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The Music Trade Review
AUGUST 20, 1927
Growing Interest in Straight Pianos
Reported by Merchants of Cincinnati
Local Trade Almost Unanimous in Declaration of Good Summer Trade With Every
Chance for Fine Fall Demand During the Coming Months
r CINCINNATI, August IS.—Concerns in the
^ * various branches of the music trade report
that in view of the fact that it is now in the
vacation season business is very good. Piano
houses report that an unusual number of people
are dropping in to make inquiries, and this leads
to the belief that a good volume of business is
developing. It is stated that an unusually large
number of the inquirers are interested in
straight pianos, particularly grands. The con-
sensus among dealers is that the movement to
"get the piano back into the home" is meeting
with gratifying success, and all hope that the
movement will be continued vigorously.
"Undoubtedly, people are taking an increased
amount of interest in the straight piano at this
time," said a piano tuner. "I have been un-
usually busy this Summer, and this shows that
owners of pianos are using them more than they
have been. In many cases it is explained that
the piano has been neglected for a long time,
but that the owner wants it put into order be-
cause a child is going to begin to take lessons.
I feel confident that there is a reversion to the
piano, and that parents are once more beginning
to regard the ability to play it as an accom-
plishment that their children should have."
William R. Graul, head of the William R.
Graul Piano Co., feels that a better market is
ahead, especially for straight pianos and par-
ticularly for grands. "We have been having an
unusual amount of 'drop-in' trade for this sea-
safi of the year," he explained, "and this shows
tHat people are taking an increased amount of
interest in pianos. Furthermore, as a large per-
centage of these callers inquire about the
straight piano, this shows that it is coming back
into favor with the masses. While spot sales
do not always result from these calls, each call
afc*least develops a good prospect, which is the
nfiikt best thing to a sale." Mr. Graul expects to
be" "among those present" at the Cleveland con-
vention of the Ohio Music Merchants' Associa-
tion, which takes place next month.
"Business is not at all rushing, but it is what
may be called 'better than fair for the season',"
said R. E. Wells, district manager for Steinway
& Sons. "We are having an unusual number of
callers, considering the season, and the indica-
tions are that there will be a better demand in
the Fall than there has been for a long time."
"The demand is very good for the season,"
stated Otto Grau, head of the Otto Grau Piano
Company. "We are taking advantage of the
dull season to get ready for Fall business, which
will open up very soon. A peculiarity of our
talking machine business is that the two ex-
tremes, from a price standpoint, are moving
best; that is, the majority of orders are either
for combinations or for portables." Mr. Grau
and his sons, Walter Grau and Fred C. Grau,
expect to attend the Cleveland convention of
the Ohio Music Merchants' Association, and the
latter expects to win that golf trophy which he
barely missed getting last year.
The Starr Piano Co. is now showing an in-
strument which has the Chromatic Glissando
One of the Popular
"ART LINE"
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The Art Novelty Co.
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Keyboard as a feature, and this is attracting a
large amount of attention. By means of short,
round keys, which are placed at the back of the
keyboard, above the white keys and even with
the tops of the sharps, the performer can get a
perfect glissando by running a finger across the
keys.
Harry Gennett, Jr., and Robert Taylor, from
the company's Richmond factory, were recently
here in conference with local executives. Charles.
J. Meinberg, retail sales manager, is spending
his Summer vacation at Palisade Park, Michi-
gan. "We will have a complete exhibit at the
Carthage Fair, which opens in a few days," said
G. E. Hunt, of the retail sales department. "We
have had an exhibit at the fair every year for
a long time, and on these occasions we always
develop a fine lot of good prospects."
Pennsylvania Merchants Testing the
Legality of Conditional Sales Act
Pittsburgh Branch of Charles M. Stieff, Inc., Making Special Test Case of Constitu-
tionality of the Statute at Present on State Code
D l T T S B U R G H , PA., August 15.—What will
probably determine the legality or con-
stitutionality of the Conditional Sales Act of
Pennsylvania is the action of a constable seiz-
ing a piano on a landlord's warrant for rent.
The piano was sold by the local branch of Chas.
M. Stieff, Inc., which used the Conditional
Sales Act in making the sale. The usual pro-
cedure of notifying the landlord under the sale
act is not necessary, according to some legal
authorities.
A few days ago the lessee of the piano fell
back in his rent with the result that the land-
lord issued an execution on the household
goods. The constable, when served with the
Conditional Sales Act, held that it did not suf-
ficiently cover the piano and he accordingly
seized it as part of the household goods. The
next move is for the firm to replevin the piano
and to institute proceedings which will ulti-
mately decide whether or not the Conditional
Sales Act is valid. Since this matter developed
it has transpired that a large number of the
piano dealers of this section are following the
old law which exempts pianos from levy on for
rent, provided that the landlord is given due
notice. The matter of the Conditional Sales
Act was brought before the Piano Merchants
Association of Pittsburgh some months ago by
Arthur O. Lechner, who was then president,
with a view of obtaining a definite plan of pro-
cedure. Legal opinions ventured at that time
were divergent and it was held that the only
way to find out if the law was constitutional
was to have a tesi case in the courts. Now the
way is open and clearly defined and welcomed
by the piano merchants.
In the case of W. F. McLay, music dealer of
Carnegie, Pa., who was declared a bankrupt,
W. W. Waitneight was named as trustee and
his bond was fixed at $5,000. A hearing in the
case will be held on August 24 before the
George Sykes Promoted
BOSTON, MASS., August 13.—George Sykes, for
twenty-five years connected with the C. C.
Harvey Co., Boston, has been placed in charge
of the company's branch warerooms in Lynn,
Mass.
H. C. Schultz Chartered
The H. C. Schultz, Inc., 442 East Lafayette
street, Detroit, Mich., has been incorporated
with a capital stock of $75,000 and will deal in
musical instruments.
Handling Only Pianos
Klote's Music House, Edina, Mo., has dis-
continued its radio and sewing machine de-
partments and will handle pianos exclusively
in the future.
Referee in Bankruptcy at Pittsburgh, Penn.
Arthur E. Winter, the well-known owner of
the Winter Music House at Altoona, had the
employes of the store as well as the branch at
Tyrone his guests at an outing, auto run and
dinner on August 11. The employes left the
store at 1.30 p. m. in a special bus and went to
Mountain Lake, where a sports program was
enjoyed. Later an auto ride was taken to
Ebensburg, after which all assembled at the
LaFinke Hotel, at Duncansville, where a
chicken and waffle dinner was served. W. S.
Reese, of the Altoona store, served as toast-
master and a rising vote of thanks was given
to Mr. and Mrs. Winter for the enjoyable out-
ing.
Pratt Read
Service
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Repair Departments
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tuners.
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PRATT, READ & CO.
Established i n 1 8 0 6
The PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION CO.
Deep River, Conn.