Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1920 Vol. 70 N. 11

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
RE™
PUBLISHED BY EDWARD LYMAN BILL, Inc.
President and Treasurer, C. L. Bill, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Vice-President,
Raymond Bill, 373
B. Spillane, 373 Fourth Ave., New York; Second Vice-President,
{ . 'ourth
Are., New York; Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
J. B. SPILLANE, Editor
RAYMOND BILL, B. B. WILSON, Associate Editors
WILSON D. BUSH, Managing Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
Executive and Reportorlal Stall
V. D. WALSH, W M . BRAID WHITE (Technical Editor), E. B. MUNCH, L. M. ROBINSON,
C. A. LEONARD, EDWARD LYMAN BILL, SCOTT KINGWILL, A. J. NICKLIN, L. E. BOWERS
WESTERN DIVISION:
BOSTON OFFICE:
Republic Bldg., 209 So. State St., Chicago.
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone, Wabash 5774.
Telephone, Main 6950.
LONDON, ENGLAND:
1 Gresham Buildings, Basinghall St., D. C.
N E W S SERVICE I S SUPPLIED WEEKLY BY OUR CORRESPONDENTS
LOCATED I N T H E LEADING CITIES THROUGHOUT
AMERICA.
Published Every Saturday at 373 Fourth Avenue, New York
Entered as second-class matter September 10, 1892, at the post office at New York, N. Y.,
under the Act of March 3, 1879.
SUBSCRIPTION
(including postage), United States and Mexico, $2.00 per year;
Canada, $3.50; all other countries. $5.00.
ADVERTISEMENTS, $6.00 per inch single column, per insertion.
On quarterly or
yearly contracts a special discount is allowed. Advertising pages, $150.
REMITTANCES, in other than currency forms, should be made payable to Edward
Lyman Bill, Inc.
Departments conducted by an expert wherein all ques-
Pionn and
~rlallU
ailll
tions of a technical nature relating to the tuning,
regulating and repairing of pianos and player-pianos
y
a r e dealt with, will be found in another section of
this paper. We also publish a number of reliable technical works, information concerning
which will be cheerfully given upon request.
Exposition Honors Won by The Review
Grand Prix
Pari» Exposition, 1900 Silver Medal.. .Charleston Exposition, 1902
Diploma,.. .Pan-American Exposition, 1901 Gold Medal
St. Louis Exposition, 1904
Gold Medal—Lewis-Clark Exposition, 1905
LONG. DISTANCE
Vol. LXX
the Bureau's work successful. If it was a business of carrying on
a direct nation-wide campaign unassisted, the $50,000 budget would
not cover the expenses for a week. The Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music is fast establishing itself as a directing rather than
an operating force, and in this the trade itself can help.
STAMPING OUT UNFAIR COMPETITION
significance is to be attached to the action of the Fed-
G REAT
eral Trade Commission last week in filing a complaint against
a well-known piano house for questionable methods in the re-
tailing of pianos and player-pianos. Whether or not the charges
made in the complaint will be proven, or whether they have an
adequate basis in fact, is not so important as that the Federal Trade
Commission is taking cognizance of unfair competitive methods in
the trade, and has shown an inclination to act.
The Better Business Bureau of the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce has, of course, accomplished a great deal during its
existence in discouraging misleading advertising and questionable
selling methods. The greatest results of course have been obtained
through moral suasion, inasmuch as the Bureau has no power to
force reforms except in the role of complainant in some duly con-
stituted tribunal. The Federal Trade Commission is a body that
has the power to file complaints in a manner that will insure action,
and the fact that this power is being exerted against certain factors
in the music industry is worthy of consideration.
Within the recent past the Federal Trade Commission has taken
occasion to act against several interests in the trade, although it
must be confessed that some of the offenses charged have not been
quite so serious as the complaint would seem to make them appear.
There is no question, however, but that the knowledge that the
Federal Trade Commission is ready to act has done, and will do,
much to discourage those members of the trade who are not inclined
to be over-ethical in their methods.
TELEPHONES—NUMBERS 6982—688S MADISON SQ.
Connecting all Departments
Cable address: "ElbiU, New York"
NEW YORK, MARCH 13, 1920
FIFTY THOUSAND DOLLARS FOR MUSIC
No. 11
MARCH 13, 1920
THE REPRODUCING PIANO IN A NEW ROLE
HE featuring of a reproducing piano as soloist in a special "act"
T
by a theatre opens a new vista for the popularization and de-
velopment of general interest in that type of instrument and em-
phasizes the new status of the reproducing piano more emphatically,
if it is possible, than the presentation of the same instrument in an
IFTY thousand dollars has been fixed by the Board of Directors
elaborate concert under the auspices or through the co-operation
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce as the budget
of the manufacturer. The Strand Theatre in Brooklyn, for in-
for music advancement work during the year, and the selection of
stance, last week presented as a feature act the Ampico reproducing
this sum will undoubtedly find favor with the industry at large and
piano playing Leo Ornstein's recording of Rubinstein's D-Minor
particularly with those members of it who are acquainted with what
concerto, and billed as "The Invisible Leo Ornstein." Arrange-
the National Bureau for the Advancement of Music has accom-
ments for the use of the Ampico were made in the regular way and
plished during its existence and particularly during the past few
a substantial sum paid by the theatre for the privilege. When the
months.
reproducing piano has reached a point where it is accepted by
The budget represents a substantial increase over the amount
theatre
"managers as being on the same plane with vaudeville head-
allotted to the bureau last year, and yet the increase is not out of
liners,
then
one hesitates to prophesy what possibilities lie in the
proportion to the increased activities in which the Bureau plans to
future.
indulge. The National Bureau for the Advancement of Music is
no longer an experiment. The trade knows just how it works and
THE FOREIGN TRADE SITUATION
in some measure just what it has accomplished even in the face of
ATEST figures from the Commerce Department of the United
a number of handicaps, some of them of a financial nature. The
States give us the pleasing information that American business
results of the Music Week campaign alone, originated and directed
men are approximately $4,458,000,000 richer now than a year ago,
by the Bureau for the Advancement of Music, should satisfy even
as a result of foreign trade. This sum represents the difference in
the most pessimistic members of the industry of the wisdom of
value between commodities shipped out of the country and those
giving to that Bureau enough money to carry out its plans on a
shipped into the country during 1919, after making allowance for
basis that will insure a fair measure of success at least.
exportation and importation of the precious metals. Briefly, it
If there ever was a movement that has to do with the building
means that the world during 1919 went into debt to the United
for the future it is this music development work. Every individual
States at the rate of approximately $12,213,000 a day, including
reached directly or indirectly by the message of music as sent out
by the Bureau or through some organization affiliated with it be- Sundays and holidays. Meanwhile, trade experts point out that
this cannot last. High foreign exchange rates are already beginning
comes a stronger factor and potential buyer of musical instruments.
to reduce the ratio of trade now in favor of American manufacturers
He may not buy next month or next year, but his interest has been
and shippers of all kinds of specialties. The rest of the world is
aroused, and as the campaign expands that interest will be fur-
beginning to find that it is cheaper to buy in markets other than the
ther stimulated until such time as it will result in a definite purchase
United States; hence, sales of American goods in December were
and a definite benefit to the trade.
less than in January, according to the Commerce Department reports.
The industry, particularly the retail division, has already been
Emphasis is placed by the Treasury Department on this un-
co-operating with the Bureau in a practical way in local territory.
healthy condition and it is stated that, unless the United States keeps
The organization of municipal commissions, of concert bureaus,
its hand in the foreign trade situation, American factories will
supported and directed by members of the trade, and of other work
eventually
be compelled to curtail production and thus business
of similar nature—all has the effect of spreading the gospel of
progress
be
retarded materially.
music energetically and successfully. It is this assistance that makes
F
L
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MARCH 13,
THE
1920
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
0. K. HOUCK CO.'S NEW PURCHASE
TELEGRAM RECALLS PROPHECY
KURTZMANN fi^CO. TO EXPAND
Buy New Building on South Front Street, Mem-
phis, to House Wholesale Victor Department
After September 1—To Remodel Present
Main Street Store at the Same Time
Mark P. Campbell in 1912 Predicted the Popu-
larity of Baby Grands, Which Is Substantiated
by Recent Communication From Dealer
Four Acres Purchased by Buffalo Piano Manu-
facturers for Purpose of Building Addition to
Present Extensive Piano Factory
I'iano dealers may recall the prophecy made
by Mark P. Campbell, president of the Bratn-
bach Piano Co., early in 1912, that there was a
coming era of popularity for both the player-
BUFFALO, N. Y., March 3.—C. Kurtzniann &
Co., the Buffalo piano manufacturing concern,
has decided upon an expansion which will repre-
sent an investment of over $300,000 in site, plant
and equipment, as well as bringing to Buffalo
upward of 700 skilled workmen. The company
has bought four acres at Genesee street and
the N. Y. C. belt line tracks, including the old
Sunday baseball park and the former storage
houses of the Webster-Citizens' Ice Co. It is
understood the price paid for the property was
in the neighborhood of $100,000.
Away back in 1848 the firm of C. Kurtzmann
& Co. began on Broadway, in a small way, to
manufacture a high grade piano which suc-
ceeded so well in establishing itself in public
favor that in 1890 a new four-story factory was
erected on the corner of Niagara and Pennsyl-
vania streets and a little later another was built
on the corner of Seventh and Hudson streets.
Today the company's activities have so out-
grown their present facilities that they have
been compelled to make another addition, to
care for the increasing demands of public con-
fidence.
Through Parke Hall & Co., real estate agents,
the company has purchased four and a half acres
of land with railway connections on the New
York Central belt line and Genesee street where
they propose the immediate erection of a mod-
ern factory building for the manufacture of
grand pianos exclusively, utilizing the other fac-
tories in the manufacture of upright and player-
pianos. J. Hackenheimer, the president of the
C. Kurtzmann Company, is a Buffalo man, who,
by his energy and sound business acumen, has
achieved a well merited success, which is al-
ways assured to the manufacturer who selects
his location as the result of a well-thought-out
plan rather than as a result of tradition. Mr.
Hackenheimer says that his company has passed
the 80,000 mark in the sale of pianos of its own
manufacture and its product is to be found all
over the world.
March 8.—The O. K. Houck
Piano Co. have recently purchased the build-
ing at 100-102 South Front street, now oc-
cupied by Stewart-Gwynne & Co., and will take
possession of the premises on September 1 for
their wholesale Victor department. The build-
ing has a frontage of forty-seven feet on Front
street and extends back 148 feet, cost $42,500,
and the O. K. Houck Co. plan to expend sev-
eral thousand dollars more in remodeling the
structure to meet the special requirements of
their business.
Upon taking over the Front street property
in September, the Houck Co. will start imme-
diately to remodel the building at present occu-
pied by the company at 103 South Main street.
New elevators, a sprinkling system and a new
heating plant will be installed; the entire front
on the ground floor will be remodeled and the
interior will be re-equipped in a modern manner.
The changes include the equipment of the first
floor as exclusive retail Victor salesrooms, fitted
with booths and other essentials. September 1
will mark the 25th anniversary of the Houck
Co.'s opening at their present address on South
Main street.
MEMPHIS, TENN.,
ILLNESS HITS A. B. CHASE FACTORY
TEXAS MUSIC DEALERS TO CONVENE
Mark P. Campbell
piano and the baby grand. Trade opinion at
that time was sceptical. It could see only a de-
mand for straight pianos ahead of it.
There has been evident proof that Mr. Camp-
bell's foresight was well founded. No one any
longer doubts the lasting popularity of the
player-piano.
In 1912, when the prophecy was made, the
Brambach baby grand piano had just made
its advent in the piano trade. It was an un-
known quantity. Dealers were almost unani-
mous in their opinion that the baby grand
would not be an instrument of exceedingly popu-
lar demand. But the developments of the last
seven or eight years have caused a change in
this opinion. Dealers no longer deny the popu-
larity of this little instrument.
As if to substantiate further the proof of the
fulfillment of Mr. Campbell's prediction, below
is a telegram recently received by the Brambach
Piano Co.:
"We are losing sales daily owing to the lack
of grands. Have no record of invoices for ship-
ments promised January 26. The demand for
grands is abnormal and greatly in excess of
players or uprights. Won't you please do some-
thing for us along these lines, as the grand
piano business we are losing is enormous?"
First Annual Gathering to Be Held in Waco
on May 11 and 12
BOARDMAN & GRAY IN SYRACUSE
Production of Grands Greatly Curtailed by Ill-
ness of Employes—25 Per Cent Stricken With
Epidemic—Embargoes Also Delay Orders
The A. B. Chase factory at Norwalk, O., has
been laboring under great difficulties during the
past month and only through sustained efforts
of members of the organization has it been pos-
sible to get instruments through to the dealers
at all. Warren C. Whitney, president of the
A. B. Chase Piano Co., Inc., said to The Re-
view that over 25 per cent of the factory force
had been absent through illness and the grand
department especially was hard hit. In view of
the general shortage of grands it was unfortu-
nate that the force should be depleted just at
this time. Freight embargos also hindered ship-
ments to some extent, but it is hoped that deal-
ers may obtain their supply of pianos in" the
near future.
The retail store which was recently estab-
lished in the factory warerooms is proving a
success and in the first week two pianos were
sold to two of the leading musicians of
Norwalk.
The H. C. Barney Co., one of the largest piano
concerns in Schenectady, N. Y., have recently
taken on the Boardman & Gray piano. They
carry a complete line of the Boardman & Gray
instruments and will feature this line of mer-
chandise to considerable extent. S. H. Becker,
who formerly represented the Boardman & Gray
line in Schenectady, has connected himself with
the H. C. Barney Co.
DALLAS, TEX., March 6.—The first annual con-
vention of the Texas Music Dealers' Associa-
tion will be held in Waco on May 11 and 12,
according to an announcement made this week
by B. Heyer, the president of the Association.
It is stated that plans are being prepared for
an educational program along constructive lines
that will serve to make the sessions of real
interest and benefit to the visiting dealers from
all sections of the State.
The Texas Music Dealers' Association has
been one of the most active bodies in the coun-
try in forwarding the; cause of music generally
and has been responsible for a great mass of
propaganda for music advancement. Plans for
continuing this great work on a larger scale
for the ultimate benefit of the trade as a whole
will be discussed and decided upon at the forth-
coming convention.
The many friends throughout the piano trade
of Charles A. Dall, president and treasurer of
the Warde Piano Co., Inc., of New York City,
will be gratified to learn that Mr. Dall has re-
covered from a recent attack of influenza and
an operation which he underwent in a local hos-
pital. Mr. Dall has returned to his home and is
convalescing rapidly.
Z7/ie Pert Known
muficaf/mme
i / World.
E5TEY PIAND COMPANY NEW YORK CITY-
C. A. DALL IS CONVALESCING
PIANOS
LABOR COMMISSIONER APPOINTED
E. M. Reulbach to Be in Charge of Employment
Bureau of New York Piano Manufacturers'
Association—Famous as Baseball Star
Walter Drew, Labor Counsel of the New York
Piano Manufacturers' Association, has an-
nounced the appointment of E. M. Reulbach as
Labor Commissioner for that organization. Mr.
Reulbach has already taken up his new duties
and has arranged to open headquarters at 123rd
street and Park avenue, where a clearing house
for trained and untrained piano workers will be
established. Mr. Reulbach will be remembered
by baseball fans as the once famous pitcher for
the Chicago Cubs, and most recently has been
connected with the Submarine Boat Corp. as
assistant department manager, in which capacity
he had much to do with employment problems.
NOW THE BAIRD-ROSS MUSIC CO.
Floyd A. Ross has purchased an interest in
the Baird Music Co. of Walla Walla, Wash.,
and the firm will in the future be known as the
Baird-Ross Music Co. New quarters will be
occupied at 27 West Main street, and the build-
ing thoroughly renovated.
Mrs. Carrie Kaufman Humes, wife of J. E.
Humes, head of the Humes Music Co., Colum-
bus, Ga., died recently at her home in Wynn-
ton, following a short illness from pneumonia.
Mr. Hume has the sympathy of his many
friends in the trade in his bereavement.
ORGANS
prodat
df

Download Page 4: PDF File | Image

Download Page 5 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.