Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President, J. B.
SfiUaae, Vi Fourtk Are., New York; Second Vice-President, J. Raymond Bill, 373
I*«rta AT*., New York; Assistant Treasurer, Wm, A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
J. RAYMONDIBILL, Associate Editor
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B. BaiTTAiM WILSOK, CAKLXTON CHACE, L. M. ROBINSON, WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH,
WM. BIAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWEIS
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
and
allU
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
p
a r * dealt with, will 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.
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Vol. LXVIII
NEW YORK, JANUARY 18, 1919
No. 3
EDITORIAL
T
HE various State Captains of the National Association of Piano
Merchants are at present making a strong drive to meet their
respective quotas with subscriptions to the Music Industries Pres-
ervation Fund, and it is a work that should receive the prompt sup-
port of every piano merchant, and particularly the members of the
Association. The Association is definitely pledged to aid in the
support of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, and no one
who has been in touch with national trade conditions during the
past year and a half fails to realize what that big, actiye organiza-
tion has accomplished for the protection and benefit of the industry.
The fact that the music industry was not wiped out entirely on
several occasions during the war was due directly to the overtures
made and the united front presented by the Chamber of Commerce.
Then, too, there is much work in the development of musical interest
and in other directions that has been done, or is planned.
This maintenance of central organizations and bureaus costs
money, and the money must come from the members of the trade.
The more members who support it, the smaller the burden on the
individual. The sooner the quotas are met by members of the Mer-
chants' Association, just so much sooner can the directors of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, and the Bureaus under its
control, proceed with a feeling of security and certainty. The work
is too important to be delayed or retarded.
HE more or less rapid demobilization of the army and navy
T
does not of necessity mean that piano factories can practically
at once fill all the gaps among their employes, and again resume
normal production. The rapidity with which factories get back to
normal will depend largely upon the percentage of trained employes
who come back to them, for it is to be understood that a man cannot
be taken out of the army or off the street and turned loose in a
piano factory as a capable workman over night. There must be a
period of careful training, the length of the training depending upon
the department in which the new recruit is placed, and therefore
it must be some time before new groups of workmen can be absorbed
JANUARY 18, 1919
in the various organizations and full production facilities thereby
restored.
It is quite likely that if all those who left piano factories during
the war to enlist in the fighting forces were to return to their benches
immediately upon release from the army or navy conditions would
be different. As a matter of fact, however, many of the workmen,
whether or not under the work or fight law, left to assume positions
at high wages in war plants. In many instances these men have been
trained as machinists and as skilled workers in other lines since
leaving the piano factories, and are not inclined to return to work
requiring less skill and paying smaller wages. While the situation
will right itself some time in the future, the conditions cannot be
expected to change at once. The result is, therefore, that the trade
must be patient and wait for normal conditions to be restored
gradually.
T
HE manufacturer of a "less essential" product, who for almost
the entire period of the war had devoted between 80 and
90 per cent, of the capacity of his plant to Government work, upon
which he made a fair profit, was congratulated upon the fact that
he had come through the war period with a normal profit, or better.
"There is little reason for congratulation," replied the manufacturer,
"for while I did make considerable extra money, I have found that
I must spend all that excess profit and possibly considerably more
money in getting back my peacetime business. I have already
experienced the fact that I must sell and advertise more actively
than ever before to get in line again with my competitors, and it is
proving a difficult job."
It all goes to show that even in wartime it does not pay to rest
on the job, to cut out publicity and general exploitation, because
there is nothing to sell at the moment. There are a large number
of concerns in the music industry who devoted a large part of their
facilities to Government work, largely from patriotic reasons, but
almost without exception they kept up their advertising at a normal
basis, and thereby kept their names continually before the trade.
The result was that when it again came time to seek peacetime
orders these manufacturers found a fair field waiting for them.
The name, power and prestige of their product had been maintained
in the minds of the trade and public, and they found a legitimate
demand awaiting their wares. It offers proof positive of the fact
that conditions never warrant a cessation of exploitation work, if
the manufacturer, or retailer, expects to remain in business after the
period of uncertainty has passed.
I
N practically every city or state where local associations have been
formed there has resulted a general improvement in the quality
of the trade in that immediate locality. This is due primarily to
the fact that owing to increasing intercourse as members of the Asso-
ciation, piano and music merchants have managed to eliminate many
evils and bad practices, and have thereby been able to do business
on a better plane and for greater profit.
This would appear to be the time when a local association should
prove most helpful in aiding the individual dealers in meeting the
problems of the day and preparing for the future. To accomplish
the result, however, the Association must be representative, must
include the strong men of the trade, and must above all be an active
factor. Too many organizations are simply social in character,
when what is needed is an association composed of members who
are ready to meet and solve business questions in a business way.
has been created that an account covered by a
A N trade impression
acceptance cannot be extended; such an impression, if it
becomes general, will scare buyers away from the acceptance. It
is true that the acceptance is a great collection instrument, but it is
not true that it is as someone said "government paper," and as such
must be imperatively met on due date. The fact is that the accept-
ance brings the accepter squarely up to a definite pay-day for his
purchase (differing thereby from the open account), but if for a
good reason an extension is necessary it is a matter of negotiation
with the seller to arrange such an extension—the point, however,
being observed that the extension is to be made by a promissory
note or the acceptance held in suspense by the seller until cleaned
up and not renewed in acceptance form. The latter method of
renewal if practiced to any considerable degree would work serious
hurt to the acceptance instrument.