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PRE§TO
CREATING AN EXPORT BUREAU
New Department of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce Has
for Its Purpose the Development of a Foreign Music Trade
SERVICES OUTLINED AT MEETING LAST WEEK
July 3, 1920.
the winter before any definite results can be shown.
In fact, it will be several years before its full bene-
fits will be felt by our industry. Furthermore, in
the case of most lines of musical instruments, unfilled
orders are rapidly decreasing so that some manu-
facturers now have no under-production whatsoever,
while many retailers, who a few weeks ago were
clamoring for more instruments, are now seeking
ways and means of selling those which they have
in stock. By winter, manufacturers should be able
to care for expected export orders without disap-
pointing domestic customers.
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
Statements Make Clear Projected Services to Music Instrument
Manufacturers and Advantages to American Dealers
Former conditions no longer exist. The European
The new Export Bureau of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, which was authorized by the music industry has produced little for export since
Chamber directors at its meeting June 25, should 1914. Through necessity, customers in foreign mar-
prove to be the start of a movement to make the kets have used our instruments, have become fa-
entire music industry an export industry. The miliar with them, and favorably impressed with
bureau, which will be a small one at the beginning, their style, quality, and price. Piano manufacturers
spending not more than $11,000 during the first year, in some foreign countries have begun to look to us
will, it is hoped, eventually expand into a very large for supplies which they formerly bought in England
and Germany. The highly developed sales, shipping,
and important bureau.
Its purpose is the development of an export trade and banking arrangements of our European com-
in all the products of the music industry, including petitors have been disrupted with consequent impair-
phonographs and records, pianos, and their parts, ment of their former advantages over us.
As illustrative of the changed conditions, a recent
organs, band and orchestral instruments, music rolls,
and sheet music. It will develop among foreign report from London states that according to British
peoples and merchants an appreciation of the tonal manufacturers, over ninety per cent of the Austra-
qualities, beauty of style, excellent construction, and lian imports of pianos this year will come from the
the reasonable price of American-made musical in- United States. European manufacturers are exert-
struments of all kinds. It will also spread through- ing every effort to regain their former production
out foreign markets the names of members of our and to ship in quantities to their old export cus-
industry and general information concerning the tomers. Sales, shipping, and banking arrangements
are being readjusted and will soon approach their
general character and price of their products.
former efficiency. Foreign customers who have
To Stimulate Foreign Orders.
been disappointed in the number of instruments we
In short the objects will be to stimulate foreign could supply them, and frequently angered at the
orders; to interest our industry in the advantages treatment they have received from American ex-
of developing an export trade; to furnish informa- porters, are anticipating an early opportunity of buy-
tion concerning foreign conditions, buying habits, ing from Europe. Soon, much of the advantage
style preferences, credit standing of buyers, foreign which came to us without effort on our part will
tariffs, taxes, foreign legislation affecting trade, and have disappeared. Unless we use every effort to
to assist individual members of our industry in maintain our present advantage, our European com-
developing necessary arrangements for handling ex- petitors will again become intrenched in our foreign
port sales and shipments. The Export Bureau will markets. On the other hand, with proper co-oper-
assist in the settlement of difficulties between ex- ative effort, our industry can develop a foreign bus-
porters and foreign buyers and in the development iness far greater than we now have. Our entire
of ethical methods of export practice to the end that future as an export industry will be largely deter-
the reputation of our industry in foreign markets mined within the next year.
may always be excellent. Its efforts will be to see
Immediate Action Needed.
that the influence of the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce is exerted effectively on such public
The need for immediate action becomes even more
questions as will directly or indirectly promote the apparent when it is realized that if an export bu-
foreign trade of this country in general, and in par- reau is created now, under the most favorable condi-
ticular, that of the members of our industry in tions, the necessary preliminary contacts abroad
various parts of the country.
cannot be made before fall, and it will be well into
The important advantages of the development of
an export market to the individual manufacturer
were pointed out at the meeting. With a foreign
market, it was shown, he is able to continue full
or at least partial production during periods of
business stagnation, while otherwise he would be
compelled to maintain only partial production at the
most, or even shut down his plant altogether.
