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OCTOBER 18,
1919
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
11
HEAVY VOLUME OF TRADE REPORTED IN SAN FRANCISCO
Labor Troubles Have No Effect on Demand for Musical Instruments, Say Local Piano Men—
New Post for Harald Pracht—Fotoplayers in Demand—Personals and News of the Week
SAN FRANCISCO., CAL., October 13.—Notwithstand-
ing the strikes in this city and other sections of the
country which have a tendency to upset all busi-
ness relations, business in the music trade of this
section continues at an almost uncqualed pace.
It is too early, perhaps, to get the full force of
the strike of shipbuilders in this city and of the
street car men in Oakland and Berkeley, but if
it does not show much more serious effect the
music houses will scarcely know that so many
men who have been earning high wages are no
longer in the market to buy the good things of
life.
Optimistic Over Future Trade
L. S. Sherman says that this will be a record
year with his house, whatever the results of the
strikes either here or in Eastern piano houses.
Last year, he says, was the best year his house
ever had, and the business of this year to date
has already exceeded that of last year. Another
booster for the prosperous times existing for the
music houses is George Hughes, secretary of the
Wiley B. Allen Co. Mr. Hughes has just re-
turned from a trip to Los Angeles and other sec-
tions of the southern part of the State. He comes
back filled with enthusiasm over the business his
branch houses are doing and especially the new
store at Fresno, where business has started with
a rush.
Harald Pracht Made Sales Manager
Harald Pracht has been appointed sales man-
ager of the piano department of the Wiley B.
Allen Co?, to succeed Harry N. Briggs, who re-
signed a couple of weeks ago. According to in-
formation received here Briggs is now with the
Wanamaker Co., in New York. Pracht was in
training for an officer's commission when the
war ended and later joined the sales force of the
Allen Co. Previously to that he was with Kohler
& Chase in this city.
New Quarters for J. D. Mariner
J. D. Mariner, of the J. D. Mariner Music
House, Reno, was a visitor this week. Mr. Mar-
iner says his house is the oldest music house in
Nevada and practically dominates in a music way
in that section. He has recently moved into new
quarters at 124-126 North Virginia street, and his
visit to the city at this time was in connection
3 Great Pianos
With 3 sounding boards
in each (Patented) have the
greatest talking points in
the trade.
ton Seamjw&waM*^^ Banna baMMS.
tarn farrow Baa**
We fix " o n e p r i c e " —
wholesale and retail.
The Heppe Piano Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
with completing the fitting out of this new store.
Mariner specializes on the Mehlin, Kranich &
Bach, Sohmer and Decker & Sons pianos and the
Edison and Columbia machines.
News of the Travelers
Jack Levy, manager of sales exploitation for
the American Photo Player Co., is back at his
desk after a two weeks' vacation in the moun-
tains. Jack says he encountered plenty of snow
and he has a number of pictures of himself and
others in the act of tobogganing and "mushing"
through the beautiful. H. J. Werner, president of
the American Photo Player Co., visited the fac-
tory at Van Nuys recently on his way East, where
he will spend some time. It is expected that P.
G. Jacobus, Jr., will follow him East in a short
time in the interest of the concern.
Installing Many Fotoplayers
The American Photo Player Co. reports that it
is installing several organs in churches and states
that the inquiries for organs from this source are
decidedly on the increase. The company is de-
veloping some new territory and reports that its
business shows a constant increase. The lack of
steel for theatre buildings is militating against
increased sales to some extent, but as soon as
this material becomes plentiful again the com-
pany expects a number of new theatres will be
built. In fact, according to its information, there
arc several new theatrical enterprises who are
figuring on building a string of theatres as soon
as they can get a plentiful supply of material.
All of which promises well for the future of the
theatre organ business.
Schiller Looking for a Name
J. A. G. Schiller, manager of the retail sales
of the American Photo Player Co. products for
Sherman, Clay & Co., announces the arrival of a
little girl in his family, who reached his home
without a name. His associates in the American
Photo Player Co. are offering to buy many hand-
some gifts if Schiller will name the little stranger
"Roberta Morton." A decisive answer has not
been given on this momentous matter as yet.
New Sherman, Clay Number
Sherman, Clay & Co. have just brought out a
new song entitled "Reaching for the Moon."
The lyric is by Arthur Freed, writer of "Cairo,"
and the music by Oliver Wallace, composer of
"Hindustan." According to Manager Little, of
the publishing department, the song is going to
be one of the hits of the season, and he is show-
ing some very nice ordey to demonstrate the
demand stimulated by advance copies. Adolph
Winter, the Richmond music dealer, who has
been ill for two months or more, is again able
to attend to his business and paid San Francisco
a visit this week. He says that he is going ahead
with his project to erect a new building in Rich-
mond for his own use and hopes to have it started
in the near future. The Talking Machine Asso-
ciation, which includes most of the people in San
Francisco employed in the various talking ma-
chine departments, will hold its first meeting this
season at Sherman, Clay & Co., on October 14.
Australian Visitor Expected
George Allen, head of the house of Allen & Co.,
Melbourne, is expected to arrive in San Francisco
next week on his way home from a trip to Eu-
rope and to the Eastern manufacturers of musi-
cal instruments.
New Booths Completed
The new booths for the Wiley B. Allen Co.
were completed during the week and turned over
to the store. These fourteen booths, where talk-
ing machines may be demonstrated or records
heard, are simply but beautifully decorated, and
they have had a good deal of praise from the
customers of the store.
Wm. Crocker, traveler for the Lester Piano
Co., recently visited Lester dealers in Georgia,
capturing some good orders.
I
Victor
Supremacy
Victor supremacy is
a real asset for every
music retailer.
Just how much of
an asset depends up-
on the retailer himself
—with no limit to the
measure of his success.
Victor Talking Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., U. S. A.
" V I C T R O L A " a the Registered Trade-mark
of the Victor Talking Machine Company derig-
nating the products of this Company only.
WARNING: The use of the word Victrola
upon or in the promotion or »ale of any other
Talking Machine or Phonograph products is mis-
leading and illegal.
IMPORTANT NOTICE. Victor Recordi
and Victor Machines are scientifically co-ordinated
and synchronized in the processes of manufacture,
and should be uted together to secure a perfect
reproduction.
Victrola XVI, $250
Victrola XVI, electric, $312.50
Mahogany or Oak
Other Styles $25 to $950
I
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