Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
JUNE 8, 1918
What the Piano Export Trade Means to the Nation
Piano Trade With Foreign Countries an Important Factor in Maintaining Our National
Trade Balance, Says George W. Pound—What the European Nations Are Doing
"The question of considering seriously the
development of the export market for American
pianos and players is so important just now,
and has such a bearing on the future of the in-
dustry, that no manufacturer should neglect to
study the situation regardless of whether or not
he is in a position just at the moment to avail
himself of the opportunities presented," de-
clared George W. Pound, general counsel of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, in an
interview with The Review.
"It has been said by those without knowledge
of the facts that there was no use in going
after export business when our piano factories
could not take care of the home demand; but
that argument is advanced on a false premise.
There is not a piano merchant within hauling
distance of the manufacturing centers who can-
not get all the pianos and players he needs
whenever he needs them. The retailer at a
distance from the factory, of course, experi-
ences delay in getting fresh stock, but that is
a matter of transportation and not of factory
production. As a matter of fact, the transpor-
tation problem is a big problem to our trade
right now.
"The intelligent development of export busi-
ness at this particular time is most desirable,
for three chief reasons. First, that it cements
trade relations and consequently general rela-
tions between the United States and allied neu-
tral countries. Second, it provides a solution
for the problem of overproduction for the home
market, whether that problem develops during
the war or after it, and third, and this is the
most important reason, that the development of
export trade pleases the Government in times
such as these, and the last reason should appeal
with particular strength to piano men.
Piano Exports Preserve Trade Balance
"The shipment of pianos and players to for-
eign countries serves to preserve the trade bal-
ance, and sent in exchange for the nitrates of
South America, and the wool of Australia and
mules of Spain, pianos can prove the means
of bringing into this country materials most
necessary in our war work without taking from
the country other materials that we may, or do,
require for our war program. The passage of
the Webb bill permitting of certain combina-
tions of trade interests for handling export busi-
ness is the best proof that the Government is
back of any such movement.
What Other Countries Are Doing
"It is a significant fact that before the war
Germany manufactured approximately 65,000
pianos annually, of which over two-thirds were
exported, this in addition to the thousands of
dollars' worth of piano parts manufactured pri-
marily for export purposes. The piano busi-
ness in Germany, particularly the export end of
it, was divided by Government suggestion, and
to a large measure under Government guidance.
England this year plans to manufacture approxi-
mately 24,000 pianos and possibly more, the War
Trade Board having allowed metal rations with
that number of instruments in view. Of the
pianos manufactured in England, however, 60
per cent, will be exported under agreement with
the Government. Even little Sweden plans to
build 4,000 pianos this year—most of them as-
sembled with imported parts. Canada last year
manufactured approximately 26,000 pianos, and
2,500 organs, this after nearly four years of war.
"This should be taken as positive proof that
the piano industry in this country must and
will continue even though curtailed in a certain
measure, and rf war conditions continue for any
length of time the matter of production will
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be measured very largely by the number of
pianos sent out of the country in exchange for
the needed products of foreign countries. Mu-
sical instruments made in this country, and with
American material, serve to preserve the fac-
tory organizations and relieve the Government
of the problem of housing and feeding and car-
ing for generally some thousands of piano fac-
tory employes and their dependents. It serves
to prevent the migration of labor, and to keep
things in a normal and dependable condition.
If piano factories were to close it would mean
that the workers must flock to industrial cen-
ters already overcongested, which would bring
about economic waste.
"The important part that pianos play in de-
veloping foreign markets and in preserving the
trade balance is not discounted by the Govern-
ment, and the administration has even gone so
far as to give out inspiring articles published in
prominent publications of national circulation,
emphasizing the fact that pianos can serve a
useful purpose by being shipped out of the coun-
try in exchange for nitrates. If that is the at-
titude of the Government then in appreciation
of the favors that have been shown our indus-
try in this time of stress by the administration,
we can do no less than endeavor to do those
things in the handling of our business that will
please the authorities in Washington.
"Export shipments are credited to our indus-
try and not debited against it in Washington.
Right now pianos and organs are going out in
a constant stream to Australia, New Zealand and
South America. Only last week there was a
special shipment of players to New Zealand, and
other shipments by way of Pacific Coast points
are frequent. It is true that there is some dif-
ficulty experienced in finding bottoms to carry
pianos across the Pacific, but even this dif-
ficulty has been overcome on various occasions
in co-operation with Governmental officials. At
the present time there are approximately twenty-
nine piano manufacturing concerns who are ac-
tively engaged in shipping their instruments
abroad, and from inquiries that have reached this
office that number will probably be increased at
no very distant date.
"There is no question but that export ship-
ments of pianos will keep the situation bal-
anced, and that when the War Industries Board
asks for further statistics as to our industry I
will be in a position to present to them facts
that should prove most encouraging. The main
thing, however, is that the exporting of pianos
and players is not an idle fancy, but a serious
fact that should, and must, receive consideration.
It is being done successfully right now, so that
it is not a matter for experiment, and it is not
going too far to say that in a certain measure
the welfare of our whole industry depends upon
our export shipments."
TWIN CITY BUSINESS INCREASING
W. J. Dyer & Bro., St. Paul, and the Metro-
politan Music Co.-, Minneapolis, closed the
month with a fine record for Steinway sales.
Buyers appeared to be aware of the increase of
price to go into effect June 1, and hastened to
make up their minds. Several of the very best
styles running up to $1,600 in price were sold.
Agricultural conditions could not be finer.
The Northwest had a rainy spell for about ten
days and the precipitation was bountiful. Grain
experts declare that there now is in the ground
sufficient moisture to mature the crops without
another drop of rain. This is most encouraging
news to the farmers in the extreme Northwest.
Brisk Demand for High-Grade Instruments—
Rural Trade Very Active—Dealers Attending
New York Conventions—Other News
MINNEAPOLIS and
ST. PAUL, MINN., June 1.—
There was a time when the piano trade was
somewhat brisker than it is now, and also there
have been times when it was considerably duller.
These few lines may not give a comprehensive
outline of the status of the piano trade in Minne-
apolis, but it's the best your correspondent is
able to do in the way of introduction.
The dealers are showing an unwonted interest
in the national convention, and all who do not
attend in corpore will be there in spirit, for they
hope to learn from and through the great as-
sembly what the piano men really may expect
in the coming two years. Elmer A. Brooks, as
predicted, decided at the eleventh hour to at-
tend the convention and left Saturday evening,
immediately after making up his mind. F. H.
Raudenbush, secretary and treasurer of Rauden-
bush & Sons, also left Saturday evening. So
there were five Twin City men at the convention,
more than there have been for some years.
The closing week of May was the best of the
month in point of sales. Undoubtedly the Lib-
erty Loan and Red Cross drives cut very heav-
ily into the retail businesses. As in the Liberty
Loan drive the Northwest, meaning particularly
the ninth Federal Reserve Bank District, was the
first in the United States to report that its quota
for the Red Cross had been raised, and as be-
fore the quota was greatly oversubscribed. Now
that both are out of the way it is possible that
the business houses will have their inning for
a time at least. At any rate, conditions are
favorable.
Country dealers and the high-grade instru-
ments still continue to supply the features for
the trade. Factories and dealers having rural
connections are having excellent results from
the country, all in proportion to the extent of
their connections. Also the houses handling
the high-class pianos have shown goodly re-
turns.
PIANOS
THREE SONS IN THE SERVICE
Archie E. MacDonald, Hallet & Davis Repre-
sentative in Newport, R. I., Has Given Three
Sons to the Service of Uncle Sam
NEWPORT, R. I., June 3.—Archie E. MacDonald,
piano dealer of this city, is the proud possessor
of a service flag with three stars upon it, repre-
senting his three sons, the eldest of whom is
only twenty-two. He is Archie E. MacDonald,
Jr., now a machinist's mate, U. S. N. R. F. Ian
P. MacDonald, twenty years of age, is in the
Signal Corps, Aviation Section, and is a can-
didate for the Officers' Reserve. The third son
in service is Donald R. MacDonald, who enlisted
in March, 1917, when he was but eighteen years
of age, and is now a yeoman in the U. S. N. R. F.
Mr. MacDonald, who handles the Hallet & Davis
pianos, and Pathe Pathephones, at 116 Broad-
way, is, needless to say, very proud of his three
gallant sons, and the best wishes of his many
friends in the trade are with him for their safety
wherever they may be.
JULIAN T. MAYER TAKING A REST
Julian T. Mayer, of J. & C. Fischer, New York,
whose efficient work in the recent Liberty Loan
campaign was largely responsible for the great
showing made by the piano trade division, has
been resting up at Garrison, N. Y., by the advice
of his physician.
ORGANS
E5TEY PIAND COMPANY NEW YORK CITY