Music Trade Review
Issue: 1917 Vol. 65 N. 18 - Page 4
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President, J. B. Spillane,
373 Fourth Ave., New York- Second Vice-President, J. Raymond Bill, 373 Fourth Ave.,
New York; Secretary and Treasurer, August J. Timpe, 373 Fourth Ave., New York.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
J. RAYMOND BILL, Associate Editor
AUGUST J. TIMPE
Business Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
B. BmiTTMN WILSON, CARLETON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
WM. BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St. E.
Telephone, Main 6950.
P. VAN HARLINGEN, Republic Building.
209 So. State St. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
H. SCOTT KINGWILL, Assistant Manager.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $4.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $130.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
y
a r e d e a ] t ^ j ^ w \\\ be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concern-
ing which will be cheerfully given upon request.
anil
allU
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.. .Pan-American Exposition. 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal..Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982—6983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER
3 , 1917
= EDITORIAL
T
HE great campaign for the successful closing of the second
Liberty Borui issue is at an end, and the people of the Nation
are to be congratulated on the magnificent response to the de-
mands of the Government for financial means for prosecuting
the war to the end that victory may perch on the banners of
our forces.
Business has been disturbed somewhat throughout the
country, owing to the strenuousness of the Liberty Loan cam-
paign, but conditions are rapidly bettering, and with the finan-
cial adjustments now under way, business prosperity should
resume its normal sway not only in the music trade industry,
but in all lines of commerce.
It is gratifying to note that, in spite of the vast sums of
money invested in Government Bonds, the demand for high-grade
pianos throughout the country has been unprecedented for the
past two months. Grands in particular have been in such de-
mand that, at the present time, there is a shortage, and this
despite the fact that our leading manufacturers are devoting a
great deal of their manufacturing space to the production of
grand pianos.
The business situation in the music trade field, broadly
considered, is most gratifying, and everything now points to a
marked degree of activity this winter. Of course, much de-
pends upon the trade itself. Piano merchants who are keeping
their houses and the lines of instruments they handle well before
the public are reaping splendid returns on their publicity in-
vestment. It must be remembered that the money the American
people have loaned to the Government, or, properly speaking,
invested in bonds, will to a large extent remain in this country.
It goes back to the workers, and from the workers to the mer-
chants, so that, after all, this entire financial transaction is merely
a transfer of funds.
But the money is coming back in the shape of increased
wages to a big army of people who hitherto have been unable
REVIEW
to buy such necessities as pianos and other musical instruments;
hence the piano merchant must look out for a new class of cus-
tomers, who will be ready to buy if they are properly interested.
Unfortunately there are some merchants who are inclined to
view the situation through indigo-hued glasses. This great com-
plex problem of financing the war means to them the end of
things, but to the men of broad vision it means that we are
entering on a new era as a world power—which will make the
United States and its commerce better known and more influ-
ential than ever before in history.
announcement last week of the appointment of Geo. W.
T HE
Pound as general manager of the National Piano Manufac-
turers' Association marked the first step in the new campaign
of activity in the work of the Association that has been mapped
out by that body. For some time it has been realized that the
piano trade should have some central headquarters and maintain
a permanent organization for taking care of a multitude of
matters that are of interest to the trade generally, and which
call for organized action. With such an organization on the
job at all times, under the direction of a general manager, the
Association will have a force that is ready to get to work at
once on any matters that may require attention and to devote
its entire attention to such w r ork.
It is generally recognized that the plan of handling Asso-
ciation matters through appointed or volunteer committees
does not make for efficiency. No matter how deeply the com-
mittee members may be interested in the work they are called
upon to perform for the Association, the fact remains that they
are for the most part limited as to the amount of time and atten-
tion they can take from their regular business pursuits and de-
vote to the service of the industry as a whole. Tn many in-
stances committee work means a real hardship on those called
upon to perform it. A trade organization, on the other hand,
makes the Association's work its business, and through a greater
familiarity with the work should be able to accomplish more
satisfactory results.
in The Review will be found a number of
E LSEWHERE
rulings bearing upon the new war tax law made by the
Commissioner General of Internal Revenue, many of which are
of general interest to the trade. One in particular, referring to
the floor tax, holds that where manufacturers shipped goods to
wholesalers or retailers retaining any form of title, such goods
are subject to the manufacturer's tax and not the floor tax.
Moreover, all goods sold and shipped prior to October 4 are
the property of the consignee and liable to the tax. There are
several other rulings covering Sections 400, 401 and 404 which
our readers will find worthy of consideration.
HE music trade is to be congratulated upon the excellent
T
showing made in subscribing to the bonds of the second
Liberty Loan. The Liberty Loan Committee of the New York
Piano Manufacturers' Association, of which Julian T. Mayer is
chairman, reports a total subscription from all branches of the
trade, including piano manufacturers, retailers and talking ma-
chine interests, of $1,100,500, subscribed directly through the
committee and its sub-committees. This, of course, is exclusive
of the amount subscribed by members of the trade through
other channels.
HE piano trade, and especially that section of the retail
T
trade handling talking machines as well as pianos, should
display more than a passing interest in the hearings now being
held before the Federal Trade Commission, to determine the
legality of existing methods of retail price fixing. The oppo-
nents to the retail price maintenance idea, and especially certain
department stores, are determined to make their opposition felt
before the Commission, in an effort to have a ruling issued
against the practice.
