Music Trade Review

Issue: 1918 Vol. 66 N. 10

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MARCH 9, 1918
11
BUFFALO PIANO DEALERS PREPARING FOR SPRING TRADE
Advent of Better Weather Conditions Brings With It Increased Prospects for Profitable Business
—R. L. Loud Featuring the Gulbransen—Adam & Co. Holding Semi-Annnal Sale
BUFFALO, N. Y., March 5.—Buffalo piano deal-
ers are getting busy on their spring drives for
trade. Everything is conducive to the success
of their enterprise.
The street car service,
which at times kept many from visiting the
downtown stores during the winter, has now
improved. The coal and gas shortage has
ended, thus lessening the worries which house-
wives have had on the fuel question. Embar-
goes are being lifted and stock is being received
more promptly than during the cold weather
months. The streets are cleared of snow and
the delivery of pianos to the homes is made with
little difficulty.
And, best of all, the people
have plenty of money to make worthwhile in-
itial payments.
One store is attracting trade by offering "at
old prices many instruments bought before
prices began to advance." Another house is
booming the sale of player-pianos at a popular
price, offering free with each purchase a bench
and ten music rolls. Every section of the city
is being canvassed by piano salesmen, whose
efforts are being crowned with success. They
report that prospective purchasers are in a re-
ceptive mood and are open to conviction, when
a sale is ready to be closed.
Robert L. Loud is concentrating on the Gul-
bransen player this week. He is calling atten-
tion to this nationally-advertised and nationally-
priced player. With other Gulbransen distrib-
utors throughout the country Mr. Loud is cele-
brating an "entertainment week" in connection
with this instrument.
"March is starting out fine," was the report
of the Adams-Koenig Piano Co., who handle the
Hallet & Davis line. A recent caller at this
store was Mr. Wegman, of the Smith, Barnes &
Strohber Co.
Denton, Cottier & Daniels are using consid-
erable newspaper space in advertising the
Pianola, "the piano that really means music."
This store furnished Steinway grands at the con-
cert of the Guido chorus and the song recital
by Arthur Alexander. Both events were at the
Twentieth Century Club. Steinways were also
used at two private recitals at the same club
this week.
Men who write piano or other advertising
after the world conflict will have to appeal to
entirely different types of humanity, according
to James Wallen, who recently addressed the
Greater Buffalo Advertising Club. The speaker
said the war is changing the type of the reading
public.
Harold Kuhn, who has been organist at St.
Paul's Episcopal Church, this city, has joined
the colors. He is a member of Kuhn Bros.,
local piano dealers.
J. N. Adam & Co. are conducting their semi-
annual sale of player-pianos this week. Three
front windows are used in the display. The
newspaper advertising of this sale is made spe-
THE LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Grands, Uprights
and Players
YORK PIANOS
Uprights and Players
LIVINGSTON PIANOS
cially attractive by the use of a large original
cut showing a stylish young woman pointing to
a player. The heading used is: "This beautiful
player-piano belongs to you." The background
of the cut shows an artistic arrangement of
palms, draperies and modern furniture.
S. J.
Butler, manager of the piano department, avoids
the use of stock engravings in his advertising.
"This sale started with a rush on Monday and
promises to boom throughout the week," said
Mr. Butler. "We were provided with two car-
loads of players."
Fire visited the wholesale department of Neal,
Clark & Neal, Victor dealers, early Sunday
morning. The company announced that the
loss was confined mainly to its offices and that
it would be able to take care of its dealers, as
usual.
THIS MAY HAPPEN IN THIS COUNTRY
A Firm
Foundation
Wartime Prosperity May Enable Laboring Class
to Invest Their Surplus Cash in Grand Pianos
—An English Incident Along This Line
The war is bringing- about strange domestic
changes in England, according to the Manches-
ter Guardian, which relates that the other day
a woman with a shawl over her head entered a
piano dealer's shop in Yorkshire, saying she
wanted a piano. The salesman hesitatingly sug-
gested a sound instrument at £25, expecting
thus to end the inquiry. "Not that," said the
woman shortly, "a real one." Taken aback, the
man more boldly indicated one at £60. This
was thought better, but not "up to the mark,"
and another at £80 or £90 was also dismissed
as inadequate. "I want one o' them with a big,
broad top." A grand! Now beyond surprise,
the salesman meekly pointed out the cheapest
of that order at £130. "That's more like it,"
said the customer; and then, reassuringly,
"Aw've got t' brass," producing at the same time
a sufficient roll of notes from the recesses of
her clothing.
A lady district visitor to whom the story was
told followed the grand shortly after to its
cramped new quarters, where such splendor had
never been seen before. It was safely installed,
filling the humble room with its bulk and the
family with pride. "But they can't make any use
of such a thing," declared the perplexed sales-
man when the visitor reported to him. "Yes,
they can," insisted the lady. "They were having
their dinner on it."
NEW PIANO WARER00MS
The Outlet Co. Opens Attractive Piano Depart-
ment in Providence, R. I.
PROVIDENCE, R. I., March 4.—The Outlet Co.,
one of the largest department stores in this
State, has just opened a handsome new piano
wareroom on the fourth floor of its building
here. The new department is attractively dec-
orated, pianos and players being displayed in the
front, while five soundproof demonstration
booths are conveniently arranged at the rear.
The decorations are of mauve, and the furniture
is of French gray. The department will fea-
ture the Chickering, J. & C. Fischer, Vose,
Haines Bros., Marshall & Wendell, and the Am-
pico reproducing pianos. Manager C. W. Fra-
leigh, who is in charge of the department, is
an able piano man and has had long experience
in the trade. He will be assisted by an efficient
corps of salesmen.
(J[ If there is a
MATAWAN
piano plate in
the piano, it
shows that the
manufacturer
has realized the
importance of
using a perfect
piano plate for
his instrument.
It is likely that
the same exact-
ing care has
been exercised
in the selection
of the other
parts used.
Matawan Steel &
Iron Works
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 187O
Carl C. Conway, of the Hallet & Davis Piano
Co., who has been giving his services to the
Government for several months past, in con-
nection with the War Savings Stamp campaign,
has recently returned to New York City. His
family has also returned to New York.
President
Matawan
New Jersey
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
12
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MARCH 9, 1918
every week because of the exquisite taste shown
in show window displays and the arrangement
Talk by Harry R. Valentine a Feature of Monthly Gathering—Glidden Varnish Co. Makes Impor- of the salesroom. Story & Clark pianos are
featured.
tant Statement—Henry Dreher Optimistic—Dealers Preparing for Patriotic Work
The Muehlhauser Bros. Piano Co. is getting
known companies doing business in Cleveland. its share of sales of Hallett & Davis pianos and
CI.EVKI.ANI), ()., March (>.—The Cleveland Music
The "Harmony Music Shoppe," the musical Sonora talking machines. The linn is well
Trades Association held its March meeting the
evening of March 5 at The Hollenden, Presi- name gjven the Hart Piano Co.'s exquisitely ap- stocked against emergencies.
With a Red Cross drive and the third Liberty
dent llarlan If. Hart presiding. There was a pointed retail store in The Arcade, is doing its
good attendance and trade conditions were va- bit in selling war savings stamps. Harlan II. Loan announced, Cleveland piano men are pre-
riously discussed by the members, most of whom Hart, head of the concern, and president of the paring to do their share of work. The Lake
took a brighter view of the piano outlook be- Cleveland Music Trades Association, is going Division headquarters of the Red Cross, com-
prising Ohio, Indiana and part of Kentucky,
cause of more favorable weather and transpor- to keep on doing his war bit.
tation conditions.
Henry Dreher, of the B. Dreher's Sons Co., here are in charge of National Fuel Administra-
A feature of the gathering was a talk by Harry thinks 1918 can be made a big year for piano tor Harry A. Garfield's brother, James R. Gar-
K. Valentine, sales manager of the B. Dreher's dealers. Mr. Dreher admits that war conditions field. Ohio's allotment of the $100,000,000 war
Sons Co. on "The Other Side." It was not and other handicaps will call for close attention fund wanted is $6,400,000 and Cleveland will be
one of the usual war talks with which public to details, but he reasons that this in itself will asked to contribute a large part of this sum.
Music dealers and piano and talking machine
audiences have been afflicted recently by men produce more efficient store management.
"We need more efficient piano store men," dealers will get into the drive for bonds and
returning from the front and near-front in
France. Mr. Valentine is a popular man in the said he, "and exacting conditions of business Red Cross funds, and player-pianos and phono-
piano trade in Cleveland and gave his auditors these days should produce more competent man- graphs will be utilized in working up patriotic
sentiment. Several piano men and talking ma-
some excellent advice based on his experiences agers and salesmen than we have had."
in dealing with customers and sales people.
The Wirth Piano Co. is making a drive on chine dealers will be factors in both drives.
"Music must go wherever the boys go in this
"Business is picking up," said President Hart, used instruments, mostly pianos of different
war," is the way Dan J. Nolan, manager of the
"but we have not been able to obtain any new makes.
The Wolfe Music Co.'s Taylor Arcade and piano department of the May Co., puts the situ-
stock for a good while and transportation condi-
tions are yet in such a state that dealers are Prospect avenue store is getting more attractive ation.
having no end of handicaps. We lost a sale
OSCAR OSSO IS REPRESENTATIVE
CINCINNATI DEALERS OPTIMISTIC
the other day because we could not make a
delivery. But things are looking up and we may
February Business Was Excellent, and Pros- For the United States of the French Society of
as well be cheerful."
Dramatic Authors, Composers and Publishers
pects for Spring Trade Are Above the Aver-
The first monthly meeting of dealers con-
age—Personals and News of the Week
vinced the members that as their chief ex-
The French Society of Dramatic Authors,
ecutive Mr. Hart is going to "get everybody
CINCINNATI, O., March 5.—Once again the
closer together" during his term as president of eyes of the musical world of the country will Composers and Publishers of Music have ap-
pointed Oscar Osso their sole, duly authorized
the association.
be turned to Cincinnati in May, the program representative for the United States. He will
Piano and talking machine dealers got a good for this year's festival having the added interest
lot of encouragement out of the Red Cross bene- that the profits will be shared equally by the act for them in the matter of collecting royalties
for the public rendition of a French musical
fit in the Keith Hippodrome, the evening of Red Cross and the Y. M. C. A.
or
dramatic work. Mr. Osso is also the repre-
March 3, when John McCormack, DeWolf Hop-
The festival takes place from May 7 to May
per and other noted artists appeared in song. 11, and Eugene Ysaye, famous Belgian violinist, sentative of the Society of French Authors and
The "Hip" was given free and about $11,000 will be the musical director, and among the Playwrights, and this second appointment now
was realized for the Red Cross. Hopper sold numbers will be "The Seasons," "St. Matthew concentrates into the one office the collection
twenty-six autographed records of McCormack's Passion," "The Pilgrim's Progress," and the fes- of the royalties for French musical works and
songs for $3,500, the highest price being $550 for tival will come to a close with "The New Life" the transaction of the business of the Society of
a single record. McCormack paid $500 for a of Wolf-Ferrari, and the "Stabat Mater" of French Authors and Playwrights. These two
record and then resold it, giving the dual sale Rossini. One thousand children will take part appointments practically place in Mr. Osso's
hand the American representation for the entire
proceeds to the Red Cross. More than 800 in the chorus work.
artistic, dramatic and musical output of France.
people were turned away. Musically and finan-
Optimism is the keynote of the Cincinnati
Extensive plans are being formulated for a
cially the concert was a huge success and talk-
ing machine dealers have reaped a good harvest trade just now. Reports of the operations dur- national propaganda campaign to exploit French
in the sale of records reproducing McCormack's ing February, with hardly any exceptions, music in America. It is Mr. Osso's aim to
most popular songs. Patriotic song records also showed a tidy volume of business, and as a unit educate the American music-loving public to a
the trade is looking forward to a continuation fuller appreciation of the genius of French mu-
scored by reason of the benefit.
of the demand for musical instruments.
sical compositions, and with this in view as
"Things are looking better for us all," said
Raymond Wurlitzer, son of Howard E. Wur-
Charles K. Bennett, general manager of the litzer, of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., bid his complete a library of French musical works as
Eclipse Musical Co., phonograph distributors. father good-bye this morning and marched away possible will be created for the convenience of
"Charlie," as his friends call him, proposes to with his fellow members in Base Hospital No. artists and musicians.
make the Talking Machine Dealers' Association 25, the first lap on the journey for "over there"
SOHMER PIANO TO BE USED
of Northern Ohio a "live one" during his 1918 being Camp Sherman, near Chillicothe. This
term as president. The first monthly meeting section goes into service with a neat mess fund,
The Sohmer piano will be used March 24 at
will be March 20.
totaling $1,500. Mr. Wurlitzer, it is said, has the Princess Theatre at a song recital to be
The present owners of the Glidden Varnish agreed to contribute monthly towards it until
given by Grace Foster, coloratura soprano, with
Co., of this city, are out with a statement declar- the close of the war.
Herman Neumann at the piano. The program
ing that none of the former owners of the plant
Elmer A. Brook, of Minneapolis, Minn., was
are now in control. A few days ago the Glidden a caller at the John Church Co. during the past includes a number of standard selections, with
name was mentioned among other firms the week. G. L. Mclntyre, Western traveling rep- a group of French songs, and songs by Ameri-
Federal Government declared guilty of unfair resentative of the corporation, arrived in town can composers.
methods in securing business. The Glidden con- last week.
cern changed ownership a few months ago and
A new Baldwin service flag, with ninety-live
the present owners say th.e unfavorable report
was not directed at them. This firm supplies stars, was shown at the Fourth street store Fri-
large quantities of varnish to piano and talking day, and then shipped to San Francisco, where
machine manufacturers, and is one of the best- it will be exhibited. The last flag contained
sixty-four stars. .
Cincinnati does not make as much a fuss over
forward strides as some cities in the State, an
illustration of this kind developing Saturday
when the report of the Secretary of State for
February was made public. This shows that
Cleveland interests incorporated sixty-seven new
companies against twenty-three for Cincinnati,
Known to the Public for over
but the net gain of this city for the month was
$8,110,000, as against $7,130,000 of Cleveland.
50 YEARS r "or y " THE BEST
CLEVELAND MUSIC TRADES ASSOCIATION HOLDS MEETING
FOTOPLAYER
%
for the finest
Motion Picture
Theatres
RAYMOND
PIANOS
ne
We have a fine offer to
make to live wire dealers
Raymond Piano Co.
88 Brown Place
New York
OPENS BRANCH STORE
J. H. Rhodes, piano dealer of Hillsboro, 111.,
has opened a branch store in Gillespie. He
handles both pianos and talking machines.
AMERICAN PHOTO
PLAYER CO.
San Francisco
New York
Chicago

Download Page 11: PDF File | Image

Download Page 12 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.