Toledo union journal. [volume] (Toledo, Ohio) 1942-current, 1948-12-03
What's
New?
By EDWARD ]. DUCK, Assistant Director,
National Auto-Lite Department, UAW-CIO

evidence fraction of its value for both indus
try and workers, l should like to present
fraction of that data obtained, for the consider
alton of management and the union. Here is
precisely what industrial music will do, as
proven by extensive studies:
l. Reduce absenteeism
g. Cut down labor turnover
g. Improve productive efficiency.
a. Boost morale of plant and office.
s. Greatly lessen physical and mental ia
tigue.
6. Eliminate monotony of repetitve opera
tions
Z. Aid concentration and reduce mental
strain.
Are these merely the opinions of the wri-
ter? They are not.
Absenteeism was reduced by as much as
"a percent in plants that installed planned
programs of industrial music.
Labor turnover was brought to an unbe-
lievable minimum in dozens OF plants, partl-
cularly those employing women.
Production increased in every plant, the
increase ranging from 62 to 1872 percent.
Individual pickering and personal crossfire
practically ceased in plants where formerly
there had been much wrangling and petty ar
gument. In one plant the music was eliminated
after seven-weeks trial in order to determine
its desirability, and in less than week the
management received more than $500 letters
and requests for its continuation.
Dr. Edward Podolsky's ETUDE article,
Music Rhythms Affect Brain Rhythms". and
Take the Mind Away" in THE PERSONNEL
JOURNAL, by F. H. Kirkpatrick, explain how
background music aids the subconscious mind
in repelling fatigue and nerve strain. In an
article written for The American Institute of
Physics, Music AS A Safety Factor" by E.
Hough, and in the National Safety Councils
publication National Safety News, industrial
music is recommended for its value along lines
of plant safety.
One survey after another supported by
charts, graphs and statistics, establishes the
merit of music in industry, especially in those
plants where there are assembly lines or re-
petitive operations.
In "Office Music Aids Work at A. c.
Nielsen Company" (American Business, Oct,
1945) it is explained how background music
actually aids concentration, and in another
article by r. Mcdaniel april, 1945) entitled,
How Music Increases Office Production" the
author gives concrete examples to support his
contention.
One factory owner states that for every
dollar he invested in industrial music he has
received $84 in return.
While he was in Toledo last month I
questioned CIO Secretary-Treasurer James
B. Carey on industrial music in the electrical
industry and with great deal of enthusiasm
he explained how the workers and manage
ment at RCA, Philco, Westinghouse, General
Electric, and other plants approveda of the
program.
Another advocate of on-the-job musical
programs is Fleming Johnson, former vice
president of International Detrola. Workers
at Toledos Champion Spark Plug plant might
be interested to know that the Detroit Cham
pion workers have been enjoying such pro-
gram for quite some time. The idea was man.
agement,s, but the workers go for it too.
Detroit local union president has told me.
Among the more than 600 plants in the
United States which have adopted industrial
music are The Burroughs Adding Machine
Company, The Excelsior Tire-Cord Compa-
ny, The Porter Cable Machine Company,
canning factories, bomber plant, various
printing establishments, and more recently,
/ am told, Kaiser-Frazer.
Background music that is carefully select
ed can result in greater harmony among
workers, better plant morale and efficiency,
and increased earnings for both management
and labor without "speedup". Boogie-woogie,
rumbas and polkas must be used Sparingly, as
tests show that fox-trots, waltzes and light
semi classical muSic-all non-vocal - are the
most desirable. The idea is not to keep time"
with the music, but to allow the music to pro-
vide a pleasant background. The Julllard
School of Music provides courses OF training
for those who plan industrial music programs.
MUSIC IN industry Is not q WllQ Iued, HOI 10
it guesswork. During the recent world war
Great Britain passed law making it manda-
tory for all plants engaged in war production
to furnish industrial music during working
hours. This before the election of the
labor government, and was solely in the in
terest OF war production.
Sources of information for the compilation
of evidence in support of music in industry
including the following newspapers, maga-
zines and periodicals, among others:
American Magazine, c hristi a n Science
Monitor, Business Week, Mechanical Engineer
ing, The American Machinist, National Safety
News, Etude, Printers Ink, Fortune, Personnel
Journal, Education Forbes, American Busi-
ness, Readers Digest, Burroughs Clearing
House, New York Times, Scientific American,
Sales Management Textile World, Popular
Mechanics, American Mercury, Banking, Elec-
tronics, Factory Management and Maintenance,
American Institute of Physics, Journal of the
Franklin Institute, and Musical Quarterly.
Contrary to common belief, industrial nu-
sic can be utilized successfully in noisy depart
ments of the factory. have read dozens and
dozens of articles, mostly business periodicals,
as the above list will show, and each and every
one of them is strong in its praise of the
program.
The cost of such program is negligible,
compared to the benefits derived. Further
more, the installation can be amortized over
period of years, and can legally be considered