While the talking machine trade has been represented at
the hearing, there has not been the general interest shown in
the proceedings that there should be. Fixed retail prices have
come to be regarded, in fields where they exist, as being fair
and equitable both to the merchant, especially the small mer-
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President, J. B. Spillane,
373 Fourth Ave., New York- Second Vice-President, J. Raymond Bill, 373 Fourth Ave.,
New York; Secretary and Treasurer, August J. Timpe, 373 Fourth Ave., New York.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
J. RAYMOND BILL, Associate Editor
AUGUST J. TIMPE
Business Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Stall:
B. BmiTTMN WILSON, CARLETON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
WM. BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St. E.
Telephone, Main 6950.
P. VAN HARLINGEN, Republic Building.
209 So. State St. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
H. SCOTT KINGWILL, Assistant Manager.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $4.50 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $130.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
y
a r e d e a ] t ^ j ^ w \\\ be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concern-
ing which will be cheerfully given upon request.
anil
allU
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma.. .Pan-American Exposition. 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal..Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982—6983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York."
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER
3 , 1917
= EDITORIAL
T
HE great campaign for the successful closing of the second
Liberty Borui issue is at an end, and the people of the Nation
are to be congratulated on the magnificent response to the de-
mands of the Government for financial means for prosecuting
the war to the end that victory may perch on the banners of
our forces.
Business has been disturbed somewhat throughout the
country, owing to the strenuousness of the Liberty Loan cam-
paign, but conditions are rapidly bettering, and with the finan-
cial adjustments now under way, business prosperity should
resume its normal sway not only in the music trade industry,
but in all lines of commerce.
It is gratifying to note that, in spite of the vast sums of
money invested in Government Bonds, the demand for high-grade
pianos throughout the country has been unprecedented for the
past two months. Grands in particular have been in such de-
mand that, at the present time, there is a shortage, and this
despite the fact that our leading manufacturers are devoting a
great deal of their manufacturing space to the production of
grand pianos.
The business situation in the music trade field, broadly
considered, is most gratifying, and everything now points to a
marked degree of activity this winter. Of course, much de-
pends upon the trade itself. Piano merchants who are keeping
their houses and the lines of instruments they handle well before
the public are reaping splendid returns on their publicity in-
vestment. It must be remembered that the money the American
people have loaned to the Government, or, properly speaking,
invested in bonds, will to a large extent remain in this country.
It goes back to the workers, and from the workers to the mer-
chants, so that, after all, this entire financial transaction is merely
a transfer of funds.
But the money is coming back in the shape of increased
wages to a big army of people who hitherto have been unable
REVIEW
to buy such necessities as pianos and other musical instruments;
hence the piano merchant must look out for a new class of cus-
tomers, who will be ready to buy if they are properly interested.
Unfortunately there are some merchants who are inclined to
view the situation through indigo-hued glasses. This great com-
plex problem of financing the war means to them the end of
things, but to the men of broad vision it means that we are
entering on a new era as a world power—which will make the
United States and its commerce better known and more influ-
ential than ever before in history.
announcement last week of the appointment of Geo. W.
T HE
Pound as general manager of the National Piano Manufac-
turers' Association marked the first step in the new campaign
of activity in the work of the Association that has been mapped
out by that body. For some time it has been realized that the
piano trade should have some central headquarters and maintain
a permanent organization for taking care of a multitude of
matters that are of interest to the trade generally, and which
call for organized action. With such an organization on the
job at all times, under the direction of a general manager, the
Association will have a force that is ready to get to work at
once on any matters that may require attention and to devote
its entire attention to such w r ork.
It is generally recognized that the plan of handling Asso-
ciation matters through appointed or volunteer committees
does not make for efficiency. No matter how deeply the com-
mittee members may be interested in the work they are called
upon to perform for the Association, the fact remains that they
are for the most part limited as to the amount of time and atten-
tion they can take from their regular business pursuits and de-
vote to the service of the industry as a whole. Tn many in-
stances committee work means a real hardship on those called
upon to perform it. A trade organization, on the other hand,
makes the Association's work its business, and through a greater
familiarity with the work should be able to accomplish more
satisfactory results.
in The Review will be found a number of
E LSEWHERE
rulings bearing upon the new war tax law made by the
Commissioner General of Internal Revenue, many of which are
of general interest to the trade. One in particular, referring to
the floor tax, holds that where manufacturers shipped goods to
wholesalers or retailers retaining any form of title, such goods
are subject to the manufacturer's tax and not the floor tax.
Moreover, all goods sold and shipped prior to October 4 are
the property of the consignee and liable to the tax. There are
several other rulings covering Sections 400, 401 and 404 which
our readers will find worthy of consideration.
HE music trade is to be congratulated upon the excellent
T
showing made in subscribing to the bonds of the second
Liberty Loan. The Liberty Loan Committee of the New York
Piano Manufacturers' Association, of which Julian T. Mayer is
chairman, reports a total subscription from all branches of the
trade, including piano manufacturers, retailers and talking ma-
chine interests, of $1,100,500, subscribed directly through the
committee and its sub-committees. This, of course, is exclusive
of the amount subscribed by members of the trade through
other channels.
HE piano trade, and especially that section of the retail
T
trade handling talking machines as well as pianos, should
display more than a passing interest in the hearings now being
held before the Federal Trade Commission, to determine the
legality of existing methods of retail price fixing. The oppo-
nents to the retail price maintenance idea, and especially certain
department stores, are determined to make their opposition felt
before the Commission, in an effort to have a ruling issued
against the practice.
While the talking machine trade has been represented at
the hearing, there has not been the general interest shown in
the proceedings that there should be. Fixed retail prices have
come to be regarded, in fields where they exist, as being fair
and equitable both to the merchant, especially the small mer-
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).