Music Trade Review
Issue: 1919 Vol. 69 N. 26 - Page 3
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
PLAYER SECTON
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 27, 1919
WMMyMlMMl^^
^
Stlff^
Being a Review of the Conditions Which the Closing Year Has Produced,
Together With Some Conclusions Drawn Therefrom Regarding the Possible
Happenings in the Player Industry Which the New Year Will Bring Forth
An exciting and disturbed year is over. writer declines to be a bear on the United normal. There are too many dollars. That is
Three days after this page sees the light the States. That times may be a bit exciting we to say, there are too many pieces of paper
Old Year will have passed forever and we shall fully believe, but that any branch of the English- marked with dollar signs, and too many gold
be looking forward to the- prospects of 1920. speaking races will ever be put out of business, pieces lying in reserve against them, for the
That our anticipations will be based on some- even temporarily, by anything that happens amount of commodities available to be bought.
thing just a bit more serious and well consid- anywhere we do not for a moment believe.
Hence the purchasing power of each dollar is
ered than has previously sufficed us there is some
less than it ought to be. The reasons and
Production vs. Buying
slight hope, for it is evident that in every
Therefore we may confidently look forward causes of the expansion are another story. But
branch of this and of all other industries we are to a year of continued activity, with no little the fact is that the dollar which buys a piano
at the threshold of great events.
unrest and excitement. This will involve great buys too much piano in proportion to what it
The Morning After
volumes of buying, while at the same time it will will buy of pig or iron or food. Wherefore
In the first place the observer realizes that not be favorable to resumption of normal pro- piano prices are too low in comparison with
the present time is one of general uncertainty. duction. From consideration of all the facts at the prices of the things which the makers and
The people have money and are in a spending present there is little hope to give that the the sellers of pianos must buy. Hence, among
state of mind. They want to buy everything in production for the coming year will meet the other things the piano workers cannot earn
sight. They are extravagant and at the same ptobable demand.
as much as workers of no greater skill earn in
time they are discontented. They cannot keep
We may, therefore, look forward with some other industries. Hence, likewise, the piano
still or settle themselves. They want excite- confidence to a further season of as much maker earns too little on his invested capital
ment and noise.
activity as the curtailed production will allow. and the merchant too little on his stock. In-
This state of affairs is not confined to one dis- This means undoubtedly a very considerable ac- crease the amount of investment in each of the
trict. It is not even confined to any one coun- tivity, but we must remember that the tendency two last cases, thus increasing the inequality,
try. In fact, it is really world-wide. The whole towards slacking on work is dangerous if and you get the condition as it exists in the
world is slowly and painfully recovering from pushed very far. The world is in a dangerous player industry considered by itself.
a terrible experience, from an experience which condition and it will require strong and wise
We must face, then, a raise in prices; and
it never anticipated, which it was ill prepared statesmanship to see it through. Because this should we not be very glad at the prospect? The
to undergo, and which in its destruction and is so every business man will be wise if he tries player industry has for too long endured the
terror enormously overshadows every other to realize that an antidote for unrest must be condition of. small profits and slow returns. It
calamity which the modern world has under- found. If we are to get production back again is time we established a trade-wide movement
gone. The process of recovery is terribly pain- on a normal level, it is as certain as anything for fair prices. Let this be our principal motto
ful. In this fortunate country we see the process can be that we must seek to avoid at a!! costs for 1920, "Production and Fair Price!"
only in a little discontent, a little radical talk, any kind of industrial dispute. The immediate
a propensity to precipitate trouble and an orgy settlement of any and all such dispute is ex-
of extravagance. Across the water it is literally tremely necessary.
death to great populations. Before Russia, Aus-
When production in essentials-, moreover, has W. H. Bowles Returns to Home Office After
tria, the Balkans, Italy, and, to a lesser extent, again reached a satisfactory level and when the
Thirty-day Trip—L. O. Rogers Also Back
heroic France and Belgium, have recovered world's needs for food and staples have been
from their present serious troubles, there will in part, at least, satisfied we shall have, more-
The sales force of the Republic Player Roll
be terrible times. All of this, of course, has its over, a much more satisfactory market in our Corp., New York., has just completed the very
effect here. We cannot help feeling that the own industry. At present we are prospering active pre-holiday selling drive in connection
American people's present mood is "good for artificially, and that sort of prosperity is not with the interesting list of numbers contained
business," but we cannot help at the same time permanent.
in the Republic Player Roll Holiday Bulletin.
wishing that there were a little less indifference
The trip of W. H. Bowles extended over a
Some Prospects
and a little more appreciation of facts.
