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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
10
A MONUMENT TO SOHMER PROGRESS
(Continued from page 9)
fects are in operation. In the front section of
the third floor is a most homelike and rest-
ful showroom given over entirely to reproduc-
ing grands, Sohmer instruments in which are
incorporated the Welte-Mignon reproducing ac-
tions. This room, like all of the several show-
rooms, is richly furnished, and supplied with
what is known as the Duplexalite lighting sys-
tem, which eliminates shadows. In the hall
leading from the reproducing piano parlors to
the rear showroom, where upright players are
displayed, there is arranged a well-stocked
player roll library
The front section of the fourth floor is given
over to the display of straight grand pianos,
and the rear section to uprights, while on the
fifth floor is found a stock of used and ex-
changed instruments and odd styles, and in the
rear is a repair shop.
The sixth and top floor is devoted exclusively
to the general offices of the company, and here
are found also the private offices of Harry J.
Sohmer, the present head of the house; of Frank
J. Sohmer and of Alex McDonald, the whole-
sale sales manager and publicity director. The
offices, of course, are supplied with all the mod-
ern equipment called for in efficient business
practice.
One cannot make a general inspection of the
Sohmer Building without being deeply im-
pressed with the spirit of the organization, of
which that building represents a most fitting
monument, under the active personal direction
of Harry J. Sohmer, the present head of the
company. The Sohmer institution has made,
and continues to make, distinct progress along
recognized progressive lines, while still adher-
ing closely to those principles and standards
laid down by the founder of the business and
placed before the following generation as ideals
upon which to base all future plans of devel-
opment.
There is idealism in the Sohmer business,
and it is evidenced in many ways, but it is a
practical idealism that makes itself felt in worth-
while accomplishments. In short, the business
is living upon accomplishments rather than upon
reputation, and this new Sohmer home, with
every floor of its 18,000 square feet of floor
space laid out for a definite purpose, is a solid
and impressive testimonial to Sohmer success,
a success attained through close adherence to
the highest business ideals.
MARCH 19, 1921
TWIN CITY PIANO TRADE MOVING ALONG NORMAL LINES
Dealers Working Hard to Keep Business Booming, Meanwhile Waiting Patiently for a More
Settled Condition to Arrive—W. J. Dyer Feted in San Jose—Duo-Art and Stein way Artists Appear
MINNEAPOLIS and ST. PAUL, March 14.—A situa-
tion that under the former Federal Administra-
tion was known as "watchful waiting" prevails
in the music trades throughout the Northwest.
No words could better describe the tempers ot
the merchants. They are neither depressed nor
critical, they simply are awaiting the time when
the new "normalcy" will be realized. Whether
that period will arrive speedily or be long de-
layed they do not pretend to say, but they are
quite sure that while they are bearing all de-
velopments with becoming cheerfulness there
is nothing that the retail merchant can do until
capital and labor have adjusted their differences
as to new wage schedules and hours of labor.
Some business is to be had right along in all
departments of the music trade and the dealers
are able to jog along without any immediate
cause for worry. March in all probability will
show a smaller return to the majority of Twin
City houses than did February, the shortest
month of the year. This statement particularly
is true of the ordinary pianos. Some special
lines of pianos and certain lines of the trade, like
small goods, for instance, arc producing very
satisfactory returns.
A. L. Brown, who handles the small goods,
player-pianos and orchestral organs for W. J.
Dyer & Bro., states that his department will
show substantial increases over the correspond-
ing months of a year ago and that he is quite
away ahead for the fiscal year ending next
June, as compared with the corresponding pe-
riod of the year ended last June. Small goods
are moving freely, both in retail and in whole-
sale, and the Fotoplayer demand continues.
Two instruments of the latter type were nego-
tiated last week.
