Music Trade Review

Issue: 1916 Vol. 62 N. 3

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
GIVES DINNERJTO EMPLOYES.
INVESTIGATING DEATH OF SHAW.
Wainwright Music Co. Follows Annual Custom
and Entertains Employes—Some Interesting
Talks Made by Members of the Staff.
District Attorney's Office Believes Old Music
Dealer Met with Foul Play—Police, However,
Decline to Take the Murder Theory Seriously.
The death of Walter A. Shaw, which occurred
in his music store at 2193 Seventh avenue, this
nual custom, the Wainwright Music Co. enter- city, is being investigated by the Homicide Bureau
tained its employes with a dinner at the Belleyue of the District Attorney's office. 'Mr. Shaw was
found unconscious in the rear room of his shop,
Ho'tel on the first of the year. Covers were laid
for sixteen, and the menu was a most delicious and died shortly after being removed to the Har-
one and greatly enjoyed by the following: Mr. lem Hospital. His skull was fractured, and the
and Mrs. W. E. Wainwright, Mr. and Mrs. C. W. police, who first investigated the circumstances
Wainwright, of Malta; Mr. and Mrs. R. O. Eaton, surrounding his death, declared that the injury had
Mr. and Mrs. Geo. C. Greene, Mr. and Mrs. C. L. been caused by a fall against the office safe, fol-
Bowers, A. E. Barbour, H. D. Edgar, F. O. Rice, lowing an attack of apoplexy.
Clyde Scott, Mrs. Myrtle Best and Miss Flossie
Medical Examiner Otto H. Schultze performed
Schofield.
an autopsy on the body of the aged music dealer,
and discovered, in addition to a compound frac-
After the dinner the party repaired to the third
floor of the Wainwright store on Putnam street, ture of the skull, that there were several abrasions
where a very enjoyable program was carried out, on the body, which seemed to indicate that the
consisting of music, talks by the salesmen, recita- old man had been struck several times with a blunt
tions 'by Anne Marie Wainwright and Dorothy instrument. Four witnesses have been subpoenaed
Wainwright. The main talk of the afternoon was to tell what they knew of Mr. Shaw and his habits.
made by W. E. Wainwright, the manager. He
The police in Harlem decline to take the murder
outlined the work for the year and reviewed the theory seriously, as they maintain that the dead man
work of 1915 in a very satisfactory manner. A
was known to be in very moderate circumstances-
number of the employes gave interesting talks and
The safe against which his body was found con-
iNew Year's toasts. The occasion was one of the tained nothing but old papers and books, and no
most enjoyable yet held by this growing concern. attempt had been made to take the watch and
money which were found on the body. Mr. Shaw
was eighty-one years of age, and had been in the
BUYS THREE A.JB^CHASE GRANDS.
musical instrument business for many years.
(Special to The Review.)
MARIETTA, O., January 10.—Following the an-
Nathan Ford Sells Leading Pianist of Freeport
Two of Them at One Sale—First Instrument,
Purchased Six Years Ago, Still Satisfactory.
(Special to The Review.)
ROCKFORD, I I I . , January 10.—Nathan Ford, agent
for the A. B. Chase Co., holds the unique record
of having sold three grand pianos to the same cus-
tomer. Six years ago Miss Clara Dorman, of
Freeport, 111., daughter of a prominent banker
there and one of the leading pianists of her city,
purchased an A. B. Chase grand piano from Mr.
Ford, which she declared is better to-day than it
was the day she bought it. Recently she decided to
get two grand pianos of the same design for duet
purposes, and Mr. Ford naturally received the or-
der for the same.
The two grands are unusually beautiful in tone
and appearance, being finished in handsome Afri-
can mahogany of unique figure and rich color.
They are said to be the finest pianos ever sold in
Freeport, and bring the total number of instru-
ments sold there by Mr. Ford to thirty-eight.
MUSICAL BURGLAR TUNES PIANO.
(Special to The Review.)
FOSTER=ARMSTRONQ CO. WINS SUIT.
Employe's Damage Suit Finally Decided in
Favor of Piano Co.—Was Five Years Old.
tested damage suit has been won by the Foster-
Armstrong Piano Co., according to the decision
handed down by the Court of Appeals at Albany.
The appeal was taken by Nelson Bodette from a
decision of the Supreme Court, which was upheld
by the Appellate Division denying he had a cause
of action against the piano company. The suit
grew out of an accident in 1910 in the factory of
the defendant company in East Rochester.
Bodette was stringing the frame of a piano when
a wire snapped and struck him in the eye. He
sued and was given a verdict of $5,000. ' Frederick
T. Pierson, who appeared for the piano company,
appealed and the Appellate Division set the verdict
aside and ordered a new trial. On the second
trial the Foster-Armstrong Co. won, and that
verdict has been affirmed by both the Appellate
Division and the Court of Appeals, Mr. Pierson
arguing before both courts for his client.
MORE PIANO SALES
LESS WORK
Price $5
Order from the author
H. M. ELDRIDGE, Jr.
Mgr. Winter Piano Co.,
HARRISBURG, PA.
Secretary of Commerce Redfield and the direc-
tors of the American International Corp., the $50,-
000,000 concern organized a few weeks ago to
develop the country's foreign trade and foreign
investment, met at luncheon at India House, New
York, late last week and agreed that co-operation
between the Government and business is desirable.
Frank A. Vanderlip, president of the National
City Bank, speaking on behalf of the directors of
the company, said there always had been co-opera-
tion between the Government and business, but
that it was not of the right kind.
UDELL DISPLAY XJ GRAND RAPIDS.
Showing Full Line at the Klingman Furniture
Exhibition Building, with Tom Griffith in
Charge—Visits from Out-of-Town Dealers.
For the next two or three weeks Tom Griffith,
sales manager of the Udell Works, Indianapolis,
Ind., is to be at the display space of Udell fur-
niture at the Klingman Furniture Exhibition
Building, Grand Rapids, Mich. The Udell Works
is one of the factors of the furniture industry of
Grand Rapids, dealers coming from distances as
far away as several hundred miles to see the cab-
inets made by the house.
The Triumph
of the
(Special to The Review.)
ROCHESTER, N. Y., January 10-—A much-con-
COPAKE, N. Y., January 10.—In partial return
for the loot he collected, a burglar of evident mu-
sical taste tuned and repaired a piano in the home
C. C. HOLCOMB^QETS $100.
of Arthur Byington here. Four broken piano
strings were repaired and the piano put into tune Wins First Prize Offered by the E. E. Forbes
Piano Co. for Largest Sales Record of Year.
when Mrs. Byington tried it. Surprised, she
looked around, and found the house had been
(Special to The Review.)
robbed of two rifles, two suits of clothes and orna-
BIRMINGHAM, ALA., January 10.—At the begin-
ments worth $150, altogether. Copies of music
ning of last year the E. E. Forbes Piano Co.
the thief had evidently tried over were left on the
offered a prize of $100 for the salesman who
piano.
should do. the largest volume of business during
the year. This prize was won by C. C. Holcomb,
who led the sales force at all times during the
last twelve months in the amount of business done.
In presenting him with the award last week, the
officers of the company roundly congratulated Mr.
Hard Work Never Made Anyone Rich
Holcomb on his success, and expressed their hope
The Boss arrives at the shop last and leaves first.
that the present year would see a continuation of
The Janitor arrives first and leaver last.
his good fortune.
The answer, "Brains."
What do you know?
I sold $20,000 worth of pianos in December from my
Harrisburg store without an outside call.
Are you interested?
My book, "How to Sell Piano3," will let you on the
inside.
NEW TRADE MOVEMENT APPROVED.
Secretary
Redfield Gives Indorsement to
Plan of American International Corp. for
Developing Foreign Trade and Investment.
J. D. PEASE PREDICTS PROSPERITY.
John D. Pease, president of the Pease Piano
Co., is quoted among many other prominent busi-
ness men and financiers of this country who were
interviewed on the prospects for 1916 by the New
York American. M!r. Pease says that he believes
the outlook for the future is very good indeed,
not only in the piano industry, but in all lines of
industry.
American Tone
AWARDED
The position won by the
American Steel & Wire Co.
demonstrates clearly how
right, in the end, must tri-
umph over prejudice.
The high tension cry of
years ago has entirely sub-
sided, and America's great
wire manufacturing com-
pany, by continuing its
campaign of education, has
finally won the piano trade
to see the correctness of its
position.
Gradually America's
leading piano manufacturing con-
cerns have accepted the American
standard and artists and amateurs
are now thinking less of the high ten-
sion idea and more of beauty of tone
than ever before.
The special brands of the American
Steel & Wire Co.—the "PERFECT-
ED" and "CROWN"—were the out-
come of an ever alert anticipation—
anticipation backed by the ability to
know—the ability to fight undeviat-
ingly for the maintenance of correct
principles. For years it clung relig-
iously to an ideal, in the face of the
most discouraging opposition, and
now the whole, world recognizes its
triumph, which has resulted in giving
a purer musical tone than ever before,
and in showing that art is oftentimes
concealed by art.
American Steel & Wire Company
Chicago, New York, Worcester, Cleveland, Pitts-
burgh, Denver. Export representative: U. b. Steel
Products Co., New York. Pacific Coast representa-
tive: U. S. Steel Products Co., San Francisco, Los
Angeles, Portland, Seattle.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
theme of his address was "Inspire for Greater
Achievement and Grasping the Present Oppor-
Some Comparisons with Trade in January—Death of Colonel Bill Regretted—To Hold Salesman- tunity." It was positively the best talk ever given
ship Congress—New Hallet & Davis Manager—Detroit Piano Co.'s New Quarters.
before the club, and it must have left an impres-
(Special to The Review.)
The reports made by piano dealers to The Re- sion with every member. Dr. Rice has a way of
DETROIT, MICH., January 10.—It is interesting to
view correspondent last week were to the effect saying things that canont fail to take hold. His
compare business conditions for the first ten days that 1916 was starting out very well and that buy- address was a rare treat, and the members afe still
talking about it. There was an attendance of
of January this year with a year ago. As every- ing seems unusually brisk.
body will remember, this country was in a very
The news of the death of Col. Edward Lyman ninety members at the meeting, which was held at the
unsettled state of affairs from the effects of the Bill, editor of The Review, was received in De- Hotel Charlevoix and preceded by a steak dinner.
European war. Business men and manufacturers troit with the greatest feeling of sorrow, for he The entertainment program was unusually good,
in all lines were trying to figure out how seriously had a wide circle of friends in this section of the the principal numbers being rendered by the Es-
pagnol Guitar Club, Stephen Budd, Mrs. L. A.
the war would affect their particular trade, and for country.
that reason they were buying and selling very con-
As the result of a meeting of leading sales man- Grayson, and Miss Gertrude M. Quay, all members
servatively. In Detroit business was so bad that agers and executives of Detroit, held recently, plans of the organization.
for the first time in the history of the city soup are being made to hold what will be known as the
Frank B. Johnson, of Detroit, has been granted
kitchens were established for the unemployed. The World's Salesmanship Congress in Detroit during a patent on an automatic lighting attachment for
number of men out of work was enormous. Many July of this year. Every country in the world will phonograph cabinets.
factories were working half time. But this Jan- be represented in the congress. Such men as Hugh
Fred Rice, formerly with the player department
uary no such condition exists. Instead of soup Chalmers, president of the Chalmers Motor Car at Grinnell'*, Detroit, is now in charge of the Hallet
kitchens and men out of employment, every factory
Co.; Norval A. Hawkins, sales manager of the & Davis agency located in the Leonard Warehouse
is busy on standing orders, the word "unemployed" Ford Motor Co., and John Wanamaker, of New Building, Grand River avenue and Fourteenth
is seldom heard, wages are higher, and everybody York, have offered their co-operation and support street. He succeeds Howard Miner, who resigned
is prosperous. Piano dealers, therefore, are a great to make the meeting a huge success.
some time ago to become associated with the Bush
deal more pleased this year, even though they ex-
& Lane Detroit store.
