Music Trade Review
Issue: 1920 Vol. 70 N. 20 - Page 5
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MAY
IS, 1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Reasons Why Piano Prices Are High
Albert T. Strauch, of Strauch Bros., Gives Facts and Figures Regarding the Increase in the Cost of Materials and
Labor Which Enter Into the Construction of Piano Actions, and Shows That Present Prices of Pianos
Are in No Sense Exorbitant When These Costs Are Taken Into Consideration
Following up the investigation of the increase
in prices of material which enter into the con-
struction of pianos and player-pianos as well
as the increase in cost of labor, The Review's
representative called on Albert T. Strauch,
president of Strauch Bros., 22 Tenth avenue,
New York, who is a well-known authority on
piano action construction and the cost pertain-
ing thereto, owing to his experience of nearly
a quarter of a century in this business. The
interview which follows is based not alone upon
the experience at the Strauch plant, but can be
taken as indicative of general conditions
throughout the piano action industry.
"Never," said Mr. Strauch, "in my long ex-
perience have I seen conditions as they are at
the present time. It is certainly remarkable,
and when the dealer has the facts placed before
him I am sure he cannot consider the piano
manufacturer or anyone connected with the
industry in the light of profiteers."
The Review representative then made the in-
quiry, "What has been the condition in the
lumber market as far as the action maker is
concerned?" Mr. Strauch replied:
The Lumber Situation
"Suitable maple, which is the principal lum-
ber that we use, is almost unobtainable to-day
and has been for over a year past. Because of
carrying a very heavy stock we are, at all times,
covered, but the prices we have had to pay for
the replacements of this stock are three times
what we paid in 1916, and the quotations for
deliveries to-day, where any offerings are made,
are six times the 1916 figures; that is, lumber
that we bought in 1916 at thirty to thirty-five
dollars per thousand feet was marketed for
eighty-five to ninety-five dollars per thousand
feet last Fall and is to-day bringing one hun-
dred and seventy to one hundred and eighty
dollars per thousand feet. A part of the reason
for this rise in lumber, aside from the scarcity
caused by lack of labor and the high prices
which are being paid to-day to lumbermen in
the woods, is the immense demand for this same
stock for export. In a number of instances ex-
porters have paid as high as two hundred dol-
lars per thousand feet for maple to get their
requirements. This is the condition in the
maple market which we are forced to meet. We
use considerable walnut and for this walnut we
used to pay eleven cents a foot for the best
grade. We recently had to buy another lot of
walnut and for the best grade the prices asked
were thirty-four cents a foot, while No. 1 com-
mon,
or the third grade, was bringing twenty-
four cents a foot. The same proportion holds
good in all the other lines of lumber that we
use and as all the lumber we use must be of the
choicest grades, in which the advances have
been the most marked, they have had their
natural effect on the rise in the prices of
actions."
"Are there any lumbers," asked The Review
representative, "that could be used which will
not be of inferior quality, but cheaper in price?"
"There is no other lumber," said Mr. Strauch,
"than maple that can be used for action work
that will give the lasting results and stand the
tests to which an action must be put. A num-
ber of other woods have been tried ; but it has
finally resolved itself to maple almost ex-
clusively because it is of such close grain, is a
white and attractive looking wood and holds
the screws and threaded wires better than any
other lumber that has been tried."
To the query: "Government reports have
constantly shown an increase in the price of
wool, how has this affected the piano action
industry?" Mr. Strauch answered:
All Wool Goods Show Heavy Increase
"All advances in the price of wool have been
reflected in the quotations which have been
made us on felts and cloths. I will give you
actual figures in connection with these supplies
rather than percentages as they will show more
definitely the advances that have been made,
These prices are all on the best quality of
goods, such as are contained in our actions,
and apply to domestic goods because there have
been no importations of felts or cloths for some
years past. What cloths are being offered to-
day by European manufacturers are being of-
fered at a price so much beyond what they can
be obtained for here, quality for quality, that
quantities and are supplying the market at
prices ranging around $10.00 a yard.
"One of the results of the war was the dye
situation. This affected even the action busi-
ness, and made it impossible for us to obtain
goods in colors outside of one or two standard
colors. This situation was at one time so seri-
ous that it was impossible to obtain anything
but gray goods and some of the action makers
who were short of stock were compelled, much
against their inclinations, to use these goods,
This situation has improved considerably with-
in the last year, but it is still impossible to
obtain anything but a few standard colors such
as greens, scarlets and reds.
