Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE
RMEW
(Registered in the U. S. Patent Office)
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;
Assistant 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 VAH HAKLINGEN, V. D. WALSH, E. B. MUNCH, LEE ROBINSON, C. R. TIGHH,
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, SCOTT KINGWILL, THOS. W. BRESNAHAN, A. J. NICKLIW
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N E W S SERVICE I S S U P P L I E D WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED I N 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. Y.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
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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
p
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.
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Exposition Honors Won by The Review
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Cable Address: "Elblll, New York"
Vol. LXXV
NEW YORK, SEPTEMBER 23, 1922
No. 13
AN ILLUMINATING SURVEY OF CONDITIONS
HE survey of the music industry made by the Music Industries
T
Chamber of Commerce with a view to getting some definite
facts regarding existing business conditions and business prospects
for the coming months, which is presented in The Review this
week, is of wide interest to the trade in that it indicates a general
improvement in stocks and in volume of orders.
When it is considered that national industrial conditions during
the past few months in the face of the coal and railroad strike were
not conducive to an overabundance of confidence on the part of
the retail business man, the fact that the music merchants in the
majority of cases have seen fit to keep their orders on the same
basis as last year or to increase them speaks well for the trade
view of the months to come.
The survey was made when things were still somewhat upset,
but with the coal and rail troubles practically settled there is likely
to be an increase in confidence that will result in a greater volume
of orders for manufacturers of all kinds of musical instruments.
Perhaps a national survey means little to the individual manufac-
turer or merchant in the conduct of his own business, but it is to
be remembered that the prevalence of good business is going to
reflect to the advantage of everyone in this line of trade.
THE COMING OHIO CONVENTION
S this issue of The Review reaches its readers the music mer-
A
chants and manufacturers from various sections of the country
are on their way to Toledo to attend the annual convention of the
Music Merchants' Association of Ohio, which for several years
past has enjoyed the status of a national event,, marking as it does
the opening of the Fall business season.
It is unfortunate that of all the local associations that have
been organized during the past decade or so few have really sur-
vived and shown any real activity. For one reason or another
various trade bodies have exhibited great promise for a year or two
REVIEW
SEPTEMBER 23, 1922
and then through lack of interest on the part of the membership at
large, or perhaps through poor direction, have simply become in-
active or passed out entirely.
The Ohio Association is to be accepted as an outstanding ex-
ception to the rule, for each year it seems to attract added interest.
This is due without question to the all-year-around activities of
Secretary Hyer and other executives of the body who have accom-
plished, and continue to accomplish, real things for the benefit of the
trade as a whole. This year's program for the annual convention
to be held in Toledo next week is characteristic, for it is calculated
to cover a broad range of subjects, each one of direct and distinct
importance to every individual engaged in the making or selling
of musical instruments or accessories.
The Ohio men have discovered, and profited by the discovery,
that although social activities have a part in association -programs,
the real basis and success of the organization is what is really done
along active lines for the. benefit of the membership and the in-
dustry it represents. Those members of the trade who follow the
report of the Ohio convention will unquestionably find much therein
that will prove profitable to their interests.
MONEY TO BUY MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
HOSE who are of the opinion that a large proportion of the
T population
is not at the present time in a financial position to
purchase musical instruments of the better sort have a surprise
coming to them in the report of the American Bankers' Association
to the effect that there are nearly 27,000,000 savings bank deposi-
tors on record, or an average of more than one depositor for every
family in the United States.
It is significant that during the past couple of years, while the
country has been going through what has been termed a period of
depression, the number of savings bank accounts and the amount of
deposits in such accounts have been increasing at a rate that has
surprised even bankers in close touch with the situation.
The record may be taken to indicate that the spirit of thrift has
gained ground in the United States and that the great majority of
our people are putting aside a very sizable portion of their incomes
for the coming "rainy day." With the money actually available,
even in savings accounts, and with the public trained to save, the
musical instrument salesman has an opportunity before him that
should in no wise be neglected.
If there is anything at all in the slogan "Music As an Aid to
Thrift" which has been put forward by the music industry for the
past couple of years, then it should be capitalized right now. It
may not be that the 27,000,000 savings bank depositors represent
that many prospective piano or talking machine buyers, but cer-
tainly a very substantial proportion of them are in a position to be
convinced of the desirability or rather necessity of owning a musical
instrument of some sort.
CHILDREN AS A FACTOR IN PIANO SALES
HE beginning of a new school year has a real meaning even
T
for those who have no children of school age, for it represents
in some measure the beginning of a new year of business oppor-
tunities for those who have to do with education and with making
the home a better place to live in.
A surprising number of music merchants have taken occasion
to carry special advertising simultaneously with the opening of
school, urging the desirability of buying pianos and talking machines
to aid the child in the development of its love for, and understand-
ing of, music. In fact, one piano dealer offered to pay the first
month's piano lessons for any child for w T hom a piano was bought
from his store.
From various sections of the country during the month have
come reports of a more general attention given to music in the
public schools in various cities. In certain localities general music
instruction is being attempted for the first time and in others definite
school credits for music study are to be allowed. Then, too, plans
are announced for the holding of music weeks and particularly
music memory contests during the Fall months. With all these
musical activities under way, and with the time for spending eve-
nings indoors approaching, there is real reason to look forward to
ihe selling at retail of a very substantial volume of musical instru-
ments.