Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
OCTOBER 15,
1921
9
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
THIS IS NO TIME TO LOSE YOUR POISE
By PAUL B. KLUGH, President, the Autopiano Co., New York City
Even the least informed knows that the cost
of labor is on an average 50 per cent higher
than before the war. Keep this fact in mind,
then consider that the piano represents practi-
cally 100 per cent labor. I mean by this that
all of the materials going into it have been pro-
duced by labor. As, for instance, from the time
Paul B. Klugh
the woodsman puts his ax in the tree in the
forest, or the miner his pick in the ore, the cost
of these raw substances is made up entirely of
the labor handling them. It therefore can easily
be seen that player-pianos cannot sell to-day for
less than they did before the war and still be of
good quality.
TRADE NEWS FROM CINCINNATI
Receiver Appointed for Queen City Music Shop
—Wurlitzer Co. Purchases Additional Prop-
erty in Cincinnati—Other News
CINCINNATI, O., October 10.—Charles Inott was
appointed receiver of the Queen City Music
Shop, 411 Main street, Cincinnati, yesterday
by Common Pleas Judge Thomas H. Darby,
as a result of a suit filed by Sol W. Goldsmith
and Samuel Hyneman, doing business as the
Emerson-Ohio Co. against James H. Young,
owner of the music store. Through Attorney
Leonard H. Freiberg the Emerson-Ohio Co.
claims $396.61 due on notes and alleges that
Young neglects his business, leaving it in charge
of a young girl and closing it entirely at times.
They also allege that Young keeps no books nor
records and that he is contemplating selling his
slock at auction.
F. M. Morrison, former president of the
Morrison-Waters Piano Co., of Cincinnati, pur-
chased through the Hanegan Real Estate
Agency a 233-acre farm in Warren County. The
property belonged to J. H. Anderson, of Wash-
ington, D. C, who received $47,000 through the
deal.
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. this week pur-
chased a three-story brick residence at 111 West
Eighth street, giving the corporation ownership
to all property from southwest corner of Eighth
and Race streets to the flat building on Garfield
place in the middle of the block. During the last
ten years the Wurlitzer Co. has increased its
holdings at that intersection, their original pur-
BUFFALO TRADE IMPROVING
General Business Conditions Show Much Im-
provement and Music Dealers Are Very Opti-
mistic—Many Travelers Visit the Trade
Therefore, it is the time for the dealer to check
up on the past and not be carried off his feet by
price. Piano dealers are not in business for this
year only. Their ambition is and should be to
build up strong institutions which will stand as
monuments to their business integrity. Sherman,
Clay, Lyon & Healy, Dreher, Grinnell, Denton,
Cottier & Daniels, Steinert, and many others
have not built up their wonderful businesses by
selling the cheapest goods made. They did not
do this in the old days, and they do not do it
now. Price alone has never been attractive to
the intending purchaser. It must be coupled
with quality.
Some dealers have said to me: "Why don't
you make up some of these cheap player-pianos?"
to which I have answered: "I could do so, but
will not because such goods are entirely out of
our class." Our policy is to produce good, re-
liable instruments at moderate prices. We don't
manufacture the highest priced instruments, nor
do we make the cheapest; but we do manufac-
ture the type that the great mass of self-respect-
ing American citizens prefer to buy, and we
claim we give better value for the dollar than
any other institution. We are proving this every
day, and that is why the Autopiano Co., during
the first six months of 1921, when many manu-
facturers were working on short time or alto-
gether closed, shipped during the above-men-
tioned period just 292 players less than in the
preceding year—this number being such a small
percentage of our six months' output as to be in-
significant. The Autopiano Co. is working full
time every day, and there must be some good
underlying reason for this. In giving the reason
I can only reiterate what I have already said
that we give the greatest value that the dollar
can purchase.
BUFFALO, N. Y., October 11.—Even the most
pessimistic of piano men in this city are admit-
ting that business is very, very much improved.
All of the dealers note this week that there has
been a decided increase in the volume of their
sales. Collections are also improving. Employ-
ment conditions are much better as the Fall
draws on. Large industries are opening, giving
employment to many who were out of work.
