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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
9
MANN PIANO CO. TO HANDLE TALKING MACHINES.
Joseph M. Mann Discusses the Move—To Give Department Close Attention Without Neglecting
Piano Business—Testing Validity of Agreement—Steinways in Concert—News of Week.
(Special to 1 he Review.)
BALTIMORE, MD., March 29.—Piano business was
sort of flat with the trade in Baltimore during the
past week. In fact, some of the dealers expressed
the opinion that it appeared as though the bottom
hal dropped out. Yet there were a few sales made
in all of the houses.
Another straight piano house will shortly enter
the field of talking machines, for in the near future
the Mann Piano Co., the Cable Company repre-
sentative, will put in a department. In course of
an interview Joseph M. Mann, president of the
company, admitted he was about to put in talkers.
"There is no reason to sit by and cry about the
piano business falling off, as is the case in many
instances," said Mr. Mann, "but the thing to do is
to go out and get business. The cause is due to the
dealers, and, in fact, to the manufacturers them-
selves.
"As long as children are brought into this world
just so long will there be a demand for pianos, for
mothers and fathers will aways want to have their
children educated musically, and the greater per-
centage of parents turn to the piano.
"There is still another reason: the dealer has sat
idly by and watched the talking machine companies
push their product with wonderful advertising
campaigns, without taking a step to meet this ad-
vertising.
"And a still further reason for the decline is
the fact that wherever talking machines have been
added to the piano line the salesmen seize the op-
portunity to make the sale the easiest way possible.
Only a few days ago I was in one of the largest
stores in Connecticut, that had been doing a won-
derful business with talking machines at the ex-
pense of the piano. For a time the firm had a few
booths in the rear of the store, and as the talking
machine 'business steadily increased the booths were
continued until they now occupy almost all of the
store and the pianos occupy a very small space in
the rear. I know the dealer very well, and he told
me that he had just called his people together and
had given them a strong lecture on account of their
neglecting the piano business at the expense of the
talking machines. He admitted that he, too, had
given too much space and attention to the talking
machine at the expense of the piano.
"Now I want to say that I am going to put in
talking machines, but I don't intend to have the
piano business neglected; but 1 think if it is prop-
erly handled it will bring new business to the
house."
The Mann firm did a fair business during the
week, one of its sales being a $l,0U0 Conover player,
which was delivered on Saturday.
Charles J. MacHenry, of William Knabe & Co.,
reports that the iirm did a fair business during the
week. The company is selling a large number of
player rolls.
During the week a suit was filed in the Circuit
Court to decide the validity of an alleged agree-
ment under which Theodore Marburg, owner of
the property at Park avenue and Fayette street,
which is occupied by the Knabe concern, pays to
Ernest J. Knabe, Jr., and William Knabe $1,000 a
year out of the rental. The bill filed in court al-
leges that on December 29, 1908, the Knabes leased
the property to the American Piano Co. for twenty-
one years at $7,500 a year and expenses. The prop-
erty was then sold in fee to Mr. Marburg, it is al-
leged, and was subject to the lease. The court is
asked to decide whether this alleged agreement is
valid, and if it is, to whom the money should be
paid. It also is asked to decide if the lease itself
is valid.
A Knabe concert grand was used at the recital
given iby Harry Sokolove.
Sanders & Stayman Co., local representative of
the Aeolian Co., reports a fairly good business dur-
ing the week. A Steinway instrument was used
at the recital given at the Peabody Conservatory of
Music' by Olga Samaroff. Austin Conradi also
used one at a recital he gave at Lehmann's Hall.
Madame Samaroff paid a high compliment to the
Steinway instrument.
March proved the first month this year to show
a decline with Isaac Benesch & Sons, according to
Mr. Hexter, manager of the piano and music de-
partment. He said that March went behind the
month of a year ago, while both January and Feb-
ruary of this year are ahead of 1914. The three
months of the year, however, will show an improve-
ment over last year for the same space of time.
The Franz-Fink Talking Machine Co., of which
G. Fred Kranz is the head, made its first public
announcement of the enlargement of its talking
machine department with full lines of Victor and
Columbia goods. The firm has gold lettered signs
on its large show windows, and the new mission
booths are being put in readiness on the first floor.
Frederick Stieff, Jr., of the firm of Charles M.
Stieff, was in Atlantic City Tuesday, Wednesday
and Thursday. Upon his return George Waters
Stieff went to Atlantic City, returning to Baltimore
this morning. Charles J. Gross, superintendent of
the Stieff factory, is visiting Richmond, Norfolk
and Old Point Comfort on pleasure and business.
Last week Roscoe Steele, of the Stieff Norfolk
branch, visited the factory for the first time since
he became connected with the concern.
which can be installed in any grand or
upright piano, regardless of size or style,
without altering the case.
Write us for Further Information.
CHRISTMAN PIANO CO.
597-601 East 137th St, New York
Mahogany or oak
Other styles $15 to $250
Concentrate
on the Victrola
The Victrola is everywhere
acknowledged the supreme
musical instrument.
With genuine Victrolas at
$15, $25, $40, #50 and up to
the magnificent Victrola XVI
at $200 and #250, there is a
Victrola easily within the
reach of every home.
The public wants Victrolas
—and Victrolas only.
Victor Talking Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., U. S. A.
AGENCY HAS BEEN^ TRANSFERRED.
Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal,
Canadian Distributors.
The agency for the Mason & Hamlin piano
in Salt Lake City, Utah, has been transferred from
the Chamberlain Music Co. to the Beasley Music
Co., that city.
Always use Victor Machines with Victor Records
and Victor Needles—the combination. There is no
other way to get the unequaled Victor tone.
B. M. WICKERD CO. INCORPORATED.
TTie Christman
Attachable Player
Victrola XVI, $200
The ifertha M. Wickerd Co., of Fostoria, O.,
has incorporated with a capital stock of $10,000
to take over and conduct the business of the late
Bertha M. Wickerd.
TO PREVENT TIPPING.
A bill to prevent tipping, agitated by commerical
travelers' organizations, has been introduced in
the Senate in Wisconsin. The receiving of a tip,
according to the bill, is a misdemeanor, but the
giving of a tip is a felony. Under the state law
these degrees of crime are both punishable by jail
or prison sentences. A law was passed several
years ago imposing a $25 fine for tipping, but the
law was never enforced.