Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
AUGUST 17. 1918
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
ered the program but refused to recede from
the position taken. Now comes the National
Dealers Who Are Watching Developments in Washington Believe That New Draft Will Deplete body, through its State Councils Section (the
very branch which is promoting the fad against
the Ranks of Retail Salesmen—Trade Has Nothing to Fear From Proposed War Tax Bill
gift giving) and launches the plan to have the
WASHINGTON, D. C, August 14!—Piano men ation because in the United Kingdom produc- people of the country organize for community
have faced, since the entry of the United States tion of pianos has been virtually stopped and music. Of course, nothing is said in this move-
into the war, some disturbing situations, but the trade is largely in used instruments (at ment for the organization of "Liberty Choruses"
leaders in the retail trade in Washington and fancy prices, to be sure), whereas in Australia regarding instruments for purposes of accom-
tradesmen who are in the capital on business we find new pianos on sale, many of these in- paniment, but inasmuch as every chorus will re-
with the Government are pretty well agreed struments having been shipped out by American quire a piano or organ, it is easy to figure a
that the predicament just ahead is the most dis- manufacturers. Advices that have recently come certain direct benefit to the music trade aside
quieting of the series. It is the proposal to to Washington from Australia indicate that the from the larger benefit that will come through
extend the age limit on the military draft to 45 public is hungry for pianos and players at al- the stimulus to musical culture in the com-
years that has caused the latest upset to the most any price—has ever expressed willingness munity.
calculations of music trade men. As luck would to pay double the normal price for favorite Demonstrates the Ampico Reproducing Piano
A notable testimonial to the artistic qualifica-
have it, this impending drain on man-power American makes of instruments. Piano men
will require readjustments in the industry in two are inclined to believe that Australian history tions of the Ampico reproducing piano was af-
will be repeated in the United States—that, in forded recently in a special demonstration and
different quarters.
On the one hand the drastic age extension, other words, there will be a ready-made demand recital given at the Catholic University of
through the application of the "work or fight" for all the instruments the factories can produce America by Miss Gertrude Henneman, in-
structor of piano and theory at the Sisters' Col-
order, is liable to take away many of the best without quibble as to price.
lege of the university.
Using the Knabe
The Plan for "Liberty Choruses"
salesmen in music stores throughout the
Without perhaps having any such intent, the Ampico Miss Henneman demonstrated with
country. Leaders in the trade who have been
in consultation with officials of the War De- Council of National Defense has, in a sense, what marvelous fidelity the technique of mas-
partment as to what is coming say they see made amends to the music trade. It will be ters may be reproduced and finally this instru-
nothing for it but that the trade will have to recalled that the Council some time ago in- mentalist, who has an especially distinctive style,
rely much more heavily in future upon women formed manufacturers and merchants that it played de Bussy's "En Bateau," this rendition
clerks. Of course, the transition will not seem would in September launch a "No Christmas being followed by a reproduction on the Am-
so radical to the merchants who have already presents" propaganda and that, when more than pico that was thoroughly convincing to the criti-
discovered the sales ability of women in their sixty protests were received from leading trade cal audience present, and should result in more
talking machine departments, but it will never- associations and individual firms, it reconsid- Ampico sales.
theless mean the reorganization of many a store
staff.
PARSONS CO. ANNIVERSARY
NOW THE EL PASO PIANO CO.
Development of Female Piano Prospects
On the other hand, this trade is bound to con- Iowa Music House Celebrates Forty-second An- Texas Firm Consolidates Tri-State Talking Ma-
niversary of Its Founding
chine Co. Under Above Name
sider the effect of this man-power sweep upon
the home life of the nation. If homes are to
WATERLOO, IA., August 12.—The L. S. Parsons
EL PASO, TEX., August 12.—The El Paso Piano
be broken up in considerable numbers and shifts
Music House celebrated its forty-second anni- Co., the oldest piano house in this city, and the
of population to the industrial centers are in
versary in business last week. The concern Tri-State Talking Machine Co., the largest ex-
order, it goes without saying that the new influ-
was originally started by L. S. Parsons in a clusive retail talking machine house in this sec-
ences will have to be taken into consideration. small way, and was located on Fourth street for
tion, which were recently combined under joint
It looks very'much as though women would twenty-six years, moving to its present location
ownership of J. M. Spain and W. R. Schutz, are
have to be the salvation of the retail music trade on Sycamore street in 1902. The founder of
now being operated under the name of the El
in the consuming end as well as in the selling the concern has not been actively connected with
Paso Piano Co. The headquarters of the con-
end. The men who are drawn into the army its management during the past few years, his
cern is in the Raynolds Building, 215 Texas
or into industrial service, where they will make son, H. O. Parsons, being the manager. The street. Mr. Spain continues as manager of the
less money than they have been accustomed to firm is one of the largest of its kind in this piano department, and Mr. Schutz handles the
earn in the capacities for which they are fitted section, and is enjoying a constantly increasing talking machine end, but the Tri-State name
by training and experience, may be replaced as trade.
has been dropped, as it was found that it cre-
piano "prospects" by women who will have in-
ated confusion in the minds of some people who
dependent incomes for the first time or will be
regarded the two departments as two separate
DALLAS AS A MUSIC CENTER
earning more than they ever earned before and
enterprises. The concern carries a full line of
who will thus be in a position to indulge that
Will A. Watkin Writes Interestingly of the Mu- Steinway, Steck, Stroud, Wheelock, Stuyvesant
longing for the ownership of a musical instru-
and Weber pianos and Pianolas, in addition to
sical History of That City
ment that is instinctive with the average woman.
the Victor Victrola and a complete assortment
Especially is it believed that this realignment
The August issue of The Musicale, a monthly of Victor records.
will develop a sharp demand for players on the musical paper published at Dallas, Texas, con-
part of women of new-found affluence who have tains an interesting article on "Dallas—a Real
PIANO MEN IN FATAL AUTO WRECK
no musical accomplishments but who will now Center of Musical Culture," written by Will A.
be quick to avail themselves of the substitute Watkin, of the piano house of that name in Fred Shaw, of Aberdeen, and Arthur Altman
made possible by twentieth century inventions Dallas. Jn the article Mr. Watkin outlines the
Killed When Car Runs Off Road
in the reproducing field.
musical development of the city of Dallas from
Tax Not Expected to Hurt Sales
the time when he first became a resident of it,
ST. PAUL, MINN., August 10.—Word has been
Piano men who have been in contact with the in 1882, at which time there were three music received here of the death of Fred Shaw, a well-
Ways and Means Committee of the House of
houses in the city, one of which, that owned by known piano man, of Aberdeen, S. D., through
Representatives declare that even if the 10 per Henry Garrett, was purchased by Mr. Watkin an automobile accident. Mr. Shaw set out late
cent, tax sticks it will hurt retail demand for shortly after he came to Dallas. Mr. Watkin August 3 in a Ford truck to deliver a piano. He
only a very little while, or, as one piano trade mentions the rise of the many musical societies was accompanied by Arthur Altman, a widely
executive put it, "only until the public has had which are now existent in Dallas, and recalls known traveling man. The lighting system
went out of order, but Shaw continued to drive.
a chance to forget about the tax and to regard the visits of Blind Tom, the appearance of
the increased price of an instrument as in line Paderewski in 1902, the greatest musical event At a turn in the road the truck went over the
with other higher costs of living." Far-sighted which had ever been held in Dallas up to that grade overturning into a slough. Shaw was
men in the trade who have surveyed the situa- time; the first appearance of the Metropolitan pinned under the truck and was drowned while
tion are confident that the retail trade can place Opera Company in "Parsifal," at the" Dallas Altman was dealt a heavy blow on the head,
without difficulty all the instruments it can get, Opera House, under the direction of Mr. Wat- fracturing the skull and causing death in a short
kin, and other interesting episodes in the musi- time. Mr. Shaw had been in the employ of the
regardless of the tax.
cal life of that city. The article was exceed- George F. Harms Piano Co., of Aberdeen, for
What Has Happened in Australia
ingly
well written, and reflects great credit on some time.
This optimistic premise is based in part on
what has happened in Great Britain, but more Mr. Watkin's knowledge of the musical side of
No quarter for the foe, but many quarters for
especially on what has happened in Australia. Dallas, as well as showing that that Texas town
The latter is a better key to the impending situ- is in the forefront concerning things musical. Thrift Stamps!
NEW DRAFT WILL HAVE ITS EFFECT OiN THE MUSIC TRADE
WINTER & CO.
RUDOLF
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
PIANOS AND PLAYER-PIANOS
22O SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK