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NOVEMBER 23,
1918
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SAN FRANCISCO PIANO DEALERS IN OPTIMISTIC MOOD
Influenza Epidemic Has Ceased, and the Coming of Peace, Bringing With It a Relaxation of Gov-
ernment Restrictions, Makes Local Piano Men Jubilant—Interesting News of the Week
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., November 16.—The
events of the week have developed a spirit of
optimism throughout the music houses of the
city. The depression caused by the influenza
epidemic had begun to wear away last week, but
it took the Victory celebration of November 11
to banish the last fear from the city. Impelled
by patriotism, at the announcement of the final
cessation of hostilities, the people forgot all the
warnings against congregating on the streets
and thronged Market street in dense crowds
for over twenty-four hours. While masks were
worn, they were carelessly tilted away from the
mouth to make way for the ubiquitous horn.
And when at last the people went home they
slept the sleep of weary revelers and woke to
find that the "flu" had almost vanished. In the
celebration of the defeat of the Germans a vic-
tory was won over the "Germ-flu," and with the
banishing of the fear of the Hun went the fear
of the epidemic which has throttled business for
the past month. The authorities have not yet
permitted the removal of masks, but the num-
ber of new cases of sickness has sunk to almost
the zero point, and the Board of Health ac-
knowledges that the battle is over by permit-
ting the reopening of theatres and other public
places of amusement on Saturday of this week.
Now Looking for Adequate Stock
Added to this comes the announcement from
the East that the War Industries Board has
removed the ban from the manufacture of
pianos, players, automatic pianos and parts and
also on talking machines. This means an ade-
quate stock will be procurable in the near fu-
ture, although it is not likely that any of these
goods will reach the Pacific Coast in time for
the Christmas trade, unless they may be shipped
within a week's time. However, while there is
a shortage of many lines, there is doubtless an
adequate supply of both pianos and talking ma-
chines for the Christmas trade. Certain makes
and certain standards of certain makes are ex-
hausted, but there is no need of any customer
going without a first-class piano or talking ma-
chine this Christmas, even if not another ship-
ment is made until after January 1, 1919.
The Victor machine is perhaps in less ade-
quate supply on this Coast than any other mu-
sical instrument. Sherman, Clay & Co.'s Vic-
tor wholesale department has no Victors in
stock except a few of two of the cheaper styles.
Resumes His Old Position
Archibald Orr, who for the past year or more
has been connected with the Canadian Flying
Corps in Canada in the capacity of instructor,
has returned to San Francisco and resumed his
old position with the Sherman, Clay & Co. Vic-
tor wholesale department.
Pleased at News of Increased Output
Andrew G. McCarthy, head of the department
and treasurer of Sherman, Clay & Co., has re-
cently completed his duties as juror on the Fed-
eral jury, and is again regularly in his office.
He states that he is greatly pleased at the news
regarding an increase in the talking machine
Awarded first prize in many world compe-
titions during the past sixty years, the
Schomacker Piano is now daily receiving
first prizes of preference won by its superb
tone, wonderful breadth of expression and
structural beauty.
SCHOMACKER PIANO CO.
23d and Chestnut St«-
Philadelphia, Pa,
output. However, he does not look for any re-
lief in that line to reach the Coast until after
the first of the year. He is very optimistic
over the general outlook of business.
Phil T. Clay, of the Sherman, Clay & Co. or-
ganization, has been appointed general in charge
of the Red Cross membership drive, which will
be inaugurated early in December.
Fred R. Sherman Returns
Fred R. Sherman, of the same organization,
who was recently accepted as a candidate for a
commission in the army, is back again at his
desk. He was on the eve of leaving for Texas
to complete his training when word came releas-
ing from training all those who had not started
for the training quarters. Mr. Sherman is very
much disappointed that he did not have an op-
portunity to see active service.
George Washington Bates, auditor of Sher-
man, Clay & Co., leaves early next week for
the Northwest to check up the books of the
corporation. This is his regular fall trip.
Trade Outlook in San Francisco
Jas. W. Bergstrom, manager of the Honolulu
Music. Co., arrived in this city during the past
week and will remain here until the middle of
December before he returns to his island home.
He is here on a combined pleasure and business
trip and says that he will not have time to make
a visit East during his present stay. Speak-
ing of business in the islands he said that condi-
tions were very favorable. While the influenza
epidemic spread over the islands as everywhere
else it did not seem as severe as in many places
and the authorities quickly got it under control.
Now that the war is over he says the islands
should have less difficulty in getting labor to
work on the plantations, and he is looking for a
period of prosperity. That he is not alone in
this viewpoint he says that all the principal
hotels of the city of Honolulu are being made
ready for a big tourist trade, and that several
big new hotels are planned for that city. Speak-
ing specifically of the music trade he says that
his best customers are to be found among the
Chinese, who not only buy liberally, but make
their payments promptly.
E. B. Barron, sales manager of the American
Photo Player Co. for northern California, is
making a trip through the San Joaquin and
Sacramento valleys in advance of the reopening
of the motion picture houses.
H. J. Werner, president of the American
Photo Player Co., who has been visiting the
various branches of the company in the East,
and who recently spent two weeks in New York,
is expected back at the headquarters of the com-
pany in a few days. Mr. Werner is reported to
be much pleased with the results of his trip.
• The Fotoplayer in Chile
Recent installations of Fotoplayers in Chile
have awakened a great deal of interest, among
the motion picture houses of that nation and
several have written letters to the San Francisco
office about the instrument. The company is
particularly gratified at the number of inquiries
it has received from this country, whose peo-
ple are notoriously music-loving and musically
educated.
The California Band Instrument Co. reports
that it has recently received several shipments
of musical instrument strings and asserts that
it expects a large trade in this line.
Roy Weldon, outside sales manager for the
Wiley B. Allen Co., for the San Joaquin and
Sacramento valleys, was a San Francisco visitor
this week.
May Have to Seek New Quarters
Clark Wise & Co. state that improvements in
the building in which they are located are being
made for the Western Union Telegraph Co., and
when they are concluded the music company
will be compelled to seek other quarters. How-
ever, Mr. Wise says that it will be from four
to six months before he has to move.
9
"This is the luxury of music. It touches every
key of memory and stirs all the hidden springs
of sorrow and of joy. I love it for what it
makes me forget, and for what it makes me re-
member."
THE KROEGER
PLAYER-PIANO
brings to you a mastery of the technical
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supreme
MUSIC MASTER
KROEGER
PLAYER-PIANOS
are shown below in architectural grace and
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STYLE 47
STYLE 48
Kroeger Piano Co.
New York, N. Y., and Stamford, Coon,