Music Trade Review
Issue: 1931 Vol. 90 N. 1 - Page 30
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
V ^-> lews on
1931
Irade 1 i rospects
L J O W do the members of the band instru-
ment and musical merchandise trade view
the business prospects? For the most part they
are inclined to display full confidence in the
immediate future although they are not filled
with that type of optimism which conjures up
prosperity where none exists. The Review
takes pleasure in presenting herewith the opin-
ions of several prominent members of the in-
dustry regarding the business situation and the
outlook in the belief that they will prove of
value to those who are laying their plans for
the new year.
C. D. Greenleaf, President, C. G. Conn, Ltd.,
Elkhart, Ind.
The welfare of the music business is so
closely associated now with the general eco-
nomic conditions that I really think that
the only question at issue is as to when the
general conditions will improve. There have
been so many predictions for the past few
months and there is so little on which to
base a definite opinion that I really do not
see anything to be gained by further prophe-
cies at this time. It would appear as if we
must be at the bottom of the curve, and it
seems altogether probable to me that when
the curve starts upward, we will not realize
it for a considerable time afterwards.
About all that I think there is any further
use in saying is that in my judgment our
particular division of the music industry is
fundamentally even more sound than ever,
and that when the improvement does come,
we will get our full share of it.
Fred Gretsch, President, The Fred Gretsch
Mfg. Co., Brooklyn, N. Y.
You have asked me to express my opin-
ion of business prospects for 1931. And,
even at the risk of making rash predictions
which may later rise to make me blush for
my hardy optimism, I venture the opinion
that 1931 will prove a more fruitful year
and self-expression of music is a universal
human need—or, in other words, that "It's
more fun to iplay than just to listen."
C. D. Greefileaf
than 1930 for the Music business in general.
For one thing, the whole industry is
stripped right down for action. Overstocks
have just about disappeared. A good many
unnecessary overhead expenses—the natural
result of a succession of easy years—have
been, of necessity, weeded out. And during
the past year we've all learned what it
means to have to get out and work.
We are starting the new year with a po-
tential market larger than ever before. And
it is a market which, thanks to radio-broad-
casting, is more music-conscious than ever
before. It is our job—manufacturers, whole-
salers and retailers, alike—to sell this vast
market on the fundamental idea that music
28
David L. Day, General Manager, Bacon Banjo
Co., Inc., Groton, Conn.
It happened we have experienced a sudden
change in the demand for banjos since the
first of the month and have been exceedingly
busy and working overtime in trying to take
care of the demands. This is more particu-
larly on the medium grade instruments.
We have a number of inquiries on hand
for the higher grade instruments and we
feel sure that the conditions for 1931 will be
very much better after the early part of the
year. About all we can say a) out 1930 is
we have "Stuck to Our Last" through thick
and thin, and it has been mostly thin. With
the wide activity and demand for our banjos
which we experienced during December we
are looking forward to a continued demand
and better prospects for 1931.
We realize that one must not only have
the goods and the literature together with
the jobbers and dealers to back up their
products but that they must also improve in
every way wherever possible. We are also
spending considerable money each year in
the way of demonstrations in order to cre-
ate additional enthusiasm and demand for
the banjo. In this way we have no doubt
that 1931 will send us a splendid dividend.
Karl B. Shinkman, Vice-President, York Band
Instrument Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
The Federal census of manufacturing fig-
ures recently released are deserving of care-
ful study. The shrinkage in musical instru-
ments and accessories from 1927 to 1929 was
most disheartening—and I candidly believe
that the bottom has not yet been reached.
Now it is a well-known fact that as vol-
ume of manufacturing increases, costs go
down. Conversely, if volume be diminished,
V ^-> lews on
1931
Irade 1 i rospects
L J O W do the members of the band instru-
ment and musical merchandise trade view
the business prospects? For the most part they
are inclined to display full confidence in the
immediate future although they are not filled
with that type of optimism which conjures up
prosperity where none exists. The Review
takes pleasure in presenting herewith the opin-
ions of several prominent members of the in-
dustry regarding the business situation and the
outlook in the belief that they will prove of
value to those who are laying their plans for
the new year.
C. D. Greenleaf, President, C. G. Conn, Ltd.,
Elkhart, Ind.
The welfare of the music business is so
closely associated now with the general eco-
nomic conditions that I really think that
the only question at issue is as to when the
general conditions will improve. There have
been so many predictions for the past few
months and there is so little on which to
base a definite opinion that I really do not
see anything to be gained by further prophe-
cies at this time. It would appear as if we
must be at the bottom of the curve, and it
seems altogether probable to me that when
the curve starts upward, we will not realize
it for a considerable time afterwards.
About all that I think there is any further
use in saying is that in my judgment our
particular division of the music industry is
fundamentally even more sound than ever,
and that when the improvement does come,
we will get our full share of it.
Fred Gretsch, President, The Fred Gretsch
Mfg. Co., Brooklyn, N. Y.
You have asked me to express my opin-
ion of business prospects for 1931. And,
even at the risk of making rash predictions
which may later rise to make me blush for
my hardy optimism, I venture the opinion
that 1931 will prove a more fruitful year
and self-expression of music is a universal
human need—or, in other words, that "It's
more fun to iplay than just to listen."
C. D. Greefileaf
than 1930 for the Music business in general.
For one thing, the whole industry is
stripped right down for action. Overstocks
have just about disappeared. A good many
unnecessary overhead expenses—the natural
result of a succession of easy years—have
been, of necessity, weeded out. And during
the past year we've all learned what it
means to have to get out and work.
We are starting the new year with a po-
tential market larger than ever before. And
it is a market which, thanks to radio-broad-
casting, is more music-conscious than ever
before. It is our job—manufacturers, whole-
salers and retailers, alike—to sell this vast
market on the fundamental idea that music
28
David L. Day, General Manager, Bacon Banjo
Co., Inc., Groton, Conn.
It happened we have experienced a sudden
change in the demand for banjos since the
first of the month and have been exceedingly
busy and working overtime in trying to take
care of the demands. This is more particu-
larly on the medium grade instruments.
We have a number of inquiries on hand
for the higher grade instruments and we
feel sure that the conditions for 1931 will be
very much better after the early part of the
year. About all we can say a) out 1930 is
we have "Stuck to Our Last" through thick
and thin, and it has been mostly thin. With
the wide activity and demand for our banjos
which we experienced during December we
are looking forward to a continued demand
and better prospects for 1931.
We realize that one must not only have
the goods and the literature together with
the jobbers and dealers to back up their
products but that they must also improve in
every way wherever possible. We are also
spending considerable money each year in
the way of demonstrations in order to cre-
ate additional enthusiasm and demand for
the banjo. In this way we have no doubt
that 1931 will send us a splendid dividend.
Karl B. Shinkman, Vice-President, York Band
Instrument Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
The Federal census of manufacturing fig-
ures recently released are deserving of care-
ful study. The shrinkage in musical instru-
ments and accessories from 1927 to 1929 was
most disheartening—and I candidly believe
that the bottom has not yet been reached.
Now it is a well-known fact that as vol-
ume of manufacturing increases, costs go
down. Conversely, if volume be diminished,
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