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JANUARY 5,
13
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1918
OPTIMISM PREVAILS WITH SAN FRANCISCO PIANO DEALERS
Resume of Business During 1917 Shows Satisfactory Volume of Business, and Conditions Are En-
couraging so Far as the Future Is Concerned—Cash Business Greatly Increased
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., December 29.—Among the
music houses this is a period of retrospection,
when the business of the past year is under con-
sideration, and of anticipation, when the pros-
pects of the future are given serious thought.
Of the past year the music houses are a unit in
voting it a very successful one, some going so
far as saying that it has been the best year
they ever had. All are well satisfied with their
Christmas trade. As was expected, it proved
especially good in talking machines, but the
sales of smaller musical instruments, particu-
larly the string instruments, was better than
anticipated. In regard to pianos, these instru-
ments are not usually considered as an especial
Christmas present, but the last three or four
days before Christmas witnessed a wonderful
demand for pianos. The most remarkable fea-
ture of this piano trade was the amount of the
cash sales. All the larger houses report an un-
precedented number of sales of the more expen-
sive grades of pianos, for which the customers
paid the cash with the order. These cash re-
ceipts made the season an unusual one and
brought up the cash receipts for pianos for the
month of December to a far greater amount
than was anticipated. Looking to the future,
no one was willing to hazard a guess as to what
it would be. However, the action of the Govern-
ment in taking over the railroads was generally
approved, judging it wholly from the stand-
point of its effect on the music trade. It is
believed that this action will have a bolstering
effect upon all securities, that with the credit
of the (Government back of them the railroads
will now be able to get the necessary money
for needed improvements and additional rolling
stock, and finally that operated as a unit the
freight situation will be greatly improved. For
these reasons, it may be said that a spirit of
optimisim prevails throughout the entire trade.
Tells a Story of Progress
F. A. Levy, president of the California Pho-
nograph Co., is jubilant over the business his
company did in its new location, 1009 Market
street. This company grew out of the depart-
ment of Kilers Music House, and at first was
located in the same building. After it became
an independent company it continued to occupy
quarters in the Filers establishment. Its new
store was opened on December 15, just ten days
before Christmas, and the business which came
to it has assured Mr. Levy that he made no
mistake in moving. The company is still also
occupying its old quarters, but expects to close
them up by the middle of next month.
Great Year With Sherman, Clay & Co.
F. R. Sherman, of Sherman, Clay & Co., says
that the expiring year has been the best that the
firm has ever had. One of the remarkable fea-
tures of the year is the fact that the sale of Stein-
way pianos has beaten any previous year since
the house has been handling them. Considering
THE LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Grands, Uprights
and Players
YORK PIANOS
Uprights and Players
LIVINGSTON PIANOS
Uprights and Player-Pianos
If your competitor does not already have this
line, go alter it at once.
Weaver Piano Co., Inc.
FACTORY
YORK, PA.
Established
1870
the high price of this piano and the fact that
the world has been at war so long, Mr. Clay
says this is truly noteworthy. Business has been
especially good with the Oakland and Los An-
geles branches. These places arc more cities
of homes than of business houses like San
Francisco and in proportion to their population
are better fields for the music dealers. For the
same reason the smaller cities and country dis-
tricts bought more musical instruments, pro-
portionally, than San Francisco. In this city,
however, there was a greater demand for the
more expensive instruments than in the smaller
place's.
Mauzy Jubilant Over Holiday Trade
Charles Mauzy, of Byron Mauzy, reports that
the Christmas business left his entire force ex-
hausted. The last two days before the holiday
the store was so crowded, especially by people
buying talking machines, that they could not all
be waited on without considerable delay.
Byron Mauzy, who has recovered from his re-
cent street car accident and is able to attend
to business again, yesterday received the news
of the death in San Antonio, Texas, of his
brother, Captain James H. Mauzy, a retired
army officer. Captain Mauzy was seventy-five
years of age, a member of the Loyal Legion,
and had many friends in San Francisco in the
music trade, as he was a frequent visitor here.
K. K. Maynard, of the Werner Industries Co.,
Cincinnati, is a visitor in this city. Mr. May-
nard is here partly on business but mainly to
take leave of his son, who is in the military
training camp at Monterey, and is expected to
be ordered abroad soon.
Buys Eight Wurlitzer Theatre Organs
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. has recently
closed a deal to supply all the houses on the
Hippodrome circuit on this Coast with organs,
costing approximately $3,000 each. There are
twelve houses in the circuit.
Joins Uncle Sam's Forces
Walter Anderson, cashier, and Manley .Cock-
roft, superintendent for the installations of
organs, both with the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co.,
recently enlisted in the army, selecting the
Quartermaster's Department. Both men were
past the draft age and therefore not eligible to
draft. In the local house, out of eighteen em-
ployes, six have entered the service of the
Government, either in the army or navy. This
percentage, 33 l /z of all employed, can be equaled
by but few business houses in the city of San
Francisco.
Take Over the Hazelton Agency
The Heine Piano Co. has taken over the
agency of the Hazelton pianos, players, grands
and uprights. The company reports that it did
an exceptional Christmas business, exceptional
not only in volume of business but also in the
demand for grands and uprights.
Budget of American Photo Player News
A 1,000-foot reel showing the manufacturing
and assembling of Fotoplayers was shown for
the first time this week at the Chimes Theatre,
Oakland. As an accompaniment to the picture
a Fotoplayer was used which showed the vari-
ous sound effects produced by this instrument.
H. J. Werner, president of the American
I'hoto Player Co.. has just returned from a
several months' trip in the East. He brings
news of the success of the Fotoplayer every-
where.
L. J. Abrams, of the Robert-Morton division
of the American Photo Player Co. at Van Nuys,
Cal., is visiting the San Francisco office during
the holidays. He reports a growing demand for
the Robert-Morton, which is a reproduction of a
symphony orchestra, in the southern part of
the State.
To Increase Price of Edison Phonographs
The Edison Shop has announced that after
the first of the year an increase in the price of
tlie Edison phonograph will become effective.
It's a
Gold Mine
The Coinola in any public
place catches a steady
stream of nickels. It's a
v e r i t a b l e gold mine.
People crave music today
as they never have before
—and have the money to
pay for it. You will find
it easy to place the
COINOLA
\
in restaurants, cafes and
other places. It is built
sturdily, is easy to main-
tain, and does not con-
flict with your other lines.
Write for free trial offer,
also particulars about the
wonderful Reproduco
Automatic Organ, the
Midget Orchestrion, and
the full line of Operators
Money Makers.
OPERATORS
PIANO CO.
LOUIS M. SEVERSON, Pre«.
Clybourn Ave. and Osgood St.
CHICAGO, ILL.