Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
16
REVIEW OF PIANO TRADE CONDITIONS IN BALTIMORE.
While the Volume of Business for Year Was Not
Excellent and Dealers Are Imbued
(Special to The Ktview.)
BALTIMORE, MD., December 29.—While the holiday
rush brought up the December business with many
dealers it failed to be sufficiently large to make up
for the general deficiency of 1914 as compared with
1913 in the piano business in Baltimore. None of
the many dealers in pianos did the same volume of
business in the past year, but those dealers, who
also handle the talking machines saved themselves a
deficiency through this department.
The closing year was only fair with most dealers,
many admitting that they had suffered a loss, which
they attributed in some measure to the general state
of the country's finances, while others had no hesi-
tancy in saying that the "Talker" had wrought al-
most as much trouble.
There is a general belief that had not the dealers
resorted to heavy advertising in the closing days
of the holiday rush it would have been disastrous
for them. The department stores with the piano
departments in a measure aided in stimulating the
trade in the instruments both in the piano and the
player.
"It was a grand rush at the closing of last week,"
was the comment of G. Fred Kranz, of Kranz-
Smith Piano Co., "but even that rush, which did
much to bring up December business in no way
made it possible to bring our 1914 business up to
1913. Our talking machine business was great," he
continued, "and we have not been able to complete
all our orders. Another thing, we did the largest
sheet music business in the ten years this depart-
ment has been in our establishment."
Lee Anderson, local manager for William Knabe
& Co., stated that the business continued with a
rush to the end and even on Saturday when the
store was practically closed a couple of sales were
made to persons who happened to be downtown.
The firm continued its advertising of the past two
weeks in Sunday's papers and are holding their
special club offer open until the close of the month.
The year's business has not been compared as yet.
but it is not believed that it will come up to the
previous year.
Sanders & Stayman, who are the Steinway rep-
resentatives here, are very well satisfied with the
month's business, and think the year will make a
pretty fair showing.
The Hub Piano Co. has added the Milton to its
line. They also carry the Christman and the Smith
& Barnes. Their business was fair for the month.
They also carry talking machines and report a rec-
ord business in this department. A heavy sale of
records in which dance music predominates, and
music rolls for the players is reported.
I. S. Cohen, of Cohen & Hughes, Int., reports
only a fair business in pianos for the month of
December and does not expect the year to be near-
ly as good as 1913, although there was a large in-
crease in the sale of players. The firm is one of
the distributers of the Victrola, and they report a
record business in this department.
J. P. Caulfield & Co., representatives of the Soh-
RUDOLF
PIANOS
are conscientiously made,
good instruments; in other
words, the sweetest things out.
RUDOLF PIANO CO.
172 But UTth St.
NEW YORK
the talk of the trade that has been coming in here.
1 know of many sales of Victrolas that were made,
Equal to That of 1913, December Business Was
because if I carried the line I would have sold
with a Strong Optimistic Feeling.
them myself, but I am sticking to the piano and
player
line, and think there is yet much business to
mer and Vichord, did a fair closing business for
the month of December. Yesterday they completed be had in it."
Isaac Benesh & Son carried a big piano spread
two sales, which had been hanging fire for more
than a week and this brought up the month's busi- in their general store advertisement of a page in
ness to a pretty fair showing compared with Decem- the Sunday papers. Besche Bros, made a special
feature of the Wagner pianos in a neat and attrac-
ber of last year.
tive ad in Sunday's papers.
Hammann-Levin Co., through Mr. Levin, report
Mr. Walker, of Charles M. Stieff, went to Harris-
only a fair piano business for the month, despite an
increase of sales toward the close of December. burg, Pa., on Saturday and will spend several days
The p : ano business for the year was below that there looking over the Stieff branch.
Lee Anderson, manager of William Knabe &
of 1913. "We did a great business Christmas month
Co., here, spent the Christmas holidays with his
however," said Mr. Levin, "but it was the Victor
family at Tacoma, near Washington, D. C, and re-
that did it. Victor business led everything else."
H. D. French, of the H. D. French Piano Co, turned to his post Monday afternoon. Charles
who represent the W. W. Kimball Co., in this city, McHenry, chief salesman of the Knabes here, took
left Baltimore for Chicago Christmas eve to visit a party of friends on a trip into Western Mary-
his family. He will be gone about ten days, and land over the holidays.
A great run was made on Tipperary in all sheet
during that time will visit the Kimball factory.
Joseph M. Mann, of the Mann Piano Co., said IK 1 music departments Kranz-Smith Co.'s sheet music
was pretty well satisfied with the December busi- department report a record sale of its music books.
