Music Trade Review
Issue: 1906 Vol. 43 N. 1 - Page 9
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THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Month of June Closes Satisfactorily—New Building for Chas. H. Fischer Co.—Strawbridge &
Clothier's Good Business—Herzberg to Locate on Chestnut West of 17th Street—Drew and
the Stieff—Wissner Pianos for Conservatory—Heppe's Good Trade—Mason & Hamlin's
Growing Popularity—Manufacturers Have Large Stock on Hands.
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., July 3, 1906.
The month of June closed quite satisfactory to
the piano men, not only a few of the firms, but
every one of them affirming that their business
was in advance of last year and considerably bet-
ter than had been anticipated. This is also the
condition with the manufacturer. The output of
pianos during the month at the various Phila-
delphia factories has been entirely satisfying,
and while orders were large, the Philadelphia
factories at present are in such shape that they
are able to pile up goods for the fall trade.
There has never been a time since Philadelphia
began the manufacture of pianos that the fac-
tories have as large a stock on hand at the end
of June as at present. The manufacturer of
small goods is also in excellent shape. All the
houses are well supplied for whatever demand
may be put upon them.
Charles H. Fischer Co. expect to be in a new
home before the fall trade starts. They have a
building in view, which they will purchase a
block further Bast on Chestnut street, between
16th and 17th, which, with little alteration, will
be a perfect store for the conducting of the piano
business. There is still a little dickering re-
garding ground rent, which, when settled, will
be the chance for them to close the agreement.
The Fischer Co. have been doing a very large
business. During the month of June they sold
pianos to the extent of within $2,000 of their
last December trade, which it must be admitted
is "going some." I got a little mixed on the
Fischer Co. insurance scheme, which really is
not to insure a purchaser a safe transit to
heaven, but their scheme is that if a rain who
purchases a piano for his family should
die before that piano is paid for, the company
will give his wife or children, as it may be, a
receipted bill of sale. This is quite an induce-
ment, for it is a well-known fact that many hus-
bands or fathers would purchase pianos witn
this assurance who otherwise would not care to
burden their families in case of death, or take a
chance of losing all that had been paid in.
Strawbridge & Clothier have been doing an ex-
cellent business all spring, and start the summer
with most encouraging prospects. Their trade
has been strongly on the Royal piano naturally,
because it is an excellent popular priced instru-
ment, but during June they have sold a great
many Pease pianos, and the Krell and Steck have
been going out in a satisfactory way. The past
week they sold the only Steck grand they car-
ried in stock, and they have sold half a dozen
Steck-Pianolas during the month of June. This
is a very good business, and Mr. Butler has the
most glowing prospects for the future. He makes
it a cardinal point that during the summer
months he will get rid of one instrument a day,
and as he has set out to do this, he has thus far
been able to carry out the scheme.
Last week I spoke of Gustave Herzberg going
to move his department from the Snellenburg
store to Chestnut street in the fall. He will lo-
cate on Chestnut west of 17th street, and adjoin-
ing the warerooms of Joseph F. Allen. The two
piano stores are owned by the same man, and
he will have the front torn out and build a
big double display window, which will be of
advantage to both firms. Thus piano establish-
ments are gradually getting further west on
Chestnut street, and this is obviously the proper
location for them.
Joseph F . ' Allen has most encouraging words
to say of his business throughout the spring.
May was an exceptionally good month with the
house, and June, while not quite as good, was bet-
ter than last June. He has a fine stock of A. B.
Chase, Poole and other pianos he handles, and
i3 in excellent shape for the summer trade.
Joseph D. Drew, whose piano store is on 11th
street, just below Wainut, is the exclusive handier
in Philadelphia of tne Stieff piano, and is keep-
ing that name prominently before the public.
He has small quarters, but does a big business.
He has never more than half a dozen of the
Stieff pianos on hand, but that is sufficient. He
handles also the Stewart line of goods, and sells
a great many of them. He also has an excellent
trade on strings, 'cellos, sheet music and musical
merchandise. In the few years that Mr. Drew
lias been in business-—having .formerly been with
the Fischer house—he has been doing very well
in all his departments.
The Lefssohn & Hille Conservatory of Music,
one of the best in Philadelphia, have been sup-
plied exclusively with the Wissner piano, which
they will use in teaching next season. It will be
one of the very few conservatories in this city
that have aimed to use a piano of such a high
grade.
The Norristown branch of the Charles H.
Fischer Co. has been very successful. I t is lo-
cated on Main street, near De Kalb. The firm
have gotten five or six new stockholders there
this week, and everything points to its being a
promising branch.
C. J. Heppe & Son are doing excellent work at
their Philadelphia factory No. 4. It is in splendid
running shape, and fine Heppes are being turned
out there daily. These instruments find a ready
sale at the Philadelphia stores of the house, and
many of them have been shipped to the Pittsburg
branch. This Pittsburg branch has been most
satisfactory to the Heppes, and has demonstrated
to them that a Philadelphia made piano—when
properly made—is just as salable as an instru-
ment from any other city. The Heppe pianos
that have gone out to the wholesale trade con-
taining the auto-manual action, have proved to
be very satisfactory, and this action is being
used more and more by makers of pianos.
The Mason & Hamlin has been selling very well
all spring at the Blasius & Sons, and in spite of
their being manufacturers of pianos, the popu-
larity of the Mason & Hamlin in this city is
such that no matter where it is, it is hunted up
and bought. The Blasius firm always have on
hand a full line of these instruments, and display
them in a special piano parlor. The Blasius firm
have also been doing very well with the Krell
auto-piano.
CHUTE & BUTLER INCREASING FORCE.
(Special to The Review.j
Peru, Ind., July 2, 1906.
At a recent meeting of the directors of the
Chute & Butler piano and organ works it was
decided to increase the force so as to more ade-
quately meet the orders which are coming in to
this flourishing Oakdale industry.
It was
agreed that the capacity of the force employed
should be eight pianos, twelve piolians and eigh-
teen cottage organs per week. The factory has of
late been turning out something over half that
amount of product, but demands for goods have
increased so rapidly that this increased capacity
was found to be a necessity. The present force
at the factory is close to seventy men.
Mr. Piano=dealer
You can handle the Victor
along with pianos to your
decided advantage.
Victor Talking Machines and
Records are easy and contin-
uous sellers. The demand has
already been created and is
being constantly increased by
our advertising to 49,000,000
magazine readers every month.
There is a good profit in
the Victor and certainly more
money in selling Victor Records
than sheet music, and you'll
sell more S. M. than ever. The
Victor requires a smaller invest-
ment than pianos and turns
your money over quicker.
People are brought to your
store right along by frequent
calls for Victor Talking Machines
and Records. That helps to get
them in touch with your piano
business besides making your
Victor business e x t r e m e l y
profitable.
You are losing money every
day you put off sending for
our proposition.
Victor Talking
Machine
Company
A CLEVER PIANO CRAFTSMAN.
Emil Voelckel, who, as announced in The Re-
view some two weeks ago, has assumed charge
of the Wheelock Piano Co.'s factory, was for-
merly with Hardman, Peck & Co., and the B. D.
Harrington Piano Co., for fourteen years. Be-
fore that time he spent three and one-half years
in the Wheelock factory. Mr. Voelckel is a
trained piano craftsman, having had experience
in all manufacturing branches, and in addition
is a skilled scale draftsman.
6681JM
Camden,
N. J-
/&
v
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Month of June Closes Satisfactorily—New Building for Chas. H. Fischer Co.—Strawbridge &
Clothier's Good Business—Herzberg to Locate on Chestnut West of 17th Street—Drew and
the Stieff—Wissner Pianos for Conservatory—Heppe's Good Trade—Mason & Hamlin's
Growing Popularity—Manufacturers Have Large Stock on Hands.
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., July 3, 1906.
The month of June closed quite satisfactory to
the piano men, not only a few of the firms, but
every one of them affirming that their business
was in advance of last year and considerably bet-
ter than had been anticipated. This is also the
condition with the manufacturer. The output of
pianos during the month at the various Phila-
delphia factories has been entirely satisfying,
and while orders were large, the Philadelphia
factories at present are in such shape that they
are able to pile up goods for the fall trade.
There has never been a time since Philadelphia
began the manufacture of pianos that the fac-
tories have as large a stock on hand at the end
of June as at present. The manufacturer of
small goods is also in excellent shape. All the
houses are well supplied for whatever demand
may be put upon them.
Charles H. Fischer Co. expect to be in a new
home before the fall trade starts. They have a
building in view, which they will purchase a
block further Bast on Chestnut street, between
16th and 17th, which, with little alteration, will
be a perfect store for the conducting of the piano
business. There is still a little dickering re-
garding ground rent, which, when settled, will
be the chance for them to close the agreement.
The Fischer Co. have been doing a very large
business. During the month of June they sold
pianos to the extent of within $2,000 of their
last December trade, which it must be admitted
is "going some." I got a little mixed on the
Fischer Co. insurance scheme, which really is
not to insure a purchaser a safe transit to
heaven, but their scheme is that if a rain who
purchases a piano for his family should
die before that piano is paid for, the company
will give his wife or children, as it may be, a
receipted bill of sale. This is quite an induce-
ment, for it is a well-known fact that many hus-
bands or fathers would purchase pianos witn
this assurance who otherwise would not care to
burden their families in case of death, or take a
chance of losing all that had been paid in.
Strawbridge & Clothier have been doing an ex-
cellent business all spring, and start the summer
with most encouraging prospects. Their trade
has been strongly on the Royal piano naturally,
because it is an excellent popular priced instru-
ment, but during June they have sold a great
many Pease pianos, and the Krell and Steck have
been going out in a satisfactory way. The past
week they sold the only Steck grand they car-
ried in stock, and they have sold half a dozen
Steck-Pianolas during the month of June. This
is a very good business, and Mr. Butler has the
most glowing prospects for the future. He makes
it a cardinal point that during the summer
months he will get rid of one instrument a day,
and as he has set out to do this, he has thus far
been able to carry out the scheme.
Last week I spoke of Gustave Herzberg going
to move his department from the Snellenburg
store to Chestnut street in the fall. He will lo-
cate on Chestnut west of 17th street, and adjoin-
ing the warerooms of Joseph F. Allen. The two
piano stores are owned by the same man, and
he will have the front torn out and build a
big double display window, which will be of
advantage to both firms. Thus piano establish-
ments are gradually getting further west on
Chestnut street, and this is obviously the proper
location for them.
Joseph F . ' Allen has most encouraging words
to say of his business throughout the spring.
May was an exceptionally good month with the
house, and June, while not quite as good, was bet-
ter than last June. He has a fine stock of A. B.
Chase, Poole and other pianos he handles, and
i3 in excellent shape for the summer trade.
Joseph D. Drew, whose piano store is on 11th
street, just below Wainut, is the exclusive handier
in Philadelphia of tne Stieff piano, and is keep-
ing that name prominently before the public.
He has small quarters, but does a big business.
He has never more than half a dozen of the
Stieff pianos on hand, but that is sufficient. He
handles also the Stewart line of goods, and sells
a great many of them. He also has an excellent
trade on strings, 'cellos, sheet music and musical
merchandise. In the few years that Mr. Drew
lias been in business-—having .formerly been with
the Fischer house—he has been doing very well
in all his departments.
The Lefssohn & Hille Conservatory of Music,
one of the best in Philadelphia, have been sup-
plied exclusively with the Wissner piano, which
they will use in teaching next season. It will be
one of the very few conservatories in this city
that have aimed to use a piano of such a high
grade.
The Norristown branch of the Charles H.
Fischer Co. has been very successful. I t is lo-
cated on Main street, near De Kalb. The firm
have gotten five or six new stockholders there
this week, and everything points to its being a
promising branch.
C. J. Heppe & Son are doing excellent work at
their Philadelphia factory No. 4. It is in splendid
running shape, and fine Heppes are being turned
out there daily. These instruments find a ready
sale at the Philadelphia stores of the house, and
many of them have been shipped to the Pittsburg
branch. This Pittsburg branch has been most
satisfactory to the Heppes, and has demonstrated
to them that a Philadelphia made piano—when
properly made—is just as salable as an instru-
ment from any other city. The Heppe pianos
that have gone out to the wholesale trade con-
taining the auto-manual action, have proved to
be very satisfactory, and this action is being
used more and more by makers of pianos.
The Mason & Hamlin has been selling very well
all spring at the Blasius & Sons, and in spite of
their being manufacturers of pianos, the popu-
larity of the Mason & Hamlin in this city is
such that no matter where it is, it is hunted up
and bought. The Blasius firm always have on
hand a full line of these instruments, and display
them in a special piano parlor. The Blasius firm
have also been doing very well with the Krell
auto-piano.
CHUTE & BUTLER INCREASING FORCE.
(Special to The Review.j
Peru, Ind., July 2, 1906.
At a recent meeting of the directors of the
Chute & Butler piano and organ works it was
decided to increase the force so as to more ade-
quately meet the orders which are coming in to
this flourishing Oakdale industry.
It was
agreed that the capacity of the force employed
should be eight pianos, twelve piolians and eigh-
teen cottage organs per week. The factory has of
late been turning out something over half that
amount of product, but demands for goods have
increased so rapidly that this increased capacity
was found to be a necessity. The present force
at the factory is close to seventy men.
Mr. Piano=dealer
You can handle the Victor
along with pianos to your
decided advantage.
Victor Talking Machines and
Records are easy and contin-
uous sellers. The demand has
already been created and is
being constantly increased by
our advertising to 49,000,000
magazine readers every month.
There is a good profit in
the Victor and certainly more
money in selling Victor Records
than sheet music, and you'll
sell more S. M. than ever. The
Victor requires a smaller invest-
ment than pianos and turns
your money over quicker.
People are brought to your
store right along by frequent
calls for Victor Talking Machines
and Records. That helps to get
them in touch with your piano
business besides making your
Victor business e x t r e m e l y
profitable.
You are losing money every
day you put off sending for
our proposition.
Victor Talking
Machine
Company
A CLEVER PIANO CRAFTSMAN.
Emil Voelckel, who, as announced in The Re-
view some two weeks ago, has assumed charge
of the Wheelock Piano Co.'s factory, was for-
merly with Hardman, Peck & Co., and the B. D.
Harrington Piano Co., for fourteen years. Be-
fore that time he spent three and one-half years
in the Wheelock factory. Mr. Voelckel is a
trained piano craftsman, having had experience
in all manufacturing branches, and in addition
is a skilled scale draftsman.
6681JM
Camden,
N. J-
/&
v
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