Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1910 Vol. 50 N. 23

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
14
THE
BILLINGS' TWO
REASONS FOR
INVENTING
HIS FLANGE
Recent public statements
in the trade press that
wood flanges will get loose
and rattle, unspace t h e
working parts, center pins
work out during extreme
heat, thereby causing the
bushing to greatly wear
out, has demonstrated that
piano actions w i t h o u t
Billings Flanges are likened
to a watch without jewels.
1st. Billings Flanges d o
not require retightening
and will not rattle or shift.
2nd. Billings F l a n g e s
clamps the center pins in
perfect position and will
not work out, thus saving
the wear and tear of the
bushed centers—a com-
bination of meritorious
results.
BILLINGS FLANGES FOR
DAMP CLIMATES
Where Billings Flanges are
used, centers can be left
easy, as the center pins
cannot work out when
shrinkage sets in, as is the
case with other flanges.
BILLINGS SPRING BRASS
FLANGE COMPANY
400-401 Enterprise Bldg., Milwaukee, Wis.
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
May a Good Business Month with Big Demand for Player-Pianos—Improvement in All Branches
of Music Trade—Fine Wholesale Report—Developing Gimbel Piano Department.
(Special to The Review. |
Philadelphia, Pa., May 31, 1910.
The month of May was one that was very
satisfactory to the piano dealers. If all the other
months of the year will be equally satisfactory
there will be no cause for complaint. Business
gradually picked up from the very start of the
month, and there was nothing that interfered
with its continuation right through to the end.
The business has taken on a peculiar aspect of
late, and it would seem that only the wealthier
people were buying instruments, and while it
was supposed that people of means had all been
supplied, it would seem that there has been
a general demand among them for new instru-
ments—exchanging their old pianos for play-
ers. One of the large firms told me that during
May they had sold almost as many player-
pianos as they had pianos without the player at-
tachment. This makes a very good showing for
the salesmen, and they seem well pleased with
the amount of money that their sales footed up
during the month.
Not alone has the business been improving in
pianos, but in all lines of the trade. There has
been a general movement forward in the smaller
instruments, and particularly so in talking ma-
chines; the trouble in the latter seems to be the
difficulty to get certain instruments fast enough.
Sheet music has shown the least activity, and
there is a notable drop-off in that line of the
trade, due in a measure to the fact that the
theatrical season is over and with no particular
song hits just now having a run.
days just after the middle of the month it looked
as if there was going to be a little slump, but
they pulled the force together and things went
booming along again. They do not now, believe
that they will have a dull summer, as they had
anticipated.
William Werner, of Werner Bros., of Easton,
was here this week.
Doings of the Lester Men.
H. C. Pressey, of the Lester Piano Co., is just
about starting on an Eastern trip, in which sec-
tion he says there is every indication that he
will do a good business.
George Miller and family expect shortly to go
to their new cottage at Point Pleasant, N. J.,
which was built during the winter, and where
they are looking forward to a most enjoyable
summer. They have been summering at Point
Pleasant for a number of seasons, but always
in a rented cottage, but this year they will have
a home of their own, built along plans of their
own designing, and the work was superintended
by Mrs. Miller while her husband was absent
several months in the West recently.
Henry F. Miller Co.'s Biggest May.
The Henry F. Miller Co. have had the biggest
May that firm have ever enjoyed. They have suc-
ceeded in putting out a large number of the
Miller pianos, and to some of the most exclusive
trade in this city—particularly their Lyric grand.
There is no seller in its class as popular in
Philadelphia as the Miller Lyric grand, and none
that is more easily placed in competition.
The Ludwig Co. have been doing very good
work of late, and find the new arrangement of
Manufacturers Continue Busy.
In the manufacturing line Philadelphia has no their second floor very much to their advantage.
