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THE
JANUARY 3, 1920
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
HEAVY BUYING IN CLEVELAND
L. A. FLEISCHMAN MADE MANAGER
SOME WORTH-WHILE CONTESTS
Business Men Warn Against Extravagance of
Public—Piano Houses Have Best Window
Displays—Wurlitzer Store Nearly Ready
New Manager of Retail Sales of Wurlitzer Cin-
cinnati Store Has Had Rapid Rise
Milwaukee Sentinel Awards a Prize Each Week
to School Boy or Girl Writing Best Essay on
a Given Musical Subject
CLEVELAND, O., December 30.—The holiday sea-
son in this city was marked by unprecedented
buying of all kinds of goods, and the music deal-
ers came in for their full share. The piano stores
took great pains with their window decorations
and the displays were among the best in the
city. Conservative business men declare that
extravagance is prevalent among all buyers and
are advising against reckless spending.
D. C. Wills, chairman of the directorate of
the Federal Reserve Bank of Cleveland, fre-
quently steps aside from his regular duties to
comment upon business conditions and give
some wholesome advice. To-day he spoke his
views freely, deploring the habit of the "spend-
ers," saying "the American people are indulging
in a wave of senseless extravagance." Mr. Wills
deplores the tendency of retail merchants to
tempt patrons into buying luxuries and points
out that the head of one firm boasted that the
amount paid by its customers in luxury taxes
will more than equal the firm's income and ex-
cess profit tax.
Piano dealers are now busy preparing for
their January clearance sales, although the num-
ber of instruments left in the stores after Christ-
mas is very small. The demand for player-
pianos and music rolls continues strong, due
largely to the many musical concerts by
prominent artists. During the week the Ru-
dolph Wurlitzer Co. entertained the public in
the ground floor of the new building on Euclid
avenue and the rest of the store is being rushed
to completion.
L. A. Fleischman, who was recently appoint-
ed retail sales manager of the Cincinnati store
of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., has had a rapid
rise in the piano business, and his appointment
L. A. Fleischman
was made in recognition of the good record he
has made. Before coming to Cincinnati Mr.
Fleischman was sales manager of the Lehman
Piano Co. in St. Louis. He started as a sales-
man in Baltimore for the Knabe Warerooms,
Inc., and was advanced rapidly, becoming man-
ager of the store in Washington, D. C.
BUSINESS ON^HE HEART PLAN
WANTED
Arthur C. Germer, the Music Man of Beards-
town, Shows Need for Good Will in Indus-
try—Constructive Holiday Advertising
In the States of Connecticut,
Oklahoma, Idaho, Pennsylvania
(Southern), Montana, South Caro-
lina, New Mexico, Vermont, North
Dakota and Wyoming.
A man who believes in the Music Indus-
tries —a man who desires to see our Indus-
try where it belongs, to act as State Com-
missioner for The National Association of
Music Merchants of America. Active work-
ers will earn the everlasting gratitude of
every member of the Trade and confer a
personal favor to the man in charge of State
Commissioners this year.
Apply at once to E. Paul Hamilton, First
Vice-President, care Welte Studios, 665 Fifth
Avenue, New York City. Or C. L. Dennis,
432 Broadway, Milwaukee, Wis.
Arthur C. Germer, of Beardstown, 111., who
has long been prominent in the music industry
and well known as a consistent advertiser, used
a full page advertisement in the local papers
during the holiday time on the subject of good
will. After pointing out the need for good will
in the present trying times in all lines of indus-
try, he said: 'Wishes, like theories and dreams,
do not go very far unless associated with prac-
tice and facts. In business life, quarrels, envy,
jealousy, selfishness and cold formality should
have no more standing than in a happy home or
social life.
"We believe in conducting business on the
heart plan—enjoying the pleasures of being in
business by making others happy. We enjoy
friendly competition, as it is the life of business.
'If there is no harmony in the factory there can
be none in the piano' is a motto that could well
be applied to all industries in general. We must
admit that we have studied too much theory
and have neglected faithful practice in harmony.
With your good will and cooperation, which we
value more than money or merchandise, we will
get down to hard practice."
HARDMAN PIANO FOR TETRAZZINI
Noted Singer Using This Instrument on Her
Present Concert Tour
Tetrazzini used the Hardman piano at her re-
cent concert in Portland, Ore. The Wiley B.
Allen Co. are presenting models of Tetrazzini's
favorite instrument to the Portland public by
placing the different styles in their windows and
prominently on the floors of their piano depart-
ment. A very beautiful Hardman grand is on
display in their Morrison street window.
ZZ/ie Pestfawuto
muricafjiame
The above advertisement represents the appeal
of E. Paul Hamilton, first vice-president of the
National Association of Music Merchants, for
music merchants to act as State Commissioners
in sections where the National Association is
not so represented. The association officials are
very anxious to have the organization of State
Commissioners perfected and in full working
order within the next couple of weeks, in order
that the local representatives may, through in-
dividual and combined effort, lend their support
to the Music Week in New York by persuading
retailers in all sections to attend the Music
Show and the Convention.
The State Commissioners already appointed
have been urged to complete their appointments
of City Commissioners in order, through these
city representatives, that every music dealer can
be invited personally to visit New York in
the first week in February. In carrying on this
work both State and City Commissioners will
have the active support of Mr. Hamilton, Sec-
retary Dennis and the other association officers.
The Greeks played an instrument called a
lyre. The instrument is still used, but now
it's a mouth organ.—Harvard Lampoon.
PIANOS
MILWAUKEE, WIS., December 30.—One of
the successful features of the popular music
page of the Evening Sentinel, and a fea-
ture that is calculated to arouse real interest in
musical instruments among school children, pro-
vides for the awarding of a prize of $5 each
week to the school girl or boy who writes the
best essay on some given musical subject.
One of the. subjects announced recently was
"Why Every Home Should Have a Player-
Piano," and the winning essay, written by a
twelve-year-old school girl, read as follows:
"Unfortunate Maria was an orphan who dwelt
with her grandparents. Her crippled hands re-
sulted from an accident. Maria's life was dreary,
although her grandparents treated her kindly.
"As Maria's birthday drew near her kind
grandparents decided to cheer her with a gift.
They thought a piano would please their grand-
daughter, who loved music. But here their
minds saddened, for Maria would not be able
to play a piano with her crippled hands. • Their
determined minds worked busily. Finally a
bright idea entered the grandmother's mind,
and she said:
" 'Let us give Maria a player-piano.' To this
the grandfather readily agreed, for the music
would soothe her feelings and banish sad
thoughts.
"So one bright, sunny morning found a little
girl enjoying a comfort of the world—music.
There are many more little Marias in the world
who,could be made happy with a player-piano."
The subjects are changed each week, and one
of the rules of the contests is that the name of
any special instrument may not be used. Need-
less to say the contests have proven distinctly
pleasing to the local music dealers.
CLUBR00MS FOR DYER EMPLOYES
W. J. Dyer & Bro., of St. Paul, Minn., Make
a Most Generous Holiday Gift to Staff
ST. PAUL, MINN., December 29.—As a Christmas
gift to their 150 employes the firm of W. J.
Dyer & Bro., the prominent piano and Vic-
ti ola dealers and distributors of this city, opened
for the use of the members of the staff a suite
of four finely furnished clubrooms.
The presentation was made by W. J. Dyer,
president of the company for over a half-cen-
tury, at a reception and dance attended by the
employes and their friends. In making the
presentation Mr. Dyer recounted briefly some of
the early experiences of the company and its
gradual development and expansion. M. R.
Nelson, president of the Employes' Club, made
fitting response, and brief addresses were made
by Vice-president Johnston and various depart-
ment heads.
An orchestra of eight pieces, made up of
members of the Dyer organization, played for
dancing, and refreshments were served later'in
the evening. A substantial Christmas bonus was
Santa % Claus's contribution to the festivities of
the evening.
The clubrooms consist of a smoking room for
men, a rest room for the ladies, a large xlining
room, with kitchen attached, and a commodious
ballroom, which also serves as a display for
Fotoplayers and pipe organs. The rooms, which
are on the fourth floor of the Dyer Building, are
furnished in most comfortable style and will
be open every business day of the year for the
use of club members.
"
The Conroy Piano Co., St. Louis, Mo., has
built three small alcoves in its piano warerooms.
Each of these alcoves is used to display an up-
right piano.
ORGANS
ESTEY PIAND COMPANY NEW YORK CITY
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