in the endorsement of
the principle of music instruction in the school, with many localities
including group instruction as a part of the fixed curriculum, and
yet in this one State the educational directors seek to tax that same
art or the media thai make possible its expression. It would be
just as logical, in view of music's status to-day, to apply the supposed
luxury tax to the text-books, the blackboards and paraphernalia in
general used in the schools. It would be well for such organiza-
tions in the music trade and profession as exist in West Virginia to
give earnest heed to this newest proposal.
from 1915 to 1924, and at that time the organ-
ization was much stronger than it is to-day. The
re-election of Tony Maresh as president shows
the appreciation of the membership in the work
he has done and it is seldom that a man is
elected four times to the presidency of any
organization. Harry Valentine is a charter
member and has held various offices in the
Association and is one of its greatest boosters.
With this line up the outlook is bright.
It was decided to postpone the annual ban-
quet until March and to have a big get-together
meeting in February. This will be held at the
Winton Hotel on a date to be announced later.
Death of Veteran Dealer
BUFFALO, N. Y., January 21.—Wesley. W. Whit-
ney, formerly operator of one of the largest
musical instrument stores in this section, at
Batavia, N. Y., passed away last week in Pasa-
dena, Cal., where he had resided for several
years following retirement from active business
life. He was 80 years of age. He was a partner
of the late Henry Cross in business in Batavia,
1928 Was a Good Year for
This Piano Salesman
Member of Baldwin Retail Staff in Cincinnati
Disposed of Pianos to the Value of Over
$77,000 During Last Year •
CINCINNATI, O-, January 21.—That a piano sales-
man who arranges his time properly, builds up
substantial contact and works hard on prospects
can succeed in a material way is indicated by
the record of one of the salesmen of the retail
store of the Baldwin Co. of this city, who in
1928 closed, personally, sales amounting to
$77,205. That this is not a flash in the pan is
proven by the fact that this same salesman in
1927 sold $58,729 worth of pianos, in 1926 $57,844
worth; in 1925 $59,214, and in 1924 $38,991. It
will be noticed that the big record was made
during the year declared to be a poor one for
piano sales.
The Fallston Music Store, Shelby, N. C, has
purchased the Lackey Building in that city and
will move to the new location shortly.