Classic Mode

Music Trade Review

Issue: 1928 Vol. 87 N. 17

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
OCTOBER 27, 1928
First Public Presentation of the
Welte-Mignon Musicalle Made in New York
closing of the session of the Heppe Piano Co.
the stockholders of the Philadelphia retail
house of C. J. Heppe & Son also held their an-
nual meeting and re-elected the present officers.
New Product of the Welte-Mignon Corp.Presented Before Distinguished Audience at
the Wehe-Mignon Studios and Enthusiastically Received
Cleveland Association
Discusses Bad Advertising
Topfer, director of the retail sales division of
the company, assisted by John Hanley, manager
of the music roll division. The instrument used
was the Welte-Mignon reproducing piano in
the Louis XVI style.
At First Meeting of Season Local Organization
Condemns Sensational Offerings of Pianos
and Particularly Player-Pianos
' T ' H E first public presentation of the new
Welte-Mignon Musicalle, by means of
which it is possible to play eight selections on
the Welte-Mignon piano without changing rolls
and by means of remote control, was made on
Monday of this week at the Welte-Mignon
Studios, 665 Fifth avenue, New York. The in-
terest aroused by the new invention was em-
phasized by the crowd that packed the recital
hall throughout the afternoon.
The Musicalle, which has been demonstrated
to the trade on various occasions during the
past few months, consists of a special cabinet
placed at some distance from the Welte-Mignon
Reproducing piano and containing eight music,
rolls. By means of a small tablet equipped
with buttons and connected electrically with
the cabinet, it is possible for the owner to enjoy
a full hour's program of piano music without
going near the instrument.
In a sense the new invention is weird. Tablet
in hand, anyone desiring to play the piano sim-
ply touches a button alongside of the desired
selection. Immediately a small light appears
at the top of the tablet to show that the
mechanism has been put into operation, and
another light appears at the side of the selec-
tion to indicate the number to be played. As
soon as the mechanism in the cabinet has placed
the desired record in proper position it begins
to play. As a matter of fact, the piano may be
operated from a distant room, the remoteness
of the control depending only upon the length
of the cable connecting the tablet with the
Musicalle cabinet. The eight rolls may be
played in sequence or in any order desired.
It was a noteworthy audience who visited
the Welte Studios on Monday to inspect this
new invention at close range. There were musi-
cians and music critics, the elite of society and
theatrical stars from Broadway, to say nothing
of many members of the trade both in New
York and out of town who found much to
warrant their attention. The program offered
during the afternoon was as follows:
1 —Nocturne Xo. 3
By D'Albert
2—Valse de Concert. Op. i
By Kirsch
3—(Joyescas
By Granados
4—.Staccato Caprice
]ty Meru
S—Ballet .Music, Wedding March
By Samaroff
6 -Rondo Caprictioso
By Hofinann
7—-Turkish March
By Rubenstein
8- -Smoke Wreaths
By Perella
Liszt
Wieniawski
Granados
Vogricli
Rubinstein
Mendelssohn
Beethoven
Frinil
A particularly impressive feature was the
appearance of Harry Perella, who recorded
Friml's "Smoke Wreaths" for the Welte-
Mignon, while that selection was being played
through the medium of the Musicalle. At its
conclusion Mr. Perella took occasion to explain
to the audience his impressions of the perform-
ance, and the emotions aroused by hearing the
piano reproduce so faithfully his own playing.
Among those who attended the presentation
recital were John Barclay, Mrs. Fenton Taylor,
Judge Blau, Harry Perella, Vee Lawnhurst,
Mrs. Mabel'Wagnalls Jones, Lady Armstrong,
Dorothy Miller Duckwitz, Gloria Sayeles, Ray
Perkins, Loretto O'Connell, Emil Belazee,
Richard Singer, E. H. Smith, W. A. Behr, Miss
Harriette Cady, Mrs. Dorothy Schmitz, Dr.
Preston P. Satterwite, Mrs. John Martin, Mrs.
Lucy C. Anient, Mrs. Ariadne H. Edwards,
Mrs. L. L. Bell, and many members of the
music trade itself.
The presentation was in charge of Geo. E.
Improvement Noted in
Trade in Pittsburgh
Increased Demand for Better Grades of Pianos
and Reproducers—Welte-Mignon Line for
S. Hamilton Co.
PITTSBURGH, PA., October 22.—Marked improve-
ment is noted in the piano trade in this city,
according to managers of the leading music
stores. The outstanding feature is the demand
for high-grade instruments such as grand pianos
and reproducing instruments. At the C. C.
Mellor Co., W. Barry Hamilton, general man»
ager, stated that sales of Steinway pianos were
quite satisfactory and that sales for the month
of September showed a gratifying increase. The
firm had a display of two handsome Steinway
grand pianos in their show window, which were
much admired. Mr. Hamilton stated that the
outlook for the Fall trade was excellent.
Arthur O. Lechner, of the firm of Lechner &
Schoenberger, Ampico dealers, stated that busi-
ness for the past two weeks had shown a
marked improvement and that a decided in-
terest was being shown by buyers in high-
grade pianos. The firm handle the Mason &
Hamlin, Knabe, Chickering, Fischer and other
makes of the American Piano Co.
The S. Hamilton Co. has announced the in-
troduction of the Welte-Mignon reproducing
piano. The firm made a special advertising fea-
ture of the new instrument in the local Sunday
newspapers. Manager E. M. Lannis expressed
keen delight at the installation of the new
Welte-Mignon line and stated that there was
every reason for the piano to meet with popular
demand. The Welte-Mignon pipe organs are
also sold by the S. Hamilton Co. Branch stores
are operated in East Liberty, 6008 Penn ave-
nue, Wilkinsburg, Homewood, Ambridge afid
Greensburg.
In the W. F. Frederick Piano Co.'s piano
salon on the fifth floor of the Oppenheim Col-
lins Building, 525-29 Penn avenue, an assort-
ment of Everett pianos is on display in the
conventional models and the art or period
models. Sales were reported as brisk.
Theodore Hoffmann, of the J. M. Hoffmann
Co., Gulbransen dealer, said, "There is every
indication that there will be a decided revival
in piano sales this Fall, due to the improved in-
dustrial conditions here. This, coupled with the
passing of the Presidential election, should be
a factor in improving business. Our sales for
the past month have proven very satisfactory
and we are looking forward to a brisk Fall and
Winter season."
Heppe Firms Hold
Their Annual Meetings
PHII.ADI-;LPH.IA, PA., October 22.—-With the an-
nual meeting of the Heppe Piano Co., held in
the office of the corporation, Sixth and Cooper
streets, Camden, N. J., the following officers
were elected for the coming year—President
and treasurer, Florence J. Heppe; vice-presi-
dent, M. F. McDowell Heppe, and secretary
and assistant treasurer, George W. Witney.
The semi-annual dividend of 3 per cent was
declared bv the directors. Shortly after the
CLEVELAND, O., October 22.—The first meeting
of the Fall and Winter season of the Cleveland
Music Trades Association was held at the Hotel
Winton on Wednesday evening with only a fair
attendance as the weather was decidedly unpleas-
ant. A L. Maresh, president, presided, and fol-
lowing dinner there was a discussion of the ad-
vertising situation in Cleveland as regards pi-
anos, particularly players. The sentiment was
expressed by some that the houses using the
sensational type of advertising would be the
sufferers eventually as the public was be-
ginning to ignore this form of publicity.
The piano dealers in the foreign sections of
the city were said to be hurt more so than the
downtown -houses. George Ott, of the G. M. Ott
Piano Co., spoke on the piano advertising through-
out the state, and said that he felt that Cleveland
was one of the worst offenders. A committee was
appointed by President Maresh to call an the piano
houses under discussion and urge them to discon-
tinue the objectionable form of advertising.
The Maynard Music Co., of Greensboro,
N. C, has moved into its new four-story build-
ing on West Market street, and will occupy the
entire structure.
Pratt Read
Service
We maintain special
Repair Departments
for the convenience
of d e a l e r s a n d
tuners.
Send your work to
us for prompt at-
tention and careful
workmanship.
Write ior our price lists on
key—action—player
repairs and materials
PRATT, READ & CO.
Established i n 1 8 0 6
The PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION CO.
Deep River, Conn.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
(Registered in the U. S. Patent Office)
Published Every Saturday by
Federated Business Publications, Inc.
at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York
President, Raymond Bill; Vice-Presidents, T. B. Spillane, Randolph Brown; Secre-
tary and Treasurer, Edward Lyman Bill; Assistant Secretary, L. B. McDonald;
Assistant Treasurer, Wm. A. Low.
B.
BRITTAIN WILSON,
Editor
GARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
W. H. MCCLEARY, Managing
RAY BILL, Associate
F. L. AVERY, Circulation
Editor
E. B. MUNCH, Eastern
WESTERN DIVISION:
FRANK W. K n x , Manager
E.
J.
NIALY
Editor
Manager
Representative
BOSTON O F F I C E :
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone: Main 6950
333 No. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Telephone: State 1266
Telephone:
Vol. 87
A
Lexington 1760-71
Cable: Elbill New York
No. 17
October 27, 1928
The Meetings in Chicago
T the meeting in Chicago this week the Board of Con-
trol of the National Association of Music Merchants
decided to hold a national piano-playing tournament
with the recommendation that the committee appointed communi-
cate with all cities in which contests have been held with a view
to having them send their local prize winners to Chicago in June
to play in competition before the music industries convention. It
is a step well taken and marks the culmination of a movement
for such a national contest that has been under discussion for
several years and which was finally brought to a head only recently.
It was in 1923, following the convention in Chicago at which
the hrst national high school band contest was held, that The
Review editorially advocated a national piano-playing contest.
Prominent members of the trade were quick to see the logic of
the idea. But at that time they were not sufficient in number to
ijnsure the success of the move. It has taken, in short, five years
ior the trade itself to reach an agreement on a* venture which was
entirely feasible at the time of its proposal. Certainly if a con-
test can draw bands made up of forty or fifty boys, each from all
sections of the country, it is not beyond the realms of possibility
to bring to a common center perhaps a dozen single pianists. It
is to be hoped that the plan of the National Association, coupled
Lay ton Bros. Open New
Warerooms in Montreal
Special Musical Program Offered by Old-estab-
lished Canadian Concern to Mark Important
Event
MONTREAL, CAN., October 24.—A'nother achieve-
ment in the history of the house of Lay ton
Bros.,. Ltd., was consummated with the opening
of the large premises constituting their east
end warerooms at 868 St. Catherine street east.
Both floors of the new establishment were gay
.with baskets of flowers, gifts of the firms
represented by Layton's in this city and of
many other friends.
A special inaugural program was given,
attended by throngs of visitors who called to
tender their congratulations. A special broad-
cast of the ceremonies was arranged by Station
CFCF, consisting of musical selections played
by the orchestra under the direction of J. J.
dagnier, and the official opening address of
1', R, l,ayton, president <>f. tlic company, Y. P,
OCTOBER 27, 1928
with the initial effort put forth by the Chicago trade, will meet
with the success it deserves.
From the association standpoint the Board of Control meet-
ing in Chicago was also important. In the first place it was agreed
that the music industries convention would be held in Chicago
during the week of June 3, 1929, at the same time as the annual
convention and trade show of the Radio Manufacturers' Associa-
tion, but at a different hotel. It is felt that the many music
merchants who handle radio, and they are in fact well in the
majority, will welcome an opportunity of combining two conven-
tions in one trip to Chicago, and that there are many matters in
common between the radio manufacturers and the music industry
that might be worthy of discussion at a joint meeting.
Thert are, of course, those who sense the danger that the radio
show will draw attendance from the music industries meeting,
but the answer to this is to make the program so interesting and
important that regular attendance will be worth while.
Another good move was the adoption of the revised consti-
tution and by-laws which again places the Association on the in-
dividual membership basis. The idea of building up the national
organization through the establishment and affiliation of local
bodies was no doubt put forth with full sincerity, and under dif-
ferent conditions might have worked out. The fact that it did
not and that the Association officers have been broad enough to
realize that fact and return to the old policy is distinctly to their
credit and calculated to revive national interest in the body.
The local association idea as a means of building up the
national body in giving it direct contact through such sectional
units with retailers in all parts of the country would have been
perfectly sound had the local Associations themselves been devel-
oped in sufficient numbers, or had they been representative of
all sections of the country. It was found, however, that despite
earnest efforts on the part of the national executives the develop-
ment of local bodies was too slow and too uncertain to be de-
pended upon, and the result was a tearing down rather than a
building up of the National Association status.
What has been accomplished by the very active president and
equally active secretary of the Merchants' Association during the
past year leads to the belief that although the individual member-
ship plan to which the body has reverted is not in any sense perfect,
it at least can be developed on a much broader and more success-
ful basis than heretofore, and the revision of the by-laws makes
this course possible.
On the whole the executive meetings in Chicago proved well
worth while, and little time was wasted apparently in getting at
the bottom of Association problems and handling them fearlessly
and well. It is one thing to arouse and maintain association en-
thusiasm when business conditions are flourishing, but quite an-
other to develop that enthusiasm when the situation is not so
promising. What has been done, therefore, reflects directly to
the credit of the Association executives for their faith in the
industry and its future.
Bouvier, directing manager of the branch, also
spoke over the radio, and Mayor Beaubien, of
Outremont, paid a notable tribute to Mr. Lay-
ton for his philanthropy towards the blind and
for his great business ability.
In his address, Mr. Layton said. "The board
of management of Layton Bros., Ltd., are ex-
ceedingly glad to open their east end warehouse
to-day. I feel that this is a red-letter day. It
is nearly forty-one years ago that the founda-
tion stones of the business were laid in this
city. The business has grown from strength
to strength until to-day it is one of the largest
musical merchandise houses in the Dominion."
The new branch is a spacious and most at-
tractive establishment, with pianos and Victor
orthophonics on the ground floor, which has
been divided into several large salons, while
on the main floor arc demonstration rooms with
artistically arranged radios and other music
producing machines.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
tree of charge for men who desire positions,
Seiberling, Lucas Piano
Department for Brassfield
PoKTiANii, ORK., October 20.—The piano depart-
ment of the Seiberling, Lucas Music Co., has
been taken over by B. R. Brassfield, who has
moved his piano department to the Fourth
street store from the Powers furniture store
where he has been located for the past year.
Mr. Brassfield was formerly manager of the
Wiley B. Allen' Portland branch when they
closed out their agencies in the Northwest and
has since operated a piano department of his
own. He has taken Walter White as his assist-
ant. Mr. White was formerly with Mr. Brass-
field in the Wiley B. Allen branch as piano
salesman and Ampico technician.
Buys Into Martin Co.
W. L. Womack has purchased an interest in
the Martin Music Co., Pine Bluff, Ark., and the
company has changed its name to the Martin-
Womack Music Co,

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