Music Trade Review

Issue: 1904 Vol. 38 N. 11

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THE
V O L . x x x v i i i . NO. 11. FQDiisneii Kyery sat, oy award Lynian Bill at 1 Madison Aye, New fort, Mar, 12,1904.
THE SCHUBERT CONTEST.
COL. HOLLENBERG COMPLIMENTED
Many Seekers After the Missing Words and In-
terest Is Growing All the Time.
For the Admirable Way in Which He Presided at
the Banquet of the Board of Trade at Little
Rock.
A tremendous amount of interest has
been displayed by members of the trade in
the Schubert missing word contest. Deal-
ers and salesmen in all parts of the country
are sending in inquiries and each week finds
a greater number of participants in the elu-
cidation of this problem, all of whom are
anxious to win, by a slight exertion of gray
matter, the new style Schubert piano offered
by Mr. Duffy. This prize is valued at $400
and the lucky winner will be able to realize
on the instrument without any trouble.
Much entertainment is afforded by the
little group of letters appearing each week
at the right bottom corner of "Schubert" ad-
vertisement. Those who are thinking out
the missing words get a new inspiration
every few minutes as they jot down the
likely words they think of, and as Mr. Duffy
very generously allows every competitor to
guess as many times as he likes, and is not
particular what words are used, as long as
they describe the "Schubert" piano, there
is lots of fun to be had out of the proposi-
tion.
One salesman in his letter applying to the
Schubert Co. for particulars, says: "I have
always wanted a "Schubert" piano, but be-
ing naught but a piano salesman, have had
to put up with what I could get. Now I see
a chance—by answering your 'puzzle' ad-
vertisement, to not only help promote a good
piano, but perchance to me may come the
good fortune to win the 'Prize Piano.' At
any rate, count me in."
At the annual banquet of the Board of
Trade of Little Rock, Ark., which was given
in that city last week, Col. F. B. T. Hollen-
berg, that popular member of the piano trade,
was the toastmaster. The rooms were beau-
tifully decorated with palms and flowers. A
very happy address of welcome was made by
Col. Hollenberg in which Little Rock and its
enterprising people came in for some well
merited encomiums. Commenting on the
banquet, the Little Rock Gazette said:
"The work of Col. Hollenberg was a bright
particular feature of the evening, and he
showed that he is a past master as a toast-
master. He told an appropriate humorous
story when introducing each speaker, all of
which were much enjoyed. The colonel
'handed' a few to the boys that were doing
the grilling of the occasion, but everything
was done and said in the best of humor and
spirit. During the evening Hon. Henry H.
Myers, as a committee of one, presented a
beautiful bouquet of American Beauties to
Col. Hollenberg in recognition of his serv-
ices in the exacting part of toastmaster."
This recognition of Col. Hollenberg's tal-
ents will not come as a surprise to members
of the trade who had occasion to "size him
up" on various occasions, when he partici-
pated in a prominent way in important trade
conventions. His indefatigable labors as
president of the Dealers' National Associa-
tion as well as the efforts which he is always
making toward the betterment of the trade
have won him a high place in the esteem of
NOW IT IS A GLASS PIANO.
all who have the best interests of the in-
A Westerner who is building a mansion in dustry at heart.
Millionaires' Row (which is too long a name
DEPARTMENT STORE MERGER.
to last) has given to a piano manufacturer
an order for an instrument of the upright The Henry Siegel Corporation With a Capital of
$10,000,000.
grand style, the case of which is to be made
of crystal glass. Instruments have been con-
Plans are under way for the formation of
structed partly of glass, but no maker has a department store company to be known as
ventured to produce an entire case of that the Henry Siegel Corporation, with $4,250,-
material. Such a one should be beautiful and 000 of preferred stock and $6,500,000 of com-
lasting. As to the sound—that is to be de- mon stock, to take over the capital stock of
cided only by experiment.
