Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
APRIL 17, 1926
U
The Music Trade Review
Otto Grau Piano Co. Reports Success
in Music School Held for the Children
trade was with Frederick Loeser & Co., Brook-
lyn. Mr. Love has increased the sales force at
the Blout store, and will have supervision over
the piano, radio and phonograph departments.
Instruction Given Over a Period of Six Weeks, Each Child Receiving Two Lessons Weekly
Without Charge—More Than 100 Pupils Enrolled in the School
New Standard Line
of Hardman, Peck & Go.
/ C I N C I N N A T I , O., April 10.—Piano houses
report that there is some improvement in
business conditions, with a slight increase in
demand, in spite of the fact that the weather
has not been of a kind to create a "Spring
buying" spirit. Most concerns report some in-
crease in sales, but the gain is not as much as
had been hoped for. However, nobody is dis-
couraged and all are confident that a few bright
days will serve as the necessary trade stimulant.
In this branch of the trade player-pianos are
in the lead, with medium-priced instruments
selling best.
"Business for the past month rounded out
very well," said Otto Grau, head of the Otto
Grau Piano Co. "Our music school has proved
to be quite a success. Each child gets two
lessons a week. There are more than 100
pupils enrolled, and classes are assembled each
Monday, Tuesday, Wednesday and Saturday,
there being five classes of about twenty pupils
each. The instruction is by the Melody Way,
without charge, for a period of six weeks."
The recent meeting of the executive council
of the Ohio Music Merchants' Association, held
in Columbus, was a very successful affair, stated
Mr. Grau, who with William R. Graul repre-
sented Cincinnati. Different problems of the
trade were discussed, the principal ones being
carrying charges and a tentative finance bill.
The matter of affiliation of the State association
with, the national organization was also taken
up. There was also a discussion of the next
State convention, and it was decided that it
should last three days, instead of two, its
previous length. Mr. Grau was congratulated
warmly on the quality and ethical tone of his
advertising. The meeting ended with a dinner
party in the Neil House, at which thirty-two
guests were present. Questionnaires are to be
sent to members in advance of the next con-
vention in order to get their opinions on
various tentative proposals.
At the store of the Starr Piano Co. it was
reported that the demand is about normal for
the season, with player-pianos in the lead. W.
M. Purnell, wholesale manager in this district,
who has just returned from a business trip
through Ohio, reports that conditions are im-
proving and that prospects seem bright. Gennett
records, he said, are getting more popular
every day.
"The demand for pianos has been fair in the
last few days, but sales would have been larger
if the wintry weather had not continued un-
usually long and thus kept people from going
on shopping tours," explained George P. Gross,
head of the company that bears his name.
"Talking machines have been in good demand,
and our sales of these would have been larger
if we could have secured more of the less ex-
pensive models of the Orthophonic. However,
the supply of these is increasing and our sales-
will increase in proportion."
"Business with us is better than it was at
this time last year, with player-pianos in the
lead," stated Walter Canfield, of the Canfield
Piano Co. "Talking machines have been moving
fairly well and the demand seems to be increas-
ing." Mr. Canfield deplores the fact that some
of the advertising of local sellers of musical
merchandise is not more ethical and on a higher
plane. "Some of the advertising makes it look
as though the business were only a mere
circus," he commented.
Morris W. Fantle, who was manager of the
Widener Grafonola Shop, at 117 West Fourth
street, until the business was closed out a few
months ago, has opened up a business on the
sixth floor of the building at 119 West Fourth
street. He will handle a variety of musical in-
struments and do repairing.
At the store of the W. G. Woodmansee Piano
Co., which recently was moved to Main street,
above Fourth, it was reported that they find
the business trend to be upward, with at least
a little improvement each week. Mr. Wood-
mansee is more than pleased with his new loca-
tion, and he continues to beautify his store in
many effective ways. Talking machines, he re-
ported, are now in better demand than they
were.
According to W. M. Davitt, of Davitt &
Hanser, dealers in small goods, the violin has
taken on renewed activity. "We have sold
quite a few old, imported violins of late, and
cheaper instruments have sold splendidly. The
increased demand for the cheaper instruments
—some call them fiddles—seems to be due to
the 'old-time fiddlers' contests" which are now
the rage all over the country. Business is get-
ting better with us every day and all of our
lines are moving well."
Consists of Small Grand, Four Feet Eleven
Inches, and Small Upright, Four Feet Four
Inches, in Player and Straight Form
A folder, announcing the new Standard Hard-
man-built pianos, has been sent to the trade
this week by Hardman, Peck & Co., New York,
which will manufacture this instrument in the
future in addition to Hardman, Harrington and
Hensel pianos. The name Standard, as applied
to pianos, was originated, the firm states, by the
Harrington division of Hardman, Peck & Co.
in 1894. In 1906 a trade-mark grant was made
to the House of Hardman for the exclusive use
of the word Standard as applied to pianos.
Three principal styles of Standard pianos will
be featured at first: The Standard small grand,
which is four feet eleven inches in length; the
Standard small upright, four feet four inches in
height, and a corresponding small Standard
player-piano. These instruments are all built
under the supervision of Hardman factory
executives and contain many features embodied
in other Hardman-built pianos.
H. Ray Miller Killed
LEBANON, PA., April 3.—H. Ray Miller, who
retired from active interest in the Miller Organ
& Piano Co., this city, a few years ago, was
instantly killed in a recent automobile crash
on the Heilmandale curve, several miles north-
west of the city. Mr. Miller was forty years
of age and is survived by a widow and daughter.
He entered the employ of the Miller Organ &
Piano Co. about twenty-five years ago and for
years was engaged in an executive capacity at
the plant formerly at Eighth and Maple streets,
until the business was abandoned.
Tributes to Weaver Pianos
YORK, PA., April 10.—The Weaver Piano Co.,
Inc., manufacturer of Weaver, York and
Livingston pianos, has called the attention of
its dealers to letters received from Lewis James,
tenor, and Grace Kerns, oratorio, festival and
concert soprano soloist. While both these art-
A. G. Love, who resigned recently as man- ists have been before the public for many
ager of the piano department of Hahne & Co., years, they have lately been particularly im-
Newark, N. J., has been appointed manager of pressed upon the minds of the people by broad-
the Newark store of E. Blout, Inc., 481 Orange casting through station WJZ, New York City,
street. Mr. Love is well known to the local during the Bakelite hour on Sunday evening.
trade, having been for years connected with the These two artists have used the Weaver piano
floor staff of the piano department of L. Bam- and fully appreciate its tone quality and respon-
berger & Co. His first experience in the piano siveness.
Love Made Blout Manager
MAN—THE S ALES MAM— LOAD ft, ff
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