RADIO INDUSTRY GROWS FAST
Statement of Expert Shows Remarkable Development
of the Newest Business in the List.
The following statement has been made by Roger
W. Babson, economist:
"It has been my experience that very few people
realize just how important, from a business standpoint,
the radio industry has become. Just because an in-
dustry is comparatively new is not a reason for as-
suming that it is unimportant. The radio industry is
new, but it has grown so rapidly in the past two or
three years that it compares favorably with many of
the important long-established industries.
"On the basis of figures for 1923 it is probable that
the American people will spend approximately $350,-
000,000 for radio equipment during the present year.
A conservative estimate of the business in vacuum
tubes alone is about $50,000,000. At least five times
as much, or $250,000,000, will be spent for radio sets
and parts. The sales of batteries, both dry cell and
storage batteries, will very likely amount to over
$45,000,000. Miscellaneous equipment, such as bat-
tery chargers, loud speakers and specialties, may easily
account for $50,000,000 more.
"It is interesting to see how the radio industry
compares in dollars and cents with other large in-
dustries. AvaiFable figures on sporting goods,
cameras, etc., show a value of about $185,000,000 an-
nually. Sales of radio equipment are running nearly
twice as large as all kinds of sporting goods.
"The value of radio business is nearly twice as
great as that of the carpet and rug business. For
every dollar spent on furniture 33 cents is spent on
radio. For every dollar spent on boots and shoes 25
cents is spent for radio. For every dollar spent for
musical instruments of all kinds, including phono-
graphs, pianos, organs, etc., 75 cents is spent for
radio. The value of radio business amounts to nearlv
HEART OF THE
THE
PIANO
three-fourths of the jewelry business as a whole, in-
cluding clocks, watches and novelties.
' : I have given you these illustrations in order that
I might emphasize the growing importance of radio
from a business standpoint. It is not necessary for
me to tell you of radio's importance from an educa-
tional and social standpoint. I see no reason why
the radio industry should not continue to expand.
There has been a decided improvement in the charac-
ter of the broadcast programs, and we may doubt-
less look forward to still greater improvement in this
direction.
"To sum the matter up, radio has passed through
the fad stage and has become a utility. It has rightly
achieved its proper permanent status among the im-
portant industries of the country."
THE STANDARD ACTION CO.,
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
Broad & East Jersey Music Co., Newark, N. J.,
$100,000; to manufacture musical instruments.
Sonneman Music Co., New York, $5,000.
Behleen Automatic Phonograph Co., Greenville,
N. C, $40,000; to manufacture phonographs; F. M.
De Sausure, V. M. Manning and Arthur Smith.
Mills Radio Corp., Raleigh, N. C, $100,000; J.
Maple Mills, W. Hartwick Mills and others.
Frix Piano & Radio Co., Danville, Va, $50,000;
G. W. Frix and C. S. Conway.
MISSOURI WALNUT.
Boone County, Missouri, of which Columbia is the
county seat, is one of the few sections of Missouri
that is still able to furnish walnut logs in a compara-
tively large quantity for musical instrument makers
of the country, and quite a number of the logs have
been purchased during the winter. Several virgin
strips in that county have large, sound trees that have
never been touched and inspections by representatives
of musical manufacturing firms have revealed that
these trees are ideally adapted to the manufacture of
musical instruments. The supply in that section is
not large, but what is there is being bought by the
musical instrument manufacturers are good prices,
who declare the supply is getting limited.
CHICAGO TUNERS' ANNUAL DINNER.
The Chicago Division of the National Association
of Piano Tuners' annual dinner is to be given April
24 in Chicago in the Hotel LaSalle's East Room.
This will be a gala occasion for the men and their
friends. A beautiful lamp with shade and other
prizes will be given away.
Established 1867
PLAYERS
ORGANS
PIANOS
Strauch Bros.
40 Spruce Street
NEW YORK
COLUMBIA
WORD ROLLS
March Releases
SYNCHRONIZED WORD ROLLS
Title:
Played by:
When Irish Eyes are Smiling
Nell Morrison Marimba Waltz
813 Waiting for the Rainbow
Edwin Schmidt
Fox-trot
812—Roosevelt March
Clarence Johnson Marimba March
811 Sighing Sands
Nell Morrison Hawaiian Marimba Waltz
810 I Wonder Who's Dancing With
You Tonight
James Blythe Fox-trot
809 Mean Papa, Turn In Your Key
Harry Geise Fox-trot
808 Brother You've Got Me Wrong
Harry Geise Fox-trot
807—Home in Pasadena
Nell Morrison Fox-trot
806—Our Little Home
James Blythe Fox-trot
805 31st Street Blues
Harry Geise
Blue
804—I'm All Broken Up Over You
James Blythe Fox-trot
803—The One I Love
Harry Geise Fox-trot
Waltz
801 Lonely Lane
Harry Geise
800 Ireland Is Heaven to Me Art Gillham
Ballad
799 My Dream Sweetheart
Waltz
Harry Geise
798 Watching the Moon Rise Nell Morrison Fox-trot
797 Light House Blues
Harry Geise
Blue
796 Arizona Stars
Nell Morrison
Waltz
795 You Can't Make a Fool Out of Me
Billy y Fitch
Waltz
794
It Aint Gonna Rain No Mo' Harry Geise Fox-trot
814
To Retail at
Why Pay More?
FOR
T. L. LUTKINS, Inc.
A BUSY ROLL
DEPARTMENT
Musical Merchandise and Phonograph Firms Estab-
lished in Good Shape in Many Places.
LEATHER
PNEUMATIC LEATHERS A SPECIALTY
Packing, Valves, All Special Tanned
Bellows Leather
The Background
SOME NEW INCORPORATIONS
WINDOW DISPLAYS EFFECTIVE.
Never before in the history of the sheet music busi-
ness have there been so many artistic and elaborate
window displays as have been shown the past season.
During the winter months there seemed to be no let-
up in the number of window displays, and many of
these have been arranged at an unusual expense.
Seemingly, the retailer realizes that window displays
bring business, and this being so any additional sales
that are created during the winter months through
effective windows are a good investment.
TUNERS"
23
PRESTO
March 8, 1924.
All Well-posted Piano Dealers, Sales-
men, and the Piano Buying Public
recognize the valtte of this name on a
Piano Action.
For more than 55 years it has been associ-
ated with the best products of the Piano
industry* It has always represented
Quality and Merit
When a Piano Action bears the name of
Strauch Bros, it is an additional guarantee
of the quality of the instrument containing it.
75
None Better.
Made of the best materials
obtainable.
Will please your trade and
double your sales.
Quality and price make
Columbia rolls the deal-
er's best profit producer
in a roll department.
A trial order will con-
vince you.
Here ar*
BASS STRINGS
STRAUCH BROS.,Inc.
OTTO R. TREFZ, Jr.
327 to 347 Walnut Ave,, at 141»t Street
NEW YORK
Special attention given to the need* of the toner and
the dealer
8110 Fairmount Avenue
PHILADELPHIA. PA.
Piano Action; Hammart and Rapairt
Columbia Music Roll Co.
22 S. Peoria St.
CHICAGO
ILL.
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