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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
11
EXCELLENT PROSPECTS FOR FALL TRADE IN DETROIT
Freight Condition Still Serious, But Piano Dealers Are Optimistic—Local Music Houses Support-
ing "Music in the Home" Page in Daily Paper—Hudson Featuring the Apollophone
The J. L. Hudson Co. will continue its sale
DETROIT, MICH., September 17.—Business fair.
Collections not up to normal. Coal situation of Apollophones at $700 for the balance of
seriou6. Freight congestion menacing business. September. "We are doing very nicely with
this combination musical instrument," said E.
Prospects for trade good.
"We are selling
Briefly told, the foregoing sentences indicate P. Andrew last Saturday.
the industrial situation in Detroit this week so many of them in finer grades and have a great
far as it concerns the piano and musical instru- many good prospects with whom we expect to
ment business. Business is fair—not breaking close before the month is out."
Charles Howe, of the Melville Clark Piano
any records now way below what it usually is
for September. Collections by some stores are CoT, Chicago, was in town for several days last
reported as good while others report them to be week in connection with the sale of Apollo-
falling off considerably. We do know that some phones being conducted by the J. L. Hudson
of the leading stores are paying more attention store.
to collections than anything else, keeping right
after their customers who are in arrears. The NEW LONG DISTANCE SALES RECORD
coal situation doesn't look very good. Dealers
Lauter Dealer in Pennsylvania Closes Deal 200
report that they are not getting their normal
Miles From His Headquarters, Due to As-
shipments and several large factories are being
sistance Received From Manufacturers
threatened with a complete shut-down unless
there is early relief. The freight situation is
NEWARK, N. J., September 17.—An unusual
almost as bad as during the months of heavy piano transaction was recently completed by
snow. Goods on the way either by express or the Lauter Co. A Lauter dealer in eastern
freight are exceedingly slow in arriving, and Pennsylvania wrote to the factory and asked
dealers who order on short notice are to be sadly if a style 190 Lauter upright in mahogany could
disappointed. A retail shoe store that had an- be shipped immediately.
The company had
nounced its opening last Saturday was unable on hand orders covering practically all the
to keep its word, as its complete stock had goods they had ready, but wired the dealer
failed to arrive. This is just a sample of the that it could be shipped in four days. The
local situation. Manufacturers should urge the dealer then got in communication with the fac-
retailers to order as far in advance as possi- tory for advice as to how to handle the trans-
ble for the holidays because the situation will action. The customer for the piano was in
certainly grow no better—if anything, worse. western Pennsylvania and very far out of the
Railroads seem to be unable to improve condi- dealer's territory. However, as the sale could
tions, and merchants in all lines are complain- be made without encroaching on any other
ing. Prospects for trade good—yes, they are Lauter dealer's territory, permission was given
very good. Piano dealers believe that just as him to dispose of the piano in that section.
soon as the complete number of drafted men
The company was curious to know how the
are taken to their respective training camps peo-
sale
could have been made at a distance of
ple will settle down to a normal basis, and then.
trade will be good. Every piano dealer with some 200 miles and learned that the dealer had
whom the writer talked last week spoke opti- known a member of the customer's family per-
sonally a long time ago. The father of the
mistically of fall.
young lady in question had bought a Lauter
C. A. Grinnell, who has been in the East, is piano in Newark more than ten years ago, and
nothing else would do her but a Lauter, even if
expected back during the current week.
Grinnell Bros, will hold their summer resort it had to be brought a distance of nearly 200
miles. The dealer, in talking over the transac-
sale early in October.
Nearly a dozen employes of Grinnell Bros, tion with the factory said he wondered how he
were taken in the first selective draft, while a was going to arrange about payments. He was
advised by Lauter Co. that if the customer was
half dozen others have enlisted.
The Detroit Journal is conducting every Sat- "so anxious as all that for a Lauter piano, she
urday a page devoted to "Music in the Home," should be made to pay in advance before the
and it is to be continued throughout the com- piano could be shipped. This was arranged ac-
ing fall and winter months. Nearly one-half of cordingly and the. customer paid for the piano
It was then
the page is given over to advertisements by in full before it was shipped.
piano dealers. We note in the first issues that sent on and doubtless gave complete satisfac-
the following firms are represented in the ad- tion and filled the desire of the customer to have
vertising columns: Detroit Music Co.; Ling a Lauter and nothing else in her home.
Piano House; Starr Piano Co.; Story & Clark
Piano Co.; Grinnell Bros., and Bush & Lane
BUY FINE VIOLIN COLLECTIONS
Piano Co. All phases of the music business
Friedrich & Bro. Make Some Important Addi-
are being covered, although the principal news
tions to Collection of Old Instruments
items arc those referring to music ^nd musical
events as they interest the home, coming con-
John Friedrich & Bro., 279 Fifth avenue, New
certs, and local musical events. It's a very York,-have recently made some very important
good idea, and we are glad to note that the deal- additions to their collection of rare old violins
ers -are assisting in its maintenance.
The through the purchase of the celebrated collec-
writer has always felt that there was not suf- tions formed by Henry P. Wilson and the late
ficient publicity given to music.
George C. Park, a son of the founder of Park &
Tilford. One of the prizes of this collection
and one which was almost immediately disposed
of was an Antonius Stradivarius, Cremona, 1717.
Many other almost equally famed instruments
are now being displayed. A very fine Nicolas
Amati, dated 1661, in a remarkable state of
preservation, is one of the gems of the collec-
tion. This violin has been exhibited at the
Academy of Design and was also well known
at the Conservatory of Music in Paris.
Awarded first prize in many world compe-
titions during the past sixty years, the
Schomacker Piano is now daily receiving
first prizes of preference won by its superb
tone, wonderful breadth of expression and
structural beauty.
SCHOMACKER PIANO CO.
23d and Chestnut St«.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
PEARSON PIANOCO. OPENING
The Pearson Piano Co., of 7 East Ninth street,
Anderson, Ind., was opened last week by Man-
ager Shirley. The new store is up-to-date in
every particular, and a full line of pianos and
players in addition to the Edison Diamond Disc
Phonograph is being featured.
The Public
KEEPS
IT
GOING
because there
are many excel-
lent features
about it that the
public is willing
to pay to hear.
COINOLA
is Troubleproof
and has the ability to
stand up under hard
usage.
It will prove a profit-
able addition to any
dealer's line. Write to-
day for particulars of our
Free Trial Offer
Operators Piano
Company
LOUIS M. SEVERSON, P r « .
Clybourn Ave. and Osgood St.
CHICAGO, ILL.