Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
RMFW
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
J. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 373
Fourth Ave., New York; Secretary, Edward Lyman Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York;
Atsistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAY BILL, B. B. WILSON, BRAID WHITE, Associate Editors
WILSON D. BUSH, Managing Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
L. E. BOWERS, Circulation Manager
Executive and Reportorial Staff
EDWARD VAM HARLINGEN, V. D. WALSH, E. B. MUNCH, LEE ROBINSON, C. R. TIGHE,
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, SCOTT KINGWILL, THOS. W . BRESNAHAN, A. J. NICKLIN.
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NEWS SERVICE IS S U P P L I E D WEEKLY BY OCR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN T H E LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT
AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at New York, N.
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
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REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
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
are 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.
Player-Piano and
Technical Departments
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900
Silver Medal
Diploma...,.Pan-American
Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
Gold Medal—Lewis-Clark Exposition,
LONG DISTANCE
x
Vol. LXXHI
Charleston Exposition, 1902
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
1905
TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 598?—6983 MADISON
Connecting all Departments
Cable Address: "Elblll, New York"
NEW YORK, NOVEMBER 5, 1921
SQ.
No. 19
It is recommended, therefore, that the carrying on of public works
offers the most direct method for giving employment to many mem-
bers of the community and that for manufacturers and builders
working a bit ahead, running their plant or operations on a part-time
basis, to give a portion of employment to many rather than full em-
ployment to the few, may also lend material aid. To insure success
for any movement, however, the co-operation of employers and
employes is absolutely necessary.
The unemployment situation hits the music trade directly in that
it cuts off the buying power of many thousand families, which inter-
feres with the sale of new instruments, and also tends to halt collec-
tions, a fact that has caused considerable trouble in certain localities.
Any move, Governmental or otherwise, that is calculated to provide
employment for all those who desire it is deserving of active support.
AMERICAN EXPORTS TO AUSTRALIA
A
CCORDING to the latest available figures regarding imports of
pianos, player-pianos and parts into Australia covering the fiscal
year of 1919-1920, the United States still holds the premier position
as the supplier of such instruments to Australian dealers. During
that fiscal year alone there were imported from the United States
4,960 pianos and players valued at £268,847, these imports repre-
senting over 92 per cent of the gross total for the year. The next on
the list of countries supplying Australia with pianos and players was
Great Britain, who, during the same period, furnished 316 pianos
valued at £29,191, or about 6 per cent of the total importation.
It is very probable that during the fiscal year of 1920-1921, re-
garding which figures are not yet available, there has been some drop-
ping off in the importation of musical instruments from the United
States. In fact, manufacturers report such to be the case. The point
to be remembered, however, is that many Australians are frankly in
favor of American instruments from the quality standpoint, and
particularly a'dmire the stability of American players. There has
been, and is, a tendency among certain Australians, for patriotic
reasons, if for nothing else, to do a certain proportion of their buying
from English concerns, but it is safe to say that American manufac-
turers through proper efforts will be able to hold a goodly proportion
of that 92 per cent of Australian trade which they have been enjoying.
In the matter of player-pianos particularly should this hold good.
A SELF-SUPPORTING SERVICE DEPARTMENT
NUMBER of talking machine houses have adopted the plan of
establishing a service department, the members of which make
regular calls upon those who have bought talking machines from the
company and see that the instruments are in proper condition. These
service men go equipped with an assortment of the latest records,
which are demonstrated in the course of the inspection, and which are
generally bought and paid for by the customer before the inspector
leaves. The records thus sold keep the service department on a
profitable basis and in addition every customer visited has his respect
for the house strengthened.
It might be well for dealers in player-pianos who see little profit
in music rolls to send some of their repairmen out on inspection tours
to see that the player-pianos are in proper condition and also to
demonstrate a half dozen or so new rolls. Even though the direct
sales of rolls might not show a substantial profit, the fact that they
are left with the customer will tend to revive his interest in the player
and will mean further roll sales.
Continued interest in any instrument designed for the mechan-
ical reproduction of music lies primarily in keeping a steady supply
of new music before the owner so that he does not get tired of his
purchase. If the service department can maintain that interest then it
will be well worth while.
A
THE UNEMPLOYMENT SITUATION
M
ANUFACTURERS and retailers of musical instruments, in
common with business men generally, should be interested in the
outcome of the President's conference on unemployment held recently
in Washington under the chairmanship of Herbert Hoover. Although
the conference did not apparently provide a definite overnight solu-
tion of the unemployment question, a number of recommendations
were made which, if carried out, should tend to relieve the situation to
some degree at least.
It is emphasized that the problem of meeting the unemployment
emergency is a community problem and should be regarded as such.
NOVEMBER 5, 1921
THE SHARON MUSIC FESTIVAL
I
N announcing the third annual, music festival of Sharon, Pa.,
M. V. DeForeest, who, in addition to being the leading merchant
of the town, is also president of the National Association of Music
Merchants, calls attention to the continuance of a movement that has
not only proven successful in attracting wide attention, but has accom-
plished definite results for the cause of music as an art and for the
music business itself in western Pennsylvania.
In planning an entire week of musical events and securing the
co-operation of local music clubs, music teachers and other interests,
Mr. DeForeest has pointed the way for music dealers in other cities
who seek some method of attracting local attention. Sharon itself is
a comparatively small town and yet it has been found a paying propo-
sition to plan a week of music for that section alone and to attract
the interest of several thousand music lovers.
In one recital alone it is planned to have 300 music students
participate who may be said to represent just that many future pros-
pects for the sales of pianos and other musical instruments, and in
addition to these 300 there are other hundreds of friends and rela-
tives who will also have their interest in music developed to a high
pitch.
PREPARING FOR HOLIDAY TRADE
I
T may seem a trifle early to talk of Christmas business, yet past
history in the trade proves that the dealers who have done the
largest holiday business each year have always been those who
planned their holiday campaigns well ahead, instead of waiting until
snow and Santa Claus masks were hourly sights. There is a big
holiday business in musical instruments to be done this year, pessi-
mists to the contrary notwithstanding, and the piano men who plan
now to secure their share of that trade will find their efforts well
repaid when they, lock their store doors on Christmas Eve. The
purchasing power of the public is increasing every day, and the
Christmas trade this year, in almost every line, should be greater
than it was a year ago.