Word has been received at the Dyer headquar-
ters that the head of the house, W. J. Dyer, was
the guest of honor at a dinner arranged by the
music merchants of San Diego, Cal. When the
"boys" learned that he was in town they were
determined to show him some hospitality and
concluded that a testimonial dinner would be
the most satisfactory and so they arranged one
that proved entirely pleasing.
That the payment of income taxes is inter-
fering with the piano trade is the conclusion of
R. W. Bonyea, of the Golden Rule's piano de-
partment. He is satisfied that more sales would
The Largest Dealers
Choose The Ludwig Line
Among our representatives are numbered many of the
largest and most progressive houses in the industry.
Wouldn't you like to know just wherein these represent-
ative firms have found the Ludwig a valuable franchise?
We can give you some detailed information that will
be of tangible value to you in making a selection among
a number of high-class pianofortes.
Ludwig &
Willow Avenue and 136th Street
Co.
New York
have been closed during the past fortnight if
so many people had not been involved in the
income tax problem. There are a number of
fine prospects in sight, however, and the busi-
ness of the department will be to go after them
in a vigorous manner.
The appearances of Alfred Cortot and Louis
Graveure in Minneapolis give the Metropoli-
tan Music Co. opportunity to do some special
advertising. Cortot is an exclusive Duo-Art
artist and his roll undoubtedly will be in demand
after his appearance with the Symphony Or-
chestra. Graveure is devoted to the Steinway
piano and the Metropolitan will see that he gets
a fine instrument for the Elks concert. E. R.
Dyer also believes that the income tax is worry-
ing some people so much they have no time for
piano buying.
W. S. Collins, head of the Cable Piano Co.,
who made a quick trip to Ashland, Wis., early
last week, found the general conditions in north-
ern Wisconsin about the same as in Minnesota.
Business is moving right along, he says, but at
a somewhat deliberate rate. Two Twin City
branches have had only fair success during the
past week. Manager Hellriegel, of the St. Paul
branch, went through the Shriner gauntlet last
week and still is somewhat subdued as the re-
sult of his experiences.
Neither the manufacturing nor the retailing
end of the piano business satisfies the man-
agement of Raudenbush & Sons. Both are ex-
tremely slow and have been, according to ac-
counts from headquarters. The outlook is rather
bright, says F. H. Raudenbush, but the long-
awaited prosperity is a long time in coming.
FIGURES ON THE COMMODITY TAX
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce Finds
That Total Taxes Paid on All Sales of Pianos
and Materials Under That Plan Will Not
Amount to One and One-half Per Cent
Investigation thus far made by the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce of a proposal
to impose a tax of one-half of one per cent oh
all sales of commodities indicates that the total
taxes paid on all retail and wholesale sales of
pianos and materials entering into their con-
struction will not amount to one and one-hfttf
per cent.
The Chamber is endeavoring by its research
to arrive at the total tax which at one-half of
one per cent would be paid by the piano indus-
try, including all supplies of materials as fair
back as the forest and the mines. It is th^
Chamber's wish to show what percentage w
the retail price of a piano is made up of taxes
paid to the Government as a result of this pfd-
posal by the retailer, the piano manufacture*,
the manufacturer of various parts which eater
the piano, the manufacturer of materials used
by the parts manufacturer and so on until thfc
ultimate source of materials has been reached.
BUYS BILLINGS MUSIC STORE
BILLINGS, MONT., March 14.—The Curtin Music
House, in this city, owned by A. P. Curtin &
Co., of Helena, has been purchased by local
interests and the business will be conducted in
future by a new corporation, to be known as
the Webster-Allen Music House. The incorpo-
rators are: H. J. Webster, A. II. West and H;
T. Allen, all of Billings.
NEW CORPORATION IN NEWPORT, R. I.
Barney's Music Store, Inc., Newport, R. I.,
has been incorporated with capital stock t)f
$100,000 for the purpose of dealing in all kinds
of music and musical instruments. The incor-
porators are: James H. Barney, Jr., Frank S.
Hale and James W. Brown, all of Newport.