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JUNE 26, 1926
The Music Trade Review
Cincinnati Music Merchants Report
June Sales Ahead of Last Year's Volume
All Lines Participate in Advanced Sales—E. C. Mecklenberger, of Starr Piano Co., Now in Far
West Recording Indian Songs for Smithsonian Institution
11
Although the Davitt & Hanser business was
only started about two years ago, it has alread*
outgrown its present quarters. To provide
much-needed space another floor has been
leased in the same building, and this will be
fitted up as soon as possible and given over
to the wholesale department. The present
quarters, on the first floor, will then be devoted
exclusively to retail trade. Ukes, banjos and
other small instruments are now moving well,
it was stated, a large portion of the sales be-
ing made to campers and automobile tourists.
QINCINNATI, O., June 19.—A much better adopted with profit. The exhibits, they state,
demand for pianos, talking machines, rec- were splendid. The firm is now at work on a
ords and other merchandise is reported for the fine, new catalogue and it will be sent to the
first three weeks of this month than in the same trade in due time.
period of last year. General conditions are im-
proving and it is freely predicted that there will
be less sluggishness of the market this summer
than usual.
Among the Cincinnatians who have just re-
turned from the New York convention is
Philip Wyman, of the Baldwin Piano Co. He
regards the meeting as being a success in every Visiting Dealers Will Study the Methods Used in Promoting the Detroit Piano Playing Contest
—Henry Dreher Able Once More to Return to Business—The New Studio Hall
way and expects great benefit to come from it.
Many helpful ideas were brought out in the dis-
cussions, he stated, and all should profit who /CLEVELAND, O., June 21.—Quite a number be so designed that it can be closed off into
heard them. Speaking from a strictly business ^•"'of members of the Music Merchants Associa- two separate halls with a stage at each end
standpoint, he said, it was also a success, as the tion from Cleveland and nearby towns are ex- enabling two recitals to be given at one time.
In order to boost its advertising the Cleve-
company signed up many new dealers. The pected to accept the invitation of Frank J.
Baldwin factory is as busy as it can be, he ex- Bayley, president of the Michigan Music Deal- land Plain Dealer has commenced a cam-
paign urging the purchase of pianos so that
plained, and business prospects are regarded as ers' Association, to attend a get-together meet
bright. Lucien Wulsen played polo in Mem- ing on Sunday, June 27, at Detroit. The pri- children can learn to play. The copy is headed
phis on June 12th, being a member of the vic- mary object of the gathering will be to ex- "Every child should play the piano," and then
change ideas on business matters and particu- goes on to say: "Don't let your child envy the
torious team.
"Business is going along finely," stated R. E. larly as to how the Detroit piano playing con- next-door neighbors' little boy or girl who can
Wells, district manager for the Steinway Co., test was made such a success. The Cleveland play and entertain on the piano. Have your
"and the higher-priced instruments are selling trade are particularly interested in this contest child be the one who is invited to entertain-
best. All of the contracts have been let for and it is very possible that something similar ments and parties and who is always asked to
the remodeling of our new building and work will be attempted in the not far distant future. play. Nothing is more beautiful than a wife
of reconstructing the interior will begin at President Otto C. Muehlhauser and Rex C. playing the piano for her husband in the eve-
Hyre will be among those who go to Detroit. ning when he comes home after a hard day's
once."
The
majority of the delegation are expected to work. Buy a piano for your child to practice
"We have been sending out a lot of 'broad-
make
the trip by boat from Cleveland, arriving on now."
sides,' or big circulars, that are bringing in
in
Detroit
early Sunday morning. They will
quite a bit of business," explained W. R. Graul,
meet
members
of the Michigan association at
head of the William R. Graul Piano Co. "We
the
Book
Cadillac
Hotel at 9.30 A. M. who will
are getting customers from all sections and
entertain
them
during
the day. Wives of mem-
business is better than is usual at this season.
bers
have
been
invited
to attend also.
Straight pianos have gone best during this sale
It
has
been
about
eight
months since Henry
and we have had quite a run on talking ma-
Dreher, president of the Dreher Piano Co., has
chines."
"At a conference of the Ohio Music Mer- been able to attend to business at his office
chants' Association I made a remark that seems owing to a severe spell of illness. While not
to have been misunderstood," continued Mr. fully recovered he is, however, now able to get
Graul. "It was to the effect that 'the piano down to business now
Instead of spending her vacation having a
business is sick.' I did not mean that people
are not buying pianos, but I meant that with good time as she had anticipated, Miss Renie
better selling methods and broader publicity of Burdett of the Starr Piano Co. is spending it
the right kind we could sell a great many more in St. Luke's Hospital instead. She was taken
instruments than we are now selling. What T ill just after starting her vacation and it was
meant was that we should create a greater de- necessary to remove her to the hospital for an
sire for the piano—in other words give the operation from which she is recovering satis-
business a tonic. My suggestion of a way in factorily.
"Happy is the bride who receives a Steck
which we could create a greater desire for
pianos was by embarking on a nation-wide bill- piano," says a placard on a Steck grand that is
board campaign, putting big bulletins along all displayed in one of the windows of the Dreher
of the highways of the country, where all could Piano Co. A bridal bouquet of white roses and
read them as they rode along. There should be lilies of the valley that is very pretty, although
Established in
a piano in every home, and it is up to us to artificial, is laid on the bench and further adds
1806
to the suggestion of the piano as a desirable
sec that every home gets one."
gift
for
the
bride.
The lower-priced pianos and talking ma-
at Deep River, Conn.
Most of the large music houses have signs
chines were reported at the store of the .Starr
Still There
Piano Co. to be moving well, with a fair de- in their windows announcing the closing of the
mand for the better grades. The demand for store at noon on Saturday during the months
Gennett records, it was stated, is large, and of June, July and August.
Studio Hall, designed to be the musical cen-
portables are moving well. Ray Lammers,
Standard Service and Highest
head of the small goods department, who went ter of Cleveland, will soon become a reality ac-
Quality
to the New York convention, accompanied by cording to an announcement made by its pro-
Special Repair Departments
his family, is remaining in the East for a while moters. The site is to be on Euclid avenue
within a few. blocks of Music Row and Play-
taking his annual vacation.
Maintained for Convenience
E. C. Mecklenberger, of the Starr Co., who house Square, and arrangements for the site
of Dealers
has gone to the Far West in connection with have been made through the Joseph Laronge
the Smithsonian Institution's expedition to make Co., realtors. The building is to be fourteen
records of the war songs and dance music of stories in height and will have an arcade run-
PRATT, READ & CO.
the Indians, has written that the party is now ning through it to Prospect avenue. The shops
in the Grand Canyon, with recording machines it will contain will be especially designed for
THE PRATT READ
set up and "on the job," with Hopi Indians fur- allied art merchants. A fine set of chimes is
PLAYER
ACTION CO.
nishing what these aborigines regard as music. to be placed in the tower and these will be
William Davitt and John Hanser, of Davitt & audible all over the downtown section. In
Hanser, dealers in small goods, who have just the building will be one large and several small
returned from the New York convention, feel organs for the use of students who are study-
that their trip was well worth while. Both are ing this instrument. The main auditorium, in
very enthusiastic about the many ideas that were which operas and other musical affairs will be
advanced there and feel that they can be given, will be able to seat 3,500 people. It will
Cleveland Music Merchants to Be the
Guests of the Detroit Association
Pratt Read
Products
P i a n o Ivory
Piano Keys
Piano Actions
Player Actions
Oldest and Best