Music Trade Review
Issue: 1921 Vol. 72 N. 12 - Page 5
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MARCH 19, 1921
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
DAILIES SUPPORT TAX PROGRAM
E. P. MASON WITH WILCOX & WHITE
REVIEW OF RETAIL CONDITIONS
Several Excellent Editorials in Support of the
Chamber of Commerce Suggestions
Announcement Made This Week by William
Knabe—Well Known Throughout the Trade
J. W. Albertson, Traveling Representative of
the Chase-Hackley Co., Makes Some. Timely
Observations That Are Most Interesting
Editorial support of the music industries in
general and of the constructive tax program of
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce in
particular is popping up here and there over
the country with gratifying frequency. Occa-
sionally the comment of the newspaper editors is
wholly voluntary. Sometimes the appearance
of an editorial follows a conference between the
editor and some member of the industry who
is working with the Chamber in the dissemina-
tion of its tax policy.
A case in point is the Capital Times, of Madi-
son, Wisconsin, in which a strong editorial was
recently published under the "catching" head,
"Toothpaste and Pianos," after J. H. Forbes,
of the Forbes-Meagher Music Co., of Madison,
had laid before W. T. Evjue, the editor, infor-
mation sent out by the Chamber.
The Chamber believes that what has been
accomplished along publicity lines by one pro-
gressive dealer in Madison can be accomplished
by other dealers elsewhere.
The Capital Times editorial follows:
"During the war period when Congress was
searching every nook and corner of the nation
(except the sacred vaults of the war profiteers)
for ways and means to carry on the war it in-
cluded among its luxury taxes one on tooth-
paste. Whereat, even under the somberness
of war, there was considerable poking of fun
at those members of Congress who felt that the
appurtenances necessary to a daily houseclean-
ing of our molars would be a luxury and not a
necessity.
"There are members of Congress, evidently,
who still have the toothpaste viewpoint. In the
preliminaries now being laid at Washington to
shift the war burden to the consumers of the
country it is planned, among other things, to
increase the tax on musical instruments from
5 to 10 per cent.
"Musical instruments are to be held as lux-
uries and increased excise taxes are to be made
applicable to pianos, violins, etc.
"It is beyond our reasoning to fathom why
musical instruments should be held under the
classification of 'excise' taxes. Why should mu-
sical instruments be placed in a grouping that
carries with it the mild moral stigma attached
to the word 'excise'?
"But the main argument to be made against
such a proposal is that music is a necessity and
not a luxury. There would be as much sound-
ness to a proposal to tax education as to tax
music.
"Music is an essential to home, religious and
public life. It is an essential to the proper edu-
cation of the child. Music is the cheapest,
healthiest and most lasting form of entertain-
ment. Far from taxing musical instruments
their use should be encouraged in the same man-
ner that education is encouraged.
"Years ago a piano was considered a luxury
and only the rich could afford one. With our
modern merchandising system of easy pay-
ments many a modest home has been enabled
to afford a piano. Seventy-five per cent of the
pianos sold today are sold on the instalment
plan. Ten per cent is usually paid down. If
the tax is increased from five per cent to ten
per cent the merchants frequently will get no
more at the time of the sale than to pay the
tax. If larger payments are demanded it not
only will deprive many potential buyers of the
benefits of music, but will decrease sales so that
the Government revenues from the taxes will
disappear.
"No,—let's have no burdensome taxes on mu-
sic. Music has become a part of our daily life
and education. Congress should spread the
good influence of music rather than curtail its
reign."
Announcement was made this week by Wil-
liam Knabe, vice-president and general man-
ager of the Wilcox & White Co., New York
Edward P. Mason
and Meriden, of the appointment of Edward
P. Mason to the Wilcox & White organiza-
tion.
Mr. Mason is widely known in the piano in-
dustry, having at one time been president of
Mason & Hamlin Co. He has had a number
of years' practical experience in the player in-
dustry, having been associated in important ca-
pacities with various prominent player action
makers.
Mr. Mason stated, when seen by a representa-
tive of The Review: "The Artrio-Angelus has
a splendid future before it, and I believe that it
will more than hold its own with any instru-
ment in its field. As far as the Angelus player-
piano is concerned, its reputation is too well
known to need any further comments from
me."
Mr. Mason has just left for a trip among
the Artrio-Angelus dealers, to get acquainted
and to present the many features of this artis-
tic reproducing instrument.
BUYS NEW HOME IN OWENSBORO
Samuels-Bittel Music Co. Purchases Large Busi-
ness Site in That City
OWENSBORO, Kv., March 14.—The Samuels-Bittel
Music Co. has just purchased the E. P. Taylor
property on Allen street and the company's busi-
ness will be moved to the company's new loca-
tion as soon as the present leases expire and
alterations can be made. When the building
is completed the plant, it is estimated, will have
cost between $30,000 and $35,000.
The new building will be so arranged as to
separate the piano, talking machine and small
goods departments, and one of the features will
be an elaborate Ampico studio containing ample
display space.
PUSHING THE CHASE=HACKLEY LINE
NEWBURGH, N. Y., March 12.—Charles Rupp &
Son, Chase-Hackley agents in this city, report
a very nice business during the last sixty days
and a special activity in the high-priced player
market. This concern has hewed to a policy
of going out after business along aggressive
lines and, as a result, is reaping a well-de-
served late Winter harvest.
J. W. Albertson, traveling representative of
the Chase-Hackley Piano Co., Muskegon, Mich.,
was a recent visitor to New York, following an
extensive trip through the important points of
\\ est Virginia and Ohio. During the last few
weeks he covered New York State, working
down the New York Central route.
In a chat with The Review Mr. Albertson
says he found retail merchants everywhere more
optimistically inclined. Their actual retail sales
have, in most instances, been quite good, and
they are improving as each week passes. The
retail stocks, in many instances, are now dan-
gerously low, and it seems probable that whole-
sale buying will be renewed in earnest within
a very short time.
The chief concern of the dealer, Mr. Albert-
son reports, is that he feels a bit up in the air
regarding prices. He doesn't know, for certain,
whether deferring buying will mean that he will
be able to secure pianos at wholesale at a lower
figure. Until he is convinced that prices are
stabilized he does not want to invest except
on a hand-to-mouth basis.
The fact that many manufacturers have shut
down their plants completely because they can-
not further reduce prices is having a very pro-
nounced effect on a good many retail merchants,
in that it concretely demonstrates to them that
prices on musical instruments are not likely to
go down any further.
A very active demand for the Chase Bros,
grand and the Chase Bros, player is reported
by Mr. Albertson. Both of these leaders are
moving very well on the retail floor, and the
wholesale demand is therefore continuing nicely.
Mr. Albertson left for New England the end
of last week, and plans to return to New York
within a few days, and then to travel extensive-
ly through the State of Pennsylvania.
NEW QUARTERS IN YOUNGSTOWN, 0.
Terry Piano Co. Takes Possession of Store on
Ground Floor of Ohio Hotel Building
YOUNGSTOWN, O., March 12.—The latest addi-
tion to the rapidly growing list of music houses
in the vicinity of Hazel and Broadman streets
is that of the Terry Piano Co., which takes
possession of a ground-floor room in the Ohio
Hotel Building. The Terry Piano Co. is owned
and controlled by Howard Terry, well known in
music circles, and for many years in the piano
business in Youngstown.
In addition to standard lines of pianos and
player-pianos the Terry Piano Co. is exclu-
sive agent in this territory for the Brooks' Auto-
matic Repeating phonograph. The Terry Piano
Co. has one of the most progressive-appearing
stores in the downtown mercantile district. The
location is an ideal one and the front rivals
any of Youngstown's music stores.
A. B. SMITH CC^ BRANCH OPENED
Prominent Music House of Akron, O., Opens
New Branch Store in Ashland, O.
ASHLAND, O., March 14.—A branch store of the
A. B. Smith Piano Co., of Akron, ()., has been
established in Main street, here, opening last
week under the management of T. B. Johnson.
At present only pianos will be carried, the Haz-
clton line being featured. Later it is planned to
add talking machines and a line of musical mer-
chandise. It was announced at the Akron head-
quarters office that this store is showing won-
derful results in the short time it has been oper-
ated and that the town is an excellent one in
v.hich to establish a branch.
MARCH 19, 1921
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
DAILIES SUPPORT TAX PROGRAM
E. P. MASON WITH WILCOX & WHITE
REVIEW OF RETAIL CONDITIONS
Several Excellent Editorials in Support of the
Chamber of Commerce Suggestions
Announcement Made This Week by William
Knabe—Well Known Throughout the Trade
J. W. Albertson, Traveling Representative of
the Chase-Hackley Co., Makes Some. Timely
Observations That Are Most Interesting
Editorial support of the music industries in
general and of the constructive tax program of
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce in
particular is popping up here and there over
the country with gratifying frequency. Occa-
sionally the comment of the newspaper editors is
wholly voluntary. Sometimes the appearance
of an editorial follows a conference between the
editor and some member of the industry who
is working with the Chamber in the dissemina-
tion of its tax policy.
A case in point is the Capital Times, of Madi-
son, Wisconsin, in which a strong editorial was
recently published under the "catching" head,
"Toothpaste and Pianos," after J. H. Forbes,
of the Forbes-Meagher Music Co., of Madison,
had laid before W. T. Evjue, the editor, infor-
mation sent out by the Chamber.
The Chamber believes that what has been
accomplished along publicity lines by one pro-
gressive dealer in Madison can be accomplished
by other dealers elsewhere.
The Capital Times editorial follows:
"During the war period when Congress was
searching every nook and corner of the nation
(except the sacred vaults of the war profiteers)
for ways and means to carry on the war it in-
cluded among its luxury taxes one on tooth-
paste. Whereat, even under the somberness
of war, there was considerable poking of fun
at those members of Congress who felt that the
appurtenances necessary to a daily houseclean-
ing of our molars would be a luxury and not a
necessity.
"There are members of Congress, evidently,
who still have the toothpaste viewpoint. In the
preliminaries now being laid at Washington to
shift the war burden to the consumers of the
country it is planned, among other things, to
increase the tax on musical instruments from
5 to 10 per cent.
"Musical instruments are to be held as lux-
uries and increased excise taxes are to be made
applicable to pianos, violins, etc.
"It is beyond our reasoning to fathom why
musical instruments should be held under the
classification of 'excise' taxes. Why should mu-
sical instruments be placed in a grouping that
carries with it the mild moral stigma attached
to the word 'excise'?
"But the main argument to be made against
such a proposal is that music is a necessity and
not a luxury. There would be as much sound-
ness to a proposal to tax education as to tax
music.
"Music is an essential to home, religious and
public life. It is an essential to the proper edu-
cation of the child. Music is the cheapest,
healthiest and most lasting form of entertain-
ment. Far from taxing musical instruments
their use should be encouraged in the same man-
ner that education is encouraged.
"Years ago a piano was considered a luxury
and only the rich could afford one. With our
modern merchandising system of easy pay-
ments many a modest home has been enabled
to afford a piano. Seventy-five per cent of the
pianos sold today are sold on the instalment
plan. Ten per cent is usually paid down. If
the tax is increased from five per cent to ten
per cent the merchants frequently will get no
more at the time of the sale than to pay the
tax. If larger payments are demanded it not
only will deprive many potential buyers of the
benefits of music, but will decrease sales so that
the Government revenues from the taxes will
disappear.
"No,—let's have no burdensome taxes on mu-
sic. Music has become a part of our daily life
and education. Congress should spread the
good influence of music rather than curtail its
reign."
Announcement was made this week by Wil-
liam Knabe, vice-president and general man-
ager of the Wilcox & White Co., New York
Edward P. Mason
and Meriden, of the appointment of Edward
P. Mason to the Wilcox & White organiza-
tion.
Mr. Mason is widely known in the piano in-
dustry, having at one time been president of
Mason & Hamlin Co. He has had a number
of years' practical experience in the player in-
dustry, having been associated in important ca-
pacities with various prominent player action
makers.
Mr. Mason stated, when seen by a representa-
tive of The Review: "The Artrio-Angelus has
a splendid future before it, and I believe that it
will more than hold its own with any instru-
ment in its field. As far as the Angelus player-
piano is concerned, its reputation is too well
known to need any further comments from
me."
Mr. Mason has just left for a trip among
the Artrio-Angelus dealers, to get acquainted
and to present the many features of this artis-
tic reproducing instrument.
BUYS NEW HOME IN OWENSBORO
Samuels-Bittel Music Co. Purchases Large Busi-
ness Site in That City
OWENSBORO, Kv., March 14.—The Samuels-Bittel
Music Co. has just purchased the E. P. Taylor
property on Allen street and the company's busi-
ness will be moved to the company's new loca-
tion as soon as the present leases expire and
alterations can be made. When the building
is completed the plant, it is estimated, will have
cost between $30,000 and $35,000.
The new building will be so arranged as to
separate the piano, talking machine and small
goods departments, and one of the features will
be an elaborate Ampico studio containing ample
display space.
PUSHING THE CHASE=HACKLEY LINE
NEWBURGH, N. Y., March 12.—Charles Rupp &
Son, Chase-Hackley agents in this city, report
a very nice business during the last sixty days
and a special activity in the high-priced player
market. This concern has hewed to a policy
of going out after business along aggressive
lines and, as a result, is reaping a well-de-
served late Winter harvest.
J. W. Albertson, traveling representative of
the Chase-Hackley Piano Co., Muskegon, Mich.,
was a recent visitor to New York, following an
extensive trip through the important points of
\\ est Virginia and Ohio. During the last few
weeks he covered New York State, working
down the New York Central route.
In a chat with The Review Mr. Albertson
says he found retail merchants everywhere more
optimistically inclined. Their actual retail sales
have, in most instances, been quite good, and
they are improving as each week passes. The
retail stocks, in many instances, are now dan-
gerously low, and it seems probable that whole-
sale buying will be renewed in earnest within
a very short time.
The chief concern of the dealer, Mr. Albert-
son reports, is that he feels a bit up in the air
regarding prices. He doesn't know, for certain,
whether deferring buying will mean that he will
be able to secure pianos at wholesale at a lower
figure. Until he is convinced that prices are
stabilized he does not want to invest except
on a hand-to-mouth basis.
The fact that many manufacturers have shut
down their plants completely because they can-
not further reduce prices is having a very pro-
nounced effect on a good many retail merchants,
in that it concretely demonstrates to them that
prices on musical instruments are not likely to
go down any further.
A very active demand for the Chase Bros,
grand and the Chase Bros, player is reported
by Mr. Albertson. Both of these leaders are
moving very well on the retail floor, and the
wholesale demand is therefore continuing nicely.
Mr. Albertson left for New England the end
of last week, and plans to return to New York
within a few days, and then to travel extensive-
ly through the State of Pennsylvania.
NEW QUARTERS IN YOUNGSTOWN, 0.
Terry Piano Co. Takes Possession of Store on
Ground Floor of Ohio Hotel Building
YOUNGSTOWN, O., March 12.—The latest addi-
tion to the rapidly growing list of music houses
in the vicinity of Hazel and Broadman streets
is that of the Terry Piano Co., which takes
possession of a ground-floor room in the Ohio
Hotel Building. The Terry Piano Co. is owned
and controlled by Howard Terry, well known in
music circles, and for many years in the piano
business in Youngstown.
In addition to standard lines of pianos and
player-pianos the Terry Piano Co. is exclu-
sive agent in this territory for the Brooks' Auto-
matic Repeating phonograph. The Terry Piano
Co. has one of the most progressive-appearing
stores in the downtown mercantile district. The
location is an ideal one and the front rivals
any of Youngstown's music stores.
A. B. SMITH CC^ BRANCH OPENED
Prominent Music House of Akron, O., Opens
New Branch Store in Ashland, O.
ASHLAND, O., March 14.—A branch store of the
A. B. Smith Piano Co., of Akron, ()., has been
established in Main street, here, opening last
week under the management of T. B. Johnson.
At present only pianos will be carried, the Haz-
clton line being featured. Later it is planned to
add talking machines and a line of musical mer-
chandise. It was announced at the Akron head-
quarters office that this store is showing won-
derful results in the short time it has been oper-
ated and that the town is an excellent one in
v.hich to establish a branch.
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