Puzzle Advertising Opposed.
doubt kept well apace of other cities. . At all the
Philadelphia factories work is being conducted
The trade here are still considerably upset over
to the capacity of the plants, with the output the advertising of the Schubert Piano Co. They
and the demand about running even. Very few have been able to kill their guessing contest
pianos are being made for future sales, but on scheme, but that firm have now switched over
order. The Lester factory has been shipping to the puzzle picture, and instead of offering
them as fast as they have been able to turn money, which the coupon victim found was only
them out. The Cunningham Co. have been mak- of use to them when they made the purchase of
ing an effort to get sufficient stock ahead to turn a piano, they are offering presents of various
their attention more to the wholesale end of sorts, and it is apparently legitimate advertising,
their business, but the retail business at the and the newspapers cannot well turn it down.
Philadelphia store, as well as at the various A crusade has been started, however, to keep it
State stores they conduct, have been taking all cut of the papers, and with what success remains
the firm have been able to manufacture even to be seen.
with their enlarged plant. The Cunningham Co.
will, during the summer, endeavor to accumulate
TECHNICAL TRAINING FOR PIANO MEN.
stock to carry out a project they have in mind,
that is, of abandoning their country stores and
Education Committee of London City Council
selling pianos direct to dealers. Several of their
to Advance Manufacturing Industries by
country stores pay and others do not, and it
Educating Workers.
keeps a continual nagging to keep any of them
paying, and Patrick Cunningham would like to
The education committee of the London, Eng.,
get back to his old system of selling direct to City Council have arranged for the technical
dealers in the various large cities of the State. training of those engaged in the piano trade
Gimbel Bros. Piano Moves.
along the lines followed in specialized training
F.. J. Schwankovsky, the new manager of the in other industries. Those interested in the
Gimbel piano department, has taken hold of the development of England's manufactories realize
business in a spirited way. He was in Philadel- that their success lies in educating the workers
phia several days this week, and will spend or and thus developing the raw human material,
rather divide his time between this city and New thus keeping the better workers satisfied in their
York. There is a force of five well-seasoned
own country and preventing them from going
salesmen at the Philadelphia store, and with a abroad to better their condition.
fine line of instruments—the Hardman, Vose &
Sons, Packard, Sohmer, Harrington, and others
MISS POPPENBERG SAILS FOR EUROPE.
v/ith less famous names—he will have a splendid
stock to work with. The Gimbel house has had
Miss Louise Poppenberg, treasurer of the
a sale on in Philadelphia for a week, closing on Poppenberg Piano Co., Buffalo, N. Y., has sailed
Tuesday, and they have met with very good suc- for Europe on an extended tour during which
cess. It is to be hoped that the new manager she will visit all the principal cities of England
will be able to prevail upon the Gimbel firm to and the Continent. Miss Poppenberg's work has
give the department a more desirable location in fully entitled her to a long vacation and rest
the store, and I believe that that is the only which she has planned to enjoy to the limit.
thing needed to make the business boom.
Paul E. Fellows, of the Krell-French Co., was
At the Quadriennial National Song and Music
a Philadelphia visitor this week.
Festival of the American Union of Swedish
Singers, held in New York, May 28 to 31, James
C. J. Heppe & Son's Good Report.
C. J. Heppe & Son report that their business & Holmstrom grand pianos were used ex-
has been very satisfactory in May. For a few clusively.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
RISE IN FREIGHT RATES HALTED.
BORCHARD WILL PLAY THE KNABE
The Government Gets an Injunction Restrain-
ing 24 Railroads from Putting Into Effect
New Freight Schedule on June 1—Action
Follows Conference of Western Shippers
with Attorney General Wickersham
On His Concert Tour of the United States Next
Season—Knabe Concert Grand Shipped to
His Home in the South of France.
It has been finally arranged between the Amer-
ican Piano Co. and the M. H. Hanson Concert
Direction that the latest sensation in the piano
world, Adolph Borchard, of Paris, will play the
Knabe piano on his concert tour of the United
States next season. A concert grand has already
been shipped to Mr. Borchard's country seat in
15
The Treasury has collected about $600,000
under the law already; but this amount has been
kept segregated up to this time in the hope that
the Supreme Court would hand down its decision
to-day. The tax is not due until to-morrow.