Rev. Dr. M. S. Rice, of Detroit, a minister of
pect that sales will fall off materially during the first national prominence and one of the greatest ora-
The Detroit Piano Co. has moved from the Val-
month of the new year. But even normal condi- tors in this neck of the woods, was the attraction pey Building to 73 Broadway, where a store 20 feet
tions this January would be a whole lot better than at the January meeting of the Goodfellowship wide and 110 feet deep, as well as a large basement
conditions last January.
Club, comprising Grinnell Bros, employes. The for storage, is occupied. The ( company is on the
best side of the avenue and in a particular spot
destined to become a busy thoroughfare. The De-
troit Piano Co. started business about four years
ago and leased space on one of the upper floors
of the Valpey Building. It built up its business
slowly and conservatively. The fact that in four
years it has grown sufficiently to increase its selling
force and to move from an upstairs store to the
first floor on one of the main business streets is
proof of its progress in the piano industry. The
present firm comprises F. M. Ramsdell, president,
and J. J. Baust, secretary. The lines handled are
Mehlin, Emerson, Winter & Co., Emerson electric
and Cable-Nelson. Talking machines are also han-
dled, although this is not a part of the business
which is being pushed at the present time. Presi-
dent Ramsdell says December business was the
MOTO-PLAYO BENCH O P E N . ^ ^ g U J I I ^ ^ M ^
adjusters
best in the history of the company, and expects a
substantial increase in 1916.
At a meeting of the Buyers' and Managers' Club
of the J. L. Hudson Co., Detroit, it was announced
that the total amount of business transacted in
December was $1,200,000. E. P. Andrew, of the
piano department, is secretary of the club, which
meets every month to discuss sales and promotion
plans.
The Starr Piano Co. has sold a player-piano to
p l a y e r it is, t h e DOORS REMOVED, SHOWING
John Weiler, which will be used in his new con-
HOW CURRENT IS APPLIED.
fectionery, bakery and restaurant building, in
course of erection on Broadway, and which will be
opened shortly. Manager Huttie, of the Starr
branch in Detroit, says 1915 was all he could ask
for, and he naturally is inclined to be optimistic
about 1916.
NEW YEAR MAKES FINE START IN DETROIT TRADE.
Simple, Isn't It?
All you have to do is push it under
the keybed, adjust and fasten it,
turn on the current and away she
goes. It's so sim-
ple it is hard to
believe it.
Patent tension
It Makes
fl
No
Difference
What make of
"Moto-Playo"
Bench (patented) makes an electric
home player out of it and as for the
results—well, you should hear it play
with hand-played roll.
USED AS THE ORDINARY BENCH.
DEALERS WHO CAN QUALIFY GET A BIG ENOUGH DISCOUNT ON THE RETAIL
PRICE OF $55.00 TO GIVE THEM A FINE PROFIT
Send for Details to
CONSERVATORY PLAYER-ACTION CO.
32 E. Monroe St.
SOLE MANUFACTURERS
CHICAGO
TRADE LOSS WITH ECUADOR IN 1914.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, January 8.—A consular re-
port of trade with Ecuador during 1913 and 1914,
just made public by the Chamber of Commerce,
shows that the importation of musical instruments
into that country suffered a loss of approximately
$25,000 worth in 1914, when only $44,499 worth of
musical goods was imported. The figures for 1913
are given as $()9,G70 in this line.
Two-bits is a popular price for popular Excello Rolls. Ar-
rangement, cutting, boxing, etc., OK. Music roll perfection at
100% degree. Special offer: 6 rolls, $1, with catalog, terms,
etc. Send for it today.
MUSIC
ROLLS
THE HERBERT CO., 179 Chestnut Street, Newark, N. J.

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