Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
RMLW
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 VAN HARLINGEN, V. D. WALSH, E. B. MUNCH, LEE ROBINSON, C. R. TIGHE,
EDWARD LYMAN BILL, SCOTT KINGWILL, THOS. VV. BRESNAHAN, A. J. NICKLIN
WESTERN DIVISION*
BOSTON OFFICE:
Republic Bldg., 209 So. State St., Chicago.
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone, Wabash 5242-5243.
Telephone, Main 6950.
LONDON, ENGLAND: 1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
NEWS SERVICE IS SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED IN THE 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.
SUBSCRIPTION (including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.50; all other countries, $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $6.00 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $150.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should De made payable to Edward
Lytnan Bill, Inc.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
anil
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.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Paris Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal. .. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma
Pan-American Exposition, 1901
Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal—Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 5982—5983 MADISON SQ.
Connecting: all Departments
Cable Address: "Elbill, New York"
Vol. LXXV
NEW YORK, JULY 15, 1922
No. 3
THE RAILROAD STRIKE
T
H E prospects of an early settlement of the strike of the railroad
shop workers and others concerned in railroad operation will
be welcomed by the business interests of the country who have been
laboring for some time under the shadow of a general strike which
would tie up transportation systems and interfere seriously with the
shipment of goods.
Although the strike, up to the time of writing, has not had an
appreciable effect on the operation of trains, any long continuance
of the trouble would certainly have had a very irritating, if not disas-
trous, effect, and the failure of certain elements among the railroad
workers to support the shopmen leads to the hope that in the future
troubles between the railroad men and their employers can be settled
amicably and without resorting to strike measures.
Certainly business to-day has enough problems to contend with
without seeing orders in hand and prospective orders going for
naught because the transportation systems of the country have been
crippled by a comparatively small minority of workers. That the
railroad problem is in a fair way to be settled before it reaches a
serious state is, therefore, a matter for congratulation.
THE MUSICAL MERCHANDISE DEMAND
NE of the outstanding features of the music business during the
past year or so has been the heavy and persistent demand for
musical merchandise of all kinds, and particularly band and orchestra
instruments. There have been many reasons assigned for this popu-
larity of small musical instruments, but it is logical to assume that
the dance craze, and with it the development of various orchestral
and jazz band organizations, has brought the small musical instru-
ment, obtainable at comparatively low cost, close to the average
music lover.
When business is good it is hardly worth while taking time to
look for the reason. The time to study the situation seems to be
when business is bad. That musical merchandise stores and depart-
ments have been doing a substantial volume of business when other
O
15, 1922
departments in music stores have complained of dullness is a matter
for congratulation on the part of those who some time ago saw
the logic of a general music store idea and have profited thereby.
Consistent advertising of band and orchestra instruments, par-
ticularly those of the saxophone family, has brought notable results,
and the sales of such goods have gone far in providing profits to
offset the deficiencies in some other departments.
.
FEDERAL CONTROL OF TRADE BODIES
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
T. B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President, Raymond Bill, 37i
Fourth Ave., New York; Secretary, Edward Lyman Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York;
Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
JULY
E
ARNEST thought should be given to the bill introduced in the
United States Senate by Senator Edge, of New Jersey, know^
as Senate Bill No. 3385, which provides for Federal control of trade
associations by forcing those organizations to file with the Federal
Trade Commission not only the names and addresses of officers and
members, copies of by-laws, etc., but also the minutes of all meet-
ings and copies of all resolutions and agreements.
There have been, perhaps, trade organizations that have been
operating in defiance of the anti-trust laws, but such organizations
have been decidedly in the minority and, in most cases, have been
checked through legal channels. The attempt to force Governmental
control of trade associations at large, however, is regarded in most
quarters simply as a further effort of the Federal authorities to
extend and tighten their so-called paternal grip on business.
With the individual it is what he does and not what he thinks
that is accepted as violation of the law, and the same rule should
apply to trade organizations. There are, without doubt, many dis-
cussions in association meetings that appearing in a minute book
would seem to come close to conflicting with some statute or statutes,
yet those same discussions are frequently carried on simply for the
purpose of airing the views of trade members and without any idea
of having them form the basis for any definite action by the asso-
ciations.
It does not seem just to penalize and hamper legitimate trade
organizations by Federal restrictions simply because a few have over-
stepped the bounds. When action is taken that seems suspicious or
smacks of restraint of trade it is a very simple matter for the authori-
ties to investigate and take such steps as will remedy the situation.
It may be that the Edge Bill appears more vicious than it actu-
ally is, but it is well for association members to be on their guard
on the chance that it really has teeth.
USING PREPARED PUBLICITY
T
HOSE manufacturers of musical instruments who provide adver-
tising service for the benefit of retailers report a most general
inclination on the part of dealers to take advantage of the prepared
newspaper advertisements and other publicity matter that is made
available for their use either free or at a nominal charge.
Perhaps the number of retailers who engage in local advertis 1
ing has not increased to any material degree, but the more general
use of prepared forms indicates a realization of the fact that a well-
equipped central organization is in a better position to provide
attractive and appealing advertising copy and literature than is the
individual dealer, unless he is in a position to shoulder an expense
often out of proportion to his business.
In the case of pianos particularly it is found possible for the
dealer to use prepared advertising matter locally without conflicting
with other dealers carrying the same line of instruments, for the
agencies are generally sufficiently scattered to prevent interference.
It stands to reason that copy prepared at the metropolitan head-
quarters, with substantial resources in the matter of advertising
experience, is likely to be more effective and resultful than that pre-
pared by the local newspaper with facilities that are often limited.
Even stock advertising of quality, when properly handled, can be
made to reflect the individuality of the local dealer to a surprising
degree.
BETTER BUSINESS CONDITIONS
TATISTICS for the month of May compiled by the Department of
Commerce and just issued, indicate beyond question that every
branch of industrial activity is experiencing a steady and increasing
revival. Agricultural and building conditions are especially pleasing,
the only inharmonious notes being those of the railroad and coal
strikes, each of which gives promise of being temporary in its dura-
tion and effect. Better conditions are here, unquestionably.
S