"While the matter of the price situation was
difficult enough in itself, to it was added the
difficulty of obtaining goods, the situation at
one time having become so serious that it was
absolutely impossible to purchase action felts
or cloths at any price. This condition has im-
proved to a large extent, but even to-day in
order to obtain our exact requirements we have
^^ r M r M i J J ; (i r i r J i r 11 r 11 J i i [ 111 n 111 J i M 11111111111. i:' 111 -11: r i. 11 -1:; 11,: M 11 u L 11 M i L 1111 i L J i n 11111; i; i i. i t L : L J <: 11; >: i i: i i 11111 <: 11 M 11111111 i 1111 J ; T I :. I I N J , I I I r I J I I I I M I M I t M I • I r M I I I I I I 1 I I I J I ! I I I I I : I I ' M ; I I - I I - I I r I ] n I M I I I I M I I I I r I I M I i H I I I I I I t J I M I U I I I I M I M I I M I I I r I I r I I N I r I I I I I J I I M I I I I I r r - I H T I * I I L 1 I ; I I ; 11 L ; I . I I '. U I I > ^
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COMPARATIVE PRICES
of Piano Action Materials and Labor
Maple
Walnut
French Bushing Cloths
Felts
••
••
All-wool Goods
Domestic Bushing Cloths
Brass Goods
Hardware average percentage of increase, 400%
Labor, unskilled
Schedule of hours
1916
$30.00 per M
110.00 per M
7.75 per yd.
••95c to $1.15 per lb.
4.50 per yd.
7.75 per yd.
.08^4 per lb.
• •
4.50 per wk.
54 per wk.
|
j
1920
$180.00 per M
340.00 per M
17.00 per yd.
2.75 per lb.
10.50 per yd.
10.00 per yd.
.72 per lb.
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I
20.00 per wk. |
48 per wk. j
==
~
ihiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^
the price is absolutely prohibitive. For instance,
a line of French bushing cloths that we bought
before the war for $7.75 per yard is to-day
being offered in this country for approximately
$17.00 per yard, while hammer felts are being
quoted at 50c per pound more than the best
domestic goods can be bought for and that
price is f. o. b. steamer, point of shipment.
"In 1916 the price of felts ranged from 95c to
$1.15 per pound. After we entered the war
these prices jumped to figures ranging from
$2.75 to $3.25 per pound with very little stock
to be had and have now settled down to a figure
averaging $2.75 per pound. These figures apply
to action felts, which are special felts and are
not stock goods. Heavy all-wool cloths were
affected in the same manner. All-wool goods
for which we had previously paid $4.50 to $5.50
per yard jumped to $18.00 per yard and have
now settled down around $10.50 per yard. Bush-
ing cloths which formerly brought $7.75 per
yard were unprocurable for a time and were
bid for at prices as high as $18.00 and $20.00
per yard. Before the war our domestic manu-
facturers had taken very little interest in
making bushing cloths, but the conditions that
were brought about led them to take this mat-
ter up and they are to-day producing goods
equal in every way to that which we formerly
imported. They are now able to produce in
had to place orders from four to six months
in advance to be sure of getting them filled."
Hardware Prices Up 400%
"How has the general great demand for steel
throughout the country affected the price of
hardware?" said The Review man.
"We have suffered froin this," continued Mr.
Strauch, "to the same extent and in the same
manner that all other lines of business have.
Owing to the numerous kinds of hardware we
use, with the varying prices paid for them, it
will be necessary for me to use percentages in
relation to them rather than figures. The gen-
eral increase in prices of hardware has been
400 per cent. In very few instances has it been
less than this and in a good many it has been
more. This is not the worst of the situation,
Strikes which have been prevailing throughout
the country have rendered the matter of re-
ceipts very precarious, and it is impossible to
get to-day from anybody a guarantee of de-
livery. As an instance I learned to-day that
there have been strikes for a month past in the
brass trade and no promise of deliveries can
be obtained on these goods. Not alone that,
but a line of brass goods which we formerly
paid 1834c a pound for is to-day being quoted
at 72c per pound. Screws which formerly were
an article that could be picked up in almost any
(Continued on page 7)
For over 25 years Specialists
in high grade Piano Cases
Paterson Piano
Case Co.
