Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
mercially, the name Wanamaker is synony-
mous with honesty and fair dealing on a
PLACES THE AGENCY FOR THE " KRELL" AND "ROYAL" PIANOS FOR THIS CITY AND PHIL- high commercial plane."
ADELPHIA WITH JOHN . WANAMAKER WILL HANDLE THESE PRODUCTS EXCLU-
" Who will be charged with the manage-
SIVELY FULLEST DETAILS FURNISHED IN AN INTERVIEW WITH
ment of the Wanamaker piano department,
HERMAN KRELL, WHO, IT IS SAID, WILL HAVE CHARGE
Mr. Krell?"
tJ"
OF THE WANAMAKER PIANO DEPARTMENT.
'' My name has been mentioned in that
connection
and I think it likely that I shall
John Wanamaker is now the sole agent
" No; the understanding is that it shall
for Krell and Royal pianos in this cit.y and remain in force so long as both parties in due course, assume charge."
Philadelphia, including the territory usually shall be satisfied that the business is being
Sohmer Grand Demand.
understood by the term " and vicinity " in conducted honorably and in good faith."
each case.
..
'' What other makes will be handled by THE OUTPUT OF THIS INSTRUMENT HAS EX-
CELLED ALL EXPECTATIONS THIS IS
This startling and revolutionary piece of the Wanamaker firm? "
THE CASK IN THIS CITY AS WELL
news was conveyed to The Review on
"None, absolutely, so long as our con-
AS WITH REPRESENTATIVES
IN ALL PARTS OF THE
Wednesday by Herman Krell at the Krell tract remains in force."
COUNTRY.
warerooms. It is the most important move
" Does the arrangement include any con-
in the retail piano field in many a day—an trol of factory work or interest ? "
During The Review's last call at the new
experiment that will be watched and fol-
Sohmer
warerooms mention was made of
'' No. The agreement merely covers
the
elegant
Sohmer "Baby Grands" and
lowed with the keenest interest by the the question of agency, under conditions,
"Parlor
Grands"
now on exhibition, and
members of the trade in all sections of the generally speaking-, such as usually rule in
the question was asked: " How do the sales
country.
such cases."
of these instruments during the present
Asked for details of the new arrange-
'' When will the Wanamaker firm begin season compare with those of previous
ment, Herman Krell said: " I t occurred to active operations in this department, Mr. years? °
Mr. Reichmann, responding to the query, ' -
me in the early part of the year that such Krell ?"
said:
"Very favorably. At present the
a plan might be carried out, and in April I
" Shortly after the holidays—probably
call
for
them is so great that, even with our
began negotiations. Naturally I looked about the beginning of the year. Arrange-
usually ample facilities for production, it
the field over thoroughly before making ments are now in progress for supply of is impossible to fill all orders promptly.
propositions.
stock."
Steadily, year by year, our orders for
"After careful investigation, I concluded
'' Concerning the method of retail sale grands increase in number. The Concert
that John Wanamaker was, from our point to be adopted by the Wanamaker firm, Grand—you know we carry four styles in
of view, by far the most desirable repre- Mr. Krell, will it be on strictly a .cash grands—is also an excellent 'seller.
"What I Have-said applies to our out-of-
sentative to secure, keeping in mind the basis, or will the installment plan be intro-
town trade just as much as to the business
standing of the Krell products here and in duced?" •
done in Greater New York." Our agents
the West. I realized how difficult it
" That is within their option to decide. never talk "or write about our grands with-
would be to consummate such a plan in Whatever happens in that direction, our out becoming enthusiastic. Their enthu-
that quarter, but resolved to try.
standard is to be maintained as to values." siasm, too, is something'tangible. They
" Several times since I first broached the
'' Did you attempt negotiations with any talk to their customers in the same way as
they talk and write to us—and they do busi- -
subject to Mr. Ogden, the resident partner other New York dry-goods firm in carry- ness, which is best of all."
of John Wanamaker, I have felt inclined ing out your idea?"
v' 'There is strong competition in the line
to drop the idea, but not being a 'quitter'
" N o ; I caused a searching investiga- •of baby, parlor and concert grands, Mr.
by nature I did not yield to the temptation. tion to be made in the dry-goods field, with Reichmann. Does that fact interfere with
At last success came, and I feel sure the the result that a resolve was taken to the progress of the Sohmer products?"
"Were I to show you our list of orders
arrangement will be mutually advan- offer the agency to.John Wanamaker. If
for grands during, say, the past five years,
tageous."
the plan had fallen through with him it is you would understand the effect competi-
"When were negotiations closed, Mr. more than likely that we would have tion has on our business. We like it. It
Krell?"
dropped the idea altogether—for the pres- is a maxim of ours that the Sohmer prod-
ucts stand out more boldly by comparison,
" On December 8th. At that time, for ent, at any rate."
business reasons, we were requested not to
"When you started out to find a desir- and I never knew it to fail.
'' And there are good reasons why.
make the matter public for at least ten able agency among the big dry-goods
Without attempting to go into detail, just,
days. That period has now elapsed, and houses, did you realize the far-reaching
consider the tonal volume and sustaining
we are therefore at liberty to inform our effect on the wholesale and retail piano qualities as well as musical attributes of
friends."
trade likely to ensue if you succeeded ?"
the Sohmer Grand, Style 9 B. It seems
"How about prices? Will John Wana-
" Yes; the members of our firm viewed almost impossible that such marvelous re-
maker have the option of reducing them to the matter from every practical point of sults can be achieved in such a miniature
meet the popular demand for low figures view and came to the conclusion that un- body as it possesses.
" Taken all in all, size, scale, tone, touch
or to meet competition likely to develop in der existing piano trade conditions, such a and design, this grand is undoubtedly a
other quarters?"
plan as the one now developed must bene- great step in advance in the construction (
"We have his assurance," replied Mr. fit the whole trade by inspiring the dealers of modern pianos. It has becotrie a stand- ?
Krell, " that a fair price will be asked for to greater efforts. It may kill off the use- ard, With many imitators, but no equal." |
our products and,coming from such a firm, less people, but will induce activity among
Fred. H. Cluett, of the well-known music 1
we deem that equivalent to a distinct the higher class of dealers. ;
house of Cluett & Sons, has just resigned'
promise."
" I n saying that, of course we realized as organist and choirmaster of the State *
Street Methodist Church, Troy, N. Y. He-
" I s the contract for a definite period, the necessity of having a thoroughly repu- has
been connected with that church in the '
Mr. Krell?"
table and reliable representation. Com- capacity of organist for twenty-eight years.
IMPORTANT KRELL MOVE