Turning from these broad considerations to period of thirty days, his itinerary calling for
For it may be put down as certain that the others less weighty and more particular, we see stops at all large cities between the Mississippi
present monetary inflation and economic excite- that the prospects are for a continuation of the and New York City.
L. O. Rogers made a hurried trip, calling on
ment will continue throughout the year to come. demand for the current type of player-piano in
What are likely therefore to be the results and all its varieties. The call for this style of in- music roll dealers in his territory. His trip pri-
the consequences to our own industry? The strument continues to be tremendous and there marily was taken for the purpose of attending
American people will have to wake up to their is little doubt that it will hold up, if not indeed to the late holiday requirements of the dealers.
responsibilities in external matters if civiliza- increase, at least until the end of next year.
tion is to be preserved, including their own Meanwhile the great problem before the manu-
OPENS MUSIC DEPARTMENT
civilization. But one knows well that this peo- facturer is to obtain a fair production.
ple has always responded rightly to the moral
Prices
The New York Furniture Co., Hudson, N. J.,
demand when the facts have been fairly and
That we may also look forward to a rise in has opened its new music department at the
clearly put to it. The danger is in misrepre- prices is, to my mind, equally certain. For the
corner of First and Madison streets, that city.
sentation, as the enemies of righteousness well piano is not yet at its proper price level. The
Pianos, players, Q R S music rolls, as well as
know. Apart from this, however, the present present position of the dollar is of course ab-
talking machines and records, are carried.
REPUBLIC TRAVELERS BACK
PLAYER SECTON
NEW YORK, DECEMBER 27, 1919
WMMyMlMMl^^
^
Stlff^
Being a Review of the Conditions Which the Closing Year Has Produced,
Together With Some Conclusions Drawn Therefrom Regarding the Possible
Happenings in the Player Industry Which the New Year Will Bring Forth
An exciting and disturbed year is over. writer declines to be a bear on the United normal. There are too many dollars. That is
Three days after this page sees the light the States. That times may be a bit exciting we to say, there are too many pieces of paper
Old Year will have passed forever and we shall fully believe, but that any branch of the English- marked with dollar signs, and too many gold
be looking forward to the- prospects of 1920. speaking races will ever be put out of business, pieces lying in reserve against them, for the
That our anticipations will be based on some- even temporarily, by anything that happens amount of commodities available to be bought.
thing just a bit more serious and well consid- anywhere we do not for a moment believe.
Hence the purchasing power of each dollar is
ered than has previously sufficed us there is some
less than it ought to be. The reasons and
Production vs. Buying
slight hope, for it is evident that in every
Therefore we may confidently look forward causes of the expansion are another story. But
branch of this and of all other industries we are to a year of continued activity, with no little the fact is that the dollar which buys a piano
at the threshold of great events.
unrest and excitement. This will involve great buys too much piano in proportion to what it
The Morning After
volumes of buying, while at the same time it will will buy of pig or iron or food. Wherefore
In the first place the observer realizes that not be favorable to resumption of normal pro- piano prices are too low in comparison with
the present time is one of general uncertainty. duction. From consideration of all the facts at the prices of the things which the makers and
The people have money and are in a spending present there is little hope to give that the the sellers of pianos must buy. Hence, among
state of mind. They want to buy everything in production for the coming year will meet the other things the piano workers cannot earn
sight. They are extravagant and at the same ptobable demand.
as much as workers of no greater skill earn in
time they are discontented. They cannot keep
We may, therefore, look forward with some other industries. Hence, likewise, the piano
still or settle themselves. They want excite- confidence to a further season of as much maker earns too little on his invested capital
ment and noise.
