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THE: MUSIC TRADE
THE TRADE IN INDIANAPOLIS.
Election Activity Causes Lull in Business—
Dealers Stocking Up and Preparing for
Heavy Run of Trade—Visitors Numerous—
Joiners in New Location—New Story &
Clark Branch—What Various Houses Are
Doing—Good Orders for Kohler & Campbell.
(Special to The Review.)
Indianapolis, Ind., Nov. 2, 1908.
Pre-election activity around the betting boards
and the usual uneasiness which precedes a na-
tional election hurt the piano business in Indiana
and Indianapolis during the past few weeks.
Most dealers are expecting a good trade between
now and the holidays. Some of them are not
talking much, but it is significant that they are
making plans to take care of a heavy business.
For example, George C. Pearson, who is the
Nestor of the piano trade in this city, has laid
in an unusually heavy supply of instruments for
the fall and winter trade. Mr. Pearson usually
thinks well before he acts, and it is known that
he is optimistic in regard to the outlook for the
future.
The Pearson piano house has been doing a nice
business, and made a number of sales recently
which are worth mentioning. Last week this store
sold a Chase & Baker player piano to the Marion
Camp of Modern Woodmen and a Kurtzmann
player-piano to Harry Wade, keeper of records
and seals of the Grand Lodge, K. of P., of Indi-
ana. Earlier in the month a Hazleton player-
piano was sold to Carl Von Hake, a prominent
Indianapolis capitalist. He bought it for a wed-
ding present for his daughter. Two Steinways
were sold. One was a Steinway grand to Fred-
erick Joss, a prominent lawyer, a s a wedding
present for his daughter. Another Steinway
grand was sold to Ed. Brown, of Columbus, Ind.
This also was a wedding present. A Kurtzmann
mission style piano with the fumed oak case was
sold to the Pi Beta Phi fraternity of De Pauw
University.
E. Devereaux, of Kurtzman & Co., Ernest
Urchs, of Steinway, & Sons, called at the Pearson
store last week and secured nice orders for the
holiday trade.. Other callers at the Pearson
store were L. M. Ide. of the Laffargue Co., and
J. Frank Smith, of Krakauer Bros. Mr. Pearson
placed an order for Krakauers for fall trade.
Joseph Joiner has moved his piano store from
East Ohio street to Massachusetts avenue near
the new Marctt department store where he has
larger and more elaborate quarters. He handles
the Ludwig and ether pianos.
H. C. Jackson of the King Co. says business
was not as good during the last month as it was
in the corresponding month of the previous year.
He says, however, that collections are good and
that he is well pleased.
The Kimball contest has received more re-
sponses than the firm of Fuller & Currens, who
are conducting the contest, can well take care of.
Coupons are issued and a Kimball piano is to be
given away in the contest.
The Story & Clark Co. of Chicago have opened
a piano store in North Pennsylvania street, with
H. J. Norris, formerly of Saginaw, Mich., in
charge. Mr. Norris is well pleased with business
so far. The pianos have been artistically ar-
ranged. They expect to get larger quarters in the
near future.
The Aeolian Co. have had a good run of busi-
ness lately. The Pianola has been selected by the
City Beard of Education for use in teachers'
classes in the public schools. In this way our
local teachers are taught to appreciate good
music. Edward Birge, well known as musical
director and at present director of music in the
Indianapolis schools, recommended the selection
to the school board. The Aeolian Co. have also
rented six Stuyvesant pianos to Knickerbocker
hall, a fashionable school for girls of Indian-
apolis. The Knickerbocker hall has not used the
Stuyvesant pianos previously.
W. J. Keeley of the Autopiano Co. and of
Kohler & Campbell and R. O. Burgess of the
Wegman Co. were callers at the store of Carlin
& Lennox. The firm gave an order for Kohler
REVIEW
& Campbell pianos for the fall trade. The store
is having an excellent demand for these instru-
ments. Carlin & Lennox say that trade in all
lines is improving although they had not ex-
pected very much until two or three weeks after
the election.
STORY & CLARK IN MILWAUKEE.
New Store Formally Opened to the Public Last
Saturday Attracts Many People.
(Special to The Review.)
Milwaukee, Wis., Nov. 2, 1908.
The branch of the Story & Clark Piano Co., in
this city, was formally opened to the public last
Saturday, and a throng of visitors were enter-
tained throughout the day. The new store, lo-
cated at 513-515 Grand avenue, has been entirely
remodeled to meet the needs of the company, and
is handsomely finished in every particular, deco-
rations being in red, green and gold. An exten-
sive line of Story & Clark pianos has been in-
stalled and they attracted much attention from
those who visited the store. A list of valuable
presents, ranging from a piano to a-doll, were
given away on the opening day and helped
to swell the crowd. Carl A. Friedrikson, the
Wisconsin manager for the Story & Clark Co., is
in charge of the store, assisted by M. H. Grue-
lich.
ERD HARP CO. RETURN TO SAGINAW.
(Special to The Review.)
Saginaw, Mich., Nov. 2, 1908.
By a deal just completed Saginaw secures the
Erd Harp Manufacturing Co., of Chicago. Years
ago this concern was founded in Saginaw and
turned out its instruments here for a long time.
Then the company removed to Chicago. There is
only one other harp factory in the United States,
it is said, which is controlled by Lyon & Healy.
The Erd company will be given a large bonus
to relocate here, and will occupy the Farmer
vehicle factory, a large brick plant on Van
Buren street.
LIVINGSTON BUYS BRAMBACH PLANT.
(Special to The Review.)
Utica, N. Y., Nov. 1, 1908.
The buildings of the plant of the bankrupt
Brambach Piano Co. on Niagara street were sold
at auction at the Court House yesterday morn-
ing to J. C. Livingston, one of the company's
stockholders, for $30,100. The sale was by James
H. Merwin as referee. Three bids for the prop-
erty were made, and Attorney Robert F. Livings-
ton, who bid in the property for his father,
started it at $20,000. The next bid, which was
by J. C. Kempf, was $30,000, and then Mr. Liv-
ingston gave the extra $100. The personal prop-
erty will be sold later.
KNABE WITH MARCHANT CO.
The agency for the Knabe piano in O;ange-
burg, S. C, has been secured by the Marchant
Music Co. The deal was closed by H. T. Rayner,
the Knabe traveler.
BINGHAMTON PIANO CO. OPENS.
The old factory of the Brewer-Pryor Piano
Co., Binghamton, N. Y., has been opened by the
Binghamton Piano Co., with Charles Calis as
superintendent.
Piano dealers in
every section of
the United States
are m a k i n g a
splendid success
of the Victor busi-
ness. And what
is more, they are
doing a bigger
p i a n o business
than ever!
When are you
going to give this
great and vital Vic-
tor question the
consideration that
your business de-
mands ?
IMPORTANT VOTJGH AGENCIES.
W. S. Skinner, traveler for the Vough Piano
Co., who has been making a trip through the
Southwest, has placed the agency for that line
with a number of good houses, including the
Carl Hoffman Music Co., Kansas City; Arm-
strong, Byrd & Co., Oklahoma City, and R. C.
Bollinger, Fort Smith, Ark.
The New Brunswick Music House has opened
for business at 374 George street, New Bruns-
wick. N. J.
Victor Talking Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., U. S. A.
Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal,
Canadian Distributors.
To get best results, use only Victor Needles
on Victor Records.