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THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
BUOYANT SPIRIT IN PIANO TRADE IN NORTHWEST.
HANDLE ENTIRE BEHN1NQ LINE.
Piano Merchants All Tell of Busy Times and Good Holiday Prospects—This Obtains Not Only
in the Twin Cities but Throughrout the State of Minnesota.
Field-Lippman Co. To Exploit Behning Pianos
as Well as Players—Factory Rushed and
Working Overtime to Meet Current Demands.
lieinrich Rousseau, traveling in the Middle West
for the A. B. Chase Co., characterized business con-
27.- -They're here—the good times that the business ditions and prospects as fine, and all the travelers
rren of the Northwest have awaited since they
who have "made" tae Northwest in the past made
were beaten out of their just deserts by the com- most encouraging reports. While the grain grow-
plications arising from the European war. Not a ers are likely to be disappointed in their hopes of
piano man in St. Paul and Minneapolis will file a obtaining war prices for their grain, the prices are
complaint with anyone about anything. In the sure to be above the average, and with the big
first place, they are too busy selling pianos and the crops everywhere the farmers should have mucn
other commodities allied to the music trades. Peo- spare money.
ple from the rural districts with pockets full of
There are some complaints after all, we recall
money are coming to town to spend it, and home now. Elmer A. Brooks, of the Brooks-Evans Piano
folks are talking about pianos and talking ma- Co., is out of Everett grands, and the Cable store
chines for Christmas week thirty days before the can't get the Solo Inner-Players. It is hoped,
day.
however, that relief is near.
Three Fotoplayers recently have been placed by
The past year mainly has 'been quite satisfactory,
W. J. Dyer & Bro., one for $2,200 in a Minneapolis
when the books are balanced and the figures stu-
died. W. J. Dyer, of W. J. Dyer & Bro., informed motion picture theatre, another for $3,500 in a Vir-
your correspondent that the volume of business for ginia theatre, and a third for $3,000 in a Duluth
the first five months of the house's fiscal year be- theatre. The Dyer recitals now are among the
ginning June 1 showed an increase of 20 per cent., regular musical events of St. Paul.
as compared with the corresponding period of 1915.
A representative, of the Gulbransen-Dickinson
/o!hin-W. Shaw, manager of the Cable Piano Co., of Chicago, is showing a line of instruments
Co.'s St. Paul stor%, said that the total sales for at the Andrews Hotel in Chicago. Only^'dealers
eleven months of 1915 exceeded by "$30,000 the ag- are desired.
gregate for 1914. No doubt other dealers could
W. E. Guylee, vice-president of the Cable Com-
relate similar tales were they equally frank.
pany, was in the Twin Cities last week on his pe-
But it is not only the Twin Cities that are pros- riodical visit, and doubtless found the situation
pering, for their country relatives are doing nicely. extremely to his liking.
(Special to The Review.)
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, MINN., November
OUR IMMENSE FOREIGN COMMERCE.
Trade for 19 15 Will Set New World Mark—
Indications Are That Total Exports and
Imports for Year Are to Aggregate $5,250,-
000,000—Figures Greater Than Britain's.
ATTRACTIVE TRADE LITERATURE.
Handsome Catalog Issued by the A. B. Chase
Co., Norwalk, O., Which Will Be Found
Most Valuable to Dealers and Salesmen.
At hand is the recent catalog issued by the A. B.
Chase Co., Norwalk, O. This contribution to trade
"'>
(Special to The Review.)
literature is one which will be found particularly
WASHINGTON, D. C, November 27.—Figures
valuable to representatives and salesmen handling
available at the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic
this high-grade product.
Commerce indicate that the total foreign commerce
On each right side page appears large reproduc-
of the United States for the year 1915 will set a
tions 5x6, showing the different models of the A. B.
new record.
Chase instruments in uprights, grands and player-
Tne ten months ending with October already set
pianos. On the opposite side appears a miniature
a new high record for American exports with an
of the same piano, showing the instrument in a
aggregate value of $3,318,6*4,636. The total ex-
home of taste and culture. With each appears a
ports in October were $334,638,578. If these figures
detailed description, accompanied by a well-known
hold up for November and December, as now in-
poetical quotation. The entire effect is strikingly
dicated, the total exports for 1915 will exceed
pleasing.
$3,500,000,000.
