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doesn't hear from a manufacturer it's not because he doesn't
want to do business with a dealer—he just can't. He
hasn't the instruments to sell and can't tell the dealer when
he will have them. Furthermore, those manufacturers who
are making some pianos have made out a list of their
regular dealers and are allocating to them, in proportion
to what they had in 1941 and in proportion to the present
output of the plant, as many instruments as this will
permit. Every manufacturer who is again producing is
trying his utmost to take care of his oJd dealers first. This
is as it should be. The latter have been waiting a long time
and deserve first consideration.
Spinet Pianos — 40 Inches or Less?
E HAD so many letters from dealers after we
wrote a few lines, a couple of months ago, stat-
ing that a piano manufacturer had said that he
would not make a spinet piano under 40" high, that we
thought it would be a good idea to find out what other
dealers thought about it. In this issue we have reprinted
many of the replies we have received to the question
"Should postwar Spinet pianos be over 40" high?" It
is interesting to note that the great majority of dealers
believe that they should be. There are some, however, who>
feel that lower pianos have considerable merit and they
give their reasons. Undoubtedly manufacturers hear con-
siderable about this subject in private conversations but the
controlling factor of anything of this character is the de-
mand. If a manufacturer produces models of spinets of
more and less than 40" in height, and he finds that those
above 40" have the greatest demand it seems as if that
would be the instrument he would manufacture the most
of. -However, if there are spinets less than 40" and the
public demands them, then there must always be instru-
ments less than 40". On the other hand, if no spinets are
made less than 40" high and the public can't buy one. will
they buy just the same? You answer it.
Dealer Pays Freight to Railroad—
ISot to Manufacturer
NE of our readers was I kind enough to call us on
the long distance 'phon<
me the other day and point
out that we made a slijjl 'fit mistake in setting down,
on the Special Bulletin we sent our readers, the OPA
formula for ceiling prices on new pianos. He stated that
he had been to Washington and that OPA Officials there
said we were wrong but before we distributed the bulletin
the OPA officials in New York said we were right. We
think, however, that our designation of "The dealer pays
the manufacturer" should have been opposite the amount
before that to which the freight had been added as the
dealer usually pays the freight to the railroad and not to
the manufacturer. Probably would have been clearer if
we had quoted the follow ing from MPR 188:
O
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 1945
Example: Calculation of maximum retail price for a new
piano. Spinet model piano shipped from New York City to
a state within Zone I.
(a) Manufacturer's March 1942 highest maximum
price to retailers exclusive of Federal excise tax
tax and freight
$175.00
(b) 13',< increase granted to manufacturers under
paragi'aph (b) or (c)
22.75
(c) Manufacturer's new highest maximum price to
retailers exclusive of Federal excise tax and
freight
$197.75
To this price is added the following:
(d) Percentage mark-up for piano under $225.00
(89'; of c)
176.00
(e) Manufacturer's Federal excise tax (10 r /v of c) 19.78
(f) Freight allowance for upright piano shipped in
Zone I
7.50
(g) Maximum retail price (Total of c, d, e, and f) . 401.03
(h) Maximum retail price appearing on tag. (Ad-
justed downward to the nearest dollar)
401.00
(1) Determination of mark-up to be included in the maxi-
mum retail price. If the manufacturer's highest maximum
price to retailers (exclusive of freight and Federal excise
tax), is:
(i) Not more than $225.CO, add 89'v of such maximum
price.
(ii) Between $225.01 and $338.00, add 8b r /< of such maxi-
mum price or $200.25, whichever is greater.
(iii) Between $338.01 and $564.00, add 79V. of such maxi-
mum price or $287.30, whichever is greater.
(iv) Over $564.01, add 757; of such maximum price or
$445.56, whichever is greater.
Record Promotion
for Music Week
V If "^ HE idea of promoting records during National
I Music Week appeals to us as being a smart one.
-^- In many instances it has been records and sheet
music which have kept a dealer in business. He hasn't
had many, if any. musical instruments to sell including
pianos, and experience has shown that he has not had much
success with lines foreign to his general run of business.
But fortunately the record business has prospered and
steadily grown. There was a time that musical instrument
manufacturers feared both the radio and records. That,
however, is long past. Statistics will show that both these
purveyors of music have helped tremendously the sale
of musical instruments and the contemplated promotion is
well timed.
Don't Forget to Send Your Answer —
E HAD planned to answer, in this issue, the
article written by Harry A. Glasser entitled "The
Piano Industry—Has it a Future or only a Past"
which was reprinted in THE REVIEW last month but, on
second thought, we feel it more advisable to withhold our
views until those who are writing answers have had a
chance to express their viewpoints. We have some interest-
ing answers already and hope for more. There's a
W T ar Bond at stake you know—so send in your answer.
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