DECEMBER
TIlE
8, 1923
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
7
Trade Forecasts Prosperity in 1924-(Continued from page 5)
.
~
-,
.
Player Piano
NOTES
- ._ - --_ ..
cal instruments in all their different fortns than
ever before-and what the public is interested
in they wil! buy
Competition, however, be
tween the different lines of merchandise for the
consumer's dollar is keener than ever, so the
amount spent for music and musical merchan
dise depends on the industry itself-how attrac
tive the merchandise is, the merchandising
methods used and the salesmanship displayed in
marketing it.
Christman Piano Co., New York. By Henry
Christman, Secretary:
.
V'Ve have had a very sa ti s fac tory year-our
production being greatly in excess of the
previous year. We are in~talling new machinery,
presses and cauls to me et the increased demand
for our instruments.
Basing our predictions on orders already
booked, we look forward to 1924 b eing our ban
ner year.
Estey Piano Co., New York. By George W.
Gittins, President:
I think we may all fe el that we can enter into
1924 with a feeling of distinct optimism. All in
dications point to a very exce llent business con
dition, not only in the piano trade but all in
d~stries.
In man) ways 1924 looms as a bigger yea r
than the one ju st ending, for it seems certain to
me that during the next twelve months we will
see some definite attempt to solve the foreign
situation. There is every indication at thi s time
that the United States will co-operate with the
forei g n g overnments in taking a definit e step
to settle the European situation, and bring about
a more stable world tra~e condition. Once this
is accomplished I am sure we will feel it im
mediately in our domestic trade circles.
The savings bank s depo s its of December are
Cjuoted a t nearl y twent y billions of dollar s, which
proves that the money is h e re. Th es e savings
are di s tribut ed over tw e nty -five million de
positors, which show s th a t the money is well
scattered; a fa ct that forecasts a general
prosperity, not localized in anyon e section. A
solution of the European situation will do milch
to ease the minds of our forci g n popl11ation,
and loosen the ~e trem endous bank deposit s into
trade channels.
We may have to work just a little harder in
1924 to get the busine ss, but there is sOlll e satis
faction in workin g wh e n we know that the
mone y is available and that all we need to do is
to pres e nt our product correctly and back it
with a little Illore than the usual sa ks energy.
This we are all re a dy to do, and for that re as oll
I feel thal th e piano trade may safely look for
ward into 1924 with the assurance of enjoying
one of the best year s in its history.
with regard to trade conditions, I have just
finish ed a trip West and also have been through
the East . In the East I fiDd that general busi
ness conditions are not as good as they were
last year. ~fany of the mills are working part
time and some of them were close d for several
da ys . I think the music bu siness on the whole
is better than many other lines of business.
There is no real stability about it, however;
merchants are only buying what they absolutely
n ee d, in other words, from hand to mouth.
Those who report good business are unusually
busy and are after all the business that they can
get; in other words, it is the selling end of the
business that is receiving the necessary atten
tion.
In the 'vVest conditions are be tter, exc ept in
the farming sec tions, but on rhe "y hole I should
say that bu s ine ss conditions are very uneven,
and es pecially so in the production s chedules
of the various factorie s_ The. prophesi ed boom
does not exist, but th e re is ,business for those
who will go after it. I believe that the presen t
condition will run into the coming year, but
how far' I do not know. A whole lot will de
pend on the political situation. There is a big
demand for grands and reproducing pianos,
esp ecially in the bes t grades.
Krakauer Bros., New York. By 1. E. Bretz
felder, President:
In my est imation the prospects for the piano
industry for the future look very bright, es
pecially for the be tter manufacture.d pianos. It
seems a s thou gh American people arc more
and more appreciating good music and this is
reflected in the demand for good instruments .
Of course, general bu siness conditions are · good
and thi s is reflect-ed in our industry.
Lane Interests, New Y opk. By Allan B. Lane:
I am glad to say that, judging by the orders
that have been received by both the Mansfield
a nd Shoninger division s, the existing conditions
in our industry are unusually favor.able· . . '
J believe that after the first of the' year we
will find conditions even bet ter than they are
I'igh t now, for reports which we are receiv
ing from all part s of the country indicate' a very
prosperous 1924 in spite of it being a presi
dential year, which usually has some effect on
conditions in general.
Paul G. Mehlin & Sons, New York. By Charles
Mehlin:
_\5 the worlel grows smaller through the rap
idly increasing intercourse between nations, strife
in anyone sector affects business; fluctuations
in pri ces of currencies, foodstuffs, cotton, etc.,
create unrest and uncertainty among the buy
in g public everywhere, and thus business is
bound to he held up until the last moment.
\Ve will see a big ru s h of busin es s next month
Hardman, Peck & Co., New York. By Carl E.
and next y ear.
Peck, President:
The year 1923 has bee n a ve ry trying one for
Henry F. Miller & Sons Piano Co., Boston. By
general business in the l.'nited States. Primarily
Stanwood Miller, Vice~president and Gen
the unrest in Europe was very disheartening to
eral Manager:
the general export busine" of th e country and,
Local co nditions in ' the industry, I feel, are
there fore, the la rge industrie s wer e th e prin
quite a bit unsettled with perhaps the Southern
cipal sufferers.
'
part of the country in the poorest condition of
Howeve r, our indu s tr y did not fefl this de
us all, but, on the other hand, I do feel
pre ss ion, mainly becau se of the buildin g boom
that the South is due for a big improvemellt.
in the previous yea r and during th e early part
Although cotton is scarce, it is bringing go od
of this year all ov e r the t'nited States.
prices a nd while the Southern territory was dis·
Hardman, Peck & Co. had the best ye ar in
appointed at th e pric e obtained in the tobacco
the history of tb eir bu , ine", and, notwithst a nd
market, they had a good crop and it will mean
ing the gennal p ess imism in the fin a ncial dis
helping them out of their three-year slump.
trict, I don't see wh y , with hard work, the sales.
J .aboy, with the manufacturers, is as usual
during the earl y part of n e'x t year should ·not
pr ese ntin g its demand for increased wages,
keep up. l3eing a pres idential ele ction year,
and this proble1l1 is one which must be watched
next Fall may not be as go od as we experienced. constantly or the industry will find prices again
during 1922 and 1923. H owev e r, in th e piano
be comin g abnormal.
trade th e re is always a shortage of pianos dur
Th e retail merchant s generally, I feel , have
ing the Fall sea s on and this ought to counter
not fully recovered from the condition in which
balance an y unrest which ma y be felt due to
the) found th emselv es the latter part of 1919
the ele ct ion. The year 1924 ought to bc rt good
normal year for 01.11' industry .
recov e red th eir normal co urage, and while they
Janssen Piano Co. , Inc., New York. By Ben
a re bUYing on a little broader and extended
H. Janssen, President :
has is than in 1921 and 1922, yet they have not
In response to your request for my opinion
(C otltinued on paqe 9)
FROM THE LAUTER-HUMANA
FACTORY, NEWARK, N.J.
THE VALUE OF THE
LAUTER-HUMANA AGENCY
Has Many ExclUSive Advantal[es
Dealers Being Added Daily in All Parts of the
Country-Report Strong Demand for Quality
Player-Piano
Th e tremendous demand for the Lauter-Hu
mana is evidence that there is a big field for
the hi gh-grade player-piano. Some dealers do
not appear to appreciate this and, as a result,
are losing much va luable trade. There are, on
the other hand, increased numbers of dealers
who fully realize the situation, for every day
brings in a number of inquiries pertaining to the
establi s hment of Lauter agencies.
.. ..
... ...
...
...
... ... ...
... +
... ... ...
... ... ...
~++t++T++++++++++t+++++++++++++++++++++++~
... ...
...
...
... ... +
... ...
...
...
... ...
...
... ...
... ...
... ...
.,
...
...
...
...
... ...
...
~
... ...
...
.. .. ... ... ...
£
'The Player Piano
that is 'DiJfmnt!
:~
::
:. ., .... THIS
is the one player piano with which
you can secure the most delicate shad-
...
:.
:~
.,
:::
:~
r
ing . and effects. Possessed of a super-
.sensati·ve action, you can-with a little
'thought and study-produce music that
is as natural as hand playing. J n this re-
spect, the Lauter-H umana is different
from any other player pianp made.
.~
ZAUTERPIANO
:.
... +
59'1 - 593
+
:< -!-.yo!-, -+ -+
Co.
B R 0 ADS T R EET
+-f"r+ +" -+ -+ + + ~+-+ + + -+ ++T+ -+ -+ +',f -+ -+ -+ -+ -+ -+ + -+ + -+ -+
ADVERTISING THAT REFLECTS THE
~:
~.
~:
•.
~:
~:
~:
...
~:
..{.
~:
~:
...
+
+
')0,
QUAUTY OF THE
PRODUCT
'vVhen a player-piano possesses so· many dis
tincti.ve and exclusive features as the Lauter
Humana, it naturally assumes the leader
~hip wherever it goes.
This places the dealer
in a highly advantageous position, because the
Lauter-Humana is generally conceded to be the
world's finest player-piano . In short, the dealer
ha~ something that no other dealer can offer.
Competition is practically eliminated
In addition, the Lauter Co. maintains a mod
ern merchandising and advertising department
,that assists the dealer in his sales efforts by
supplying newspaper advertisements, electro
types, etc., free of charge. The spirit of com
plete dealer co-operation is very evident in all
branches of the Lauter organization.
If the Lauter agency is open in your territory
it will be worth your while to write at once to
The Lauter Co., 591-593 Broad Street, Newark,
N. J.
LAUTER-HUMANA
"The World's Finest
Player Piano"