Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
AUGUST 17. 1918
REVIEW
GO-OPERATIVE TREND IN THE INDUSTRIAL FIELD
(Continued from page 3)
practices in the conduct of a business are the most stable security for trade advancement along permanent lines.
It will be noticed that those people who are trying to palm off inferior goods on the Government for the
use of our boys at the front in the way of poor clothing and shoes are not "getting away with it' ! as in the
days of the Civil War. The men engaged in illegal practices—in turning out inferior goods, not as contracted
for—are getting short shrift. There is abroad a democratic spirit and belief that honesty is the best policy in
business as in everything else.
The music trade industry is not indifferent to the present trend in industrial affairs. The past twelve
months have shown a great broadening of its scope. The formation of the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce and the union of all the different associations with this body have brought about an amalgamation
of interests and efforts that must mean much for the present and the future of the country.
But, after all, the big fight for industrial development and stability will be after the war, when we will
have to battle not only to hold our export markets, but to develop them in conformity with our growth as a
nation. Our increased facilities for supplying our products to every part of the world will be a tremendous
help in bringing about success in this field, a success in which the piano manufacturer can have a full share,
if he will btft prepare for it.
.
with labor conditions as they exist in the big industrial centers,
particularly in the East, where manufacturers have had to main-
tain the overhead costs of their establishments in the face of a
greatly reduced output, have found supplies of metals jumping
in price every day, that is when they can be obtained at all, and
have in addition been called upon to stand their share of the
costs of war by paying heavy taxes under the War Revenue bill,
supporting the Liberty Loans and the Red Cross, and in other
directions.
Tt is safe to assume that there is no single product selling
at a price approximating that of the average piano that has ad-
vanced so little in cost to the dealer and to the customer. Every
factor that enters into the production of a piano has come close
to doubling in cost since the beginning of the war, but the per-
centage of increase passed on to the dealer, and through him to
the consumer, has been extremely small in proportion to the
advanced costs. If, in the face of the attitude taken by the ma-
jority of manufacturers in hesitating to market their goods except
as a last resort, one or two concerns should attempt to profiteer,
the attempt .would be so apparent through contrast that more
than one lone dealer would have occasion to remark on the situa-
tion.
If a manufacturer, or group of manufacturers, should attempt
to take advantage of the situation and gouge their dealers, there
would be full reason to make that fact public and to subject such
manufacturers to strong condemnation, but increasing the prices
of pianos for self-protection and to cover legitimate expenses
cannot in any sense be termed profiteering. It is simply good
business practice and makes for the safety of the industry.
HE victories of business, as in life, are won not in the marts,
T
nor in the fields, where the decisive struggle takes place, but
in the obscure and forgotten hours of preparation. Success or
failure lies in the hands of the individual long before the final
test comes, and this is particularly true in all lines of trade in
America to-day, for the greatest test of business will come after
the war, and the business man who beiieves in the value of his
name and his product and maintains this position before the
public will be best prepared to reap the reward of increased
business and increased appreciation fof his product when peace
once more visits our land.
the battlefields in France there comes an unspoken
F ROM
call that should find an answer in every American's heart.
The recent great events in Europe, the successes of American
arms on the fields of France, should spur every American to
greater effort.
Our people at home should not rest on the laurels of our
soldiers in France. Every death on the field of honor in the
line of duty and for our country's cause should be a new reason for
us to make every sacrifice and exertion to aid the cause for which
our soldiers are fighting, for which our soldiers have died.
traufae
Pianos and Player-Pianos
High ideals, with an executive
force and manufacturing
organization and equipment
equal to their most thorough
realization. That's the secret
of Straube success.
Straube Upright, Style K
"Sing Their Own Praise"
Stranbe Player, Style 15
"Sing Their Own Praiue"
STRAUBE PIANO CO.
HAMMOND
INDIANA
I