Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
APRIL 24, 1926
New Home of the Boston Music Co. an
Example of What a Music Store Should Be
Arrangements in New Quarters at 116 Boylston Street, Boston, Mass., Mark a New Era in the
Facilities and Methods of Merchandising Standard Music Publications
¥ N the new home of the Boston Music Co.,
*• 116 Boylston street, Boston, Mass., the indus-
try has a modern institution in every respect,
but not only one which will be noted for its at-
tractiveness, for it has some original designs in
its interior that should mark a new era in meth-
ods of merchandising standard publications.
A retail establishment handling standard mu-
Top,
47
The Music Trade Review
The new premises have their entire organiza-
tion on one floor. The front of the establish-
ment is given over to the retail business and
the rear houses the wholesale and mail order
departments.
Founded in 1885
The Boston Music Co. was founded in 1885 by
Gus'tave Schirmer, son of the founder of G.
mer, Inc., and later was associated with the
Hatch Music Co. Lawrence B. Ellert, familiarly
known as "Larry," is vice-president, and in
charge of educational work and general super-
visor of publicity. Holroyd Andrews and Emil
Pflock are the sales representatives.
The Boston Music Co. was the first publisher
of Ethelbert Nevin's compositions, among the
best-known of which is the famous "Rosary,"
which enjoys a record for steady sales, closely
followed by his "Narcissus."
For over sixteen years Carl Engel was in
charge of the publication department and much
credit is due him for the high standard and the
individuality of the company's catalog. He is
responsible for the "Boston Music Co. Edition"
New Home of the Boston Music Co.
left to right: Looking forward from Vocal Department. The new store front preserves the tradition of the old. Musical Literature Department.
to right: View from the entrance. The new public Music Rooi
Orchestra Music and Small Goods Department.
sic carries such a great amount of material that
it has been found almost impossible in the past
to arrange a greater part of the publications
carried in a manner that makes them instantly
available for interested consumers.
The Boston Music Co. in its new home, has
accomplished much in facilities for looking ovei
publications and presenting them in a manner
that, far from having them look like a stagger-
ing total, they are so well ordered and arranged
as to invite attention of those interested in
particular groups of numbers.
These original and efficient arrangements are
so worthy, interesting and successful that every
member of the trade should request a diagram
and a description of this layout.
A Unique Display Feature
Along one side of the store is a display coun-
ter upon which appear a great many folios car-
rying various groups of music. There are chairs
so that buyers may look over this material at
their leisure. Along the wall at the back of this
display table appear two rows of additional
groups of songs. These are in specially de-
signed racks which hold at least twenty copies
each of a selection. If one copy is taken down
another title-page appears in its place. This is
only one of many more unique display methods.
An Institution Forty Years Old
For over thirty^six years the Boston Music
Co. was located on West street. Owing to its
quaint facade, it became one of the landmarks
of Boston, so, when the firm was compelled to
move through the impending demolition of its
old quarters, an exact replica of this landmark
was designed for the new home a few blocks
awav in the heart of Boston's business section.
Schirmer, Inc. He was a man of enterprise
and vision, independent and ambitious, and he
came to Boston against the wishes of his father.
Later, shortly before his father's death in 1893,
he returned to New York and became an equal
partner in the firm of G. Schirmer, Inc., with
his brother, the late Rudolph Schirmer. He still
maintained the Boston house as a separate en-
tity, however. In 1917 the business passed into
the hands of his son, the present Gustave Schir-
mer. The younger Gustave inherited the for-
ward-looking traits and the vision of his father,
as contemporary members of the industry know.
Enlarging Its Activities
The Boston Music Co. has expanded rapidly
in recent years. In 1919 it purchased the Hatch
Music Co. of Philadelphia, outright, moving this
concern to Boston and greatly enlarging its
activities. Still later it acquired the exclusive
agency for the Carrie Jacobs-Bond catalog, as
well as that of Winthrop L. Rogers, Ltd., of
London, and purchased the business of the late
C. W. Thompson, of Boston. To-day its activi-
ties are world-wide in. scope, its publications
covering the entire range of musical publications
and literature, and it is one of the most impor-
tant standard music publishing establishments
in the United States.
Besides the younger Gustave Schirmer, the
president, the executive personnel includes mem-
bers of the industry who are nationally-known
and who are particularly well equipped, through
long experience and devotion to the interests of
standard music in both its wholesale and retail
phases, to direct this business. The head of the
administrative department is John Cranley, treas-
urer, who had his earlier training with G. Schir-
Below, left
containing over 400 volumes and which is one
of the most important in the country. Mr.
Engel resigned a few years ago to take charge
of the music division of the Library of Congress.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge to men who desire positions.
School, Lodge and
Assembly Marches
March Victorious
(Mabel Metzger-Wright)
Pacific Patrol
(Mabel Metzger-Wright)
Reliance March
(Clifford)
Victorious Eagle
(Rosey)
American Beauty March
(Williams)
Knights of Columbus March
(Clifford)
Valiant Volunteers
(Mabel Metzger-Wright)
Order Through Jobber or Direct
Hinds, Hayden & Eldredge, Inc.
Publishers
New York City