One of the William Knabe & Co.'s pianos is be-
ness due to the closing rush. Continuing he said:
"I don't think there is a straight piano house that ing used this week in the chapel scene of Hall
made any money in 1914. Those firms that carry Caine's "The Christian," which is being presented
the talking machines on the side managed to bring this week by the Poli's Players at Poli's Auditorium
here.
up their gross business. I am sure for I can tell by
AEOLIAN HALLJiLEANINGS.
KURTZMANN FACTORIES BUSY.
Christmas Trade Up to Expectations—Trade
Stimulated by Effective Advertising—Some
Notable South American Visitors—Export
Trade Continues to Expand.
Buffalo Manufacturers Hard at Work Meeting
Demands for Piano and Player-Pianos—
Bison Head in Warerooms Attracts Notice.
"Our Christmas trade was fully
ap to expectations," said H. B.
Schaad, assistant manager of the
Aeolian Co., New York. "Consider-
ing general business conditions our
showing for December was most
encouraging, and as we had set no
minimum for our sales totals for
the month, notwithstanding the com-
mercial depression, the fact that
our Christmas business fulfilled all
expectations is very gratifying. We realized that
it would be necessary to stimulate trade consider-
ably more than usual this fall and winter, and the
favorable response to our efforts is reflected in the
satisfactory holiday business we closed." •
Adolfo Roth, Sanitary Commissioner of Argen-
tine Republic, with headquarters in Buenos Aires,
was a caller at Aeolian Hall this week. Mr.
Roth is an enthusiastic admirer of the Pianola,
having owned a Weber Pianola for some time. On
the occasion of his last visit to this country, some
ten years ago, he visited the old Aeolian Hall at
362 Fifth avenue, and the memories of this visit
were so pleasant that he decided to call at the
new Aeolian Hall. The Aeolian concert hall in
particular won the Commissioner's admiration,
and he was impressed with the simple dignity that
characterizes every detail of the furnishings.
G. C. Wells, treasurer of the Knight-Campbell
Music Co., Denver, Col., visited New York this
week, calling at Aeolian Hall. Mr. Wells' com-
pany handles the Steinway Pianola in its territory,
and through the use of aggressive sales methods
in the right direction have closed a very good
business with this high-class instrument.
Miss Lucy A. Goldsmith, head of the Aeolian
export department, is well pleased with the export
status of Aeolian trade, as shipments to Latin-
American countries have kept up amazingly well
considering general conditions. Miss Goldsmith
states that all reports from the Latin-American
business centers indicate a steady improvement in
commercial and financial circles in that part of the
world.
Within the next fortnight, the Aeolian Co.'s
concert department will present a number of novel-
ties as part of the regular Pianola concert season,
which will, undoubtedly, attract considerable atten-
tion in musical circles. These novelties will be
offered in addition to the school and suburban
work planned by the department.
BUFFALO, N. Y., December 29.—The three factor-
ies here of C. Kurtzmann & Co. are working over-
time here to keep up with the brisk trade, are latest
reports. More than 300 men in plants and stores
are employed by the Kurtzmann interests during
the Christmas season, and have been working
steadily since.
Pianos, player-pianos and baby grands are being
turned out in abundance. The factories are: One
at Niagara and Pennsylvania streets, another at
Seventh and Hudson streets, and the third at Hud-
son and Pennsylvania streets.
The head of a bison or buffalo exhibited in the
window of the Kurtzmann salesrooms, is attract-
ing considerable attention here. It is a magnificent
specimen of the national animal, and was the larg-
est buffalo ever shot in the State of Montana. The
bison head came from the Flathead reservation
there.
(Special to The Review.)
VISITING NEW ORLEANS.
John J. Schwab, son-in-law of Francis Connor,
the New York piano manufacturer, left on Wednes-
day for New Orleans, La., where he will spend a
week or so visiting his many friends in that his-
toric citv.
AEOLIAN CO. SECURES DRAWBACK.
A drawback allowance on the exportation of pi-
anos and player-pianos manufactured by the
Aeolian Co., New York, with the use of imported
piano keys, has been granted by the Treasury De-
partment.
Champion Meyer's piano store, Williston, N. D.,
was destroyed by fire recently, causing a loss esti-
mated at $10,000.
THE
HOLLAND
PIANO
MANUFACTURING CO.
Makers of Pianos and
Player Pianos
Factory:
Menoxnoota, Wla.
Offices and Wareroomat
Metropolitan Life Bid*.