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MUSICAL
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PRESTO
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL
CHICAGO, ILL., JAN.-FEB., 1934
PRESIDENT WULSIN'S, OF N. P. M. OF A., COMPREHENSIVE REPORT
ON THE CONDITION OF THE PIANO INDUSTRY
The piano industry is greatly indebted to President Lucien Wulsin of the National Piano Manufacturers'
Association of America for his comprehensive report on the condition of the industry, recently sent out from
the headquarters in New York. The important information in the report, will certainly be appreciated by
the members of the piano industry, as the facts are of vital interest to every manufacturer, supply house
or dealer.
President Wulsin can be congratulated on having done a line job, in drawing up and presenting this up-
to-date report. Presto-Times has already printed the details of the NRA Codes affecting the manufactur-
ing and the retailing of pianos, and in this article, will only quote such high-lights from President Wulsin's
report as are timely:
FROM PRESIDENT WULSIN'S REPORT
"Simply because under the codes, if we rise
"To increase the sale of pianos we must fight
to our opportunities, we can clean house of many
hard collectively to create a greater market and
unfair and uneconomic practices which have been
fight equally hard individually for the share of
hampering instead of building up our industry."
this market to which our respective products and
Enforcement of Code
business methods entitle us.
"The enforcement of the Code is in the hands
"While it is true that no code of fair competi-
of the Code Authority established thereunder and
tion that can be devised under the National In-
consists of the following:
dustrial Recovery Act and receive governmental
"Representing the Industry—Lucien Wulsin,
sanction will increase the markets for pianos, it
chairman; Theodore Steinway, treasurer; William
is equally true that the provisions of the two codes
G. Heller, Charles H. Wood, Eugene A. Schmitt.
of fair competition now governing the production
Representing NRA—Major R. B. Paddock; sec-
and distribution of pianos, coupled with supple-
retary, Harry Meixell.
mental provisions which can be enacted, if rigidly
"The National Piano Manufacturers' Associa-
enforced, will supply us with the incentives and
tion
of America is the agency for the adminis-
the means to go out aggressively and fearlessly
tration of the Code, the Executive Committee
to build our markets, both collectively as the
of the Association being:
Piano Manufacturing Industry, and individually
"By virtue of office—Lucien Wulsin, president;
as members thereof."
W. G. Heller, vice president; C. Albert Jacob,
The Two Codes "Clean House"
Jr., treasurer. Other members—W. H. Alfring,
C. D. Bond, Theodore Steinway, Farny Wurlitzer.
President Wulsin, in his report refers as follows
Total Membership of Industry
to the two codes, which are already being operated
"The report states, 'the total membership of
more or less fully:
the Industry coming within the definitions set
"The two codes I refer to are the Piano Manu-
forth in Article II, Section I of the Code con-
facturing Industry Code covering the production
sists of 59 units of which 44 are classed as piano
of our products and the Retail Trade Code under
manufacturers and 15 as supply manufacturers.
whose direction comes the distribution of pianos
Following is a l : st of the 27 (18 piano and 9
to the ultimate consumer.
supply)
members of the Industry who are now
"Why do I say that under those two codes the
included in this report and are members of the
industry can go out aggressively and fearlessly
National Piano Manufacturers' Association of
bu'ld up markets both collectively and indi-
America.' "
vidually?
Fifteenth of Publication Month
STEINWAY
TOWER OF STRENGTH FOR THE
MUSIC INDUSTRIES
PRESIDENT THEODORE E. STEINWAY'S BIG
AND BROAD POLICIES PREDICT
BRIGHT FUTURE
Music and the Music Industries in the past four
years have had a tower of strength in the undeviating
faith in the coming of better times, of the world-famous
house of Steinway & Sons, and the courage and con-
fidence that this house has displayed have proven of
incalculable benefit to all interested in musical edu-
cation and culture and the prosperity and progress of
the Music Industries.
Now, that the tide has turned in the right direction,
and the business outlook is brighter than it has been
for sometime the constructive work of Theodore E.
Steinway, distinguished president of Steinway & Sons,
and his associates looms up as a great force in having
materially aided in maintaining the position of the
Music Industries. As an outstanding leader in the
Piano Industry, Theodore E. Steinway has shown in
the pursuance of his policies big and broad purposes
for the welfare of the Music Industries. His mes-
sages and addresses to the members of the Industries
have at all times and under all conditions strength-
ened and fortified the spirits of both manufacturers
and dealers, and he has proven a real leader.
President Steinway fully realizes the traditions of
the house of Steinway, and has carried out his steward-
ship, reflecting the highest honor and dignity on the
Music Industries. His deep personal interest in
Music, the Musical Profession and the standing of
the Music Industries places him on a high plane in
constructive thinking and action, for the encourage-
ment and development of those factors and influences
in the Musical Art and Industries which tend to bring
musical education, culture, entertainment, enjoyment
and happiness to the American people.
The "Open Letter" sent out about the first of the
year, by Steinway & Sons, in its main expression is
well worthy of reproduction, not only because it con-
veys the sentiment of the house of Steinway, but like-
MEMBERS OF N. P. M. A. OF A.
wise is a message of equal import to the entire Music
PIANO MANUFACTURERS
Industries. We quote from this message as follows:
"We wish publicly to thank you all for your
Aeolian-American Corporation, Baldwin Piano Company. Cable Company. Everett Piano Company, Had-
loyalty during the past year, not only to the house
dorff Piano Company, Hardman, Peck & Company, W. W. Kimball Company, Lauter & Company, Lester
of Steinway, but to the cause of Music and the
Piano Company, Mathushek Piano Mfg. Co., B. K. Settergren Company, Sohmer & Compr.ny, Steinway
Music Industries. It is a heartening thing to have
Sons, Chas. M. Stieff, Inc., Vose & Sons Piano Co., Weaver Piano Company, Winter & Company, Wur-
such good friends as you arc, and an enormous
litzer Company (2).
satisfaction
to know that you worked so hard
SUPPLY MANUFACTURERS
! ' i'. i ; ! I |
and conscientiously through these trying times.
We feel today more than ever sure of the fact
American Musical Supply Company, American Piano Company, Comstock, Cheney & Company, O. S.
that the future in store for us is bright and that
Kelly & Company, Pratt, Read & Company, Thayer Action Company, Wessell, Nickel & Gross, Wickham
we have a solid industry under our feet.
Piano Plate Company, Wood & Brooks Company.
"Let us all work together and keep it so."
Shipments of Industry in 1933
President
Steinway's call for the spirit of coopera-
1923 to the 25,200 estimated for the year 1932 in the
The report sets forth these illuminating ligines of
tion is emphatically expressed in this "Open Letter."
shipments: "With few exceptions piano manufacturers Association's Bulletin No. 60. On the other hand T
are now filing their monthly shipment figures with am happy to report that of the 32,000 pianos shipped
the Code Authority. These data indicate that the in 1933, it is estimated that 31,500 were straights.
HARDMAN, PECK & COMPANY
total shipments for the industry for 1933 reached This means that in that phase of our business which
NOW IN THEIR NEW LOCATION
32,000 pianos. Of this total the 18 piano manufac- is enduring we had an increase of 6,300 units or 25
per
cent
in
1933
over
1932."
turers who are members of National Piano Manufac-
Hardman, Peck & Company now occupy their new
turers' Association of America shipped 27.000 in round
It is noted here, that President Wulsin refers to establishment, the entire six-story building at 33 West
numbers or about 85 per cent of the total."
shipments, doubtless considerably more pianos were 57th Street, New York.
manufactured than shipped.
Non-Members of the N. P. M. A. of A.
Hardman, Peck & Company were located at 433
The report adds that 32 companies (26 piano and
For, as is kno\vn, several manufacturers have made
Fifth Ave., the premises they have just vacated, for
6 supply) are not at present identified with the Asso- quite large stocks, anticipating a demand, which is twenty-three years and their removal from that now
ciation as members.
sure to come, and in a way is now here.
considered downtown location places them in the
Past Records of Industry Recite Present Serious
There are a number of manufacturers who are not midst of the music trade center of the 57th street dis-
Declines
in a position to have made up a supply of pianos to trict in which locality are such great houses as Stein-
way, Sohmer and Krakauer. Thus Hardman, Peck &
Piano history of almost dramatic interest is told meet future requirements.
in these figures from the report:
Presto-Times notes in these figures, in the report, Company, one of the great concerns of the music in-
"In 1923, the peak year of piano production for that what has been called by many a calamity has dustries, manufacturers of a piano which has always
the industry, there were 220 manufacturing units in been the passing of the "players," which represented maintained a position in the front ranks of the piano
the industry of whom 160 were piano manufacturers, many millions of dollars in production and distribu- industry.
the 60 being supply manufacturers. In that year, tion.
they turned out 343,050 pianos of which 192,713 or
The figures show that 500 pianos are not included
The Mayfield Music Company, Hutchinson, Kan-
56.2 per cent were 'players' while 150,337 or 43.8 per in the straights, these apparently must be reproducers, sas, Kimball. Schiller, Gulbransen dealers in that ter-
cent were 'straights.' Since then the 'player' has which are manufactured probably by only two con- ritory, advertise their business: "An Exclusive Music
virtually disappeared from the picture.
cerns, although other concerns state that they will Store." An "exclusive music store" is just a bit rare
"So far as 'straights' are concerned these suffered make reproducing pianos but on special order.
in these days of various kinds of apparatus added to
serious declines from the total of 150,337 shipped in
the sale of music.
(Continued Col. One, Next Page)
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