Music Trade Review
Issue: 1911 Vol. 53 N. 18 - Page 9
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Business for the Past Month Proves Very Satisfactory to the Piano Dealers—John Wanamaker
Celebrating Semi-Centennial of Business—Piano Houses Advertising Extensively—Some
Interesting Personal Items—Straw Vote for Mayor—Death of Oid Piano Tuner.
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 31, 1911.
The piano business in Philadelphia the past week
has been keeping up very well and the month of
October has been most satisfactory to all of the
dealers. While there have been better Octobers,
the one just past has been better than the average
and the dealers are looking with confidence to an
excellent business from now on. November prom-
ises to be the banner month of the year and every
indication points to this, and the dealers are look-
ing forward to having the best holiday trade they
have ever had.
John Wanamaker is this week celebrating the
fiftieth anniversary of his entering into the mer-
cantile business and the piano department is being
utilized largely in the celebration. Concerts are
being held daily and special inducements are being
offered, and they have been doing a very satisfac-
tory business.
It is reported once again that now that the new
Wanamaker building is completed the firm are
going to turn their attention as soon as possible
to the manufacturing end of their piano-business
and very shortly will make some extensive enlarge-
ments of their present plant at Broad and Catherine
streets.
All the piano firms of Philadelphia are advertis-
ing extensively at the present t'me. M. Stetson &
Co.. Steinway agents, are laying stress on the fact
that they have a greater variety of player-pianos
and at a greater variety of prices tluin any other
firm IT.re, from the fine Steinway Pianola down to
the Welte-Mignon players, the other players being
the Sterling and the Hlectrelle.
The Ludwig Piano Co. are featuring their npar -
ment piano, a little gem in workmanship and tone,
and as Philadelphia is rapidly taking to apartment
house living, they are doing a splendid business
with these little instruments. They are sold for
only $350 and can easily accommodate themselves
!o small rooms, and have a wonderful tone for their
size.
The Estey firm are advertising their Estey player-
piano extensively, and no. instrument of that class
is a better seller here.
Estey Hall is taken for almost every evening dur-
ing the winter and some of the finest concerts to
be heard here this season will be given in this new
hall. On Monday evening of this week—an even-
ing they have reserved for their own use—they
gave the second of their season's free recitals, in
which a varied program was played, with Elsie
West Baker, contralto, and Howard K. Berry,
tenor, as soloists.
Last week the home of Henry Miller, secretary
of the Lester Piano Co., and vice-president of F. A.
North & Co., at 1726 West Tioga street, was
robbed in the absence of Mr. Miller and his family
of articles valued at $1,000.
George Thorpe, a tuner at the house of James
Bellak's Sons, died last week. He had been with
the firm for twenty-five years. The employes sent
a handsome floral design and most of them attend-
ed the funeral. He was unable to survive an oper-
ation for appendicitis.
The Bellak firm report that business has been
very good and that the outlook is very bright.
I hey have lately sold a number of their high-
priced Solo-Apollos, and they are anxiously await
ing a new arrival of stock.
A straw vote of the employes of the various
Ikppe houses here v. as taken l:-i st week as to the
lavorite in the mayoralty con'.esl. There was a
unanimous sentiment in favor of Hlankenberg. the
vote standing 114 for that candidate against l-"> for
(ieorge H. Earle. At the Thompson street store,
ovt of 21 votes only one was given to Earle.
Les f er Bramwell has joined the Heppe selling
force, replacing F. X. Donovan, who recently re-
signed.
I lie Heppes this week sold one of their very fine
Weber grands to the Alumni Association of the
IKW High School at PhoenixvilL, who will present
it to the school.
A TWENTY=YEAR OLD STARR.
A satisfied customer
is a real profit maker
—the best salesman a
piano dealer can possibly
have
Every Packard owner is a Packard
booster. He is more than satis-
fied—for he has received more
than "full value" for his money
That's the reason Packard pianos
are easy to sell—and that's the
reason you will find profit and
pleasure in selling them. Also it's
the reason why we are finding it
easy to get the better dealers
everywhere to handle them. Write
The Packard Company, Fort
Wayne, Indiana—to-day. If we
are not already represented in
your territory, we may be glad
to make agency arrangements
with you—and it may mean for
you the one big opportunity.
Cld Instrument, in Excellent Condition, Taken
in Exchange by the Detroit Branch.
( S|> cial to The Kcvie\,. i
Detroit, Mich., Nov. 2, 1U11.
Manager Hannon, of the Detroit branch of th?
Starr Piano Co., made an unusual and gratifying
deal last Thursday. In selling a Starr he took in
trade a Starr sold twenty years ago. The gratify-
ing part 'of it was that it was in as good condition
as it was when first sold.
"The party only wanted to get a more up-to-date
case," said Manager Hannon. "It is a pretty good
compliment to the Starr to learn that, as far as the
instrument itself is concerned, it is practically as
good as a new piano, after nearly a quarter of a
century of service. Absolutely the only reason the
owner desired to trade was to get a modern case."
October was a very good month for the Starr
branch. It was the seventh month of the retail
store here and, as have all preceeding months,
showed a marked increase in business over the
previous month.
INCORPORATE IN ILLINOIS.
The Ceeile Piano Go., Chicago, 111., .have been
incorporated with capital stock of $15,000, for the
purpose of manufacturing and dealing in musical
instruments. The incorporators are: Edward
Richter. David Weiss and R. L. Otwell.
J. B. Thiery, of Milwaukee, was a New York
visitor and caller at Sohmer & Co.'s last week.
Five years ago the
advent of the Victor-
Victrola created a sen-
sation. It revolutionized
the talking
business.
machine
It stirred a
new world-wide interest
in music. It added an
unique
and profitable
branch to the musical
instrument industry.
Today the Victor-
Vic t r o la is c r e a t i n g
another sensation. The
introduction of the new
popular-priced
models
now puts a genuine
Victor -Victrola within
the reach of all.
offer
They
to every dealer
additional opportunities
for profit and prestige.
Victor Talking Machine Co.
Camden, N. j . , U. S. A.
Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal,
Canadian Distributors.
Always use Victor Records played with Victoi
Needles—there is no other way to get the un-
equaled V i c t o r tone-•-••*•-'-.--*'- -
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Business for the Past Month Proves Very Satisfactory to the Piano Dealers—John Wanamaker
Celebrating Semi-Centennial of Business—Piano Houses Advertising Extensively—Some
Interesting Personal Items—Straw Vote for Mayor—Death of Oid Piano Tuner.
(Special to The Review.)
Philadelphia, Pa., Oct. 31, 1911.
The piano business in Philadelphia the past week
has been keeping up very well and the month of
October has been most satisfactory to all of the
dealers. While there have been better Octobers,
the one just past has been better than the average
and the dealers are looking with confidence to an
excellent business from now on. November prom-
ises to be the banner month of the year and every
indication points to this, and the dealers are look-
ing forward to having the best holiday trade they
have ever had.
John Wanamaker is this week celebrating the
fiftieth anniversary of his entering into the mer-
cantile business and the piano department is being
utilized largely in the celebration. Concerts are
being held daily and special inducements are being
offered, and they have been doing a very satisfac-
tory business.
It is reported once again that now that the new
Wanamaker building is completed the firm are
going to turn their attention as soon as possible
to the manufacturing end of their piano-business
and very shortly will make some extensive enlarge-
ments of their present plant at Broad and Catherine
streets.
All the piano firms of Philadelphia are advertis-
ing extensively at the present t'me. M. Stetson &
Co.. Steinway agents, are laying stress on the fact
that they have a greater variety of player-pianos
and at a greater variety of prices tluin any other
firm IT.re, from the fine Steinway Pianola down to
the Welte-Mignon players, the other players being
the Sterling and the Hlectrelle.
The Ludwig Piano Co. are featuring their npar -
ment piano, a little gem in workmanship and tone,
and as Philadelphia is rapidly taking to apartment
house living, they are doing a splendid business
with these little instruments. They are sold for
only $350 and can easily accommodate themselves
!o small rooms, and have a wonderful tone for their
size.
The Estey firm are advertising their Estey player-
piano extensively, and no. instrument of that class
is a better seller here.