The department intends to go ahead and make
collections, enforcing the penalties when the tax
is not paid. The tax, it is estimated, will yield
about $25,000,000. The Government will be
obliged to pay this amount back if the law is
formally held to be unconstitutional.
Twenty-four western railroads and the West-
ern Trunk Line Committee were temporarily re-
strained on Tuesday last by United States Dis-
trict Judge David P. Dyer from enforcing or
making a general advance in inter-State freight
rates, scheduled to take effect on June 1. The
E. W. Kelley, Who Handles Wurlitzer Line
injunction was granted on a petition filed by the
Leases Store Adjoining Present Quarters.
Government on the allegation that the advances
in rates were agreed upon by the defendants
E. W. Kelley, 22 Elm street, Rochester, N. Y.,
without competition and in violation of the Sher-
and
sole agent for the Wurlitzer line of instru-
man act.
ments for the territory embracing Rochester,
This action followed a decision reached in
Syracuse and Albany, has been forced, owing to
Washington by President Taft and Attorney
the growth of his business, to lease the store
General Wickersham to act on the complaint
adjoining his present quarters, thereby doubling
made by a committee of western shippers Tues-
his floor space. The newly acquired quarters
day and to prevent, if possible, the inauguration
have been handsomely redecorated and arranged
of the increased rates.
to meet the needs of the business, the partition
The petition was filed in the United States Cir-
separating the two stores has been removed and
cuit Court at St. Louis Tuesday and was brought
Mr. Kelley is now in possession of very com-
to Hannibal, Mo., to present to Judge Dyer, who
modious warerooms.
is holding a session of the United States District
Court. It stated that unless such a restraining
order were issued the proposed advances would
BJUR BROS*. NEW STYLE.
become effective at midnight, to the grave alarm
Scale Now Being Drawn and Instrument Will
and injury of the people of the United States.
be Ready for Market in Fall.
ADOI.ril BORCHARD, THE FRENCH PIANIST.
The petition was presented to Judge Dyer by
Edwin P. Grosvenor, of Washington, special as- the south of France, to enable the young French-
William L. Bjur, of the Bjur Bros. Co., 2572
sistant to the Attorney General, and Frederick man to become acquainted with his American
N. Judson, of St. Louis, acting as special counsel. piano. That he will enthuse over it goes without Park avenue, is drawing a new scale for a
It was signed by George W. Wickersham, At- saying, for the Knabe of to-day is an instrument 4 foot 5 inch upright piano and they expect to
torney General; William S. Kenyon, assistant to of rare musical charm, with the requisite tonal have it ready for the market not later than
Sept. 1. Mr. Bjur stated that the instrument
the Attorney General, and Charles A. Houts, resources to furnish the artist with those color
would be a modernized duplicate of a piano man-
United States District Attorney.
tints so essential to the Gallic temperament.
ufactured by Bjur Bros, in 1887 and which
The roads restrained from increasing their
proved a big seller. The case will be plain and
freight rates on June 1 are the Missouri Pacific,
made in mahogany, Circassian walnut and oak,
GEO. MESS TO MANUFACTURE.
Chicago & Northwestern, Chicago, Rock Island &
furthermore in the natural or satin finish. The
Pacific, Chicago, Burlington & Quincy, Wabash,
Secures Plant in Shenandoah, Pa., and Will
firm will also offer it in a player-piano of same
Chicago, Milwaukee & St. Paul, Illinois Central,
Turn Out Pianos and Pipe Organs.
dimensions and woods.
Chicago & Alton, Atchison, Topeka & Santa Fe,
Chicago Great Western, Missouri, Kansas &
George Mess, a piano and organ builder of ex-
PIANO CLUB NEWS.
Texas, St. Louis & San Francisco, Quincy, Omaha perience, has secured a factory on Main street,
& Kansas City, St. Paul & Des Moines, Minne- Shenandoah, Pa., and has begun the manufacture
apolis & St. Louis, Iowa Central, Fort Dodge, of pianos and pipe organs under the firm name Increasing Attendance Emphasizes Interest—
Some Dealers Who Recently
Paid Their
Des Moines & Southern, Chicago, St. Paul, Min- of the George Mess Piano & Organ Co. Mr. Mess
Respects.
neapolis & Omaha, Elgin, Joliet & Eastern, Chi- worked at organ building in Holland and France
cago, Peoria & St. Louis, Chicago, Milwaukee & for a number of years and has spent his time
That the local piano club is progressing finely
Gary, Minneapolis, St. Paul & Sault Ste. Marie, since coming to America a year ago in familiar- is emphasized in the increase of attendance at
Kansas City Southern and Chicago, Indiana & izing himself with the trade conditions in this lunch hour and the way out-of-town visitors drop
Southern.
country. He expects to have pianos on the in daily and enjoy the hospitality of various club
The restraining order was issued on the state- market in about eight weeks and has already re- members. The following accepted the general
ment of counsel for the Government that they ceived several contracts for pipe organs, it is invitation sent to the convention by Secretary
would immediately file, by direction of the At- said.
R. C. Rogers and made the club headquarters
torney General, an expediting certificate under
en route to their homes: F. O. Gamble, Fort
the act of Feb. 11, 1903, providing for a speedy
Wayne, Ind.; E. S. Beale, St. Louis, Mo.; George
determination of the issues in contention.
F. Jackson, San Francisco, Cal.; Gus F. Eilers,
Generally speaking, the lines are the only ones
Portland, Ore.; J. A. Turner, Tampa, Fla., and
Supreme Court Orders Them Reargued at the
for the transportation of freight and passengers
E. A. Geissler, Los Angeles, Cal.
Fall Term.
in Missouri, Iowa, Minnesota, Kansas, Ne-
A combination pool and billiard table was in-
braska, South Dakota, North Dakota, Wyoming
(Special to The Review.)
stalled the past week and members made good
and parts of Montana, Michigan, Wisconsin, Illi-
Washington, May 31, 1910.
use of it.
nois, Indiana and Tennessee.
The Supreme Court this afternoon restored to
the docket for reargument the Corporation Tax
LIVELY PIANO SELLING.
NEW GRINNELL BROS. MANAGER.
cases. This means that the cases cannot come
up before the middle of October, and possibly
The Schmoller & Mueller Music Co., Omaha,
Ernest E. Smith, formerly president of the later. It postpones the decision in these im- Neb., made quite a record in Steinway grand
Smith & Miller Piano Co., Cincinnati, has been portant cases for at least seven months and pos- sales recently, when they disposed of three of
appointed manager of the Grinnell Bros, branch sibly longer. In the meantime the Treasury De- those instruments to different customers in one
in Kalamazoo, Mich., succeeding Glen W. Mills, partment will find itself in an uncomfortable day, as well as selling two or more in the course
who will go on the road for the Cable-Nelson situation, owing to the delay. Its officers will be of the week.
Piano Co. Mr. Mills has been iD charge of the in the attitude of collecting a tax under a law
Neuman Bros. Co. have opened a piano store in
store for four years and upon leaving was given whose constitutionality is apparently seriously
Walnut Park, Pa.
a farewell dinner by the employes.
doubted by part of the Supreme Court.
ROCHESTER DEALER EXPANDS.
CORPORATION TAX CASES DELAYED.
De Luxe
Action
HIGHEST GRADE PLAYER MECHANISM MADE
Special
Construction
"THE STANDARD OF THE WORLD"
These two player actions are beyond question the acme of perfection in pneumatic mechanism, and it is conceded
by everyone who knows, that pianos equipped thus are the best player-pianos the market affords. The Auto
Pneumatic Action is conceded
The Auto Pneumatic Action Company,
m
?£?%&"££''"
Standard
Action
Regular
Construction

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