Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
DECEMBER 4, 1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
CANADIAN NEWSPAPER PROTESTS LUXURY TAX ON MUSIC
GOOD BUSINESS IN BUFFALO
Commends Efforts of A. P. Willis, Prominent Canadian Piano Man, to Have the Luxury Tax
on Musical Instruments Removed—Endorses Music as a Necessity of Life
Local Piano Dealers Report Revival of Buying
as Holiday Season Approaches—Burley &
Biesinger Open New Headquarters
MONTREAL, CAN., November 30.—La Patrie, the
leading French newspaper of this city, has.taken
up the defense of the music industry against its
classification as a luxury and the consequent
taxation. It commends the efforts of A. P. Wil-
lis, of Willis & Co., Ltd., and points out to the
Canadian public the real position of the music
industry. In a recent issue it said:
"Before the tariff commission, A. P. Willis,
representing the manufacturers of musical in-
struments of Montreal, has expressed energetic
and well-founded opposition to the tax recently
imposed on musical instruments, then classified
with articles of luxury. This tax has been
proven extremely prejudicial, especially to piano
manufacturers, an important industry with in-
vested capital of forty-seven millions, and yearly
production of thirty-five millions of dollars,
providing employment to many thousand em-
ployes. The tax being payable when instrument
is sold, and as sales are made more often on the
instalment plan, the vendor has to advance nec-
essary funds to pay the tax. On the other
hand, the tax, adding considerably to the already
high cost of pianos, has curtailed the demand for
such instruments and this will have the serious
effect of paralyzing that trade.
"The manufacturers of musical instruments
claim rightly that their goods are not a luxury,
and this was the attitude maintained by La
Patrie when this tax was recently enacted.
"We rejoice ourselves at the idea that taste
for music has developed itself in the mind of
our population for the last twenty years. It indi-
cates a social uplift and it would be absurd to
prevent this cultural development by the im-
position of a tax on instruments used for the
purpose of developing and popularizing music.
"After the strain of war times, the laboring
class became restless and wanted its share of
enjoyment and pleasure, whence the unrest no-
ticed all over the Dominion as well as in other
countries. The laborer, in former days appa-
rently quite happy and contented when he could
procure but three things in life, i. e., bread,
work and sleep, claims to-day his share of
life's enjoyments and pleasures, as expressed by
Lord Shaughnessy shortly after the armistice.
Gaiety must now enter his home, and what bet-
ter divertisement could he obtain than music,
which soothes his fatigues and answers his ideal
aspirations? Formerly some would find in liquor
the looked-for relief to their hardships of the
day, but the law, having deprived them of this
erroneous means of diversion, should compen-
sate by helping to procure musical instruments
which would bring into their vel-y existence
consoling and peaceful influence.
"People must have music and that is why,
in many, many homes nowadays, you will find a
piano or a phonograph bought on the instalment
plan. If thousands and thousands of laborers have
consented to mortgage their salary for years to
come in order to possess a piano, it is because
they consider this instrument essential in their
home. In conclusion, we might say that the
piano should be classified with articles of first
necessity."
W. H. CUMMINGS JOINS Q R S CO.
OLGA STEEB FEATURES AMPICO
Well-known Music Trade Salesman to Repre-
sent Q R S Co, in New England
Noted Pianist Gives Several Very Successful
Recitals in Southern California
The Q R S Music Co., through its New York
offices, has announced the addition of W. H.
Cummings to its sales force. Mr. Cummings
has been long and favorably known in the trade,
for during the time that he has been serving in
Los ANGELES, CAL., November 26.—Olga Steeb,
noted pianist, has appeared in a half dozen or
more very successful recitals in this and neigh-
boring cities and towns during the past month
or so in conjunction with the Ampico in the
Knabe piano, featuring the reproducing instru-
ment in a manner that has proven most im-
pressive. Concerts have been given at South
Pasadena, Santa Monica, Long Beach and in
this city, all being in the nature of invitation
affairs.
Miss Steeb selected an attractive program for
her recitals, playing certain of the numbers her-
self, having the Ampico repeat other selections
after she had first played them, and then playing
the Liszt Etude de Concert in conjunction with
the Ampico, the instrument reproducing the
melody notes, while Miss Steeb played the ac-
companiment.
