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THE
8
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
ST. LOUIS TRADE HINDERED BY PIANO MOVERS' STRIKE
That, With Many of the Leading Dealers Attending the Chicago Convention, Brings About a
Quiet Week—St. Louis Delegation to Gathering Unites in Declaring Meetings Best Ever
ST. LOUIS, MO., June 11.—With many of the
captains of the piano business attending the
Chicago convention and a strike of piano mov-
ers in effect the piano business of St. Louis
was operating under difficulties last week. That
is not to say that the salesmen did not do their
best while the bosses were away, but, with ten
or a dozen of the proprietors and executives out
of the city, it is not strange that business lagged
a little. It might seem, at first glance, that a
strike of movers would not immediately affect
sales, but that it apparently did so goes to show
now little it takes to give business a setback.
The fact is that salesmen who were trying to
close prospects reported that they gave the
movers' strike as an excuse for holding off, re-
minding the salesmen that, even if they bought,
delivery could not be made.
The movers walked out Friday, when the
heads of the moving companies refused to in-
crease their wages from $35 to $40 a week and
give them Saturday afternoon off. A compro-
mise offer of $37.50 was made by the employers,
but rejected by the men. It is expected that a
settlement will be reached in a day or two.
The St. Louis delegation to the Chicago con-
vention included P. E. Conroy, president of the
Conroy Piano Co.; E. A. Kieselhorst, president
of the Kieselhorst Piano Co.; W. P. Chrisler,
T. W. Hindley and R. L. Hallahan, of the Aeo-
lian Co. of Missouri; O. S. Boyd, of the Bald-
win Piano Co.; Val Reis, of the Smith-Reis
Piano Co.; Manager Elarn, of the Scruggs, Van-
dervoort & Barney piano department; Man-
ager Geissler, of the Famous & Barr Co.; Man-
ager Horning, of the Stix, Baer & Fuller piano
department, and A. F. Mengel, of the Mengel
Music Co.
Gustave Behning, of the Behning Piano Co.,
New York, after attending the convention, came
down to St. Louis before returning back East.
E. A. Kieselhorst was accompanied to the
convention by Mrs. Kieselhorst. They sepa-
rated in Chicago and she went to New Mexico
to attend the graduation of one of the Kiesel-
1923
horst boys, Mr. Kieselhorst returning to St.
Louis.
J. E. Rieger, formerly manager of the P. A.
Starck Piano Co., has taken a position with
the Conroy Piano Co.
G. R. Harris, formerly sales manager of the
Lehman Piano Co., now with the Griffith Music
Co., Newark, N. J., after attending the conven-
tion at Chicago, drove down here and is spend-
ing his vacation with St. Louis friends.
GRANDS AND PLAYER-PIANOS IN THE GREATEST DEMAND
Buffalo Dealers Report These Two Instruments Lead All the Rest—Victor Dealers' Association
Invites All Dealers in Western New York to Join—May Reported to Be a Very Good Month
BUFFALO, N. Y., June 12.—Buffalo music deal-
ers are enjoying an unusually good season for
grands and player-pianos. So far the Summer
season has been exceptionally favorable in all
lines handled by the music dealer, but pianos,
especially the players, have had the lead.
F. F. Barber, manager of the J. N. Adam Co.
music department, said May was a very good
month. June is keeping up with the record
made by May and every department is showing
up to great advantage. "Our player-pianos
have been moving in large volume," Mr. Bar-
ber said, "and we are not being overstocked
with used pianos, giving us room for good
fresh stock. Talking machines are steady, with
a good demand for the portable machines."
The record department of the Adam store
has been enlarged and Miss Dorothy Cleaver,
formerly with the Yahrling-Raynor Music Co.,
Youngstown, O., has been put in charge.
The Victor Dealers' Association, at its meet-
ing in the Statler Hotel, following a noon
luncheon, recently, drafted a letter in the form
of an invitation to dealers throughout the west-
ern New York territory, asking them to join
the organization. Under the new constitu-
tion the Association meets regularly at noon
luncheons, discusses topics of the trade and ex-
changes views, which have proven very valu-
The patent covering the use of heat and moisture for varnish
drying DECLARED INVALID by final decision of U. S.
Court of Appeals.
Present and future users of
able to those attending as well as enjoyable.
It will be made much more profitable and inter-
esting to the group to have included in their
membership dealers throughout the western
New York territory, members say.
The picnic committee was chosen as follows:
Frank E. Russell, chairman; Charles Heineke,
E. R. Burley and Karl.Berlin. The annual pic-
nic will be held some time the latter part of
July and, with the above-named committee in
charge, leaves no doubt as to what an enjoy-
able affair it will be.
Bob Hollinshead, who recently underwent an
operation in the Deaconess Hospital in Buffalo,
is reported as doing very well. He is man-
ager of the local distributing branch for Q R S
player rolls.
The general store conducted by Joseph An-
drews at Pendleton Center, N. Y., was broken
into and robbed recently. Victrolas and other
goods taken amounted to a loss of about $500.
The thieves used a very up-to-date method in
carrying away their loot, having broken open
the door and backing up a motor truck, so that
they could work with the least possible trou-
ble. No clue to the identity of the thieves could
be obtained. This is the third time in eighteen
months that this store has been robbed.
The William Hengerer Co. is conducting a
sales campaign for portable talking machines
and the Victor health records. A. H. Fleisch-
man, manager of the department, said results
of the campaign are very good and there is
every indication that it will end with the de-
sired results.
Speaking of trade conditions of his depart-
ment Mr. Fleischman said that May was a very
good month and indications point toward an
even better closing for June.
GRAND PRIZE j^OR THE AMPICO
Cutler
Dry Kilns
Better Drying in Half the Time
will be glad to know that the Grosvenor Process Patent has been
held invalid as to the use of heat and added moisture.
Cutler Dry Kilns are now the safest and best equipment for drying
all kinds of finishing materials. -
Cutler Desk Company
Dept. "J"
JUNE 16,
Buffalo, N. Y.
Chickering and Knabe Pianos Also Receive
Highest Honor at Brazilian Exposition—Gold
Medal for Marshall & Wendell Pianos
The American Piano Co. received a cable
from Rio de Janeiro, Rrazil, this week, announc-
ing that the Ampico, Knabe and Chickering pi-
anos had been awarded the Grand Prize at the
International Exposition held in that city re-
cently and that, at the same time, the Marshall
& Wendell piano was awarded the gold medal.
The Grand Prize is the highest award offered
at the exposition and the fact that it was grant-
ed to instruments of American manufacture is
a high tribute to this country's musical prod-
ucts.
The American Piano Co.'s exhibit was con-
sidered one of the most attractive there.
LEM KLINE WTH STERLING
DKKBV, CONN., June 12.—Lem Kline has joined
the wholesale selling forces of the Sterling
Piano Co. and will hereafter be its Western
representative. The arrangement was made
during the convention at Chicago.
E. J. Jordan has resigned from the sales force
of the Miessner Piano Co., Milwaukee, Wis.,
and has joined the^ wholesale selling forces of
the American Piano Co., for which he will cover
a portion of the Western territory,