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SEPTEMBER 6,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1924
35
SUPPLY BRANCHES OF THE INDUSTRY
Fall Opens With Good Demand in All
Branches of the Piano Supply Trades
Peerless Pneumatic Gets
Many Grand Action Orders
Supply Men Looking Forward to Stable Conditions During the Coming Fall and Winter Months
—Indications From Supply Orders Show Plans for Heavy Production in Piano Factories
August Business of This House Characterized
by Inquiries for Trial Installations From Va-
rious Sections
A
SURVEY of the piano supply field at the
opening of the first Fall month is at once
favorable, and indicates stable conditions for
the coming season. Piano-action and player-
action makers are already busy, always a sure
sign that instruments are being needed in sub-
stantial quantities. Orders for actions are
coming in without delay, another evidence of
healthy trade conditions.
The advice offered by trade papers and the
supply men themselves, in the early Summer,
as to the advantages to be gained by prompt
ordering, has been consistently followed by
most of the large piano makers this year, so
there is no complaint to be made on this score.
Particularly gratified by this condition are the
piano-hardware manufacturers and jobbers, who
began to feel the first returns of their admon-
ishings toward the middle of August. This
branch of the supply industry therefore has
rather a start on its Fall business, compared to
previous years, and is in a position to meet
most rush orders with a fair degree of
promptness.
Felt manufacturers and hammer-makers in
the Eastern district have also experienced an
early demand for their materials, and in several
instances concerns of this type are already
working full-time. The tightening of raw wool
prices in the primary markets during the Sum-
mer season has been construed by importers
of felt to be a matter of good rather than evil
portent. There is no reason to infer that the
prices of piano felts will be raised immediately
by the rise in wool values, as the higher grades
of wool used for piano felts have always been
rare and expensive. Wool fluctuations for the
time being at least seem therefore to be re-
stricted to the lower grades.
Several changes in the veneer market have
been effected by the current fashion for art
case models with a two-toned finish. The sub-
stitution of some of the rarer veneers, satin-
wood, rosewood and the like for much of this
work has removed some of the demand for the
more expensive grades of mahoganies and wal-
nuts, making for a steadier market in which
to buy. The matter of shortage of timber,
however, is not as yet a matter of concern for
either veneer or lumber merchants.
With the major branches of the supply field
enjoying such favorable conditions, with no
darkening prospect of shortages on the horizon,
there is every reason to believe that a good
season is in store for them, as well as for the
retailer and manufacturer who fundamentally
create this prosperity.
Variety of Woods
Existing in Honduras
No Grades of Mahogany in That Country Scarce
Enough to Be Rated Fancy Save Curly,
Which Is Expensive
An interesting interview on hardwood condi-
tions in British Honduras was given out by
W. C. Smith, a lumber dealer in that country,
who returned recently to New York. Accord-
ing to Mr. Smith no grades of mahogany in
that country can be rated scarce or valuable
enough to be termed "fancy" except the curly
variety, a single log of which is often sold for
$10,000.
"Really few lumbermen know these woods,
which probably explains why the field has
been so little exploited. The most beautiful
woods require little finishing, never more than
a little wax, and their coloring is of great
natural beauty, varying from the black of ebony,
cream color of cocobola, red of rosewood, pur-
ple of purpleheart, green of greenheart, to the
rainbow hues of the snakewood.
"Each w T ood has special qualties, which suit
il for R particular use. For instance, rosewood,
because of its exceedingly close grain and hard
texture, has the best acoustic qualities of any
wood. It is used in two-toned finished cases
of pianos, for decorative purposes and in mak-
ing xylophone bars."
THE
HEART OF
THE
PIANO
The man who uses Behlen's Varnish
Crack Eradicator can afford to figure
lower, yet makes more profit on a re-
finishing job, than the man who does
not use it.
The reason—he saves the time, trouble
and expense of scraping off the old var-
nish and shellac and the finished job is
just as satisfactory, too—if not more so.
Send for a sample can today and
try it.
H. BEHLEN & BRO.
Anilines
Shellacs
THE STANDARD ACTION CO.,
CAMBRIDGE, MASS.
THE
exclusive manufacturers of
Stains
Fillers
PiaTvo Beivekes
and Tfusie Cabinets
10-12 Christopher St., New York
Near 6th Ave., and 8th St.
ARTNOVELTYCO.
GOSHEN
Writ* for catalog and de ta Us
INDIANA
A heavy demand for expression grand actions
has been received by the Peerless Pneumatic
Action Co., Inc., New York, during the past
ten days, according to M. Campbell Lorini,
secretary of the company. Confidence is ex-
pressed by Mr. Lorini and Tolbert F. Cheek,
president, that this end of the business, will be
one of the features of their production during
the coming season.
"We have been especially gratified this Sum-
mer," said Mr. Cheek, "with the widespread
favor our new expression action for grands has
met since the Convention in June. We are re-
ceiving numerous inquiries from large manu-
facturers of grands in all parts of the country,
who have sent on instruments for trial installa-
tions. Mr. Lorini and myself have been devoting
much time to the individual problems presented
by these separate installations and have met
with marked success in every instance. In ad-
dition to making these new connections, we arc
glad to state that all of our former customers
are coming back for more.'
Increasing Demand for
Pneumatic Pouch Skins
T. L. Lutkins, Inc., Attribute Early Demand
From Manufacturers to General Improvement
in Business Situation and Prospects
Consistent ordering of pneumatic pouch skins
for player actions is reported by Ted L. Lut-
kins, of T. L. Lutkins, Inc., New York, dealers
in piano leathers. The early demand, according
to Mr. Lutkins, can be attributed in part to the
earlier announcement in The Review of the sea-
sonal scarcity of lamb skins in England, as a
result of the hoof-and-mouth disease assuming
the form of an epidemic in that country at the
present time.
That this evil has materially affected the out-
put of pouch leathers is evidenced by the fact
that the English market for the raw skins has
held firm all Summer. Mr. Lutkins stated that
the shortage of live stock from the epidemic will
probably range between 20 and 30 per cent of
the average output, which may have a distinct
tightening effect on price later in the season.
"The shortage of stock will not be any cause
for worry to our customers for the present,
however," said Mr. Lutkins, "as we have a suf-
ficient supply of pneumatic leathers on hand
to meet their early Fall needs. Many of our
largest customers have placed monthly orders
during the Summer months, and have advised
us exactly when their particular rush is apt to
start. With business on this basis we are all
satisfied."
WHITE, SON CO.
Manufacturers of
ORGAN AND PLAYER-PIANO
LEATHERS
530-540 Atlantic Ave., BOSTON, MASS.