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NOVEMBER IS, 1919
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
MEETING OF CLEVELAND MUSIC TRADES' ASSOCIATION
Members Discuss Trade Conditions and Listen to Some Interesting Talks—Rex C. Hyre After
State Association Data—New Plan for Stealing Pianos Disclosed
•
CLEVELAND, O., November 12.—Members of the
Cleveland Music Trades Association held their
meeting this evening at Schuster's Cafe and dis-
cussed holiday business and other matters along
the lines of "shop talk." Two diverting features
were talks by Lieut. Raymond E. Hyre, brother
of Rex. C. Hyre, attorney for the association mem-
bers, and A. L. Maresh, secretary and ad censor
of the organization. Lieutenant Hyre saw con-
siderable military service at home and abroad and
particularly in Italy. He discussed the beneficial
influence music had upon men in camp.
Mr. Maresh also discussed music and its rela-
tion to the development of the piano business.
The meeting was well-attended and dealers ex-
changed views regarding the anticipated holiday
business. They are making extensive plans for
an "early shopping" campaign. The outlook for
an early settlement of I he coal miners' strike is
encouraging to retailers who feared the strike,
linked with the tie-up of steel workers, would cut
deeply into anticipated holiday orders for musi-
cal instruments.
Rex C. Hyre, secretary and ad censor of the
Piano Merchants' Association of Ohio, has gone
to Cincinnati to obtain books, records and other
data which he will bring to his oriice in this city.
"I have not received these records'" Mr. Hyre
said before going to Cincinnati. "Until I get
them I cannot tell much about the membership
or other matters."
Dealers say that many steel workers who have
been idle for weeks are falling behind on their pay-
ments due on pianos, player-pianos and talking
machines. Expensive instruments were bought in
many instances by men making high wages. Now
that this income is cut off and the men have to
carry the ever-increasing cost of living they find
themselves unable to meet obligations for artu
outside of life's necessities.
The May Co. is making a drive on the Apollo-
phone. "This new instrument," said the firm's
sales manager, "combines the player-piano and the
phonograph in one case at the price of one instru-
ment. It is thoroughly practical and reliable."
The A. B. Smith Piano Co., Akron, is featuring
a drive under the heading, "Make Music a Part
of the Child's Daily Diet."
3 Great Pianos
With 3 sounding boards
in each (Patented) have the
greatest talking points in
the trade.
We fix " o n e p r i c e " —
wholesale and retail.
The Heppe Piano Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
"No element of the children's daily existence
can aid so easily and effectually in moulding the
minds of children as the player-piano," said one
of the firm's representatives, while in Cleveland.
"Every child is entitled to it, and few need to be
deprived of it in these days when a player is so
easy to obtain. A player-piano is an essential of
every household where children abide."
The department store of William Taylor, Son
& Co., is featuring what it calls "The Taylor Out-
fit Plan," Grafonolas being offered in several
"outfits." The $212.75 outfit, for instance, in-
cludes a mahogany cabinet machine, 30 selections
(15 10-inch double-faced 85 cent records) of the
purchaser's own choosing; terms, $12.75 down and
$12 a month.
According to A. L. Maresh, secretary of the
Cleveland Music Trades Association, piano and
player-piano thieves have been unusually busy in
the city lately. Mr. Maresh sent out warnings to
dealers in used instruments to be on the lookout
for instruments stolen. The method by which
pianos are obtained is this:
Two or more strong men go to a home when
all the inmates except an old gentleman or elderly
lady are absent and make them believe that the
instrument is wanted by the dealer because it has
not been paid for on the instalment plan. Sev-
eral instruments have been obtained recently in
this way.
Small dealers in pianos and players are com-
plaining about their inability to obtain stock;
and also about the uncertainty of prices. Tlu
dealers, or some of them, say they do noi
what prices will be until they open their maii
and then are not sure changes will not be made.
There is talk of a piano bench factory being
operated in Cleveland, the stock to be owned by
dealers in pianos and player-pianos. A piano man
long connected with one of the best known retail
establishments in the city is said to be promoting
a movement to form a stock company of dealers
to engage in supplying benches. The increasing
cost of musical instrument accessories is given as
the primary cause for this radical step in the di-
rection of relief from factory charges. While the
talked-of bench concern has not yet taken form
it is reported that several retail firms have signi-
fied their willingness to support the project with
stock subscriptions.
$
S. J. Butler, manager of J. N. Adam & Co.'s
piano department, Buffalo, N. Y., has returned
from a trip to New York and Boston.
$
3%
$
deposited in the coin box
of a b a n k---whereas,
there's no limit when
deposited in the coin box
of
Seeburg's Style K
"Midget Orchestrion"
(Coin Operated)
HERE'S THE IDEA
Large Number Coming to Premier Grand Piano
Corp. from tne Central West
S. J. BUTLER RETURNS
•
Y o u o n l y get
interest on the
MANY PREMIER GRAND INQUIRIES
The growth of the popularity of the small
grand piano, especially in the Central West, has
been forcefully manifested in the great number
of applications for the agency of the Premier
grand piano, which have recently been received
from that section of the country by the Premier
Grand Piano Corp., 510-532 West 23rd street, New
York. W. C. Hepperla, president of the com-
pany, stated to a representative of the Review this
week that among the inquiries they have received
there have been many from some of the most
representative houses of the country. Although
the inquiries from the Central West have been
many, there has also been a good quota from
other sections of the country, including the New
England States and the Southern States. Mr.
Hepperla is exceedingly optimistic regarding the
initial shipments of the jiew grand, which he ex-
pects will be made shortly after the first of the
new year.
•
/\ .
The owner of the Cafe
Restaurant, I c e Cream
Parlor, or in fact, the own-
er of any other public
place of entertainment in-
stalls Seeburg's Style K
Midget Orchestrion. The
patrons flock to t h ese
places—they're strong for
good music—that's why.
Every patron will surely
drop one or more coins in
the box.
In a short time this little ALL-
IN-ONE instrument pays FOR
ITSELF. Thereafter all money
in the coin box is "pure vel-
vet" or in other words UN-
LIMITED INTEREST. Now
you have it. GET B U S Y .
Look around your town and
then tell us how many places
there are that could use Style
K. We'll do the rest and
you'll get yours.
J. P. SEEBURG
<>
1
PIANO COMPANY
Leaders in the Automatic Field
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Factories, Seeburg Building, 419 West Erie Street
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CHICAGO