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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
8
STEADY BUYING REPORTED BY SAN FRANCISCO DEALERS
Christmas Trade a Trifle Late in Starting, But Dealers Are Confident of Excellent Business—
Windows Attractively Decorated—Byron Mauzy in Street Car Accident—News of the Week
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., December IS.—The music
business in San Francisco and about the Bay is
in as good a condition as could be expected in
consideration of the fact that the main thought
of the people is centered on the war. As one
of the leaders of the trade expressed it, "Busi-
ness is erratic." One day it is excellent and
the next quiet. In one house customers seem
to be buying all the time, and in another on a
certain day scarcely anyone enters the store.
One day Oakland will report business booming
and San Francisco will seem quiet and the next
San Francisco has all the buyers and the cross-
bay towns have little to do. One day the buy-
ers seek the talking machine departments and
the next the demand is for player-pianos.
Out of this spotted condition of the trade the
fact seems to stand forth that on a whole the
people are not turning so freely as usual to music
houses for their Christmas presents, but that
the steady buying continues at a normal pace.
On the Christmas buying proposition it may be
said, however, that San Francisco has had no
Christmas weather as yet. The usual rains and
chilly weather have not yet appeared and many
people do not realize the near approach of the
holidays. Perhaps this will be brought to their
attention more emphatically when they see the
beautiful decorations which all the music houses
are putting in their places of business or win-
dows' Evergreens, of course, are the prevailing
decoration, but California red holly berries are
being freely used and the beautiful poinsettia
is adding to the brightness of many windows.
Some Attractive Holiday Windows
One of the most striking windows is that of
Hauschildt Music Co. A large Christmas tree
is located in one corner of the window and gifts
of various sorts, especially those handled by the
house, are attractively displayed. Speaking of
Christmas buying, it is expected to increase very
greatly in the talking machine departments of
the various stores during the last week before
Christmas. W. M. Ringen, head of that depart-
ment for Kohler & Chase, says that the peo-
ple always buy such goods at the last moment,
and he looks for a smashing business the last
few days before Christmas day. Most of the
other managers agree with this viewpoint, and
all express regret at the shortage of machines
of the larger kinds. Of the smaller machines
there is a plentiful supply.
The Heinze Piano Co. is one of those which
announce a big Christmas business in pianos.
The company recently received several cars of
pianos, and a week ago started a very active
newspaper advertising campaign to attract buy-
ers.
The house reports that the campaign is
exceeding its expectations.
Tells of Conditions in Vancouver
Walter S. Gannon, representative of the Koh-
ler Industries, is just back from a trip to Van-
couver, B. C , and other Northern points. Speak-
ing of Vancouver he says that the people have
made a wonderful "come-back," and that busi-
ness is very good. The people seem to be
prosperous and they are buying freely of all
tilings, including musical instruments. Com-
pared to a few months ago he says Vancouver
looks like another place from the business
standpoint.
Byron Mauzy Suffers Injuries
Byron Mauzy, head of the piano house of that
name, suffered severe, though it is believed not
serious, injuries this morning in a street car ac-
cident. While coming to his place of business
a car which preceded the one on which Mr.
Mauzy was riding collided with a hay wagon
which a dense fog prevented the nrotorman from
seeing in time. The collision broke some con-
necting rods which caused the motorman to lose
control of the car, and started it backward down
a hill. Near the bottom it struck the car on
which Mr. Mauzy was riding a smashing blow.
A number of passengers were hurt and cut by
the flying glass. Mr. Mauzy suffered from a
badly sprained back, but it is believed was not
otherwise hurt.
Replace Drafted Men With Women
Sherman, Clay & Co. have replaced a number
of their drafted men with girls, and they say
that the experiment is proving successful. Some
of the other music houses, which have taken the
same course, are not so well" satisfied with the
results, but they acknowledge it is too early to
generalize on the subject as yet.
Honor for Fred R. Sherman
Fred R. Sherman, of Sherman, Clay & Co.,
has been appointed head of the Fuel Conserva-
tion Bureau in San Francisco by State Director
of Fuel Conservation Schwabacher. Mr. Sher-
man is now dictator of distribution and prices
of fuel in this city. At a meeting last night of
the local coal dealers Mr. Sherman addressed
them and outlined his policy.
Mother Goose Rolls Popular
The Q R S Co. is putting out some Mother
Goose word rolls which are proving very pop-
ular. Six of'these rolls were gotten up by Lee
Roberts, and they are being distributed here
through the Q R S Co. Sherman, Clay & Co.
have recently had a window dressed with these
rolls, and they say that the people are buying
freely of these songs of their childhood.
American Photo Player Co.'s Social Service
As a part of the social service which the
American Photo Player Co. extends to its em-
ployes, a dance was recently given at Foto-
player Hall in this city, and a number of sol-
diers and sailors stationed in training near here
were invited to attend. The affair was a great
success.
E. B. Baron, northern California sales man-
ager of the American Photo Player Co., is trav-
eling through the Rocky Mountain States in-
specting several instruments which have recent-
ly been installed in those States.
X. B. Jacobus recently sailed for Honolulu
taking with him a large Fotoplayer to install in
that city. Mrs. Jacobus is accompanying her
husband.
Some Personal Items
G. Kline, president of the Kline Piano Co.,
and Percy Ridgway, Lyon & Healy Western
representative, were in San Francisco recently
visiting the trade.
Fraser & McConnell are looking for the ar-
rival next week of a car of R. S. Howard and
other pianos. They say they are in sore need of
the shipment.
Hy Eilers, who has been in Portland for sev-
eral weeks, spent a few days in San Francisco
this week and has returned to Seattle to com-
plete the business he had in hand.
The California Phonograph Co. has prepared
for a grand opening of its new store at 1009
Market street to-day, Saturday, December 15.
The place has been decorated in beautiful shades
of cream, and the contractors say it is one of
the handsomest music trade establishments in
the city.
J. A. Stitt, of the American Piano Co., is
spending a few days in the Northern part of his
territory. He is expected to return in time to
enjoy Christmas at home.
J. H. Shale, secretary of the American Piano
Co., was in San Francisco this week.
FREE LESSONSJN ENGLISH
Free lessons in reading and writing the Eng-
lish language are now being held in the Welfare
Building of the Kohler Industries on Monday,
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday evenings
from 6 to 7 o'clock.
The opportunity to form classes of this kind
has been given by the Board of Education, and
all applicants should hand their names to H.
Newton, of the Welfare Department, 703
Eleventh avenue, New York.
NEW STRAUBE PLAYERS EXCEL
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