Music Trade Review
Issue: 1916 Vol. 63 N. 21 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE VALUE OF SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE
(Continued from page 3)
much interested in the special functions of the player action, how the instrument should he played, and the
hundred and one other details connected with the player concerning" which the prospective purchaser desires
- enlightenment. The salesman or manager who is able to answer such inquiries intelligently and compre-
hensively is undoubtedly a more valuable man to his house than is the man who quibbles and pretends to know-
that which he does not.
At no time in the history of our country has technical knowledge been so essential to the success of
business as to-day. The leading music trade associations in European countries are strongly advocating a
more active participation, on the part of the sales force, in courses bearing upon the technical or construc-
tional side of the industry. These are excellent suggestions and w r ell worthy of simulation by the leading
trade associations of this country.
The old copybook saying, "Knowledge is power," has an added weight for the piano salesman, especially
when that knowledge is technical, for it supplements the talent of ability possessed by the average salesman
in such a manner that it makes him a powerful asset to the business with which he is connected.
the Philharmonic Orchestra, under Conductor Stransky and
noted soloists, gave a concert, the program being selected by
readers of The Mail, which was enjoyed by an audience that
filled Carnegie Hall from pit to dome. The character of the
artists participating, and the intelligence and enthusiasm of the
audience afforded a very pleasing idea of how the people of New
York hunger for good music, and how splendidly their want;-:
were catered to by this enterprising newspaper which enabled
numbers of people to enjoy a concert at ridiculously low prices.
In European countries work of this kind is done by the
municipal or national governments, but strange to say, in this
Republic where the aesthetic desires of the people should be
catered to more fully, there is a complete ignoring of the value
of music as a factor in good citizenship. Our newspapers, how-
ever, are filling this want in a most satisfactory way, and the
symphony concerts, the plans for which have been perfected by
The Mail, are steps forward which should gain the appreciation
and commendation of the music trade industry. For it must be
conceded that the greater the knowledge and appreciation of
music that exists among the masses of the people, the greater the
need for pianos and players and other musical instruments, to
interpret.the desires of the community.
LTHOUGH it was primarily a question of State rights that
A
precipitated the Civil War, the State rights idea has lost
considerable ground during the last quarter of a century among
business men and others whose political ambitions do not de-
pend upon the territorial divisions of the country. The public
has come to realize that, although the United States is osten-
sibly a collection of small and large States as its name indicates,
it is on the other hand one great country with interests in one
section identical with those in another. It has been business
largely which has brought about this cohesion, and the demand
to supplant many of the State rights by Federal authority.
The man who makes goods in New York and sells them in
Illinois, Idaho and California feels that the legal conditions that
exist in his home State should serve as his guide in doing busi-
ness in other sections of the same country. Meanwhile, the
man selling pianos on installments, finds that the personal prop-
erty laws in practically every State are different; that he can
do things legally in one State which would land him in jail in
the next; that effective protective measures in one State are
useless in another. In other words, that, to all intents and pur-
poses, he might as well be doing business with a number of
distinct and separate countries or nations.
On more than one occasion a man who has sold a piano in
one State found later that it had been moved to an adjacent
State, and was practically taken out of his reach, unless he de-
sired to go to the expenditure of time, money and trouble that inter-
state litigation entails.
There is a movement on foot at the present time for the
adoption of uniform State laws, and it is a movement that should
have the endorsement of every business man who has country-
wide interests. Such laws would overcome the opposition of
those who see danger in increased Federal authority, for the
authority of the State would be upheld through the uniformity
of legislation, thus saving the honest business man who wants
to do business above board, but according to law, from the
annoyance and expense of meeting with the conflicting legal
restrictions endorsed by the States at present.
GETTING DOWN TO PLAIN PLAYER FACTS
The education of the public along player lines is a necessity for the expansion of the player business.
There is no doubt of that; and education of the piano merchants and salesmen is also a vital necessity,
because through them will come a powerful force in the education of the public; and right here we wish to
remark that we have produced a line of books upon the player-piano which comprehensively covers the
entire player situation.
In this respect this trade newspaper stands alone, for it has been the principal source from which player
information has been available for piano merchants and salesmen for a period of years. Our latest book,
"The Player-Piano Up to Date"
is the best of the series. It contains upwards of 220 pages of matter bearing directly upon the player.
Every piano merchant and piano salesman should have a copy of this book within easy reach. It
gives to readers a fund of information not obtainable elsewhere.
It contains a series of original drawings and a vast amount of instructive and educational matter, as
well as a detailed description of some of the principal player mechanisms.
It costs $1.50 to have this book delivered to any address in the United States, and your money will be
refunded if you are not satisfied with the book after examination. No one yet has availed himself of this
opportunity. Foreign countries, 15c. to cover extra postage, should be added.
Estate of EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Publisher
373 Fourth Ave., New York
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THE VALUE OF SPECIALIZED KNOWLEDGE
(Continued from page 3)
much interested in the special functions of the player action, how the instrument should he played, and the
hundred and one other details connected with the player concerning" which the prospective purchaser desires
- enlightenment. The salesman or manager who is able to answer such inquiries intelligently and compre-
hensively is undoubtedly a more valuable man to his house than is the man who quibbles and pretends to know-
that which he does not.
At no time in the history of our country has technical knowledge been so essential to the success of
business as to-day. The leading music trade associations in European countries are strongly advocating a
more active participation, on the part of the sales force, in courses bearing upon the technical or construc-
tional side of the industry. These are excellent suggestions and w r ell worthy of simulation by the leading
trade associations of this country.
The old copybook saying, "Knowledge is power," has an added weight for the piano salesman, especially
when that knowledge is technical, for it supplements the talent of ability possessed by the average salesman
in such a manner that it makes him a powerful asset to the business with which he is connected.
the Philharmonic Orchestra, under Conductor Stransky and
noted soloists, gave a concert, the program being selected by
readers of The Mail, which was enjoyed by an audience that
filled Carnegie Hall from pit to dome. The character of the
artists participating, and the intelligence and enthusiasm of the
audience afforded a very pleasing idea of how the people of New
York hunger for good music, and how splendidly their want;-:
were catered to by this enterprising newspaper which enabled
numbers of people to enjoy a concert at ridiculously low prices.
In European countries work of this kind is done by the
municipal or national governments, but strange to say, in this
Republic where the aesthetic desires of the people should be
catered to more fully, there is a complete ignoring of the value
of music as a factor in good citizenship. Our newspapers, how-
ever, are filling this want in a most satisfactory way, and the
symphony concerts, the plans for which have been perfected by
The Mail, are steps forward which should gain the appreciation
and commendation of the music trade industry. For it must be
conceded that the greater the knowledge and appreciation of
music that exists among the masses of the people, the greater the
need for pianos and players and other musical instruments, to
interpret.the desires of the community.
LTHOUGH it was primarily a question of State rights that
A
precipitated the Civil War, the State rights idea has lost
considerable ground during the last quarter of a century among
business men and others whose political ambitions do not de-
pend upon the territorial divisions of the country. The public
has come to realize that, although the United States is osten-
sibly a collection of small and large States as its name indicates,
it is on the other hand one great country with interests in one
section identical with those in another. It has been business
largely which has brought about this cohesion, and the demand
to supplant many of the State rights by Federal authority.
The man who makes goods in New York and sells them in
Illinois, Idaho and California feels that the legal conditions that
exist in his home State should serve as his guide in doing busi-
ness in other sections of the same country. Meanwhile, the
man selling pianos on installments, finds that the personal prop-
erty laws in practically every State are different; that he can
do things legally in one State which would land him in jail in
the next; that effective protective measures in one State are
useless in another. In other words, that, to all intents and pur-
poses, he might as well be doing business with a number of
distinct and separate countries or nations.
On more than one occasion a man who has sold a piano in
one State found later that it had been moved to an adjacent
State, and was practically taken out of his reach, unless he de-
sired to go to the expenditure of time, money and trouble that inter-
state litigation entails.
There is a movement on foot at the present time for the
adoption of uniform State laws, and it is a movement that should
have the endorsement of every business man who has country-
wide interests. Such laws would overcome the opposition of
those who see danger in increased Federal authority, for the
authority of the State would be upheld through the uniformity
of legislation, thus saving the honest business man who wants
to do business above board, but according to law, from the
annoyance and expense of meeting with the conflicting legal
restrictions endorsed by the States at present.
GETTING DOWN TO PLAIN PLAYER FACTS
The education of the public along player lines is a necessity for the expansion of the player business.
There is no doubt of that; and education of the piano merchants and salesmen is also a vital necessity,
because through them will come a powerful force in the education of the public; and right here we wish to
remark that we have produced a line of books upon the player-piano which comprehensively covers the
entire player situation.
In this respect this trade newspaper stands alone, for it has been the principal source from which player
information has been available for piano merchants and salesmen for a period of years. Our latest book,
"The Player-Piano Up to Date"
is the best of the series. It contains upwards of 220 pages of matter bearing directly upon the player.
Every piano merchant and piano salesman should have a copy of this book within easy reach. It
gives to readers a fund of information not obtainable elsewhere.
It contains a series of original drawings and a vast amount of instructive and educational matter, as
well as a detailed description of some of the principal player mechanisms.
It costs $1.50 to have this book delivered to any address in the United States, and your money will be
refunded if you are not satisfied with the book after examination. No one yet has availed himself of this
opportunity. Foreign countries, 15c. to cover extra postage, should be added.
Estate of EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Publisher
373 Fourth Ave., New York
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).