Siegel, Cooper & Co., of Chicago, the Simp-
scn-Crawford Company of New York, the
The Newark Call had an extended
Fourteenth Street Store of New York and
article in last Sunday's issue devoted to the
later
to take in a department store which will
piano manufacturing enterprise of the
be
put
up in Boston.. The Henry Siegel
Lauter Co., the well known dealers of that
Corporation
is being organized by Henry
city. They expressed great pride that New-
Siegel,
Frank
E. Vogel and interests here-
ark has been chosen for the manufacture of
such reliable instruments.
tofore associated with them.
SINGLE COPIES, 10 CENTS.
$2.00 PER YEAR.
DEATH OF WM. R. SCOTT.
[Special to The Review.]
Youngstown, O., March 5, 1904.
Wm. R. Scott, who since 1879 has been
engaged in the piano business in this city,
died suddenly at his home on Wednesday of
heart failure. The day before his death he
was seemingly well and hearty, and his death
has come as a great shock to a host of friends
who esteemed him for his many estimable
qualities.
'•*!*]
Mr. Scott at the time of his death was vice-
president of the Jones-Lightner Piano Co.,
which succeeded the Scott & Jones Co., which
business was founded by Mr. Scott. In this
field of activity he built up a splendid trade,
having worked up from a poor boy com-
paratively to one of the richest men of this
city. Two years ago Mr. Scott retired
from active business for the purpose of giv-
ing his entire time to his private interests.
At that time the company was changed from
Scott & Jones to Jones-Lightner Piano Co.,
his interests in the latter concern being taken
by his son, Chas. C. Scott.
The deceased, socially and personally,
was one of the best known and most re-
spected men in the community, and was
prominent in the Baptist Church and Ma-
sonic circles. He is survived by a widow;
one son, C. C. Scott, who is a member of the
firm of Jones-Lightner Piano Co.; a brother,
Geo. F. Scott, of Penza, O., and Grant S.
Jones, a half-brother, who is president of the
Jones-Lightner Piano Co.
Mr. Scott was
born in Warren, O., fifty years ago and was
an accomplished musician, being a graduate
of the Dana Institute.
A PROGRESSIVE NORTHWESTERN HOUSE.
[Special to The Review.]
North Yakima, Wash., March 7, 1904.
The Hover & Thompson Music Co., agents
here for the D. S. Johnston Co., have trans-
acted a splendid business since the first of
the year, although weather conditions have
not been altogether favorable.
In a chat with a member of the firm to-
day he said: "Our main standby for a good
piano and a good seller, is the Hobart M.
Cable. We also carry the Chickering, Kim-
ball, Pease and the D. S. Johnston."
This concern have made a number of im-
provements in their store in the shape of a
magnificently equipped music room in which
is placed one of each of the best pianos which
they represent. They have also put in a
number of artistic beveled glass showcases
and counters.
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6
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REVIEW
EDWARD LYMAN DILL,
Editor and Proprietor.
J. B. 9 P I L L A N E , Managing Editor.
EXECUTIVE STAFF:
T H O S . CAMPBELL-COPELAND,
GEO. B. KELLER,
E M I L I E FRANCES BAUE.:,
W. MURDOCH L I N D ,
A. EDMUND HANSON,
A. J. N I C K L I N ,
GEO. W. QUERIPEL.
BOSTON OFFICE:
CHICAdO OFFICE :
ERNEST L. W A I T T , 255 Washington St.
PHILADELPHIA OFFICE:
R. W. KAUFFMAN.

E. P. VAN HARLINGEN, 36 La Salle St.
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL:
K. J. LEFEBVRE.
ST. LOUIS OFFICE :
CHAS. N. VAN BUREN.
Published Every Saturday at 1 Madiion Avenue, New York.
Entered at the New York Post Office as Second Class Matter.
SUBSCRIPTION ^including postage), United States, Mexico and Canada, $2.00 per
year; all other countries, $4.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS. $2.00 per inch, single column, per insertion. On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising Pages $50.00; opposite reading
matter, $75.00.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency form, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill.
THE ARTISTS'
DEPARTMENT
On the first Saturday of each month The Review contains in its
"Artists' Department" all the current musical news. This is effected
without in any way trespassing on the size or service of the trade
section of the paper. It has a special circulation, and therefore aug-
ments materially the value of The Review to advertisers.
