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THE
APRIL 17, 1920
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
STEADY TRADE IN CINCINNATI
ST. LOUIS TRADE HURT BY STRIKE
Buying Gets Down to Staple Basis and Compe-
tition Is Active—Orpheus Co. in Hands of
Receiver—G. W. Armstrong Returns
Railway Situation Proving a Severe Handicap
to Retail Piano Men—Some Shipments Re-
ceived on Eve of Tie-up—Other News
CINCINNATI, O., April 12.—Cautious buying is
now the rule in the Middle West, according to
retailers and manufacturers, who say this con-
dition developed since April 1 and is becoming
more evident each day.
Merchants seeking supplies in the Cincinnati
district are not buying on the same basis, so far
as quantities are concerned, as has been cus-
tomary since the tremendous boom in the mu-
sical field.
Another feature is the competitive situation
among local retailers, who find that the buyers
now in the field are shopping. They are seek-
ing to know the prices and are not buying on
the spot with a total indifference to,the pur-
chase of the article except as to how soon it
could be delivered. None of the merchants says
business is very brisk now except to look after
the shopping element. So far collections are
normal.
This general condition exists in Cincinnati,
which, over Sunday, was entirely free from la-
bor disturbances from, a railroad standpoint.
The carpenters hereabouts are still on their
"vacation," seeking $1.25 an hour and disdain-
ing to accept the offer of ninety cents. The
real estate market is way above normal, al-
though* the banks are seeking to check it
through endeavoring to limit loans on mortgage
paper and put out a feeler for a 7 per cent in-
terest.
The Orpheus Music Roll Co., also known as
the Music Roll & Record Co., Palace Hotel
block, Saturday was placed in the hands of a
receiver, this official being Mrs. Daisy C. Mil-
lard. The suit was brought by Adolph Zuest,
Adam Nagel, E. H. Vaupel, Thomas Danner
and Walter J. Millard against Frederick Orsz-
man, Helen Orszman, Edward and Susie Rouse.
It is claimed that the business was sold to the
latter last November for $3000, of which $1,000
was to be cash and the balance $40 a month.
Only $700 has been paid, the plaintiffs allege,
who also claim that differences in management
have arisen among the defendants. A plea was
made for a judgment of $1,300, appointment of
a receiver and foreclosure of their chattel mort-
gage on the assets of the business.
G. W. Armstrong, Jr., president of the Bald-
win Co., returned to Cincinnati yesterday, fol-
lowing a vacation of several months on the
Pacific Coast. During his absence the company
took a lease on the adjoining building on the
west and will use the lower part for its new
talking machine department. No contracts have
been closed on the line to be handled. Ap-
proximately $20,000 is to be spent in alterations
to the store, which will have an entrance from
the main store. The present tenant will vacate
within a week.
It is likely that the new Victor jobbing
house, to be controlled by W. T. Haddon, C. H.
North and A. H. Bates, will be known as the
Ohio Talking Machine Co. The lease on the
building, 427 West Fourth street, for eight years,
has just been signed.
The changes being made in the ground floor
of the Aeolian store for the benefit of its en-
larged Vocalion department are nearly com-
pleted. Work already finished makes a radical
change in the appearance of the rear section of
the first floor, which will be extremely attrac-
tive when the alterations are completed.
ST. LOUIS, MO., April 12.—April showers were
just beginning to produce business flowers
when along came the strike of railroad switch-
men and yardmen, like a frost, to turn all the
gain into loss. Business had not improved to
such an astonishing extent as to easily with-
stand the effect of such a blow. The testimony
is practically unanimous, though, that there was
some improvement the first ten days of April
as compared to March. Without the disturb-
ing factor of the strike it might have gone on
to something really worth while before the end
of the month. The effects of the strike are
twofold—the adverse influence on general busi-
ness conditions, reflected as quickly in the music
business as anywhere else, and the stoppage
of shipments. These were just beginning to
improve a little and dealers were looking for-
ward to something like adequate supplies of
pianos.
Luckily for some of the dealers, they got in
fair shipments just before the strike. Manager
J. F. Ditzell, of the Famous & Barr Co. music
department, was one of these. Three or four
carloads, the fruits of his recent missionary ac-
tivity in the East, came in just before the switch-
men went out. So Manager Ditzell is sitting
on top of the world for the time being.
Among the pianos received by Manager Dit-
zell are some Steinert grands, made by M. Stein-
ert & Son, Boston, the first consignment under
an agency contract made by him with the Stein-
erts on his recent trip. The Steinert has not
been handled in St. Louis before.
Manager Russell W. Elam of the Scruggs,
Vandervoort & Barney Dry Goods Co. piano
department was another lucky fellow. He got
in a good shipment of Marshfield players from
the Marshall Piano Co., Chicago. He stopped
off in Chicago on his way home from the East
and took on the Marshfields. They sent him a
nice lot of them, which arrived ahead of the
freight embargo. They came just in time for
the Vandervoort seventieth anniversary sale.
President Phil A. Lehman, of the Lehman
Piano Co., has figured out a way to get pianos
from Chicago if the strike continues. He will
have them trucked to Peoria and there loaded
on steamboats and brought down to St. Louis.
He estimates that he will get them here quicker
than by rail. It will cost a little more for the
trucking, but less for the water trip.
L. J. Calloway, a music merchant of Berry,
111., was in St. Louis during the past week.
The Piano Service Co. has been organized
to give St. Louis a new sensation in the way
of piano service. It will sell service only. It
is getting ready to open for business at 1139
Chestnut street. Eugene Ketterer, who was for-
merly with the Conroy Piano Co. for twenty-
two years and for the past year has been with
the Famous & Barr Co. music department, is
at the head of the enterprise. Clarence F.
Wochele, a practical repair man and tuner, is
also connected with the company. They will
employ four tuners and repairmen and will have
a truck service for conveying to their shop
pianos which need hospital treatment. The
company will also manufacture bass piano
strings.
The Leader Department Store won first prize
in the window display contest conducted here
recently in connection with the Spring Style
Show, all the judges being professional window
decorators. Among the windows arranged by
the Leader Store were those devoted entirely
to piano and talking machine displays, Earl
Elsham. of the music department of the store,
giving special attention to the displays.
OARDMAN
( # GRAY-
PIANOS
ESTABUSHED--IN-I83Z
ALBANY, N. Y.
C. F. Welsh, treasurer of the Welsh-Bennett
Co., Cincinnati, O., who has been seriously ill
at his home for some time, is again back at his
office.
9
The
Christman
Studio Grand
is known to be the
most Famous 5 f
Grand manufac-
tured.
In volume and pu-
rity, its TONE is pos-
itively marvelous.
If you have not
played on one, then
you missed some-
thing.
Our Reproducing Player
is wonderful. Its ex-
ceptional quality of tone
and construction will
appeal instantly to those
who appreciate the very
best.
May we send you de-
tails?
" The first touch tells"
Christman Piano Co.
597 E. 137th Street, New York