Estey Hall is taken for almost every evening dur-
ing the winter and some of the finest concerts to
be heard here this season will be given in this new
hall. On Monday evening of this week—an even-
ing they have reserved for their own use—they
gave the second of their season's free recitals, in
which a varied program was played, with Elsie
West Baker, contralto, and Howard K. Berry,
tenor, as soloists.
Last week the home of Henry Miller, secretary
of the Lester Piano Co., and vice-president of F. A.
North & Co., at 1726 West Tioga street, was
robbed in the absence of Mr. Miller and his family
of articles valued at $1,000.
George Thorpe, a tuner at the house of James
Bellak's Sons, died last week. He had been with
the firm for twenty-five years. The employes sent
a handsome floral design and most of them attend-
ed the funeral. He was unable to survive an oper-
ation for appendicitis.
The Bellak firm report that business has been
very good and that the outlook is very bright.
I hey have lately sold a number of their high-
priced Solo-Apollos, and they are anxiously await
ing a new arrival of stock.
A straw vote of the employes of the various
Ikppe houses here v. as taken l:-i st week as to the
lavorite in the mayoralty con'.esl. There was a
unanimous sentiment in favor of Hlankenberg. the
vote standing 114 for that candidate against l-"> for
(ieorge H. Earle. At the Thompson street store,
ovt of 21 votes only one was given to Earle.
Les f er Bramwell has joined the Heppe selling
force, replacing F. X. Donovan, who recently re-
signed.
I lie Heppes this week sold one of their very fine
Weber grands to the Alumni Association of the
IKW High School at PhoenixvilL, who will present
it to the school.
A TWENTY=YEAR OLD STARR.
A satisfied customer
is a real profit maker
—the best salesman a
piano dealer can possibly
have
Every Packard owner is a Packard
booster. He is more than satis-
fied—for he has received more
than "full value" for his money
That's the reason Packard pianos
are easy to sell—and that's the
reason you will find profit and
pleasure in selling them. Also it's
the reason why we are finding it
easy to get the better dealers
everywhere to handle them. Write
The Packard Company, Fort
Wayne, Indiana—to-day. If we
are not already represented in
your territory, we may be glad
to make agency arrangements
with you—and it may mean for
you the one big opportunity.
Cld Instrument, in Excellent Condition, Taken
in Exchange by the Detroit Branch.
( S|> cial to The Kcvie\,. i
Detroit, Mich., Nov. 2, 1U11.
Manager Hannon, of the Detroit branch of th?
Starr Piano Co., made an unusual and gratifying
deal last Thursday. In selling a Starr he took in
trade a Starr sold twenty years ago. The gratify-
ing part 'of it was that it was in as good condition
as it was when first sold.
"The party only wanted to get a more up-to-date
case," said Manager Hannon. "It is a pretty good
compliment to the Starr to learn that, as far as the
instrument itself is concerned, it is practically as
good as a new piano, after nearly a quarter of a
century of service. Absolutely the only reason the
owner desired to trade was to get a modern case."
October was a very good month for the Starr
branch. It was the seventh month of the retail
store here and, as have all preceeding months,
showed a marked increase in business over the
previous month.
INCORPORATE IN ILLINOIS.
The Ceeile Piano Go., Chicago, 111., .have been
incorporated with capital stock of $15,000, for the
purpose of manufacturing and dealing in musical
instruments. The incorporators are: Edward
Richter. David Weiss and R. L. Otwell.
J. B. Thiery, of Milwaukee, was a New York
visitor and caller at Sohmer & Co.'s last week.
Five years ago the
advent of the Victor-
Victrola created a sen-
sation. It revolutionized
the talking
business.
machine
It stirred a
new world-wide interest
in music. It added an
unique
and profitable
branch to the musical
instrument industry.
Today the Victor-
Vic t r o la is c r e a t i n g
another sensation. The
introduction of the new
popular-priced
models
now puts a genuine
Victor -Victrola within
the reach of all.
offer
They
to every dealer
additional opportunities
for profit and prestige.
Victor Talking Machine Co.
Camden, N. j . , U. S. A.
Berliner Gramophone Co., Montreal,
Canadian Distributors.
Always use Victor Records played with Victoi
Needles—there is no other way to get the un-
equaled V i c t o r tone-•-••*•-'-.--*'- -
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