Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUJ3IC TRADE REVIEW
8
SEPTEMBER 4, 1920
NEWMAN MADE AMPICO MANAGER
A VISITOR FROM MINNEAPOLIS
BETTER TRADE IN CINCINNATI
Takes Charge of Ampico Section of W. F. Fred-
erick Piano Co. in Pittsburgh—Is a Musician
of Note and Has Made Ampico Rolls
J. Nemecek, of Metropolitan Music Co., Minne-
apolis, Visits New York Piano Factories
Whose Products are Handled by His House
Local Piano Men Anticipate Good Business—
Visitors to the Trade and Other News
August 31.—Announcement
Among the visitors to New York this week
has just been made by William Woodward, was J. Nemecek, who is connected with the
Jr., sales manager of the piano department of piano department of the Metropolitan Music
the W. F. Frederick Piano Co., of this city, that Co., Minneapolis. His trip east is largely one of
pleasure and profit, for he took occasion while
in the city to visit the factories of Steinway
& Sons, the Aeolian Co., Ludwig Piano Co.,
and Behr Bros. & Co., and thus got first line
information on the construction of these in-
struments which are handled by his house.
Mr. Nemecek is a practical piano man himself,
being an expert tuner and regulator, as well
as a salesman, and he was keenly interested
in the various processes of manufacturing which
came under his observation. Speaking of trade
conditions in the Northwest he remarked that
while the early Summer months were slow, bus-
iness was now picking up splendidly with a con-
tinued demand for expensive instruments. A
busy Fall is looked for owing to the splendid
agricultural conditions which prevail throughout
the territory to which the Metropolitan Music
Co. appeals.
PITTSBURGH, PA.,
NATIONALIZATION OF PIANOS
Bolshevik Authorities in Russia Declare That
Musical Instruments Are Public Property
C. Frederick Newman
C. Frederick Newman has been appointed as
manager of the Ampico department of the com-
pany. Mr. Newman is a musician of note and
has made several Ampico rolls. He is excep-
tionally well qualified to assume the direction of
the Ampico department both on account of his
musical knowledge and his understanding of the
possibilities and requirements of the Ampico
itself. Mr. Newman expressed his intention of
inaugurating an intensive Ampico campaign in
the Fall.
VISITORS TO AEOLIAN HALL
Among the visitors to Aeolian Hall this week
were Royal C. Daynes, of the Daynes-Beebe
Music Co., Salt Lake City, Utah, and Jesse
Houck, president of the O. K. Houck Piano Co.,
Memphis, Tenn. Both gentlemen were on a
still hunt for stock to take care of what is
expected to be a better than normal demand
for musical instruments this Fall.
How near to the tonal quality of a large grand
can a small grand approach? Read William
Braid White's answer to this important question
on page 13 of this issue.
According to M. L. Abbiatt, erstwhile profes-
sor of the violoncello at the Imperial Conserva-
tory in Petrograd, who has just returned to
France, the Soviet authorities have evinced their
appreciation of music by nationalizing pianos
and other musical instruments, that is, declar-
ing them public property.
In an article in the Musique et Instruments,
of Paris, M. Abbiatt says in part:
"All the pianos in the town are registered
at the present time. They are public property.
Naturally the piano is the instrument mostly
in use, for the innumerable workmen's clubs,
barracks, schools, etc., must be provided with
them. Nobody has the right to sell them or to
move them, at least not without special permis-
sion from the commissary. Pianos necessary
to the needs of the people are requisitioned, for
with the nationalization of the factories and
warehouses new supplies are no longer avail-
able. In addition, all pianos left in homes aban-
doned by their owners are seized, and the num-
ber is considerable. However, I know of no
case where the piano of a private person has
been taken. It goes without saying that no re-
pairing or tuning is done, and consequently all
pianos are in a deplorable condition from lack
of. care."
The Hardman Line is a complete
line, affording an artistic instrument
to meet the piano and piano player
needs of every community. It com-
prises the Hardman, official piano
of the Metropolitan Opera House ;
the Harrington and Hensel pianos,
Autotone, the perfect player piano;
also the Playotone and Welte
Mtgnon Reproducing Pianos.
HARDMAN,
PECK & CO.
Founded 1842
433 Fifth Avenue, N e w York
FOR TONE, BEAUT
-AND
LASTING
ACCOMPLISHMENT
CO.
Cin<
CINCINNATI, O., August 31.—Music dealers here
report that August started well and that they
are looking for a better volume of trade than
for the same month of last year. July was rather
sluggish. Dealers believe that business will be
fairly active from this time on although there
are some who do not look for any material
improvement in business until after the presiden-
tial election. The music roll and record trade
has been exceptionally good all month. Sheet
music publishers are experiencing considerable
difficulty in securing certain grades of stock ow-
ing to the shortage of paper and the inability
of the railroads to deliver shipments. All in
all the music trade in this locality is fairly
well when existing conditions are considered.
E. R. Laughhead, traveling representative of
the Hallet & Davis Piano Co., Boston, was a
visitor at the establishment of the William R.
Graul Piano Co., last week.
Thomas P. Clancy, director of the Rudolph
Wurlitzer Co., left last week on a two months'
business trip to the Pacific coast and Rocky
Mountain States. On his last trip, Mr. Clancy
disposed of several Hope-Jones orchestras.
Guillermo Espinosa, president of the Espinosa
Piano Co., Havana, Cuba, was a Cincinnati visi-
tor last week. During his stay here Mr. Espi-
nosa called upon several of the piano retailers
and wholesalers. He said that the people in
his country are clamoring more each year for
American-made instruments.
William R. McAllister, Republic Roll Corp.
sales representative, who is making an extensive
trip covering all the player roll dealers in the
State of Ohio, was a visitor in Cincinnati last
week. He said the company's business has im-
proved considerably in this locality during the
past six months.
AUGUST BEST BEHNING MONTH
August Not Only Best August but Best Month
in History of Business—Manifests Growth of
Popularity of Behning Product
The ever increasing popularity of Behning
pianos and player-pianos was forcefully mani-
fested this week when Henry Behning, presi-
dent of the Behning Piano Co., 133rd street and
Alexander avenue, New York, stated to a repre-
sentative of The Review that in August the
company had done not only the largest volume
of business of any August, but also the largest
in any month in the history of the business.
The fact that this month of the year, consid-
ered to be devoted more to vacations than any
other period, should be the largest business
month in the history of the company, shows that
the esteem in which the Behning instruments
are held is rapidly becoming of wider scope.
Not only has there been a remarkable demand
for the Behning upright, but the orders for
grands and player-pianos have been found as
large in proportion.
Much has been said regarding the distinctive-
ness of the Behning product, which since 1861
has been growing in popularity until to-day it
is almost as well-known in many foreign coun-
tries as it is throughout the United States, but
there has been no more forceful acknowledg-
ment of their superior merits and their choice
by representative dealers throughout the land
than the significance of the business during Aug-
ust, the greatest ever experienced in the history
of the house.
Charles A. Eyles, who has recently returned
as traveling representative for the Behning
Piano Co., is at present making an extensive
trip, and will be seen within the next few weeks
by many of his old time friends throughout the
country.
PXAL