Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
DECEMBER 17, 1921
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
BUSINESS OUTLOOK IS ENCOURAGING
GOOD TRADE IN TWIN CITIES
Elements Which Will Stimulate the Return to
Normalcy Multiplying, Says Dun
Holiday Buying Begins to Make Itself Felt—
Small Goods Departments Busy—New Rau-
denbush Player Announced—Other News
Dun's review of the general conditions pre-
vailing during the week contained the following
comment:
"Interest in commercial movements now cen-
ters more on probable developments in the com-
ing year than on current fluctuations in business.
The season is at hand when not much in the
way of activity is to be expected in wholesale
circles, and retail distribution, although of large
volume in the aggregate, lacks the momentum
and breadth noted in some other holiday periods.
Evidence of economy and discrimination in buy-
ing, with a decided preference shown for staple
and useful merchandise, reflects alike the dimin-
ished consuming power and change in purchasing
policy, and dealers are shaping their action ac-
cordingly. Relatively low prices for farm prod-
ucts tend to restrict the absorption of goods in
agricultural sections, while unemployment of
workers serves to limit demands in manufactur-
ing districts.
"With allowance for the various unsatisfac-
tory phases, however, the outlook is clearly
more encouraging. Complete restoration of set-
tled conditions is still some distance in the
future, yet elements which will make possible an
ultimate return of industry and trade to a
stronger and sounder basis are steadily multi-
plying. After many months of declining mar-
kets the wholesale price situation is now gain-
ing in stability, as Dun's Index Number dem-
onstrates, and the point has been reached in
some quarters where renewed activity is either
developing or is foreshadowed.
Prominent
among the favorable features is the prospect
of further expansion in building operations with
the end of the Winter and a full measure of
progress in this direction will do much to ac-
celerate the hoped-for general recovery in busi-
MINNEAPOLIS AND ST. PAUL, MINN., December
12.—All of the piano houses in St. Paul
and Minneapolis and contiguous territory are
feeling the beneficial impulse of the holiday
spirit as reflected in retail buying. It may be
that the impulse will not be of long duration,
but the music merchants surely are making the
best of their opportunities. As a rule, the total
volume of the holidays will fall below the aver-
age for the individual stores, but some, again, ex-
pect the season to hold its own in comparison
with previous years.
After January 1 no one can tell what is to
happen, but many merchants are confident that
the gloom prophets have been far too gloomy
and that the Winter of 1922 will not be far
different from any other Winter so far as busi-
ness conditions are concerned.
Houses that import direct from Europe are
finding the excellent service in every way. Orders
are filled very promptly in France, Germany and
other countries, and come through with no ap-
parent delay, says J. L. Pofahl, head of the
music department of the Golden Rule Store. The
house makes a specialty of violins and is enjoy-
ing excellent trade, as the prices are right. The
piano sales are running about as usual, with no
particular holiday activity.
Music houses doing business at or near the
intersection of Nicollet avenue and Eighth
street, Minneapolis, are blessed with a marked
increase of business as the result of the new
cross-town car line on Eighth street. It is esti-
mated that the transient sales growing directly
from the new line have increased the business of
the music houses near this corner fully 25 per
cent, and possibly 35 per cent. General Man-
ager Collins, of the Cable Piano Co., attributes
a considerable portion of the prosperity of the
Minneapolis store to the improved street car
facilities, and other managers also testify to the
BURKE MUSIC J^ENTERS FIELD
value of the new line as a business bringer. The
Foster & Waldo Co. and the Hurley-Moran-
OSWEGO, N. Y., December 12.—The latest addi-
Frank
Co. are not on the corner, but are near
tion to the music establishments of this city is
enough
to get considerable benefit therefrom.
the attractive store of the Burke Music Co., at
Excellent
business is reported for the honor-
89 East First street. The store has been en-
tirely redecorated and sound-proof rooms for the able house of W. J. Dyer & Bro. by the dean
demonstration of music rolls and talking ma- thereof. He relates that every department is
moving its wares in a most satisfactory man-
chine records have been installed.
ner, the piano department having some nice
A charter of incorporation has been granted grand sales to its credit and the player depart-
to the Brunton Piano Co., of Jersey City, with ment having closed a number of good contracts.
an authorized capital stock of $300,000. The fol- The small goods business, however, is the apple
lowing incorporators have paid in $8,100: An- of Mr. Dyer's eye at present. He states that
drew Brunton. Baud Brunton and Thomas S. fifty violins are being sol'd these days to one sold
ten years ago. The phenomenal increase is due
Knight, all of Jersey City.
to the great interest in music developed in the
public schools, each of which now has a school
orchestra of from ten to fifty pieces.
The new small-model player-piano designed
by Raudenbush & Sons is out. It is expected to
become a favorite with the dealers in this ter-
ritory. S. W. Raudenbush is planning on
his annual trip to southern California and will
leave shortly after the first of the new year.
Victor
Supremacy
The Victor has attained
supreme leadership
through the great things
it has actually accom-
plished.
The large measure of
success enjoyed by re-
tailers in Victor products
is in keeping with Victor
supremacy.
"Victrola" is the Registered Trade-
mark of the Victor Talking Machine
Company designating the products of
this Company only.
Warning: The use of the word
Victrola upon or in the promotion or
sale of any other Talking Machine or
Phonograph products is misleading and
illegal.
Important Notice. Victor Records
and Victor Machines are scientifically
co-ordinated and synchronized in the
processes of manufacture, and should be
used together to secure a perfect re-
production.
HANDSOME WHITMAN CALENDAR
Indian Girl Portrait Pleasingly Displayed on
Calendar Issued by Whitman Piano Mfg. Co.
The Lauter-Humana
A player-piano designed
to meet the needs of the
discriminating buyer.
Is Your Territory Open?
LAUTER-HUMANA CO.
NEWARK, N. J.
The Whitman Piano Co., 402-410 West Four-
teenth street, New York, has sent out a very
attractive calendar for 1922, portraying Sakaka-
Wea (Bird Woman), an Indian girl in a canoe.
The coloring of this calendar is very artistic and
effective and it is one of the most attractive which
has ever been issued by this house.
A petition in bankruptcy has been filed by the
Jefferson Music Co., of Norfolk, Va., with liabili-
ties of $14,086.10 and assets of $6,870.40. Fred
G. Laux, of Hampton, Va., is the owner of the
business.
Victrola No. 120, $275
Victrola No. 120, electric, $337.50
Mahogany or oak
Other styles $25 to $1500
Victor Talking
Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., u. s. A.
"I"