Music Trade Review
Issue: 1912 Vol. 55 N. 22 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Why it is Difficult to Get Piano Workmen.
I
T is not difficult for good workmen in the various departments
of piano making to get employment in New York these days.
Most every factory is in need of help, and many manufacturers say
that there is a scarcity of skilled and reliable workmen to supply
demands.
There can be no doubt but that the pianomaker—that is, the
man skilled in all departments of piano making—has become prac-
tically obsolete as far as mere numbers go in the ranks of factory
workers to-day.
This condition has been brought about, to our minds, not so
much by reason of the removal of the old-fashioned apprentice
system as from the fact that the gravitation towards specialism
has been felt in piano factories as well as in every other subdi-
vision of industry. In early years the contract system was not
in vogue and the pianomaker of those days was one who could
follow a piano through every department, and was a skilled work-
man. To-day through the contract systtm the various bosses have
held men for years in one special department of the business and
in this way they are entirely without knowledge of general piano
work, their employment having been along specified lines 1 .
This is emphasized by men who apply for employment. When
asked if they are pianomakers, they invariably reply in the affirma-
tive and state that they have worked in such and such factories for
a term of years. Closer investigation reveals the fact that they
have only learned one branch of the business and are wholly
ignorant of all the other departments even though closely related.
Herein lies an opportunity for serious work for the Piano and
Organ Workers' Union, if it really desires to* promote the welfare
of the men whose energies are devoted to piano making. If they
can organize their unions on the basis of eligibility to membership,
or the grounds of a knowledge of specified departments of the
business, and then work towards reaching a higher scale for pro-
ficient men in all departments of the industry than can be occupied
by a man who can only drive a few tuning pins or do a little polish-
ing. Such a workman can be then naturally encouraged by reason
of the high wages paid for a higher knowledge along certain lines
and will become a skilled pianomaker in the broadest interpretation
of the term.
If a union is worth supporting- it should work along lines
which tend towards the mental, moral and financial advancement
of those who have membership in it, and there is no reason in the
world save a purely selfish one why the Piano and Organ Makers'
Union should not conform to the laws which are operative in many
other industrial organizations.
Popularization of the Pipe Organ.
T
H E amazing growth within a recent period of the popular
priced theatre, in which moving pictures are playing a promi-
nent part, has resulted in popularizing the pipe organ—an unex-
pected development truly, for a few years back no one would pre-
dict that the pipe organ would assume any popularity outside of
the church or concert hall. But the fact remains that pipe organs
of exceeding worth musically are being installed in both high and
popular priced theatres in the leading cities of the country. They
are replacing or augmenting the orchestras used in these places,
and where an organist of ability is employed they are giving a
great deal of satisfaction to theatregoers.
The pipe organ which was installed last winter in the Amster-
dam Theatre, New York, is employed to good purpose not alone in
the plays produced at that house, but it is used with the orchestra
and at times solos on the organ are given and keenly enjoyed.
At the Fourteenth Street Theatre, New York, which house is now
devoted to moving pictures, a magnificent pipe organ has just been
installed which has been commented upon most favorably by mu-
sicians. In other cities, particularly in the West, pipe organs are
in great demand, and it would seem as if the popular priced thea-
tres had opened up a new field for the "King of Instruments. 5 '
Of course, the majority of these organs are constructed so that
they may be played either automatically or manually.
W r ith the growing demand for pipe organs in the music rooms
of our wealthy Americans, the increasing appreciation of this in-
strument in the concert hall, in colleges and high schools, in large
municipal auditoriums, and again in the theatres, one can realize
that a new era has opened for pipe organ manufacturers—one that
might be enlarged materially if they only displayed that enterprise
which has advanced and built up so successfully other branches of
the music trade industry.
In the exploitation of the pipe organ there has always existed
a conservatism that may be due to the fact that pipe organs in the
past were associated almost entirely with churches, withal many
religious bodies considered them "evil things" and "designed only
to please the devil." The pipe organ people are emerging from
this religious haze nowadays, and where modern commercial
methods of doing business are utilized they are commanding an
unexpectedly large share of business in an entirely new field.
It cannot be said that this development has been sought for;
rather, like Topsy, it has "just growed." It has forced itself on
the pipe organ manufacturers. Some concerns are alive to the
situation and are benefitting accordingly. Others are still drifting
along antagonistic to the present trend. But we are living in a
progressive, changing age—one that must affect and change the
ideas of the pipe organ manufacturer as everyone else.
Four Billion Dollar Trade in 1912.
O
NE of the most noteworthy facts for historians to record at
the beginning of the new year, when treating of the com-
mercial development of the United States, will be the attainment of
a four billion dollar trade in 1912. In announcing the totals of the
export and import trade of the country for the ten months ended
with October, the Bureau of Domestic and Foreign Commerce
stated this week that the foreign commerce would reach this enor-
mous total by the end of December. Its highest former record
was $3,626,000,000 in 1911. It crossed the three-billion-dollar line
for the first time in 1906 and passed two billions in 1899.
Imports in the ten months amounted to $1,511,000,000 and
exports to $1,871,000,000, making it apparent that the imports of
the full year will approximate $ 1,800,000,000 and the exports
$2,300,000,000, totaling $4,ioo,oco,ooo.
Imports have practically doubled in value since 1901, and ex-
ports similarly since 1904. The exports of domestic products,
•which had never touched the two-billion mark until 1911, in 1912
will approximate $2,250,000,000, while the exports of foreign mer-
chandise in the year will probably fall slightly below the high record
of $37,250,000 in 1910.
One of the striking features of the rapidly enlarging import
trade is the increase in non-dutiable merchandise. In 1902 these
imports amounted to only $409,000,000, and in 1912 they seem
likely to approximate $975,000,000.
This increase in foreign trade, while distributed among all the
grand divisions except Africa, is especially apparent in the trade
with neighbors on the American continent.
The Atlantic ports get the lion's share of the increase in im-
ports, but the northern border and Pacific Coast ports show the
largest percentages of gains in exports,
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Why it is Difficult to Get Piano Workmen.
I
T is not difficult for good workmen in the various departments
of piano making to get employment in New York these days.
Most every factory is in need of help, and many manufacturers say
that there is a scarcity of skilled and reliable workmen to supply
demands.
There can be no doubt but that the pianomaker—that is, the
man skilled in all departments of piano making—has become prac-
tically obsolete as far as mere numbers go in the ranks of factory
workers to-day.
This condition has been brought about, to our minds, not so
much by reason of the removal of the old-fashioned apprentice
system as from the fact that the gravitation towards specialism
has been felt in piano factories as well as in every other subdi-
vision of industry. In early years the contract system was not
in vogue and the pianomaker of those days was one who could
follow a piano through every department, and was a skilled work-
man. To-day through the contract systtm the various bosses have
held men for years in one special department of the business and
in this way they are entirely without knowledge of general piano
work, their employment having been along specified lines 1 .
This is emphasized by men who apply for employment. When
asked if they are pianomakers, they invariably reply in the affirma-
tive and state that they have worked in such and such factories for
a term of years. Closer investigation reveals the fact that they
have only learned one branch of the business and are wholly
ignorant of all the other departments even though closely related.
Herein lies an opportunity for serious work for the Piano and
Organ Workers' Union, if it really desires to* promote the welfare
of the men whose energies are devoted to piano making. If they
can organize their unions on the basis of eligibility to membership,
or the grounds of a knowledge of specified departments of the
business, and then work towards reaching a higher scale for pro-
ficient men in all departments of the industry than can be occupied
by a man who can only drive a few tuning pins or do a little polish-
ing. Such a workman can be then naturally encouraged by reason
of the high wages paid for a higher knowledge along certain lines
and will become a skilled pianomaker in the broadest interpretation
of the term.
If a union is worth supporting- it should work along lines
which tend towards the mental, moral and financial advancement
of those who have membership in it, and there is no reason in the
world save a purely selfish one why the Piano and Organ Makers'
Union should not conform to the laws which are operative in many
other industrial organizations.
Popularization of the Pipe Organ.
T
H E amazing growth within a recent period of the popular
priced theatre, in which moving pictures are playing a promi-
nent part, has resulted in popularizing the pipe organ—an unex-
pected development truly, for a few years back no one would pre-
dict that the pipe organ would assume any popularity outside of
the church or concert hall. But the fact remains that pipe organs
of exceeding worth musically are being installed in both high and
popular priced theatres in the leading cities of the country. They
are replacing or augmenting the orchestras used in these places,
and where an organist of ability is employed they are giving a
great deal of satisfaction to theatregoers.
The pipe organ which was installed last winter in the Amster-
dam Theatre, New York, is employed to good purpose not alone in
the plays produced at that house, but it is used with the orchestra
and at times solos on the organ are given and keenly enjoyed.
At the Fourteenth Street Theatre, New York, which house is now
devoted to moving pictures, a magnificent pipe organ has just been
installed which has been commented upon most favorably by mu-
sicians. In other cities, particularly in the West, pipe organs are
in great demand, and it would seem as if the popular priced thea-
tres had opened up a new field for the "King of Instruments. 5 '
Of course, the majority of these organs are constructed so that
they may be played either automatically or manually.
W r ith the growing demand for pipe organs in the music rooms
of our wealthy Americans, the increasing appreciation of this in-
strument in the concert hall, in colleges and high schools, in large
municipal auditoriums, and again in the theatres, one can realize
that a new era has opened for pipe organ manufacturers—one that
might be enlarged materially if they only displayed that enterprise
which has advanced and built up so successfully other branches of
the music trade industry.
In the exploitation of the pipe organ there has always existed
a conservatism that may be due to the fact that pipe organs in the
past were associated almost entirely with churches, withal many
religious bodies considered them "evil things" and "designed only
to please the devil." The pipe organ people are emerging from
this religious haze nowadays, and where modern commercial
methods of doing business are utilized they are commanding an
unexpectedly large share of business in an entirely new field.
It cannot be said that this development has been sought for;
rather, like Topsy, it has "just growed." It has forced itself on
the pipe organ manufacturers. Some concerns are alive to the
situation and are benefitting accordingly. Others are still drifting
along antagonistic to the present trend. But we are living in a
progressive, changing age—one that must affect and change the
ideas of the pipe organ manufacturer as everyone else.
Four Billion Dollar Trade in 1912.
O
NE of the most noteworthy facts for historians to record at
the beginning of the new year, when treating of the com-
mercial development of the United States, will be the attainment of
a four billion dollar trade in 1912. In announcing the totals of the
export and import trade of the country for the ten months ended
with October, the Bureau of Domestic and Foreign Commerce
stated this week that the foreign commerce would reach this enor-
mous total by the end of December. Its highest former record
was $3,626,000,000 in 1911. It crossed the three-billion-dollar line
for the first time in 1906 and passed two billions in 1899.
Imports in the ten months amounted to $1,511,000,000 and
exports to $1,871,000,000, making it apparent that the imports of
the full year will approximate $ 1,800,000,000 and the exports
$2,300,000,000, totaling $4,ioo,oco,ooo.
Imports have practically doubled in value since 1901, and ex-
ports similarly since 1904. The exports of domestic products,
•which had never touched the two-billion mark until 1911, in 1912
will approximate $2,250,000,000, while the exports of foreign mer-
chandise in the year will probably fall slightly below the high record
of $37,250,000 in 1910.
One of the striking features of the rapidly enlarging import
trade is the increase in non-dutiable merchandise. In 1902 these
imports amounted to only $409,000,000, and in 1912 they seem
likely to approximate $975,000,000.
This increase in foreign trade, while distributed among all the
grand divisions except Africa, is especially apparent in the trade
with neighbors on the American continent.
The Atlantic ports get the lion's share of the increase in im-
ports, but the northern border and Pacific Coast ports show the
largest percentages of gains in exports,
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).