Music Trade Review
Issue: 1918 Vol. 66 N. 15 - Page 5
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
APRIL 13, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
The Growth of the Musical Instrument Export Trade
pianos valued at $56,685 exported during the same month of the
E hear a great deal in the trade about the development of
W
previous year.
the American export business, but even the increasing num-
Music roll exports more than doubled, the figures for last
ber of manufacturing concerns branching out into foreign fields
have, for the most part, no adequate conception of the manner in
which the export trade of the country in musical instruments is
growing. Our export trade is growing and is growing rapidly.
It has the support of the Government as a means for preserving
the trade balance, and it is very probable that this support will
be increased as time goes on and domestic conditions change.
The development of foreign trade is best realized, however,
through a perusal of official Government figures covering the
export and import trade which appeared in The Review last week.
This shows that during the month of January of this year, for
instance, the value of the exports of musical instruments was
$435,115, as compared with $306,636, an increase of approximately
30 per cent, for the month. During the seven months ending
January 31, the exportation of musical instruments amounted
to $3,111,481, as against $2,230,763, for the same period in 1917,
and about $1,900,000 in 1916. In other words, there is an increase
of $880,718 in the value of exports in a single year with the
country actually in the war.
The classified figures are also interesting, showing that in
last January 174 organs valued at $11,689 were exported, as com-
pared with 125 organs valued at $6,070 in January, 1917. One
thousand four hundred and ten pianos valued at $224,069 were
sent abroad in January, as compared with 885 pianos valued at
$134,096 exported in the same month of the previous year. The
figures for seven months show a corresponding increase for the
entire period. Two hundred and sixty player-pianos valued at
$79,329 were exported in January, 1918, as compared with 176
January being $12,443, as compared with $6,022 for January, 1917.
Music roll figures for the seven months' period are also
interesting, showing exports valued at $87,956, as compared with
$51,495 in 1917 and $28 ; 901 in 1916. In other words, the exports
have more than tripled in the three year period.
Even the piano player figures in our export business, although
there were only seven of these instruments sent abroad in Janu-
ary, 1918, as compared with fifteen during the same month of last
year.
This is a case where figures lend genuine encouragement.
It is true that they are not as large as might be hoped for, in
view of the tremendous size of the industry in the United States,
but the fact that they are constantly growing holds promise for
the future.
If the piano trade of the United States and the Government
of our country will give half the attention to exporting musical
instruments as does England at the present time, or Germany
under normal conditions, we should see some figures in the Gov-
ernment reports that will be most impressive. As has been stated
before in these columns, however, it requires unified effort—a
willingness to work with a competitor, instead of against him,
in order to present a united front for the benefit of the trade at
large. The business we are getting now is coming to us almost
without effort and this condition offers an unparalleled oppor-
tunity for strengthening the lines and building up selling- organi-
zations and selling campaigns for the strenuous international
business campaign when peace comes again.
The fight against the new law should not be a publishers'
fight alone in any sense. It will affect vitally the business and
social interests throughout the nation, and means going back over
fifty years in postal legislation, for Lincoln abolished the zone
system in 1863.
As was said before, the matter is not a war tax. The Con-
gressmen themselves admitted as much, even though it was care-
fully camouflaged as a rider to the War Revenue Law, and put
across during the excitement which attended the passage of the
war measure. Nor is the extra money required to meet a deficit
in the Post Office Department, for the report of the Postmaster
General shows that the revenues exceeded all expenses last year
by $9,836,211. Almost every statement put forth by the pro-
ponents of the bill to help effect its passage has been shattered
by the facts.
If you want everyone to enjoy the same privileges or rights
in the procurement of their reading matter; if you want to
increase the results of advertising instead of decreasing them;
if you want the country to be one country, instead of a series of
postal zones, write to your Congressman today and demand that
he work for the repeal of the new postal law. There is no time
to lose.
Buy Liberty Bonds and Prove the Industry's Patriotism.
s
TATISTICS show that suicide showed a decrease in 1917. Un-
doubtedly another effect of the "Music in the Home" propa-
ganda.
Liberty Bonds are Non-Renewable Notes—Buy Some.
Do You Want to Expand the Retail Market
For Player-Pianos and Music
You can do this by educating the people in your territory to a keener appreciation of the amazing
possibilities of the player-piano. This will be admirably done for you by the volume entitled
Price, $1
THE PLAYER PIANIST
The Player Pianist deals with lucidity and
clearness upon the many problems which from
time to time confront the player-pianist and
player student.
This new volume is designed to afford a
complete and accurate guide to music appre-
ciation, player technic, music roll reading, etc.
This work is the result of many years' close
study of the player situation, and is put forth
to meet the requirements of music lovers who
desire to acquaint themselves with the artistic
possibilities of the player-piano.
The book deals with the elements of music,
of musical form, and incidentally gives a short
sketch of musical history from early times
to the present day.
There are chapters devoted to practical talks
upon the management of the various expres-
sion devices, pedals and tempo levers.
A perusal of the volume will provide the
player-pianist with a complete course of in-
struction in all of the aspects of expressive
and artistic playing.
There are chapters in The Player Pianist
upon practical studies in player interpretation,
illustrated with special drawings made from
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc., Publisher
DISCOUNT TO
THE TRADE
music rolls and designed to show how, step by
step, the interpretation of pieces may be
worked out artistically and satisfactorily.
It is conceded that interest must be main-
tained in the player-piano—that its marvelous
possibilities must be explained to purchasers,
and there is no work put forth in the entire
world—and we say this unqualifiedly—which
will compare with The Player Pianist as a
stimulator and educator.
If you are not perfectly satisfied with the
book after examination, your dollar will be
refunded upon the return of the book. That
is fair, is it not?
