Music Trade Review

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THE: MUSIC TRADE
said to have been backed to a great extent by
Marshall Field & Co., of Chicago, and the First
The Past Four Weeks' Good Record—Depart-
National Bank of Omaha, but failure to get the
ment Store Sales—Perfield Piano Co. Again
building completed properly last year and the
in Business—Failure Affects Local Dealer—
unseasonable weather this spring are said to
Jos. Hayden Returns from Orient.
have resulted in a poor showing. It is said the
business may be re-capitalized and continued, as
(Special to The ReviewJ
there has been no loss to stockholders.
Omaha, Neb., June 29, 1907.
Joseph Hayden, of the firm of Hayden Bros.,
The present month has been one of unusual has just returned from a trip through the Orient
activity in the piano business in Omaha. The with his niece, Miss Alice Hayden, covering a
wails which have been going up from all parts period of three months. His health was not as
of the country in despair over trade conditions robust as might be desired, or he would have
as a result of the prohibitive weather have been continued his trip to the Philippines. William
joined by no sympathetic chorus from the dealers Schmoller, of the Schmoller & Mueller Piano Co.,
of this city, for the business here has surpassed left last evening for New York where he em-
the record of last year during the first six barks July 4 for a three months' tour of Europe,
months of 1907. In a few cases the dealers had a trip he has had planned for years, but always
reason to feel discouraged, but never for any postponed for business reasons.
length of time, and on the whole, they are elated
The Curtice-Baum Co., owners of the piano de-
over the amount of business done. During the partment in the Bennett store, are making
present month trade was forced to an unusual preparations for extensive improvements in the
degree by two big sales in department stores, department following the fire of a month ago,
one the result of the fire in the Curtice-Baum and to this end have removed the stock of ia-
Co.'s store and the other the unloading of an struments to an outside vacant store room, where
auctioned stock purchase by Hayden Bros. Both the sale of damaged pianos is being continued.
were pushed hard with the result that every pros- Piano parlors will be built and the space consid-
pect in the city and for miles around was erably* enlarged. It will also be redecorated so
roused, making trade for every dealer in town. as to bear no resemblance to the old department
Whether this will result in a reaction later re- before the fire. A little "primping" has also
mains to be seen, but in view of the splendid been done by the Matthews Piano Co.
records made all through the spring season,
everywhere else so backward, the merchants have
no apprehensions, but look forward to a continu-
ance of good business. The rural districts are
highly prosperous, and Cvery indication is for John D. Pease and Ambassador W. E. Hall
another good year, and the effect will be imme-
Visit Pease Representatives—Mr. Hall Chats
diately felt in Omaha.
Regarding the Travelers' Association.
TRADE ACTIVITY IN OMAHA.
RETURNS FROM WESTERN TRIP.
After continuing for a time under rather
W. E. Hall, who covers vast territory for the
modest conditions as a result of the replevin pro-
ceedings brought against him by the Smith & Pease Piano Co., and John D. Pease, president
Nixon Co., whereby he was deprived of practi- of the company, returned home the latter part
cally his entire stock of pianos, organs and piano of last week from a two weeks' trip through the
players and almost thrown out of business, Empire State and the West, and they received a
Thomas Perfield has rehabilitated the Perfield most cordial reception at every point visited.
Piano Co. and is again doing business as though After attending the Chicago convention Mr.
nothing had ever intervened. He has just in- Pease and Mr. Hall went to Milwaukee, thence
stalled a shipment of Story & Clark pianos, and through Illinois and Indiana, and en route home
his store, 1611 Farnam street, again bears an stopped at Pittsburg and the larger cities in
air of business. About three weeks ago the Per- Pennsylvania. This was Mr. Pease's first trip
field stock, secured by Smith & Nixon, was or- over this territory for about six years, and he
dered sold to the highest bidder by the United met many of his customers and new agents for
States court, and the ninety-seven instruments the first time. To quote Mr. Hall they com-
were taken over by Hayden Bros. This confisca- bined business with pleasure all along the line
tion of the Perfield stock by the manufacturers and found much to interest them from both a
. was done, they said, because of the failure of manufacturers' and salesmen's point of view.
Perfield as their agent to account for all the in-
In talking over convention matters Mr. Hall
struments sold, and it is still declared they have voiced the sentiment of many that the day is
been unable to locate all of them as yet because near at hand when "commercialism" will be
of lack of proper records. United States mar- eliminated at the conventions. The dealers go
shals have been busy much of the time since the to these conclaves to discuss new lines, terms,
beginning of legal operations trying to get pos- shipments and the technical side of the business.
session of all the pianos, but have been obliged rather than to place orders or to even be but-
to go far into the country in the pursuit. Mean- tonholed by manufacturers anxious to secure new
while, Perfield also went into court and en- business. Mr. Hall, who is second vice-president
tered a claim of $3,000 against Smith & Nixon. of the National Piano Travelers' Association,
which amount he said is due him in salaries and had this to say relative to the offering of a
his share of profits still unpaid him. Before bonus or bribe to salesmen to push certain
the auction sale could go on, Smith & Nixon makes of pianos. "At the last convention we
were obliged to provide an additional bond to took up this subject and discussed it at great
cover the amount of this suit, as an attachment length, and we hope to put a stop to the ne-
was taken on some of the instruments. Tn spite farious practice at an early day. We passed a
of these disheartening events, Perfield is taking resolution calling the attention of every manu-
a new start with admirable fortitude. His facturer and salesman to the practice, and we
chances for success will probably be lessened by hope soon to secure the hearty co-operation of
the big sale, which is being widely advertised every manufacturer and salesman to stamp it
by Hayden Bros., of his stock of pianos.
out. We were informed that a certain manu-
One failure affecting a music dealer in Omaha facturer has offered cash prizes for next year to
is the record thus far this year. The O'Donahue- the salesmen making the largest number of
Redmond-Normile Co., which started a depart- sales, and we are now on a still hunt to unearth
• ment store here last fall, went into the hands the offender. If this practice is kept up it will
of a receiver last week. It gave space to the surely demoralize the trade and do the travel-
Omaha Piano Player Co., owned by Frank J. Mc- ing salesmen great injury. We have added
Ardle, and while the store is still running as nearly 50 new members to our roll the past year,
before, it will probably be closed, when Mr. Mc- and the future of our organization was never
Ardle, who carries a line of pianos, players and brighter. We hope to accomplish much good in
talking machines, will be obliged to seek other the future on many lines already mapped out.
quarters. It was only recently that he removed Our executive committee expect to meet in New
from space in the Hayden Bros, piano depart- York within the next few months and take up
ment, as he desired to give greater attention many subjects of vital importance to the gen-
to pianos and players. The department store is eral trade."
_
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.
Victor vs. Prejudice
When railroads were first
talked of farmers said the smoke
would ruin the wool crop.
Prejudice.
The first cotton gin was
wrecked through conspiracy, on
the ground that it would de-
prive people of employment.
Prejudice.
To-day wool is as fine as
ever and millions have been
given employment through the
cotton gin.
Four years ago piano dealers
were afraid qi the Victor.
Prejudice.
To-day hundreds of piano
dealers are making money by
selling the
Victor
and
Victor Records
Like every other good thing
the Victor had to prove its
merits. When the majority has
decided that the Victor is a
perfect musical instrument and
that it pays, isn't it about time
that you get in line—give up
your prejudice?
There's more money in Vic-
tors than in pianos; sales are
easy ; profits are fixed and sure.
Few expenses; no troublesome
equipments; no dull seasons in
the Victor business.
While you are making big
money out of Victors your piano
business is booming—more peo-
ple are coming to your store.
The 56,000,000 people who
read about the Victor every
month in our magazine adver-
tisements haven't your preju-
dice. They want Victors in their
homes and they are buying
them right along.
When are you going to get
your share of this business?
Victor Talking Machine
Company,
Camden, N. J.