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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
PIANO DEPARTMENT OF LOESER & CO. HOLDS BEEFSTEAK
PIANO SHORTAGE IN KANSAS CITY
Enjoyable Affair at Reisenweber's Celebrates Closing of Most Successful October Sale Ever Held
by the Concern—Prominent Trade Guests Extend Hearty Congratulations
Lack of Sufficient Stock Hindering Local Piano
Dealers—Coal Situation Serious—Altman Co.
Not to Move—Some Personals
On last Saturday evening at Reisenweber's
the sales staff of the piano department of Fred-
erick Loeser & Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., together
with a number of guests enjoyed an elaborate
beefsteak dinner as a fitting celebration of the
consummation of the recent great October sale
which proved more successful than any pre-
vious sale in the history of the department. The
result was large commission checks in the
pockets of the salesmen, large orders for new
goods to replace the depleted stock in the
pockets of the manufacturers and a broad smile
on the face of E. Paul Hamilton, the manager
of the department.
The beefsteak was an informal affair, and
large quantities of solid and liquid food and re-
freshments were disposed of to the accompani-
for going after foreign trade, particularly that
formerly controlled by Germany. He declared
that before the war Germany had set the pace
in manufacturing, and France in salesmanship,
and that many manufacturers in the United
States would not change their styles of home
products to meet the desires of the trade in
Australia and South America.
He declared
that as a result of the war there must be a re-
adjustment of labor values among the European
nations, and that with the labor costing as much
there as it did before the war, American manu-
facturers could compete on a more equal basis
than ever before.
Others called upon for short addresses were
Wm, L. Bjur, head of Bjur Bros. & Co.; Hel-
muth Kranich, Kranich & Bach; John H. Parn-
KANSAS CITY, MO., November 6.—With the ex-
ception of one or two houses, the music busi-
ness in this city is still rather dull. Some say
that this is due to the fact that they have not
been able to get the goods to* make up a good
enough line for display, that is, the right kind
of a display. They believe that, had they the
goods, they could sell them. At any rate, the
fact remains that they are not doing any busi-
ness to speak of. There is also looming up be-
fore them the question of heating. Kansas City
is confronted with a coal situation such as it
has never seen before and it is doubtful whether
the heating companies will be able to supply
the stores at all. For the same reason the
transportation to the downtown section, that
is, the street cars, may be seriously crippled, to
saying nothing of the lighting owing to the
fact that the Kansas City Railways and Elec-
tric Light Co. are unable to get coal. This may
mean, of course, that just that many people will
be hindered from coming down to the stores,
or, if they are able to, they may have to suffer
the inconvenience of lack of heat in the stores.
Dealers are wondering just how things are go-
ing to turn out.
James Freeman, Hallet & Davis Co. repre-
sentative, was in this city recently on his way
home after a very successful trip. He says he
sold several carloads of pianos without any
difficulty and could have sold more had the
factory been able to supply them. In fact,
owing to this shortage, he said he was con-
tinually having to rob Peter to pay Paul among
his dealers.
The F. G. Altman Piano Co.'s management
has decided that the company will remain
where it is indefinitely. It has rented about
Beefsteak Dinner of Loeser's Piano Department, Held at Reisenweber's on November 3
one-third of its space and will continue to do
ment of a lively colored "jazz" quartet and some ham, president of the Milton Piano Co., and A. business in the remaining section.
singing by the members thereof. The "Sextet Dalrymple, secretary of the Estey Piano Co.
Ray Strahn, Starr Pano Co. traveling sales-
Manager Hamilton was again called upon to man, was in the local store recently for a few
from Loeser" attempted to harmonize, but were
quieted before the arrival of the police. A cap- close the speaking and mentioned the very im- days.
tivating female entertainer also tended to en- portant fact that both in September and Oc-
Miss Myrtle Hitchcock, who for many years
liven the proceedings, and E. Doel, of the Loeser tober there had not been a single repossession had been in the collection department of the
staff, rendered an excellent bass solo to show recorded on the books of his department. He J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music Co., recently re-
also announced that a prize of $25 offered for signed, her place being taken by Miss Grace
what home talent could do.
the sale of ten Kranich & Bach pianos in any Newman. Harry Darlington, who also for
J. A. O'Donnell, sales manager, was master of
ceremonies, and when the time came for se- one month had been won by W. L. Smith, who many years has been with the same firm, re-
rious talk he called upon Manager E. Paul sold fourteen instruments of that make during signed recently to join the coast artillery.
October, and that a similar prize would go to
Hamilton, who commented upon the success of
the recent sale and the prospects for the com- A. G. Love, who almost reached the point with
A LEGAL PIANO PUZZLE
ing month, and stated that the unusual record a sale of nine Kranich & Bach pianos during
for October should be duplicated or improved the month.
It Would Take a Philadelphia Lawyer to De-
upon both in November and December.
Those who attended the dinner included: E.
cide This Peculiar Case
Geo. W. Gittins, president of the Estey Piano P. Hamilton, W. L. Bjur, H. Kranich, A. Dal-
SAYVILLE, L. I., November 5.—An interesting
Co., was the next speaker, and after compliment- rymple, Geo. W. Gittins, J. H. Parnham, J. A.
ing the staff upon its work, told some dialect Coffin, M. P. Campbell, A. V. Koehler, J. R. A. legal problem has resulted through the destruc-
stories before asking that J. A. Coffin, presi- Lang, A. V. W. Setley, Al. Behning, B. B. Wil- tion of a piano which was being carted to the
dent of E. Gabler & Bro., be called upon. Mr. son, M. Swanwick, F. J. Ennis, E. Doel, F. H. home of Joseph Levy on Collins avenue. The
Coffin in his turn reported that he had heard Mahoney, A. W. Limir, J. F. Leavy, W. L- piano, a mahogany upright, met its fate at the
rumors of the formation of a salesman's union, Smith, E. Holt, E. H. Weeks, N. G. Jones, J. A. corner of Collins avenue and Main street. It
one of the demands of which was that no allow- O'Donnell, A. Mann, J. H. Warner, F. J. Swer- seems John Wancura purchased the piano from
ances for unusued pianos should be less than ence, H. A. Gregory, W. C. Reid, G. P. Gun- the Court Hotel and he engaged George Carr
ther, F. S. McCarthy, B. A. Rotolo, A. G. Love, to move it. They moved the piano aboard the
$400.
J.
J. Carey, E. J. Mehmel, G. E. Dean, J. Love, wagon and all went well until they reached the
Mark P. Campbell, president of the Brambach
corner where the concrete gutter is very deep.
Piano Co., called for a silent tribute to the mem- S- Apisell, F. Hubbard and others.
The wagon all but upset and the piano went
ory of Gaston Otey Wilkins, formerly a mem-
ber of the Loeser staff who died recently, and MAY COMMANDEER BRITISH PLANTS flying into the road, smashed to flinders. Wan-
cura had paid for the piano and Levy had a
then entered into a stirring address on sales-
manship.
According to reports received in this country check ready to pay Wancura upon its delivery.
The secret of salesmanship, declared Mr. from London the indications are that the British The question is who is the loser, Wancura,
Campbell, was in men, and the salesman to be Government will probably commandeer all piano who was the broker, Carr, the mover, Levy, the
successful must sell the goods to himself, and factories in the United Kingdom to aid in the purchaser, or the town of Islip, which permits
have confidence in them, before attempting to manufacture of aeroplanes. Details are lacking the dangerous highway to exist. It is said a
sell the goods to others. Mr. Campbell em- as to just how far the Government has gone in claim is to be made to the town to pay the dam-
phasized the opportunities presented by the war the matter.
age.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos