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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
DETROIT PRESS EXPOSES FRAUDULENT PRIVATE SALES.
C. A. Grinnell Denounces This Prevalent Evil—Stork Visits Home of W. H. Huttie- -Hudson
Store Being Improved—Association Meetings in Near Future—Other News.
(Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., February 14.—Buildings erected
tising three pianos and furniture and paintings.
When investigated, the usual condition was found
in Detroit recently provide housing accommoda- —he was a faker absolutely. There was no name
tions for 10,041 families. On the basis of three on the pianos, so that it was an easy matter for
persoris to a family, the new housing provides shel- him to misrepresent them to innocent buyers. "I
ter for 30,123 persons, or on the basis of five per- consider this one of the greatest evils existing
sons to a family, 50,205 persons. This gives the to-day," said C. A. Grinnell. "It is illegitimate
reader some idea of the opportunity given to local competition. It is a matter for the piano dealers,
piano dealers to sell goods.
as a body, to take up with the newspapers. The
W. H. Huttie, district manager, with headquar- newspapers should not be permitted to accept such
ters in Detroit, for the Starr Piano Co., Richmond, advertisements without first investigating. These
hid., announces the appointment of James Brather- fakers locate in the residence sections and make
ton as manager of the wholesale and retail talking believe they are about to leave the city, and they
machine department. He was formerly salesman keep on selling pianos week by week, getting their
at the Max Strasburg Shop.
victims through the want ad columns of the daily
Manager Huttie says this is going to be the best newspapers. The regular piano dealers pay enor^
year he ever had—there's a reason and a good one; mous rents, spend large sums with the newspapers
there is an incentive to work harder, and it isn't and do just as they advertise. This condition of
a cash incentive, either—it's a fine, big, eight-pound fake sales from private residences does not only
baby boy that arrived at, the Huttie domicile on exist in Detroit; the same thing applies all over
February 3. He has been named Charles Wilson the country. Something should be done by the
Huttie. Being the first baby visitor since Mr. piano dealers of every city and State to stop it.
Huttie got married six years ago, naturally there If only several hundred sales are made a year by
h the greatest joy in the family. Both Mrs. Huttie all of these fakers, it is taking that much business
and Baby Huttie are doing splendidly. The Review away from the regular piano dealers, who are en-
titled to it."
extends its congratulations and best wishes.
Miss Geraldine Grinnell, daughter of Mr. and
The mezzanine floor of the J. L. Hudson piano
Mrs. C. A. Grinnell, of Detroit, who is one of store in this city is being remodeled and doubled in
Detroit's youngest dancers, gave her Pirette dance size in order to facilitate the handling of the in-
at the black-and-white ball of the Hotel Statler creased office work, which comes as a result of
Monday night, February 14. The ball was for the increased business. Manager E. P. Andrew says
benefit of one of the hospitals. A goodly sum was February business so far is holding up very well—-
turned over to this benevolent institution.
that it seems easier to make sales than it has been
C. A. Grinnell, vice-president of Grinnell Bros., for some months.
left Sunday ,to spend a week in Philadelphia and
Recent visitors were: Fred C. Harlow, of the
New York, his main reason being to attend the Vose & Sons Piano Co.; F. B. Burns, scarf man;
meeting in New York of the National Piano Mer- Herbert W. Traver, vice-president the Autopiano
chants' Association, of which he is an ex-president. Co., of New York; Mark P. Campbell, of the
While in New York Mr. Grinnell will stop at the Brambach Piano Co., and'C. Alfred Wagner, of
Waldorf-Astoria.
the Musical Instrument Sales Co.
The Detroit News during the past week exposed
Max Strasburg, Wallace Brown and E. K. An-
in a two-column article, following an investigation, drew, of Detroit, president, secretary and vice-
the persons and firrqs who sell goods from private president respectively of the Detroit Talking
homes, such as pianos, furniture and bric-a-brac, Machine Association, will attend the banquet of the
advertising the same as second-hand. This prac- Cleveland talking machine dealers, to be held at
tice has been growing to bounds unknown during the Colonial Hotel February 24. Others from
the past year, and of late the persons have been Detroit contemplate attending this affair.
exceedingly bold. One man went so far as to rent
The Detroit Talking Machine Association will
the home of a leading physician, a mile from the hold its next meeting at the Hotel Cadillac March
heart of the city on the best thoroughfare, adver- 13. Meetings will be held regularly every second
Monday night.
W. H. Beach, of the Bush & Lane Piano Co.,
spent two days of the past week in Detroit. While
here he injected a lot of new "pep" into the sales
force and went fully into the mechanical construc-
tion of the "Cecilian" player, which is proving such
a huge success. "In all the years we have been es-
. tablished we have never had such good business,
and of course we lay it to our 'Cecilian,' although
it is a fact that all of our models are moving along
splendidly," remarked Mr. Beach while in Detroit.
I. L. Grinnell, president of Grinnell Bros., accom-
panied by Mrs. Grinnell and his two daughters, left
this week to spend the balance of the winter at
Daytona, Fla.
The Detroit Music Co., 288 Woodward avenue,
furnished a Hardman piano to the Lyceum Theatre
during the engagement of Serge de Diaghileff's
Ballet-Russe, February 11 and 12. The Hardman
piano is sold exclusively in Detroit by the Detroit
Music Co.
Smith,
Barnes
Victrola XVI, $200
Victrola XVI, electric, $250
Mahogany or oak
Other styles $15 to $400
Victor supremacy
is overwhelming
M usically, artistically,
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s u p r e m a c y is always
everywhere in evidence.
Its universal recog-
nition makes success
easy for every Victor
dealer.
and
Victor Talking Machine Co.,
Strohber
Company
Camden, N. J., U. S. A.
CHICAGO
Over 145,000 Pianos
in American Homes and
All Giving Satisfaction
MONEY MAKERS FOR THE DEALER
Write for Catalogue* and Prices
Smith, Barnes & Strohber Go.
1873 CJjbourn ATMUM
CHICAGO
A Leader tvith Talking Points that
Convince
OTTO WISSNER, Inc.
55 and 57 Flatbush Are.
BROOKLYN
Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal,
Canadian Distributors.
Important Warning.—Victor Records can be
safely and satisfactorily played only with Victor
Needles or 'rungs-tone Stylus on Victors or Victro-
Yietor Records cannot be safely played on
machines with jeweled or other reproducing points.