Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1911 Vol. 53 N. 23

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-THE:
MUSIC
TRADE:
REVIEW
li
AUTOMOBILES VS. PIANOS ON INSTALMENTS.
Will the Latest Move of the Studebaker Corporation to Sell Automobiles on Instalments Prove
Detrimental to the Piano Business?—That is the Question Which Now Comes Up for Con-
sideration—Some Views of the Detroit Piano Merchants on This "Live" Subject.
(Special to The Review.)
get smaller some men will buy autos who might
Detroit, Mich., Dec. 5, 1911.
have bought pianos, others who own pianos and
Detroit piano merchants were deeply interested, buy motor cars on instalments will find themselves
some of them startleS, this week, by an announce- getting behind on their piano payments and we
ment which most of them believe is to have a
will feel the general bad effect on business of
widespread effect on the piano business of the thousands of men succumbing to the motor craze
entire country—the announcement by the E-M-F and putting the best ol their means into something
Automobile Co., the greatest component part of
which is bound in the end to prove absolute waste."
the Studebaker corporation, of a decision to sell
W. James Brennan, manager of the local branch
automobiles on time. The effect of this policy on of the Bush & Lane Piano Co., thinks the auto-
the piano business and upon business in general, mobile business is doing enough harm to the piano
and the causes which led to it, were a topic of
business now, and says the new departure will not
earnest discussion.
alter conditions much. "I have an instance in mind
That the piano business will not be adversel} right now," he said. "I sold a player-piano to a
affected to any extent just now, but that this good customer, who lives in a nice house and was
movement of the automobile folks portends vast out of debt. He mortgaged the house to buy an
possibilities, is the Concensus of opinion expressed automobile. Now whenever the payment on his
to The Review. The automobile business has for player are due he makes an excuse to stand us'
years been felt as a direct competition to the off—claims something wrong with the player and
piano business. All the dealers have learned of
such things. Pretty soon we will have a repos-
Cases in which the family election had decided in session of that player, sure as the world.
favor of a motor car instead of a piano. The "If automobile manufacturers sell on the instal-
fact that flow not nearly as much ftioney will be ment plan on a large scale, they will have to make
required to get possession of a motor car as for- the payments so large that they won't conflict with
merly seems to forecast that more of these family our business. They will have to reckon with de-
decisions will go in favor of the automobile.
preciation and accidents. An insurance clause in
In Detroit, the center of the motor car industry their contracts might protect them against the
of the world, there is an offset to such losses of
accidents but not against depreciation. They are
sales—the vastly increased local prosperity diie to making a big mistake. We can send a piano out,
the immense capital invested and the great num- let it stay a year and if we get it back we can
ber of men employed steadily at high wages, these touch it up, tune it and it will look like new. But
people making first class piano customers. In In- what does a year-old automobile look like?"
dianapolis, Cleveland, Buffalo and one or two other
J. Henry Ling takes an optimistic view of it.
cities where there are several large automobile "Automobiles on instalments will not harm the
plants, similar conditions pertain, though to a piano business much," he said, "because the aver-
much less extent than here. But elsewhere the age piano buyer can't afford to contract for fifty
piano business loses to the automobile business dollars a month payments. We have lost but few
without a source of recompense.
sales through automobile competition. Even if
An announcement of the sale of automobiles on the piano dealers should feel the effects of the
time is believed to mean that that industry is on new plan they should acquiesce with good grace,
the verge of an over-production, a condition that
for the automobile industry has brought them
has long been predicted, and that if one firm sells prosperity unprecedented by enabling so many peo-
on time the others manufacturing the same class ple to buy pianos and pay for them in quick time.
of machines will be forced to. The competition That the automobile manufacturers are on a differ-
thus engendered will result in the acceptance of
ent footing than they were a year ago is shown by
smaller first payments and smaller instalments, the fact that they are soliciting trade now. For-
until such sales are likely to come in direct com- merly they waited for trade to go to them, and it
petition with piano sales.
went. I actually think the selling of automobiles
"It will damage business in general," said E. on time will stimulate their business and bring
P. Andrew, manager of the Farrand retail stores, them and us more prosperity. But they won't go
"and in doing so will harm the piano business as into that instalment business very far for it would
much, or more, indirectly than it does directly. be too easy for a man to keep himself in new cars
Looking at it in a general way, it is actually a by letting the old ones go back every six months
crime to sell automobiles on instalments. Why? or so."
Because such a policy will induce thousands of men
"As far as we are concerned," said Leonard
who cannot afford to own cars to buy them. They Davis, manager of the Melville Clark branch, "we
have no idea of the cost of up-keep. When they don't expect to be harmed much, for Apollos are
have paid all their available cash as first payment, high priced instruments and are purchased by
then find themselves obligated for twenty-five to high-class trade. In fact, I think most ©f our cus-
fifty dollars a month payments and another twenty tomers have automobiles and are able to keep up
more for tires and other repairs, to say nothing the expense of operating them. So when they buy
of the current cost of operation, fuel, oil, etc., Apollos they are able to pay for them also."
there are a lot of them going to get badly into
C. A. Grinnell could not be located. He has
debt. They are going to lose their homes. It will
often expressed the view, however, that the auto-
break up families. It will in many cases lead to
mobile business did much harm to the piano trade.
actual dishonesty. There are many cases now of
He holds that the craze for motor cars induces
men mortgaging their homes to pay for motor cars.
men to save up money which otherwise they would
There will be many more such cases when the
use in buying pianos until they get enough to buy
amount to be raised is not so large. The unex-
an automobile and let the piano go by altogether.
pected expenses they will meet will put them down
and out.
TO CLOSE CUT PIANO STOCK.
"I am not talking by guess. I own a car and
know its expense. I have a salesman, getting a
The J. A. Kieselhorst Piano Co., Alton, 111., an-
good salary, who had the cash to buy a car and nounce that they will close out their piano stock
did so. He thought he could save the expense for the purpose of entering the furniture business,
of up-keep in its utility. But in a year he was and state that they must dispose of over $23,000
a couple of hundred dollars in debt, little bills he worth of pianos by December 12.
could not meet, and had to sell the car in order to
keep his head above water.
.The F. O. Evans Piano Co., Waterloo, la., re-
"At first the piano dealers will not feel the com- cently purchased the entire stock of the J. Mar-
petition, for the payments required by the auto- shal Smith Co., Omaha, Neb., and are closing the
mobile men will be so large that they won't come stock of pianos out at special sale. A gold watch
into the sphere of piano contracts, But when they free is the inducement offered to each purchaser.
Electric
Coin-Controlled
attract attention and
nickels because of
their handsome ap-
pearance, but the flow
of coin is not inter-
rupted by frequent
accidents to t h e
mechanism. They
are built to work per-
fectly.
Musically
they are away above
the ordinary coin-
controlled class.
Write for catalogue
and let us outline the
"Seeburg System."
J. P. Seeburg Piano Co.
OFFICES:
902-904 Republic Building
State and Adams Streets
FACTORY: ''
415-421 S. Sangamon Street
CHICAGO
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
12
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
place in that city, and which was arranged for the
purpose of calling the attention of Buffalo citizens
to the local industries. A strong plea was made
lor the home products, and the local papers gave
Results During November Prove Rather Disappointing to Piano Men—Pianos Being Heavily Ad-
tlie
celebration much space in their columns. The
vertised—Death of Mrs. P. J. Cunningham—Summary of the Week's News.
argument was used that Buffalo purchased only 10
(Special to The Review.)
they are concerned they see no reason for the con- per cent, of the production of 08,000 workmen,
Philadelphia, Pa., Dec. 5, 1911.
stant kicking and cry of hard times. As one of and that if the city used 20 per cent, of the output
There is a variety of opinion in Philadelphia as
the head salesmen says: "We are always hearing
of the local plants there would be employment for
to the piano business during the month of Novem-
that business is bad, not only from outside sources,
00,000 more workmen. Much attention was given
ber, and it is pretty generally considered that the
but about our own store. I notice this much;
to C. Kurztmann & Co. in the papers, and the fac-
month by no means came up to the expectation.
we get in a shipment of fifteen pianos and you look
tory and retail store were illustrated by a number
The time is growing pretty short for the dealers
around in a day or so and they are about all
of different views.
to experience a satisfactory holiday business, and
gone; then fifteen-more arrives, and then they
few of them anticipate an old-time Christinas
disappear, and all the time they are crying bad
trade. The class of business that is being done is
business." The Bellaks received on Saturday last
very satisfactory, but there are a large number
the first shipment of the new electric player which
Import Trade of Musical Instruments for Month
of people who are reasonably expected to buy they have so long anticipated. They believe it is
Shows Decrease-—Exports for Ten Months
pianos for the home every year but who seem to
going to be a winner. It was not in place when
Larger—Player Shipments Make Fine Rec-
be failing to do so this year.
I called but have been promised the pleasure of
ord—The Figures in Detail Regarding the
hearing "the greatest thing out" this week.
The Philadelphia papers are carrying extensive
Various Instruments Furnish Some Interest-
Demand for Heppe Grands.
ing Particulars for Our Readers.
piano advertisements, showing that the dealers are
going to leave nothing undone to get what busi-
The Heppes report their business the past week
(Special to The Review.)
ness it may be possible for them to get. This ad-
satisfactory, and that their Christmas Club, which
vertising is not confined to any particular house
Washington, D. C, Dec. 6, 1911.
closed on the 29th of November, was as successful
but seems to be general, and some of the big Phila-
as' last year. They are anxiously waiting the ar-
The summary of exports and imports of the
delphia firms have found that if they want to
rival of some Heppe grands. These pianos are so commerce of the United States for the month oi
keep pace in business with the department stores
popular that they are unable to keep them on hand.
October, 1911, the latest period for which it has
who advertise so heavily they must do likewise.
Robert N. Stuits was away from the store ill stv-
been compiled, has just been issued by the Bureau
Death of Mrs. P. J. Cunningham.
eral days last week.
of Statistics of the Department of Commerce and
The Philadelphia trade generally extend to P. J.
In Honor of the Eighth Year.
Labor. The figures relating to musical merchan-
Cunningham, the head of the Cunningham Piano Co.,
dise, including pianos, organs, piano-players and
The Strawbridge & Clothier firm (Frank Butler,
their deepest sympathy in the death of Mrs. Cun- manager) have gotten out a very handsomely en-
miscellaneous "small goods'' arc as follows:
ningham, which occurred Friday night. Mrs. Cun- graved booklet in honor of "The Eighth Year of
The dutiable imports of musical instruments dur-
ningham was a very estimable woman and was es- a Great Piano Store." The Strawbridge & Cloth-
ing October amounted to $119,758, as compared
teemed by all who knew her. Her death occurred ier piano department was opened in 1904. They
with $108,890 worth which were imported the same
at her home, 17 Park avenue, Elkins Park. She
month of 1910. The ten months' total ending
say in the introduction to this booklet: "Piano
had been ill since early in the year, when she was history has been rapidly made by this' store since
October shows importations valued at $1,329,590,
compelled to undergo an operation. Accordingly
as against $1,158,400 worth of musical instruments
then. Now, entering its eighth year, already twice
Mr. Cunningham went abroad for several months
imported during the same period in 1910 and
enlarged, the Greater Piano Store holds a com-
this summer, more to benefit his wife than for any manding position, not only in Philadelphia and
$1,119,749 in 1909. This gives an increase in im-
other reason, and she returned considerably im-
ports for the ten months ending October of
environs, but throughout the United States.
proved. Suddenly, however, she took a turn for
Pianos from this store are found in homes, schools, $171,190.
the worse several weeks ago and was removed
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
institutions, army officers' quarters, clubs and Sun-
to St. Joseph's Hospital. She was there only a
ments for October, 1911, amounted to $349,812,
day Schools in eighteen States."'
short time until the doctors pronounced her ill-
as compared with $310,296 for the same month of
ness fatal and Mr. Cunningham took her to his
the previous year. The ten months' exportation
home and fondly nursed her until she passed away.
of musical instruments amounts to $3,029,791, as
Mr. and Mrs. Cunningham were married in 1887.
against $2,032,508 for the same period in 1910 and
Take Prominent Part in Celebration of In- $2,378,555 in 1909. This shows an increase in ex-
The funeral took place on Tuesday from the
dustrial Week in Buffalo.
Church of the Immaculate Conception, Jenkin-
ports for the ten months ending October of
town, and the interment was at Old Cathedral
$395,283.
Cemetery.
C. Kurtzmann & Co., the prominent piano manu-
Of the aggregate exportations in October there
facturers of Buffalo, N. Y., were among the con- were 993 organs, valued at $50,440, as compared
Busy Times With Bellak.
cerns to take an active part in the celebration of
James Bellak's Sons report that their business
with 93G organs in 1910, valued at $54,758. The
ten months' total shows that we exported 7,015
has been very good the past week, and as far as Buffalo's Industrial Week, which recently took
organs, valued at $571,451, as against 7,057 organs,
valued at $550,039, for the same period in 1910, and
7,015, valued at $509,828, for the same period in
1909. *
In October, 1911, we exported 741 pianos (in-
cluding player-pianos), valued at $194,118, as
against 477 pianos, valued at $117,808, in October,
1910. The ten months' total exports show 5,522
pianos (including player-pianos), valued at $1,301,-
010, as compared with 4,008. valued at $914,290, ex-
ported in the same period in 1910, and 3,499, valued
at $820,324, for the same period in 1909.
Of the aggregate exportations in October there
were 191 automatic piano-players, valued at $50,-
880, as compared with 245, valued at $78,298, in
We also build many other
October, 1910. For the ten months' period 2,112
Planers, a large line of Gen-
of these instruments, valued at $597,208, were sent
eral Saw Mill Machinery,
abroad, as compared with 2,325, valued at $63,201,
Transmission Machinery,
in 1910, and 1,989, valued at $507,084, in 1909.
Boom D e r r i c K s , Electric
The value of all other instruments and parts
Traveling Cranes and Rope-
thereof sent abroad during October, 1911, amount-
Driven Cranes.
ed to $t8,302; in the same month of 1910 the value
was estimated at $59,372.
Everything we send out is
The total exports for the ten months under
this heading foot up $557,450, as against $534,972
exported during the same period of 1910, and
$480,719 exported during the same period in 1909.
Send for our Catalog
This shows an increase of $22,484.
OUR EXPORT AND IMPORT TRADE.
C. KURTZMANN & CO. FEATURED.
•m LANE
*
Sounding - Board Planer
Will Plane Piano Sounding-Boards 5 Feet Wide and
Tapering 5/8 inch (or less) from Bass to Treble Edges.
It Weighs 7,200 Pounds. Is very Powerful and Rigid.
Fully Guaranteed
LANE
\
This is Our 6O«in. Sounding-Board Planer
Manufacturing Co.
MONTPELIER, VT.
Do you wish to make five dollars? Then send
your ideas upon leading trade topics, embodied
in two hundred and fifty zvords, to The Review.
You zvill find full particulars elsewhere in this
issue.

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