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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NOVEMBER 16, 1918
11
SAN FRANCISCO TRADE RAPIDLY INCREASING IN VOLUME
Epidemic Is Now Under Control, and the Public Is Again Buying Freely—Sherman, Clay & Co.
Doing Banner Business—Fotoplayer Activities—News of the Week
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., November 9.—A bright
future seems in store for the music houses in
this city, and in a degree the same future ap-
pears to be in waiting for the entire Coast. The
influenza epidemic has been controlled, and
while it has not been entirely stamped out the
reports of new cases are daily growing less.
The fear has apparently vanished altogether,
and while the public continues to wear masks
and will doubtless do so for some time, as they
have proved to be efficacious, the people as a
whole have again taken up their usual routine.
They are buying again freely and the music
houses have all noted a decided turn to the bet-
ter during the past week. Notwithstanding the
epidemic during the latter part of the month
and the Liberty Loan during the earlier days,
the month of October cannot be classed as a
poor month in San Francisco. On the Coast
as a whole it was a good month.
Speaking of both wholesale and retail sales
L. S. Sherman, of Sherman, Clay & Co., says
that October this year was the best October the
house has ever had in all the various branches
of the company. Other dealers who are con-
fined in their efforts to fewer branches agree
that October was a successful business month,
and state that the year up to November 1 has
broken all records. The reports early to-day
that Germany has signed the armistice and that
the war is over caused universal rejoicing. To
quote Mr. Sherman again, "After this business
ought to be good forever." While the other
dealers were not quite so emphatic in their
opinions there* was a general sigh of relief at
the prospect of peace conditions again.
Death of Harry Curtaz
With the death of Harry Curtaz, on Novem-
ber 2—reported by wire to The Review—the
last of the house of Benjamin Curtaz & Son,
engaged in the music business, passed away
Harry Curtaz was the son of the founder of the
house, which was famous in San Francisco from
pioneer times down to the great fire of 1906.
Of late years Harry had been employed by
Clark, Wise & Co. He contracted influenza
while taking care of his daughter, Ruth, who
had been stricken with that disease.
Appar-
ently making a quick recovery he was down-
town on October 29. That night he took to his
bed and pneumonia developed, carrying him off
in a little more than four days. He was fifty-
live years of age.
Gauze masks have become so common in San
Francisco that several of the music houses who
handle the Victor machines have put a mask on
the dog, who is perpetually listening to "his
master's voice."
Planning Extensive Campaign
Sherman, Clay & Co. are planning an extensive
campaign on band instruments and small goods.
They expect to inaugurate the campaign in a
short time, and it is reported that they will
spring several features novel on this Coast.
Q R S Co. News Items
Alexander L. Quinn, Coast manager for the
Q R S Co., says that he is going to get out on
the road as soon as he has assurances that the
prevailing sickness will make no more inroads
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on his office help.
His assistant, Henry J.
Lyons, is now back to work, although he has
not regained his strength in full. Mr. Quinn
says that a number of music dealers in the
State are releasing some of their Liberty Bonds
in order to pay for music rolls. This is espe-
cially true of bonds taken in by them on music
instruments sold. Quinn has had a number of
offers of this kind, and in one case he decided
to accept. Now that he learns the war is prac-
tically over he feels that he has made an ex-
cellent bargain. As much as he admires the
Q R S rolls Mr. Quinn says they are not likely
to go to a premium, while Liberty Bonds will
sell at 10 per cent, or more above par inside
of a year in his opinion.
Moved to New Quarters
The California Band Instrument Co., which
recently took quarters in the Kohler & Chase
establishment, has moved its headquarters in
San Francisco to the basement of the Byron
Mauzy establishment, which floor it will occupy
with John B. Broder in charge of sheet music.
Knox Sims has been placed in charge of the
Band Instrument Co. in its new quarters. The
California Band Instrument Co. has been in
business in Oakland for a number of years. It
operates its own store in that city and also the
small goods department of Byron Mauzy in Oak-
land. H recently added the Holton band instru-
ments to all its stores. The company is plan-
ning to advertise extensively over the entire Pa-
cific Coast, and expects to work up an extensive
mail order business.
Takes Charge at Byron Mauzy's
John B. Broder. in charge of sheet music
for Byron Mauzy, has just heard from his
nephew, William Purcell, who was recently
wounded in battle on the French line. Mr.
Purcell has been sent to one of the convales-
cent camps in the south of France.
Miss B. House has recently taken charge of
the music roll department at Byron Mauzy's. She
lias planned an extensively campaign to encour-
age the buying of rolls as soon as the influenza
epidemic shows greater improvement.
j . W. Hall, piano dealer of Byron, Cal., visited
San Francisco this week. Mr. Hall makes fre-
quent visits to all the small towns in his neigh-
borhood, and he reports that as the influenza
cases decrease he finds a wonderful increase in
business everywhere.
Fotoplayer for Theatre in Trinidad
J. H. Merrill, of the American Photo Player
Co., who recently spent two weeks at the home
office in San Francisco, has returned to the
Rocky Mountain territory. He reports the sale
of a Fotoplayer to the Stratid Theatre in Trini-
dad, Colo.
P. G. Jacobus, Jr., treasurer, and S. S. Abrams,
vice-president of the American Photo Player Co.,
left recently for the factory at Van Nuys for
consultation purposes and to inspect two Robert
Mortons, which are about ready for shipment to
the Chicago territory.
Closing of Theatres Hurts Organ Trade
George H. Leathurby, of the G. H. Leathurby
Co., handling Seeburg-Smith unified pipe or-
gans, says that the continued closing of the mo-
tion picture houses in this territory is playing
hob with the organ business. His information
is that it will be at least two weeks before any
ol the theatres reopen, and that it may be much
lunger. Mr. Leathurby states that his brother,
Clarence Leathurby, who used to be in the music
business with him, when he had charge of the
Wurlitzer organs, has recently been appointed
second lieutenant of heavy artillery, after sev-
eral months' intensive training.
VV. H. Howland, for some months manager
of the Pudney music store, Broad street, One-
onta, N. Y., recently purchased the entire stock
of the concern, and will open a new store at 41
Chestnut street in the near future.
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