DIRECTORY of PIANO
The directory of piano manufacturing firms and corporations
uiuinirTimcic
found on page "O will be of great value as a reference for
MANUFACTURERS
dealers and other*.
LONG DISTANCE TELEPHONE-NVMBER 1745 GRAMERCY.
NEW YORK, MARCH 12, 19O4.
EDITORIAL
' T p H E outlook this week as far a» the music trade is concerned
*
is one of marked improvement as compared with a week ago.
While the weather conditions have not been all that has been desired,
yet the harbinger of spring in the air has made people more optimis-
tic regarding the future. In New York and vicinity retail trade has
improved, while among the wholesale houses there have been many
visiting dealers, particularly from the far West, who have placed
some good orders. From the South excellent trade reports are
reaching The Review and the West is also sending in cheering tid-
ings of improved trade conditions. All things considered the situa-
tion has materially improved, and with settled and more seasonable
weather, a better market for pianos is certain to ensue.
H P HE great catalogue houses and department stores are steadily
*
encroaching upon the territory of the merchants located in
the smaller towns. Perhaps the piano merchant has been least
affected of all by this change.
There certainly should be appreciation of local enterprise, and
the local piano men are entitled to a fair consideration by the people
who live in their respective localities. Still simply because they are
entitled to that it should not cause them to remain quiescent while
the people hie themselves to the great cities and make their pur-
chases. They have got to work and work hard in order to interest
the people in the wares which they carry.
There is no good reason why a dealer's brand of pianos cannot
be bought just as cheaply from the small dealer as from a large one,
and in this particular the piano man has a better show than his
brother merchants in other lines, but he should improve his oppor-
tunities to the utmost.
Don't find fault with people for buying away from home. At
least not until some sound arguments have been advanced why they
should buy at home.
P)ICK up a paper anywhere and you read the announcements
of the people exploiting the fact that they sell direct to the
consumer. Looks like the wiping out of the men, does it not ? From
factory to fireside is the cry, and it becomes at once a question of
interest to know whether the retailer is going to be eliminated from
the struggle or not.
From the number of combinations which have taken place in this
industry recently, it would seem as if the idea of conducting branches
was gaining ground steadily.
No doubt the manufacturers would prefer to sell direct to deal-
ers than to establish their own branches, at least most of them figure
that way, for in the first place they must have what at times is diffi-
cult to find—a good manager in a city to make a success of their
institution. And even then they are subjected to many annoyances
that would be entirely removed, if they sold to dealers direct.
A Jl OST manufacturers are anxious to sell to energetic dealers,
for they realize it would take a vast deal of time and energy
on their part to build up a trade in any city to equal that of a good
dealer. But they do not propose to have their wares tied up in good
territory in such a manner that there is not a satisfactory distribution
of their instruments.
We may say that such and such a town is an excellent piano
point. What matters it to a piano manufacturer if it is, provided his
representative there is not satisfactory? That interests him and
nothing else. It is results that he desires, and if the results are not
forthcoming it is quite natural that he might be induced to plant his
own branch there.
Dealers should understand that any agency which they carry
pays the manufacturers only when they do his wares full justice.
But where instruments are taken and held simply to keep local com-
petitors from securing them, is the sort of practice which drives
manufacturers into the establishment of their own branches.
A WESTERN subscriber who has been interested in some of
The Review criticisms upon advertising, asks for some ex-
pressions of opinion as to a general "style" to adopt.
There is no advertising "style" in season or out, and sometimes
the striving for "style" destroys some really good points that a young
advertiser may possess.
Now the really successful writer of advertisements must first
of all be a careful man. He can't afford to make misstatements. To
care and exactness he must add a form which is convincing. The
one thing is to interest the reader, and having converted a portion
of the people into advertisement readers, the next thing is to convince
them of the truth of an advertising statement. Good advertising
must come from a man who knows intimately the details of the
business.
I T is true that a business man may give special pointers to an ad-
* vertising expert, and have the latter develop them, but the best
advertiser is a business man himself, provided he has the talent and
the inclination.
It is said on excellent authority that Robt. C. Ogden, the man-
aging partner of John Wanamaker, writes a great many of the

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