Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
NOVEMBER 15, 1924
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Exports of Pianos and Player-Pianos
Show Falling Off During September
541 Pianos and 980 Player-Pianos Exported During That Month as Compared to 853 Pianos and
1,258 Player-Pianos Exported During the Same Month Last Year
T I / ' A S H I N G T O N , D. C , November 10.—The
* * summary of exports and imports of the
commerce of the United States for the month
of September, 1924, the latest period for which
it has been compiled, has just been issued as
follows:
The dutiable imports of musical instruments
and parts, including strings, during September,
1924, amounted to $323,690. The nine months'
total, ending September, 1924, shows importa-
tions valued at $2,955,975.
The total domestic exports of musical instru-
ments for September, 1924, amounted to $1,064,-
428, as compared with $1,148,146 for the same
period of the previous year. The nine months'
exportations of musical instruments amounted
to $8,721,943 in 1924, as against $8,679,030 in
1923. This is an increase of $42,913 over the
period.
Of the aggregate exportations in September
there were 130 organs, valued at $11,351, as
compared with 110 organs, valued at $9,244, in
1923. The nine months' total showed that we
exported 1,089 organs, valued at $111,187, in
1924, and 972 organs, valued at $112,340, for the
same period in 1923.
In September, 1924, we exported 541 pianos,
valued at $103,197, as compared with 853 pianos,
valued at $204,110, for the same period of the
previous year. The nine months' total shows
3,890 pianos, valued at $931,994, as compared
with 5,919 pianos, valued at $1,343,379, for the
same period of 1923.
The exports of player-pianos show that 980
of these instruments, valued at $316,489, were
exported during September, 1924, as compared
with 1,258, valued at $380,734, exported in 1923.
The nine months' total shows that 7,932 player-
pianos, valued at $2,488,263, were exported dur-
ing 1924, as compared with 8,031 player-pianos,
valued at $2,524,851, for the same period during
1923.
The exports of perforated music rolls for the
month of September, 1924, amounted in value to
$26,973, as compared with $22,504 in 1923. The
nine month's total amounts in value to $195,547,
as compared with $217,498 in exports for the
same period in 1923.
Player-piano actions and parts thereof shipped
abroad during September, 1924, were valued at
$19,689. The exports of piano actions proper
and parts thereof were valued at $23,686.
Band instruments to the value of $31,503 were
shipped abroad during September, 1924, while
string instruments totaled $12,874.
The value of all other musical instruments
and parts thereof exported during September,
1924, amounted to $144,179, as compared with
$128,538 in 1923. The total exports for the
nine months under this heading foot up to
$991,960, as against $1,093,880 in 1923, showing
a decrease of $101,920.
The countries to which exports were sent in
September, 1924, and the value thereof, are as
follows: Spain, $11,097; other Europe, $24,947;
Canada, $29,544; Mexico, $54,822; Cuba, $48,847;
Argentina, $4,049; other South America, $31,039;
Australia, $193,416; other countries, $21,925.
Cincinnati Retail Music Merchants
Report Resumption of Heavy Buying
Effect of Passing Election Immediate—Local Merchants Already Beginning to Advertise for the
Holiday Trade—Dealer Finds Sporting Page Best Place to Advertise Music
/ C I N C I N N A T I , November 11.—Although it is
^"^ only a few days since the Presidential elec-
tion took place, business in all lines, including
various branches of the music trade, has taken
on a decidedly better tone. Optimistic reports
to the contrary notwithstanding, trade was at
a standstill before the election, and everybody
was marking time. In other words, there was
motion, but no progress. Members of the mu-
sic trades interviewed were unanimous in pre-
dicting a good Fall and Winter business in
all lines and departments.
The first piano firm to announce that holiday
shopping is now in order is the Baldwin Piano
Co. "Advance Christmas Showing of Christ-
mas Reproducing-Pianos" is the eye-catcher of
a four-column by fifteen-inch advertisement that
appeared in daily newspapers this week. This
is followed by the announcement of a complete
display of grands, uprights and small grands,
in stock designs and in selected woods, with
latest American and foreign models shown in
the leading makes.
The largest advertisement of a piano house
that has appeared in daily newspapers this
week is the half-page display of the Otto Grau
Piano Co. This is divided into three panels,
by means of artistic scroll borders, a favorite
design in Grau publicity matter, and one by
which it is quickly recognized. In the first
panel is an announcement of a new model re-
producing-piano, which is priced attractively.
In the second panel attention is called
to small grands, including the Weber, the Steck,
the Kranich & Bach, the Kurtzmann, the Otto
Grau and the Premier, at prices from $625
upward. The Steinway, the Weber and the
Steck are announced, with the Duo-Art. The
third column is devoted to the Brunswick Radi-
ola, super-heterodyne. This instrument has in-
creased greatly in popularity and its sales are
enormous. Other local music houses also be-
gan the use of liberal space in the newspapers
in an appeal for holiday business.
What is the best position in a daily news-
paper for musical instrument advertising? Her-
man Ritter, manager of the Fillmore Music
House, 528 Elm street, has found that for his
company's purpose it is the sporting page. This
belief is not founded on mere theory, but on
actual experience. But it may be that an im-
portant part of his success is due to the bright
and original copy he uses. At the top of each
advertisement is the portrait of some well-
known and popular Cincinnati musician, and
under the portrait are a few lines about the
artist. Then follows what the user thinks about
his Buescher instrument.
Naturally, the portrait of a local artist whom
everybody knows attracts more attention than
the portrait of a national celebrity. Undoubt-
edly, the testimonial of a local artist, with whom
any person who so desires may communicate,
is better than the testimonial of a celebrity who
cannot be reached.
William R. Graul, head of the William R.
Graul Piano Co., states that the location of his
business on the second floor of a building has
not in any way interfered with its success.
There were predictions that he could not in-
duce people to take an elevator when they
want to buy pianos, but he thought otherwise.
"People take an elevator when they want to
buy other things," he argued, "so why should
they not be willing to be elevated one story
in order to select a musical instrument." The
company is featuring the Hallet & Davis pianos
and players.
9
Personal Records Proving
Popular in Cincinnati
Many Types of People Seek to Have Record-
ings Made of the Voices of Themselves and
of Their Loved Ones—One Man Records Will
CINCINNATI, O., November 11.—Personal phono-
graph records bid fair to become popular as
a Christmas offering, according to W. M. Pur-
nell, of the Starr Piano Co., this city. In the
front of the fourth floor of its building this
concern has opened up a Gennett recording
laboratory in which both catalog and personal
work will be done. This is the first permanent
recording laboratory in Cincinnati, and although
it has only been in operation a short time it is
doing a good business. All sorts and kinds
of people are having personal records made.
Parents of child musicians are the best patrons,
perhaps, as they are anxious to preserve the
harmonies, vocal or instrumental, of their tal-
ented offspring. Fifty copies of a two-sided
record are made for $150. One man made his
will on a phonograph record.
Schmidt-Dauber Go. Has
Increased Factory Output
Growing Demand for Company's Products Has
Made Necessary Greater Production—General
Conditions Good
The Schmidt-Dauber Co., New York, is now
doing a splendid business and, according to
Morris Dauber, head of the company, has in-
creased its output to fifty pianos per week.
When seen by a representative of The Review
this week Vincent Ceci, secretary of the com-
pany, stated that the business has shown a
marked increase since September and that there
has been a steady demand for Schmidt-Dauber
pianos and player-pianos from every section of
the country.
LAUTER
HUMANA
Player Piano
The superiority
of the
Lauter-Humana
is evi-
dent to the most casual
customer. While the sale
of other player pianos has
to be forced—the Lauter-
Humana needs only to be
shown!
LAUTER GO.
Newark, N. J.
62nd Year