Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
10
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
STREET CAR STRIKE STILL HANDICAPS BUFFALO TRADE
Lack of Transportation Facilities and the Influenza Slow Up Business Somewhat With the Music
Dealers—Clifford Ford Promoted—Talking Machine Men Re-elect Officers
BUFFALO, N. Y., October 15.—Buffalo's city-
wide street car strike is still in progress at
this writing and the downtown piano stores are
losing considerable money on account of the
tie-up. To give an idea of the losses in all
lines of retail business downtown, it is estimated
that the retail places, piano stores included, are
showing a decrease in trade amounting to $50,000
a day. Thousands of employes at local plants
working on war orders are on the absent or
tardy list daily during the strike and their
losses in wages each day is estimated at $10,000.
Downtown piano dealers and their salesmen,
who are not fortunate enough to own automo-
biles, are traveling to and from work on motor
trucks and jitneys or over "the shoe leather
route." Neighborhood piano stores continue to
do a lively business during the tie-up. One
downtown dealer is using his automobile to
good advantage by motoring an hour each morn-
ing to get collections from customers who on
account of the strike are among the stay-at-
homes. "In that way I am keeping up my col-
lections in good shape," he said.
Buffalo trade in general and the piano stores
in particular have received another setback on
account of the spread of Spanish influenza in
this city. Mayor Buck has ordered all theatres,
dance halls, churches, schools, etc., closed to
avoid the spread of the disease. Large indoor
assemblies are also prohibited.
The cancellation of the Caruso concert, owing
to the influenza shutdown, offered an advertis-
ing feature which was not overlooked by Ed-
ward Heintz, display manager of Robert L.
Loud's piano store. As soon as he heard that
the recital had been postponed Mr. Heintz put
up a large sign which read: "Caruso Sings
HERE." Of course, the word "here" was spe-
cially emphasized, the purpose being to stimu-
late the sale of Caruso records for the Victrola,
which Mr. Loud handles.
Clifford Ford has been promoted to general
floor manager of the Loud store. He has been
in the employ of Mr. Loud for the past nine
years. A Mason & Hamlin concert grand, fur-
nished by Mr. Loud, will be used at a concert
to be given at Elmwood Music Hall October 29
by Miss Helen Stanley, lyric soprano, and La-
parra, Spanish pianist.
S. J. Butler, manager of J. N. Adam & Co.'s
piano department, is chairman of the Liberty
Loan Committee of that store. Mr. Butler and
his committee canvassed individually every
employe of the company in the sale of bonds
and the response was highly satisfactory. Ralph
C. Hudson, president of the firm, is chairman
of the retail merchants' committee in the drive.
Callers on Mr. Butler included Harold S. Morse,
sales manager of the Bradbury, and Stewart
Perry, Eastern representative of the A. B. Chase
Piano Co.
L. M. Cole, Sonora traveling representative in
eastern New York, was a recent Buffalo visitor.
During the street car strike auto owners are
making plenty of side money by carrying pas-
sengers. William H. Rielly, salesman for the
Utley Piano Co., Inc., has worked out a suc-
cessful way to get contributions for the Sol-
diers' Smoke Fund being collected here. He
has placed on his car a box into which passen-
gers, to whom he gives free rides, drop dimes
and other pieces for the benefit of the boys in
France. A large sign on the box makes it
necessary for Mr. Rielly to make very few ex-
planations.
William Golden, representing Stultz & Bauer,
Inc., New York, called on the Hoffman Piano
Co.
At a recent dinner held at the Hotel Statler
by the local piano and talking machine men a
powerful impetus was given to their campaign
in connection with the Fourth Liberty Loan.
As already announced they have obtained their
quota in the drive. William H. Daniels, chair-
OCTOBER 19, 1918
man of the committee representing these trades,
presided at the meeting, which was attended by
many members of the local trade.
After the dinner the Talking Machine Dealers'
Association of Buffalo met and re-elected the
following officers for the ensuing year: Presi-
dent, Thomas A. Goold; vice-president, E. C.
Emeus; secretary, Harry G. Towne; treasurer,
Mr. Biesinger.
A. D. Ogden, New York State representative
of Hallet & Davis Co., recently called on the
Koenig Piano Co. and secured a large order
for Hallet & Davis pianos'and players and Pathe
talking machines.
PITTSBURGH TRADE OPTIMISTIC, DESPITE THE INFLUENZA
Good Business Last Month Helps Mitigate Lessened Trade at Present, Due to Prevalence of Span-
ish Influenza—Plans for Piano Men's Organization Being Perfected—Other Items
PITTSBURGH, PA., October 15.—Despite the ap- the support of the Fourth Liberty Loan and
parent lack of business in piano trade circles in registered 100 per cent, in subscriptions. The
Pittsburgh, due to the Spanish influenza epi- firm had on display in their show window the
demic that has closed all of the theatres, mo- past week a handsome Louis XV Kurtzmann
tion picture houses, canceled musical events, in grand piano, which was much admired by the
fact, put a decided quietus on all public affairs many persons who stopped to view it.
The preliminary plans for the piano men's or-
even to the extent of closing the churches, there
is a general feeling of elation among the trade ganization here are being slowly worked out,
over the September business. Practically all and it is expected that as soon as the Health
of the dealers who were seen by The Review Board's ban on the holding of meetings is re-
representative stated that September trade was moved a meeting will be called for the purpose
far in excess of the business done in September, of organization. The plans are being arranged
in a tentative manner by Arthur Lechner, of
1917.
Then, too, the activity on part of the Fourth Lechner & Schoenberger; Theodore Hoffman,
Liberty Loan campaigners has had the tendency of the J. M. Hoffman Co., and C. J. Roberts, of
to slow down business in all lines. The piano the Chas. M. Stieff Piano Co.
dealers have been among the foremost to help
along the good work. They have given over
LIBERTY LOAN COMMITTEE MEETS
large portions of their show windows for the
display of designs and advertising material for M. K. Parker, of the Advisory Trades Commit-
tee, Calls Music Men Together on Monday
the Liberty Loan and have also headed all of
their advertisements in the daily newspapers
M. K. Parker, of the Advisory Trades Com-
with the admonition to "Buy Bonds." Some
of the more attractive windows in which patri- mittee of the Fourth Liberty Loan, called a
otic displays were prominent were those of the meeting of the executive committee of the Al-
C. C. Mellor Co., the S. Hamilton Co., Schroeder lied Music Committee on Monday morning of
Piano Co., Lechner & Schoenberger, W. F. this week, at which Mr. Parker emphasized the
Frederick Piano Co., the J. M. Hoffmann Co. great work facing- the Liberty Loan workers
throughout the country in raising nearly half
and Volkwein's.
There is a general impression in the piano the necessary loan subscription during the final
trade that the presentation of useful gifts as ad- week of the drive. Mr. Parker congratulated
vised by the National Council of Defense will Chairman Mark P. Campbell and the other
be an important factor in the Christmas trade members of the Allied Music Committee upon
that is now being cultivated by the far-sighted their excellent work to date, and urged them to
piano merchant. With the probability of the still greater effort.
piano output being materially reduced, owing to
war conditions, a number of piano men here
HURT AMERICAN MERCHANTS
have advised prospective purchasers to "buy
early." In the line of useful gifts pianos, player- German Agents Take Advantage of Trade-Mark
pianos and talking machines are going to be very
Discrepancies
prominent this coming Yuletide.
The employes of the C. C. Mellor Co. sub-
WASHINGTON, D. C, October 14.—German
scribed a total of $4,240 to the Fourth Liberty agents seeking to obstruct the expansion of
Loan.
American trade have taken advantage of the
W. C. Dierks, general manager of the C. C. wide differences between trade-mark laws of
Mellor Co., returned from a business trip to North and South America and thereby have
New York. While en route home the train forced American merchants to pay ruinous
on which he was a passenger was wrecked, but prices for recognition of their wares in Latin-
American countries.
Mr. Dierks escaped unscathed.
The S. Hamilton Co. have placed in a con-
This charge is made in a statement issued to-
spicuous place in their salesroom a tablet to day by the International High Commission an-
the honor of the various employes who are now nouncing that progress is being made in rati-
overseas with the American Expeditionary fication by American nations of the convention
Forces. Above the names of the men is an in- establishing two trade-mark registration bu-
scription indicating why the tablet was placed reaus, one for North and Central America and
and also the quotation, "May God grant them a the West Indian republics and the other for
victorious return." The names on the tablet South America.
are James Morrow, Henr}^ A. Locke, Arthur E.
Bovell and Harry Senn. The firm keeps in
W. B. Harn, formerly with the Cincinnati
constant touch with the four men.
branch of the Cable Company, is now a lieuten-
The Schroeder Piano Co. employes rallied to ant in the 814th Infantry, U. S. A.
For over 25 years Specialists
in high grade Piano Cases
Paterson Piano
Case Co.
PATERSON, N. J.