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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SEND OUT COPIESOF ADDRESSES
Talks of Dr. Rumely and Prof. Fleck at June
Conventions Prepared in Booklet Form and
Sent to All Piano Manufacturers by Commit-
tee on Trade Advancement
SEVERE FIRE jlNGRAND RAPIDS
Grand Rapids Electric Piano Co. Sustains Loss
in Recent Conflagration
GRAND RAPIDS, MICH., August 14.—The Grand
Rapids Electric Piano Co. sustained severe loss
in a $10,000 fire which occurred last week in the
Braudy Building, 335 Monroe avenue. The of-
fices on the fifth floor and the storeroom on the
second floor both suffered. The exact loss has
not yet been estimated as it is impossible to
ascertain at the present time the damage done
to pianos by fire and water. A large stock of
pianos and other electrical musical devices was
in the building, however, and the loss will be
fairly large. Firebugs are believed to have
been responsible for the fire, although Fire Mar-
shal Geo. T. Boughner states that the blaze
may have been caused by a short circuit in an
electric meter box.
The committee on Trade Advancement of the
National Piano Manufacturers' Association sent
out to all the piano manufacturers of the coun-
try, a booklet containing the addresses of Ed-
ward A. Rumely and Prof. Henry T. Fleck, de-
livered before the Manufacturers' Association
and the National Association of Piano Mer-
chants at their conventions in June. The book-
let is accompanied by a letter signed by the
members of the committee, B. H. Janssen, E.
B. Bartlett, R. W. Lawrence, J. A. Coffin, Geo.
A. Gibson and F. W. Teeple, in which is given
a short report of the committee's work and a
plea for moral and particularly financial sup-
port, in order to carry their work to comple-
THIS FISH STORY IS TRUE
tion. The amount subscribed may be paid in
four instalments, a certain amount in cash and Piano Men Make Good Catch at Lake Cobbes-
further amounts on October 1, 1916 and on
contee, and Can Prove It!
January 1 and April 1, 1917.
As a rule, fishermen's tales meet with very
little credence among the friends of the sports-
ITINERANTS MUST BE LICENSED
men. In order to remove all doubts and prove
Measure Now Before San Diego City Council to their "many friends and acquaintances that
Provides That Temporary Merchants Must their "fish" stories were absolutely "on the
level," the group of piano men in the accom-
Pay a License Fee of $50 Per Day
panying illustration had their photographs
SAN DIEGO, CM.., August 14.—A. 1). LaMotte, snapped in company with one of their star
manager of the Thearle Music Co., who is also "catches."
at the head of the Merchants' Association of
I'ass and pickerel are the members of the finny
San Diego, has presented to the City Council tribe which fell victims to these piano disciples
a measure providing that every itinerant mer-
chant who comes here to do business shall pay
a license fee of $50 a day. This proposed plan
will practically eliminate the "fly-by-night"
merchant who comes into a town, opens a
temporary store, indulges in some extravagant
advertising, "cleans up" on his proposition and
then leaves town. The licensing of itinerant
and- temporary merchants is not a new idea, as
it is in effect in many different localities of the
country, and it has been found to be of real
protection to the local merchant and to the Proof That Piano Men Are Good Fishermen
citizens of the town, as it protects them against, of Sir Izaak Walton, and judging from the ex-
the low class of goods that is usually handled pression of contentment evident on all hands,
by itinerants. The measure will doubtless be Lake Cobbescontee, in the wilds of Maine, is a
real "happy hunting ground" for piano fisher-
passed by the council.
men.
Reading from left to right the members of
ENTERTAINS BRANCH MANAGERS
the party shown in the photograph herewith are:
Visit to Niagara Falls Part of Program Ar- C. M. Avery, manager, Parkinson Piano House,
Providence, R. 1.; the guide; H. J. Schafer, sec-
ranged for Stranburg Branch Managers
retary, Hallet & Davis Piano Co., Boston,
JAMESTOWN, N. Y., August 14.—Oscar Stran- Mass.; H. T. Spain, member of floor staff, John
burg, head of the Stranburg Music House, en- Wanamaker piano department, New York, and
tertained the managers of his six branch stores Charles Sisson, formerly in the piano business
last week. The entertainment included an au- but now associated with the lumber industry.
tomobile trip to Brocton, and to Niagara Falls
and Buffalo. The following managers of the
BEN F. OWENON VACATION
Stranburg stores were present: C. H. Freeman,
Manager of Piano Department at Wanamaker's
of Bradford, Pa.; F. D. Miller, of Hornell, N.
Reports Satisfactory Business
Y.; J. W. Russell, of Oil City, Pa.; C. A. Brown,
of Titusville, Pa.; C. C. Shaffer, of Franklin,
Before leaving Saturday for a well-deserved
Pa , and J. L. Harned, of Meadville, Pa.
rest at Crawford, N. H., Ben F. Owen, manager
of the local piano department of John Wana-
maker, New York, commented as follows anent
TUNERS' CONVENTION A SUCCESS
the business situation: "Our business in July
Says President A. E. Smith—Has Resigned as and August was very satisfactory in every re-
Vice-President of Cleveland Piano Co.
spect, and the outlook for the fall is most en-
couraging. We are making plans for a banner
CLEVELAND, ()., August 14.—A. E. Smith, or- season, and judging from all indications, our
ganizer and president of the American Guild of expectations will be more than realized.
Piano Tuners, which recently held its annual
convention in Detroit, has returned to Cleveland
Fred A. Witzel, formerly of the Witzel Bros.
and reports that the convention was exception- Piano Co., 3051 Lincoln avenue, Chicago, 111., has
ally successful. Prior" to the convention Mr. opened a store at 3019 Belmont avenue, Chicago,
Smith tendered his resignation as vice-president under the name of the Fred A. Witzel Piano
of the Cleveland Piano Co. He will engage in House, where he will handle the Jesse French
piano tuning.
& Sons line of pianos and players.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
S. H. PERRY WITfl[A. B. CHASE CO.
Well-Known Piano Man to Act as Eastern
Traveling Representative for Norwalk, O.,
Concern—Long Familiar with That Line
NORWALK, O., August 14.—Stuart H. Perry, of
Canajoharie, N. Y., who for the past sixteen
years has been connected with the John Church
Co., has joined the forces of the A. B. Chase
Co., this city, as Eastern traveling representa-
tive, and will take up his new duties on October
1. Mr. Perry is particularly fitted for his new
post by reason of his long experience in the
piano field, dating back to the time when work-
ing with his father, the late H. G. Perry, the
firm sold the A. B. Chase piano as its leader.
Mr. Perry has, therefore, long been familiar
with and an admirer of the A. B. Chase piano
and his ability as a piano man is recognized
by the A. B. Chase Co. It would, therefore,
seem to be a case of the right man in the right
place.
F. G. H0WEJWINS SUIT
Court Decides That Owner of Piano Purchased
On Instalment Plan Must Pay Full Amount
Due Even Though Instrument Is Burned
SPRINGFIELD, MASS., August 14.—A report filed
by Stephen S. Taft, as auditor, in the Superior
Court last week, will be of interest to piano
dealers. Mrs. Minnie A. MacLane, of Amherst,
purchased a piano from Frederick G. Howe, of
Taylor's Music House, in June, 1915, with a
down payment of $15, and an instalment con-
tract for $10 per month until the purchase price
of $235 was paid, the purchaser to keep the in-
strument insured against lire. In December of
last year Mrs. MacLane's house was burned,
and when the adjustment was made by the in-
surance company, only $40 was allowed on the
piano. At the time of the fire $195 was still
owing the Taylor concern, which brought suit
to recover the full amount, claiming that Mrs.
MacLane had neglected to insure the piano in
favor of the Taylor house. The auditor decided
that the music firm was entitled to recover from
Mrs. MacLane the entire amount due on the
piano plus the interest.
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS WANTED
WASHINGTON, D. G, August 14.—According to
a report published by the Bureau of Foreign
and Domestic Commerce, a firm in a foreign
colony desires to communicate with American
manufacturers of pianos, players, sheet music
and small goods. Full information can be se-
cured by addressing the Bureau, at Washington,
D. C , or the Custom House, New York City,
and referring to Foreign Trade Opportunity
No. 22,000.
F. C. DECKER ATTLAKE GEORGE
Frank C. Decker, head of Decker & Son, Inc.,
697-701 East 135th street, New York, is spend-
ing the month of August at his summer home
at Lake George, where he will remain until after
Labor Day. F. C. Decker, Jr., is at present in
charge of the business.
TEMPORARY STOREJOR KIMBALL CO.
Temporary headquarters have been estab-
lished by the W. W. Kimball Co., at 72 Mon-
roe avenue, Grand Rapids, Mich., pending the
remodeling of the Ashton Building, where the
permanent store of the firm was located. The
remodeling of the Ashton Building was necessi-
tated by a fire which damaged about seventy-
five pianos.
Morris E. Rubenowitz has purchased the
music store and library of J. S. Kline, Litch-
field, 111.
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos