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THE
JANUARY 7, 1922
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
39
BIG YEAR FOR PIANO BASS STRINGS PROMISING OUTLOOK FOR NEW YEAR
WOOLS STRONG AT YEAR'S END
Otto Trefz Reports Volume of Business in 1921 Bradstreet's and Dun's Trade Reviews Sound
Exceeding That of 1920
Note of Optimism Concerning 1922 Business
Congressional Action on Wool Tariff Necessary
to Avert Serious Shortage
PHILADELPHIA, PA., January 3.—Otto Trefz,
manufacturer of bass strings for the piano, has
closed a decidedly successful year. Although
during the summer months the plant was run at
a somewhat reduced capacity, the exceptional
business received during the Fall and holiday
season more than made up for the Summer
months, so that the year just concluded ranks
among the best in the history of this firm. The
heavy demand for bass strings was not only
received from the piano manufacturer but the
tuners' department, which this firm conducts,
also received greatly increased demands from
piano tuners in all sections of the country. Mr.
Trefz is optimistic over 1922 and believes that
business will show a substantial improvement
over 1921.
BOSTON, MASS., January 3.—One cannot help
contrasting the strong ending of the year in the
wool market as compared with the weak, though
hopeful, beginning.
Consumption of wool,
which had sunk as low as 18,000,000 pounds in
December, 1920, amounted to 20,000,000 pounds
in January, 1921, since which time it has in-
creased to about 60,000,000 pounds in October
last, and now has decreased slightly from the
high point, making the total consumption for the
year well up toward the average of a normal
year.
During the past week the demand, while not
particularly large, has been rather unusual for
the last week of the year, when the holidays and
annual stock taking naturally slow up trade. The
demand has not been confined to any one grade,
but perhaps the call for the fine and fine medium
wools has been relatively keener than for the
medium to low grades, because some of the mills
appear to need such wools to piece out current'
orders.
There is no escaping the conviction, even after
a casual survey of the wool market, that unless
Congress takes fairly speedy action on the wool
tariff there is danger of a very serious shortage
of wool supplies in the near future. This would
mean a rapid advance above present prices and
might lead eventually to very chaotic and dan-
gerous conditions for the entire industry. The
Executive Committee of the Boston Wool Trade
Association has endeavored to show this situa-
tion to the Senate Finance Committee in a spe-
cial communication, urging a rapid and equitable
adjustment of the tariff for all parties in interest.
Although the after-holiday lull has been appar-
ent in all lines of business the depression has
been most marked in wholesale trade and indus-
try, according to the weekly reviews made public
this week.
In its regular weekly comment Bradstreet's
notes the following outstanding developments:
"Following the better-than-expected trade be-
fore Christmas, for which the stimulus of sea-
sonal Winter weather, still in evidence, was par-
tially responsible, there has been a lull which,
in some wholesale lines, recalls the selling con-
ditions of last January, without, however, the in-
tense depression in feeling then noted. At retail
things are quieter than since late Summer. In-
dustry, reflecting shutdowns for inventory or
repairs or unwillingness to order out goods pend-
ing year-end balancing of books, is a good deal
quieter also, the resulting idleness being heavy
SPECIAL MEDAL_FOR PIANO TUNER
in some cities. On the other hand, collections,
MARION, IND, January 3.—In recognition of his
probably stimulated by holiday receipts, are bet-
ability as a piano tuner, the Gulbransen-Dickin- ter than last week."
son Co., of Chicago, has awarded M. J. Achor,
The following comment was made by Dun's:
of this city, a special medal and has given him
"A year which has been marked by general
special mention in the firm's house organ. Mr. economic readjustment comes to its close with
Achor has been connected with the Butler Music quietness in business the prevailing condition,
Co. for more than twenty-three years. At a re- but with promise of improvement to follow.
cent examination conducted by the company he
"While the seasonal lull has been somewhat
received a grade of 100 per cent. He is well more pronounced than usual much has been ac-
known among the membership of the National complished in the way of strengthening the
Association of Piano Tuners.
fundamental situation and the outlook is for fur-
ther gradual commercial recovery. With de-
pleted merchandise stock in many instances a
LONDON WOOL AUCTIONS
large potential demand is indicated and buying
LONDON, ENC, January 3.—The next wool auc-
for replenishment purposes is already a factor
tions here will begin on January 10, the cata- in some lines.
log for the first series consisting of a British-
"Despite continued irregularity the main trend
Australian Wool Realization Association offer is still toward increasing stability of wholesale
of 56,000 bales, together with 25,000 bales of markets, and a belief that the point of extreme
New Zealand, 10,000 bales of Cape and nearly depression in most prices has been passed serves
50,000 bales of free wools, consisting of 31,000 to encourage operations for the future."
Cape, 16,500 South American and 1,500 bales of
other descriptions. It is anticipated that the
E. E. Matthews, owner of the Gainesville
bidding will be brisk and that good prices will Music House, of Gainesville, Tex., died recently
be realized.
at his home in that city.
ORDERED TO CEASE GRATUITIES
Federal Trade Commission Finds Beckwith-
Chandler Co. Guilty of Giving Gratuities
NEWARK, N. J., January 3.—The findings of the
Federal Trade Commission in the case of Beck-
with-Chandler Co., this city, manufacturers of
varnishes, disclose that there were gratuities
given to employes or customers to the amount of
Towers Above
over $4,000 in the period from September, 1919,
Established 1853
AH Others
to January 1, 1920, while an additional amount
Also PIANO-FORTE
Manufacturers
Grand and Upright Piano-forte Actions and ORGAN KEYS of $3,000 was also distributed for similar purposes.
of
They were given by the company's salesmen who
Keys, Actions, Hammers, Brackets and Nickel Rail Furnished Complete
131 to 147 Broadway
.
.
.
.
CAMBRIDGEPORT. MASS. are named in the commission's findings, and as
such gifts are considered by the commission as
unfair business practice and a violation of the
Act of Congress creating a Federal Trade Com-
mission and defining its powers, the Beckwith-
Chandler Co. and the other defendants, consist-
ing of the officers and salesmen of the company,
have been ordered to cease the practice. The
And when you're satisfied
company is given sixty days to file a report in
that we've the best punch*
writing setting forth in detail the manner and
Write for a sample can of Behlen's
form in which it complied with the order.
ings on the market, cut
Varnish Crack Eradicates and try it.
clean and accurately from
Once you learn how much it means to
Consult the universal Want Directory of
the best of material in
you in the saving of time on your refin-
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
ishing jobs by eliminating the necessity
celluloid, cloth, felt, fibre,
free of charge for men who desire positions.
of scraping off old varnish and shellac,
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paper,
rubber
or
and how much more satisfactory are
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whatever you want, give
face it gives to work on, you, like others
us credit and send your
will continue to use it.
orders to
We make a specialty of Piano and Player-
Write to-day.
Piano Hardware, Transmissions and Gears,
Metal Spool Ends, and so forth. We make
only on special order after designs furnished
us or will furnish designs on request.
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Write us your needs.
Anilines
Stains
Shellacs
Fillers
SYLVESTER TOWER CO.
HEED OUR ADVICE
PLAYER MANUFACTURERS
ATTENTION!
C. F. GOEPEL & CO.
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Near 6th Ave.. and 8th St.
137 E. 13th STREET
NEW YORK
Elgin Metal Novelty Co.
ELGIN
•
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ILLINOIS