I. SON COHEN A VISITOR
W. H. Cummings
the music industry he has been connected with
Thos. A. Edison, Inc., the Aeolian Co. and the
Rythmodic Music Corp.
In making the announcement of Mr. Cum-
mings' joining the New York sales force, the
Q R S Co. says:
"He enters the Q R S ranks well equipped for
the maximum success in his chosen field. His
many friends will be pleased to learn of his
new affiliation. Mr. Cummings will look after
the New England section of the trade. The
results of his maiden trip, just completed, in
this territory augur well for the enjoyment of
even greater success with Q R S products."
I. Son Cohen, of Cohen & Hughes, of Balti-
more, Md., together with Mrs. Cohen, was
among the visitors to the Q R S factory dur-
ing the past week. While at the factory Mr.
Cohen placed a very substantial order for new
player rolls. It will be recalled that Cohen &
Hughes are exclusive Q R S representatives.
Mr. Cohen reports a very optimistic outlook
for the holiday trade, and believes that the
turn of the new year will mark a return of
more stable business conditions.
BYRON MAUZY AIDS RED CROSS
Byron Mauzy, the well-known piano man, was
captain of one of the teams representing the
Downtown Association of San Francisco in the
recent Red Cross drive, and was highly elated
when his employes came across 100 per cent
strong.
BUFFALO, N. Y., November 30.—Cheerful faces
are more plentiful this week among the piano
dealers of the Lakes' Queen City. And there is
a reason. Business, which had slumped so much
during the last two months or so, has at last hit
the upward grade once more, and stock is once
again on the move. The holiday trade has
started, augmented through the assistance of
display advertising campaigns and special sales
by many of the piano men.
This year's holiday trade was slow in mani-
festing itself. Times were beginning to slacken
up. Many of the concerns operating big plants
here were laying off large numbers of men, and
money was not so plentiful among the buying
public as in former times. But the old axiom
that the public will spend money at Christmas
time, no matter what general conditions are,
still holds true, and the trade is decidedly look-
ing up.
Many of the dealers are arranging some at-
tractive windows this week, to draw the atten-
tion of passing throngs to their stores. There
is more display advertising appearing in the
papers, too, as Christmas draws near. The
dealers are now taking a more optimistic view of
things.
An attractive new music store opened last
week in the West Side. It is that of Burley &
Biesinger, at 332 West Ferry street. The new
store is located in the heart of the Grant-Ferry
section, the busiest mercantile district on the
West Side. The store was attractively deco-
rated and large crowds were attracted to the
opening.
The stores are beginning to put on their
Christmas regalia. The decorators who are
beautifying the interior of the big department
store of J. N. Adam & Co. expected to reach
the piano department this week. Some splendid
decorations are planned for this section of the
store. J. N. Adam & Co. report an exceptionally
good holiday business. They are advertising
extensively in the newspapers.
Ellison & Son, Grant street piano dealers, re-
port two replies to their unique advertisement
which appeared recently in the newspapers. In
the ad they offered a player-organ, with bench
and rolls, for "twenty bushels of potatoes, two
roosters, three chickens and twenty-five heads of
cabbage." They report that they have received
two inquiries from rural sections regarding the
organ. The prospects are coming to the store
to look it over.
ARRANGES FINE_WINDOW DISPLAY
Chickering Piano Featured to Great Advantage
in Window of Byron Mauzy Store
SAN FKANCISCO, CAL., November 26.—The Byron
Mauzy store recently had a window display that
featured the Chickering piano in a way to attract
unusual attention. The window, arranged by
A. A. Batkin, had a bright, shining, new Chick-
ering grand of the latest style in one corner,
while facing it was an old Chickering square.
Blue ribbon streamers connected the two pianos
with a large piano lamp in the center, and cards
on the two pianos read respectively: "The
Chickering of 100 years ago" and "The Chicker-
ing of today." The floor was laid with Q R S,
Ampico, and Melodee rolls in mosaic effect,
and added materially to the general attractive-
ness of the display.
W. D. Fay, of the Melodee Music Co., left
this week for Pittsburgh and will remain in that
territory two or three weeks, calling upon Melo-
dee roll dealers in neighboring sections of Ohio
and Pennsylvania.