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TH
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
11
and is an enthusiastic advocate of Kranich & Bach
products. His display of our goods is both at-
Says Louis P. Bach, Treasurer of Kranich & Bach, Who Recently Returned from a Combined tractive and comprehensive, and his development
Social and Business Trip Through the West—Cheap Piano Competition Overdone—Small of a high-grade clientele is progressing splendidly.
Grands and Players in Great Favor—Impressions of Trade in Many of the Cities Visited. In Toledo I visited the J. W. Greene Co. and was
very much pleased at the encouraging reports
"I was very sorry, however, to note that in some they extended for 1913.
Louis P. Bach, treasurer of Kranich & Bach,
of the large cities of the Middle West, like Cin-
237 East 23d street, New York, returned to New
"In conclusion I may say that the outlook in
York recently from a short trip to important trade cinnati and St. Louis, there was such a fierce and general for this year is very bright, and judging
centers. In addition to visiting the Middle West, unreasonable competition among dealers in the sale from agricultural conditions in different sections
of the very cheap grades of pianos. This compe- of the country, I can see no reason why the year
Mr. Bach also visited Pittsburgh, Pa., and Balti-
tition in cheap pianos was very marked, but I which has just made its debut should not be the
more, Md., and returned well pleased with general
firmly believe that this sort of trade will "die its best we have experienced for the past three or
conditions in the piano industry. This trip of
Mr. Bach's was primarily a social one, as he own death" in the near future. This will be four years. The prospects in our own business
brought about by the fact that this strenuous are very promising, and many of our dealers are
wished to extend the greetings of the sea-
son to the many friends of Kranich & Bach, and rivalry is severe and costly, the dealers are mak- so short of goods that their orders will be coming
to learn how their holiday trade was progressing. ing very little money from these sales, and as a in during the entire spring of next year."
Notwithstanding the social purpose of his jour- general rule the cheap grade of goods attracts a
ney, Mr. Bach received a number of good-sized class of people who are not the most prudent buy-
FR1EDERICH ELECTED TREASURER.
ers, and who very often prove a loss to a dealer
orders for Kranich & Bach products, with urgent
instead of a profit.
requests to make immediate shipment wherever
(Special to The Review.)
^
possible.
"Our dealers are all very enthusiastic and re-
Grand Rapids, Mich., Dec, 30, 1912.
Mr. Bach is a close observer of conditions port an excellent demand for our products, par-
Otto Friederich, manager of the local branch
wherever he visits, and from his long experience ticularly for small grands and players. Kranich of the Friederich Music House, has been elected
& Bach small grands have been one of the bright treasurer of the Grand Rapids Advertising Club
in the piano industry is well qualified to judge of
features of our .business this year, and we have for the coming year. Mr. Freiderich is a thorough
prospects for the new year. In addition to pos-
been taxed to the utmost to turn out enough in- believer and an enthusiastic student of modern ad-
sessing a remarkable knowledge of the details of
the piano trade, Mr. Bach is also well versed on struments to fill the demands of our dealers. The vertising methods and takes a lively interest in the
political, social and industrial problems, and his player business in the Middle West is booming, work of the club.
and some idea of what our agents are doing may
vjews on these subjects are always valuable.
When seen by The Review this week, Mr. Bach be gleaned from the fact that we recently were
spoke in an interesting way of conditions in the obliged to ship a number of players to Milwaukee
Middle West, which he found in good shape. "I by express in order to reach there in time.
visited this part of the country immediately pre-
"It is with great pleasure indeed that I am able
ceding the holiday season," said Mr. Bach, "and
to say that the houses that represent us are of
naturally expected to find the piano dealers doing the type that try to avoid all sensationalism in
a good business. I was not disappointed, as the their advertising, and are creating a rapidly grow-
dealers all expressed themselves as optimistic re- ing clientele for high-grade instruments, and not
garding the holiday season and the outlook for trying to sell the abominable cheap 'stuff' that is
trade next spring. As I visited the Middle West in evidence just now in certain parts of the country.
about six weeks after election, I was somewhat
"It afforded me great pleasure to meet some
interested in observing the result of the presiden- of the old friends of our house on this trip, and
tial election on general business interests and on also to make the acquaintance of several whom I
the piano industry in this part of the country. 1 had never met before. In Milwaukee I visited
am very glad to say that the people did not seem to the handsome newly-erected piano establishment of
be affected in the least by the results of last No- Emil O. Schmidt. I also had the pleasure of
vember, and as a matter of fact, I did not hear a meeting Mr. Schmidt for the first time, and was
single discussion of this subject. It was very certainly pleased immensely to view the new home
pleasant to note that piano dealers and merchants of this progressive dealer and inspect the various
in other lines were far more concerned in present- floors of the warerooms. Mr. Schmidt has two
ing their goods to the public and in taking ad- floors that are really beautiful in their decora-
vantage of every offered opportunity to make a
u
tions and appointments. These showrooms are
sale, than in discussing political or industrial
not furnished lavishly nor extravagantly, but are
phases of the coming year.
tastefully and artistically arranged. An air of
cleanliness and wholesomeness pervades the two
floors, and the instruments are displayed in a
manner that is unsurpassed by any other house
I ever visited. Mr. Schmidt is very proud of his
stock and is constantly improving some minor
detail of the warerooms.
ANNANDALE, near Sydney
"In Baltimore, Md., I found that our old
friends, Gomprecht & Benesch, are making a spe-
cialty of our grands and player pianos, and have
placed our instruments in some of the wealthiest
PIANO MAKERS, largest piano factories in
W e Make
and most exclusive homes of Baltimore. In
the British Empire.
American Wire Rope Barbed Wire
Pittsburgh,
Pa.,
the
Lechner
&
Schoenberger
Co.,
VENEER MANUFACTURERS from choice
Aeroplane Wire and Woven Wire Fencing
old-time Kranich & Bach representatives, are
Australian and other woods, for export
Strand
Fence Gates
progressing splendidly with our line. This concern
IMPORTERS of Music and Musical Instru-
Piano
Wire
Steel
Fence Posts
is
the
type
of
house
that
sell
what
they
have
to
ments, and Talking Machines.
Mattress Wire
Concrete Reinforce-
sell
and
do
not
make
any
efforts
to
fool
or
hood-
IMPORTERS of Interior Players for Pianos
Weaving Wire
ment
wink the public. In Cincinnati, Otto Grau & Co.
MAKERS of fine Cabinet work.
Broom Wire
Springs
report an excellent demand for our entire line,
Fence Wire
The only musical-instrument firm having
Sulphate of Iron
with every prospect for a good spring business.
its own branches in every State of the
Flat Wire
Poultry Netting
Field-Lippman, in St. Louis, are well pleased at
Commonwealth.
Flat Cold Rolled Steel Wire Rods
the condition of their trade and are doing a very
Juniata Horse Shoes
Wire Hoops
Particulars of anything connected with the
nice Kranich & Bach business. In St. Paul and
and Calks
Electrical Wires and
above lines, and of labor-saving methods and
Minneapolis the Wm. J. Dyer & Bro. and the
Shafting Cold Drawn
Cables
machinery, always welcome. Give fullest de-
Metropolitan Music Co. are two very high-grade
Steel
Rail Bonds
tails in your first letter, so as to save time.
houses that are doing an excellent business. They
For the guidance of intending suppliers, illus-
Bale Tires, Tacks,
Wire of Every
have a line of pianoj that will only appeal to a
trations of our factories, with full description
Nails, Staples, Spikes
Description
We Issue separate catalog (or each of these. Gladly furnished upon
of the work and method, may be inspected at
high-class clientele, and their success this year
application.
the office of our Agents upon presentation of
is very gratifying to themselves and their many
A m e r i c a n Steel & W i r e Co.'* Sale* Offices
business card.
CHICAGO.
72
West
Atoms
Street.
NEW YORK. JO Church Street.
friends in the trade.
WORCESTER, 94 Grove Street. BOSTON. 120 Franklin Street.
THE OUTLOOK FOR THE NEW YEAR IS VERY BRIGHT
AMERICAN
EL & WIRE
AMERICAN
PIANO WIRE
E P R E S E N T S the
most advanced ideas
in the blending, drawing
and finishing of metals
for perfect acoustic re-
sults.
" P e r f e c t e d " and
" C r o w n " brands.
BEALE&CO.,Ltd.
AUSTRALIA
AGENTS IN U. S. A.:
ILSLEY-DOUBLEDAY & CO.
Front Street
NEW YORK
"One of the most delightful visits on this trip
was the time I spent with C. W. Marvin, of De-
troit. Mr. Marvin is re-embarking in the piano
business after an absence of many years, and will
-undoubtedly make a noteworthy success. .He sold
pur pianos in great numbers twenty-five years ago
PITTSBURGH. Frlck Building. CINCINNATI. Union Trust Building.
CLEVELAND, Western Reserve Bldg. DETROIT, ford Building. ST.
LOUIS, Third Nafl Bank Bldq. MONTREAL. Bank ol Otlawa Bldg.
ST. PAUL-MINNEAPOLIS. Pioneer Building, SI. Paul. DENVER.
Firs) Nat'l Bank Bldg. SALT LAkK CITY, 736 South 3rd West Street.
United Statea Steel Products Company
EXPORT DEPARTMENT: New York. 30 Church Street
ParMIr Coast Department: San Francisco, Rlalto Building, Portland,
S i i i
d A i W
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