Scan 6
Musical Courier 1927-08-15: Vol 95 Iss 4, 1927
34 lines. Read by computer on 27 September 2026. Printed page 7. See the scan on archive.org.
1August 15, 1927
3Chickering name value. While the Chickering name value is the result of tone endeavor, there are other great names in the piano world that owe their followings to the high tonal qualities of the instruments, and to the constant appeal to the public to hear the true tones that have done so much to make the piano the fundamental in all music. The Weber name was not built in a day, the Knabe name, the Steinway name and all the other great names, represent not only the highest character as to tone, but a business policy continually guarded, an accord, a harmony, if you will, with the tonal characteristics of the names represented in the high-grade instruments that stand for all that is good in the musical world as far as pianos are concerned. The association idea did not create name values. Each represents individual effort. While genius and application and experience were required to build the pianos bearing these old names, the same application, etc., had to be carried on in the selling of the pianos. It is easier to manufacture a piano than it is to sell it. Therefore, selling methods must be based on the same plane as represented in the tonal characteristics of the instruments to assist in placing the instruments in the homes of the people. No association ideal ever produced a true tone piano, and, it can further be said, that no association ideal ever sold a piano. Some may protest that this is another "knock"—it is but a statement of facts, the truth, and the truth never hurt any one or any thing. Associations do great good when built on truth.
5Seeking Protection
7WEST POINT found a way to stop a road through the famous military point by asking for the protection of the tone of a pipe organ. Why cannot the guests of a hotel find in some way a protection against the radio in the next room? A Boston hotel advertises "a radio in every room." It is said the rooms are anything but sound proof. The only way protection can be given those who do not want to be annoyed by the radios, it would seem, would be when a complaint is made by one in a room trying to get a well-earned sleep with the room on one side sizzling with jazz and the room on the other side resounding with the story of a prize fight, is to stop all of them. Trying to satisfy hotel guests is a laborious proceeding in these days of big hotels and thin walls.
9A Comparison Asked For
11THE MUSICAL COURIER EXTRA is not a trade paper—it is a magazine. It is not a publication that a reading of the headlines or a glance at the stock pictures furnished free by press agents is sufficient for. It is a journal to be taken seriously. Many hundred MUSICAL COURIER EXTRAS go into the homes of its readers of piano men for its readings, for no piano man attending to business has time to read a publication that deals with the vital subjects of the making and selling of pianos. It is the habit of many piano men to take up a copy of one of these so-called trade papers, skim through by glancing at each headline and picture and know all that is in it. The intent and purpose of the MUSICAL COURIER EXTRA is to discuss the vital topics of the piano day, the value of piano name, the quality of pianos, of piano manufacturing, of the selling and the financing that are such problems to many piano men. Such discussions of a vital topic are very often accompanied by the picture of a piano or piano man and necessitate consideration of such problems as the carrying charge, interest, handling of paper, the best methods as to the obtaining of cash to meet maturing obligations and handling of salesmen and overhead, etc. The MUSICAL COURIER EXTRA does this and again, to make use of the Vose & Sons' slogan "We ask Comparison." Piano making and selling are serious problems. It requires men of training and experience to produce a paper like the MUSICAL COURIER EXTRA, along the same lines that it requires men of experience and vision to manufacture a good piano, a high grade piano, an artistic piano, if you will; therefore make the comparison asked with the so-called piano trade papers and see if there is not much truth in what is said herein.
13MUSICAL COURIER EXTRA
15About Replacements
17DAILY newspapers are discussing with avidity the problem of what will become of the fifteen million Ford machines that will become trade-ins of second-hands by the introduction of fifteen million new Ford cars that are to be placed upon the market. The piano dealer need not worry about this. The fifteen million second-hand Fords that, it is said by some, will be thrown on the market by the introduction of the new Ford car, will not create any more excitement or depression in the automobile field than did the hundreds of pianos from the H. C. Bay Company sold by Gimbel Brothers and which, if all be true that is said, have done damage to piano selling in New York City. There is a difference, however, as to the value of the old Ford machines and the pianos from the H. C. Bay Company—that is as to wearing quality and values. The fellow that bought one of the pianos does not find as ready a market in the way of trade-in as does the fellow who owns a Ford machine; but piano men will talk and argue and waste time discussing things of this kind instead of going after piano sales. This may be a free advertisement for Ford, yet the Ford machine has been made by the free advertising and the many jokes about the "Tin Lizzies." It might be that this reference to the piano named is a free advertisement. The MUSICAL COURIER EXTRA, however, is liberal and willing to do anything to advance the selling interests of any piano.
19Losing Business
21THE Radio Commission issues from Washington an order prohibiting the broadcasting of what is termed reproductive or mechanical music after August 21, unless so announced. While the piano and phonograph records may broadcast as well as the artists can give in person, it certainly is wrong to send the records over the air as original. It may not at present be announced that the records or music rolls are what they are, but the using of the names of the artists is misleading, for many believe what is implied. If the truth be told, then do the makers of the records and music rolls get advertising of value. The broadcasters seem to be letting good business get away from them.
23Kimball's Seventy Years
25THERE is reprinted elsewhere in this issue of the MUSICAL COURIER EXTRA an article from the MUSICAL COURIER, Thursday edition, about the W. W. Kimball Company, of Chicago, and what it has done in the cause of music. This story may surprise many, for it has always been the policy of the Kimball Company to do what it feels is a duty toward music in a silent way, that is without ostentation that might create the feeling that what was being done might be misinterpreted as being only for publicity gain. Successful enterprises do not always talk about what will be done, but allow what has been done to stand upon its own merits, to let the deed work its own good. When the W. W. Kimball Company began its work of placing pianos in the homes of the people seventy years ago, music was in its infancy in the Middle West. The piano was just beginning to make its way as an industry. From that time to the present the W. W. Kimball Company has worked and carried out its ambitions until it arrived at the Concert Grand Piano stage many years ago. This story tells of the good work that has been and now is carried on in the great musical field. Only those who have followed these efforts can understand the struggles of the first decade of the seventy years of endeavor. What is now told shows how that small beginning has ripened to a world-wide reputation through this help and encouragement to musical elevation.
27The Tuners' Example
29ONE thing has certainly been demonstrated by this convention of the National Tuners' Association. Such gatherings can be of vast influence for good if only the members of the associations would take the proceedings of the meetings as seriously and earnestly as do those tuners who appreciate what the meetings are for. With the manufacturers and supply houses making exhibits for the first time, there is added much to interest the tuners, for the exhibits made at this convention were instructive and of great value to them. The tuners indicated their appreciation by crowding the rooms in which the displays were and listening to explanations of the factory experts with avidity. With this there was shown that the exhibits by the manufacturer set the seal of approval on the aims of the Tuners' Association. Another thing that added to the success of the entire programme was the fact that all displays were closed during the meetings. It was remarkable the promptness of the members in being on time for the opening of the meetings, and also the promptness of President Deutschmann in the closing of them, thus each side holding to the agreement of opening and closing.
31Resale Price Maintenance
33ACTION on the part of the Federal Trade Commission looking towards an investigation of the resale price maintenance tangle promises definite remedial results. It is not only attacking the problem from a fresh point of view, but it is actually the first unimpassioned study of the facts of the case that has been attempted by any impartial body. It seems a logical move at this time, especially as it appears that neither party in the dispute is anxious for Congressional regulation. The consensus of opinion apparently is that the situation is bad enough without having further complications in laws that do not adequately meet all the issues involved. No one seems to credit Congress with having studied the situation. The laws now in committee, it is said, will be rather worse than useless. The Federal Trade Commission can be trusted to take a business-like view of the matter and offer a solution from that angle. There has already been too much hasty legislative action. Furthermore it is hoped that the report of the Federal Trade Commission will be complete before the proposed bill is brought up for action and is expected to cut a considerable figure in determining the stipulations that will be included in whatever form the law as passed finally assumes. It is the first sensible and constructive note in the entire controversy. The history of the resale price issue is a long narration of irritating checks and irresolutions. Apparently every arm of the government recognized that any decision was likely to be severely criticised. There was much of the old fashioned "passing the buck." The Supreme Court, to which one might logically look to for a resolution of the issues involved, took the attitude that its function was purely one of interpretation of the statutory laws—and there were no existing statutes which clearly covered the situation. Each case has been tried strictly as a unit, and on the grounds of "conspiracies or combinations acting in restraint of trade." The result has been that each manufacturer seeking to control the resale prices of the articles he manufactures must act entirely as an individual.
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