The advantages to domestic merchants from the
At the suggestion of
development of export trade were also considered. the publicity committee
In the past, the abrupt fluctuations in production in of Tripoli Temple, Mil-
this industry—particularly in the piano division— waukee, Wis., the Zinke
with consequent rapid price changes and chaotic Company of that city,
conditions in the retail trade have not been to the during the past week
interests of the merchants. If the music industry presented an unusual
becomes an important exporter, the retailer, who window display built
has on hand a large stock at the time of a business around the Miessner
slump—as most reliable dealers always do have— player used in a special
will be protected from the temporary flooding of Pullman train in which
the domestic markets with low-priced products by Shriners traveled to
manufacturers, who have no other outlet.
Portland, Ore. In the
Good Opportunity Now.
foreground of the win-
The immediate creation of an Export Bureau was dow appeared group pic-
decided upon chiefly because of the length of time tures of the Tripoli Arab
necessary to produce tangible and valuable results Patrol of thirty-three of-
and because there never again may be such an op- ficers and men, and the
portunity to begin an earnest development of export Tripoli Temple Band of
forty-five pieces, which
trade as at present.
In the past, a chief reason for lack of develop- form the bulk of the del-
ment of exports by the various branches of our in- egation to Portland.
dustry has been the strength of European manufac- President Richard H. Zinke is a Shriner and has
turers in foreign markets resulting from their years frequently played with the Milwaukee Shrine Band,
of experience in selling these markets. The Amer- although he is prevented from making the trip to
ican manufacturer has found himself confronted Portland because of the pressure of private business.
with the very real problem of selling an unknown His historic fez from Islam Temple, San Francisco,
product in competition with well-known and satis- was incorporated in the window display, which is
factory products. Not only have customers been illustrated herewith. The display attracted atten-
favorably inclined toward European competing arti- tion far and wide and was seen by thousands during
cles and unfamiliar with our product, but the Eu- its existence in the past week.
The Tripoli party on its way to Portland contains
ropean seller has had established sales, shipping and
banking arrangements, which would have given him a number of prominent figures in the Milwaukee and
an appreciable advantage, even though his product Wisconsin music trade. Hugh M. Holmes, sales
manager of the J. B. Bradford Piano Co., 411 Broad-
had not been more favorably known.
New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
Places.
The Southern Missouri Hardwood Company has
incorporated at Dover, Delaware, with $500,000 cap-
ital. The incorporators are George C. Stiegeler, E.
E. Aberle and C. L. Cohee, of Wilmington, Del.
According to reorganization plans recorded last
week the Baker Music House, Albany, N. Y., will
carry on business with $275,000 and 5,000 shares pre-
ferred stock, $50 each.
Griffith Piano Co., 605 Broad street, Newark, N. ].,
manufacturing pianos and other musical instru-
ments; capital, $750,000.
The Franco-American Music Company, Inc., New
York. Capital, $10,000. Directors are Bory Osso
and Harry Cahane, Manhattan, and Helen Osso,
Brooklyn.
Amendments filed by Pierce-Goodell Piano Com-
pany, of Beaumont, Tex., increasing capital stock
from $30,000 to $100,000.
E. H. UHL'S MOTHER DIES.
The trade sympathizes with E. H. Uhl of Chicago,
secretary of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, whose
mother, Mrs. Peter Uhl, aged 79 years, died this
week at her home at 4186 Carrolton ave., Indianap-
olis, Ind. Mrs. Uhl had an attack of paralysis about
four weeks ago, from which she did not rally. She
is survived by her widower, Peter Uhl, by her two
sons, Albert E. Uhl and Edward H. Uhl, the latter
the well-known piano man, and by her daughter,
Miss Callie Uhl, all of Indianapolis. Albert E. Uhl is
the head of the Indianapolis real estate firm of
Albert E. Uhl & Co., 124 E. Market st., that city. Mr.
Uhl was devoted in his attachment to his parents,
and he will feel the loss of his mother most keenlyJ
Kansas has created a court of industrial relation!
with power to investigate matters affecting workinj
conditions or wages which are subject to contrc
versy.
FEATURING THE MEISSNER
way, and Merle E. Roussellot, secretary-treasurer of
the Lyric Music Co., 86-88 Wisconsin street, arc
members of the color guard of Tripoli Patrol. MrJ
Holmes also is the second bass of the Patrol Quarj
tette. L. J. Kinnel, manager of the Milwaukee
branch of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., 525 Grant
avenue, is a solo trombonist in the Tripoli Tempk
Band. Leonard E. Meyer, secretary of the Wiscon-
sin Association of Music Industries, is a member of|
the patrol and chairman of the Tripoli publicity com-
mittee and member of the Portland executive coni|
mittee.
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