PATERSON, N, J.
MAY
IS, 1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Reasons Why Piano Prices Are High
Albert T. Strauch, of Strauch Bros., Gives Facts and Figures Regarding the Increase in the Cost of Materials and
Labor Which Enter Into the Construction of Piano Actions, and Shows That Present Prices of Pianos
Are in No Sense Exorbitant When These Costs Are Taken Into Consideration
Following up the investigation of the increase
in prices of material which enter into the con-
struction of pianos and player-pianos as well
as the increase in cost of labor, The Review's
representative called on Albert T. Strauch,
president of Strauch Bros., 22 Tenth avenue,
New York, who is a well-known authority on
piano action construction and the cost pertain-
ing thereto, owing to his experience of nearly
a quarter of a century in this business. The
interview which follows is based not alone upon
the experience at the Strauch plant, but can be
taken as indicative of general conditions
throughout the piano action industry.
"Never," said Mr. Strauch, "in my long ex-
perience have I seen conditions as they are at
the present time. It is certainly remarkable,
and when the dealer has the facts placed before
him I am sure he cannot consider the piano
manufacturer or anyone connected with the
industry in the light of profiteers."
The Review representative then made the in-
quiry, "What has been the condition in the
lumber market as far as the action maker is
concerned?" Mr. Strauch replied:
The Lumber Situation
"Suitable maple, which is the principal lum-
ber that we use, is almost unobtainable to-day
and has been for over a year past. Because of
carrying a very heavy stock we are, at all times,
covered, but the prices we have had to pay for
the replacements of this stock are three times
what we paid in 1916, and the quotations for
deliveries to-day, where any offerings are made,
are six times the 1916 figures; that is, lumber
that we bought in 1916 at thirty to thirty-five
dollars per thousand feet was marketed for
eighty-five to ninety-five dollars per thousand
feet last Fall and is to-day bringing one hun-
dred and seventy to one hundred and eighty
dollars per thousand feet. A part of the reason
for this rise in lumber, aside from the scarcity
caused by lack of labor and the high prices
which are being paid to-day to lumbermen in
the woods, is the immense demand for this same
stock for export. In a number of instances ex-
porters have paid as high as two hundred dol-
lars per thousand feet for maple to get their
requirements. This is the condition in the
maple market which we are forced to meet. We
use considerable walnut and for this walnut we
used to pay eleven cents a foot for the best
grade. We recently had to buy another lot of
walnut and for the best grade the prices asked
were thirty-four cents a foot, while No. 1 com-
mon,
or the third grade, was bringing twenty-
four cents a foot. The same proportion holds
good in all the other lines of lumber that we
use and as all the lumber we use must be of the
choicest grades, in which the advances have
been the most marked, they have had their
natural effect on the rise in the prices of
actions."
"Are there any lumbers," asked The Review
representative, "that could be used which will
not be of inferior quality, but cheaper in price?"
"There is no other lumber," said Mr. Strauch,
"than maple that can be used for action work
that will give the lasting results and stand the
tests to which an action must be put. A num-
ber of other woods have been tried ; but it has
finally resolved itself to maple almost ex-
clusively because it is of such close grain, is a
white and attractive looking wood and holds
the screws and threaded wires better than any
other lumber that has been tried."
To the query: "Government reports have
constantly shown an increase in the price of
wool, how has this affected the piano action
industry?" Mr. Strauch answered:
All Wool Goods Show Heavy Increase
"All advances in the price of wool have been
reflected in the quotations which have been
made us on felts and cloths. I will give you
actual figures in connection with these supplies
rather than percentages as they will show more
definitely the advances that have been made,
These prices are all on the best quality of
goods, such as are contained in our actions,
and apply to domestic goods because there have
been no importations of felts or cloths for some
years past. What cloths are being offered to-
day by European manufacturers are being of-
fered at a price so much beyond what they can
be obtained for here, quality for quality, that
quantities and are supplying the market at
prices ranging around $10.00 a yard.
"One of the results of the war was the dye
situation. This affected even the action busi-
ness, and made it impossible for us to obtain
goods in colors outside of one or two standard
colors. This situation was at one time so seri-
ous that it was impossible to obtain anything
but gray goods and some of the action makers
who were short of stock were compelled, much
against their inclinations, to use these goods,
This situation has improved considerably with-
in the last year, but it is still impossible to
obtain anything but a few standard colors such
as greens, scarlets and reds.
"While the matter of the price situation was
difficult enough in itself, to it was added the
difficulty of obtaining goods, the situation at
one time having become so serious that it was
absolutely impossible to purchase action felts
or cloths at any price. This condition has im-
proved to a large extent, but even to-day in
order to obtain our exact requirements we have
^^ r M r M i J J ; (i r i r J i r 11 r 11 J i i [ 111 n 111 J i M 11111111111. i:' 111 -11: r i. 11 -1:; 11,: M 11 u L 11 M i L 1111 i L J i n 11111; i; i i. i t L : L J <: 11; >: i i: i i 11111 <: 11 M 11111111 i 1111 J ; T I :. I I N J , I I I r I J I I I I M I M I t M I • I r M I I I I I I 1 I I I J I ! I I I I I : I I ' M ; I I - I I - I I r I ] n I M I I I I M I I I I r I I M I i H I I I I I I t J I M I U I I I I M I M I I M I I I r I I r I I N I r I I I I I J I I M I I I I I r r - I H T I * I I L 1 I ; I I ; 11 L ; I . I I '. U I I > ^
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
COMPARATIVE PRICES
of Piano Action Materials and Labor
Maple
Walnut
French Bushing Cloths
Felts
••
••
All-wool Goods
Domestic Bushing Cloths
Brass Goods
Hardware average percentage of increase, 400%
Labor, unskilled
Schedule of hours
1916
$30.00 per M
110.00 per M
7.75 per yd.
••95c to $1.15 per lb.
4.50 per yd.
7.75 per yd.
.08^4 per lb.
• •
4.50 per wk.
54 per wk.
|
j
1920
$180.00 per M
340.00 per M
17.00 per yd.
2.75 per lb.
10.50 per yd.
10.00 per yd.
.72 per lb.
|
j
|
|
|
|
j
|
I
20.00 per wk. |
48 per wk. j
==
~
ihiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiMiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii^
the price is absolutely prohibitive. For instance,
a line of French bushing cloths that we bought
before the war for $7.75 per yard is to-day
being offered in this country for approximately
$17.00 per yard, while hammer felts are being
quoted at 50c per pound more than the best
domestic goods can be bought for and that
price is f. o. b. steamer, point of shipment.
"In 1916 the price of felts ranged from 95c to
$1.15 per pound. After we entered the war
these prices jumped to figures ranging from
$2.75 to $3.25 per pound with very little stock
to be had and have now settled down to a figure
averaging $2.75 per pound. These figures apply
to action felts, which are special felts and are
not stock goods. Heavy all-wool cloths were
affected in the same manner. All-wool goods
for which we had previously paid $4.50 to $5.50
per yard jumped to $18.00 per yard and have
now settled down around $10.50 per yard. Bush-
ing cloths which formerly brought $7.75 per
yard were unprocurable for a time and were
bid for at prices as high as $18.00 and $20.00
per yard. Before the war our domestic manu-
facturers had taken very little interest in
making bushing cloths, but the conditions that
were brought about led them to take this mat-
ter up and they are to-day producing goods
equal in every way to that which we formerly
imported. They are now able to produce in
had to place orders from four to six months
in advance to be sure of getting them filled."
Hardware Prices Up 400%
"How has the general great demand for steel
throughout the country affected the price of
hardware?" said The Review man.
"We have suffered froin this," continued Mr.
Strauch, "to the same extent and in the same
manner that all other lines of business have.
Owing to the numerous kinds of hardware we
use, with the varying prices paid for them, it
will be necessary for me to use percentages in
relation to them rather than figures. The gen-
eral increase in prices of hardware has been
400 per cent. In very few instances has it been
less than this and in a good many it has been
more. This is not the worst of the situation,
Strikes which have been prevailing throughout
the country have rendered the matter of re-
ceipts very precarious, and it is impossible to
get to-day from anybody a guarantee of de-
livery. As an instance I learned to-day that
there have been strikes for a month past in the
brass trade and no promise of deliveries can
be obtained on these goods. Not alone that,
but a line of brass goods which we formerly
paid 1834c a pound for is to-day being quoted
at 72c per pound. Screws which formerly were
an article that could be picked up in almost any
(Continued on page 7)
For over 25 years Specialists
in high grade Piano Cases
Paterson Piano
Case Co.
PATERSON, N, J.
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