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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
AUGUST 6, 1921
VACATION SEASON NOW IN FULL SWING IN BROOKLYN
Hot Weather Slows Up Business Somewhat and Local Piano Dealers Welcome the Opportunity
to Escape From the Cares of Business for a Brief Rest—Fall Prospects Excellent
BROOKLYN, N. Y., August 3.—The usual Summei
dullness is permeating the Brooklyn piano and
general music business at the present time. The
exodus of many families to the country and
beach resorts has had considerable effect upon
local trade, but the dealers have been able to
overcome this natural lethargy by adopting more
aggressive sales measures. The unusually hot
and oppressive weather during the past few
weeks has been responsible for a further drop-
ping off of sales. This condition is not the least
bit alarming. On the contrary, many piano deal-
ers who have been in the business for years feel
that it is resulting in some good, inasmuch as it
is proving a stimulant to sales efforts and is
giving the dealers time to readjust themselves
to the more aggressive policies of selling which
must be used if business is to be obtained in the
future.
Another thing which is affecting sales is the
vacation season, which is on in full force in this
section. The sales forces of many concerns
have been greatly curtailed for this reason, but
vacations will be a thing of the past by Labor
Day and the dealers are planning Fall drives for
business which should easily make up for the
lack of sales at the present time.
The housing situation and unemployment still
continue to have some effect on the trade. A
few private dwellings have been constructed or
are in course of construction in Brooklyn and
vicinity, but what is needed is a greater number
of apartment houses. Many families are living
in two and three rooms and naturally there is
no room for a piano or other large musical in-
strument. No improvement is noted in the em-
ploymen.t situation, but dealers report that the
average workmen were able to save a consider-
able sum of money during the boom days and
they are still buying musical instruments. The
workman, as a rule, believes that he owes it to
his children to provide them with a musical
education and in many cases he husbands his
resources carefully in order to purchase a piano
or talking machine.
The piano department of the Loeser store has
enjoyed an unusually prosperous July. This is
not unusual for this department, however, since
business has improved steadily from the first of
the year. Of course, the conditions which are
affecting the trade in general are exerting some
influence in the Loeser department, but E. S.
Hammond, buyer-manager, is more than equal-
izing matters by going out after the business.
Salesmen are thoroughly canvassing Brooklyn
and surrounding towns on Long Island, as well
as the rural districts.
The small goods department of this store,
which was under the able management of E. S.
(Ukulele) Hughes until last week, is able to re-
port a greater volume of business for the first
six months of this year than was transacted
during the entire year 1920. The story of Mr.
Hughes' resignation and his work in the small
goods department of Loeser's is related in an-
other part of this issue.
W. H. Bishop, in charge of the talking ma-
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ACOUSTIC DEPARTMENT
COS S. LA SALLE ST.. CHICAGO
chine department, reports that business is fairly
good. An aggressive drive has been made on the
small portable talking machines, with the result
that sales of these models have excelled. Cabi-
net models of low and medium price have been
in fairly strong demand, but the period models
are not being sold. This is due to the fact that
people who as a rule buy these expensive ma-
chines are out of town for the Summer. A
fair volume of sheet music sales is being made.
The demand in the sheet music line centers
chiefly around the dance numbers. There is
practically no call for the classics and very little
demand for popular airs.
T. E. English, treasurer and manager of the
Chandler Piano Co., states that while the ex-
r
cessively hot weather during the past few weeks
has had some effect in curtailing sales the
Chandler Co. has not been idle and an encour-
aging amount of business has been done. Player-
pianos and high-priced uprights lead in numbers
sold. Grand pianos are having few calls lately,
but despite this fact more of these instruments
were sold from January until the present than
were disposed of during the same period last
year.
Vacations are the order of the day at the
Hardman, Peck & Co. store here, and as a result
the sales force is considerably reduced tem-
porarily. However, the firm reports a very sat-
isfactory volume of business in July and condi-
tions point to a continuance of this favorable
situation.
J. C. Franke, manager, returned early last
week from his vacation. Mr. Franke spent his
time in the Adirondack Mountains. E. F. Cal-
laghan, of the sales staff, has just returned from
Atlantic City, where he spent a part of his vaca-
tion; A. G. Love, another member of the sales
force, is spending his vacation at Owasco Lake,
N. Y., and T. J. Steinhaus, salesman, will leave
next week for Springfield, Mass., where he is
planning to spend his vacation on a farm.
J. E. Engle, manager of the Pease Piano Co.,
has just returned from a two weeks' vacation at
Bayshore.
THREE INSTRUMENTS FOR THEATRE
EVANSVILLE, IND., August 1.—Two of the highest-
priced pianos in the country and a $10,000 pipe
organ of the most modern construction are part
of the musical equipment of the new Victory
Theatre, a motion picture house erecte'd here at
a cost of nearly $1,000,000 and recently opened.
A.Knabe grand piano and a Chickering grand
piano were bought at a cost of $2,300 from the
Harding & Miller Music Co. One of the instru-
ments is in the orchestra pit and the other on
the stage.
W. B. Miller, president of the music company,
assisted the management of the theatre in the
purchase of a two-manual, electro-pneumatically
controlled organ which was built by the Moeller
Organ Co., of Hagerstown, Md. P. G. Robbins,
chief organist for the theatre's company, after
his first trial of the organ, declared that it is
the most beautiful he has ever played on.
"The first touch tells"
(Reoistered U. 8. Pat.
Oft.)
To represent a small
grand which is rec-
ognized for having
a superior tone of
that volume found
o n l y in l a r g e r
grands, is an asset
to any dealer.
The
Christman
Studio Grand
(5 feet over all)
has become famous
on this account.
Since its inception it
has been the choice
of pianists and mu-
sicians for concert
and studio.
SMITH PIANO CO. GETS NEW STORE
WATERTOWN, WIS., August 2.—The Smith Piano
Co., of Madison, has secured a long-term lease
of the store space in the Majestic Theatre Build-
iny, of this city. The company is planning to
establish a musical instrument business here
and will equip the new store with a large stock
oi supplies. The location is one of the best in
the city and an extensive business should be
enjoyed by the firm.
Seamon Bowers, of Benwood, W. Va., who
was formerly in the confectionery business and
later in the automobile accessory business, is
planning to open a music, store.
It will pay you to
investigate.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St., New York
"The first touch tells .99