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FEBRUARY 16,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1918
STREET CAR STRIKE HANDICAPS ST. LOUIS PIANO TRADE
Trouble Was of Short Duration, But Business in All Lines Was Affected—Motor Cars Sole Means
of Transportation—Fuel and Light Restrictions Withdrawn—Other News
ST. LOUIS, MO., February 12.—All of the inter-
est last week was centered in a street car strike
that stopped practically all trolley traffic. Piano
Row merchants estimate that it cut down the
number of persons entering the stores to 20
per cent, of normal during the entire week. The
strike began Sunday and ended at the close of
business Friday, and Saturday was not much
better than the previous days for the piano and
talking machine business, although the record
and music roll business did pick up.
There was perhaps no real reason for this
almost entire cessation of business over the
strike, as it was demonstrated that the automo-
biles could handle an exceedingly heavy traffic,
but eighteen years ago St. Louis went through a
street car strike that paralyzed all business for
about three months, during which time riots and
attacks on persons were the usual thing and this
time most people thought the same conditions
would obtain. However, the strike passed off
rather peaceably, only a few persons were hurt
and it never did get to the professional strike
breaker stage. But the psychology of the strike
fear was behind it all, and people declined to
consider purchases, even when offers were made
to send automobiles to their homes and bring
them to the stores.
The warerooms were manned as usual all
week, because Piano Row is well motorized and
it was the work of but a few minutes to call for
those members of the staff who had no way to
come and so the Row was ready for "business
as usual," lacking only the customers. These
would not come. The strike brought many per-
sons to see motor cars in a new light, for the
business houses gave out figures showing that
on the first day they had 66 per cent, of their
help at work and on later days even a larger
percentage. Also the department stores re-
ported 33 per cent, of persons in the stores on
Monday and an increasing number daily. But
even these stores reported that as a rule sales
were small and for necessities.
The strike spoiled some well-laid plans. For
instance, the Grand Leader Department Store
published in Sunday's newspapers the beginning
of a campaign to sell their used stock, it being
planned to follow this advertisement with a
series extending through the week. But of course
the following ads were not printed.
The Silverstone Music Co. had used a page in
the Sunday newspapers announcing the opening
of the new warerooms and tone test concerts for
each morning and afternoon of the week. At
the store it is reported that there was a fair at-
tendance of motor car owners on Monday after-
noon, a very good attendance as a special in-
vitation affair on Monday night and then a very
slim attendance until Thursday afternoon when,
for some reason not explained, more motor car
owners and a few persons who came downtown
via jitneys assembled for the afternoon concert.
Then another vacation for the week end.
THE LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Grand8, Uprights
and Players
YORK PIANOS
Uprights and Players
LIVINGSTON PIANOS
Uprights and Player-Pianos
If your competitor does not already have this
line, go after it at once.
Weaver Piano Co., Inc.
FACTORY
Established 187O
YORK, PA.
While all of this trouble was going on, there
came a ray of relief in the withdrawal of the
fuel and light restrictions, so that salesmen can
make arrangements with prospects at the stores
after 7 p. m. Since the fuel restrictionswere put
on the East, the 7 p. m. closing rule has been
in effect here and no one was willing to test the
determination to enforce it, neither was any one
willing to risk the opinion of a prospect by sug-
gesting a date behind closed blinds. As a re-
sult, night sales have been nil. There are some
salesmen who declare that this has been the
greatest handicap the piano business has suf-
fered.
In this connection, the writer will report a
conversation with an advertising man. This
man had been trying to get talking machine and
piano men to run special ads when the early
closing and lightless nights had cut off even
picture shows. His idea was that the occasion
was favorable for the advertising of records
and music rolls for "home concerts while you
cannot go out." "I told the dealers," he said,
"that here was a chance to get some of the
movie money, as the movies had been taking
their candy for a long time. Though you would
hardly believe it, not a single soul was willing to
risk a few francs on the game. No, sir! They
simply stood by and let those people save their
money until the movies opened. Don't talk to
me about the psychology of the buyer. It is the
psychology of the seller that is at fault."
W. H. Alfring, former manager of Aeolian
Hall here, now manager of the Vocation depart-
ment for the Aeolian Co., was here last week on
a short visit.
P. E. Conroy returned from New York by
way of Richmond, Va., to visit his son Robert
Conroy, a lieutenant in the Ordnance Depart-
ment.
Victrola XVII, $265
Victrola XVII, electric, $325
Mahogany or oak
Other styles $20 to $400
Victor
Supremacy
IMPROVES STORE IN SMITH CENTER
Kansas Concern Installs Balcony and Orchestra
Pit and Will Give Weekly Concerts
SMITH CENTER, KAN., February 11.—The Smith
Center Music Co. is rearranging and remodel-
ing the interior of its building. The partitions
have all been torn out and a balcony thirty feet
square is being built in the rear. Beneath the
balcony on either side will be two demonstra-
tion rooms, while in the center will be the work
room for employes. The main floor will be
used to display Edison phonographs and pianos,
the balcony will contain the orchestra pit, sheet
music section, records and the business office.
As soon as the remodeling is complete weekly
Saturday night concerts will be given. These
concerts will consist of music by the orchestra
and selections both on the Edison and piano,
together with vocal numbers. The walls of the
store are being newly painted and paneled. The
balcony will be reached by an open colonial
stairway.
NEW BACON STYLES SOON
Bacon Piano Co. Makes Advance Announce-
ment of New Line to Be Shown Very Soon
Announcement was made this week by the
Bacon Piano Co., New York, that a complete
new line of five uprights and four player-pianos,
as well as a reproducing piano, will be ready
for the market within the near future. There
will also be included a Francis baby grand and
player grand. Special care has been taken in
designing the cases of these instruments to con-
form with the popular demand of the day, while
they will contain the Bacon scale, which has
become recognized by representative dealers for
its superior tone qualities.
Further announcement regarding these instru-
ments will be made in the near future.
Victor supremacy
points the way to suc-
cess for every music
retailer.
It marks the "path
of least resistance."
Victor Talking Machine Co
Camden, N. J., U. S. A
Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal.
Canadian Wholesalers
" V i c t r o l a i, the Regirtered Trade-mark of
the Victor Talking Machine Company designating
the product! of thi> Company only.
W a r n i n g : The me of the word Victrola
upon or in the promotion or tale of any other
talking machine or Phonograph products it mislead-
ing and illegal.
Important Notice. Victor Recordt and
Victor Machines are scientifically co-ordinated
and synchronized by our special processes of
manufacture, and their use, one with the other, is
absolutely essential to a perfect Victor reproduction.