Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1924-02-21
RADIO CALLED.A|D
TO MUSIC TRADE
Instrument Sales Stimulated
by Air Programs-Some
Lines Are Suffering.
BY j, c. ROYLE.
Special Dispatch to The star.

Special Dispatch TO The Star.
NEW YORK, February 21.-The
tremendous spread of interest In
radio development, which is Keeping
The manufacturers of wireless equip
ment rushed to capacity to fill orders,
is calculated To help rather than hurt
the manufacture and sale of musical
Instruments. That conclusion seems
10 be concurrcd in by both makers
and dealers in instruments. 1t is adj
mittcd by dealers in some sections
that certain lines have been affected
unfavorahiy by radio development.
but even in these producers are not
worried.
The reason for this is that the
radio has been a tremendous factor
in musical education of people all
over the country. Folk who knew lit
tie and cared less about music have
plugged in on radio programs and en-
joyed them. AS the public becomes
more familiar with music and with
different kinds of music, the nu-
STEAL trade is sure that desire TO
reproduce familiar selections when
ever they choose, and to branch out
into personal music expression, Will
Receive Il tremendous stimulus
Instrument Sales Pick Up.
We think that the radio has helped
the sale Of band and orchestra IN
struments." said George Nj. Bundy,
president of the New York Conn Com
many today. I'VE find that people who
seldom get To hear good bands ana
orchestraS are now more Interested
in musical instruments and are ap-
preciatiug the difference In their tone
and timbrl. The photograph has done
much also to spread the appreciation
of really good band and orchestra
music
The radio has unquestionabiy cut
into the sale of the 1oWer-prlced pian-
oS and into some Of the other must
cal Instruments. according TO Roger
0'Connor Of Chicago. sales reprcSeh-
tativc for Krauich Il Bach. Imanutac
turFrS of high grade pianos. rms nau
occurred in the face Of one OIL the
most pruSpcrUus years for Il long
time.
piano Sales Hurt.
"RHdtu equipment naturally docs
, not compete " it'll the thousand dollar
;tnd-upward piano, he added out
II has without doubt cut INTO the
s1IeS of the three. four and I'VE nun
drcd- dollar Instruments, which cor
respond closely in price With the pest
radio sets. plus the. extras ana add
tious which radio fans attach them-
selves. The player-piano in my
opinion, has been hardest hit. al
mas suffered to the extent of the
phonograph.
Il understand some OF the phono-
graph people are turning their atten-
ton more closely to radio and some
contemplate going into that line
themselves. They are not greatly
worried. however, although at hrst
glance it might seem strange that
they are not. The reason is that ui-
timately the radio will help sales
al n nj NO a los
*.uce so many radio fans will hear
popular pieces by the best orcheS-
tr.S and performers and thus have
created within them Il desire to play
'h"S" selections at will on their own
Instruments.
Photograph Trade Hit.
\ number of other Chicago piano
dealers bore -oConnors state
mrut y canvass of Twenty-Five large
retail music houses in San Francisco,
however. showed that sales in the
last year of musical instruments of
all kinds were higher. than in 1919,
which hitherto was the banner year.
Some of the merchants, however, ad-
mitted there had been a falling off in
monograph sales. \ few estimated
this decline at 30 per cent while
others said they noted only slight
drop iii demand.
The remarkable Improvement made
In the simplitcation of radio sets has
been fully equaled by the beterment
of the broadcast programs While
the hearers have not been able to
signify by applause or Kisses their
approval or disapproval Of individual
programs. they have not been back
ward in letting broadcasting sta
ti"us know by letter and telephone
what they liked and what did not
appeal to them. Their comments
have hecn carefully studied and pro-
Grams now are being worked out
along lines calculated to amuse and
interest as many radio fans as pos
sibie.