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The Music Trade Review
14
DECEMBER, 1930
to crack. In order to overcome this difficulty,
British manufacturers have adopted a system
of French polishing in addition to varnishing
which is reported to be vastly superior to the
varnish finish used largely by American manu-
facturers.
"Official production of pianos in Great
There have been many differences of opinion
Britain for the year 1929 was 85,556, compared regarding the tone of English, Continental and
with 87,577 for 1928 and 91,663 for 1927. Month- American-made pianos. However, this is a de-
ly figures for 1930 indicate that in January, batable point, and it would be unfair to state
5,909 pianos were manufactured compared with that the greater resonance of American-made
8,201 during the same period in 1929 and 5,670 pianos was a disadvantage to their sale. A
were produced in February, 1930, against 6,257 curious criticism of pianos made in the United
in February, 1929. These figures show a pro- States which comes from British distributors is
gressive decline. However, it is anticipated that they are too massive and strong. It
that the British production figures will show appears that the customer preference in Eng-
an increase in the next few months.
land is for a lighter build, and the demand is
"The piano trade is suffering not only from unquestionably for the smaller type of piano.
general trade depression, but also from very It is felt that American manufacturers would
active radio and phonograph competition. It do well to consider the development of the
is now conceded that the sound films and out- personal element in effecting distribution, and
door sports affect the demand for pianos ad- that the proper channel through which to work
versely. It is said that British manufacturers would be the trade. Further, that it would take
have introduced modern methods of piano a considerable expenditure on advertising
manufacturing since the imposition of the tariff, propaganda work to establish American pianos
resulting in increased productive capacity and more firmly on the British market before
lower retail prices. It is now estimated that manufacturers could hope to secure a wider
there is overproduction in the British piano distribution. American-made pianos now sold
industry, but this is not considered to be seri- on the British market are chiefly automatic
ous."
players. Several British manufacturers are en-
deavoring to incorporate this feature in their
American Participation in British Market
American piano manufacturers have been un- products.
able to compete effectively in the British mar-
Piano manufacturers in the United Kingdom
ket since the imposition of the 33 1-3 per cent enjoy a good market for pianos both home and
tariff. The principal obstacle is the tariff on abroad, exports to British colonies and domin-
imported makes, in addition to the heavy trans- ions in 1928 amounting to 2,838 instruments as
portation charges which they have to bear. Those compared to 6,238 in 1925, while exports to
in the trade state that even if the present duty other foreign countries in 1928 totaled 3,177
of 33 1-3 per cent were removed, the American- instruments in 1928 as compared to 6,594 in
made pianos would have great difficulty in 1925. The total value of exports in 1928
being sold. The chief reason is to be found amounted to 137,368 pounds, with an indication
in the smallness of the rooms in the average of a slight increase in 1929, for which year
British home built since the war. Another statistics are not yet available.
important factor is the British climate, which
Tn 1928 there were imported 2,426 pianos
makes necessary a varnish that has no tendency
(Continued on page 16)
Survey of British Piano Industry
Offers Some Interesting Comparisons
A PARTICULARLY interesting survey of
"^^ the British piano trade was recently issued
by the Department of Commerce in Washing-
ton, representing a report by Trade Commis-
sioner H. A. Burch in London, and American
manufacturers will no doubt get considerable
inspiration from comparing the status of the
trade in the United States with that of the
other great English-speaking nations. In his
report Mr. Burch says:
"The United Kingdom offered foreign manu-
facturers of pianos a good market prior to
the World War. In 1913 approximately 24,000
pianos, including player-pianos, were imported,
Germany supplying by far the greatest num-
ber, about 22,000. The production of British
pianos for the same year has been estimated
at approximately 110,000.
"At present the majority of the British
pianos produced are bought by persons with
relatively low incomes, who have not yet at-
tained the desire or the means for the owner-
ship of a motor car. It is understood that
the extreme depression existing in the mining,
cotton, woolen and shipbuilding industries has
seriously affected the sale of British pianos.
Furthermore, the reimposition on July 1, 1925,
of the McKenna Duties made it more difficult
for foreign pianos to compete in the United
Kingdom with those of domestic manufacture.
It is not surprising, therefore, that imports of
pianos have declined steadily each year.
Production of Pianos
"Piano production in the United Kingdom
has fallen just over 6 per cent during the last
two years. However, the industry is said to
be in a far better competitive position than
in most of the other piano manufacturing coun-
tries.
The
Winter Pianette
66 Notes
WITH A SCIENTIFICALLY
CENTERED SCALE
Playing range compared to
ordinary piano keyboard
scientifically centered scale of the
Winter Pianette permits a greater range
for playing. It is so centered that any
classical music may be played. All the
necessary notes are found in this scale.
' I 'HE construction of the Pianette is the
same as a full scale piano. The action
rests on ball bolts, fastened to bracket bolts.
A small piano with an exceptional volume
of tone.
The Winter Pianette
863 East 141st Street
NEW YORK, N. Y.