373 Fourth Ave., New York
APRIL 13, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
The Growth of the Musical Instrument Export Trade
pianos valued at $56,685 exported during the same month of the
E hear a great deal in the trade about the development of
W
previous year.
the American export business, but even the increasing num-
Music roll exports more than doubled, the figures for last
ber of manufacturing concerns branching out into foreign fields
have, for the most part, no adequate conception of the manner in
which the export trade of the country in musical instruments is
growing. Our export trade is growing and is growing rapidly.
It has the support of the Government as a means for preserving
the trade balance, and it is very probable that this support will
be increased as time goes on and domestic conditions change.
The development of foreign trade is best realized, however,
through a perusal of official Government figures covering the
export and import trade which appeared in The Review last week.
This shows that during the month of January of this year, for
instance, the value of the exports of musical instruments was
$435,115, as compared with $306,636, an increase of approximately
30 per cent, for the month. During the seven months ending
January 31, the exportation of musical instruments amounted
to $3,111,481, as against $2,230,763, for the same period in 1917,
and about $1,900,000 in 1916. In other words, there is an increase
of $880,718 in the value of exports in a single year with the
country actually in the war.
The classified figures are also interesting, showing that in
last January 174 organs valued at $11,689 were exported, as com-
pared with 125 organs valued at $6,070 in January, 1917. One
thousand four hundred and ten pianos valued at $224,069 were
sent abroad in January, as compared with 885 pianos valued at
$134,096 exported in the same month of the previous year. The
figures for seven months show a corresponding increase for the
entire period. Two hundred and sixty player-pianos valued at
$79,329 were exported in January, 1918, as compared with 176
January being $12,443, as compared with $6,022 for January, 1917.
Music roll figures for the seven months' period are also
interesting, showing exports valued at $87,956, as compared with
$51,495 in 1917 and $28 ; 901 in 1916. In other words, the exports
have more than tripled in the three year period.
Even the piano player figures in our export business, although
there were only seven of these instruments sent abroad in Janu-
ary, 1918, as compared with fifteen during the same month of last
year.
This is a case where figures lend genuine encouragement.
It is true that they are not as large as might be hoped for, in
view of the tremendous size of the industry in the United States,
but the fact that they are constantly growing holds promise for
the future.
If the piano trade of the United States and the Government
of our country will give half the attention to exporting musical
instruments as does England at the present time, or Germany
under normal conditions, we should see some figures in the Gov-
ernment reports that will be most impressive. As has been stated
before in these columns, however, it requires unified effort—a
willingness to work with a competitor, instead of against him,
in order to present a united front for the benefit of the trade at
large. The business we are getting now is coming to us almost
without effort and this condition offers an unparalleled oppor-
tunity for strengthening the lines and building up selling- organi-
zations and selling campaigns for the strenuous international
business campaign when peace comes again.
The fight against the new law should not be a publishers'
fight alone in any sense. It will affect vitally the business and
social interests throughout the nation, and means going back over
fifty years in postal legislation, for Lincoln abolished the zone
system in 1863.
As was said before, the matter is not a war tax. The Con-
gressmen themselves admitted as much, even though it was care-
fully camouflaged as a rider to the War Revenue Law, and put
across during the excitement which attended the passage of the
war measure. Nor is the extra money required to meet a deficit
in the Post Office Department, for the report of the Postmaster
General shows that the revenues exceeded all expenses last year
by $9,836,211. Almost every statement put forth by the pro-
ponents of the bill to help effect its passage has been shattered
by the facts.
If you want everyone to enjoy the same privileges or rights
in the procurement of their reading matter; if you want to
increase the results of advertising instead of decreasing them;
if you want the country to be one country, instead of a series of
postal zones, write to your Congressman today and demand that
he work for the repeal of the new postal law. There is no time
to lose.
Buy Liberty Bonds and Prove the Industry's Patriotism.
s
TATISTICS show that suicide showed a decrease in 1917. Un-
doubtedly another effect of the "Music in the Home" propa-
ganda.
Liberty Bonds are Non-Renewable Notes—Buy Some.
Do You Want to Expand the Retail Market
For Player-Pianos and Music
You can do this by educating the people in your territory to a keener appreciation of the amazing
possibilities of the player-piano. This will be admirably done for you by the volume entitled
Price, $1
THE PLAYER PIANIST
The Player Pianist deals with lucidity and
clearness upon the many problems which from
time to time confront the player-pianist and
player student.
This new volume is designed to afford a
complete and accurate guide to music appre-
ciation, player technic, music roll reading, etc.
This work is the result of many years' close
study of the player situation, and is put forth
to meet the requirements of music lovers who
desire to acquaint themselves with the artistic
possibilities of the player-piano.
The book deals with the elements of music,
of musical form, and incidentally gives a short
sketch of musical history from early times
to the present day.
There are chapters devoted to practical talks
upon the management of the various expres-
sion devices, pedals and tempo levers.
A perusal of the volume will provide the
player-pianist with a complete course of in-
struction in all of the aspects of expressive
and artistic playing.
There are chapters in The Player Pianist
upon practical studies in player interpretation,
illustrated with special drawings made from
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc., Publisher
DISCOUNT TO
THE TRADE
music rolls and designed to show how, step by
step, the interpretation of pieces may be
worked out artistically and satisfactorily.
It is conceded that interest must be main-
tained in the player-piano—that its marvelous
possibilities must be explained to purchasers,
and there is no work put forth in the entire
world—and we say this unqualifiedly—which
will compare with The Player Pianist as a
stimulator and educator.
If you are not perfectly satisfied with the
book after examination, your dollar will be
refunded upon the return of the book. That
is fair, is it not?
373 Fourth Ave., New York
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