Music Trade Review
Issue: 1906 Vol. 42 N. 19 - Page 9
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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
9
Business for May Starts in Favorably—Strike Talk Has Effected Collections Somewhat, But the
Cause Is Now Removed—Leading Factories Are Very Busy—Rumor That Heppe Co. Will
Increase Capital Stock—Advertising Pianos at One Dollar a Week—Chas. E. Doddridge's
Success With the Baldwin—Philadelphia Well Represented at Washington.
(Special to The lleview.)
getic men in the business, and represents a house
with a name that has stood for excellent methods
in the piano business in Philadelphia. For this
reason it is rarely necessary to say a word in
criticism, but we cannot refrain from doing so
when the Charles H. Fischer Co. this week ad-
vertises as good a piano as the Singer piano for
$1 down and $1 per week. This proposition was
started in Philadelphia by Lit Bros., and was
pooh-poohed by all the regular dealers in Phila-
delphia. Why a house like the Charles H. Fischer
Co. would have to resort to this to get business
i f is hard to understand. At any rate, when they
advertise such terms it cheapens the business
in the opinion of many more than it has been
cheapened in Philadelphia by the Lit Bros., and
later by George .Kelly, who advertised pianos at
nothing down, and anything you care to pay at
any time you please. But are they warranted in
putting out the Singer piano at $1 down and $1
a week? There has been nothing that has hurt
the piano business more than such advertising.
I dropped in to see Charles E. Doddridge this
week, and found him still the enthusiastic Bald-
win man that he always was. Every one remem-
bers Baldwin—the Mehatma—the great wonder
worker. Doddridge is the Baldwin Mahatma of
the piano trade, because he certainly considers
his piano the wonder worker of the age, not only
in construction and tone but in every other way.
Mr. Doddridge thinks tnat he has discovered a
new system for the introduction of a great piano
like the Baldwin in the opening of piano parlors
where his instrument can be shown off to the
best advantage amid the surroundings of the
ordinary home, and that he is right in so think-
ing has been demonstrated by his success. The
Baldwin, and the other pianos made by that firm,
handled here by Mr. Doddridge, have been sell-
ing very well all winter, and with the establish-
ing of their reputation, it is clear that in the
future this method will be pursued by still other
firms. There is a rumor current that the Kim-
ball Co. contemplate the same thing in Philadel-
phia. Surely the Kimball is a great enough piano
to be handled in the same way, as the Kimball
name is so well known here that it is sought
after by customers rather than that customers
are being looked up.
Philadelphia is going to be well represented at
the Washington convention, and much interest is
manifested here in the work to be done. It is
to be hoped that the Philadelphians that go there
will come back imbued with the spirit of organi-
zation that will tend to rejuvenate them in the
workings of their own association that will tend
to instill an interest and activity among them
that will be of great benefit.
Philadelphia, Pa., May 9, 1906.
The piano business in May started in prom-
ising, and the dealers are looking for the usual
trade, if not a little better than it has been up
to this month, in spite of a number of hindering
things in the business situation which should
tend to affect general business. The strike situa-
tion has undoubtedly upset business for the past
two months, and it has made collections particu-
larly bad. I have heard from a number of firms
that on the eve of closing deals they have been
compelled to hold off as purchasers desired to
"wait and see." The San Francisco disaster has
also tended to affect business recently, as so
great a catastrophe could not but help to disturb
things.
The Philadelphia piano dealers, however, are
hoping for the better, and are well stocked up,
and the manufacturers are keeping their fac-
tories going at full time, and are trying to pile up
a stock so that they will be ready for any emer-
gency. The wholesale business in Philadelphia
has been unusually good all spring, and only
words of praise are being received here for the
class of goods that is being sent out from this
market. One of the firms who enjoy the large
wholesale trade in Philadelphia is the Lester
Piano Co. The Lesters, on practically all of the
future pianos they will turn out, will have a
complete Philadelphia product, for they are run-
ning their case factory in all its departments
now, and are turning out some very beautiful
work. These Lester cases have been the sub-
ject of much favorable comment, and the firm
have gotten out several new styles, which sur-
pass anything yet put on the market by this
aggressive firm.
Heppe factory No. 4 is, like all of the estab-
lishments controlled by this firm, a beehive of
industry. At this factory only the Heppe style 4
piano is made, named after the number of the
factoTy, but as yet the factory facilities are in-
adequate to turn these instruments out fast
enough. The Heppes are having trouble to
keep themselves supplied with instruments of
any of their makes. The past week they received
carload shipments from their factories, which
were distributed between their Chestnut street
store, their Thompson street store, their Pitts-
burg and Atlantic City branches. Few of these
instruments reached the stores, as they are sold
up so far in advance of their arrival that in
most cases they were delivered from the cars.