Traveling men have been numerous during the
past week. Among them were F. C. Harlow, of
the Vose & Sons Piano Co., Boston; L. E. Briggs,
of the Ludwig Piano Co.; W. Lanz, of the
Brinkerhoff Piano Co., Chicago; Paul Fink, of
the Behning Piano Co.; George H. Beverly, of
Story & Clark, New York; Charles J. Cunning-
ham, of the American Piano Co.; George E. Mc-
Nally, of the Estey Piano Co.; H. F. Hagemeyer,
of Hardman, Peck & Co.; Stephen Mahler, of the
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., and Lemuel
Kline, of the Kline Piano Co., Chicago.
William H. Reilly, formerly sales manager at
the store of the Albert Schuler Piano Co., has
become associated with Utley's store.
The Stramburg Music House, at Jamestown,
one of the most progressive stores in this part
of the State, is remodeling its store in Third
street in that city. When the remodeling is
complete, the store will be one of the finest
piano houses in this section of the country. The
store has been holding a sale which is reported
as having been a most successful one. Mr.
Stramburg, it is said, intends to discontinue his
store at Franklin, Pa., soon.
Two of Dunkirk's best-known piano men died
recently. They were John Graff and William
Meyer. A short time ago Mr. Graff's furniture
store, which had an extensive piano department,
was swept by fire. Mr. Meyer was in business
for about half a century, and was one of the
chase being the home of the Lincoln Club Build- best-known piano men in this part of the State.
ing, by which it is known to-day.
The Willard Piano Co., of Olean, is doing a
That President Harding's wife studied at Cin- very good business with Haynes Bros.' pianos
cinnati Conservatory of Music and is quite a equipped with the Ampico. The company re-
pianist was revealed through the departure of cently sold a $2,000 Ampico in that city.
Horace G. Williamson, of the Baldwin Piano Co.,
J. N. Adam & Co. are celebrating their fortieth
for Washington to deliver a Cincinnati-made anniversary, and in commemoration of this event
piano to Mrs. Harding for her private apart- a number of special sales of pianos and players
ments at the White House. She expects to are being held. The company is showing some
revive her music, practicing whenever possible attractive window exhibits of pianos.
an hour a day.
P. H. Vaughan, of this city, who is a repre-
sentative of the Schaaf Bros. Piano Co., starts
KRANICH & BACH LINE MORE ACTIVE out on a trip this week that will carry him
through New York State, Pennsylvania, West
Reproducing Grand Pianos in Demand in the Virginia and Indiana. He expects to arrive at
West—Edward L. Mahoney on Long Trip— the factory about December 15. Mr. Vaughan
F. W. Grebe Leaves for Mid-West Next Week is a veteran salesman, having been on the road
for some thirty-nine years.
Business has been showing a slow but steady
A series of concerts before various organiza-
improvement during the past month, according tions, in which the Steinway Duo-Art is featured,
to Frederick W. Grebe, wholesale traveling rep- is being held under the auspices of Denton,
resentative of Kranich & Bach, with headquar- Cottier & Daniels. These concerts are meeting
ters in New York. Mr. Grebe stated that business with splendid success, and are receiving much
seemed to be particularly good in the West. favorable comment from the newspapers. The
Kranich & Bach reproducing grand pianos are artists appearing are Agnes Preston Storck, so-
enjoying a more active demand on the Coast prano, and Eleanor Shaw, pianist.
A number of different makes of pianos were
than for some time.
Mr. Grebe will leave early next week on a used at the musical festival which was held last
five weeks' trip through the Middle and North- week at Elmwood Music Hall, and which drew
west. He will call on the trade in this territory. a large attendance. The pianos used were the
Edward L. Mahoney, traveling representative Chickering, which is sold by Goold Bros.; the
of the firm in the interests of the player-piano, Steinway, which is sold by Denton, Cottier &
left last Sunday on a five weeks' trip. Mr. Daniels, and the Mason & Hamlin, which is sold
Mahoney will cover a big territory and will visit by the Robert L. Loud Music Co.
The music group of the Buffalo Chamber of
dealers in most of the big cities in New York
Commerce will meet October 27.
State, Illinois, Texas and Southern territory.
More Cunningham pianos are found in Philadelphia homes than
any other and you can accomplish the same results in your
city.
Ask for our plan of selling Cunningham pianos.