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THE:
MUSIC TRADE:
REVIEW
9
his statement single-handed. The meeting was a as the piano begins to revolve, strikes Into the
success from a good fellowship standpoint, and "Merry Widow" waltz. He plays it just as well
serves a useful purpose in this respect.
when he is upside down as when he is in a more
Trade Rather Quiet—Mr. Beall Says Orders
The Smith & Nixon Piano Co. are stickers when normal position, and the faster he revolves the
Are Becoming More Frequent—Piano Deal-
they are after a sale or a piano. The company's more deliberately he plays. There are no wires used
ers' Association Meets and 'Discusses the Ex- Cleveland office sold a piano to Isabella S. Phil-
to elevate the piano, and no mechanical device
pense of Selling a Piano—High Grade Pianos
lies, who kept up her payments until the office is in any way visible. The stunt is certainly a
in Demand Says Frank A. Lee—Wurlitzer's
w;i3 closed some time ago. The woman wasn't new one, and Monday night's audience watched it
Spring
Cleaning—Harry
Miller
Makes
located for some reason, when the accounts were with much curiosity.
Change—Busy April With Baldwin Co.—
being closed up or taken up by the home office,
Other News.
so the case was placed in the Pinkerton detec-
A WONDERFULCOMBINATION.
tives' hands. They located the woman in Boston,
I Special t o The Keview.)
and, through Harry F. Miller & Sons, the Smith New Musical Instrument Invented by Indiana
Cincinnati, 0., April 26, 1908.
Genius—Sings, Plays the Piano and Violin
& Nixon Co. got their piano by replevin last
The piano dealers with a single voice said
and Does Other Remarkable Stunts All at
week.
One Time.
trade was noticeably quiet during the past week
W G. Woodmansee, of the Woodmansee Piano
and a half of April. Up to April 15 the character
Co., returned to the city this week, with his wife,
A workingman of Milton, Ind., is credited with
of the sales made and the business handled made
whom he had taken to Hot Springs, Va., for having invented a remarkable musical instru-
the dealers hopeful of the month as a whole mak-
treatment. Judge D. D. Woodmansee spent a few ment which, it is said, sings popular songs, plays
ing high-water mark; but after the 15th a lull
days at Hot Springs. Business was reported its own accompaniments, gives miniature vaude-
came on, against which the dealers are struggling
quiet last week. April, as a whole, made a good ville performances, and plays a violin all at
at present. If courage and nerve prevail, they
showing in sales.
one time. The inventor calls his instrument the
will win out—yet. Accordingly, they are cheer-
W. O. Block, floor manager of the Aeolian Co., "Vaudeano," and has made application for a
ful as to the outlook and believe midsummer will
said: "Business is fairly good this week." Henry patent on it.
see a return to normal conditions.
Miller, manager of the Aeolian music hall li-
In constructing the combination the originator
Augustus Beall, secretary of the John Church
brary, has resigned his position. It is said in employed an old upright piano in which he con-
Co., said of business: "The incoming orders for
piano circles that he will probably be placed in cealed a phonograph. The piano also contains
pianos are becoming more regular in every mail
charge of a general music roll library to be sup- an "endless fiddle bow," in form of a rubber
than they were for the past four months. They
ported by the piano dealers of the city. This de- rope, by which the upper piano strings are
were the exception then—a sort of pleasant sur-
parture or inauguration is much desired by the scraped in making the "violin music." By pull-
prise. I think this a good sign and indicates a
piano men of the city as a recognized necessity. ing out a stop the rubber cord is brought into
genuine improvement in the trade throughout the
J. H. Hahn and Otto Wissner, Jr., of the Otto contact with the strings and the motor controll-
country. I feel sure such improvement is on,
Wissner Piano Co., were visitors at the Grau ing the attachment set in motion. By a simple
and that by July 1 business will reach a nearly
Piano Co. during the week. The gentlemen are method the phonograph is operated and regular
normal basis. I don't know for certain, but J
visiting points throughout the country in the in- perforated paper rolls are used for the player
believe the nominee for the presidency is adding
terests of their firm.
actions. If the inventor's arrangements are car-
a degree of uncertainty to the situation and as
C. F. Brown & Co., of Lexington, Ky., has quit ried out exactly as he thinks they will be, the
the probable candidates are being recognized a
business. E. C. Christian, who had charge of
instrument will probably make its first public
gradual settling of business conditions is coming
the business, has gone with the Montenegro appearance in the near future.
on. Especially in our wholesale department is
Riehm Music Co.
improvement noticeable."
E. T. Morgan, of Thomas Young & Co., New
NOW A. M. ORDWAY & CO.
Frank A. Lee, president of the John Church
York, and F. B. Burns, of F. B. Burns & Co.,
Co., summarized the piano trade by saying: "1
(Special to The Review.)
