Music Trade Review

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Manufacturer Believes in Piano Convention;
Discusses Excise Tax Situation
OMMENTING on the controversy
C
which has heen taking place re-
garding the VA.M.M. Convention, a
prominent piano manufacturer stated to
the REVIEW this month. "It is my
opinion that this Convention is too big
and that it should he separated into
divisions. One division would be the
band instruments, small goods and
sheet music people and the other divi-
sion would be the piano people. I re-
call that in 1927 the radio people de-
cided that they were big enough to hold
their own Convention and separated
from us with good results for all con-
cerned. It appears that the piano in-
dustry has been stabilized at about one
piano for every thousand persons in
the United States annually, and some-
where between ]60.000 and 170,000 pi-
anos. It would appear that the annual
Conventions, such as they have been,
do not add materially to the success
of the piano factories.
"It would seem that if the Piano Di-
vision of the Music Merchants Associ-
ation can be separated from the Band
Instrument. Small Goods and Sheet
Music, an annual Piano Show which
would reduce budgets for everyone
would be in order. We have no trouble
selling our output and one of the sales
managers of one of the other com-
panies told me that the Convention
didn't materially affect their business,
and I think a good observation would
be that it doesn't affect the sales of at
least two of the largest manufacturers
in the industry."
The Excise Tax
"'The biggest problem in the industry
is the matter of excise taxes for pi-
anos. The State of Michigan being an
automotive industry state is quite cons-
cious of excise taxes. They are cutting
automobiles back from 7 million to 5
million and this will effect both labor
and industry for the reason that the
excise tax for each car certainly is
holding back new automobile sales.
There is no reason why there should be
an excise tax on womens pocket books,
refrigerators, washing machines, appli-
ances of any kind or pianos. Automo-
biles will be cut back to l r /( next year
as this is already written into the law.
The television people escaped full tax-
ation by receiving an allowance for the
cabinet which is regarded as furniture.
It would appear that the piano indus-
try should take a stand for a general
excise tax on everything manufactured
to be paid for by the manufacturer.
Certainly a tax of one or even two per
cent wouldn't burl anybody. The furni-
ture industry and the soft drink indus-
try are two enormous industries totally
void of taxation. If the motion picture
industry was taxed as a manufacturer
it certainly would help thai industry.
It is believed that the manufacturers
in Michigan will support a general ex-
cise tax to relieve the unfair distribu-
tion of excise taxes now in existence.
Some leadership in this connection is
essential in our industry and I Ivelieve
that John Furlong. President of the
National Piano Manufacturers Associ-
ation, will lead us in that direction.'*
TO SERVICE ORGANS
Richard L. Heintze has formed the
Metropolitan Music Co. in Detroit,.
Mich, at specialize in service and rebuilding of
pipe and electric organs.
The New ESTEY
SCHOOL PIANO
Full 88 Note Instrument 44" High
Furnished in mahogany or golden oak, this
piano includes;
All copper wound bass strings.
Heavy reinforced hammers.
Three working
pedals with sustaining
bass.
Violin bridge.
Large wheel casters or conventional at no
extra charge.
Some Desirable Territories Still Open
Write For Franchise Particulars
PIAWO CORPORATIOIII
"Fine Pianos Since 7869"
ESTEY
One of America's Most
BLUFFTON, INDIANA
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, NOVEMBER, 1953
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