Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
AUGUST 21, 1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
"The great need of the trade just no,w is more
efficient manufacturing methods and the sys-
President of Kohler & Campbell, Inc., Prophesies a Better Than Normal Business in the Music tematizing of factory work with a view to in^
creasing and maintaining production. The
Industry Until at Least the First of the Year—Why Present Prices Will Not Come Down
manufacturers have been working along this
line
for some time and have been getting re-
John H. Parnham, president of Kohler & the first of the year at least. This means that
Campbell, Inc., and likewise president of the slthough these manufacturers cannot reduce sults, but continued effort is vitally necessary to
New York Piano Manufacturers' Association, wholesale prices on their instruments they can meet any situation that may develop. Increased
who has been in close touch with piano manu- at least maintain present prices until they are factory efficiency is demanded not only in com-
facturing conditions, is of the opinion that the forced to go into the market for fresh supplies pliance with modern business standards, but in
piano business during the Fall will continue to after January 1. What will happen then only order to enable the manufacturers to rebuild
their organizations oh a permanent basis. In
be above normal in so far as output relates to time can tell.
demand, and that piano prices will not come
"It'does not take much to curtail factory pro- many plants the inroads made into factory or-
down and may show a tendency towards higher duction. The absence of one essential item in ganizations during the war have not yet been
overcome, for the development of trained man
levels.
power and the building up of the human ma-
To a representative of The Review this week
chinery is a slow, tedious process.
Mr. Parnham said: "It is my opinion that there
"At the present time pianos and players show
will be a shortage of pianos and particularly
the smallest proportionate increase among the
player-pianos during the coming Fall months
manufactured products offered to the American
and up to the first of the year at least due pri-
public, as the present and pre-war prices for
marily to the fact that piano and player produc-
those instruments compare with similar prices
tion at the present time is considerably less
charged for products of factories in other in-
than normal as compared with an average year.
dustries. A little shopping around and the pric-
As a matter of fact, judging from reports that
ing of articles from pins to automobiles proves
I have seen, the output of player-pianos thus
this point to the most skeptical.
far in 1920 is little, if any, larger than the output
"As I see it, the prospects for the Fall and
of four years ago. The indications are that the
Christmas trade are very bright, and while
demand meanwhile will keep up, due to the in-
prices cannot come down, the foresight of
creased appreciation of music on the part of the
manufacturers in laying in supplies should at
general public, and its influence upon the sales
least maintain prices at approximately the pres-
of musical instruments.
ent level. After the first of the year there will
"There are several reasons to be assigned for
be new problems to be considered, and it is
the shortage of instruments and their higher
likely that piano manufacturers and supply men
cost. In the first place, factories are not work-
will have to get together in order to discuss
ing to capacity. Some, it is true, are reporting
ways and means for co-operating and determin-
good results, but the average output is not
ing upon some method to keep the industry
over-encouraging, especially in the face of de-
in a healthy condition during the months
mand. Then, too, production costs are increas-
which follow.
John
H.
Parnham
ing steadily, and, in fact, have shown distinct
"Meanwhile, close attention to maintaining
advances since the first of the year. The piano the matter of supplies can tie up a department
manufacturers use materials and parts that they for several days, or several weeks, until that and increasing production, and to bringing about
must buy in competition with other well estab- item is received. The tying up of one depart- greater efficiency in production will serve to
lished industries. There is much wood used in ment leads naturally and in turn to the tying solve many of the problems that promise to
pianos, for instance, and in securing lumber of up or the slowing up of production in the plant. grow out of both the labor and materials mar-
the proper quality piano men must not only go It is only by keeping on hand a plentiful supply ket. The retailers of the country can do their
into the market against other manufacturers of of all materials at all times that the manufac- share by absorbing this production as rapidly
wood products, but against the building trades. turer can protect himself and his trade. This all as possible with the assurance that the present
As the amount of lumber is insufficient for all means a larger capital investment, and conse- level of prices or even higher prices will be in
effect for some time to come."
needs, this competition in itself has a great ef- quently a heavy financial burden to him.
fect on keeping lumber prices in the air. The
trouble is that there is very little relief in pros- FRANK E. EDGAR HOME FROM WEST FINE BUSINESS PROSPECTS IN EAST
pect, for Government figures recently issued
show that we are consuming lumber five times Aeolian Co. Traveler Addresses Meeting of Jos. H. Chase, Bush & Lane Representative,
Youngstown, O., Association
Makes Encouraging Trade Forecast
faster than the timber can grow to replace it.
In the steel, copper and wool markets the manu-
Joseph H. Chase, Eastern wholesale repre-
Frank E. Edgar, of the wholesale department
facturers find themselves in much the same po- of the Aeolian Co., returned this week from a sentative of the Bush & Lane Piano Co., Hol-
sition and they are also faced with competition iengthy trip through the Middle W r est, and land, Mich., is spending his vacation at his
in the labor market. Each quotation for sup- brought back an interesting report regarding Summer home on Staten Island, N. Y., where
plies is higher than the preceding one—that is, business conditions and prospects in that sec- he is indulging in fishing, golfing and motoring.
provided a quotation will be made at all—and tion.
In discussing present business and prospects in
the cost of labor has increased greatly since
Mr. Edgar happened to be in Youngstown, his territory, Mr. Chase said in part: "I found,
January 1.
O., when the local Music Merchants' Associa- of course, the usual Summer dullness, but every-
"Piano merchants, or the majority of them tion held its monthly meeting and was called on thing points to a very brisk Fall trade through-
at least, realize, or should realize from their to address that body. He told them of the out the entire East. The advanced prices and
own experiences in buying, just what price in- work being done by the Music Industries Cham- new conditions have not, apparently, hurt the
creases have gone into force, and the problems ber of Commerce, and particularly by the Na- trade in the least, and I would not see the old
the manufacturer is confronted with> The tional Bureau for the Advancement of Music, conditions return for a good deal. Of course
we always find a few dealers who are inclined
dealer must realize that he is forced to pass on and urged their support for the stamp plan.
to be timid, and hold back on account of high
these increases to his customers for the protec-
prices, but those who have continued or in-
tion of his business. What the average retailer
HOLLAND
DUTY
ON
PIANOS
IS
h%
creased their efforts have been doing more busi-
does not know perhaps is that the inventory
value of the stocks of supplies in piano factories C. E. Brockington Writes From Amsterdam of ness and making more money than ever before.
We expect our new Cecilian player will prove
runs four or five times greater than a few years
Conditions in Piano Trade There
quite a factor in the Fall trade in the East, *
ago. Not only does the cost of supplies figure
here, but it is necessary to carry larger quanti-
Charles E. Brockington, of the Mason & where it has been accorded an enthusiastic re-
ties of raw materials of all sorts in order to Hamlin Piano Co., New York, who some time ception."
keep the plant going steadily, give the dealer ago sailed for Europe to study conditions in the
reasonable good service, and to protect the music trade there, writes that the duty on
R. B. ALDCROFTT IN MAINE
manufacturer against delayed shipments from pianos entering Holland is only 5 per cent, as
material and supply plants.
against 33 1-3 per cent in England. At the time
R. B. Aldcroftt, president of the DeRivas &
"It has been found necessary in many cases of writing Mr. Brockington was in Amsterdam, Harris Mfg. Co., and of the Music Industries
to rent storage space in buildings outside the where he had a good chance to gather accurate Chamber of Commerce, is at present enjoying
factory to hold the reserve supplies. Manufac- information first-hand. He further said that a vacation at Seal Harbor, Me.
turers financially able to do so are now keep- the German Government was charging piano
ing on hand supplies sufficient for three or four manufacturers 10 per cent on all pianos made,
Paul Fink, Behning Piano Co. traveler, is at
months and many of them are protected until whether for domestic use or for export.
present on a trip through the Middle West.
FALL DEMAND WILL EXCEED SUPPLY, SAYS PARNHAM
THE BEST KNOWN
MUSICAL NAME
IN THE WORLD.
JPJANOCO - P I A N O S * NEW-YORK CIT
THE BEST PROFIT
PRODUCER FOR THE
DEALER IN THE TRADE