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JANUARY 12, 1924
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Western Convention of Music Trades
Widely Discussed on the Pacific Coast
General Opinion Seems to Be in Favor of Such Event During Present Year—Photoplayer Co.
Working Out of Difficulties—To Attend Baldwin Sales Conference
CAN FRANCISCO, CAL., January 3.—For
some months past the Photoplayer Co. has
been carrying on its production under the man-
agement of J. A. G. Schiller, who has his head
offices at the Berkeley factory of the company.
Frederick R. Sherman, vice-president of Sher-
man, Clay & Co., when questioned to-day
iegarding the progress of the Photoplayer
organization, said that Mr. Schiller is doing
remarkably well with it. Production has been
going on and the company has shown a profit
for November and December. Mr. Sherman
said that the concern is doing so well that it
looks as if, allowed to continue, the Photo-
player Co. will work itself out of its trouble.
Past Year Was Very Successful
Sherman, Clay & Co. have had a very suc-
cessful year. Frederick R. Sherman, vice-presi-
dent of the firm, said that during the past
twelve months business was about up to war
times. Nineteen hundred* and twenty-three was
the first year that had the same high peak as
during war lime. The fiscal year of Sherman,
Clay & Co. ends on January 21. The various
departments are now busy taking inventory.
Will Attend Baldwin Sales Conference
Morley P. Thompson, Pacific Coast repre-
sentative of the Baldwin Piano Co., will leave
for Cincinnati, ()., on January 15 to attend the
annual Baldwin sales conference. Mr. Thomp-
son will be accompanied by his bride of a few
months, and, after the sales conference, they will
take a deferred honeymoon, returning to San
Francisco via the Panama Canal. Mrs. Thompson
was formerly Miss Ruth Wetmore, daughter of
Supervisor John Wetmore, of San Francisco.
Before her marriage to Mr. Thompson Miss
Ruth Wetmore was a well-known art instructor
of this city.
Public Demand for Good Goods
Speaking of the piano demand during the past
year with the Wiley B. Allen Co., George R.
Hughes, secretary of the house, stated: "With
a degree of modesty we may say that we have
closed what we believe will prove to have been
a year marked by quite an attractive business.
One of the striking features of the past year's
sales has been the development of a demand
for small grands and the quantities sold. The
average price of these instruments sold will be
exceedingly high, for our demand has been for
good goods—for pianos of a very high char-
acter.
"It has been apparent that the talking ma-
chine business has not reached the figures of
1922, but our piano business will be much in
excess of that year." The Wiley B. Allen Co.'s
fiscal year closes on January 31.
Dealers Seem to Favor Questionnaire
A favorable impression seems to have been
created in music trade circles here by a ques-
tionnaire recently sent out to the Coast trade.
This questionnaire is being circulated through-
out the Pacific Coast and a number of favor-
able answers have already been sent in during
the past few days by well-known San Francisco
firms and by Western representatives of Eastern
manufacturers. The questionnaire runs:
"1. Are you in favor of a Western conven-
tion of the music trades industry embracing
dealers, wholesalers and manufacturers of the
Western States?
"2. Where and when (state, city and month)
should such a convention be held?
"3. How many days should such a convention
last?
"4. What subjects would you suggest be
placed before the convention for forum discus-
sion ?
"5. If a convention of the music trades was
held, would you or your company consider at-
tending same?"
Sherman, Clay & Co.'s Employes' Association
had $2,500 recently which it wanted to invest.
The organization did so by buying Sherman,
Clay & Co.'s stock. This sense of being an
integral part of the big organization has given
satisfaction, both individually and collectively,
to members of the association.
Erbes Buying for New Year
E. G. Erbes, proprietor of the Northern Cali-
fornia Music Co., came to Baldwin headquarters
here on January 3 to place orders for the com-
ing year. Mr. Erbes reported good business
during December. His store was formerly at
Oak Park, but he said that business expanded
so rapidly that he moved to his new building at
1019 J street, Sacramento. This location is right
on "piano row" of the capital city. Mr. Erbes
is an enthusiastic Baldwin piano dealer.
Ohio President Endorses
Tax Gut and Price Fixing
Chas. H. Yahrling, Head of Music Merchants'
Association of Ohio, Urges Members to Sup-
port Price Maintenance Bills and Tax Cut
CLEVELAND, O., January 7.—President Charles H.
Yahrling, of the Music Merchants' Association
of Ohio, believes that the members of the Asso-
ciation should support strongly the bills now
before Congress designed to legalize the main-
tenance of resale prices on merchandise, and
also the plan of Secretary of the Treasury Mel-
lon looking to a reduction in Federal income
taxes.
In a recent message to the members of the
association Mr. Yahrling said:
"There are two important matters coming up
before Congress at this session that are of
much importance to the prosperity of the nation
and which materially concern your business.
"I refer first to the 'Kelly-Stephens Bill' and
'Merritt Bill,' both of which will be either passed
or killed at this session of Congress. You are,
no doubt, familiar with these bills, which, if
passed, give the manufacturer of a standard
article the right to set and require the main-
tenance of a retail price at which his goods can
be sold.
"Another which affects every business man
is Federal income tax.
"May I ask you to write the Congressman
from your district to give his support—and us«
his influence with his fellow Congressmen t«
give their support—to the Kelly-Stephens and
Merritt Bills and also the program, as outlined
by Secretary Mellon, for reduction of the 1924
Federal income tax.
"The Music Merchants' Association of Ohio
has always been in favor of—and has passed
resolutions at our conventions in support of the
American Fair Trade League, who sponsored
—and is trying to put through the Kelly-
Stephens and Merritt bills, and I am sure we
all want lower taxes.
"I believe that the logical way to make the
influence of our association effective is for each
member to write his Congressman individually
and ask his support of these two important
matters, and I urgently request you to write
your Congressman now so that your letter may
reach him during the first week that Congress
is in session."
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Player Piano
NOTES
FROM THE LAUTER-HUMANA
FACTORY, NEWARK, N. J.
1923 MOST SUCCESSFUL
YEAR FOR LAUTER CO.
Factory in Full Operation Continuously
Even Then There Were Hardly Enough Lauter-
Humanas to Supply the Demand
In a letter sent to all Lauter dealers last week,
A. F. Schmalzigan, wholesale manager for the
Lauter Co., sums up the player-piano situation
for the past year as follows:
"1 am sure that it will be of interest to you
to know that the Lauter Co. has just closed
their most successful year.
"During 1923 our factory was in full opera-
tion every day, and even though we manufac-
tured a surplus stock during the three Summer
months to accommodate the anticipated demand
for the Fall, we were actually sold out in Sep-
tember. However, by putting extra pressure
behind orders in October and November, we
were able to serve our dealers promptly during
the holiday rush.
"It is a fact that there was an over-supply of
cheap and medium-grade player-pianos all
during last year, but the supply of Lauter-
Humanas was barely enough to meet the de-
mand. This proves conclusively that the
Lauter-Humana, with its many exclusive fea-
tures, has created for itself a strong demand
among discriminating player-piano purchasers
everywhere.
"During 1924 the Lauter-Humana will be
equipped with many new and valuable devices
and refinements that will make it more efficient
than ever before.
"Please accept our thanks for your valuable
patronage and co-operation during 1923. May
the New Year be a happy and prosperous one
for vou."
Among the numerous holiday greetings re-
ceived by the Lauter Co., the following is par-
ticularly gratifying:
RADEBAUGH MUSTC CO.
Columbus, Ohio
December 31, 1923.
Lauter Co.,
Newark, N. J.
. •
Gentlemen:
As the days go by we hope to prove ourselves 1
worthy of the many favo#s shown us by the
Lauter Co. We thank you most heartily for
the greetings conveyed in your cards aiid letters.
To represent a firm that is so genial is indeed
a pleasure.
With the best wishes for a happy New Yean
=
Very sincerely,
|
M. E. RADEBAUGH. I
The Lauter Co. invites inquiries regarding tho,;
establishment of agencies from dealers who arej '
interested in handling "the world's finest player-)
piano." .Address 591-593 Broad Street, Newark]
N. J.
-
-
Larkin in New Store
The Larkin Music House, Binghamton, N. Y.,
has moved to new warerooms on Chenango
street and now occupies what is considered one
of the finest stores in this part of New York
LAUTER. HUMANA
"The World's Finest
Player Piano"
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