The color effects are harmonious, soft bronze
The aggregate value of imports into the United
States for the ten months ending with October being used as the dominating shade, while the va-
was $1,691,748,013, and the indications are that for rious styles of A. B. Chase pianos and Artistanos
the calendar year they may approximate $1,750,- are printed in a clear black, bringing out with dis-
000,000. This would make an aggregate of $5,250,- tinctness every detail.
This latest contribution to A. B. Chase literature
000,000 for exports and imports, a new high
is
cleverly written, admirably produced in every
record for any country, not even excluding Great
way, and is a credit to the house.
Britain.
Secretary of Commerce Redfield reiterated to-
day his conviction that there will not be a great
falling off in American exports immediately after
the close of the European war. Federal officials
look for a more or less protracted period of recon-
struction in the various belligerent countries then,
and believe the United States must furnish a large
part of the metal articles, railroad supplies and
similar material which will be required by the
warring nations.
INCORPORATED.
Among the incorporations filed with the Secre-
tary of State at Albany this week was that of the
T. Melzer Co., of Buffalo, for the purpose of doing
an instalment business in musical instruments, fur-
niture and other specialties. Capital, $20,000. In-
corporators : L., R. and I. Melzer, 1046 Broadway,
Buffalo.
TRADE COMMISSION WAITS.
Will Have No Recommendations at Opening of
Congress.
It has been announced by the Behning Piano
Co., 133d street and Alexander avenue, New York,
that the entire Beaning line of pianos and player-
pianos will now be handled by the Field-Lippman
Piano Stores, the headquarters of which are in
St. Louis.
A carload of instruments was shipped to St.
Louis last week, and the entire Behning line is be-
ing strongly featured by this well-known house.
The Field-Lippman Stores have for some time
handled with much success the Behning player-
piano, but not until now have they handled the
entire line.
The Behning factory has been working to ca-
pacity for the last two months, an overtime sched-
ule being in force the greater port of the time.
Besides this new connection with the Field-Lipp-
man Piano Stores, several other new agencies have
been established which give the company a strong
representation in various parts of the country.
Several innovations ajre now found incorporated in
the construction of the instruments, especially in
the Behning player, which has held an enviable
reputation for responsiveness, ease of operation
and general excellence.
PIANO MEN FAVOR PREPAREDNESS.
Three Manufacturers of the Bronx District De-
clare Willingness to Pay Employes While
Training in Militia.
Some time ago the New York Times sent letters
to many prominent business men, and particularly
manufacturers in New York, asking for their
ideas regarding the proposed organization of a
larger trained military force in the United States
a? an adjunct to the National Guard, and for which
the title "Continental Army" was suggested. The
inquiries were particularly designed to bring out
the attitude of the employer towards those of his
employes who took part in the new movement.
Among the piano manufacturers who replied by
letter, and whose replies were published in the
Times last Sunday, were W. L. Bjur, president of
Bjur Bros. Co.; I. E. Bretzfelder, president of Kra-
kauer Bros., and" H. F. Ricca, treasurer of Ricca
& Son, all of whom agreed that the idea of a Con-
tinental Army or an enlarged militia was a good
one and stating that they would be willing to grant
employes partial pay for time spent away from
work and in military training.
ACTIVITY WITH BUSH & LANE CO.
New Cecilian Players W i n Large Trade Popu-
larity—Sell Two More Victor Pianos to First
Church of Christ—Five in All.
(Special to The Review.)
HOLLAND, MICH., December 1.—The Bush & Lane
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, November 29.—Members of the
Piano Co., of this city, are very busy and the
factory is running to its fullest capacity. A very
Federal Trade Commission to-day indicated that
large portion of the demand is for players, and
that body will have no recommendation to make
the Bush & Lane Cecilian is more than fulfilling
to Congress for business legislation at the opening the expectations entertained for it. In fact, the
of the coming session.
company's letter files are simply full of letters ex-
It is probable that later in the session the com- pressing the enthusiasm of dealers over this re-
mission will make suggestions for preventing the
markable instrument.'
dumping of foreign-made products on the Amer-
The company has just received a letter from
ican market, and also with reference to the organ-
one of their dealers, which certainly marks some-
ization of co-operative selling companies intended
thing of a record in its line. It says: "Have just
to make possible the entrance of the United States
closed sale of the two Victor pianos on hand to the
into foreign trade competition on a large scale.
First Church of Christ, which makes five Victors
Neither of these problems are now ready for Con- and one Bush & Lane Grand to the same church
gress.
and one Victor to the minister."
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos