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PLAYER PIANO DISCUSSION
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piano that it will not be a worthwhile endeavor, as we understand that
there are more pianos being manufactured and more children taking
lessons today than during the heyday of the player piano.
"Let's spend our effort in getting more piano teaching and class instruc-
tions in the schools, so as to have more people that will play and enjoy
the piano.
Harold V. Neilly, Hillbrunner Music Co., Cedar Rapids, la.
"In answer to your interesting letter of September 27th, we are pleased
to forward you our comments in regard to the revival of the player piano.
"We definitely feel there is a strong market for a player piano type in-
strument at this time, which has been made quite evident through the
success of many mechanical organs which are on the market at the
present time.
"We definitely do feel, however, that introducing a player piano will,
in a large way, tend to undo a lot of the fine constructive work that has
been done by A.M.C. and other groups of this type in the past years.
"We feel the player piano will be more or less a temporary spurt for
volume which, of course, could last for some time, but do feel that over
the long range planning of the future the basic fundamentals of teaching
children to play is, by far, the most substantial and reliable course to
follow."
Ray Johnson, Chesbro Music Co., Idaho Falls, Idaho
"Your letter regarding player pianos reached my desk, and we have had
very little request for this type of piano. Most people who have asked
for these want them for a play room and do not want to spend very
much money.
"Therefore, I think it would not be profitable and possibly not too prac-
tical to start making player pianos again, unless the shops are already
geared to put out a few now and again."
W. E. Voltz, President, N. Stetson Co.. Philadelphia. Pa.
"We have given quite a lot of thought to your letter of September 27
regarding the revival of the player piano. If such an instrument was
made, there is no question that some would be sold. However, we feel
it would be a backward step for the industry in view of all the time,
energy, and money spent in persuading the public to get back to actu-
ally playing the piano. We, too, feel that we are now reaping some of
the benefits of the above program as our piano business is good, espe-
cially grands.
"During the player-piano days, we naturally got our share of the market,
but even then the straight piano was always our main business. We
think Steinway and Sons in their advertisements in the trade papers
have certainly answered this question under the caption: "It's time
someone spoke out on this question" which deals directly with the
machine age, automatic living, and push-button ease."
E. Robert Hawken, Earl K. Hawken & Sons, Springfield, O.
"While we occasionally get a call for a second hand player piano, it is
our humble opinion that new players would not sell in any appreciable
quantity at today's prices.
"Thank you for the opportunity to express our views on this subject."
Boone F. Shaw, Shaw & Sons Piano Co., Columbia, Mo.
"Concerning the introduction of the player piano to the present genera-
tion of young people, I feel it would be a mistake to once again put
the player piano on the market, and repeat the craze of 1926.
"There has been some talk of a player piano attachment which I think
would be acceptable for those that could afford such a novelty.
"In closing, I repeat 1 think it would be a definite mistake to bring the
player piano back on the market."
Robert McLean, McLean Piano & Organ Co., Louisville, Ky.
"No—There seems to be some demand for used player-pianos, but I
strongly suspect most people who ask have $100 or more likely $50 in
mind."
Wilbur Templin, Pres., Templin's Inc., Elkhart, Ind.
"We have heard some discussion of the possible revival of the player-
piano. Doubtless some new player-pianos could be sold. But, we doubt
very much that it would prove a good move by piano manufacturers.
"With radio and television, and with all the effort spent on teaching
piano in schools, etc., it would seem that there would not be much
demand for the new players.
"There is real interest in pianos. But the big factor holding back sales
is PRICE. People want them, and yet simply cannot pay the prices
of today. And of course the player-piano would cost more.
"We simply cannot enthuse over the player idea."
A. F. Bischoff, Burlington, Vt.
"Like everyone else who sells and services pianos, we have had some
inquiries at to whether new player pianos can be bought.
"We personally discourage people from thinking that player pianos are
just the thing they ought to buy.
"Except for reconditioning perhaps one high grade reproducing piano
every year or so, we do not touch any player mechanism. In fact, when
we mention possible costs, people themselves are perfectly willing to
forget all about players.
"Out of the foregoing you can readily read that we are not in favor of
a player piano branch within the music industry."
F. D. Streep Jr., Pres., Streep Music, Orlando, Fla.
"In reply to your letter of the 27th concerning the possibility of a player
piano revival, I would personally be of the opinion tnat some market
research and analysis by a reliable agency should be undertaken before
the manufacturers begin to spend the thousands of dollars that will have
to go into the development of a modern-day' unit that would sell on the
Oliver H. Ross, Jr., Oliver H. Ross Piano Co., Fort Worth, Texas
retail floor.
"In regard to the revival of the player piano, I have only a few things
"I remember in 1948 or thereafter some of the leading manufacturers
to say.
were unhappy about the survey that was made by a Chicago agency
"First of all, my experience with the player piano is strictly second-hand, concerning the piano business. Even though the survey revealed some
and I have only heard about the instrument, and the devastating effect
things that were generally known to the piano industry, the survey still
it had on the piano business in the early thirties and late twenties. should have had the favorable effect of springing them inlo more action
Often, the generation of youngsters that grew up during the player piano
than they have taken to support the present-day spinet pianos.
era have been called "the lost generation," and I am in complete accord "Having been in both the piano and organ business and remembering
with this thinking.
a little of the player piano days, 1 would be inclined to consider the
"Personally, I believe that the revival of the player piano is the worst market opportunities as limited mainly to the field of entertainment. Of
possible thing that could happen to the piano industry. I, furthermore, course, there are always buyers for everything musical, and some would
say that unless my competition forces me to sell player pianos as a naturally be sold into the home market. However, I do not feel that such
means of survival, I am not going to sell any of the instruments.
an instrument would compete favorably with electronic organs. The elec-
"Another very important thing comes into the picture when we con- tronic organs are smaller in size, lighter in weight, and offer just enough
sider player pianos, and that is the tuner-technician problem. We all skill of exercise to attract the great American Public who are looking
know of the tremendous shortage existing in the tuner-technician field, for an instrument for home entertainment.
and the addition of the worry and the service problems involved with "With this statement about electric organs, you may think that I am
player pianos would only amplify the already critical shortage.
partial, but the truth is that I am much more partial to the present-day
"I am not in favor of having another lost generation of piano pupils, market for spinet pianos. In my personal opinion, there are about twenty
and you can be assured that if we take the player piano and put it
spinet prospects for every organ prospect. We should simply carry on a
back on the market, this will be the result, and the work that the
selling program that would become more progressive during the next
American Music Conference has done will ge greatly retarded.
years ahead. For example, I believe that the consumer advertising sched-
ules of most of the piano manufacturers are too slim and that we should
J. C. Stone, Stone Piano Co., Salem, Ore.
have the courage to do what other industries have done. There is nothing
wrong at all with the manufacturer putting $5 more on every piano
"I do not feel we could do much of a job on a new player. The Ham-
which would be spent on the right type of consumer advertising to attract
mon Chord Organ absorbs most of the interest of people who might
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otherwise buy players."
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, OCTOBER, 1954