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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
WASHINGTON DEALERS TO ORGANIZE
AL. BEHNING SUCCEEDS H. W. HILL
NAEVE BROS. HAVE NEW HOME
Attempt Will Probably Be Made to Form an
Association Among Piano Men in the Capital
—Much Good Can Be Accomplished
Becomes Assistant Secretary and Treasurer of
National Piano Travelers' Association
Progressive Iowa Music Dealers Take Long
Lease on New Store—Will Add Several Lines
of Pianos—Feature Small Goods as Well
WASHINGTON, I). C, June 26.—According tc
statements made by several prominent music
dealers here, an attempt will shortly be made to
form an association among the concerns deal-
ing in musical instruments in this city. The old
piano dealers' association of Washington, while
never formally disbanded, merely passed out
of existence through failure to meet, and
through small differences of opinion which
arose from time to time among the members
of the association. The recent case of O. J.
DeMoll, who was sued by a music teacher for
a commission alleged to have been due, and
which was thrown out of court on the decision
that DeMoll was not indebted to the music
teacher, has shown the evident necessity for an
organization of some sort which will enable
the piano dealers of this city to combat success-
fully some of the evils which are more or less
prevalent in the trade to-day. Several dealers
have expressed their belief that an association
would enable them to eliminate the paying of
commissions to outsiders, and would also help
to standarize the procedure of charging interest
on time sales, to secure better results from the
amount of money expended for advertising
and to eliminate over-allowances on old pianos
taken as part payment. It is hoped that follow-
ing the convention held in Xew York last week,
some concerted action on the part of piano men
here will be taken towards the formation of an
organization, though at the present time no
definite plan has been suggested.
The executive committee of the National
Piano Travelers' Association has appointed Al-
bert Behning assistant secretary and assistant
treasurer of the association, succeeding Herbert
W. Hill, who resigned the position of assistant
secretary.
Mr. Rehning's appointment to the above po-
sitions will be welcome news to his host of
TO SETTLE WEGMAN BANKRUPTCY
Trustee Knapp Hopes to Wind Up Affairs of
Bankrupt Piano Firm by July 14—Compro-
mise Made With Commercial Credit Co.
Albert Behning
friends
in
the
piano
trade, who are unanimous
FOREIGN TRADE COUNCIL REPORTS
in' their praises of Mr. Behning's executive
Recommends Increases in Consular Salaries qualities. In fact, Mr. Helming is recognized
and the Widening of the Scope of Activity from Coast to Coast as the ideal type of asso-
on the Part of Those in the Service
ciation man who is willing at all times to work
WASHINGTON, D. C , June 26.—As a necessity for the betterment of the individual members of
of American preparedness for keener competi- of the trade, the associations and the piano in-
tion in world commerce after the war, the For- dustry as a whole.
The remarkable success of the New York
eign Relations Committee of the National For-
piano
conventions may be attributed in a con-
eign Trade Council, in a statement submitted
to Congress, urges appropriations to enable siderable measure to Mr. Behning's inde-
the President to offset the higher cost of liv- fatigable efforts, as he worked day and night
ing, due to the war, in lower-paid diplomatic to provide entertainment for the visiting piano
and consular posts, for purchase of buildings men and their ladies.
for the United States Consulate and other Gov-
ITALIAN EMBARGO ON PIANOS
ernment offices at Shanghai, a legation build-
ing at Panama and the Americanization of the
The Italian Government has placed an em-
consular service.
bargo on the importation of pianos, furniture
The committee urges legislation enabling and other luxuries, due to the difficulty in get-
consuls to travel more extensively through ting freightage on governmental supplies and
their districts and when at home, to visit in- the ordinary supplies of food and other absolute
dustries and gatherings of business men to necessities. This embargo will have no very
acquaint them with foreign trade oppor- serious effect on the piano trade as Italy did
tunities.
not import a very large amount of musical mer-
chandise before the war. American manufac-
MILLION DOLLAR MUSIC BUSINESS turers feel, however, that Italy will offer a fer-
tile field for missionary work in the musical
Figures for Past Year Show That Approxi- instrument line as soon as hostilities are over.
mately $1,000,000 Was Expended in Spring-
field, Mo., for Musical Instruments
WATKIN'S SEMI-ANNUAL REPORT
Si'RiNGFiEi.i), Mo., June 26.—A resume of the
music trade in this town during the past twelve
months published by a local paper shows that
1,455 pianos were sold at a price aggregating
$424,500 by representatives of six firms in this
city handling musical instruments. During the
same time talking machines to the number of
2,110 were sold, their value'totaling $227,750. It
is estimated that the other musical instruments
and sheet music sold here during the past year
would bring the total expenditure in the music
trade in that period close to a million dollars.
DAVENPORT, 1A., June 29.—The new home of
the Naeve Bros. Music House, at 220 Harrison
street, is one of the most up-to-date music stores
in the State. Increasing business forced this
concern to give up its lease on its old location
at 324 West Second street, a long term lease
having been taken on its new home. Hardwood
floors, new steel ceilings, an up-to-date lighting
system and artistic interior decorations, together
with demonstration booths for pianos, player-
pianos and talking machines, add to to the
beauty and usefulness of the new establishment.
Robert Naeve has been in the music business
for the past thirteen years, having started with
his uncle, Robert R. Smallfield, proprietor of
the Smallfield Music House. He has specialized
in recent years in the player-piano, in which line
he is a recognized expert. Norman E. Naeve is
in charge of the talking machine department,
and in addition supervises the small goods de-
partment, which is recognized as being the
largest west of Chicago. Plans are being made
for the addition of several new lines of high-
grade pianos and players, and a feature of the
new store is a complete repair department.
where repairs of all kinds are done.
AUHURN, N'. Y., June 26.—The next hearing
in the Wegman Piano Co. bankruptcy adjudi-
cation will be held here July 14, and it is the
hope of those interested that the affairs of the
concern will be in such shape that it will be
possible to complete the administration of the
estate. A 5 per cent, dividend was voted at
the last meeting of the creditors and it is pos-
sible that another dividend of a like amount
may be declared in the near future. The prin-
cipal thing which is now delaying the settle-
ment is the adjustment of claims of persons
holding leases and notes, all these claims be-
ing secured. Assets on hand now total nearly
$30,000, $22,000 being on deposit and several
thousand being added as a result of the last
hearing and settlements.
In making the first dividend of 5 per cent,
only about $10,000 of the available assets will
be distributed among some 200 unsecured cred-
itors, the rest being kept as an emergency fund
for the present. The claims of creditors total
about $200,000.
A compromise has been
reached with the Commercial Credit Co., of
Baltimore, which claimed title to notes and
leases totaling about $40,000. By the terms
of this settlement Trustee James M. Knapp is
allowed to keep $5,000 he has collected on
leases in dispute, and he will relinquish all
claim to leases claimed by the Credit Co. under
assignment made by the Wegman Co. The
Credit Co. is allowed to prove its claim against
the estate as an unsecured creditor in the sum
of $5,000, and participate in the dividend. The
concern will also pay $150 toward the expenses
of the reference of the entire matter to Irving
Bacon as special master.
DALLAS, TEX., June 26.—Robert N. Watkin,
secretary of the Will A. Watkin Co., music
dealer, made his semi-annual report as chairman
of the music committee of the- Dallas Chamber
of Commerce last week. The report shows that
Dallas has accomplished much in the way of PEASE CO. ENCOURAGES ENLISTMENT
musical advancement, all of which has had a
The Pease Piano Co., New York, is one of
helpful effect on the sale.of high class pianos the several concerns in the local piano trade
which has notified its employes that all those
in Dallas.
joining their regiments for service in Mexico
The Holmes Music Co., of Los Angeles, will receive full salaries while away and be
given their positions upon their return.
Cal., has gone into bankruptcy.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos