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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
PIANO MEN ESCAPE ORDINANCE.
PUZZLE SCHEMEJN BALTIMORE.
Outlook Is Steadily Improving—New Edison
Shop Opens—Baldwin Co. Cleaning Up—
Several Visitors in Town During the Week.
Action of Local Association Results in Having
Piano Dealers Exempted in Amended Ordi-
nance Covering Second-Hand Dealers.
Dealers
Gather
Together
to
Investigate
Methods of New Concern and Take Action if
Possible to Stop This Form of Advertising.
(Special to The Review.)
Through the efforts of the New York Piano
Manufacturers' Association ordinance 146, to amend
chapter 24 of the Code of Ordinances of the City
of New York, has been so changed that piano deal-
ers will not be classed as second-hand dealers in
the meaning of the law, which was passed by the
Board of Aldermen on Tuesday of this week and
will become effective on April 1.
As reported exclusively in The Review recently
the ordinance, a police measure designed to facili-
tate the tracing of stolen property, provided that
every dealer in second-hand goods pay a license
fee of $20—later amended to read $15—and keep a
record of all purchases and sales for the police.
Originally pianos were considered by the authori-
ties to come under the provisions of the ordinance,
but in its amended form the ordinance expressly
provides that it shall not apply to pianos, among
other things.
CINCINNATI TRADE IS EXCELLENT.
CINCINNATI, O., March 14. — Balmy springlike
weather, the first of the season and a fair amount
of business is putting the retailers in a very good
humor these days. The trade, from all appearances,
is in an unusually good condition. There has been
a fair volume of business in pianos of all grades
and the collection department appears to be satis-
fied with the manner in which coin is rolling in
from the consumer. Since the first of the month a
slight decline in the volume of orders has been
noticed by manufacturers, but they sort of welcome
this slight respite from the rush stage of several
months.
The Fourth street piano people are just com-
mencing to realize that new life is again being in-
fused in the block between Elm and Race streets,
where numerous vacancies have existed for many
months. Some new lines have located there, giv-
ing the block a much better appearance.
The Baldwin Co. yesterday started houseclean-
ing. When the question was first considered there
was a disposition to put in a new store front, but
this plan has been abandoned. There will be some
window changes. Thomas Phillips, of the St. Louis
branch, was a caller at headquarters last week.
Edward P. Mahoney, player expert, connected
with Kranich & Bach, spent several days at the
Otto Grau Piano Co. last week.
The Knabe-Crystola 'is now being featured at the
Smith & Nixon store, West Fourth street. An-
other item of interest in the talking machine field
was the opening of, the Phonograph Shop, First
Presbyterian Church Building, East Fourth street,
displaying Edison machines. The store, handsome-
ly equipped, was decorated with flowers during the
week, floral remembrances from friends, wishing
the new venture success.
The Smith & Nixon people are developing quite
a trade in changing 66-note players into the prevail-
ing type.
G. L. Mclntyre and Mr. Jenkins, of the Chicago
branch, and Stuart Perry, of the New York end of
the John Church Co., were in conference Thursday
wi'.h Frank A. Lee, president of the company.
The U. S. Band Instrument Manufacturing Co.,
Cleveland, with a capitalization of $10,000, has been
incorporated by C. A. Alexander, M. A. Copeland,
T. J. Moffett, O. E. Schulz and C. Verbsky.
SEGERSTROM CO^ASSETS SMALL.
In Circular to Creditors Receiver for Bankrupt
Concern Holds Out Little Hope of Satisfac-
tory Settlement—Good Assets Only $22,-
494.09—Case May Be Tried Next June.
(Special to The Review.)
MILWAUKEE, WIS., March 14.—According to a
circular letter recently sent out to the creditors of
the bankrupt Segerstrom Piano Manufacturing Co.,
or Menominie, Wis., by the receiver, John M.
Bradford, the really good assets of the concern
amount to only $22,494.09.
The statement which accompanies the letter
shows that the assets total $87,400.49 and the lia-
bilities $338,479.57. Of the assets $27,193.69 are
listed as "good," $9,115.25 as "doubtful," $27,967.68
as "with attorneys," and $23,114.87 as "no worth."
Of the cash balance of $22,494.09, which constitutes
the greater part of the "good" assets, $7,612.76 is
held in reserve to protect a 15 per cent, dividend
on disputed and secured claims.
The circular states that until litigated matters are
disposed of it-will be-impossible for the receiver to
close the estate. An action is pending in the United
States courts, commenced against the Commercial
Securities Co., of Chicago, to recover the sum of
$100,000 which it is alleged the Segerstrom Co. is
entitled to on account of securities held by the
FORD GIVES BONU^TO ORGAN MEN. Commercial Securities Co. It is expected that this
case will be tried in St. Paul next June. There is
Sends Checks to Entire Force of Estey Fac-
also an appeal pending in the Supreme Court of
tory in Appreciation of the Careful Work Minnesota in the case of the receiver against J. E.
Done by Them on Organ Built for His Use. Pulver, which probably cannot be argued until
:
late in the summer.
(Special to The Review.)
BBATTLEBORO, VT., March 13.—Every employe of
the Estey Organ Co. recently received a personal
J. R. CHESTNUT IN CHARGE.
check from Henry Ford, the automobile manu-
James R. Chestnut, recently appointed manager
facturer, which was sent them in token of the ap-
preciation which he felt of the keen interest taken of the Hext Music Co., Fort Collins, Col., reports
by the organ workers in the magnificent organ an excellent trade in the Chickering & Sons, Vose,
which the Estey concern installed in his home in Emerson, Crown, R. S. Howard, Playotone and
Detroit several months ago. The organ was spe- Price & Temple instruments carried by his store,
, daily made for Air. Ford, and can be operated which' is a branch of the Hext Music Co. of Den-
^either manually or automatically. When the in- ver. Mr. Chestnut was formerly in business for
stallation was finished Mr. Ford asked for a list himself in the piano line at Fort Worth, Tex., for
of>:the entire factory force, saying that he wanted many years.
to send a small bonus, to every one of them,
whether,they had actually worked on his organ McKANNON FEATURES KNABE PIANOS.
or not. The checks sent ranged from $5 to $20
The McKannon Music Store, of Denver, Col., de-
or mpre, according to the salary of the recipient.
voted
its entire window space to a display of the
The total amount of the checks is estimated as
Knabe pianos last week. A rosewood concert
being between $4,000 and $5,000.
grand, a mahogany Bab}' grand, a polished upright
Nelson D. Hosley, foreman in the Wilcox & and a small upright in dull mahogany finish were
White factory at Meriden, Conn., died recently at shown in the display. The firm reports a steadily
the ape of fifty-seven.
improving business.
WINTER & CO.
22ft SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NSW YORK
Manufacturers of
(Special to The Review.)
;
BALTIMORE, MD., March 14.—A plan is under s
way for an investigation by some of the Baltimore
piano dealers of a firm that recently opened in
this city and is using a prize puzzle contest scheme.
This firm is said to have been doing business in
a number of cities before coming to Baltimore.
Joseph M. Mann, of the Mann Piano Co., Cable
Company representative here, is taking the lead
in this investigation, and W. B. Turlington, man-
ager of the Sanders & Stayman Co., and George
Steiff, of the Charles M. Stieff Co., are also
working with Mr. Mann. Just what turn this
investigation will take at this time cannot be
forecasted, but the piano dealers of the city are
more strongly welded together than at any time
for many years with the view of eliminating the
so-called schemes from the business.
J. G. Corley, president of the National Asso-
ciation of Piano Merchants, will come to this city
from Richmond on Wednesday, and Percy S.
Foster, secretary of the association, will also be
here and give whatever assistance they can to the
local dealers.
One result of the present agitation may be the
formation of a piano dealers' association in Balti-
more, to bring the dealers more firmly together and
work for the general good of the trade.
AMERICAN PIANOJXVS GOOD YEAR.
Financial Report Shows Net Profit of $103,000
for Year—Surplus Now Amounts to $841-
809.92—A Splendid Showing.
Recent editions of the leading financial newspa-
pers and publications have carried a statement of
the American Piano Co.'s general balance sheet
dated December 31, 1915, which indicates the splen-
did business closed by this company during 1915.
After charging off some miscellaneous accounts
and setting up a reserve, the aggregate totaling
more than $40,000, and paying the usual dividends
on the preferred stock, the company showed a net
profit for the year of $103,000. This amount when
added to the general profit and loss account gives
a total surplus of $841,809.02.
THE REVIEW IS INDISPENSABLE.
HUNTINGTON, W. VA V March 10, 1916.
The Music Trade Review, New York.
Gentlemen—I herewith hand you check for re-
newal oi my subscription for The Review.
As I am wholesale representative for Bjur Bros.
Co., and call upon the dealers in West Virginia,
Kentucky and southern Ohio, I feel that I could
not get along very well without The Review.
Yours very truly,
I. E. Loos.
EXPORT BUYERS FORM ASSOCIATION.
Members of the National Association of Pur-
chasing Agents are forming an organization to be
known as the Export Buyers' League. The league
will be limited in membership to persons who buy
goods for export. It is proposed to hold luncheons
once a week where members may widen their ac-
quaintances and discuss business. Membership in
the new organization will carry with it a member-
ship in the Purchasing Agents' Association of New
York. One of the sponsors of the plan is F. M.
Moore, buyer for Alexander & Baldwin, Ltd., rep-
resenting Hawaiian sugar interests.
The Robert D. Sharp Music Co., in Denver, Col.,
is preparing to move to a new store, where more
room will be afforded for the display of pianos and
players.
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos