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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MARKED REVIVAL IN BUSINESS REPORTED IN DETROIT.
Trade Shows Much Improvement for Last Week in June—Better Terms the Rule—Numerous
Travelers in Town—General Summary of Conditions—Overstocked with Trade-Ins.
DETROIT,
(Special to The Review.)
MICH., June 29.—June,
in
its
last
week, has fulfilled the promise it made in its first
week of business. The revival which commenced
then in the music trade has made steady progress
and the piano merchants are beginning to believe
that it is permanent. More travelers are visiting
the trade than in several months. Most of them
report improved conditions in other States, but
all insist that Detroit is the best city for business
in the country just at present. It has been gen-
erally acknowledged that Detroit has felt the busi-
ness depression less than any other city in the
country. It entered the depression last of all,
and is emerging first, after o.nly a few months
of dulness. With most of the dealers March,
April and May were the only months in which
there was a noticeable slackening.
The traveling men take the sudden turn of
the tide here as a good augury for the rest of the
country.
Pianos and players of all grades are in demand
and good terms are being obtained. Several
months ago the dealers began to demand stiffer
payments as a matter of precaution. This may
have had something to do with the slackening of
sales. But the dealers are satisfied. They know
that what they have sold is likely to result in re-
possession or in difficulty in collection, and there-
fore has been a more profitable business than
weaker terms wo.uld have brought.
Fundamentally, the piano business of Detroit
is on a sounder basis than it was a year ago. All
of the big stores have been pushing collections—
either getting the money or repossessing the
pianos. With the country-wide cry of "hard
times coming," set up a year ago, they played safe.
They have learned the wisdom of their move and,
in consequence, are now more careful in their sales
than formerly. The only trade that has suffered
from it has been the cheap stenciled pianos. The
dealers have revoked enough unstable sales to
make a marked decrease in their merchandise ac-
count. They do not need new cheap pianos no.w.
Repossessions and trade-ins have giver them an
ample stock. The high-grade piano business has
not been harmed a bit. The only possible way it
could have been checked at all may have been in
the refusal to. allow high prices on trade-in
piano.s. That is only a feature of putting the busi-
ness on a sounder basis.
The dealers have taken a warning from the
slow moving of trade-in instruments. They have
become overstocked with them. Apparently this
branch of the business has reached a pass where
most people who want to buy at a low price do
not kno;w a good piano from a cheap one, and
prefer a new cheap piano to a second-hand high-
grade. Therefore special efforts are being made
to clear out the stocks of trade-ins now on hand,
and the amounts allowed on new sales are made so
lo.w that the second-hand instruments can be
moved, without much trouble, at a profit.
The piano men who accompanied the Detroit
Board of Commerce on its annual cruise did not
learn anything of business conditions in the North.
The entire time o.f the cruisers was devoted to
having 1 a good time—relaxation from business
cares. They happened to reach Duluth when the
June cold spell was at its height, and those of
them who had been so thoughtless as to provide
themselves with summer wear only had a shivery
time of it. E. P. Andrew and some of the o.ther
wise ones took along a full winter outfit—and
found it very useful.
S. E. Clark, secretary of Grinnell Bros.; Julius
C. Weiss, manager of the small goods depart-
ment, and James Vaughn, traveling representa-
tive of the same company, were in Muskegon all
the week attending the annual convention of the
State Music Teachers' Association. They are
officers of the association.
Fred Harlow, of Vo.se & Sons, was in Detroit,
this week, on his way home from a Western trip.
He reports a quickening of business in mo.st of
the cities he visited. The West is beginning to
feel the effects of the tremendous crops raised
this summer.
Other travelers to call on the trade were
"Jenny" Lind, of Holtzman & Co., of Columbus;
Jo.hn J. Clark, of the McPhail Piano Co.; Frank
Burns, of Burns Bros, and W. C. Heaton, of the
Autopiano Co.
F. RADLE, INCORPORATED
Now the Title of the Piano Manufacturing
Business Long Conducted by Eugene Radle
—Capital Is $75,000—Business Good.
Mitchell May,, the Secretary of State, on June
25, 1914, on application of Wentworth, Lowen-
stein & Stern, attorneys, 60 Wall street, filed the
certificate of incorporation of F. Radle, Inc. The
capital stock of the new company is $75,l>00.
Eugene J. Radle' is its president, treasurer and
general manager.
The corporation succeeds to the business which
was established in 1850 in New York by John
Radle, who conducted it down to his death in
1880. Afterwards it was conducted by his widow
to the year 1887, since which time it has been car-
ried on by Eugene J. Radle, who conducted the
business under the old trade name of F. Radle.
Mr. Radle states that the business is in a highly
prosperous condition, and that notwithstanding
the talk of hard times, his factory is very busy.
ASSOCIATION IN INDIANAPOLIS.
Efforts to Get Piano Men Together Not
Dropped—Action to Be Taken in the Fall—
Saturday Closing Now On—News of Week.
(Special to The Review.)
INDIANAPOLIS, IND., June 29.—Work on the pro-
posed organization of a local piano merchants asso-
ciation has not been dropped by Alfred T. Rapp, of
the Rapp-Lennox Piano Co., and William Carlin,
of the Carlin Music Co. Mr. Carlin is at wo.rk
preparing a set of resolutions touching on the
question of what the association expects to do,
what it stands for, and what benefits may be de-
rived from membership in it. These resolutions
will be presented at a meeting which is to be held
early in the fall. It is not expected that anything
will be done during the summer mo,nths.
The majority of the music houses in Indianapo-
lis closed at 1 o'clock Saturday afternoon. This
custom will be followed during July and August.
The stores will close at 5 o'clock every afterneen
except Saturday.
Paul H. Wagner, president o.f the Wagner Music
'Co., which is in the hands of J. L. Peters, receiver,
planned to be in Chicago this week. Mr. Wagner
was associated with Lyon & Healy for a number
of years.
The Carlin Music Co. experienced a slump in
business in June, as did the other music houses,
but all report that business in April and May was
very good.
FRIX CO. GRANTED A CHARTER.
The Frix Piano Co., Inc., Danville, 111., has been
granted a charter under the laws of Virginia. The
capital stock of the company is $10,000 to $25,000,
and the officers are G. W. Frix, president, and W.
C Smith, secretary and treasurer.
Veatch Bros, will -shortly open a new piano store
in Hutchinson, Kan.
WHITNEY & CURRIER CO. STAFF ENJOY OUTING.
Employes of Toledo Concern Spend Enjoyable Day at Put-In-Bay—Dancing, Games
a Chicken Dinner Among the Attractions—Vote of Thanks for Lewis H. Clement,
(Special to The Review.)
TOLEDO, O., June 27.—One of the most delightful
outings ever enjoyed by the employes of the Whit-
ney & Currier Co. was that which occurred last
Saturday, when the entire "bunch" boarded the
steamer "State of New York" for their annual
and
the steamer, which, of course, everyone was ready
for, because by that time a tremendous appetite
had been worked up, and later the crowd returned
to this city after a day of keen enjoyment.
It is hardly necessary to say that Lewis H.
Clement's kindness was responsible for the good
Photograph of Employes of Whitney & Currier Co. Taken in Front of Store,
outing to Put-in Bay. Dancing was enjoyed iboth
time, and the entire force tendered him a hearty
going and returning, and evidence was adduced
vote of thanks for his thoughtfulness.
that there were "some" dancers among those pres-
It is interesting to note that several customers
ent. While at Put-in Bay everyone explored the who found the store locked on Saturday came to
caves and several of the more nervy ones (piano _ the store on Monday and purchased pianos, say-
salesmen, of course), climbed to the top of Perry's
ing they had looked around on Saturday, but
mo.nument, which is not yet completed. At 5 would not purchase without at least looking at the
p. m. an excellent chicken dinner was served on
Whitney & Currier line.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, N E W YORK
Manufacturers of
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos