Music Trade Review

Issue: 1921 Vol. 72 N. 26

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
JUNE 25, 1921
REVIEW
Wherein the Editor of This Player Section SetsForth Some Thoughts Which
Run the Gamut From the Theory of Relativity to the Proper Manner in Which
to Operate the Player-piano, Seemingly a Sufficiently Wide Field to Cover!
Relativity!
According to Doc Einstein motion is rela-
tive. The small boy in school who has a job
of work to do, when compared with the same
small boy when school is out and baseball has
begun, affords an excellent practical demonstra-
tion of the relativity of motion. So does the
interior of most of the retail stores wherewith
we are acquainted—stores, that is to say, which
engage themselves, or purport so to do, with
the sale of musical goods and especially of
player-pianos. The contrast between the mo-
tion of business when referred to buying and
the same relativity to selling is quite amusing;.
If anybody does not see the point we refer him
to the Doc himself, who, being an excellent
musician among other things, will be sympa-
thetic if not precisely illuminating. All of which
is but a preliminary to the statement that all
estimates are also relative and that it is rather
more than usually absurd to take anything
which anybody says about the state of business
as being either absolutely true or absolutely
false. One can only say that, whatever it is,
the chances are that it is rather less than more
true. In a word, we take the tales they tell
us with the customary granum salis and take
good care that said grain be a good, big one.
One thing may, however, be laid to heart by all:
the world situation is by no means yet adjusted
and we shall have to make up our minds to a
season of hard pushing and striving. We might
as well do it now, for we shall have to do it
anyway sooner or later. Biu business is as
good for us as for anyone else. Buying can
only be stimulated by persistent propaganda.
The fundamental conditions are not yet quite
pleasing, but they are steadily improving—the
conditions, that is to say, of credit (frozen and
thawed), of prices, of values. Liquidation is
proceeding. The world is coming out from the
ether; coming out, though not yet quite out.
Meanwhile, let everyone work. That is the
secret. And the results of work, though them-
selves relative, slant along the favorable and
not the unfavorable direction; along the x axis
and not along the y axis, as the mathematicians
would sav.
"Commercial and Domestic"
One likes the idea of a salesmanship school
such as John Martin, T. J. Mercer and Walter
Kiehn, with their various assistants, have been
holding up at the big Gulbransen works during
this month. Of course, specifically the scheme
is a plan for teaching dealers in Gulbransen
goods and their assistants how to sell those
goods in the most efficient manner. Just as
much, however, it is intended to show those
men how to sell so that the goods will stay-
sold and the owners will come back for more
music week after week and month after month,
sending in their friends to become player-pian-
ists in their turn. Now. a good description
of a player salesmanship school would be "a
school for making player-pianists, commercial
and domestic." The commercial player-pianist
is the salesman who learns how to sell the
musical desire and musical means which the
player-piano represents to the man or woman
who is to do the playing at home. The domes-
tic player-pianist is to be made into such by
the commercial one. And then the trilogy is
complete. The problem of selling player-pianos
is to impart to the buyer a knowledge of what
the player-piano is really intended to do,
namely, to give the user of it the opportunity
to perform music personally, whether well or
not so well does not matter. Most salesmen
are obsessed, so it seems, with the notion that
the player-piano is a large piece of construc-
tion weighing eighteen hundred pounds avoir-
dupois and occupying a prominent place in the
The highest class player
actions in the world
living-room, and not much else. They sell it
as this and add that the favorable terms on
which it can be bought enable anyone to become
an owner of such an instrument. Quite sol
How very inspiring! The business of the
teachers at the Gulbransen school is, among
other things, to kill that notion dead. And one
wonders when the whole trade will take the
hint.
Censoring the Census
The preliminary estimates which the Census
Department has issued relating to the music
industry in the United States during 1919 are
quite illuminating. One can draw all sorts of
deductions from a study of them, although, of
course, a good deal of the deducing is likely
to be somewhat sketchy and inaccurate. Dur-
ing that year the number of uprights with
players exceeded the number without them for
the first time in the history of the trade. As a
matter of fact the percentages were about 57
and 43 respectively and the total production
was only a little in excess of that average
(300,000) which we have frequently referred to
as annually characterizing our production fig-
ures. Now, of course, the figures for 1920 will
not show so favorable a result and those of
this year will probably be even less inviting.
But the point to be noted is that we have
passed the point where the player-piano (in
upright form) is to be regarded as a mere vari-
ant of the piano proper. The player-piano is
now settled as a true co-ordinate element of
the music industries and must be treated as
such hereafter. Again, the grands numbered
2,200. It is very consoling to know that so
many as two thousand! player grands were
sold during 1919, for that means that two thou-
sand families were really interested in person-
ally obtaining music, otherwise commonly un-
attainable, in the highest of domestic forms!
That is a very consoling thought. Then there
was the steadily growing numbers of the auto-
matic players. It is hard here to disentangle
the figures, but apparently the growth was
(Continued on page 8)
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"The valve unit that made the player famous"
sense o f becu6u has been
developed t o on'
fcdi
detfree.
The new "Amphxon Accessible Action" is the last word in scientific player
achievement.
ft has the complete valve action assembled in a "Demountable
Unit'' giving instant accessibility.
AMPHIOIWWTIONS
SYRACUSE
•Your Guarantee
NEW YORK
__
_
picijeK* -picno
appeals Go ell lovers of *ne
becudiful, so bbob far-cuucu
Ocpcn demends end but|s'
these superb instrumenls,
t|ou u)ill be proud of i^our
{cscirpcOincj Sijrnphonolci, end
A iDill rnoke iiour house
e home.
PRICE & TEEPLE PIANO CO,
CHICAGO, U. S. A.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
8
THE POINT OF VIEW
(Continued from page 7)
t
steady all around. It is interesting also to
know that two years ago more than a million
dollars' worth of music rolls were produced.
All these figures, of course, refer to numbers
made. But that does not alter the significance
of the facts. The music industries are in a
pretty fair condition and the temporary slump
of this year cannot hurt them very much or
permanently.
Play Softly
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
NEW SEEBURG REPRESENTATIVE
M. Lemonoff to Cover New England for J. P.
Seeburg Piano Co.
CHICAGO, III., June 20.—M. Lemonoff, a traveler
of long experience both in pianos and automatic
instruments, has been appointed Eastern repre-
sentative for the J. P. Seeburg Piano Co. He
will cover New York State, New England, Dela-
ware and part of Pennsylvania. He is very en-
thusiastic regarding his new connection and
has already commenced a vigorous campaign in
his territory.
J. P. Seeburg, president of the J. P. Seeburg
Piano Co., returned this week from a trip to
Detroit and Pittsburgh. In the former city he
called on Grinnell Bros., who have the Michigan
State agency for the Seeburg product; and in
Pittsburgh, on the Selzer Music Co., exclusive
Seeburg distributors. Mr. Seeburg is decidedly
enthusiastic regarding the excellent business be-
ing done on his product by these and other
leading representatives of the company.
Lee S. Jones, sales manager of the J. P. See-
burg Piano Co., returned this week from an
Eastern trip, during which he established half
a dozen strong, new agencies in important
cities. The Seeburg sales campaign, which has
been waged with much success for several
months past, is now being prosecuted with con-
tinued vigor. The sales force consists of six
experienced travelers who not only visit the
dealers but, if required, give them an actual
demonstration of the best way to present the
product and even dig up a prospect or two and
show the dealer how to handle them. The
Seeburg Co., by the way, is taking the positive
stand that dealers who handle the Seeburg
agencies must actually carry stock.
Here is a thought: the secret of all good
demonstration of a foot-pumped player-piano
may be concentrated into the one simple idea
of learning to play softly. It is said that more
flies can be caught with honey than with vine-
gar and the person who made that profound
remark may be credited with a completely prac-
tical knowledge, so far as it goes, of the habits
of musica domestica. A parallel and equally
profound remark is that for every man or
woman who is attracted by noisy music there
are ten who sit up and take notice when some-
thing soft and soothing is brought to their aural
attention. The analogy of the dance hall will
not work in opposition to this aphorism, for
those who go to dance go for the sake of the
rhythm and not for the sake of melody. They
need rhythmic noise, and the jazz band gives it
to them. But that is not music. A man or
woman approaches a player-piano usually with
the idea that it is a noisy affair and nothing else.
Show that man or woman from the start that it
can play music softly and sweetly, if you would
gain the confidence and the interest which are
preliminary to desire. For every ten salesmen
we know who sit on a player beTich and work
away till the sweat rolls down their cheeks and PAYS TRIBUTE TO THE FOTOPLAYER
gets into their eyes we know one who has mas-
tered the art of taking things easy and pro- Circular letters do not always bring the type
ducing sweet, soft music without apparent ef- of returns expected, although in the particular
case of a circular letter which the American
fort. Yet it is very easy, after all!
Photo Player Co. sent to logical prospective
purchasers of the Fotoplayer they received an
unusually satisfactory reply. The circular let-
ROLL COMBINATIONS IMPORTANT
ter was sent with the purpose of interesting
Proper Arranging of Numbers in Automatic motion picture owners in the Fotoplayer. A
Rolls Must Be Observed
postal card was received from the Victory The-
atre, Salisbury, N. C, one of the establish-
CHICAGO, III., June 21.—The importance of ap- ments circularized, which read as follows:
propriate arrangements of hits in automatic
"Gentlemen: We bought a Fotoplayer two
music rolls is a factor too little emphasized. years ago. This instrument has given absolute
Every month there are a certain number of satisfaction. No customer can afford to be
sure-fire hits, along with a number of "also without an American Fotoplayer. It will pay
lands," or songs which achieve a certain amount for itself by increasing business."
of popularity, but never become big sellers.
R. P. Matthews, vice-president and New York
The Automatic Music Roll Co., of Chicago, manager of American Photo Player Co., stated
in arranging its monthly roll lists, endeavors that there was a question in his mind a*s to
to group the selections in a manner which which he preferred—a letter from a prospec-
pleases the ear, while keeping together all num- tive customer or a letter from an old customer
bers of the same nature, claiming that an all- who was well satisfied.
hit review will always makes the best seller,
but that auxiliary arrangements each month can
THE REPRODUCO PIPE=ORGAN
be made much more attractive by the exercise
of taste and selection. Indeed, the problem of
CHICAGO, III., June 20.—The Operators Piano
the automatic roll arranger is a difficult one, Co. has just issued an attractive new circular
and upon the correct selection of monthly on the Reproduco portable pipe-organ, on which
numbers depends, in a large measure, success- it has had a remarkable demand the past two
ful sales.
years. The Reproduco is a self-contained piano
and pipe-organ that anyone can set up and fits
in nicely as a stock proposition for dealers
AN ARTISTIC BULLETIN
and can easily be substituted in smaller places
The July bulletin of the Pianostyle Music for an instrument that would call for specifica-
Co., of Brooklyn, N. Y., giving the July releases tions. The company stresses the fact that this
of the Pianostyle music roll, both word and is a pipe-organ and not a reed organ. It is
instrumental, has been prepared in an attractive provided with 8-foot stopped diapason, flute
and timely manner. Appropriately, the bulletin and violin pipes. The blower, operated by an
is printed in the national colors. The list of electric motor, is installed in a separate, sound-
releases is printed over a reproduction of the proof cabinet. The violin, flute and stopped
well-known painting, "The Spirit of '76." On diapason pipes are combined with such acces-
the reverse side appears a list of Pianostyle sories as swell, tremolo, mandolin, piano and
hits with the picture of a huge modern cannon cutler devices.
and bull's-eye, representing the sure-fire hits
An automatic player mechanism may be in-
of the Pianostyle list.
stalled if desired. Equipped with this mecha-
nism the Reproduco organ will automatically
The Patrick Music Co., Long Beach, Cal., reproduce from the solo rolls the playing of
has moved to new quarters at 334 Pine avenue. master organists.
JUNE 25, 1921
THE WINDOW
SALES FORCE
Clever and Strikingly Arranged Q R S Display
by Arthur Jordan Piano Co., Washington,
D. C, Helps to Win Interest and Sales
The Q R S department of the Arthur Jordan
Piano Co., of Washington, D. C, maintained a
high quota of sales during the past month and
this was in no small part due to the splendid
window display which the -company prepared.
Q R S Display at Jordan Co. Headquarters
Always with an idea to attracting the public's
attention, Mrs. A. G. Hart, manager of the
department, plans and executes clever and ef-
fective window displays with an idea of mak-
ing them attractive to the eye primarily and yet
at the same time putting across a sales idea.
The part of the window display shown here
gives an idea how Mrs. Hart makes up these
attractive displays. It was gotten up to depict
"Ain't We Got Fun?", the name being the title
of a new music roll just released by the Q R S
Music Co.
The effect was obtained by bringing in a
good portion of the Arthur Jordan establish-
ment and then painting a landscape background,
a collection of beach vamps, such as the beach
cops are after, put in position playing about in
sand, a few shovels; in fact, a real picture of
fun. In the corner was a card marking the
name of the new production.
Splendid sales results were obtained from the
effort and the management is to be congratu-
lated on their enterprise thus demonstrated.
BELIEVES IN COOPERATION
Automatic Music Roll Co. Tells of Increased
Demand for Music Rolls for Coin-operated
Pianos, Organs and Orchestrions
CHICAGO, III., June 20.—-The Automatic Music
Roll Co. reports a largely increased business on
music rolls for coin-operated pianos, organs and
orchestrions. The character of the demand
shows not only the largely increased number of
instruments in operation, but an energetic cam-
paign on the part of dealers in pushing the sales
of rolls to places having instruments of this kind
installed.
The Automatic Co. makes a specialty of sup-
plying the trade with the very latest hits and its
bulletins each month not only reflect its enter-
prise, but also show a new and efficient classi-
fication of the selections on the different rolls.
The July bulletin in particular is a model of
selection and arrangement in every respect. The
company keeps very close to its dealers and its
customers and seeks their advice and sugges-
tions as to the composition of the rolls. The
monthly bulletins which the company is issuing
are calculated to meet the demands of every
section and locality.
The company's service department is espe-
cially well organized and it is prepared to help
its customers in every way to push their busi-
ness vigorously and to aid them in the selection
of rolls best adapted to meet the demands of the
trade.
RESIGNS AS MANAGER
O. E. Kellogg recently resigned as manager
of the store of the Mathushek Piano Co., New
Haven,. Conn., to engage in another line of busi-
ness.

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