Music Trade Review

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12
TH
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
ARTISTIC MEHLIN DESIGN
Business Improved, Although the Effect of Spring Sales Is Still Felt—Fischer Co.'s Unique
Plan of Securing Stockholders—A. B. Chase Piano in Fine Demand—Mr. Markley Back
With Allen—Activity at the Lester Factory—Doddridge Doing Well With the Baldwin—
Value of Holidays During the Summer—Estey Co.'s Splendid Record.
In Pianos Just Placed on the Market by Paul
G. Mehlin & Sons—Described as Gothic-
Mission—Clever Work of Chas. Mehlin.
The latest artistic design turned out by the
piano factory of Paul G. Mehlin & Sons is one
and the result has been satisfactory. Their case that cannot fail to win the praise of the trade
(Special to The Review.)
factory is working satisfactorily, and by fall they and at the same time add new honors tc their
Philadelphia, Pa., June 20, 1906.
The piano business the past week has bright- expect to make every part of their own instru- name as designers of instruments of unusual
ened up a little, but it remains duller than had ments, and are arranging to have a stock on hand artistic merit. The case is what may be described
been anticipated this month.
Undoubtedly the that will carry them well through the winter. as a Gothic-Mission, embracing the salient points
big Spring sales have had something to do with The wholesale trade has been very heavy, and Mr. of both. Both top and bottom panels are di-
Pressey is waiting for a chance to go on the road vided into smaller panels of pure gothic shape,
this. When the holiday business closed most of
the shops were overloaded with second-hand —that chance coming when the factory will be in while the trusses are made with two columns
and slightly-used pianos and these were widely a condition to supply all demands.
joined at the top with a gothic arch. The case is
The Musical Echo Co., at present located in the doweled together in mission style, the pins har-
advertised and generally sold, and the effect of
these sales is still felt, and will be throughout Mint Arcade Building, are preparing to move to monizing with every part of the case. No matter
the summer. While many of these instruments, 1223 and 1225 Chestnut street, where fine rooms in what light or from what direction the instru-
particularly the bunch of squares that were are now being fitted up.
ment is viewed, the columns in the panels and
Charles H. Doddridge is well into his second
moved out, must be unsatisfactory to the pur-
the pilasters and trusses form a straight "line,
chasers, yet they will get along with them dur- year as representative in Philadelphia of the giving that beautiful effect so much sought after
ing the summer and make an exchange for a Baldwin piano, and is thoroughly satisfied with in all Gothic architecture. Several of these in-
the outlook. He thinks his scheme for handling struments will be finished up and placed on the
new instrument in the fall.
The Charles H. Fischer Co. are continuing a piano like the Baldwin is a very good one. market in time for the fall trade. The originality
their big announcement, and stock subscriptions Strange some other firms with high grade pianos of this design is due to the genius of Charles
are pouring in. Just to what extent cannot be don't try the same plan. It is inexpensive, as Mehlin, whose deft pencil has before this won
learned, but this week the company are adver- far as the maintenance of an establishment is him high honors as a designer.
concerned, and just as feasible for the exploiting
tising for 2.000 men and women, as follows:
"Whether they can sell one piano or many— of such a piano as is made by the Baldwin Co.
GREAT DEMAND FOR LATJTER PIANOS.
N. Stetson & Co. and Henry F. Miller & Co.
we want them now. The more than 80 per cent,
(Special to The Review.)
gain in business the company enjoys, so far this have already began to close early, and the other
Newark, N. J., June 21, 1906.
year, is due to the splendid work of our stock- houses, with one or two exceptions, will follow
Despite the advancing season, there is no let
holders, who in addition to the guaranteed 6 per the first week in July. There is no reason why
cent, interest on every share of the preferred there should be any "exceptions," for all the up to the wonderful demand from dealers for
the Lauter piano. When seen to-day Secretary
stock, get a bonus on all pianos they sell. We firms admit tnat they would lose no business if
want these men and women, generally speaking, they should give their men this little recreation, P. F. Campbell said: "We are greatly pleased to
from Philadelphia and the surrounding towns. and the men deserve it. No class of tradesmen in find that the demand keeps up for Lauter pianos
We want active men and women—men and Philadelphia are called upon to do so much extra so nicely as it does. This is especially true of
women who know a fine piano when they hear work as the piano salesman, and as far as the New England generally and throughout the
it, who know the qualities that make a piano writer can see, if there is any business during West. As a matter of fact, in some departments
better for this purpose or that. With such the busy season, there is never any trouble to to-day we are actually working overtime, and it
is evident that we shall have difficulty in keep-
pianos, for stockholders to work for, as we handle, get a salesman to work overtime, and he is often
ing up with the requirements of our trade until
the least successful woman or man interested, kept at the store until 10, 11 and even 12 o'clock
ought to sell from three to twenty a year. That at night. Such faithfulness should be compen- we are able to extend our factory facilities."
Mr. Campbell stated that the call for player-
is what we want. And if you are ready and will- sated every way possible during the hot months,
ing to come with us now, when the opportunity in order that a salesman may be in condition for pianos, style 7 uprights and small grands, was
is ripe, you can put your money into the busi- good work when it is required. Employes often especially pressing, and that the art finish seems
ness. We will not accept much money from any- wonder why it is that there are so few men go- to be in greater vogue than ever.
President Charles E. Cameron moved his fam-
one—only enough to make sure that the men and ing into the business of piano selling. Men are
ily to his summer residence at Deal on the At-
women who are working with us, are wholly generally willing to work a certain number of
interested. We can't have too many men and hours a day—and they are usually long hours— lantic coast yesterday. He expects to remain at
but they don't care entirely to give themselves Deal until the end of September.
women interested."
Charles A. Borst and M. L. Barber, the inde-
over
to their employes, and that is what many
It is rumored in Philadelphia that other firms
fatigable
traveling men of the Lauter house, are
of
the
Philadelphia
proprietors
seem
to
expect.
may follow out the same idea as the Fischer Co.,
believing that it is a good way to create business I think a 5 o'clock closing and a half holiday in Maine and Missouri, respectively.
A. H. Atha, treasurer of the Lauter Co., who
by having a large number of people personally Saturday would go far to set the salesmen in
good humor, and I know that the piano dealers has been abroad on his honeymoon, returned last
interested.
would lose nothing by making such a concession. week.
Joseph F. Allen is having a very good business
The Estey Co. are devoting much effort to
these days with the A. B. Chase piano. Of the
CHAS. W. HELD MARRIED.
various styles made by that firm, he finds the piano selling these days. They have on their
Style D the best seller, although styles I and A books at present orders for pipe organs that will
Charles W. Held, of the Chandler & Held
are almost equally popular. The A is a splendid hold them well into the fall, and mid-summer is
Piano Co., Brooklyn, N. Y., recently entered the
a
dull
season
for
securing
pipe
organ
contracts,
seller, because it is a good parlor size, and one
ranks of Benedicts through the kind assistance
that looks well in any house, no matter the size so the whole force have been put to pushing
of Mrs. J. Agnes Dunning. The bride is well
pianos.
They
have
been
doing
good
work
dur-
of the parlor. Mr. Allen is doing very well with
known in Brooklyn musical circles and possesses
ing
June,
for
the
Estey
Co.
have
a
very
fine
line
the A. B. Chase Duplex Player-Piano. Mr. Mark-
a fine soprano voice.
of
pianos
to
show
customers,
and
their
piano
ley, a former manager of the Lit Department,
and later with Mr. Allen, went to Williamsport parlor, second floor front, is one of the show
METHODS OF SOME NOT LIKED.
some time ago to accept a position there as man- places of the city, as far as pianos are concerned.
The
firm
nave
been
doing
very
well
with
the
ager of a large store in that city. He has re-
In Lincoln, Neb., a city of 50,000, there are
turned to the Allen store disgusted with piano Estey player piano, which seems to strike the twelve piano dealers, and as a result there is
public
as
being
about
as
near
perfect
as
such
an
business in a small town. He says there are only
much complaint regarding the methods adopted
about two or three dozen families in that city instrument can be made.
by some firms to obtain more than their legiti-
that could buy a good piano if they wanted to,
In order to stimulate trade, E. G. Smith, man- mate share of business, which in a city of that
and they have been supplied. The rest of the ager of the retail department of the W. W. Kim- size is naturally not large.
trade consists of lumbermen who purchase pianos ball Co., Chicago, has inaugurated a new scheme
generally at $4 a month, and that class of trade whereby every purchaser of a piano before the
Bert Covert, the enterprising dealer of Spring-
is not to his liking. Mr. Markley is a great end of June is entitled to a year's tuition in any port, Mich., has been able to place a great many
friend of the A. B. Chase piano, and is likely to of four institutions, namely, Chicago Piano Col- pianos in his territory, making successful sales
remain at the Allen house.
lege, American Conservatory, Gottschalk Lyric even in direct competition with representatives
The Lester Piano Co. have been working hard, School and Chicago Musical College.
of the large Detroit houses.
LESTER PIANOS
Upright and Grand.
High Grade, Great Durability, Fine Tonal Quality.
The Price is Right.
Factories: LESTER, P A .
Offices 1306 Chestnut St., PHILADELPHIA, P A .