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THE:
W. L. BUSH STUDIES CONDITIONS
On Recent Trip Through the North—Enthusi-
astic Over the Crop Situation—Prospects for
Future Excellent—Some of the Live Piano
Men in the Territory—Recalled by Death of
Mother-in-law.
(Special to The Review.)
Chicago, 111., August 15, 1910.
William Lincoln Bush, president of the Bush &
Gerts Piano Co., has just returned from an exten-
sive trip through sections in Iowa, Minnesota,
Wisconsin, Illinois and South Dakota and took
occasion to investigate general conditions in that
territory very closely with a view to judging future
prospects for active piano selling.
In commenting upon the situation, Mr. Bush
said:
"As far as agricultural conditions are concerned
this territory is about equally divided as between
good and bad, some parts of Minnesota, Wisconsin,
Iowa and Illinois being in fine condition, the crop
promising fully up to the average or better.
"This is no guess work, as an automobile ride
of over fifty miles through a portion of this section
demonstrated, and backed up by the verbal and
positive assertions of many farmers through this
country that they have never harvested a better
crop, and when a farmer talks or admits that to be
the case you can bet every dollar you have got
on it.
"The Red River Valley in North Dakota and
Minnesota is also in good condition and will har-
vest about an average crop, but the rest of the
State is only good in spots and in some sections
there will be very sparse or no production of either
hay or grain, everything being burned to a crisp;
nevertheless, as they have had several successive
good years business will not stagnate, but will be
pushed and moved with a greater vigor to offset
the discouraging condition.
"At Mankato, where we have a wholesale distrib-
uting warehouse and office, the prospects are good
and orders for fall delivery are now beginning to
come in at a satisfactory rate.
"George B. Owen and his son, E. W. Owen, two
of the best salesmen in the Northwest, are out in
the field which they cover and visiting Minnesota,
South Dakota and part of Iowa. Both are firm
believers in the old adage, that "the early bird
catches the worm," and are securing some nice
orders for fall delivery.
"At Fargo, Stone Music Co. are just getting
ready to move into their magnificent new Stone
Music Co. Building, of which a full description
will soon be forthcoming. The building is so con-
veniently arranged as to equipment and installation
of every modern convenience as to entitle it to wide
publicity through the trade press. They are con-
ducting a removal sale which will continue to the
date of removal the latter part of August and are
offering the good people of Fargo, N. D., an op-
portunity to select from a stock of several hundred
instruments.
"The stock of Bush & Gerts pianos, however,
was completely sold out, and I had the satisfaction
of coming home with a good sized order of several
carloads for early shipment, and one of the piano
parlors will be reserved for the exclusive display
•of Bush & Gerts pianos, as will each of these ten
parlors for makes that are receiving special and
vigorous representation at the hands of the Stone
Music Co."
Mr. Bush's trip North was terminated by the
receipt of a telegram announcing the death of his
wife's mother, Henrietta E. Barroe, at the age
of 82 years, at Wilmette, a northern suburb of
Chicago. The funeral was held Sunday.
ANTI=CONTEST CAMPAIGN.
Bartlett Music Co. in Los Angeles Getting Out
Some Hot Copy on the Subject.
The Bartlett Music Co., 231 South Broadway,
Los Angeles, Cal., are carrying on an elaborate
campaign of anti-contest advertising as a means of
combating a lot of that sort of piano selling
schemes now being worked out in the "City of the
Angels." The Bartlett Co.'s copy represents a
series of word and picture .puzzles which, when
MUSIC TIRADE:
REVIEW
worked out, reads as follows: "Bite and you get
bit," "Rebate for suckers," "Right or wrong an-
swer wins credit letter," etc., with a reproduction
of portions of letters condemning contests which
have appeared in The Music Trade Review re-
cently. Just how much good the Bartlett Co. are
getting out of their advertisements is not stated.
We venture to state that there are very few people
in Los Angeles who do not know more about piano
selling systems than before the Bartlett Co. started
the crusade.
WESTERN RATE HEARING SET.
Interstate Commission Notifies Roads to Ap-
pear in Chicago on Aug. 29—300 Carriers
Named as Defendants.
(Special to The Review.)
Washington, D. C, Aug. 15, l!)10.
The Interstate Commerce Commission to-day
formally served notice on the railroads in Western
trunk line trans-Missouri and Illinois freight com-
mittee territories of the hearing to be given the
carriers by the commission on the advances in
freight rates by them which are to become effective
on Nov. 1. The hearing is to be held in the
United States Court House in Chicago beginning
on Aug. 29.
The order recites that the commission upon its
own initiative without formal pleading and without
answer by the interested carriers will enter upon
a hearing concerning the propriety of such ad-
vances and the lawfulness of the rates, fares, or
charges stated in said schedules with a view to
making such order in the premises as may after
full hearing seem just and proper, and that such
hearing be held on Aug. 29, 1910, at 11 o'clock A. M.
in the United States courtroom, Chicago, 111.
Nearly 300 carriers are made defendants in the
proceedings.
MASON & HAMLIN TO THE FORE.
Approach of Opera and Concert Season Centers
Much Attention on Official Piano of Boston
Opera Co.
The Mason & Hamlin piano is again coming into
the limelight with the approach of the opera and
concert season, the standing of this instrument in
concert work being too well known to require any
comment. The intense interest manifested by
those in touch with the Boston musical world in
the coming season's work of the Boston Opera Co.
has also served to bring the Mason & Hamlin to
the fore, inasmuch as this instrument will be the
official piano with the Boston Co. during the com-
ing opera season, as it was last year. The directors,
conductors and principals of the companies in the
majority of cases possess Mason & Hamlin pianos
in their studios, and the same make is used for
rehearsals to a large extent.
TO ENTERTAIN ROOSEVELT.
Omaha Piano Men Among Contributors to Fund
for That Purpose—Agree to Close on Sept. 2.
The piano dealers of Omaha, Neb., have con-
tributed liberally to the fund being raised for the
entertainment of Col. Theodore Roosevelt during
bis visit to that city Sept. 2 and 3. Most of the
dealers have expressed their willingness to close
their stores on the afternoon of the 2d, as was
requested in order that all may attend the recep-
tion of Col. Roosevelt at the Auditorium, upon
which occasion he will speak.
GOOD PRICES FOR SOUARES.
As Much as $150, Secured for Square in Good
Condition—Should Be Good News.
One of the features of the series of August
sales conducted by the Philadelphia piano houses
has been the high prices secured for square pianos,
in one case $150 being paid for a square piano in
good condition. This should be good news to
those dealers who have a number of squares on
hand, and have been figuring out how they can
turn the cases into useful furniture either with or
without the "insides."
The Value of
Great Names
and
The Hardman
Piano
N
O O N E can have sold
pianos very long with-
out reaching" one con-
clusion.
This is it:
An ounce of recommenda-
tion from a personal friend
outside is worth a pound of
salesman's arguments inside
the store when it conies to the
question of the purchase of any
particular make of piano.
Here is precisely the advan-
tage the Hardman possesses
over all other pianos.
To those who have heard
them and experienced the thrill
of their art, the great singers
of the day are more than mere
names—they are looked upon
as personal, almost as familiar,
friends.
Now, with scarce an excep-
tion, all the singers at present
before the public have given
to the Hardman Piano their
personal recommendation as
having used it constantly and
as being convinced of its supe-
riority over all others.
From among the fifty or
sixty names of artists who
within the last twelve months
have enthusiastically endorsed
the Hardman, the salesman
can readily find one or more
held in high veneration by his
customer. Then his task is
half accomplished.
This, then, is what the en-
dorsement of the Hardman by
great artists means to you in
your business.
Write to-day for Open Ter-
ritory.
Hardman, Peck & Co.
(Established 184S)
138 Fifth Avenue
New York