Fewer Instruments

Foes of mechanized music had cause for fresh mourning last week. Statistics published by the Census Bureau showed that U. S. manufacture of musical instruments has fallen off 38.9% since 1927. What was a $99,000,000 industry three years ago is now a $60,000,000 industry (figures based on f.o.b. factory prices). Apparent cause: radio.

Only $38,000,000 worth of pianos were sold in the U. S. in 1929 compared to $67,000.000 worth in 1927. The piano business decreased 34.7% in the number of establishments; wages fell off 39.5% and the total value of products declined 42.4%. Another blue note was sounded in the organ business, the number and total value of whose products fell off 27.4% each.

This file is automatically generated by a robot program, so reader's discretion is required.