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THE:
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
FROM PENNSYLVANIA'S MUSICAL CENTER.
Business Situation on the Whole Satisfactory—Houses Employing Printers' Ink
in the Race—The Gleanings of the Week Set Forth.
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., July 26, 1904.
"Business in July is very quiet!" "Business in
July is excellent!" It makes all the difference
as to whom you put the question. Who is telling
the truth? Probably both of them. It is just
the way you look at things. I doubt whether
there is a dealer in Philadelphia but is having as
good a July business this year as last. Why
should he not? There is, of course, a depression
in business, and the cost of living is high. But
last July we were bothered with the textile
strikes. After a careful study of the situation,
it might be put down that the big dealers—those
who advertise their goods extensively, and have
goods that are easily recognized when advertised
—are doing very well, while the little fellows are
having a hard row to hoe, simply because most of
them are living in the past—that is why they
are becoming little and dwarfed and shriveling
up. The best evidence that publicity promotes
is shown in the good work of the department
stores during the whole year. While I am not a
great believer in department stores for the han-
dling of pianos, nevertheless it requires but lit-
tle looking about to discover that it is these
places, who are continually drumming at the pub-
lic, that are finding the people coming.
BEBUILDING AT WANAMAKER'S.
While the Wanamaker store is practically cut
in half through the rebuilding of that store, yet
business there does not seem to be affected. The
few show parlors have had to be abandoned. But
what difference does that make this time of the
year, when people are not looking about for such
things. The management of Wanamaker's say
that some of these hot weeks they have sold as
many pianos as some of the cold weeks of last
winter. And with much less ease. Why? Be*
cause practically everyone that comes into the
department now is a piano buyer. The "out of
curiosity" visitor is not in evidence with the
thermometer up in the nineties.
Aside from the loss of the "show parlors," the
Wanamakers hope to keep their piano depart-
ment intact during the entire building opera-
tions. They have just received a fine lot of
Chickering pianos representing all of the latest
makes of that factory. Vose pianos are coming
iti weekly, as they have a standing order from
the Wanamaker store to send them all available
stock as they get it out. This must be a most
delightful way to do business, and the Wana-
maker store must sell a quantity of these instru-
ments from the mere fact that they never seem to
be overcrowded with them, and it is evident to
the trade generally that the Vose factory is turn-
ing out more pianos now than ever before in its
history.
BIG CALL FOK A. B. CHASE AND JEWETTS.
Joseph F. Allen must have put out a number
of A. B. Chase pianos the past week, although .he
was too modest to admit it. I saw a good room
full last week, and this week there were very
few. Mr; Allen says he has difficulty in getting
stock. He told Calvin Whitney so last week
when he was here, and he promised to remedy
the situation. But Frank J. Woodbury, treas-
urer of the Jewett Piano Co., was here a few days
later, and he promised to see that the store would
shortly look a little better furnished, and con-
sequently they are daily expecting shipments of
Jewett and Woodbury pianos.
BELLAKS AND THEIU CONSERVATISM.
"What a strikingly conservative firm the Bel-
laks are." This an out-of-town man said to me this
week. "Why, with their methods no firm could do
business in any other city but Philadelphia." "Oh,
yes, they could," I said. "That firm can do busi-
ness without trying." "Why?" 'Because for so
many years their father demonstrated to the pub-
lic what a thoroughly honest and fair man he was,
and when a Philadelphian gets your confidence,
all you need to do is to lead and he will tag along.
Many of the piano purchasers the Bellaks have
to-day supplied their grandparents with pianos,
Are Ahead
and it makes no difference what they offer, the
public know that that offer is bona-fide, and that's
enough." They recently erased from their window
the long list of agencies they carriedi Because
this list had been added to so often, without the
'relinquishes" being erased, that it was becom-
ing difficult to see what was in the window. They
don't need to name what they have inside, be-
cause the public believe with Shakespeare:
"What's in a name?" They leave the Bellaks
judge as to the merits of the instruments they
handle, and the public trust to the honor and
honesty of the Bellaks, knowing that wise sons
must have been bred from so wise a father. This
week in the window I find a new name of a piano.
It is "F. G. Leicht." While I did not have the
opportunity of trying it, yet from the carefulness
of the selection of the Bellaks, it must be worthy
of a place with their other stock, otherwise would
they offer it for sale? It had as its associates
two beautiful Hardman pianos and with such
company it could not help but bo good, no mat-
ter what it might have been when it joined them.
13
J. A. Coffin, in charge of the wholesale depart-
ment of the Aeolian Company, was a visitor at
the Heppe store this week.
The Heppes shop—or rather their factory for
the making of the auto-manual, has been kept
going up to the handle all summer. One manu-
facturer has already taken a hold of this Heppe-
Wuest invention, and more will shortly follow.
A. F. Parker, of the Heppe forces, is away at
Atlantic City on his vacation.
OUR FOREIGN CUSTOMERS.
Pianos and Other Musical Instruments Shipped
Abroad from the Port of New York for the
Week Just Ended.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, July 26, 1904.
The following are the exports of musical in-
struments and kindred lines from the port of
New York for the week just ended:
Bombay—5 pkgs. organs and material, $174; 34
pkgs. talking machines, $748.
Berlin—13 pkgs. talking machines and ma-
terial, $621.
Buenos Ayres—9 pkgs. pianos and material,
$970; 32 pkgs. talking machines and material,
$3,183.
LUDWIG POPULARITY IN THE QUAKER CITY.
Callao—15 pkgs. talking machines and ma-
John J. Ryan, manager of the Ludwig's Chest-
terial, $1,199; 1 pkg. pianos, $200
nut street branch, complains of a shortness of
Glasgow—7 pkgs. talking machines and ma-
stock. But this is no distressing reflection. You
know the Ludwig factory is just now all absorbed terial, $124.
Hamburg—10 pkgs. musical instruments, $1,-
in work, so that it may, like many other big fac-
tories, present to the public instruments of dif- 014; 7 pkgs. pianos and material, $766.
Havre—27 pkgs. talking machine material,
ferent varieties. During the yast year Mr. Lad-
$725; 1 pkg. pianos, $175.
wig has put out several grand pianos, all of
Hamilton—3 pkgs. organs, $140,
which were apparently satisfactory to the general
Havana—11 pkgs. talking machines and ma-
public, but not to such an artistic and inventive
mind as Mr. Ludwig. He is never satisfied until terial, $424.
Kingston—6 pkgs. organs, $140.
perfection is reached, and consequently he is la-
Liverpool—3 pkgs. organs and material, $243;
boring on. This requires time, it requires spase
and such effort must be taken from something 60 pkgs. talking machines and material, $343; 1
else. Then there is the Ludwig self-player. No pkg. pianos and material, $500; 18 pkgs. organs
self-player on the market has been the subject, and material, $822; 4 pkgs. music goods, $425.
London—35 pkgs. talking machines and ma-
of as much sober thought and time as the Ludwig
product, and this instrument will not be ready terial, $6,818; 86 pkgs. talking machines and ma-
to be put out to any extent until Mr. Ludwig is terial, $3,805; 20 pkgs. organs and material, $1,-
satisfied that it is beyond criticism. New is a 340; 4 pkgs. music paper, $1,700; 23 pkgs. piano
good time for such work as Mr. Ludwig is doing players, $4,250; 2 pkgs. organs and material,
on his grand and self-player, and he hopes to $1,000.
Malta—4 pkgs. talking machines, $80.
have the problem solved long before the big fall
trade begins, and to have sufficient uprights on
Milan—23 pkgs. talking machines and material,
hand to meet all demands.
$1,068.
GIMBEL BROS.' MILWAUKEE STORE.
Manaos—16 pkgs. talking machines and ma-
E. S. Bridge, who is to be the manager of the terial, $464.
new piano department of the Gimbel Brothers'
Melbourne—9 pkgs. organs, $301; 6 pkgs.
Milwaukee store, has been in Philadelphia for pianos, $450; 3 pkgs. music, $142; 36 pkgs. talk-
several days taking lessons at the local Gimbel ing machines and material, $1,216; 17 pkgs. pi-
house that he may find useful in conducting the anos and material, $2,135; 50 pkgs. organs, $3,-
business in the western city. Fred. C. Patton, at 632.
present employed in the local store, will go to
Madrid—3 pkgs. piano players, $335.
Milwaukee as assistant manager. The new Gim-
Montevideo—15 pkgs. talking machines and ma-
bel department in Milwaukee will be formally terial, $1,007.
opened on August 22.
Savanilla—2 pkgs. talking machines and ma-
The Gimbels are continuing their efforts on terial, $115.
their Knabe Piano Club. The firm bought and
Vera Cruz—4 pkgs. talking machines, $108.
paid cash for 100 Knabe pianos of the Baltimore
Valparaiso—2 pkgs. piano players, $238; 1 pkg.
firm, and while the club is not being filled very organs, $145.
fast, there is a reason for this in that although
the piano is sold very low and on very satisfac-
PIANOS
FOR HAMILTON COLLEGE.
tory terms for a Knabe, such a club would do
very much better if started later in the fall, when
An important deal was recently closed by
the Knabe class of piano buyers would get in
Hamilton College, of Lexington, Ky., with the
from their summer vacations.
Milward Co., of that city, whereby eighteen Bush
GROWTH OF AEOLIAN BUSINESS.
Mr. Hillebrand, manager of the Aeolian and & Gerts uprights and a Chickering grand were
Pianola departments of the Heppe house, reports placed in the musical department of the college
that the business in that department this July This is a large deal and the Milward Co. are just-
has been equal to that of last year. The Aeolian ly proud of it.
Company are establishing another large Aeolian
pipe organ in the home of a prominent gentle-
man in the suburbs, which they will erect before
the month is out. The Aeolian piano, which Mr.
Hillebrand believes is the coming instrument, has
had a very large sale. They sold one of the finest
of these instruments this week after it had been
on the floor less than three hours. They are hav-
ing a trouble to get these instruments. They
have rented very few self-players this summer,
and most of their sales have been on a cash basis.
The F. G. Smith Piano Co., Washington, D. C,
of which W. P. Van Wickle is vice-president, have
issued a series of blotters and fans, containing
beautiful illustrations of the various buildings
at the St. Louis Exposition.
The ladies of the Methodist Church, of Val-
dosta, Ga., are raising funds to buy a new pipe
organ for the church, which will cost about $3,-
000. Manufacturers should take note.