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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Business Showing Improvement in All
Lines Say Milwaukee Music Merchants
Dealers in City Generally Express Themselves as Being Satisfied with the Volume of Sales Made
During the Past Six Months—Planning Radio Exposition
X/flLWAUKEE, WIS., July 1.—Business in
*•**• general is showing some improvement in
Milwaukee music stores. Although the increase
in any one department is slight, the improve-
ment is spread over the whole field rather than
being confined to one or two departments. With
the coming of vacation days portable phono-
graphs are going very well in local stores, and
they are being featured in a number of window
displays for the Summer months. Pianos con-
tinue to show improvement, especially player-
pianos and grands. Smaller departments report
an increase in proportion with the others.
Looking back over the past six months, local
dealers seem fairly well satisfied with the re-
sults. Business has shown a good increase in
the majority of stores, while others who had a
record year in 1923 report that they are keeping
up with that record and at times showing an
increase.
"Business is picking up in all lines," stated
Hugh M. Holmes, manager of the J. B. Brad-
ford Piano Co., which features the Duo-Art in
the Steinway, Weber and Steck pianos. "Duo-
Arts, records and even phonographs are improv-
ing in our downtown store and the South Side
store of the company is doing a very fine busi-
ness." Mr. Holmes stated that Bradford's were
from 20 to 25 per cent ahead of last year's busi-
ness from January to June. It is now fol-
lowing its usual Summer policy of sending
salesmen through the surrounding country,
visiting the small towns in the vicinity of Mil-
waukee.
"Business is picking up in all lines except
radio," said R. J. Gierach, advertising manager
of the Kesselman-O'Driscoll Co., home of the
Ampico in the Knabe, Haines Bros., and Mar-
shall-Wendell, "and a seasonal drop in radio
sales was expected. The Kesselman-O'Driscoll
Co. is far ahead of last year for the past six
months."
Window Displays Sell Sheet Music
This store has been doing a wonderful sheet
music business, attracted by the very complete
stock which is carried. In commenting on the
sheet music business, Mr. Gierach said that the
Kesselman-O'Driscoll Co. did no newspaper ad-
vertising for this department, but attracted con-
siderable attention through window displays. He
said that they planned ahead to tie up with
various theatre programs by featuring the mu-
sical number in their window. This policy, to-
gether with the complete and up-to-date stock,
were the factors which brought the large busi-
ness to the sheet music department, according
to Mr. Gierach.
Bands Progress Rapidly
The bands being trained at the band school of
the Kesselman-O-Driscoll Co. are progressing
rapidly, according to Mr. Gierach, and should
be ready for public performance by next Fall.
In addition to bands for men and for women,
the company is also instructing a saxophone
band, banjo band, string orchestra and a uku-
lele club. Many new prospects are discovered
through this school.
The school band of Hartland, Wis., which
was instructed and directed by Oscar Kluck,
head of the Kesselman-O'Driscoll band school,
won third place in the contest of the Wisconsin
Boys' Band Association held at Lake Geneva,
Wis. This band is equipped with Holton instru-
ments.
New Udell Catalog
Contains Many
Good Numbers
Here's a Player Roll Cabinet that
shows what UDELL can do in pro-
ducing attractive furniture at prices
everybody likes!
Look at the attractive straight line design
of No. 603—then think of its superb value
at $12.50 net to dealers ! Finished in imita-
tion mahogany of imitation walnut; quar-
tered oak front; capacity 63 rolls. Height
38 in.; width 18 in.; depth 14 in. Beautiful
grilled door. Even in this low priced cabi-
net, we put in the exclusive UDELL metal
shelve supports. Push button catch on door,
and other features that distinguish UDELL
quality everywhere.
Player Roll
Cabinet No. 603
There is a comprehensive line of
UDELL Record and Player Roll Cab-
inets. All numbers justly famed for
quality as well as price. The range
takes care of every pocketbook.
Write for your copy of catalog No.
81 today.
The UDELL WORKS, Inc.
28th Street at Barnes Avenue
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
JULY 5,
1924
A very successful June clearance sale of
pianos was held by the Kesselman-O'Driscoll
Co. and a new plan of interesting prospects was
used. Letters announcing the sale were sent
out with the personal signature of the solicitor
who had been calling on the prospect. The per-
sonal touch brought very satisfactory results,
Mr. Gierach stated.
"Business is holding up very well," declared
Paul E. Mueller, manager of the William A.
Kaun Music Co., which features a sheet music
department. "The vacation season has also
brought a demand for Sonora portables."
Edward Herzog, sales manager of Edmund
Gram, Inc., home of the Steinway, and A. B.
Chase, with the Celco reproducing medium, re-
ported a good business, showing up especially
well in player-pianos and grands. He stated
that the work of this store during the month
of June was devoted to overcoming the sales
record set during the exceptionally good month
of June, 1923. Up to the latter part of the
month sales for 1924 were about even, with those
of June, last year, and, at times, were a little
better.
Edmund Gram, of Edmund Gram, Inc., is im-
proving in health, but will continue his stay at
Cambridge Springs, Pa., until his strength is
recovered, according to word received in Mil-
waukee. No date for his return to this city has
been set.
Miss Birdie Solomon a Bride
Miss Birdie Solomon, who has been in charge
of the office of Flanners-Hafsoos for a number
of years, was married June 28 to Theo. Ake-
mann, of the Sentinel Co. Miss Solomon is
well known to many Milwaukee music dealers,
having been connected with Edmund Gram,
Inc., Emil O. Schmidt and Steussy-Schulz, all
Milwaukee music houses, before accepting the
position with Flanner-Hafsoos. The couple left
for an extended trip, after which Mrs. Akemann
will return to her work for a time. Their home
address will be 695 Fifty-eighth street.
Frederick Sunderman, head of the Mel-O-Dee
Music Co., was a Milwaukee visitor during the
latter part of June.
Jerome Murphy on Visit
Jerome Murphy, of M. Steinert & Sons, of
Boston, made a short visit in Milwaukee while
on a trip through this part of the country.
Fred E. Yahr, of Yahr & Lange, distributors
for Sonora phonographs in Wisconsin and
Michigan, returned to Milwaukee to-day after
making a trip through part of the Michigan
territory with their representative, R. A. Wal-
ley. Mr. Yahr will complete his trip through
that territory after July 7. He is visiting all
accounts of the company and reports good
prospects.
Planning for Annual Radio Exposition
Plans are being developed for the second an-
nual radio exposition of the Wisconsin Radio
Association which will be held in the Milwau-
kee Auditorium beginning November 11. As the
crowds at the first exposition could not be ac-
commodated in the portion of the auditorium
used for the exhibits last Spring, the entire
building will be used in the fall. All plans for
the exposition are being patterned after the first
annual event, but they are being developed on a
more extensive scale. Where the musical pro-
grams last Spring were broadcasted through
KYW the Chicago Westinghouse station, the
November programs will be. broadcasted
through this station and, in addition, through
WIAO, the Milwaukee School of Engineering,
and WCAY, the new Civic Broadcasting station
of this city.
G. T. Ruez, president of the Badger Talking
Machine Co., Victor jobber, has been traveling
in the East on a business trip. Among the
places he visited during the trip were New York,
Philadelphia and Camden.
George Jeffrey, representative of the General
Manufacturing Co. was in the Wisconsin terri-
tory for about fifteen days traveling with sales-
men of Yahr & Lange, distributors of Sonora
phonographs.