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THE
JULY 6, 1918
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
JUNE BUSINESS PROVES SATISFACTORY IN DETROIT TRADE
Local Piano Merchants Express Satisfaction Over Showing Made During Past Month—Perry A.
Robinson Passes Away—Wurlitzer Co. Entering Retail Trade—Grinnell Heads War Stamp List
DETROIT,
MICH., July
1.—The last
few
days
were very opportune to ask music dealers
"How's Business?" The-replies were all along
the same line showing that when business is
good or when business is bad it is felt right
down the line. In other words, using the ex-
pression of one dealer on Broadway, "When my
competitor is busy I am also busy—and when
he's dull you can bet we are also dull." At
Grinnell Bros, store we learned that business
was not brisk, yet it was far from being poor
—one might say it was "satisfactory." At the
J. L. Hudson Co. we learned that the piano and
player and roll departments held up very well
in June, but that there was a little slump in the
talking machine end. At the Detroit Music
Co. Manager Trebilcock reported that he was
having a good business on cheaper priced instru-
ments and that the sale of slightly used instru-
ments was more active than it had been in a
long while. J. Henry Long, who is always op-
timistic, said business was "fine considering war
conditions." At the Bush & Lane store we
learned that Cecilian players were going out
at a lively clip and that the home office of-
ficials were exceedingly gratified with results
at the Detroit store. President Ramsdell, of
the Detroit Piano Co., said June was an aver-
age month, and that he did not expect to lose
any business by moving from the first to the
second floor some time about the middle of
July. Wallace Brown, of the Brunswick Shop,
said June was actually one of the best months
this year—something he could not account for.
dolins, guitars, saxophones, horns of all kinds,
pianos, player-pianos and automatic musical in-
struments on the basis of instalment payments
as low as $1 per week. Their present location
will be very much improved for retail purposes
when the new million-dollar telephone building
is completed two blocks further west some time
about January 1.
The Walker & Rush Co. has been incorporated
to buy and sell at retail musical instruments,
music house supplies, etc., with an authorized
stock of $10,000, of which amount $6,000 has
been subscribed and paid in in cash.
The State director of the War Savings cam-
paign now on in Detroit is endeavoring to enroll
at least 10,000 local citizens in the Thousand
Limit Club—the honor list of persons who pur-
chase $1,000 worth of War Savings Stamps.
Among the very first to head the list was A. A.
Grinnell, treasurer of Grinnell Bros. The firm
of Grinnell Bros, also was enrolled as a mem-
ber of the Limit Club. Jerome H. Remick, the
music publisher, was another who joined the
very first day of the campaign and the dealers
are all boosting the campaign.
AEOLIAN FOREMEN IN MERIDEN HAVE ENJOYABLE OUTING
Heads of Departments in Meriden Factory Enjoy Automobile Ride and Dinner at Double Beach—
Paul J. Stroup Makes Patriotic Address—Ball Game a Feature of the Festivities
Nearly fifty foremen and factory heads of the ported "here," even "Flat Wheel" Bye rolled in
Aeolian Co.'s Meriden factory gathered early one promptly and reported O. K. Along the river
Saturday morning recently in readiness for the road Mr. Carruth's "Puddle Jumper" lost a bit
annual outing which this year took the form of of its wind but soon caught up with the prbces-
sion, for the simple reason that the others
waited for him. Mr. Vile's "Old Reliable" Oak-
land came to grief near Centerbrook, but with
the many assistants and with much good advice
was soon in shape again for the road.
The call for "eats" at 1.30 brought every one
to an excellent shore dinner to which proper at-
tention was given for the time.
After the
cigars were lighted Supterintendent Fred L.
Wood spoke a few words of good cheer to "the
boys," followed by Paul J. Stroup, manager of
The Aeolian Foremen and Their Guests
an auto ride with dinner and sports at Double
Beach. Nine autos started promptly at 8.45 for
Perry A. Robinson, who for nearly forty years Middletown and then the beautiful drive along
was an employe of Grinnell Bros. Music House, the borders of the Connecticut River to the
died on 'Wednesday, June 26. He was buried Sound Shore. After about thirty miles along
Saturday, and among the pallbearers were mem- the shore road Branford was reached, where
bers of the firm and some of the department every one rested, made notes and ate sand-
managers. Mr. Robinson was connected with wiches. The ride from Middletown was over
the piano department through practically the the finest of roads and the old-time famous
entire period of Grinnell Bros.' business develop- scenery was the cause of many enthusiastic re-
ment, he having started with them one year marks from the New York guests attending.
after their organization. He was actively en-
Arriving safely at Double Beach about 12.30
gaged during the forty-year period up to about dinner was reported as well under way and was
four months ago when he was forced to retire to be served in prompt order.
Master Me-
on account of his health. Mr. Robinson was chanic Sperry's "Tin Lizzie" had surely been
born at Mooresville, Mich., and was in his well groomed and given something besides gaso-
Messrs. Votey, Wood and Brigham
sixty-sixth year. While ill-health necessitated
the Universal Music Co., with a short and timely
his giving up his work some few months ago,
address, having a pronounced pro-American
his death came very suddenly and was due to
ending.
uraemic poisoning.
A widow, two married
An immediate adjournment was next in order
daughters and two sons, one of which, Harry E.
for the annual tussle between the hardware and
Robinson, has been for a number of years asso-
music departments on the baseball field nearby.
ciated with Grinnell Bros., survive him. He had
It was "some game," for five innings at least.
a very large acquaintance in Detroit and was
The semi-professional pitching of Harry Elliot
always held in the highest esteem.
for the "Song Roll" men could not overcome
the hard-hitting "Motor" men, as they finally
The local branch of the Rudolph Wurlitzer
won out, seven to five. Several stars were
Co., 75 State street, is now branching out into
noticeable in the game, particularly the catch-
the retail musical instrument business, along
ing by "Josh" Votey, which was truly wonderful,
the lines of Grinnell Bros, and the J. L. Hudson
and the batting of first baseman Stroup was of
I. J. Sperry and His "Lizzie"
Co. Although originally they came to Detroit
to confine themselves to the sale of theatre or- line, for it fairly flew the last ten miles into the Giant order.
gans and electric pianos, they found a demand Branford, being paced by Superintendent Wood's
The committee in charge of the arrangements
for their other lines and from time to time have seven-passenger "Oldsmobile."
consisted of I. J. Sperry, J. B. Dunlop, Thomas
added them. They are retailing ukuleles, man-
At the roll call before dinner every one re- Pattison and E. L. Roberts, to whom was due
the credit for the successful and enjoyable day.
DEATH OF JOHN Q. M0ULT0N
BOSTON.
PIANOFORTES
Established 1863
Henry F. Miller & Sons Piano Co.
395 Boylston Street
BOSTON
MASS.
John Gary Moulton, of Somerville, Mass., well
known as an expert church organ and piano
maker, died at his home last week from soften-
ing of the brain. He had been ill for the past
two years. He learned the piano trade in the
Chickering and McPhail factories in Boston,
after which he entered business for himself as
an expert repairman.
He is survived by a
widow, a daughter and two sisters.
NEW INCORPORATION
The Globe Music Co., of St. Charles, Mo., has
been incorporated with a capitalization of
$25,000.