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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
15
mission-colonial piano, which is quite the finest
thing in its line that the firm have yet gotten
out. It is plain but elegant, and although
May Business Proving Very Satisfactory in Both Wholesale and Retail—Tendency to Improve mission finished it is not so severe that it will
Grade of Business—Dealers Demanding Larger Payments—Plight of a Local Department not furnish well with any kind of furniture,
Store—Few Salesmen Laid Off During Depression—Spokane Piano Man a Visitor—Other which means that it is destined to have a large
Piano Men in Town During Week—Musical Echo Co. Giving Everett Piano Excellent Repre- sale here. The trouble with so many mission
pianos is that they are so extreme that they
sentation—Death of Mrs. F. E. Spear—A New Ludwig Piano Shown.
would not look well in a parlor not furnished
(Special to The Review.)
piano store are very much dissatisfied, and rep- throughout in "mission."
Philadelphia, Pa., May 19, 1908.
resentatives have been here from the home of-
The piano business in Philadelphia for the fice looking about trying to get them into one of
AMIE'S CALL TO ARMS.
first half of May has been quite satisfactory, the other stores.
quite up to the first half of May of last year,
Very few men have been laid off in any of the The First President of t h e National Piano
and the prospects for at least the next six weeks piano stores in Philadelphia during the dull
Travelers' Association Desires the Members
are very good. The Philadelphia manufacturers times, and I have not heard of one of the reg-
of the Fraternity to "Get Busy."
seem to be particularly fortunate and have a ular experienced men. Many of these men have
number of orders on ahead, sufficient to keep been kept on at a loss no doubt to their employ-
Under date of May 10th, J. C. Amie has sent
them going well into the summer, and they will ers, but they have not been willing to let them out the following circular letter to the members
keep the factories going full time in order that go for their work in the past and what may of the craft:
they may get some stock ahead for the fall be expected from them in the fuure. It is to
"As you are aware that the convention of the
trade, which they expect will be large.
be hoped that these piano salesmen will appre- three associations connected with the piano in-
The new business which the piano men are ciate this consideration on the part of their em- dustry will take place in New York during the
getting in Philadelphia is of a class that is not ployers and will do all they can to help them early part of June next, and as a member of
likely to make them much trouble Li the future, along, not only to make ends meet now, but to the N. P. T. A., also having had the honor of
but a number of the firms are now reaping the make up losses in the future. One of the having been the first president of the N. P. T. A.,
whirlwind of past indiscretions. There never piano dealers who has a particularly large sal- I would most respectfully call your attention to
has been a time in the history of the trade that ary list told me this week, that up to this time the fact that the members of the Travelers' Asso-
there have been so many pianos reclaimed as at he has not laid any one off nor reduced any ciation should make an effort to be present on
present. This is because the piano business was salaries, but instead he has tried the plan of
the above occasion. We are now almost three
done in a very loose way in Philadelphia for sev- appealing to his employes to do their very years of age, and as we are able to walk, and do
eral years. Anybody that had a few dollars in best, and if they could not bring in any piano some talking, we should get together and make
their pocket, and it made no difference how few orders to bring in repairing, tuning or orders to it manifest to the older associations that we are
they were, could get a piano on whatever terms any department in the establishment outside of
a Live One. I have been asked many times by
they might desire. This system would no doubt the one with which they are identified. He says members of the trade what has become of the
have worked out all right had not the slump in this has worked very well, and that if the men N. P. T. A. Possibly the same question has
business arrived, which brought with it reduc- would show an inclination to do their best he been put to you during the past or present year.
tions in salary and, in very many instances, loss would have to make no cuts either in the force As a charter member of this association, I natur-
ally have taken a considerable amount of pride
of position, and without an income workmen or in salaries.
who had purchased pianos found themselves
Mr. and Mrs. George A. Heidinger paid a visit in same, and am anxious to see it grow, and be-
without money even to make the small monthly to Philadelphia last week. Mr. Heidinger is come a part and parcel of the trade in a large
payments. It is quite likely that the present manager of the Eilers Piano House, Spokane, degree. I personally believe there will be some-
stagnation may be a godsend in disguise, giving Wash. They were accompanied by Mr. and Mrs. thing doing in the N. P. T. A. here in June, and
the dealers a much needed warning which they Kessler. They were the guests of the Lester hope you will.be on hand to participate. You
can turn to good use in the future.
Piano Co. and visited the Lester factory, which will be weir repaid for coming, as you will be
One of our largest dealers said to me this they said was one of the most complete they able to say I was there. We should make this
week that he has absolutely put his foot down had visited while in the East. Fred Kramer, of coming convention a record breaker in number
on the sending out of pianos at a ridiculously Allentown, who represents the Lester in his of members present, as well as things done.
Come along and enjoy yourself, get next to the
low figure, but instead has instructed his sales- section, was also here and made a selection of
other
fellow, ^talk over matters, and it is pos-
men that no piano was to be sent out, contain- stock.
Another Philadelphia visitor since my last sible you may derive some benefit.
ing a retail tag price of $200 or less, without a
first payment of $10; $300 or less, $15; $400 or letter was Charles Wood, of the firm of the Wood
"Kindly consider this communication as purely
less, $20, and $'500 up, $25. This seems most and Brooks Co., the Buffalo supply house.
personal, as it is only through the spirit of our
Fred E. Spear, for many years manager in mutual good the same is prompted. Hoping that
liberal, and there is no reason why a person
should have a piano at all if they cannot meet this city of the J. E. Ditson & Co. store, has the you may be able to lend a helping hand at the
these figures. If their financial condition is such full sympathy of the trade in the death of Mrs. time mentioned, I am with kindest regards."
that they can't, then it is not likely that they Spear in their home a t Wayne, Pa., on last
Mr. Amie has called a meeting of the mem-
will ever be able to pay for a piano they may Wednesday. Mrs. Spear was widely known in bers of the Traveler's Association for the even-
purchase. One of the department stores re- church circles, being a member of the Baptist ing of June 3, at 8:30, at the Hotel Belmont.
claimed 65 pianos in one week, and have been Church of Wayne and was very highly respected.
reclaiming pianos right along for some time, She was 65 years of age. Since Mr. Spear's sev-
Nature has enabled some animals to see objects
until they have their warerooms overcrowded erence of connection with the Ditson firm he behind them as well as in front—i. e., the horse,
with partly used instruments. Their piano de- has been in the insurance business.
the hare, the giraffe. Among human beings
William Howard Wilson, connected with the there are some business men who, if they had
partment is in a most deplorable condition, due
in a great measure because they have been Estey house, is preparing to spend the summer additional eyes in the back of their head, under
trying to run it for several years without an in Europe. He expects to sail on or about June each ear and two on top of their head, they could
experienced piano man at the head. Several of 11, and will spend most of his time in England not see the advantage of good advertising.
the firms whose instruments are handled at this and Ireland. The boys at the store are preparing
to give him a hearty send-off.
representing the John Church Co.,
Send for our MONEY-
DEALERS MAKING proposition on was Mr. in Reed,
town last week in the interest of the
Everett piano, and is very well satisfied with
the way Mr. 'Stoll is handling it at the Musical
Echo warerooms. The firm at present have a
full line of everything and are giving their piano
Court House Square
department very good attontion and are ex-
pecting very good returns from it in the future.
VALPARAISO, INDIANA
They are arranging to add two more lines to
Over 400 Graduates out in the field
their pianos by fall, and have already done a
succeeding. 25 Different Makes of
great deal of business in Everett and Harvard
or©. p S
Pianos, 7 Trained Instructors, 9
pianos with the Electrelle action inside.
Studios.
E. W. Furbush, of Boston, was here this week
calling on the trade.
skating Rink Organs. Orchestrions.
A "Player Piano" Department Folly
Henry W. Metcalf, of the Simplex Co., was a
Nickel-In • the-Slot Majestic Pianos, Pian-
eitea, Ac. Suitable for Tent Shows, Side visitor this week to the local warerooms of
Shows, Arcades, Nickel Theatres, Cafes,
Equipped
Roller Skating Kinks and all Amusement Henry F. Miller & Sons. The Miller house is
Places. Send for catalog. It's full of Infor-
mation, and our prices are the lowest In getting in new pianos right along, and have
Catalogue Free.
Address
America on Musical Instruments of High
Grade and Unquestioned Durability.
this week received a number of the Style 77,
VALPARAISO,
which are very popular sellers.
LYOIM fit H E A L Y , Chicago Colonial,
INDIANA
The Ludwig Piano Co. are in receipt of a new
Largest Music House in the World
POLKS SCHOOL OF
PIANO TUNING
g §
POLKS SCHOOL,