Music Trade Review

Issue: 1941 Vol. 100 N. 1

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JANUARY, 19!>1
the names of members of the trade who
had passed away during the past year
following -which the guests rose for a silent
moment. These names included those of
C. A. Ericsson, R. K. Paynter, B. Meyer, C.
Albert
Jacob, William F. Keeley and Carl
James L. Ellenwood Guest Speaker
Peck. Letters were read from Paul H.
at 30th Get-to-gether
Schmidt, G. Harry Shale and Edward
H. Droop in which each expressed their
regret at not being about to be present.
The 30th Year End Luncheon of the New
York piano industry was held on Decem-
Mr. Lawrence then called on Carl C.
ber 30th at the National Republican Club, Conway who in the course of his remarks
New York. Over 100 were present and pointed out his early training in the piano
there was a sincere spirit of confidence business had stood him in good stead in
due to the successful year which the en- many of his later business problems. He
tire industry has experienced and also for also spoke of the importance of business
the future.
in the present crisis which we are now
Richard B. Alldcroft was expected as passing through and gave some inter-
toastmaster but due to the fact he had esting personal experiences which have
not returned from Florida he sent his re- been his lot in the many important enter-
grets and Richard W. Lawrence did the prises in which he has been a factor.
honors. At the speakers table sat Wil-
The guest speaker of the day James L.
liam R. Steinway, general European Man- Ellenwood then made one of the most
ager of Steinway & Sons, New York, Carl amusing yet most practical addresses the
C. Conway, chairman of the board of piano men have yet had an opportunity
directors of the Continental Can Co., C. to listen to, at the termination the guests
Alfred Wagner, Paul B. Klugh, Theodore rose and applauded roundly. William R.
Cassebeer, Albert Behning, C. D. Bond, Steinway gave a brief sketch of his recent
Weaver Piano Co., York, Pa., W. A. Men- trip throughout the country during which
nie, secretary of the National Piano Manu- he was traveling continuously for 61 days,
facturers Association and James L. Ellen- 18 of which he spent on sleepers, made
wood, Executive Secretary of the New radio addresses, went to many teas and
York State Young Men's Christian Asso- received 820 inches of publicity in news-
ciation, guest speaker.
papers. He explained that he did not con-
At the opening of the luncheon Mr. sider his trip as a Steinway promotion
Lawrence called on Mr. Behning to read alone but one that would benefit the en-
Big attendance at
N.Y. Year End Lunch
tire industry. He also said that he had
suggested that the slogan he used on his
trip "The Piano is the Standard Instrument
of Polyphonic Musical Expression" could
be used to good advantage by the entire
industry.
Chauncey D. Bond followed Mr. Stein-
way with a few well chosen words wish-
ing all present a most prosperous New
Year. Many more new faces were seen
at this Year End gathering then for many
years. Among those present -were Charles
Brockington, Henry Heller, Henry Heller,
Jr., J. L. Seltzer, Samuel D. Metz, Harry S.
Holmes, Jerome C. Ackerly, W. H. Bowles,
Archibald Johnston, A. A. Wensley, T. M.
Griffith, Jr., A. J. Canfield, J. C. Hughes.
Harry W. Griffith. Paul Griffith. Albert
Stuerke, Roman De Majewski, R. B. Orcutt,
Henry Wickham, Otto Heinzmann, M. B.
Colwin, Ashley Cone, Harold Hegemeyer,
Byron H. Collins. C. M. Tremaine, F. E.
Edgar, Gustave Behning, Henry Behning,
A. S. Zeisler, Carl Wahlburg, W. H. Perl-
man, Clarence M. Pettit, Edward Vidaud,
G. Herzberg, J. B. Schlosser, Helmuth
Kranich, Harold S. Morse, Charles J.
Pfriemer, Charles J. Pfriemer. Jr., Herman
Roemer, George Schofield, Ben Witlin,
Percy Temlin, David Eisen, E. B. Bogart,
J. B. Bannigan, Fred Baumer, H. Doch-
termann. Frank Cohen, A. L. Fitzgerald,
Benjamin Greenstein, A. Barton, David
Davis, Edward Vale, Adolph Stephan,
Charles Tuchen, C. E. Jackson, Paul B.
Klugh, Carl C. Conway, W. J. Dougherty.
Carleton Chace and others.
Dear Trade:-
We thank you heartily for your 1940 business and for
your patience during the Holiday Rush.
Here is hoping that 1941 will be even better, both as
to quantity and quality and that your collections will all
come in to you without effort.
But, we should have learned our lesson — so this
year order early, get your stock in before the rush and
do not lose sales for lack of pianos.
The best of good wishes to all.
Yours very truly,
JESSE FRENCH CORPORATION
JESSE FRENCH & SONS PIANOS
NEW CASTLE, INDIANA
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JANUARY, 19 Ul
9
Genuine
Public Interest
is reflected in progress of Piano
Industry in 1940
HAT the piano is now back as an
essential in the estimation of the
public has been manifested by the
steadily increasing demand during the
entire year of 1940. That the console
piano is still the favorite is also disclosed
by production figures but it is interesting
to note that grand piano production has
remained approximately the same for the
past three years. Average retail price
T
sound and profitable footing. Many stores where other lines have been handled now come more noticeable.
devote their entire interests to pianos and
All in all the industry has made such
musical instruments.
progress in bringing home to the public
Many new styles have been introduced the importance of the piano as a
throughout the year and although there cultural instrument as well as one of en-
has been a tendency to manufacture more tertainment and necessity in the home that
consoles 40" or over in height there still it should look forward with the greatest
seems to be a spirited demand for the 36" confidence to the years to come.
type piano.
Production of grands and consoles is
levels have, however, been raised a little
and there has been a better demand for
the higher priced consoles. Furthermore
higher priced grand pianos have consti-
tuted a larger percentage of the total
sale of grands than any previous year for
a decade.
During the past year also there were
more new retail outlets established than
in any year since the piano really started
to show life again and there was also
more renovating and remodeling of old
stores. These two factors are a very vivid
reflection that the industry is again on a
Association work has shown much
progress and the National Piano Manufac-
turers Association, the National Piano
Travelers Association and the National
Association of Music Merchants are work-
ing in closer harmony than they ever have.
The Retail Piano Salesmen's Clinics which
were held throughout the country last
year proved so successful that they will be
held again this year, publicity on pianos
in newspapers and magazines as well as
use of piano illustrations in the advertise-
ments of large national advertisers out-
now back where it was in 1925. The in-
dustry perhaps can have only one regret.
That is, that the production of grands
which was 50,000 in 1925 was but 19,000
in 1940.
Following are some of the more im-
portant highlights in the industry during
1940:
JANUARY
Piano shipments for 1939 announced as
114,043.
Over two hundred dealers attend Re-
tail Sales Clinic held at the Hotel New
Yorker, New York.
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