Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY 4,
THE
FORMAL OPENING OF NEW HUDSON CO. STORE IN DETROIT
Five-Day Program Marks Opening of New Headquarters of the Hudson Piano Co.—World's
Salesmanship Congress Holds Third Annual Convention—Michigan Goes Dry
DKTKOIT, MICH., April 29. -The World's Sales-
manship Congress held its third annual conven-
tion in Detroit last week with an attendance be-
low the previous years.
Unfortunately the
congress w a s lacking in big drawing attractions;
for instance, such men as President Woodrow
Wilson and Charles M. Schwab were on the pro-
gram for delivering the address of welcome at
the first and second conventions, but this year,
due, no doubt to the great war, it was mighty
difficult for the congress officials to get hold
of the big men. There were a total of about
100 addresses during the four days of the con-
gress, all of them touching upon the war—its
effect on business now and after.
Kvcry
speaker discussed the war to a more or less ex-
tent, and it is interesting to note that every
speaker emphatically brought out that the
fundamental principles of salesmanship were
just as necessary to success now as ever. Co-
operation, human interest in employes, confi-
dence and respect of employes and customers,
co-operation with competitors, service, quality
back of production—were just a few of the
phases of business that most speakers touched
upon.
The convention ended Friday night.
No announcement was made as to the new of-
ficers or as to the city of next meeting place.
This week nearly 1,300 saloons will discon-
tinue business in Detroit, or nearly 2,500
throughout the entire State. On May 1 Michigan
ushers in prohibition, and merchants and man-
ufacturers look for better business as a result,
after learning what has happened in other States
that have gone dry. Music dealers believe it
is bound to help their business both directly and
indirectly. The saloons, of course, will lose
sales to the electric piano manufacturers, but
on the other hand it will put into circulation
millions of dollars for other channels of busi-
ness.
The dedication of the new J. L. Hudson piano
store at 68-70 Library avenue is announced for
this week. In connection with the event it is
most interesting to reiterate some of the state-
ments made by the Hudson store, such as: "It
has long been the ambition of the J. L. Hudson
Co. to have a music store that would do justice
to the ideals and beliefs which we have long
cherished for the musical instrument business
since we entered it four years ago. To merely
sell a certain number of pianos and players and
phonographs each year is not our real idea of
the music business at all. The real thought
that we have fostered is to have a store—just
the right kind of a store—where could be as-
sembled the greatest group of instruments that
the musical genius of the world has been able
to create, and to have them all under one roof.
That thought has now become a reality. The
wonderful new music store brings it into being.
We are certain that the many thousands of peo-
ple wlio will visit this new endeavor of the J. L.
Hudson Co. will come away impressed with the
spirit of the place. Welcome."
The program of the opening of the new J. L.
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 Sts.
Philadelphia, Pa.
13
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Hudson music store is as follows: Monday,
April 29, from 7 to 10 p. m. A special opening
expressly for music dealers and all people con-
nected with the musical instrument business.
Tuesday, April 30. This was to be the official
opening day to the public, but the event was
delayed one day in consideration of the con-
cert at the Arcadia, arranged by the Detroit
Talking Machine Dealers' Association, in which
famous talking machine art'sts are to appear in
person. The proceeds of this concert are to
be given to our Michigan troops at Camp Custer.
Wednesday afternoon and Thursday afternoon—
TRADE ACTIVE IN TORONTO
Canadian Music Dealers Keeping Busy, and Re-
port Prosperous Conditions—National Piano
Co. Holds Annual—Items of Interest ^
TORONTO, UNT., April 29.—Captain W. A. Child,
who in civil life is of the Child & Gower Piano
Co., Regina, Sask., was a recent visitor to To-
ronto. Com.ng Kast with a draft of gunners,
the captain was able to spend a day in this
city visiting friends in the trade. Captain Child,
who took part in the famous Vimy Ridge
"show" of a year ago, was invalided home, and
on the expiration of his furlough was detailed
for military duties in connection with the opera-
tion of the Military Service Act.
Child & Gower l\ano Co. are Steinway, Nord-
lieimer and Vocation agents for Saskatchewan,
and also feature the Columbia lines extensively.
They report an intensified interest in music,
which they attribute to the necessity of the peo-
ple having some means of easing the strain re-
sulting from the war. it is also noticed that in
homes from which a member has gone to the
front, there has been a noticeable improvement
in the musical tastes of the people. A renewal
of interest in the player-piano has resulted, and
the indications are that next fall will be an ac-
tive player season. As to oak cases, this firm
continues enthusiastic in encouraging the sale
of fumed oak. Last fall they sensed a growing
interest in oak, and catered to this desire of the
public. The result is an absence of the usual
complaint of varnish checking so prevalent in
severe climates.
J. A. Honea, manager of Grinnell Bros, store
in Sarnia, attended the annual banquet and get-
together meet'ng of Grinnell Bros. Music House
employes for the Chatham district, including
representatives from St. Thomas and Sarnia, in
Chatham recently. Mr. Honea was one of the
winners of the special cash prizes for efficiency
in different departments, eight of which were
awarded to employes in the Chatham district.
The Chatham branch store won a bonus offered
by Grinnell Bros, based on a percentage of in-
crease in business shown during October, No-
vember and December, 1917, over the same
months of 1916, it being the policy of the firm
to let each employe share the bonus on a co-
operative basis.
A twelve weeks' contest for the greatest
amount of business was started, all employes be-
ing enlisted under Captain Gordon Chase, of
Chatham, or Captain J. A. Honea, of Sarnia, the
los'ng side to banquet the winning side at Chat-
ham at the end of the contest.
The annual meeting of the shareholders of the
National Piano Co., Ltd., Toronto, took place
recently.
A satisfactory report of the past
year's activities was presented and the follow-
ing directorate elected: President, Cawthra
Mulock; secretary, K. W. McNeil. Directors:
Edwin J. Howes, A. A. Beemer and Gordon
Perry.
Among recent visitors to New York from To-
ronto music industries were N. H. Conley, of
Mason & Risch, Ltd.; Cecil N. Sinkins, National
Piano Co., Ltd., and F. C. Scythes, Nordheimer
1'iano & Music Co., Ltd.
the general opening to the public to which every-
one is cordially invited.
Thursday evening,
May 2, 7 to 10, the period set apart for profes-
sional musicians only and teachers in all
branches of musical art. These events will be
thoroughly covered in next week's letter.
C. A. Grinnell, vice-president of Grinnell
Eros., returned to his winter home at Sea Breeze
on Wednesday of the past week and will prob-
ably not return to Detroit before the early part
of June. He will spend only a few weeks at
Sea Breeze, from there Mr. Grinnell and his
family will motor northeast, going to New York
and Atlantic City and remaining in New York
for the piano men's convention.
Frank Bayley, of Bayley's Music House, says
that while business is not rushing it is not bad,
"as we are always doing a little something."
George C. Heintzman, president Heintzman
& Co., Ltd., Toronto, has returned from a vaca-
tion of several weeks in the Southern States.
Word has been received of the death of Lieu-
tenant Jack Newcomhe, eldest son of the late
Octavius Newcombe, one of the founders of
the Newcombe Piano Co., Ltd., Toronto. A
brother, Sergeant Arthur Newcombe, has been
overseas since February, 1915, and is now in
France with the Thirtieth Battery C. F. A.
George R. Burt, of Chicago, well known to
the older generation of piano men in Canada,
visited a number of trade friends in Toronto
recently.
AWARDED
Supreme Award
of Merit
American Steel &
Wire Company
Maker of
Perfected
and Crown
Piano Wire
Highest Standard of
Acoustic Excellence
Chicago, New York, Worcester. CleyeUa*, Fltte-
burgh, Dearer. Export representative: U. S. Ste«l
Product! Co., New York. Pacific Co«at ro»r—tmU-
tire: U. S. Steel Product* Co., Sta Fruufoe*, L M
Angeles, Portland, Seattle.