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JANUARY 1, 1921
13
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
destroyed by names in the hold of the cargo
ship "Sudbury," en route from New York to
Public Refraining From Buying in the Hope That Prices Will Come Down, and Must Be Educated San Francisco, which was forced to put into San
Diego recently. In addition to the totally dam-
to a Knowledge of the Fairness of Present Piano Prices—News of the Week
aged goods, some other shipments of musical
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., December 24.—The attitude with the dull months of January and February. poods were partially damaged by water. The
ol the public regarding the demand for lower It is these sales which more than anything else exact amount of pianos destroyed, or the makes
prices on practically all musical goods, as well are responsible for the belief among many of or consignees, could not be learned here at a
as in other merchandise, is being closely studied the local dealers that price reductions next late hour.
Alice Verlet Completes Tone-test Tour
by the personnel of the trade on the Pacific January or February on all musical goods will
Mile. Alice Verlet, formerly prima donna of
Coast. The fact that hundreds of people who do bt imperative.
the Paris Grand Opera and noted singer, has
Oakland Store Establishes Record
not buy declare that they will wait until after
One feature of the San Francisco Bay district completed a fifteen weeks' "tone-test" recital
the first of the new year to make their purchases
has been especially commented upon by J. M. business this season, which is generally con- tour for Thomas A. Edison, Inc., on the Pa-
Abrams, of Kohler & Chase, a prominent music ceded to be not quite as good as in many other cific Coast. Miss Verlet gave her first recital
years, is the fact that the Oakland store of on August 30 at Bellingham, Wash., finishing
house of this city.
The public seems to be insistent in its de- Sherman, Clay & Co. did the greatest amount of at Yuma, Ariz. The various Edison shops on
mand for lower prices and people seem to have business on December 22 ever done by that store the Coast staged elaborate programs for the
made up their minds not to purchase on a large throughout the period of its existence. This re- noted artiste in their respective territories when
scale until prices are revised downward, de- port was given out by R. C. F. Ahlf, of Sherman, she made her appearance. The recital tour en-
clares Mr. Abrams. In other years people who Clay & Co., as his comment on the dull busi- gendered much favorable newspaper publicity for
the Edison phonograph. The arrangements
did not buy always told the salesman that they ness conditions of this season.
were supervised by Addison Clark, sales man-
Cargo of Pianos Destroyed by Fire
would get what they wanted at Christmastime,
More than a score of costly pianos, including ager for the Edison Co. on the Pacific Coast,
but this year, according to Mr. Abrams, the
buying public is informing the salesman that some of the best makes of player-pianos, were with headquarters in San Francisco.
it will wait "until prices come down after the
first of the year." Many dealers hold the opin-
THE PIANO SITUATION IN CANADA
CLARK HEADS KIWANIS CLUB
ion that it is imperative that prices of 'most all
SVRACUSE, N. Y., December 27.—Melville Clark,
musical goods be reduced with the coming year Slump in Demand for Higher-grade Uprights,
but Grand Pianos Remain Popular—Some of head of the Clark Music Co., this city, was
ii business is to be continued on a profitable
the Conditions That Affect the Piano Trade
elected president of the Kiwanis Club at the an-
scale. Others point to the increased cost of ma-
nual meeting of the club held at the Onondaga
terials and the higher prices at which the manu-
TORONTO, ONT., December 27.—The future of the last week.
facturers bought their stocks and are inclined
tu be pessimistic concerning the outlook for the high-grade piano business for the next year or
retail trade in 1921, at least during the first two is not especially bright in Canada, says the
part of that year. The situation is being widely Toronto Globe. The growing tendency to use
American
discussed and divergent views are being ex- commercial pianos has developed to such a stage
pressed on all sides. The majority of the trade both in this country and in the United States
hopes that reductions will be possible in order that the better class of trade in uprights
that business may be stimulated thereby, but has suffered; in the latter country most of
"PERFECTED" "CROWN"
very few are inclined to kick if it is- shown the outstanding makers are concentrating
their
attention
.
on
the
production
of
grand
that lower prices are out of the question.
pianos, upon which they depend to sustain
Demand for Records Phenomenal
Highest acoustic excellence dating
Although not up to the standard set last year their reputations. The Canadian market is
at Christmastime, when a phenomenal amount not extensive enough to make it profitable to
back to the days of Jonas
of business was clone, the holiday trade this focus attention on this phase of piano manufac-
Chickering. Took prize over whole
season is proceeding normally after a late start. ture. Higher prices of materials, a higher sched-
ule
of
wages
than
was
in
force
a
year
ago,
in-
world at Paris, 1900. For
The stores are all crowded, as is usual on the
very last days preceding Christmas. The sales creased freight rates, and, not least important,
generations the standard, and used
of talking machine records of all makes are keep- a sales tax of 5 per cent on instruments retail-
on the greatest number of pianos
ing
at
$450
or
less,
have
rather
complicated
con-
ing up wonderfully in view of the lesser amount
ditions
in
the
musical
instrument
industry.
of sales in other goods. The rent is being paid
in the world
The outlook is not altogether discouraging.
in many of the smaller establishments by the
sales of records, while other goods lag. In view Viewed from the standpoint of a long pull, the
of this unprecedented demand for records the makers are not pessimistic, but for the near
latter are being featured in all the music houses, future they are not ecstatic. The commercial
taking up more space in the window displays credit situation has been the "monkey wrench in
than ever before. Most of the music stores are the machinery" for quite a variety of industries.
well provided with extra help, although Byron It is a disturbing factor in the piano business
Mauzy believes that with all the preparations and will, no doubt, operate to the disadvantage
made by him for a good holiday season he did o! manufacturers until the situation is easier.
Modern organ mechanism is of wire.
not fully anticipate the volume of business in the Now that pianos are commanding comparatively
high prices on account of rising costs the class
Round and flat wire; springs; wire
talking machine department.
of cash buyers has dwindled. This tends to give
Department Stores Advertise Special Sales
rope; reinforcing wire; electrical wires,
The music sections of the department stores an advantage to the commercial piano.
such as Americore rubber-covered for
Freights from Toronto to Calgary were $30.25
in San Francisco are using unprecedented meth-
conveyance
of current; magnet wire,
ods to insure active trading in that they are for an ordinary upright instrument before the
silk-insulated,
for releasing wind to
recent
increase
came
into
effect.
The
40
per
cent
advertising sales in all music goods, thus antici-
raise
in
Eastern
Canada
and
the
35
per
cent
in-
pipes;
paraffined
cotton-insulated, for
pating the usual January clearance sales. Many
dealers are a bit dubious as to the effect of this crease for the Western provinces that are in
connecting keyboards with stop action;
practice, which it is feared will have its reaction effect add materially to the cost of transporta-
console cables.
tion and these increased freight charges may
operate to diminish Western business for On-
"American Piano Wire and Pipe Organ
tario manufacturers.
PRICE SITUATION BE1NGJSTUDIED IN SAN FRANCISCO
P
iano Wire
P
ipe Organ
Wire
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE FOR 1921
New Volume Very Complete in Information Re-
garding Pianos and Their Makers
Awarded first prize in many world compe-
titions during the past sixty years, the
Schomacker Piano is now daily receiving
first prizes of preference won by its superb
tone, wonderful breadth of expression and
structural beauty.
SCHOMACKER PIANO CO.
23d and Chestnut Sts.
Philadelphia, Pa.
The 1921 edition of the Presto Buyers' Guide—
the twenty-fourth annual edition, by the way—
has just been issued by the Presto Pub. Co.,
Chicago. The information is presented in the
familiar form, with pianos and player-pianos of
established names and character, instruments
hiaring special names or trade-marks, and the
manufacturers of pianos and players, all care-
fully classified. The guide forms a most con-
venient index to the piano manufacturing trade.
News" "Wood and the Piano Build-
ers' Art," also "Piano Tone
Building"—sent free
Services
of our Acoustic Engineer
always available—free
A merican Steel &W ire
Company
Acoustic Department
208 S. 7M Salle Street, Chicago