Music Trade Review

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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
attracting trade. During the carnival Canal
street is brilliantly illuminated for a mile from
the river.
Trade on Sound Basis but no Improvement in Business Looked lor Till Fall—Manufacturers
Much Better Off Than Retailers—Chickering and Knabe Pianos to Remain With Wana-
maker—Musical Echo Co. Preparing for Strong Campaign—Florence Heppe at Lake Placid
—Bright Outlook for Miller Lyric Grands—News at Estey's—Vacation Items.
"(Special to The Review.)
REDUCED RATESJW MERCHANTS
Visiting New York—Special Concessions from
Practically Every Railroad in the Country—
Should Bring Crowds of Buyers to New York.
by the individual houses, for nothing handsomer
This season merchants' reduced rates, a fare
Philadelphia, Pa., Aug. 3, 1908.
than the pianos shown from both factories at
August enters with seven months of the present in the Wanamaker warerooms could and one-half for the round trip, effective under
year gone, more than half of 1908, with possibly be turned out by any new concern. The the certificate plan, will apply to New York City
no very bright prospects ahead until the most interesting thing upon which the Wana- from the territories of the Western Passenger As-
cool weather comes. The winter and spring maker firm are now engaged is the Schomacker sociation and the Southwestern Excursion Bu-
dulness might have found a reaction in player-piano that is being developed at their reau. These rates have been arranged by The
Merchants' Association of New York. The first-
the summer which would have in a way downtown factory.
brightened the disposition of the piano man, but
The Musical Echo Co. have found business up named section extends west of the Mississippi
ever since summer began it has been so hot to their expectations during the summer, and River to Denver, north to St. Louis, Mo. The
that all the people cared to think about was Thomas Stoll, the manager, is laying plans for southwestern territory consists of the States of
being comfortable and getting together enough extensively entering the field in the fall, with a Arkansas, Oklahoma, Texas and that part of
money to get away from the heat. Buying few new agencies besides the Everett and Har- Missouri south of the Missouri River.
pianos was furthest from their thoughts, and vard.
On the initiative of the Rock Island-'Frisco
although it is generally recognized that business
James Bellak's Sons never change pianos; in lines the rate has been granted by practically
has been picking up right along the "prosperity" fact, are so conservative that they rarely make all the railroads in the West and the Southwest.
has not yet reached the piano man, and is not changes of any kind. Their business has been That system authorized merchants' rates to trade
likely to reach him much before the frost.
growing steadily and profitably under a system centers on specific dates. The other roads took
The stability of the Philadelphia piano trade established by the father of the present pro- similar action to meet the competition. August
is well demonstrated in this panicky year, in prietors many years ago, so why change. Their 1 to 5, inclusive, with a return limit to August
that not one of the firms established here have new system of salesmen scale of wages is work- 30, was the first series of dates announced for
been compelled to go out of business, nor even ing out very satisfactory, and is likely to be New York City.
A second series of dates, August 15 to 19, in-
have been seriously embarrassed. Prosperity in adopted by other firms, following their experi-
clusive, with final return limit to September 13,
the past has accounted for this, and, in spite of ment.
some of the fat bank accounts having dwindled
Florence Heppe has drifted off to the moun- is now being arranged from the jurisdiction of
a little, there is still enough laid aside to weather tains, where he will no doubt connive some the Western Passenger Association and the
The Rock
whatever may come.
brilliant scheme out of the waters of Lake Southwestern Excursion Bureau.
Everything points to the opening of the trade Placid which he will spring on the trade in the Island-'Frisco system has given notice that it
early in the fall, and that it is going to be good, fall, along with the anticipated first Heppe grand. would make the rates on those dates. It is prob-
even the most pessimistic are willing to admit. They are looking forward with much pride to able, therefore, that the other lines in the re-
Signs point this way from all directions. It is the getting out of a grand, and will no doubt spective territories, list of which is given below,
noticeable first among our Philadelphia manu- leave nothing undone to make it an instrument will also make the same concession.
The Merchants' Association of New York will
facturers, who have been getting quite a number in keeping with the name of Heppe.
of orders and have been living on Easy street
While President Von Bernuth is sojourning in send to the retail merchants in Arkansas, Colo-
in comparison with the retailers. These orders Europe his confederates at the N. Stetson store rado, Iowa, Kansas, Minnesota, Missouri, Ne-
have been coming from everywhere, but particu- are working hard to "make good" for their chief braska, North Dakota, Oklahoma, South Dakota,
New Mexico, Texas, Wisconsin and the northern
larly from the West. There has been no let-up in his absence.
in time and force at any of the Philadelphia fac-
Dunbar Shewell says that in spite of the hard part of Illinois, circulars giving full particulars
tories during the summer, with the exception times he is going to show an increase in sales as to the dates, rates, conditions, etc. Local
of one, and they claim that their reason for not of Miller Lyric grands this year over last, and ticket agents in the territory will also be able to
having worked full time was due to the great if any one would have kept as close tab on his supply detailed information.
overproduction they had and their desire to en- business as the writer they would almost be
The following railroads in the West and South-
tirely clean up, get their money out of their willing to admit the truth of this statement, for west are participating in these reduced fares:
stock, so that they can start afresh in the fall.
the Miller Lyric grands seem, like Longfellow's
Western Passenger Association Territory.—
Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, Chicago
In other lines of business, outside of piano brook, to go "on forever."
One would almost think that the Estey house & Eastern Illinois Railroad, Chicago, Burlington
selling, a certain amount of dulness has also been
experienced, but it . seems to be more particu- had supplied all the churches in creation with & Quincy Railroad, Chicago, Milwaukee & St.
larly in certain directions. In talking machines pipe organs, but from the activity in that line Paul Railway, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific
the business has been of the best—better than it by this house it would seem that they must be Railway, Colorado & Southern Railway, Illinois
was last summer, and considerably larger In per doubling up on some of the "Homes of Praise." Central Railroad, Minneapolis & St. Louis Rail-
cent, than that shown by any other line, which Bookkeeper Wilson, who has been summering road, Missouri Pacific Railway, St. Joseph &
shows the wonderful popularity of the talking in Europe, is expected home this week. From Grand Island Railway, Union Pacific Railroad,
the number of picture postal cards, upon which Wisconsin Central Railway, Chicago & Alton
machine.
There are no changes in Philadelphia in sight he is telling fish stories and marking the loca- Railroad, Chicago & Northwestern Railway, Chi-
for the fall, and being in the throes of the vaca- tions on the lakes of where the big hauls were cago, Great Western Railway, Chicago, Peoria &
tion season—and I myself will join the crowd made, it would seem that he must have drained St. Louis Railway, Chicago, St. Paul, Minneapo-
in a day or so—news is to scarce that it would the Lakes of Killarney and most of the other lis & Omaha Railway, Denver & Rio Grande Rail-
find stronger magnifying glasses than have yet ponds across the sea. Mr. Woolley is going to his road, Iowa Central Railway, Missouri, Kansas
family at South Thomaston, Me., in a few days to & Texas Railway, Quincy, Omaha & Kansas City
been invented in order to find any.
Gustave Herzberg & Son are moving along at cool off, as the result of these stories. While at Railroad, St. Louis & San Francisco Railroad
their usual pace, selling pianos to those constant his Maine cottage Mr. Woolley's daughter will be and Wabash Railroad.
Southwestern Excursion Bureau Territory.—
and unswervable friends of the Kranich & Bach married.
Patrick Cunningham is enjoying the summer Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe Railway, Chicago,
arid the Mehlin, and it must be a source of great
satisfaction to this firm to feel that Kranich & between his handsome home at Elkins Park and Rock Island & Pacific Railway, El Paso & South
Bach or Mehlin once placed always brings cus- his handsome warerooms in Philadelphia, and Western System, Fort Worth & Rio Grande
has given up his cottage at Sea Isle city for the Railway, Galveston, Harrisburg & San Antonio
tomers back when they want a new piano.
Joseph F. Allen and the A. B. Chase are so pleasure of some of his relatives, feeling that his Railway, Houston, East & West Texas Railway,
closely allied and connected so thoroughly with place was beside the "Matchless Cunningham" Kansas City, Clinton & Springfield Railway, Kan-
so many Philadelphians that with them also this summer and among the wild ducks of the sas City, Mexico & Orient Railway, Missouri,
it is a question of past faith that augurs so well South in the fall, which he always uses as his Kansas & Texas Railway of Texas, St. Louis &
San Francisco Railroad, St. Louis, Southwestern
with them for the present and for the future. vacation period.
Railway, Texas & Brazos Valley Railway, Texas
The A. B. Chase Artistano grand player-piano
Midland Railroad, Chicago, Rock Island & Gulf
is their novelty, and it is the first of a new field
PIANO DEALERS WANT MORE LIGHT.
Railway, Chicago, Rock Island & Pacific Rail-
for this instrument which is bound to grow in
way (Choctaw District), Fort Worth & Denver
wide directions in the future.
(Special to The Review.)
City Railway, Gulf, Colorado & Santa Fe Rail-
New Orleans, La., August 1, 1908.
In spite of insinuations as to what is going
Piano dealers have joined with other mer- way, Houston & Texas Central Railroad, Interna-
to become of the Chickering, Knabe and Foster-
Armstrong and other pianos of the Wanamaker chants along Canal street to have that thorough- tional & Great Northern Railroad, Kansas City
house in the combine, the Chickering and the fare illuminated each night with strings of small Southern Railway, Misouri, Kansas & Texas Rail-
Knabe will no doubt find their home in the big incandescent lights similar to the practice dur- way, Missouri Pacific (Iron Mountain System),
department store for many seasons to come. The ing carnival times. Trade has suffered some- St. Louis, San Francisco & Texas Railway, St.
new combination cannot hope to improve any what since the closing of the race tracks, and Louis, Southwestern Railway of Texas, Texas
on the making of these pianos as carried on the merchants are trying other methods for & Texas Orleans Railroad.