Music Trade Review

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SEITEMBER 14,
1918
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ports after the war—the commercial compacts,
boycotts or what not that will play a most im-
portant part in lending direction to trade cur-
rents after the war. I divulge no secret when
I say that plans are already hatching whereby
Congress will be asked to give the President of
the United States authority to extend for a term
of months or years after the war the export
embargoes now in force in this country in order
that the countries of central Europe that are
notoriously hungry for raw materials may not
drain our resources after the war without re-
gard to the havoc worked upon American in-
dustries or the resultant wild inflation of prices.
Great Britain has already taken ^teps for such
extension of embargoes and other countries will
follow suit. The Department of Commerce, in
the role of economic reconstructionist, will aim
to keep fully advised with regard to every de-
velopment that will openly or covertly affect
American business interests in making a flying
start for trade after the war, so that no handicap
may impede American business expansion.
By and large, the big significance for the
music industries in this new solicitude on the
part of the Department of Commerce is found
in the fact that the Commerce Department is
just now about the only branch of the Govern-
ment that can be accounted constructive. That
is not equivalent to saying that all the others
are destructive but they are at least repres-
sive or restrictive. The War Industries Board,
the Fuel Administration, the War Trade Board,
the U. S. Employment Service and all the rest,
however well intentioned, are, in their eagerness
for war efficiency, inclined to hobble rather than
help private business—that is, the private busi-
ness that has not gone over bag and baggage to
the execution of war contracts. In the De-
partment of Commerce we find, however, an
instrumentality that, with due cognizance of
every need that will help the nation to win the
war, is not going to shut its eyes to the wis-
dom of national policies that will allow manu-
facturers to make a quick get-away in their
chosen fields of trade as soon as the armies
cease fighting.
BUYS INTEREST IN DUERK CO.
W. C. PAYNE & SONS BANKRUPT
G. L. Weitz, Former Manager of Retail Ware-
rooms of Christman Sons, Now Half Owner
of Company Specializing in Grand Pianos
Long-Established Virginia Music House Files
Voluntary Petition in Bankruptcy
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE PLANS WILL AID MUSIC TRADE
Washington Correspondent of The Review Tells How the Plans for After-the-War Activities Now
Being Prepared by the U. S. Department of Commerce Will Benefit the Music Trade
WASHINGTON, D. C, September 11.—The best
news for the piano trade that has come out of
Washington since the war began giving jolts to
big and little business is found in the plan of
the U. S. Department of Commerce for "eco-
nomic reconstruction." I have the word of
Burwell S. Cutler, Chief of the U. S. Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce, that for no
industry should this new plan have greater sig-
nificance in the present emergency than for the
music trade, and especially for the piano and
player branch of it.
Doubtless every reader of The Review saw
the brief announcement of a few days ago in
the daily press to the effect that Secretary of
Commerce Redfield had a scheme for helping
less essential industries or producers of "peace
necessities" in the dilemma in which they have
been placed by the near-monopoly of fuel, steel,
labor and transportation for war necessities.
The germ of a constructive new idea evolved at
the Department of Commerce was in the an-
nouncement attributed to the Secretary. The
newspapers did not in some cases, however, get
the news exactly right. Secretary Redfield has
no scheme—he could not have, for all his influ-
ence with the Administration—to absolve in-
dustry from all wartime responsibilities and re-
store the "Business as Usual" status. What is
in prospect, however, is an industrial adjust-
ment to wartime necessities with an eye to
after-the-war resumption and restoration with-
out delay. This is where especially interesting
contact with the music industry is established.
The Ideal of Economic Reconstruction
When 1 asked Chief Cutler, who was a prac-
tical business man ere he took the helm at the
Bureau of Commerce, whether the new ideal of
economic reconstruction would avoid the neces-
sity of temporary curtailment of production in
the piano industry he replied: "No, I would
not say that. The piano industry, like every
other industry, must expect to convert to war
production if it is desired to keep plants run-
ning at 100 per cent. What I hope our con-
structive policy will do, however, is to result
in a form of conservation that will enable every
piano manufacturer to come back hard in a
commercial sense as soon as war is over. For
example, we would like to devise means that
will enable every piano manufacturer to retain
in his service a selection of his skilled, experi-
enced employes who will serve as a nucleus for
an expert factory force when peace is restored,
and it is desirable to speed up production to
take advantage of the opportunities that will
await our piano manufacturers in the export
market."