This condition shows the tremendous business
done by this firm. It is rumored on the street
that the Heppe Piano Co. will increase their capi-
SIMMONS TAKES CHARGE.
tal to about $1,500,000, and absorb all of the re-
The management of the piano department of
tail business of the firm, making all of the Heppe
interests incorporated instead of conducting the Flesheim & Smith, furniture dealers, Cleveland,
O., has been assumed by E. L. Simmons, for a
retail business as an individual firm.
long time salesman with the B. Dreher's Sons
The Heppes have been having a very fine re- Co. Flesheim & Smith have secured several new
tail trade the past week, R. M. Stultz, head sales- agencies, among which is that for the A. B.
man, having to his credit alone the following Chase piano.
sales, aside from others to less prominent people:
A Weber parlor grand in mahogany, price $1,050,
AN ESTEY PIANO USED.
to a prominent local teacher; a Heppe in oak
The musical features of the Congress of the
to George T. Parker, local vice-president of the Daughters of the American Revolution held in
Title, Bond & Surety Co., of Scranton; a new Washington, were under the direction of Percy
style IX. Heppe in mahogany to Mr. William S. Foster, of the Sanders & Stayman Co., which
Leighton, manager of the Drexel estate; and a firm furnished an Estey piano for use on that
Heppe to Mrs. George Harrison, which she do- occasion.
nated to the nurses of the Episcopal Hospital.
The Charles H. Fischer Co. is able to do any-
Horace F. Brown, who has been on a three
thing, as far as the conducting of the piano busi- weeks' trip through the Middle West in the in-
ness goes, now that that firm has acquired al- terests of Behr Bros. & Co., returned a short
capital for th
r. Fischer is oi
Is the
only reason
you don't
take up talking machines
because you think it will
interfere with your piano
business?
That idea was exploded
long ago! They help sell
pianos for you.
The most representative
music houses in t h e
country sell
Victor
Talking Machines
and Records
and some of them are
making more money on
them than they make on
pianos.
One of t h e g r e a t e s t
piano-dealers in America
tells us that he makes twice
as much on the Victor as
in his entire piano depart-
ment.
We help him—and all
other dealers—by advertis-
ing the Victor to 49,000,000
magazine readers every
month. Then he lets these
people in his locality know
he is a Victor man and the
people do the rest.
Victor Talking Machine
Company
Camden,
N. J.
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
9
Business for May Starts in Favorably—Strike Talk Has Effected Collections Somewhat, But the
Cause Is Now Removed—Leading Factories Are Very Busy—Rumor That Heppe Co. Will
Increase Capital Stock—Advertising Pianos at One Dollar a Week—Chas. E. Doddridge's
Success With the Baldwin—Philadelphia Well Represented at Washington.
(Special to The lleview.)
getic men in the business, and represents a house
with a name that has stood for excellent methods
in the piano business in Philadelphia. For this
reason it is rarely necessary to say a word in
criticism, but we cannot refrain from doing so
when the Charles H. Fischer Co. this week ad-
vertises as good a piano as the Singer piano for
$1 down and $1 per week. This proposition was
started in Philadelphia by Lit Bros., and was
pooh-poohed by all the regular dealers in Phila-
delphia. Why a house like the Charles H. Fischer
Co. would have to resort to this to get business
i f is hard to understand. At any rate, when they
advertise such terms it cheapens the business
in the opinion of many more than it has been
cheapened in Philadelphia by the Lit Bros., and
later by George .Kelly, who advertised pianos at
nothing down, and anything you care to pay at
any time you please. But are they warranted in
putting out the Singer piano at $1 down and $1
a week? There has been nothing that has hurt
the piano business more than such advertising.
I dropped in to see Charles E. Doddridge this
week, and found him still the enthusiastic Bald-
win man that he always was. Every one remem-
bers Baldwin—the Mehatma—the great wonder
worker. Doddridge is the Baldwin Mahatma of
the piano trade, because he certainly considers
his piano the wonder worker of the age, not only
in construction and tone but in every other way.
Mr. Doddridge thinks tnat he has discovered a
new system for the introduction of a great piano
like the Baldwin in the opening of piano parlors
where his instrument can be shown off to the
best advantage amid the surroundings of the
ordinary home, and that he is right in so think-
ing has been demonstrated by his success. The
Baldwin, and the other pianos made by that firm,
handled here by Mr. Doddridge, have been sell-
ing very well all winter, and with the establish-
ing of their reputation, it is clear that in the
future this method will be pursued by still other
firms. There is a rumor current that the Kim-
ball Co. contemplate the same thing in Philadel-
phia. Surely the Kimball is a great enough piano
to be handled in the same way, as the Kimball
name is so well known here that it is sought
after by customers rather than that customers
are being looked up.
