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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
DECEMBER 6, 1919
RAILROAD EMBARGO MAY HURT SAN FRANCISCO DEALERS
Curtailment of Freight Service, Due to Shortage of Coal, May Result in Severe Scarcity of
Instruments Along the Pacific Coast—General Business Good—News of the Week
San Francisco, Cal., December 1.—Some of the
music dealers are wondering if the embargo on
the railroads due to coal shortage is going to
cut off shipments of goods from manufacturers
who are still able to make deliveries. There is
not a music house in the city which is not short
on pianos and players, and on many other musical
lines. With no replacements some of the larger
houses will be literally stripped of goods by
the first of the year if sales continue at the pres-
ent high scale. Of course, it is not likely that
any music house will arrive at the condition of
having not a single piano of any make or de-
sign in stock, but the few instruments left will
be of the make or design that there is little call
for. If these instruments could also be cleared
out it might be a good thing for the piano
departments.
It is not really expected that there will be
an absolute cessation of arrival of goods of this
kind, and in fact during the past week the Wiley
B. Allen Co. received two carloads of Ludwig
pianos. But the shortage that exists in many
makes and the absolute disappearance of some
types make the situation one of worry to which
the lack of coal adds fuel, if one may use a
Hibernianism.
News Brought by the Traveling Men
That business is prosperous and that the public
is buying freely in this vicinity has been asserted
many times. And the fact that similar condi-
tions prevail all over the Coast is evidenced by
the assertion of traveling men recently in San
Francisco. From these sources it is learned
that:
The Wilkinson Piano Co., of Spokane, has
just closed a lease which gives the company
double the frontage on Post street. The rea-
son for this expansion is stated to be the gen-
eral growth of the business and the fact that the
company recently installed a very successful
talking machine department.
The Hopper-Kelly Co., at Seattle, which for-
merly did an exclusive talking machine business,
although it ran a piano department at its Ta-
coma branch, has added a similar department
to its new Seattle store and will be ready for
business the first of the year.
The Glenn Bros.-Roberts Piano Co., at Salt
Lake, has just moved into its new store, holding
its grand opening about two weeks ago. To
quote J. A. Stitt, the opening was attended lit-
erally by thousands of Salt Lake residents.
Switzer Bros., Ltd., Vancouver, B. C, are just
starting in the general music business, with the
motto "Everything in music." The senior mem-
ber of the firm was formerly head salesman for
Fletcher Bros., Ltd., of Vancouver. Mr. Pol-
lard, who was with the Fletcher sales force, suc-
ceeds Mr. Switzer as sales manager for Fletcher.
Kinney Bros. & Spirell, Everett, Washington,
was planning an extension of their present quar-
ters to take care of the growth of business, the
THE LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Grands, Uprights
and Players
YORK PIANOS
Uprights and Players
LIVINGSTON PIANOS
Uprights and Player-Pianos
If your competitor does not already have this
line, go after it at once.
Weaver Piano Co., Inc.
FACTORY
Established 1870
YORK, PA.
improvements to be made after the first of the
year.
New Department in Petaluma
Garnet C. Brown, of Petaluma, was in San
Francisco and brought information of the estab-
lishment of a piano department by the Nelson
Furniture Co., of that city, of which he is to
have the management. Mr. Brown was for-
merly connected with the Fox piano department
in Oakland. Besides pianos and players Mr.
Brown is going in extensively for music rolls
and says that he intends to attract custom to
his department by giving repeated expert demon-
strations of players and will show his customers
the way to get the best results. He opened up
on November 28.
Robert Morton Organ Demonstrated
The American Photo Player Co. has just
completed putting on the finishing touches on
the Robert Morton organ established at its San
Francisco headquarters for demonstration pur-
poses. A number of local organists have been
to the hall to hear the instrument and without
exception they have been astonished at its
tonal qualities and ease of manipulation. A
number of exhibitors from the city and from
other sections have also called and it is under-
stood that one sale to a Utah theatre has al-
ready resulted from these demonstrations. Sher-
man, Clay & Co. are making arrangements for
one of the most prominent theatre organists
of the city to be at Fotoplayer Hall every
morning to give demonstrations on this instru-
ment.
Among the recent purchasers of Robert
Morton organs announced at the San Francisco
office is the sale to the Powers Broadway Thea-
tre in Boston.
J. H. Merrill, of the American Photo Player
Co., is now traveling in Minnesota and will con-
tinue to cover that territory for the nex.t few
months.
Wiley B. Allen Co. Branches Prospering
Gordon F. Perry, of the Wiley B. Allen Co.,
San Francisco, where he has charge of the play-
er roll department, is just back from an extend-
ed trip throughout the Coast visiting the
branches of the company. He states that he
found conditions encouraging everywhere. All
the stores showed large increases over the pre-
vious month in his department. The various
branches of this company always work in close
co-operation, especially in securing selling ideas
and in trying out systems. And this is said to
be one of the reasons for the great success of
the business.
Sales Force Being Increased
Edward Morris, who was formerly with Sher-
man, Clay & Co., at the Seattle branch, ar-
rived in San Francisco last week to take his place
on the floor of the Wiley B. Allen Co. It is
stated that another salesman will be added to
the force during the coming week.
To Handle Talking Machines
W. M. Ringen, who formerly had charge of
the small goods department for Sherman, Clay
& Co., is fitting up his own place at 54 Kearney
street, this city. Besides band and string in-
struments and other small goods he has ar-
ranged for some talking machines. He expects
to be ready to open his place of business on
December 1. The new store will occupy two
stories above the ground floor and will have a
display on the ground floor.
E. G. Erbes, of the Baldwin Piano Agency,
Fresno, was a visitor to the San Francisco
office of the company this week.
A. J. Kendrick, traveling representative of the
Brunswick phonograph, who has been visit-
ing San Francisco, left a short time ago tor
Los Angeles.
The Birdseye Co., Inc., Newark, N. J., has
been incorporated to manufacture musical in-
struments with a capital of $30,000.
WANTED!
Second-Hand
SEEBURG
Coin-Operated
Pianos and
Orchestrions
For
Cash
All who have Seeburg
instruments and are
interested in the above |
announcement are re- 1
quested to w r i t e at
once to
P. Seeburg Piano Co.
Leaders in the Automatic Field
Seeburg Building
419 West Erie Street
Chicago