Music Trade Review

Issue: 1925 Vol. 80 N. 1

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Year's Volume in the St. Louis Trade
Depended on Individual Effort of Dealer
Number of Houses Report Record Volumes for Both December and the Year—Music Teachers
of the United States Holding Forty-Sixth Annual Gathering in the City
C T . LOUIS, MO., December 29.—It was a
good December for some music merchants
and not so good for some others. The same
goes for the year. It seems to come down to
a question of the enterprise and energy of the
individual firm. Heads of a few of the firms
say it was the best December and the best
year that they ever had, and others say neither
the month nor the year was up to former De-
cembers of other years. It is interesting that
whereas the Aeolian Co., of Missouri, which
goes in for high-priced merchandise, which
makes for volume, is one of the firms that
broke records; the same claim is made by some
of the stores that specialize in cheaper instru-
ments and have to make a greater number of
sales to accumulate volume. For the Aeolian Co.,
President Chrisler says the December not only
topped all other Decembers in volume, but set
a new December record for the Duo-Art and
the Steinway. One of the Duo-Art sales was
Christmas eve, to an acquaintance Mr. Chrisler
casually met downtown. At the same time he
sold a Superheterodyne radio set to a friend
of the Duo-Art buyer. And not all the sales
were for Christmas. Two Duo-Arts were sold
the day after Christmas.
Miss Hattie Ogden, for more than a quarter
of a century one of the most successful piano
saleswomen in St. Louis or anywhere else, died
Christmas morning at her home, 3116a South
Grand avenue. She had been in ill health for
a year, following a severe attack of pneumonia
at that time, but had continued at work until
about ten days before her death. She began
with the Bollman Bros. Piano Co. when she
was seventeen years old and continued with
that firm until it went out of business. She
was then successively with the Famous-Barr
Co., the Kieselhorst Piano Co., and the Aeolian
Co. She had been with the latter company
ihe past seven years. The funeral was Saturday
afternoon from the residence to Bellefontaine
cemetery.
Herman H. Bollman, John L.
Stevener and J. J. Buehlman, of the Aeolian
Co., were pall-bearers.
Music teachers of the United States are as-
sembling to-day for the forty-sixth annual meet-
ing of the Music Teachers' National Associa-
tion. Sessions will be held to-day, tomorrow
and Wednesday at the Chase Hotel. This is
the fourth time that the association has met
here. The other meetings were in 1895, 1904
and 1918. The program is replete with papers
and discussions in furtherance of the associa-
tion's platform for the advancement of musical
knowledge and education in the United States.
W. E. Locke, manager of the radio depart-
ment of the Kieselhorst Piano Co., spent Christ-
mas with his mother at Olney, 111.
Piano Manufacturers Urged
to Greater Use of Stamps
New Piano Department for
Pomeroy's, Inc., Harrisburg
New Guide for Organization
of Local Music Weeks
Planning Music Week Observances
H. G. Prange Go. Installs
New Record Filing Gases
Sheboygan, Wis., Concern Makes a Number of
Improvements in Talking Machine Depart-
ment Calculated to Increase Efficiency
SHEBOYGAN, WIS., December 29.—Service to cus-
tomers and general comfort of clerks in the
record department of the H. C. Prange Co. at
Sheboygan, Wis., has been increased by the in-
stallation of new record filing cases. These
cases have been so constructed as to have the
highest shelf in reach of every clerk, and the
lowest one far enough from the floor to prevent
Uprights
Electric Expression
Distinguished by
Reliability
Durability
Simplicity
PEERLESS PNEUMATIC ACTION CO.
TOLBERT F. CHEEK. President
469*485 East 1 33rd Street, New York
"Simplified
its being a dust collector. The records may
be indexed so that they need not be handled
and soiled in selecting the desired number as
they are in many cabinets. The new case is
the idea of Arthur Bleck, manager of the talk-
ing machine and record department of the
store.
Wallace and Earl Kieselhorst, sons of Mr.
and Mrs. E. A. Kieselhorst, are home from
Yale for the Christmas holidays, and Sidney,
their other son, is home from Phillips Andover
Academy. The Yale Glee and Banjo Clubs Association Officials Emphasize the Necessity
were here last week and eight of the students
for Increased Revenue for the Chamber of
were guests of the young Kieselhorsts at their
Commerce and Point Out Benefits Derived
home. One of them was Norton Conway, son
of Carle Conway, of the Hallet & Davis Piano
The officers of the National Piano Manufac-
Co., Boston.
turers' Association have launched a strong cam-
Harry Hunter, after assisting the Lehman paign with a view to increasing the number of
Piano Co. through the Christmas rush, has re- members of that organization making use of
turned to his home in Chicago. He will con- stamps on pianos for the support of the Music
tinue to conduct special piano sales over the
Industries Chamber of Commerce. In a letter
country.
to the members of that association E. R.
Mark Mayer, traveler for the M. Schulz Jacobson, president, points out that due to busi-
Piano Co., Chicago, spent the Christmas holi- ness conditions the sale of stamps showed a
days at his home in St. Louis.
heavy falling off during the year and urges that
every member make full use of the stamps with
a view to increasing the Chamber's revenue.
In his letter Mr. Jacobson calls particular
attention to the benefits the manufacturers de-
rived directly from the Chamber's activities,
Largest Department Store in Central Pennsyl- such as the use of the Credit Bureau and the
vania Opens Elaborate Piano Department other facilities at headquarters.
With Bush & Lane Line Featured
In support of Mr. Jacobson's appeal, Walter
C. Hepperla, chairman of the Credit Commit-
HARRISBURG, PA., December 29.—Pomeroy's,
tee of the National Piano Manufacturers' As-
Inc., one of the largest department stores in sociation, as well as Carle C. Conway, chairman
central Pennsylvania, with branches at Read- of the Advisory Committee to the Trade Serv-
ing, Pottstown and Pottsville, have opened a ice Bureau, and H. Paul Mehlin, chairman of
piano department in their store here. The the Music Advancement Committee, have writ-
Bush & Lane Cecilian Player, the Victor Cecil- ten letters to the association members pointing
ian Player, the Farrand Cecilian Player and the out what the Chamber is accomplishing for the
Davis & Sons and Lauter pianos are carried industry and why greater effort should be made
in the department which is located in Pom- to support its work through the use of stamps.
eroy's Music Hall, on the second floor of the
annex. The opening of the piano department
was signalized by whole-page advertisements
in the Harrisburg newspapers announcing the
opening. It is understood that several addi-
tional makes of high-grade pianos will also be National Music Week Committee Issues Re-
placed on sale shortly.
vised Volume Dealing With Methods for
PlayerActions
Grands
JANUARY 3, 1925
to the point of
perfection"
The National Music Week Committee, of
which C. M. Tremaine, Director of the National
Bureau for the Advancement of Music, is secre-
tary, has just issued a revised guide for the
organization of local music weeks in co-opera-
tion with the National Music Week celebration
in May, for which plans are already under way.
The volume is a comprehensive one and gives
in great detail the proper methods to be fol-
lowed in organizing local Music Week commit-
tees and carrying on the work in a way to
get best results. The information offered is
not haphazard or theoretical, but is based on
actual experience in the conduct of Music Weeks
in the past.
The development of the Music Week idea
has been most rapid with the result that last
year there were 452 city-wide Music Week cele-
brations, 328 additional places where more re-
stricted observance was held, and 68 cities and
towns where Music Week was celebrated at
dates varying from that of the national observ-
ance. The experience of the committees in
these many cities and towns has served to re-
move much of the guesswork connected with
the Music. Week celebration.
Death of Peter Reisert
Louisvn.LE, KY., December 29.—Peter Reisert, a
retired piano manufacturer, died here recently at
the home of his son at 2101 Cherokee Parkway.
Mr. Reisert, who had not been engaged in active
business for the past twenty years, was for-
merly connected with the Peter Webb Piano
Co., now out of business.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JANUARY 3,
THE MUSIC TRADE
1925
REVIEW
Max de Rochemont Given Farewell Dinner
Previous to Starting on World Tour
Representatives of the New York Piano Industry Fete Guest of Honor at Gathering at the New
York Piano Club on Monday Evening, December 29
A VERY striking manifestation of friendship
•^^ was shown to Max J. de Rochemont, vice-
president and treasurer of the Laffargue Co.,
New York, on Monday evening of this week
when sixty of his friends gathered at the Piano
Club of New York and tendered him a dinner
as a farewell tribute before he leaves on his
trip around the world, which starts on Sunday
next with his departure for the Pacific Coast.
The dinner was held in the main dining room
of the club, which was profusely decorated.
Max J. de Rochemont
Albert Behning acted as toastmaster. In his
opening remarks he spoke of the friendship
which everyone present had for the guest of the
evening and then introduced as the first speaker
Richard W. Lawrence, president of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce. Mr. Law-
rence, in his usual easy and forceful manner,
drew a mental picture of Mr. de Rochemont as
he saw him enjoying the trip, which brought
forth a great deal of merriment as well as ap-
plause. He was followed by George W. Allen,
who recited "Tosca," while B. H. Janssen ac-
companied him on the piano with soft music.
The next speaker introduced was John Haf-
fen, president of the Bronx Board of Trade and
a very close friend of Mr. de Rochemont, with
whom lie has worked as a member of this or-
ganization. In a few well-chosen words he
wished Mr. de Rochemont a most pleasant and
successful trip. He was followed by John J.
Duffy, president of the Bronx Rotary Club, who
paid a very high compliment to Mr. de Roche-
mont, who will represent the Bronx Rotarians
while in London. B. H. Janssen then read a
poem entitled "A Thousand Miles Away," which
he had especially written for the occasion and
which made a distinct impression on all those
present.
When Theodore Cassebeer was introduced he
produced a poetic masterpiece, which, he said,
would clearly show why we would see Mr. de
Rochemont back home again and not become a
settler of California. This created an outburst
of laughter. Then came a masterly oratorical
effusion by W. G. Schaff, who held the guests
spellbound for some twenty minutes by going
into the early history of Mr. de Rochemont
and following through his life's work, inter-
polating humor which kept the guests in a
round of laughter, and winding up his remarks
by presenting Mr. de Rochemont a pair of
binoculars on behalf of the guests present.
R. B. Aldcroftt, former president of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, also spoke
and gave Mr. de Rochemont some very good
advice regarding his traveling in foreign coun-
Highest
Quality
tries. At the speaker's table also sat Joseph
Oktavec, president of the Laffargue Co.
After the addresses the guests joined hands
and sang "Auld Lang Syne," and individually
wished Mr. de Rochemont a most pleasant and
happy bon voyage.
Leaving New York on Sunday Mr. de Roche-
mont will journey to the Pacific Coast and
thence to Vancouver, B. C, where he sails on
the S. S. "Niagara" for Honolulu. After a visit
there he will touch at Sura and reach Sydney,
Australia, on February 7, where he will remain
until March 15. He will then travel to Cairo
and Luxor, Egypt; thence to Naples, where it
is expected that Mrs. de Rochemont will join
him. Together they will then visit Rome, Flor-
ence, Venice and Vienna, Austria; then go to
Prague, Berlin, Paris and London. He expects
to return to New York about the middle of June.
Those present at the farewell dinner included
Albert Staib, Joseph McGoveran, George W.
Allen, Herbert Simpson, L. D. Perry, Charles
H. Howard, F. H. Abendschein, W. C. Heller,
W. C. Hepperla, Gus Behning, W. C. Heaton,
A. Dalrymple, Alexander Lane, I. E. Bretzfelder,
E. B. Bogart, C. P. Bogart, E. J. Schmitt, E.
Ruelbach, G. H. Vaughan, George Chevalier,
Adolph Doll, A. Baumann, C. P. Smith, E.
Thompson, A. W. Weiner, Gus Kinderwater,
Dr. M. S. Barskay, F. G. Coryell, W. L. Bjur,
P. P. Anderson, A. L. Smith, George W. Gittins,
Joseph Oktavec, Charles Jacob, P. B. Klugh,
Theodore Cassebeer, B. H. Janssen, M. P.
Campbell, Al. Behning, R. W. Lawrence, R. B.
Aldcroftt, J. M. Haffen, J. J. Duffy, Anthony
Doll, Jr., W. G. Schaff, G. J. Boylan, Charles
E. Reed, L. B. Bach, Theodore Trimmer, C. E.
Merrifield, Harry Van Cook, R. H. Schroeder,
J. Selig, A. Constantine, F. A. Steel and Carle-
ton Chac©} of The Review.
Mr. Behning read telegrams from Harry Soh-
mer, Lester I. Miller, Allen B. Lane and W. B.
Armstrong, each regretting that he could not
be present and wishing Mr. de Rochemont a
very successful trip.
Pittsburgh Trade Regards
Coming Year With Optimism
Improved Industrial Conditions in That District
Lead to Belief That Business Will Be Satis-
factory Throughout 1925
PITTSBURGH, PA., December 30.—With only an-
other day remaining in the old year, Pittsburgh
music merchants are looking with more than
ordinary interest to the coming of 1925. While
trade conditions during 1924 were not as satis-
factory as the trade here would liked to have
seen, the fact remains that the pianos and play-
ers that were sold during the past twelve
months were of high grade. This emphasized
the statement made at the outset of the year by
A. O. Lechner, president of the Piano Mer-
chants' Association of Pittsburgh and a member
of the firm of Lechner & Schoenberger, that the
"outlook for 1924 is good and it appears to me
that there will be a decided change in the
method of buying pianos, inasmuch as the buy-
ers will demand and insist on high-grade instru-
ments being sold to them." This is what has
practically happened in the Steel City during
1924!
Such large and influential piano firms as the
C. C. Mellor Co., the S. Hamilton Co., the J. M.
Hoffmann Co., the W. F. Frederick Piano Co.,
the Chas. M. Stieff,' Inc., the E. G. Hays Piano
'ONKRENCH
Co., Hoggs & Dawson Bros. Piano Co. and Buhl
& Schroeder Piano Co. are on record as stating
that their sales the past twelve months, when
taken as a whole, showed that the bulk of the
demand was for high-grade instruments, prin-
cipally players and grands.
The outlook for 1925 is very roseate, according
to the piano merchant. Mr. Lechner, in review-
ing the general industrial outlook, said: "It ap-
pears to me that 1925, if anything, will be a
much better year for the music dealers than the
year that is now history. The industries in the
Pittsburgh district are reporting many new
orders on their books, the steel business is es-
pecially hopeful and the coal mines are operat-
ing on an improved schedule. This means that
there will be plenty of cash on hand for wages
and salaries, which, in part, will find its way
through the ordinary channels to the money
drawers of the various merchants, in which the
piano merchants naturally must share. I feel
very optimistic concerning the next twelve
months and believe that the up-to-date music
merchant will reap according to the efforts he
puts forth to obtain business."
Opens Branch in Amsterdam
AMSTERDAM, N. Y., December 29.—A new two-
story brick building on Reid street has been
taken by the piano and furniture house of M.
Feldman & Son, of Johnstown, making the sec-
ond local store for this firm. The Feldman
house has been established for thirtv-three
Pratt Read
Products
Piano Ivory
P i a n o Keys
Piano Actions
Player Actions
Established in
1806
at Deep River, Conn.
Still There
Standard Service and Highest Quality
Special Repair Departments
Maintained for Convenience
of Dealers
PRATT, READ & CO.
PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION CO.
Oldest and Best
Highest
Quality

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