Philadelphia is going to be well represented at
the Washington convention, and much interest is
manifested here in the work to be done. It is
to be hoped that the Philadelphians that go there
will come back imbued with the spirit of organi-
zation that will tend to rejuvenate them in the
workings of their own association that will tend
to instill an interest and activity among them
that will be of great benefit.
Philadelphia, Pa., May 9, 1906.
The piano business in May started in prom-
ising, and the dealers are looking for the usual
trade, if not a little better than it has been up
to this month, in spite of a number of hindering
things in the business situation which should
tend to affect general business. The strike situa-
tion has undoubtedly upset business for the past
two months, and it has made collections particu-
larly bad. I have heard from a number of firms
that on the eve of closing deals they have been
compelled to hold off as purchasers desired to
"wait and see." The San Francisco disaster has
also tended to affect business recently, as so
great a catastrophe could not but help to disturb
things.
The Philadelphia piano dealers, however, are
hoping for the better, and are well stocked up,
and the manufacturers are keeping their fac-
tories going at full time, and are trying to pile up
a stock so that they will be ready for any emer-
gency. The wholesale business in Philadelphia
has been unusually good all spring, and only
words of praise are being received here for the
class of goods that is being sent out from this
market. One of the firms who enjoy the large
wholesale trade in Philadelphia is the Lester
Piano Co. The Lesters, on practically all of the
future pianos they will turn out, will have a
complete Philadelphia product, for they are run-
ning their case factory in all its departments
now, and are turning out some very beautiful
work. These Lester cases have been the sub-
ject of much favorable comment, and the firm
have gotten out several new styles, which sur-
pass anything yet put on the market by this
aggressive firm.
Heppe factory No. 4 is, like all of the estab-
lishments controlled by this firm, a beehive of
industry. At this factory only the Heppe style 4
piano is made, named after the number of the
factoTy, but as yet the factory facilities are in-
adequate to turn these instruments out fast
enough. The Heppes are having trouble to
keep themselves supplied with instruments of
any of their makes. The past week they received
carload shipments from their factories, which
were distributed between their Chestnut street
store, their Thompson street store, their Pitts-
burg and Atlantic City branches. Few of these
instruments reached the stores, as they are sold
up so far in advance of their arrival that in
most cases they were delivered from the cars.
This condition shows the tremendous business
done by this firm. It is rumored on the street
that the Heppe Piano Co. will increase their capi-
SIMMONS TAKES CHARGE.
tal to about $1,500,000, and absorb all of the re-
The management of the piano department of
tail business of the firm, making all of the Heppe
interests incorporated instead of conducting the Flesheim & Smith, furniture dealers, Cleveland,
O., has been assumed by E. L. Simmons, for a
retail business as an individual firm.
long time salesman with the B. Dreher's Sons
The Heppes have been having a very fine re- Co. Flesheim & Smith have secured several new
tail trade the past week, R. M. Stultz, head sales- agencies, among which is that for the A. B.
man, having to his credit alone the following Chase piano.
sales, aside from others to less prominent people:
A Weber parlor grand in mahogany, price $1,050,
AN ESTEY PIANO USED.
to a prominent local teacher; a Heppe in oak
The musical features of the Congress of the
to George T. Parker, local vice-president of the Daughters of the American Revolution held in
Title, Bond & Surety Co., of Scranton; a new Washington, were under the direction of Percy
style IX. Heppe in mahogany to Mr. William S. Foster, of the Sanders & Stayman Co., which
Leighton, manager of the Drexel estate; and a firm furnished an Estey piano for use on that
Heppe to Mrs. George Harrison, which she do- occasion.
nated to the nurses of the Episcopal Hospital.
The Charles H. Fischer Co. is able to do any-
Horace F. Brown, who has been on a three
thing, as far as the conducting of the piano busi- weeks' trip through the Middle West in the in-
ness goes, now that that firm has acquired al- terests of Behr Bros. & Co., returned a short
capital for th
r. Fischer is oi
Is the
only reason
you don't
take up talking machines
because you think it will
interfere with your piano
business?
That idea was exploded
long ago! They help sell
pianos for you.
The most representative
music houses in t h e
country sell
Victor
Talking Machines
and Records
and some of them are
making more money on
them than they make on
pianos.
One of t h e g r e a t e s t
piano-dealers in America
tells us that he makes twice
as much on the Victor as
in his entire piano depart-
ment.
We help him—and all
other dealers—by advertis-
ing the Victor to 49,000,000
magazine readers every
month. Then he lets these
people in his locality know
he is a Victor man and the
people do the rest.
Victor Talking Machine
Company
Camden,
N. J.
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