Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
B
Y this time everybody has exercised the privilege of saying
anything and everything about the entrance of this country
into the European war, that may occur to him as pertinent.
But is it wise at so early a date to make predictions regarding
a situation so plainly uncertain? We think not. And especially
we think that it is advisable to avoid exciting ourselves by
attempting to forecast the course of governmental action and of
business activity until the general'direction of national activity
is more clearly set forth. At this writing, when Congress has
just voted the great war credit of seven billions of dollars, the
one thing certain is that efforts are at once to be made to put
the industries of the nation on a basis of abnormal activity, for
the purpose of furnishing our Allies with the materials they
daily use in such incredible quantities, in such a manner that
the present strain under which they suffer in producing these
for themselves, may be relieved. This is a policy as wise as its
fruits will be effective, representing, as it does, the most direct
and positive contribution that the American nation can make at
this moment to the cause of liberty and democracy. Later on,
we can talk about military participation, when the army organ-
ization plans now in progress have been brought to some point of
effectiveness. At the moment our sea forces will do their share
and the industries of the nation, together with its purse, may
be depended on for the rest. In a word, business will go on
more than usual. And this means prosperity for the player trade.
13
tion for some time to come, if at all; but at the same time we
might as well anticipate the possibility some time in the future.
Anyhow, would it not be the part of wisdom to order now as
much as possible for the requirements of the coming year? It is
not necessary to anticipate aught save a much increased retail
demand in every branch of the musical instrument business, and
therefore, should the country's military requirements after a time
absorb any part of the organizations now devoted to piano and
player-piano supply manufacture, the dealers who are prepared
in advance will profit greatly.
ITH the growing and increasing importance of the small
W
grand piano, the question of the player-grand cannot help
attracting attention among farsighted player men. The purchas-
ing power of the general public may reasonably be expected to
increase steadily during the remainder of the year and for some
time thereafter, even should peace come very soon; and this for
reasons which have been very thoroughly discussed in various
quarters already. Hence the interest in the higher classes of
player-pianos may likewise be expected to grow. If the work-
man's income increases, it may be reasonably anticipated that the
employer will prosper accordingly. The fixed income classes
alone have reason usually to complain of war, with its high
prices. But the producers charge high prices just as they also
pay them. Naturally, therefore, the player-grand piano, with its
exclusiveness and its architectural beauty, should now be pushed
strongly. There is not the least reason to suppose that the field
E shall, we hope, not be accused of selfishness or of narrow-
for
expensive and exclusive player-pianos has yet been scratched.
minded blindness to the grave needs of the hour when we
The Ampico, Duo-Art and other developments have shown that
say that the first need of the moment is for business men every-
in their special field there is an enormous potential demand
where—and nowhere so much as in our own trade—to adopt a
never before suspected. But it is our opinion that what may
definite policy. It is for us to do two things: First, to hold our-
be called the straight player-grand has an equally great potential
selves in readiness to perform whatever duty the government
demand. The A. B. Chase Co., the Behning Piano Co. and
may require of us at any moment; and secondly, whilst we await
Kranich & Bach have now for several years manufactured and
the summons to duty, to carry on and push our present business
to the limit. Any or every one of us may be required, ere the sold player-grands of the personal control type. The first-named
war is over, to place himself and his talents at the service of his indeed were the pioneers in exploiting such an instrument sys-
country; but, meanwhile, our very best preparation will be, not tematically and gained for their product a reputation that has
proven permanent. None of them, it is very true, have made an
only business as usual, but business more than usual. Nor need
enormous commercial success on this one branch of their manu-
we suppose that such a policy is either difficult or fantastic.
facture, nor was it to be expected that public taste should have
On the contrary, the one special way in which the war may be
been refined enough to make great commercial success possible;
expected to touch most of us will be indicated in the increased
purchasing power of skilled labor; a power which will be re- but times change and a new era is opening. Let us do some
flected in increased purchasing of articles useful only for cul- hard thinking during the next few weeks about the player grand.
tural purposes. Among such are pianos and player-pianos. The
HE very sensible and well-thought-out remarks uttered in
experience of the original belligerents amply confirms this belief.
the March issue of the Standard Player Monthly by Presi-
In Great Britain, as has been pointed out over and over again,
dent LeCato, of the Standard Pneumatic Action Co., should be
retail demand has been limited by only one condition; namely,
read by all who are inclined to feel doubtful about the course
by the lack of adequate sources of supply to the manufacturers.
of the player business during the coming year. Mr. LeCato
British pianos were fitted with German actions and British
sees nothing ahead but a demand surely running well in advance
player-pianos with American players. The war cut off the Ger-
of probable supply. His reasons for so thinking are in part the
man supplies of actions, tuning-pins, wire and felt and the task
of improvising domestic sources, as well as that of finding new same as have been urged in previous paragraphs on this page.
In addition, however, he has gone into detail and winds up a
ones in other countries, has been very difficult. But in this
train of sound reasoning with the admonition to remember that
country we are under no such handicap. We can therefore get
the prosperity of the business is now on the soundest possible
supplies just so long as the manufacturers thereof can obtain
foundation, which war can only make even deeper and broader.
raw material. We need not look for any curtailment of produc-
W
T
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