Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1917 Vol. 64 N. 20

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
10
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
to expectations, she is confident that there
DETROIT DEALERS INTERESTED IN PROPOSED WAR TAX up
will be a grand rush of signed contracts during
Local Music Trades Association Holds Meeting and Sends Strong Protest to Washington—Deal-
ers Believe Customers Will Eventually Have to Bear the Burden—Many Going to Conventions
DETROIT, MICH., May 14.—Kvery day shows re-
newed interest and enthusiasm in business, and
less pessimism. The whole war situation has
boiled down to one question—what will the tax
be on business? Detroit, as everybody knows,
is the center of the motor car industry in the
United States. The proposed 5 per cent, tax
on the gross business and the apparent deter-
mination of Congress to inflict the tax, regard-
less of whether it is just or not, has tremendously
upset the industry and naturally Detroit is more
upset than any other city. The very existence
of the Detroit plants now hinges on this pro-
posed tax. Some companies have actually
threatened to quit business as soon as the tax
is definitely announced; others say they will
have to discontinue business, while even the
large concerns say it would mean curtailed pro-
duction.
As for the 5 per cent, tax on the musical
instrument business, Detroit dealers have re-
ceived loads of letters and telegrams from
their various manufacturers, as well as the Na-
tional Association of Piano Manufacturers, urg-
ing them to immediately get in touch with their
respective legislators and protest against this
proposed tax. A meeting of the Detroit Music
Trades' Association, which also included talking
machine dealers, was held at the Fellowcraft
Club last Wednesday, at which time there was a
conference on the proposed tax. It was de-
cided to protest against the tax, and a resolu-
tion was passed accordingly.
In addition to
sending the resolution to 'Washington each
member individually offered to send a protest
to his Congressman. S. E. Clark, general man-
ager of Grinnell Bros., who was present, stated
that if this 5 per cent, tax goes on at least 25
per cent, of the music dealers in the United
States would probably have to go out of busi-
ness. E. P. Andrew, of the J. L. Hudson Co.,
says that the tax is unreasonable, inasmuch as
the music business is just as much a necessity
as any educational propaganda, and he does not
believe a 5 per cent, tax on musical instru-
ments should be made. Yet if the tax should
go, the manufacturer would put it on to the
dealer and the dealer would pass it on to the
consumer. "Speaking for our own company,"
he said to The Review correspondent, "if we
are charged an extra 5 per cent, on pianos and
players, we would probably charge the public
from 7 to 10 per cent, additional, which I don't
believe would curtail the buying on the part of
the public."
Another dealer said: "A few dollars more or
less to a customer doesn't make much difference.
I r a customer makes up his mind that he is go-
ing to buy a piano, player-piano or talking ma-
chine he naturally tries to get «one at the price
he can best afford, and the best he can get for
his money. If he likes a certain player-piano,
for instance, and the price is $450, he buys it;
and he would just as readily buy it if the price
was slightly lower or higher. In selling a per-
son a musical instrument, it is not a question of
price nearly as much as it is trying to convince
the, buyer that he should have the particular
instrument in his home for entertainment and
educating his family to music. I don't believe
there are many people who don't own a piano
because they can't afford the price—the terms
are so reasonable these days that nearly any
honest person, with a responsible position, can
pay very little in actual cash and get a piano,
player or talking machine."
This particular
dealer said he did not believe the 5 per cent,
tax would curtail production or the retailer's
sales.
Next week there will be quite an e.xodus of
piano dealers to the Chicago convention.
Among those who are certain to go are C. A.
Grinnell, A. A. Grinnell, S. E. Clark and A. H.
Howes, Grinnell Bros.; E. P. Andrew, W. H.
Marshall and Edward Andrew, of the J. L. Hud-
son Co.; A. E. Noble, manufacturer and dealer,
and possibly J. Henry Ling and A. E. Trebil-
The sales force of the J. L,. Hudson Co.
will not attend the convention as they had
planned, in spite of the fact that each one has
earned a two-day vacation to attend the con-
vention at the expense of their manager, E. P.
Andrew. The reason given is that these sales-
men would prefer to stick to business and se-
cure enough business to assure getting their
quota for the month. "We realize that business
is slowing up somewhat, and that in order to
hold up our records we must work harder than
ever, and that is the reason why we prefer to
stay right on the job and get everything we
can," said one of the Hudson salesmen, who
apparently spoke for the others as well.
Miss Ursula Dietrich, of the Melville Clark
Co., is still at the Hudson store "putting the
Apollo reproducing piano to its severe test."
Miss Dietrich is making a great impression upon
those who attend her private recitals, and while
the actual closing of sales has not been quite
cock.
the coming week, which will probably be her
last.
Miss Dietrich had anticipated unusual results
in Detroit, having heard so much of the pros-
perity of the automobile city, and while some
might consider the number of sales as very
gratifying Miss Dietrich set a higher mark, and,
of course, is looking for more sales to feel that
her work has actually been fruitful.
On the
other hand, E. P. Andrew, manager of the de-
partment, says he is well pleased with the new
business, and believes that the real fruit of her
labor will come after she has gone and her ex-
cellent demonstrations have had full oppor-
tunity to impress themselves on the minds of
those who had them. During the coming week
the demonstrations will be given every day
from 3 to 5 o'clock in the afternoon. Miss
Dietrich will attend the Chicago conventions
of manufacturers and dealers.
E. P. Andrew, of the Hudson store, was in
Chicago last week and spent a few hours at the
factory of the Melville Clark Piano Co.
Made in U. S. A.
American Felt
Company
TRADE,
.MARK
Purchasing Power
Why should manufacturers of quality pianos use
"American" hammer-felt?
Here's one reason: They can obtain a perfect product
because our purchasing, power gives us every needed
advantage for its manufacture.
We are in constant touch with the wool markets of the
world. Thus we have an intimate knowledge of mar-
ket conditions as well as climatic and other natural
conditions which affect the quality of the wool. Buy-
ing in great quantities' as we do, we obtain wool- at
prices much lower than smaller operators.
Certain kinds of wool possess better felting qualities
than others. Certain kinds of felt call for certain kinds
of wool. Years of experience and experimenting have
taught us exactly the kind of wool needed for every
kind of felt.
What we have learned has been carefully tabulated.
Piano manufacturers will recognize the great value of
this information, as we are the world's largest manu-
facturers of felt. No other organization can duplicate
this data.
You can be sure of "American" hammer-felt. We've
taken the utmost pains to supply you with a perfect
product.
American Felt Company
100 Summer St.
BOSTON
114 East 13th St.
NEW YORK
325 So. Market St.
CHICAGO
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
11
DEALERS REPORT IMPROVING CONDITIONS IN TWIN CITIES
Crop Outlook Is Splendid, and Business in All Lines Is Increasing—Raudenbush Doing Good
Trade in Knabe Line—Brooks-Evans Co. Gets First Ampico—Visitors and News of the Week
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, MINN., May 14.—
the faithful manner in which it reproduces the
The crop outlook, just now, is engaging the at- finest effects of the skilled masters.
tention of the bankers and other men of big
Colonel Allen, of the A. B. Chase Co., and
affairs in the Northwest. As far as any one is Reinhardt Kochmann, of the Sterling Co.,
able to judge the general situation hardly could represented the migratory wing of the trade
be better. It is believed that the acreage of in the Twin Cities last week. They will tell
all grains has been notably increased in Minne- when they get to headquarters that the great
sota, the Dakotas and in Montana, and that the Northwest will be already and will find itself
potato acreage has been extended also, particu- as soon as any part of the United States.
larly in Minnesota. Figures are not available,
Manager Redel, of the sales department of
but all observers agree that more ground has the Holland Piano Mfg. Co., is out on the road,
been sown to grain this spring than ever before. finding the times propitious for such an under-
While the truck and garden farmers and the taking.
growers of field crops are complaining of a be-
lated spring the grain growers are satisfied.
TRADE NEWS FROM MILWAUKEE
They like cold damp weather after seeding as
Gram
Factory Loaded Up With Orders—Wur-
with such a start the stalks are likely to be
litzer Branch May Handle Pianos and Players
sturdier and hardier and the grain is likely to
—Bradford Co. Doing Big Business
mature more satisfactorily. If that be true the
wheat, rye, oats and barley men are off to an
MILWAUKEE, WIS., May 15.—A new piano store
excellent season.
has been opened at Somerset, near New Rich-
General trade conditions are apparently nor- mond, Wis., by A. H. Montpetit and E. H.
mal; they never were much out of line, except Huner, who have leased ground floor space in
for the speculative features in certain lines. the new fireproof building recently erected in
Those not directly concerned with alimentation the business district by Mr. Montpetit.
have been running about as usual with the cus-
According to Charles H. Jackson, factory
tomary spring activity.
superintendent of the Edmund Gram Piano Co.,
The Twin Cities are great recruiting centers the fact that the nation is actually at war
for all branches of the army and navy, the home has not yet had any tendency to slow up the
of numerous large colleges having compulsory orders coming from its dealers. The Gram fac-
military drill, and adjoin Fort Snelling, one of tory is considerably behind on its orders, and
the big Government military posts and desig- at the rate new business is being booked, this
nated for the officers' reserve training school. condition is likely to continue for some time to
So things military constantly are before one's come.
eyes in either town, but uniforms now are ac-
It is reported that the Rudolph Wurlitzer
cepted as a matter of course, as are the call Co., Cincinnati, which has maintained a branch
for the patriotism loan and the organization of in this city with headquarters in the Manhat-
the home guard. It's all a part of the business tan Building, for several years, is preparing to
of the country.
add a stock of pianos and players. F. A.
Distinct improvement in business conditions Schneider, manager of the local branch, says that
for the past week as compared with the previous such a plan is in contemplation. Heretofore
week is noted by the dealers, and they look for the branch has handled only commercial instru-
considerable activity for everyone within a short ments.
time.
The Chamber of Commerce of LaCrosse,
"We can sec a distinct improvement," said W. Wis., which recently built a fine clubhouse, has
J. Dyer. "I won't say that the trade is fine, been presented with a Steinway concert grand,
for this hardly tells the truth, but everything is the gift of the women of LaCrosse. The in-
looking much better as far as we are able to strument was purchased from the Edmund Gram
judge. There are no pessimists in the North- Piano House, this city, State representative of
west."
the Steinway.
Raudenbush & Sons report the sales of sev-
The Mason & Hamlin and Melville Clark,
eral Knabe pianos, one of them being a grand, leading lines carried by the J. B. Bradford Co.,
and consider that this is a most satisfactory 411 Broadway, continue to hold the front rank
success. The house is making a drive on an of sales. This company last week disposed of
accumulation of "old stuff," and according to a Melville Clark Solo Art Apollo grand to
reports is reducing the stock materially.
Walter Schwab, vice-president and general man-
W. J. Dyer has made plans for attending the ager of the Auto Parts Mfg. Co., for his new
piano men's gathering at Chicago next week. home at 495 Juneau place.
C. L. Waldo, of Foster & Waldo, also announces
The nominating committee of the Rotary Club
that.he will be with the aggregation. These has placed the name of Edmund Gram, manu-
recruits swell the Twin City contingent to four.' facturer and dealer, on the ticket for the an-
An Ampico, the first in Minneapolis, is at- nual election next week as a candidate for vice-
tracting much attention in the warerooms of the president.
Brooks-Evans Piano Co. Music teachers, in
The members' council of the Milwaukee Mer-
particular, are absorbed in the instrument, and chants & Manufacturers' Association at its meet-
ing last week adopted resolutions calling upon
the people of this city to avoid hysteria which
might lead to curtailment of business. It is
THE LEADING LINE
pointed out that with the greatly increased bur-
dens of taxations contemplated by the Govern-
it is necessary that business be kept at
WEAVER PIANOS ment,
normal if concerns are to be able to meet the
Grands, Uprights
new assessments without actual hardship.
and Players
The Metropolitan Music Co., Green Bay,
Wis., recently appointed representative of the
YORK PIANOS
Kroeger, Brewster and Marshall & Wendell
Uprights and Players
pianos, has opened an exclusive piano house at
317 West Walnut street in that city. Mrs. F.
LIVINGSTON PIANOS
h. Pfingsten is manager.
I
Uprights and Player-Pianos
If your competitor does not already have this
line, go after it at once.
Weaver Piano Co., Inc.
FACTORY
YORK, PA.
Established 1870
TO HAVE CHARGED BACON EXHIBIT
W. P. H. Bacon, president of the Bacon
Piano Co., will be in charge of the exhibit which
is being held this week at the National Music
Show. Through an error it was stated that
W. J. Behr would have charge of this exhibit.
A Popular Design
Christman
Pianos
PlayerJPianos
Grand Pianos
can be seen at the ware-
rooms of our Chicago
Representatives, The
John A. Bryant Piano
Co., 144 S. Wabash Ave.
Competition makes it neces-
sary for you to give your
customers a better^ instru-
ment for their money than
they can obtain elsewhere.
A critical examination of
Christman
Pianos
will convince you that in
finish, veneers, styles and
tone they are the very best
value to be had for the price.
Make it your business to see
and hear these artistic instru-
ments before leaving. It will
be time well spent to see
the new patent action.
"The first touch tells"
Christman Piano Co.
597 E. 137th Street
New York

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