I
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
AUGUST 13, 1921
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
DECIDED IMPROVEMENT SHOWN IN NEWARK PIANO TRADE
Business Picks Up Among Retail Music Dealers, Who Believe It Is the Forerunner of Excellent
Trade to Come—Armstrong Forces Active—Hahne & Co. Clearing Out Used Pianos
NKWARK, N. J., August 9.—The music trade in
this city has shown a marked improvement dur-
ing the past two weeks, according to reports
of various dealers. While business during June
and July was fairly good and many dealers who
went out after the business at that time were
able to report good volume of sales, the last
week in July saw a picking up of trade which
merchants think will gradually increase until
the peak is reached in the late Fall or early
Winter. August started in a most auspicious
manner and several dealers whose business was
affected by the Summer dullness, unemploy-
ment, housing and other conditions report that
a number of sales have been made since the first
of the month. Probably the greatest factor en-
tering into this sudden revival of business is the
relief from the excessive heat from which this
section suffered during the greater part of June
and July.
Housing and labor conditions are still exert-
ing a certain amount of influence on business,
but the merchants are using energetic sales
methods to overcome these obstacles with such
good results that in most cases they are able
to report a sales volume very nearly the equal
of that of the same time last year. Business in
the stores is 1 not as good as it might be, but
the sales crews and canvassers are getting very
good results in the city and surrounding terri-
tory. Rural districts in the vicinity are proving
worth-while territory to work over and the crews
in. machines cover a great deal of ground in a
comparatively short space of time.
The Armstrong Piano Co. reports a decided
quickening of business during the past two
weeks, especially since the first of August.
Charles J. Honsberger, sales manager, states
that very little business is being done in the
store. "As a matter of fact, we have very little
to do with the Newark trade," said Mr. Hons-
berger. "Business in the store is rather dull.
We sent our crews of canvassers through New-
ark and the results were so poor that we de-
cided to concentrate on the surrounding small
towns and cities and the rural distiicts. As a
result of this plan our sales have increased
greatly. Medium-priced players are in greater
demand than any other instruments just now,
hut we are also making a fairly good number of
grand and upright sales."
The Armstrong Piano Co. has been very suc-
cessful in selling instruments to nearby schools.
Among the recent sales to institutions of learn-
ing are the following: Two Knabe grand pianos
and two Haines Bros, uprights to schools in
laterson; a Haines Bros, grand to the Alex-
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.
ander School, this city, and a Knabe grand to
the Franklin School, also of this city.
Victor talking machines and records are
handled exclusively by this firm. For several
months prior to the first of August there seemed
to be little demand for machines or records
but this is now a condition of the past in this
store. Simultaneously with the departure of the
hot spell Victor business commenced and to
date shows no sign of stopping. This does not
mean that there is a boom, but it does mean
that an encouraging number of sales are being
made and that buying is becoming more steady,
replacing the spotty buying of three weeks ago.
Since the demise of Enrico Caruso a greatly in-
creased demand for the deceased singer's re-
cordings has been noted.
Mr. Honsberger is planning to take his vaca-
tion during the latter part of August. He is con-
templating a motor trip to New England and a
visit to a boys' camp in the Adirondacks, where
his son is spending his vacation. A. W. Lead-
beater, a member of the sales force, who spent
his vacation at Long Branch, N. J., returned
Monday. Wilbur Nixon, also of the sales staff,
will spend his vacation in the Maine woods. Mr.
Nixon is a lover of nature and while sojourning
in Maine will seek to lure the wary trout to
their doom.
Business in the piano department of Hahne
& Co. has shown a. decided improvement since
the first of the month, according to W. O. Black,
manager. For the past several months business
in this department was rather dull, but a sharp
and steady increase in sales has continued for
two weeks. Mr. Black expressed the opin-
ion that the business outlook was assuming more
promising proportions.
One of the biggest sales of used instruments
that this store has ever had was conducted last
week in an effort to clean up old stock and
make room for a good supply of new instru-
ments to meet the demands of the Fall trade.
The sale was announced in all the local papers
and it proved a success. The end of the sale
will not see the end of the drive to get rid
of these instruments, however. Efforts will con-
tinue until the necessary floor space has been
cleared.
Miss Dorothy Rothstein assumed the tem-
porary management of the music roll depart-
ment, due to the absence of Miss Jessie Warner,
who is on her vacation. Miss Warner returned
on Friday, at which time Miss Rothstein went
away on her vacation. She is spending her time
on a farm at Janesburg, N. J.
The piano department of L. Bamberger & Co.
is enjoying a very good business and is keenly
alive to the possibilities for a big Fall trade.
Hardman, Peck; Behning and several other well-
known makes of pianos are handled here.
Miss M. Stanley, the wide-awake manager of
the Bamberger music roll department, reports
that the past two weeks have been exceptionally
good. "Peggy O'Neil," "Ain't We Got Fun?"
"All by Myself" and "The Last Waltz" are in
greatest demand. Q R S and Artempo rolls are
the leaders handled in this department.
Miss Stanley left Saturday for her vacation,
which will be spent at West Portal, N. J. Wil-
liam J. Connelly, buyer-manager of the piano
department, returned on Monday from Belmar,
N. J., where he spent his vacation.
NACE'S MUSIC STORES INCORPORATE
Xace's Music Stores, with headquarters in
Hanover, Pa., have been incorporated under the
laws of Pennsylvania, with capital stock of
$150,000, of which $50,000 is common and
$100,000 preferred. The concern is now oper-
ating four stores in Pennsylvania and Mary-
htnd and expects to add other establishments to
the chain. A complete line of musical goods is
carried, including pianos, players, talking ma-
chines, musical merchandise, etc.
Victrola No. 80, $100
Mahogany, oak or walnut
Other styles $25 to $1500
Victor
Supremacy
—all the time
and everywhere
Viewed from the stand-
point of m u s i c a l a r t ,
judged by the character
and prestige of the stores
that handle it, measured
in dollars for its ability
as a profit producer, the
Victrola is supreme.
" V i c t r o l a " j s the Registered Trade-
mark of the Victor Talking Machine
Company designating the products of
this Company only.
W a r n i n g : The use of the word
Victrola upon or in the promotion or
bait of any other Talking Machine or
I'honograph 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.
Victor Talking
Machine Co-
Camden, N. J., u. s. A.