activity as the curtailed production will allow. and the merchant too little on his stock. In-
This state of affairs is not confined to one dis- This means undoubtedly a very considerable ac- crease the amount of investment in each of the
trict. It is not even confined to any one coun- tivity, but we must remember that the tendency two last cases, thus increasing the inequality,
try. In fact, it is really world-wide. The whole towards slacking on work is dangerous if and you get the condition as it exists in the
world is slowly and painfully recovering from pushed very far. The world is in a dangerous player industry considered by itself.
a terrible experience, from an experience which condition and it will require strong and wise
We must face, then, a raise in prices; and
it never anticipated, which it was ill prepared statesmanship to see it through. Because this should we not be very glad at the prospect? The
to undergo, and which in its destruction and is so every business man will be wise if he tries player industry has for too long endured the
terror enormously overshadows every other to realize that an antidote for unrest must be condition of. small profits and slow returns. It
calamity which the modern world has under- found. If we are to get production back again is time we established a trade-wide movement
gone. The process of recovery is terribly pain- on a normal level, it is as certain as anything for fair prices. Let this be our principal motto
ful. In this fortunate country we see the process can be that we must seek to avoid at a!! costs for 1920, "Production and Fair Price!"
only in a little discontent, a little radical talk, any kind of industrial dispute. The immediate
a propensity to precipitate trouble and an orgy settlement of any and all such dispute is ex-
of extravagance. Across the water it is literally tremely necessary.
death to great populations. Before Russia, Aus-
When production in essentials-, moreover, has W. H. Bowles Returns to Home Office After
tria, the Balkans, Italy, and, to a lesser extent, again reached a satisfactory level and when the
Thirty-day Trip—L. O. Rogers Also Back
heroic France and Belgium, have recovered world's needs for food and staples have been
from their present serious troubles, there will in part, at least, satisfied we shall have, more-
The sales force of the Republic Player Roll
be terrible times. All of this, of course, has its over, a much more satisfactory market in our Corp., New York., has just completed the very
effect here. We cannot help feeling that the own industry. At present we are prospering active pre-holiday selling drive in connection
American people's present mood is "good for artificially, and that sort of prosperity is not with the interesting list of numbers contained
business," but we cannot help at the same time permanent.
in the Republic Player Roll Holiday Bulletin.
wishing that there were a little less indifference
The trip of W. H. Bowles extended over a
Some Prospects
and a little more appreciation of facts.
Turning from these broad considerations to period of thirty days, his itinerary calling for
For it may be put down as certain that the others less weighty and more particular, we see stops at all large cities between the Mississippi
present monetary inflation and economic excite- that the prospects are for a continuation of the and New York City.
L. O. Rogers made a hurried trip, calling on
ment will continue throughout the year to come. demand for the current type of player-piano in
What are likely therefore to be the results and all its varieties. The call for this style of in- music roll dealers in his territory. His trip pri-
the consequences to our own industry? The strument continues to be tremendous and there marily was taken for the purpose of attending
American people will have to wake up to their is little doubt that it will hold up, if not indeed to the late holiday requirements of the dealers.
responsibilities in external matters if civiliza- increase, at least until the end of next year.
tion is to be preserved, including their own Meanwhile the great problem before the manu-
OPENS MUSIC DEPARTMENT
civilization. But one knows well that this peo- facturer is to obtain a fair production.
ple has always responded rightly to the moral
Prices
The New York Furniture Co., Hudson, N. J.,
demand when the facts have been fairly and
That we may also look forward to a rise in has opened its new music department at the
clearly put to it. The danger is in misrepre- prices is, to my mind, equally certain. For the
corner of First and Madison streets, that city.
sentation, as the enemies of righteousness well piano is not yet at its proper price level. The
Pianos, players, Q R S music rolls, as well as
know. Apart from this, however, the present present position of the dollar is of course ab-
talking machines and records, are carried.
REPUBLIC TRAVELERS BACK
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