Newark, N. J., were John Church Co.'s visitors
do not think business in the high grade goods,
Hagerstown, Md., April 27, 1908.
last week.
particularly in the art end, has shown a diminu-
C.
E.
Sheak,
who for thirteen years has been
D. F. Summy, manager of the retail depart-
tion. The medium grade and cheap lines have
employed by A. M. Ordway, music dealer, has
ment of the John Church Co., spent the week in
been hard hit, however. We find business in the
purchased a part of the business of Mr. Ordway
Lexington, Ky., and surrounding territory visit-
retail department spasmodic. The outlook is
and a partnership has been formed. The busi-
ing the trade. He said he made things so hot
good. We have taken as many orders for high
ness hereafter will be conducted under the firm
down there the Phoenix Hotel, where he was
grade goods during the past six months as dur-
name of A. M. Ordway & Co.
stopping, caught fire and made a hurried move
ing the twelve months before. So we feel hopeful
Mr. Ordway has been in his present location
necessary. He found business "fair," and goes to
of the present year and its results."
for nearly a quarter of a century and for twenty-
West Virginia this week to liven things up.
The local piano dealers' association had a meet-
eight years has maintained a music store in that
The R. Wurlitzer Co. are busy spring cleaning, city, succeeding the late I. B. Sechrist.
ing last Tuesday, April 21, in the Sinton Hotel,
both
in
and
outside.
The
interior
is
being
re-
where the members gathered about a banquet
The Ordway music house is one of the largest
table and plied the social art. The following tinted. The front of the seven-storied building is in the State outside of Baltimore and has a busi-
being
washed,
while
the
east
side
of
the
big
were present: Frank A. Lee and Augustus Beall,
ness extending from Harrisburg, south as far as
of the John Church Co.; Henry Crawford, of the music house is being painted. Howard Wurlitzer Lexington, Va., with a corresponding area east
Smith & Nixon Piano Co.; Howard Wurlitzer, of spent the week in Buffalo, where he has his elec- and west. Six salesmen are kept upon the road
the Wurlitzer Co.; F. B. Beinkamp, of the Bein- tric piano players made. C. C. Mudge, of Smith, to look after the business in the section in which
this firm does business.
kamp Piano Co.; Otto Grau and J. F. Van Court, Barnes & Strohber Co., Chicago, was a visitor of
of the Grau Piano Co.; B. F. Hollingsworth and the Wurlitzers.
The Baldwin Co. report a busy April. The
Harold Ryland, secretary, of the Krell Piano Co.;
CALL FOR STEINWAY ARTISTS' PIANOS.
H. B. Lewis, of the Cable Piano Co., and Mr. player-piano line shows up in extra fine form.
The special sale of used Steinway pianos played
Clark, auditor of the Cable Piano Co., visitor of The last week of the month was quiet in all ex- upon by the famous stars of the opera and the
cept
high
grade
goods.
The
management
expect
the evening. The meeting was marked by a live-
concert stage, which was held last week, proved
ly discussion of the expense of selling a piano. the season to be a good one in sales and are push- a tremendous success, there being considerable
ing
for
business
accordingly.
One member (Henry Crawford) said it cost as
rivalry for the possession of some of the instru-
much to sell 20 pianos as 50. He had to defend
ments, especially those used by Tetrazzini. The
A NOVEL PIANO "STUNT."
sale was liberally advertised, and reductions
from 10 to 30 per cent, were quoted. The rapid-
"Onaip" at Hippodrome Plays Piano Inverted,
ity with which the instruments were disposed
in Fact, Any Old Way.
of proved conclusively that the so-called money
Could you play the "Merry Widow" waltz stand- stringency will not prevent people from taking
ing on your head? Could you, even if you can advantage of bargains when offered. The sale
play the piano and also stand on your head? was continued this week.
Could you combine the two accomplishments?
Of course, if you could, "Onaip," the new act at
are conscientiously made, good
the Hippodrome, didn't seem very wonderful to
instruments; in other words, the
you Monday night. If you couldn't, it was
sweetest things out.
The most remarkable development in up-
something of a stunt.
right piano construction since the inven-
"Onaip" is billed as "the Hindoo Mystery."
tion of the tape-check action.
Doubtless it is only an accident that if you read
IT'S IN THE BACK
his name backward it spells piano. He is pre-
ceded on the stage by several Houris (from the
Secures acoustic perfection, imparts a
chorus), a "hypnotist," and an upright piano.
marvellous tone and the tone stays there.
The "hypnotist" makes some passes and leads
v
Write for particulars.
v
him to the instrument. He sits down and begins
RUDOLF PIANO CO.
to play. Slowly the piano rises in the air six
NYSE WANDER PIANO CO.
458 E. 144th Street,
NEW YORK.
feet or more, and he with it, leaving an aston-
1204 Republic Bldfl.
CHICAGO
ished stool below. He keeps on playing, and,
RUDOLF
PIANOS
INYSE WANDER