Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C L. Hill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
J. H. Spillane, i7i Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Secretary, Edward l.yman Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York;
Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
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RAY BILL, B. B. WILSON, BRAID WHITE, Associate Editors
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EDWARD VAN HARLINGEN, V. D. WALSH, K. B. MUNCH, C. A. LEONARD, LEE ROBINSON,
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Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
p
a r e dealt with, will be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
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Vol. LXXII
NEW YORK, FEBRUARY 19, 1921
No. 8
MANUFACTURING COSTS HERE AND ABROAD
T
HE figures published in another section of The Review this
week, showing the comparative percentages of manufacturing
costs of pianos in the United States and Great Britain, are of unusual
interest at this particular time, when the adjustment of costs in
most factories on this side of the ocean at least has been brought
down to a fine point.
It is particularly interesting to learn, for instance, that while
in 1920 materials represented 08.64 per cent of the production costs
of American pianos, materials in England represented only 59.60 per
cent of the total cost, and labor 29.50 per cent. These percentages
offer food for thought, for they may be based on two factors, either
that labor costs in England are out of all proportion, or that, while
the cost of labor has practically held its own, prices of supplies have
shown a substantial drop. In any event the statisticians of the
trade have something to work upon.
THE
T
TAX
SITUATION
HAT there is a broader appreciation of the part the music in-
dustry is playing as an aesthetic force in our civilization is
evident from the attitude of a great many editors of daily news-
papers who, in vigorously written editorials, have protested against
higher excise taxes on musical instruments and who, moreover, in
many instances, have recommended the abolition of any form of
taxation that would consider musical instruments a luxury rather
than a necessity.
Music is as great a necessity in the home to-day as it was during
war times. It is a tremendous influence for good and it is inimical
to good government to place musical instruments in the category of
non-essentials, thereby encumbering them with a tax that is as bur-
densome as it is unwise.
It was never so necessary as now for dealers and music trade
interests generally throughout the country to be on the alert regard-
ing the contemplated legislation covering tax matters in Congress.
FEBRUARY 19,
1921
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce is doing excellent work
in this special field, but it must have behind it not only the solid sup-
port of the industry, but intensive work on the part of dealers in
keeping in touch with their representatives in Congress and advising
them as to the wisdom or inadvisability of certain forms of taxation
that may come up for consideration.
MUSIC PROPAGANDA IN MOTION PICTURES
T
H E motion picture has been used by the music trade to a lim-
ited extent for attracting favorable attention from the public
to the various interesting features of the industry. For the most
part the films shown have been what is known as the "educational"
type and confined, for the most part, to views of manufacturing
processes. The Baldwin Piano Co., however, has now pointed the
way to a new means for utilizing the motion picture to secure pub-
licity of the right sort while, at the same time, holding the interest
of the theatre audience. It is nothing else than a complete film
telling a rational story and bringing home in a most effective manner
the great desirability of music in the home. Of course, the story
is written around the Baldwin Co.'s own instrument, the Maniialo,
but it opens the way for other factors in the trade to utilize the
screen effectively without confining themselves to strictly industrial
subjects.
A couple of years ago, during the war, there was an attempt
made to launch a film calculated to arouse interest in music, and
particularly music in the home. The idea did not work out as
expected, however, and, so far as is known, the attempt was defi-
nitely dropped. For a single concern, therefore, to have sufficient
vision to launch this new form of propaganda of music is matter
of distinct credit to that concern, in this instance the Baldwin Co.
A HIGHER TARIFF NEEDED
I
F the Ways and Means Committee of the House gives proper con-
sideration to the arguments in favor of higher tariffs as presented
by the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce it would seem that
the music industry cannot but be granted the protection demanded
in behalf of the trade in general, and particularly those factors in
the trade that, having been held under check by foreign imports
prior to the war, have, since 1914, developed to a substantial degree.
It is not a matter of sentiment that will cause the average piano man
to seek support for the tuning pin factories which have been estab-
lished in this country for the purpose of again being called upon
to meet conditions such as prevailed during 1917, 1918 and part of
1919, nor will the average trade member care to see the great band
instrument and musical merchandise manufacturing industries that
have developed in this country as a result of the war wiped out by
a flood of foreign-made goods. The American music*industry is
proud of its growth and its present standing in the world of busi-
ness, and it "is only under the protection of a substantial tariff rate
that this position can be maintained.
BUSINESS IS IMPROVING
I
MPROVEMENT continues in the general business situation,
according to the weekly trade reviews. Stress is laid on the
greater degree of confidence which is manifest, but at the same
time attention is called to the fact that actual recessions are still to
be found in some of the basic lines. In the primary markets rather
less business is being done, but more activity is developing in the
smaller jobbing centers.
Dun's Review says : "While the orders that flow to manufac-
turers are seldom of magnitude, business of moderate size" is being
placed somewhat more freely, and the large attendance of buyers in
primary markets is a feature commented upon in various dispatches.
The policy of these interests not only remains one of limiting com-
mitments to actual and well-defined needs, but there is a disinclina-
tion to operate in quarters where the indications appear to fore-
shadow a further yielding of prices.
"Liquidation of retail stocks, however, is being stimulated by
offerings of goods at continued reductions, and this is leading to a
growing demand for small lots of merchandise to be used for replace-
ment purposes. Purchasing for Spring is also becoming rather more
confident, but it is still characterized by very noticeable caution and
is likely to be restricted mainly to essential requirements for some
time to come."