Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
OUR TECHNICAL DEPARTMENT
(Continued from page 11)
tions—contrary to the belief of many economic
theorists, especially of the more radical school—•
intensified salesmanship is essential to the dis-
tribution of goods on a large scale. On a small
scale, industry is no longer organized, nor is it
possible to make goods of a competitive kind,
save at a loss, upon any but the largest possible
scale. Therefore, in fact, we must take things
as we find them and not try to accomplish all
the reforms at one blow.
Practiced Objectives
Our objectives in all attempts at improvement
in the manufacture of pianos and allied instru-
ments must, then, be narrowly limited; but they
can be positive, definite and successful for all
their comparative littleness. They may be for-
mulated somewhat as follows:
Improvement in quality is a positive require-
ment which, when and as attained, will act so as
to overcome sales resistance. It is, therefore,
and positively, needed, not merely because some
makers are weak enough to like to do pretty
work, but because the whole industry is suffer-
ing at the present time from an atrophy which
is the manifest result of trying to substitute in-
genious incantations and patented ballyhoo
methods for outright goodness of the goods.
Improvement in quality is a matter of (a)
fundamental design of scientific accuracy, (b)
agreement in essentials of dimension and speci-
fication between supply men and manufacturer,
(c) factory practice.
Reduction in manufacturing costs is a matter
of shop practices based upon design and upon
co-operation with supply men. It must rest,
first, upon design because in no other way can
standards be worked out for the processes.
Now, upon standardized process—upon the ma-
chine technology—the whole of standardization
rests; and standardization of method within
each factory is the beginning of improvement in
manufacture.
Our first objective is to convince the trade
that these statements are true. We may, then,
perhaps go on to do what can be done towards
securing the co-operation of supply men, to the
end of putting specifications upon a scientific
basis. The final objective will, of course, com-
bine all these and lead to the recognition and
application of scientific method throughout the
industry.
JUNE 23, 1923
BUFFALO DEALERS ARE EXPECTING A BIG PIANO YEAR
June Showing a Big Gain Over the Corresponding Month of 1922—Buffalo Delegation to Con-
ventions Returns Enthusiastic Over Meetings—W. H. Daniels Receives Honor
BUFFALO, N. Y., June 18.—Representatives of the
Buffalo music trade, just returned from the
Prosperity Convention in Chicago, are quite en-
thused over conditions of the piano business at
present and have learned that the prosperity
enjoyed by the Buffalo trade for the past few
months is being shared by dealers, jobbers and
manufacturers all over the country.
Among those returned, and who have been
visited by The Review representative, are Ar-
thur Erion, of the Erion Piano Co., Inc.; George
and Harold VerBeck, of the VerBeck Musical
Sales Corp.; F. F. Barber, manager of J. N.
Adam Music Store; Frank Walpole and Wil-
liam Reilly, of the Hoffman Piano Co.; T. Ames-
bury Goold, of Goold Bros., Inc.; C. N. An-
drews, of the Victor wholesale house bearing
his name; Ben Neal, of Neal, Clark & Neal;
O. L. Neal, of the Buffalo Talking Machine Co.,
and F. C. Clare, of the Iroquois Sales Corp.
The men returned to Buffalo with an optimis-
tic outlook on the future months of the music
trade and the opinion of the convention was one
in accord, that it was wonderful in gain of in-
formation and entertainment. A very big year
is looked forward to, especially in the piano
trade.
June of this year is showing a big gain over
the corresponding month of last year, said Ar-
thur Erion, of the Erion Piano Co. Player-
pianos are going strong, but May and June
showed talking machines and records quiet.
Pianos are still leading by a big margin over
the corresponding period of last year, reports
Charles Hoffman, of the Hoffman Piano Co.
Arthur Hahn, of Krakauer Bros., New York,
was a visitor to the store of Denton, Cottier &
Daniels last week.
Edward P. Erion, of the Erion Piano Co.,
with his family, will tour the New England
States and visit some of the Eastern seashore
resorts during July.
Not often does a piece of popular music cause
the sensation that "Yes, We Have No Bananas,"
Shapiro, Bernstein & Co.'s latest hit, has cre-
ated in Buffalo. The song was recently fea-
tured at Loew's State Theatre, where it made
a tremendous hit, and sales have mounted to
the peak at sheet music counters here. W. T.
Grant has a special window display for the song,
with a reproduction of the Loew's stage setting
in the background.
A test was conducted recently in Erie, Pa.,
to determine whether the public wants classical
music or lighter numbers in its band concerts.
The vote was almost unanimous for the latter
class and, as a result, popular numbers will
compose the programs given this Summer in the
Erie public parks.
Members of the S. S. "Leviathan" Orchestra,
who played in Shea's Theatre last week, sere-
naded W. H. Daniels, of the Buffalo music
house of Denton, Cottier & Daniels. The sere-
nade was given in front of the Daniels store,
which occupies the entire business block ad-
joining the theatre.
During the engagement the music house
showed an elaborate display of Buescher band
instruments, these being used exclusively by
the orchestra, which is to become" attached to
the S. S. "Leviathan" when it enters the trans-
Atlantic service.
Mr. Daniels has also been honored by having
one of the new Lake freighters of the Eastern
Steamship Co. named for him. . The steamer
was in port at the time the serenade was given,
making its maiden trip to this city.
REMODEL CABLE ATLANTA STORE
ATLANTA, GA., June 19.—The Cable Piano Co.'s
store, 82 North Broad street, is soon to be
remodeled. In addition to adding new fixtures,
the floor space will be enlarged.
Tuners and Repairers
ABOUT CORRESPONDENCE
I welcome contributions of any nature ger-
mane to the purposes of this department and
ask that they be addressed directly to William
Braid White, care The Music Trade Review, 383
Madison avenue, New York. Readers will please
notice the change in the street address of The
Review's head offices.
We have just issued a little 2 0
page price list off
PIANO MATERIALS AND TOOLS
COOPERATE IN SAFETY WORK
Piano manufacturers in the lower Bronx, New
York, have been co-operating with the Chil-
dren's Safety Program of the Silver Jubilee dur-
ing the past fortnight, by requiring their fire-
men to blow the shop whistles for one continu-
ous minute each day at 3 p. m. The proposi-
tion was presented at the factories by a delega-
tion of Boy Scouts, who made a series of calls
throughout the district, the idea being that the
whistles remind chauffeurs and teamsters that
school children, are passing home through the
streets. Pedestrians passing the nest of piano
plants in the southeast section of the Bronx
at 3 o'clock are greeted with a din which would
do justice to a pre-prohibition New Years.
and will send a copy upon request.
It is in convenient form and of in-
terest to every Tuner and Repairer.
Simply ask for Circular No. 2 4 4
HOBSON BUYS CHANDLER STORE
CHILLICOTHE, O., June 19.—Chandler's Music
Store, which has been in business for twenty-one
years at 24 East Main street, has sold out to
Jay G. Hobson, who will operate the store in
the future. The establishment handles Victrolas,
player rolls, small goods and sheet music,
HAMMACHER, SCHLEMMER & CO.
PIANO AND PLAYER HARDWARE, FELTS AND TOOLS
l
NEW YORK SINCE 1848
4th Avenue and 13th Street