Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
NOVEMBER 16,
1918
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
UNSETTLED TRADE IN PHILADELPHIA
TRADE NEWS FROM CINCINNATI
Dealers Anticipate Good Business, But Present
Trade Is Rather Spotty—Lester Plant Work-
ing to Capacity—Cunningham to Enlarge
High-Class Instruments in Demand—Business
Is Improving—E. E. Conway a Visitor—Sym-
phony Orchestra Outwits Health Board
PHILADELPHIA, PA., November 12.—The piano
business the past week was in such an unsettled
state that it is difficult at the moment to just
say where it stands, and on which side of the
fence it is going to fall. There were two peace
celebrations, and each of these days meant no
business at all, and, in fact, tended to upset busi-
ness on the intervening days. On Monday of
this week all of the piano stores, as well as the
department stores, were closed most of the day.
The dealers are of the opinion that business
is going to be very good from this on to the
end of the year, but they are not willing to pre-
dict further than that. If there is much dis-
turbance at the second half of the winter in the
big factories that have been engaged in war
work, and if great numbers of soldiers are re-
leased there is some fear that there is going to
be a depression in business until things are sat- .
isfactorily adjusted.
But for the present the
dealers see only good things ahead until the
holidays are over, and they believe they are go-
ing to have the largest holiday trade in the
history of the business.
The Story & Clark Piano Co. have a new man-
ager, Lewis Schoenewald, replacing the late Mr.
Campion. He was formerly connected with the
offices in New York.
H. A. Weymann & Sons closed early on Mon-
day to give all their men a chance to celebrate.
They boarded up their entire front to avoid the
crush.
Harry W. Weymann says: "In my
judgment the prospects for great quantities of
Victrolas and records are very good, now that
the war is over."
Mr. Weymann says that the demand for small
goods continues as great as ever, especially for
the Weymann-Keystone State lines. Goods that
were formerly imported from Germany are now
being made in this country, and the prospects
look so promising for this development that
there will be no occasion to depend upon Ger-
many in the future for musical instruments.
Mr. Weymann received recently letters from
his two sons in France, Herbert W. and Harry
Power Weymann, both sons writing, "I expect
to see you shortly."
The Lester Piano Co. have not relinquished
an iota in the work of turning out as many
pianos as the Government will allow them, and
they feel satisfied that they will be able to sup-
ply their trade sufficiently, as they will not
be very much handicapped. They have been
wide awake during the fall and have all their
plans made, and are sure they will be able to
carry them out, to rush their factory to the limit
just as soon as they secure permission to do so.
They have been getting in large quantities of
materials, which have become thoroughly sea-
soned, and believe that they are going to make
a better piano than ever before when they get
back to normal conditions.
P. J. Cunningham, of the Cunningham Piano
Co., tells me that he has all his plans made for
the enlarging of his factory at Forty-fourth and
Parkside avenue, as well as plans for his new
building on Chestnut street, opposite Wana-
maker's, which he hopes, to carry out shortly,
just as soon as sufficient workmen are released
from Government employ so that he can go on
unhindered. The new Cunningham piano store,
from the plans drawn, will no doubt be the finest
establishment of its kind in this city, for the
company owns several buildings and will be able
to make the store a proper size and in good
proportions.
Strawbridge & Clothier have been doing very
well with the Soloelle, which they recently added
to their list of player-pianos, and are introduc-
ing the action into the following instruments:
the Hazelton Brothers, Francis Bacon and the
Faber.
CINCINNATI, O., November 12.—This city cele-
brated in great form yesterday the signing of
the armistice with Germany, which marked the
ending of the war. The scene was a wonderful
one in which the people expressed their pent-up
emotions and pleasure at the conclusion of this
frightful world war. To-day every merchant
is turning his thoughts toward future plans.
E. E. Conway, of Hallet & Davis Piano Co.,
was in town Saturday conferring with the offi-
cials of the Wm. R. Graul Piano Co., local rep-
resentatives of the Hallet & Davis line. While
here he saw an example of quick salesmanship
on the part of Mr. Graul. "Bob" Mullane, a
personal friend, wanted a grand piano for his
new home on East Walnut Hills, purchased
earlier in the month, and Mr. Graul telephoned
Mr. Mullane, announcing that he had a Hallet
& Davis in the store, unpacked. It was sold,
sight unseen.
There was a slight improvement in the retail
line last week, most of the buyers being after
the high-class goods. Players, as in the past,
were in demand. The general tone of the trade
now is very optimistic. Every house is getting
its plans laid for the holiday season.
Word has been received of the promotion of
Lucien Wulsin, now a captain of engineers with
the army in France.
The many friends in this city of John Ander-
son, for many years the superintendent of the
Everett factory, Boston, have been pleased to
learn of his having accepted charge this week
of the Mason & Hamlin Co. plant in that city.
Quite humorous is the experience of the Cin-
cinnati Symphony Orchestra, which has been
trying to lift the ban on gatherings so that its
members can practice for the coming season.
Last week there was quite a powwow at the
Board of Health, but the plea fell on deaf ears.
St. Bernard, immediately adjoining Cincinnati,
eliminated the "flu" ban Saturday so the orches-
tra, violins, etc., journeyed Sunday to that place
on street cars and participated in the first re-
hearsal of the season right under the guns of
Cincinnati's Board of Health.
Help the United War Work drive to-day.
13
The Piano for Dry
Territory"
Mr. Dealer
The Demand Made
by the Great Amer-
ican Public for High
Grade Entertainment
Is on the Increase
and Will Never Wane
This demand will be accentuated with
the dawning of the dry situation and
there will always be those, commer-
cially wise, who will cater to the de-
mand.
High Grade Music
is a concomitant to such entertain-
ment, and it would be an act of wis-
dom on your part to be prepared to
meet the demand by installing the
SOHMER AGAIN 100 PER CENT.
In United War Work Drive in Which the Ex-
ecutives Are Taking a Keen Interest
Sohmer & Co., New York, are displaying in
the window of their showrooms, 315 Fifth ave-
nue, an attractive placard announcing the fact
that the company's executive and sales offices
at this address have gone "over the top" in
the United War Work drive; the subscriptions
from the employes in this office entitling the
company to a 100 per cent. flag.
It is interesting to note that several of the
executives of Sohmer & Co. are taking a keen
interest in the success of this drive, and are
gladly contributing their time to this worthy
cause. Harry J. Sohmer, president of the com-
pany, is one of the chief field marshals to
George W. Gittins, chairman of the Allied Music
Industries for this drive. Frank Sohmer, re-
tail manager for Sohmer & Co., as a member
of the Four-Minute Men, is speaking nightly
in behalf of the cause, and Alex McDonald, pub-
licity director for Sohmer & Co., is vice-chair-
man of one of the teams in his home city, East
Orange, N. J.
CLAIM DEMANDS ARE UNREASONABLE
The working men in the Kranich & Bach fac-
tory, New York, went on strike last week, and
at the present time this strike is still in force.
A member of the firm stated to a representative
of The Review that the men made certain de-
mands which the firm deemed unreasonable and
could not meet.
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Piano Company
Leaders in the Automatic Field
.
Republic Bldg., 209 S. State St j
CHICAGO
'