Music Trade Review
Issue: 1913 Vol. 57 N. 1 - Page 6
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THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
$30,000 FIRE IN E. E. FORBES CO.'S BUILDING, MEMPHIS, TENN.
Blaze Starts in Repair Department on Top Floor and Stock on Lower Floors Is Badly Damaged
by Fire and Water Before Flames Are Under Control.
(Special to The Review.)
MEMPHIS, TENN., June 30, 1913.—The store and
stock of the E. E. Forbes Piano Co., at 156 South
Main street, this city, was damaged to the extent
of between $30,000 and $35,000, according to the
estimate of Manager C. M. Bishop, as the result
of a fire of unknown origin last week. The esti-
mate of the loss may be in excess of the actual
figures when the stock has been overhauled and
things put back into shape as far as possible. The
damage by water was much heavier than that
caused by the fire itself, owing to the fact that a
flood of water had to be poured into the repair
shop on the top floor, where the oils and varnishes
served to feed the blaze, and where everything, in-
cluding pianos being repaired, was a total loss, the
fire having started on that floor. It was discov-
ered by R. J. Lilley, manager of the organ depart-
ment of the company.
On the second floor were stocked all the grand
pianos, some of them pf very expensive models,
but the salvage corps succeeded in covering most
of them up before the water came down from the
upper floors.
A great many of the instruments were dam-
aged, however, by water which rose on the floor
before a hole could be cut in the flooring to let it
run out.
The stock carried in the building was valued at
$75,000 and was only partially insured.
Business is being carried on in the main show-
room on the ground floor, and repairs to the up-
per part of the building will be rushed as soon as
possible.
NEW PIANO STORE IN BROOKLYN.
PIANO MANUFACTURERS FALL IN LINE
Winterroth Piano Co. Buys Property at 57
Flatbush Avenue, in Heart of Piano Dis-
trict—New Quarters Will Be Remodeled and
Opened in the Fall.
The National Piano Manufacturers' Association
of America Has Just Been Elected to Mem-
bership of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States. '
The Winterroth Piano Co. has purchased the
business building at 57 Flatbush avenue, Brook-
lyn, which will be altered to meet the require-
ments of the business and occupied as a branch
store by the company some time in the fall. The
structure, besides, having a full front on Flat-
bush avenue, runs nearly 100 feet back and
through to Rockwell place. The plans of the piano
company regarding the new building are elaborate
in character, and when carried out will afford pi-
ano warerooms decorated and arranged in a man-
ner to best display the instruments, including a
series of separate parlors for player-pianos.
The new store, in the center of the new piano
district of Brooklyn proper, marks the entrance
of the Winterroth Co. into that territory, though
the company some time ago conducted a branch
in the Brownsville district, which was later re-
moved to Bath Beach, where it is still being con-
ducted.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, June 27, 1913.— The Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association of Amer-
ica has just been elected to membership in the
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of
America. The National Association of Piano Mer-
chants of America is also a member, together with
ninety-four other commercial associations national
in scope. There are 350 commercial organizations
—local, State, or national—now federated in the.
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of
America and, therefore, in touch collectively with
national questions.
TERMINAL PLAN FOR NEWARK.
Public Service Corporation Making Arrange-
ments to Relieve Congestion of Street Car
Traffic—Will Erect Big Three Level Ter-
minal Facing Piano Row.
(Special to The Review.)
NEWARK, N. J., June 30, 1913.—The piano men
of this city are much interested in the plans just
made public by President T. N. McCarter, of the
Public Service Corporation, for the purpose of re-
lieving the present congestion of traffic at and in
the vicinity of the junction of Broad and Market
streets. The new plans call for the erection of a
large terminal office building with a three-level
station in its lower part, on a site of Park Place
already secured. Streets parallel to Broad and
Market will be widened to accommodate more
traffic and a short subway will be built under Park
Place to relieve the surface congestion at the ter-
minal. As the proposed location of the new ter-
minal is directly across the park from over a half
dozen piano stores, and its erection will serve
to increase the importance of the Broad street
shopping center and attract greater crowds, the
piano men naturally look for big piano business
when the plans are carried out.
STRONG PUBLICITY IN MEMPHIS.
People of That City Being Educated to Appre-
ciate the Value of High Grade Pianos
Through the Medium of Careful Advertising
— T h e Campaign Carried on by Witzmann's
in the Interest of the Knabe Piano.
(Special to The Review.)
MEMPHIS, TENN., July 1, 1913.—Judging from
the reports given by the leading piano houses of
this city, the retail piano business is keeping up
wonderfully well for this time of the year. Of
course there has been the expected summer re-
trenchment, but it is, indeed, gratifying to note
that business is not by any means stagnant, but
showing a summer activity that is a source of
TRAVELERS INWAR ON TIPS.
pleasure to the trade.
Also Begin Nation-wide Fight for Better Hotel
It is noticeable in reviewing the business closed
Service.
in this city during the past six months that the
(Special to The Review.)
demand for the better class of instruments is con-
COLUMBUS, O., June 27, 1913—The United Com- tinuing to advance rapidly, and at the present time
mercial Travelers of America is lining up its forces is overshadowing by far the call for the cheaper
for a fight for better hotel regulations, the elimi- grade of goods. The people of Memphis are be-
WHY BUSINESS IS LOST
nation of tips and the exemption of commercial ing educated to the true value and worth of the
In Foreign Countries Explained by Consul
travelers from jury duty. The supreme council, in really high-grade instrument, and by means of
Pike of Austria.
annual session here, has endorsed these measures, consistent and intensive newspaper publicity on
Slowness in delivery of goods onli-red by Euro- and they will be presented to the Legislatures of
the part of the high-grade and old-established
pean importers and the rule of full prepayment are nearly all the States.
houses, the piano-buying public no longer meas-
The council also approved the b"ll introduced by ures the worth of piano by the strength of flar-
doing a great deal of damage to the business in-
terests of American exporters. Consul W. J. Pike, Representative Wallin, of New York, providing ing flamboyant statements in the press, but care-
Reichenberg, Austria, took the matter up by mail for a uniform and interchangeable mileage book, fully considers the merits and constructive quali-
with a prominent importer in that city not long acceptable for passage on all railroads.
ties of the instruments offered for sale.
ago, and received a reply setting forth the reasons
Choosing at random one of the most consistent
why American business is not greater in Northern
BELIEVES IN STRONG PUBLICITY.
and prominent users of "printers' ink" during the
Bohemia. According to Mr. Pike this importer E. C. Davies Featuring the Packard, Needham, past six months has been the old-established piano
"more than three years ago established an important
house of Witzmann's at 99 North Second street.
Kohler & Campbell and Brambach Pianos In
commercial agency in Reichenberg. The organiza-
This house, which features the Knabe as its
Energetic Fashion in Dodgeville, Wis.
tion covers all of Northern Bohemia. It has 270
leader, is presenting to the Memphis public some
branch offices, all of which are engaged chiefly in
E. C. Davies, the progressive piano dealer of novel ideas in high-class newspaper publicity that
the exploitation of foreign-made merchandise.
Dodgeville, Wis., is carrying on a strong campaign is making the Knabe piano well and favorably
At the time Mr. Pike took up the matter of in- of advertising in the interests of the Packard, known by all possible prospects in Memphis and
creasing American business in that part of the Needham, Kohler & Campbell and Brambach near-by territory. Attractive and really artistic
world, the importer was getting his merchandise principally from Germany, France and England. hi? territory with that line. Mr. Davies' announce- effect and the prestige and distinctive merits
Following a notice published on the foreign trade ments are in the form of straight-from-the-shoul- of the Knabe are told in an interesting and
opportunities page of The Daily Consular and der talk? regarding what are the desirable features forceful way that cannot fail to make a pleasing
Trade Report, however, the organization has en- to be considered in selecting a piano, and dwell and lasting impression. One recent piece of copy
tered into extensive business relations with firms strongly on value. He also emphasizes the following designed in a star fashion was one of the most
in the United States. Now most of its purchases paragraph in all his advertisements: "We pay no attractive advertisements seen in local newspapers
are confined to merchandise produced in this commission to agents or grafters of any kind."
for many a day, and the returns from this adver-
country.
tising warrants the assertion that high-class pub-
SALT LAKE CITYJNCORPORATION.
licity featuring a high-class product is certain to
INCORPORATED.
The Metropolitan Music Co., Salt Lake City, produce satisfactory results.
The Artinall, Chicago, ,111., has been incorpo- Utah, has been incorporated with a capital stock
The American chorus girl, who is now invading
rated with capital stock of $2,500 for the purpose of $1,000. The officers of the company are: Da-
of dealing in pianos and other musical instruments. vid Thomas, president; Charles W. Gibbs, vice- London with great success, is nothing if not up to
The incorporators are: John D. Clancy, George president ; and M. Harris, secretary and treasurer. date.
"You are behind the times over here," said a
B. Cohen and S. R. Walter.
Louis R. Dressier, manager of the piano depart- pink and pretty American show girl. "Why, I no-
The Dugan Piano Co.. New Orleans, La., has ment of Charles H. Ditson & Co., 8 East Thirty- tice that 'Twelfth Night' is playing in one of the
made arrangements to open a new branch store in fourth street. New York City, is at present away Strand theaters, and w Macon, Ga.
on Broadway."
pn a three or four weeks' vacation.
THE
MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
$30,000 FIRE IN E. E. FORBES CO.'S BUILDING, MEMPHIS, TENN.
Blaze Starts in Repair Department on Top Floor and Stock on Lower Floors Is Badly Damaged
by Fire and Water Before Flames Are Under Control.
(Special to The Review.)
MEMPHIS, TENN., June 30, 1913.—The store and
stock of the E. E. Forbes Piano Co., at 156 South
Main street, this city, was damaged to the extent
of between $30,000 and $35,000, according to the
estimate of Manager C. M. Bishop, as the result
of a fire of unknown origin last week. The esti-
mate of the loss may be in excess of the actual
figures when the stock has been overhauled and
things put back into shape as far as possible. The
damage by water was much heavier than that
caused by the fire itself, owing to the fact that a
flood of water had to be poured into the repair
shop on the top floor, where the oils and varnishes
served to feed the blaze, and where everything, in-
cluding pianos being repaired, was a total loss, the
fire having started on that floor. It was discov-
ered by R. J. Lilley, manager of the organ depart-
ment of the company.
On the second floor were stocked all the grand
pianos, some of them pf very expensive models,
but the salvage corps succeeded in covering most
of them up before the water came down from the
upper floors.
A great many of the instruments were dam-
aged, however, by water which rose on the floor
before a hole could be cut in the flooring to let it
run out.
The stock carried in the building was valued at
$75,000 and was only partially insured.
Business is being carried on in the main show-
room on the ground floor, and repairs to the up-
per part of the building will be rushed as soon as
possible.
NEW PIANO STORE IN BROOKLYN.
PIANO MANUFACTURERS FALL IN LINE
Winterroth Piano Co. Buys Property at 57
Flatbush Avenue, in Heart of Piano Dis-
trict—New Quarters Will Be Remodeled and
Opened in the Fall.
The National Piano Manufacturers' Association
of America Has Just Been Elected to Mem-
bership of the Chamber of Commerce of the
United States. '
The Winterroth Piano Co. has purchased the
business building at 57 Flatbush avenue, Brook-
lyn, which will be altered to meet the require-
ments of the business and occupied as a branch
store by the company some time in the fall. The
structure, besides, having a full front on Flat-
bush avenue, runs nearly 100 feet back and
through to Rockwell place. The plans of the piano
company regarding the new building are elaborate
in character, and when carried out will afford pi-
ano warerooms decorated and arranged in a man-
ner to best display the instruments, including a
series of separate parlors for player-pianos.
The new store, in the center of the new piano
district of Brooklyn proper, marks the entrance
of the Winterroth Co. into that territory, though
the company some time ago conducted a branch
in the Brownsville district, which was later re-
moved to Bath Beach, where it is still being con-
ducted.
(Special to The Review.)
WASHINGTON, D. C, June 27, 1913.— The Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers' Association of Amer-
ica has just been elected to membership in the
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of
America. The National Association of Piano Mer-
chants of America is also a member, together with
ninety-four other commercial associations national
in scope. There are 350 commercial organizations
—local, State, or national—now federated in the.
Chamber of Commerce of the United States of
America and, therefore, in touch collectively with
national questions.
TERMINAL PLAN FOR NEWARK.
Public Service Corporation Making Arrange-
ments to Relieve Congestion of Street Car
Traffic—Will Erect Big Three Level Ter-
minal Facing Piano Row.
(Special to The Review.)
NEWARK, N. J., June 30, 1913.—The piano men
of this city are much interested in the plans just
made public by President T. N. McCarter, of the
Public Service Corporation, for the purpose of re-
lieving the present congestion of traffic at and in
the vicinity of the junction of Broad and Market
streets. The new plans call for the erection of a
large terminal office building with a three-level
station in its lower part, on a site of Park Place
already secured. Streets parallel to Broad and
Market will be widened to accommodate more
traffic and a short subway will be built under Park
Place to relieve the surface congestion at the ter-
minal. As the proposed location of the new ter-
minal is directly across the park from over a half
dozen piano stores, and its erection will serve
to increase the importance of the Broad street
shopping center and attract greater crowds, the
piano men naturally look for big piano business
when the plans are carried out.
STRONG PUBLICITY IN MEMPHIS.
People of That City Being Educated to Appre-
ciate the Value of High Grade Pianos
Through the Medium of Careful Advertising
— T h e Campaign Carried on by Witzmann's
in the Interest of the Knabe Piano.
(Special to The Review.)
MEMPHIS, TENN., July 1, 1913.—Judging from
the reports given by the leading piano houses of
this city, the retail piano business is keeping up
wonderfully well for this time of the year. Of
course there has been the expected summer re-
trenchment, but it is, indeed, gratifying to note
that business is not by any means stagnant, but
showing a summer activity that is a source of
TRAVELERS INWAR ON TIPS.
pleasure to the trade.
Also Begin Nation-wide Fight for Better Hotel
It is noticeable in reviewing the business closed
Service.
in this city during the past six months that the
(Special to The Review.)
demand for the better class of instruments is con-
COLUMBUS, O., June 27, 1913—The United Com- tinuing to advance rapidly, and at the present time
mercial Travelers of America is lining up its forces is overshadowing by far the call for the cheaper
for a fight for better hotel regulations, the elimi- grade of goods. The people of Memphis are be-
WHY BUSINESS IS LOST
nation of tips and the exemption of commercial ing educated to the true value and worth of the
In Foreign Countries Explained by Consul
travelers from jury duty. The supreme council, in really high-grade instrument, and by means of
Pike of Austria.
annual session here, has endorsed these measures, consistent and intensive newspaper publicity on
Slowness in delivery of goods onli-red by Euro- and they will be presented to the Legislatures of
the part of the high-grade and old-established
pean importers and the rule of full prepayment are nearly all the States.
houses, the piano-buying public no longer meas-
The council also approved the b"ll introduced by ures the worth of piano by the strength of flar-
doing a great deal of damage to the business in-
terests of American exporters. Consul W. J. Pike, Representative Wallin, of New York, providing ing flamboyant statements in the press, but care-
Reichenberg, Austria, took the matter up by mail for a uniform and interchangeable mileage book, fully considers the merits and constructive quali-
with a prominent importer in that city not long acceptable for passage on all railroads.
ties of the instruments offered for sale.
ago, and received a reply setting forth the reasons
Choosing at random one of the most consistent
why American business is not greater in Northern
BELIEVES IN STRONG PUBLICITY.
and prominent users of "printers' ink" during the
Bohemia. According to Mr. Pike this importer E. C. Davies Featuring the Packard, Needham, past six months has been the old-established piano
"more than three years ago established an important
house of Witzmann's at 99 North Second street.
Kohler & Campbell and Brambach Pianos In
commercial agency in Reichenberg. The organiza-
This house, which features the Knabe as its
Energetic Fashion in Dodgeville, Wis.
tion covers all of Northern Bohemia. It has 270
leader, is presenting to the Memphis public some
branch offices, all of which are engaged chiefly in
E. C. Davies, the progressive piano dealer of novel ideas in high-class newspaper publicity that
the exploitation of foreign-made merchandise.
Dodgeville, Wis., is carrying on a strong campaign is making the Knabe piano well and favorably
At the time Mr. Pike took up the matter of in- of advertising in the interests of the Packard, known by all possible prospects in Memphis and
creasing American business in that part of the Needham, Kohler & Campbell and Brambach near-by territory. Attractive and really artistic
world, the importer was getting his merchandise principally from Germany, France and England. hi? territory with that line. Mr. Davies' announce- effect and the prestige and distinctive merits
Following a notice published on the foreign trade ments are in the form of straight-from-the-shoul- of the Knabe are told in an interesting and
opportunities page of The Daily Consular and der talk? regarding what are the desirable features forceful way that cannot fail to make a pleasing
Trade Report, however, the organization has en- to be considered in selecting a piano, and dwell and lasting impression. One recent piece of copy
tered into extensive business relations with firms strongly on value. He also emphasizes the following designed in a star fashion was one of the most
in the United States. Now most of its purchases paragraph in all his advertisements: "We pay no attractive advertisements seen in local newspapers
are confined to merchandise produced in this commission to agents or grafters of any kind."
for many a day, and the returns from this adver-
country.
tising warrants the assertion that high-class pub-
SALT LAKE CITYJNCORPORATION.
licity featuring a high-class product is certain to
INCORPORATED.
The Metropolitan Music Co., Salt Lake City, produce satisfactory results.
The Artinall, Chicago, ,111., has been incorpo- Utah, has been incorporated with a capital stock
The American chorus girl, who is now invading
rated with capital stock of $2,500 for the purpose of $1,000. The officers of the company are: Da-
of dealing in pianos and other musical instruments. vid Thomas, president; Charles W. Gibbs, vice- London with great success, is nothing if not up to
The incorporators are: John D. Clancy, George president ; and M. Harris, secretary and treasurer. date.
"You are behind the times over here," said a
B. Cohen and S. R. Walter.
Louis R. Dressier, manager of the piano depart- pink and pretty American show girl. "Why, I no-
The Dugan Piano Co.. New Orleans, La., has ment of Charles H. Ditson & Co., 8 East Thirty- tice that 'Twelfth Night' is playing in one of the
made arrangements to open a new branch store in fourth street. New York City, is at present away Strand theaters, and w Macon, Ga.
on Broadway."
pn a three or four weeks' vacation.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).