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National Production Authority Announces
Metal Allotments for Piano Production
' I T HE U. S. Department of Commerce
•*• as relesaed the following report on
the meeting of the Piano Manufacturers
Advisory Committee with the officials
of the National Production Authority
which was held on February 27th. The
result of that meeting was as follows:
The National Production Authority,
U. S. Department of Commerce, today
told the Piano Manufacturers Industry
Advistory Committee that second quar-
ter 1952 copper allotments to the in-
dustry will equal percentage-wise the
amounts given to other consumer dur-
able goods manufacturers.
The higher rates are expected to
place piano manufacturers on a firmer
production basis and overcome their
previous claim that this industry was
not receiving its fair share of available
controlled materials.
For the second quarter of 1952 the
industry will receive 50 percent of its
base period usage (average quarterly
use during the first half of 1950) of
steel and 30 percent each of copper,
brass mill and copper foundry products
and aluminum.
The amounts of each material allotted
to the industry during the second quar-
ter follows:
Carbon steel, 240 tons; alloy steel, 29
tons; copper brass mill, 70,000 pounds;
copper foundry, 10,000 pounds; and
aluminum, 1,000 pounds.
In the first quarter the industry was
allotted 75 percent of its base period
use of carbon steel, but only 10 percent
of its base period usage of brass mill
and copper foundry products. Allot-
ments of alloy steel and aluminum were
20 percent.
The industry was given extra carbon
steel in the first quarter because it was
able to substitute this steel for copper.
Copper allotments had been reduced to
10 percent.
NPA reported copper supplies prob-
ably would remain tight during the re-
mainder of 1952. For this reason it
asked piano manufacturers to turn back
all of their copper and brass scrap. The
industry did a commendable job, NPA
pointed out, in the iron and steel scrap
drive.
One manufacturer reported that sav-
ings of up to 60 percent in the amount
of copper used for the large bass strings
in a piano could be effected by the use
of a string consisting of a steel core
with a copper jacket.
Committee members said manufactur-
ers can theoretically make bass strings
of steel, but experience has shown that
steel strings rust and must be replaced
after a few years' use.
NPA said it could not accede to the
committee's previously expressed re-
quest that the industry be allowed to
use a base period other than the first
six months of 1950 or the last six
months of 1949. The committee main-
tains that piano production was at a
seasonal low during both periods. It
requested, therefore, that the industry
be allowed to take the quarterly aver-
age for the whole of 1950 for their base
period.
NPA officials said that firms suffer-
ing unusual hardships through a labor
dislocation or inability to operate at
levels which present allotments dictate,
or who have other valid reasons may
apply for supplemental allotments.
The manufacturers promised to keep
NPA informed of employment condi-
tions in the industry, particularly as to
any lay-offs caused by materials short-
ages.
Committee members said they foresee
a further threat to the industry in pur-
chases by some dealers of pianos im-
ported from Canada, England and the
Netherlands, where manufacturers are
not subject to the same restrictions as
in the United States.
William T. Davis, of NPA's Consum-
er Durable Goods Division, presided.
The committee members who attended:
J. F. Feddersen. Jesse French & Sons.
Elkhart, Ind.; E. R. McDuff, Grinnell
Brothers, Detroit; Webster E. Janssen.
Janssen Piano Co.. Inc., New York
City; James V. Sill. W. W. Kimball Co..
Chicago; Henry Steinway, Steinway &
Sons, New York City.
Music Week to Promote
Year-Round Benefits
Opportunities in music for service-
men and defense workers are a leading
aim of National Music Week this year,
according to T. E. Rivers of the National
Recreation Association, who is secretary
of the Committee. The 29th annual ob-
servance begins May 4th.
Regarding the keynote of the 1952
observance, which is "Make Your Life
More Musical," Mr. Rivers said: "This
includes both self-expression through
singing and playing and more active,
appreciative listening. For a small per-
centage, professional and amateur, the
need is already filled. These people
might well share their advantages with
others, in such specific ways as organ-
izing or cooperating with local Music
Week committees; arranging for club
and community night programs; initiat-
ing projects for improving music equip-
ment in schools, colleges, libraries,
training camps and recreation centers;
sponsoring benefit concerts for scholar-
ships, and other opportunities for young
talent and amateur groups."
A secondary keynote of the Music
Week observance from its inception in
1924 has been Foster American Music.
As in previous years, the organization
or expansion of music groups for
young people of post-school age will be
a prominent objective in many com-
munities.
Music in the Home evenings are also
recommended as a feature of Music
Week.
The universal appeal of music is at-
tested by the diversity of the Music
Week participation. An increasing num-
ber of cities are arranging for their
observance under the leadership of a
local Music Week Committee.
Last year forty-two of the state gov-
ernors and hundreds of mayors issued
proclamations or official statements to
the press lauding the objectives of Mus-
ic Week and recommending participa-
tion. The Committee anticipates that
more will do so this year.
Represented on the active section of
the central Music Week Committee are,
among others, the following organiza-
tions: National Recreation Association,
where the executive office is located.
National Federation of Music Clubs,
Music Educators National Conference,
General Federation of Women's Clubs,
American Federation of Labor, Girl
Scouts. Camp Fire Girls, DAR, National
Congress of Parents and Teachers, Lions
and Kiwanis International, American
Legion and Legion Auxiliary, American
Society of Authors, Composers and
Publishers, Broadcast Music, Inc., Na-
tional Grange. National Piano Manu-
facturers Association. Nation Boards of
the Y.M.C.A. and Y.W.C.A. State Ex-
tension Departments in Agriculture and
Home E c o n o m i c s are participating
through the 4-H and Homemakers
Hubs.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 1952