Music Trade Review
Issue: 1919 Vol. 69 N. 15 - Page 4
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
T. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAYMOND BILL, B. B. WILSON, Associate Editors
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Staff
WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH, W M . BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH,
L. M. ROBINSON, C. A. LEONARD, EDWARD LYMAN BILL, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
E. P. VA.N HARLINGEN, Republic Building,
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State St. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN T H E LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at Neva York, N. Y.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.SO; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $4.50 per inch single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $130.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payahle to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
onH
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
dllU ulltl
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
llpnnrtniPntc
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
l C U I U l l d l U c p d l I l l l t l l l a are dealt with, will be found in another section of
tbis paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be -cheerfully given upon request.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Stiver Medal,., Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma. . . .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal. ... .St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal— Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—5983 MADISON 8Q.
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York"
Vol. LXIX
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1 1 , 1 9 1 9
iSo. IS
The continuance of the strike in the printing industry
in New York City has somewhat delayed this issue of The
Music Trade Review, but the publishers hope to have the
next issue in the hands of the subscribers at the usual time.
THE SUCCESS OF THE STAMP PLAN
AT the convention in June there were those who declared that
i V the official stamp plan, as proposed by the National Asso-
ciation of Piano Merchants, for the raising of funds for music
advancement, was radical and impractical and would meet with
failure, yet now, only three months after the first stamp was
issued, the sales of the stamp's are rapidly approaching the
75,000 mark. All talk of the success of the plan—of the manner
in which it is being accepted by manufacturers and dealers, pales
into insignificance by the side of these figures. The idea of the
plan was to raise funds and that idea is being carried out most
successfully, and it does not require any great power of prophesy
to see close to $25,000 added to the fund for the cause of music
through the medium of the stamps before the first of the year
rolls around. It is a record of which the trade should feel proud.
NEW ENGLAND COMING TO THE FRONT
T
HR conservatism of New Englanders haslongbeenaby-word,
and the business men of that section of the country, rightly
or wrongly, have been credited with doing things more slowly
than their contemporaries in other sections of the country, but
doing those things carefully, and with the idea of permanence
strongly in mind. In trade association matters, however, the
New Englanders are losing some of their conservatism, as is
proven by the plans now being made for the big meeting in
Boston on November 18th, under the auspices of the Boston
Music Trades' Association, and to which all piano and music
men in New England are invited.
New England is distinctly a center in the music trade, both
from the artistic and industrial point of view, and if the repre-
OCTOBER 11, 1919
sentatives of the trade "down East" can be brought together in
one general organization, it will no doubt be of a character that
will accomplish things. Connecticut has long had its own State
Association, so has Maine. With these organizations as h
nucleus, coupled with the Boston Music Trades' Association,
there is every opportunity to build up an association unit in the
New England States second in strength and importance only to
the national body. The plans for the meeting are in good hands;
the interest appears to be widespread, and there is every reason
to be confident of the results.
AGRICULTURE AND GENERAL PROSPERITY
is almost an axiom in piano trade circles that prosperity
I T among
the agricultural classes means a heavy demand for
musical instruments, and there are convincing facts to back up
this theory. Those retailers who do business in rural communi-
ties have, during the past few years, been in clover. The news-
papers have had much to say about every farmer owning at least
one automobile, by means of which he is able to keep in close
contact with urban communities and thus broaden his viewpoint.
It is certain that the farmer of today is not the isolated character
of generations ago. He has a modern house, modernly equipped,
and lives.in a modern way, quite up to the standards of his city
brother. Likewise he demands music, as is evidenced by the
increased number of pianos, player-pianos and talking machines
placed in the rural districts.
Assuming that the prosperity of the farmer has a beneficial
effect upon the business prosperity of the country as a whole, it
is interesting to note that based upon recent figures the value of
farm products has increased over 120 per cent since 1914, despite
the fact that the acreage under cultivation has only increased
10 per cent. In this connection a report issued by the Depart-
ment of Agriculture shows that the area devoted to ten principal
crops in 1914 was 297,000,000 acres and in 1918 326,000,000. an
increase of approximately 10 per cent, and the farm value of the
ten crops on December 1, 1914, was $4,933,000,000. and on Decem-
ber 1, 1918, $10,934,000,000, an increase of about 121 per cent.
Of all farm products the Department of Agriculture puts the
value, "based on prices at the farm," at $9,895,000,000 in 1914,
and $21,386,000,000 in 1918, an increase of approximately 115
per cent. The increase in value of "animals and animal products"
is about 90 per cent, and of all crops 132 per cent increase, com-
paring 1918 with 1914.
SOME SUNSHINE AMONG THE CLOUDS
F
EDERAL reserve agents everywhere throughout the country
report prosperity and good business, but a greatly unsettled
situation as a result of uncertainty with regard to labor. Many
strikes and threatened strikes were reported to the board, and
they had a distinctly unsettling influence. Despite that factor,
however, business has been going forward actively, and there
was the usual fall increase. During this month, the board de-
clares, the labor situation has become the most prominent factor
in the business situation, supplanting high prices in that regard.
It is noted that high retail prices have not tended to check
consumption and that the demand for goods of the better grades
is unabated. Manufacturing throughout the countrv continues
active, it is reported, but some markets appear quiet because
some manufacturers are well sold ahead of present requirements.
THE DANGER OF SLACKING UP ON CREDITS
I
NE of the greatest lessons taught by the war concerned the
O
matter of credits, and the music industry, as well as prac-
tically every other line of business, learned the lesson well. Now
that the war is over, there are signs already discernible which
point to a tendency on the part of some piano merchants to let
down their standards in the matter of credits, and even the
"dollar down" slogan is being seen here and there in the adver-
tising pages of the daily press. The war taught in no uncertain
terms the absolute necessity for a sound basis so far as credits
in the piano field are concerned, and the piano man who forgets
the lesson war-time circumstances taught him deserves the
disaster which awaits him.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
T. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAYMOND BILL, B. B. WILSON, Associate Editors
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Staff
WILSON D. BUSH, V. D. WALSH, W M . BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH,
L. M. ROBINSON, C. A. LEONARD, EDWARD LYMAN BILL, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAGO OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
E. P. VA.N HARLINGEN, Republic Building,
Telephone, Main 6950.
209 So. State St. Telephone, Wabash 5774.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN T H E LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at Neva York, N. Y.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.SO; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $4.50 per inch single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $130.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payahle to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
onH
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
dllU ulltl
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
llpnnrtniPntc
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
l C U I U l l d l U c p d l I l l l t l l l a are dealt with, will be found in another section of
tbis paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be -cheerfully given upon request.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Stiver Medal,., Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma. . . .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal. ... .St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal— Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—5983 MADISON 8Q.
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "Elbill, New York"
Vol. LXIX
NEW YORK, OCTOBER 1 1 , 1 9 1 9
iSo. IS
The continuance of the strike in the printing industry
in New York City has somewhat delayed this issue of The
Music Trade Review, but the publishers hope to have the
next issue in the hands of the subscribers at the usual time.
THE SUCCESS OF THE STAMP PLAN
AT the convention in June there were those who declared that
i V the official stamp plan, as proposed by the National Asso-
ciation of Piano Merchants, for the raising of funds for music
advancement, was radical and impractical and would meet with
failure, yet now, only three months after the first stamp was
issued, the sales of the stamp's are rapidly approaching the
75,000 mark. All talk of the success of the plan—of the manner
in which it is being accepted by manufacturers and dealers, pales
into insignificance by the side of these figures. The idea of the
plan was to raise funds and that idea is being carried out most
successfully, and it does not require any great power of prophesy
to see close to $25,000 added to the fund for the cause of music
through the medium of the stamps before the first of the year
rolls around. It is a record of which the trade should feel proud.
NEW ENGLAND COMING TO THE FRONT
T
HR conservatism of New Englanders haslongbeenaby-word,
and the business men of that section of the country, rightly
or wrongly, have been credited with doing things more slowly
than their contemporaries in other sections of the country, but
doing those things carefully, and with the idea of permanence
strongly in mind. In trade association matters, however, the
New Englanders are losing some of their conservatism, as is
proven by the plans now being made for the big meeting in
Boston on November 18th, under the auspices of the Boston
Music Trades' Association, and to which all piano and music
men in New England are invited.
New England is distinctly a center in the music trade, both
from the artistic and industrial point of view, and if the repre-
OCTOBER 11, 1919
sentatives of the trade "down East" can be brought together in
one general organization, it will no doubt be of a character that
will accomplish things. Connecticut has long had its own State
Association, so has Maine. With these organizations as h
nucleus, coupled with the Boston Music Trades' Association,
there is every opportunity to build up an association unit in the
New England States second in strength and importance only to
the national body. The plans for the meeting are in good hands;
the interest appears to be widespread, and there is every reason
to be confident of the results.
AGRICULTURE AND GENERAL PROSPERITY
is almost an axiom in piano trade circles that prosperity
I T among
the agricultural classes means a heavy demand for
musical instruments, and there are convincing facts to back up
this theory. Those retailers who do business in rural communi-
ties have, during the past few years, been in clover. The news-
papers have had much to say about every farmer owning at least
one automobile, by means of which he is able to keep in close
contact with urban communities and thus broaden his viewpoint.
It is certain that the farmer of today is not the isolated character
of generations ago. He has a modern house, modernly equipped,
and lives.in a modern way, quite up to the standards of his city
brother. Likewise he demands music, as is evidenced by the
increased number of pianos, player-pianos and talking machines
placed in the rural districts.
Assuming that the prosperity of the farmer has a beneficial
effect upon the business prosperity of the country as a whole, it
is interesting to note that based upon recent figures the value of
farm products has increased over 120 per cent since 1914, despite
the fact that the acreage under cultivation has only increased
10 per cent. In this connection a report issued by the Depart-
ment of Agriculture shows that the area devoted to ten principal
crops in 1914 was 297,000,000 acres and in 1918 326,000,000. an
increase of approximately 10 per cent, and the farm value of the
ten crops on December 1, 1914, was $4,933,000,000. and on Decem-
ber 1, 1918, $10,934,000,000, an increase of about 121 per cent.
Of all farm products the Department of Agriculture puts the
value, "based on prices at the farm," at $9,895,000,000 in 1914,
and $21,386,000,000 in 1918, an increase of approximately 115
per cent. The increase in value of "animals and animal products"
is about 90 per cent, and of all crops 132 per cent increase, com-
paring 1918 with 1914.
SOME SUNSHINE AMONG THE CLOUDS
F
EDERAL reserve agents everywhere throughout the country
report prosperity and good business, but a greatly unsettled
situation as a result of uncertainty with regard to labor. Many
strikes and threatened strikes were reported to the board, and
they had a distinctly unsettling influence. Despite that factor,
however, business has been going forward actively, and there
was the usual fall increase. During this month, the board de-
clares, the labor situation has become the most prominent factor
in the business situation, supplanting high prices in that regard.
It is noted that high retail prices have not tended to check
consumption and that the demand for goods of the better grades
is unabated. Manufacturing throughout the countrv continues
active, it is reported, but some markets appear quiet because
some manufacturers are well sold ahead of present requirements.
THE DANGER OF SLACKING UP ON CREDITS
I
NE of the greatest lessons taught by the war concerned the
O
matter of credits, and the music industry, as well as prac-
tically every other line of business, learned the lesson well. Now
that the war is over, there are signs already discernible which
point to a tendency on the part of some piano merchants to let
down their standards in the matter of credits, and even the
"dollar down" slogan is being seen here and there in the adver-
tising pages of the daily press. The war taught in no uncertain
terms the absolute necessity for a sound basis so far as credits
in the piano field are concerned, and the piano man who forgets
the lesson war-time circumstances taught him deserves the
disaster which awaits him.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).