An Inventory of the World's Resources
Another angle of the program of economic re-
construction upon which a force of experts at
the Commerce Department has now gone to
work that promises practical benefit is that
which contemplates an inventory of the world's
resources and a forecast of international trade
conditions after the war. Does the piano manu-
facturer want some really authentic information
as to mahogany stocks or ivory stocks or the
status of any other distant reservoir upon which
he must draw for materials? The Bureau of
Foreign and Domestic Commerce will be able
to supply it when its present surveys are com-
pleted.
Similarly this newly-constituted oftice of in-
formation is, on behalf of manufacturers and
merchants, going to keep close tab upon the
plans which are being made by all the bellig-
erent powers for the control of imports and ex-
George L. Weitz, who has been for many
years manager of the retail piano warerooms of
Christman Sons, has resigned his connection
with that company, and has secured a half in-
CHARLOTTESVILLE, VA., September 9.—A petition
in voluntary bankruptcy was filed here last
week by the firm of W. C. Payne & Sons, deal-
ers in pianos and musical merchandise, located
at the corner of Main and First streets. The
concern is composed of W. C. Payne and his
two sons, Laurie R. and Percy F., the senior
Payne having been in business here for over
forty years. The schedule filed with the peti-
tion shows liabilities of $18,854.50 and assets
of $8,694.
USING CRIPPLES IN PIANO PLANT
Lester Piano Co. Reports That the Experiment
Is Proving Very Satisfactory
George L. Weitz
terest in the Chas. Duerk Co., 52-54 Grove street,
New York. He will immediately assume his
new duties in charge of the sales end of the
company.
The Chas. Duerk Co. have specialized entirely
in the production of fine small grand pianos,
and Mr. Weitz is enthusiastic over the sales
possibilities of these instruments. His en-
thusiasm, however, is naturally tinged with the
entirely natural regret at breaking business ties
with Christman Sons, which have always been
of the pleasantest sort during his many years'
connection with this house.
In addition to his wide experience in the piano
field Mr. Weitz is also a thorough musician and
enjoys a wide reputation as a pianist, organist
and composer. His genial personality has won
for him a host of friends in trade and musical
circles whose best wishes go with him in his
new venture.
FRANK BASSOW IN NEW POST
Frank Bassow. for many years connected with
the Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. Co., has ac-
cepted a position as designer and draftsman
with the Multitone Mfg. Co., of Eau Claire, Wis.
PHII.AHEI.PHIA, PA., September 9.—The Lester
Piano Co., which is among the first piano manu-
facturers to utilize female labor in their factories
to offset in some measure the shortage in male
help, now has employed a number of crippled
men in various departments of the plant and
at work best suited to their abilities. George
Miller, president of the Lester Co., reports that,
although the employment of cripples is still
more or less in an experimental stage, the re-
sults have been very gratifying. The men have
taken their jobs seriously and obtain excellent
results.
NEW LOCATION FOR EISENBRANDT CO.
R. H. Eisenbrandt & Sons, Inc., the well-
known music house of Baltimore, have begun
the task of remodeling the large building at 417
North Howard street, Baltimore, Md., which
will be their headquarters after the first of
October. The new location will give the con-
cern much-needed space for their present exten-
sive business.
ANNEX TO HOWARD PLANT
The R. S. Howard Piano Co. is preparing to
erect an annex to its present quarters in the
Wasle Building, Brown place and Southern
boulevard, for the purpose of storing supplies.
The Howard Co. recently acquired space in the
building and the annex, which will be con-
structed mainly of iron, will give it additional
room at its new headquarters.
WINTER & CO.
RUDOLF
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
22O SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK