Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MARCH 12, 1921
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
9
BETTER PIANO VALUE NOW OFFERED AT LOWER PRICES
BUFFALO TRADE KEEPS BUSY
Before-the-War Quality of Materials Now Bein^ Found in New Instruments Coming From Piano
Factories, Says W. L. Bjur—Dealers Should Acquaint Customers With This Fact
Music a Feature at Local Automobile Show—
Stuart Perry Talks on Salesmanship Before
Adam & Co. Staff—Items of Trade Interest
Increased activity has been manifested since
the first of the month at the plant of the Bjur
Bros. Co., Southern boulevard near 156th street,
New York, which has created a greater atmos-
phere of optimism throughout the entire organi-
zation than for several months past. One of
the striking features regarding 'the manufac-
ture, of Bjur Bros, pianos and player-pianos
lias been Ihe efficiency in manufacturing which
has been brought about through the practical
experience of the executives of the company,
who have been manufacturing instruments of
quality practically their entire business lives.
No less in importance has been the expertness
shown in preparing for emergencies in the mat^
ter of buying materials. "This has not been so
easy," said W. L. Bjur, president of the com-
pany, this week, "during the last few years
and there is one feature about the business
to-day which should encourage every piano
dealer and that is that piano manufacturers are
in a better position to secure the proper kind of
materials, whereas during the last few years
they were compelled to buy materials which,
although adequate and of good quality, in some
instances were not what the manufacturers de-
sired to use, but from necessity were com-
pelled to.
"Already ihese conditions are changing and
the result has been that pianos and player-piano.s
arc being built in accordance with old material
and construction details and the dealer is bene-
fiting thereby and, one might say, securing bet-
ter piano value at more moderate prices. The
dealers little realize what the manufacturer was
compelled to put up with when the Government
a! the beginning- of the war commenced to take
the best in lumber, steel and other materials
which enter into the construction of pianos.
''We were practically cut off from buying the
proper kinds of felts, owing to the fact that
the Government needed all the wool, and it was
so in the instances of many other materials.
To-day, however, it is different. We are not
only getting back gradually to a normal busi-
ness basis, but Bjur Bros, pianos and player-
pianos are now coming through the factory built
to the standard which we have always endeav-
ored to maintain and, also, combined with the
standardization of our line, we are sure that
dealers never had an opportunity to buy better
Bjur Bros, instruments than they have at the
•present time. We have already had many fav-
orable comments on the instruments which we
have shipped recently which are what we may
term 'new stock.' This same condition pre-
vails in many lines of business and naturally is
sc throughout our industry, and I feel confident
that the lesult is going to be very satisfac-
tory to both manufacturer and dealer."
BUFFALO, N. Y., March- 8.—The thousands who
attended the 'Automobile Show, which was held
last week at the Seventy-fourth Regiment Ar-
mory, were also given a musical treat. Of
course, there was Lieutenant John Bolton's
band, but there was also the Apollo piano,
which was demonstrated under the auspices of
the Robert L. Loud Music Co., Inc. It made
a decided hit with the show crowds, who lingered
to listen.
E. B. BOGART OPTIMISTIC
Out-of-town piano firm representatives, who
President of Bogart Piano Co, Returns From were here in legions the first of the year, have
Successful New England Trip
not been so plentiful of late. A few visitors,
however, have been in town during the last
E. B. Bogart, president of the Bogart Piano few days. Among them was Stuart Perry, of
Co., 9-11 Canal place, New York, returned the the A. B. Chase Piano Co. He gave the piano
latter part of last week from a trip through New sales force of J. N. Adam & Co. a very inter-
1'iigland, where he found conditions improving. esting talk on selling while he was here.
"In mostly eveiy piano wareroom that I visited,"
The Koenig Piano Co. reports that business
he said this week to a representative of The is good. A number of instruments were sold
J
l.'.tmd. The fact that the factories in the manu- ?. Hallet & Davis to Charles H. Rarlow, dec-
facturing towns arc commencing to operate orating contractor.
again has stimulated business and has also given
William Huffman, formerly of J. N. Adam &
a greater incentive to dealers to urge respective Co., has joined the force of the Wurlitzer Co.
customers to buy. My trip seemed to have been here.
taken at a most opportune time and I was suc-
The Albert Schuler Piano Co. has an attrac-
cessful in securing some good orders, both for tive window display this week of the Record-
immediate and future delivery. I see no reason ophone, the company's own talking machine.
why we should not be getting back to normal
The many friends in the music trade of
conditions within a reasonable time."
Stephen J. Butler, manager of the piano depart-
ment of J. N. Adam & Co., are extending their
FORT WAYNE HOUSE TAKES LEASE sympathy to him in the loss of his grandmother,
Mrs. Bridget Regan, who died this week.
FORT WAYNE, L\I>., March 7.—The Ulrcy Music
Miss Margaret Hatton, in charge of the record
Shop, 1520 South Calhoun street, has taken a and roll department of the Hoffman Piano Co.,
long-time lease on the two floors just above who has been ill for two weeks, has recovered
the Windsor jewelry store, 1204 South Calhoun and is now back at the store.
street.
Newest of the music stores at Niagara Falls
is the one which has just been opened by Ed-
ward J. Cannon, at 304 Niagara street. Mr.
NOW WITH BALDWIN PIANO CO.
Cannon has a very attractive place.
W. H. Youse and E. P. McDonald have re-
The Thomas Piano Co., of Lockport, has
signed from the Period Cabinet Sales Co., at moved into new quarters, a three-story building,
New Albany, and are now associated with the which affords it one of the most spacious
Baldwin Piano Co., in Louisville, Ky.
and up-to-date stores in this section.
To be a good listener is sometimes as im-
portant with the salesman as to be a good
talker. If possible, he should be both.
Attractive Proposition
A well-known manufacturer of phonograph records
with national distribution and popularity will nego-
tiate with a musical merchandise house for the sale
of part of its product on a commission basis.
Progressive concerns, whose salesmen cover music
or chain store outlets, will find a substantial addi-
tional profit in the handling of these records. The
product, which is now firmly established, has little
or no competition. New records are released
monthly.
Opportunity,
Box No. 2197, c/o Music Trade Review,
373 Fourth Avenue, New York.
W. E. WEYDIG ROLLS BIG SCORE
As Member of Bronx Centrals Secretary of
Whitman Piano Mfg. Co. Stars in American
Bowling Congress Tournament
William E. Weydig, secretary of the Whitman
Piano Mfg. Co., 410 West Fourteenth street,
New York, returned this week from Buffalo,
where he took part in the American Bowling
Congress tournament as a member of the Bronx
Centrals, where he made the highest individual
score of 543, the three strings which he bowled
being 192, 212 and 139. His score was 143 points
more than the second man. The bowling was
done on strange alleys with new pins and still
Mr. Weydig's average for six games was
195 5-6. It was on the five-men team that he
bowled the 543 and on the two-men team, 197,
237 and 198.
His visit to Buffalo was also hailed with en-
thusiasm by his fellow members of the 309th
Machine Gun Squad, Seventy-eighth Division,
with whom he served in the A. E. F. in France.
He was royally entertained and personally con-
ducted to Niagara Falls and other important
points in and about Buffalo, with the result that
what he didn't see in that prosperous up-State
city wasn't worth telling about.
The Morrissette Piano Mfg. Co., Providence,
R. T., has been incorporated under the laws of
that State, with capital stock of $100,000, to
manufacture and deal in pianos. The incorpora-
tors are Honore L. Morrissette, of Providence;
Zenon Morrissette, of Lowell, and Philip A.
Morrissette, of Central Falls.