Music Trade Review
Issue: 1914 Vol. 58 N. 1 - Page 11
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
11
REVIEW
PACIFIC COAST PIANO MEN LOOK FOR QUIET SPELL.
SOLD FOUR PIANOS TO ONE MAN.
Do Not Expect Much Trade Activity Until Spring—Excellent Crop Outlook and Passage of Cur-
rency Bill Looked Upon Favorably—Big Houses Covering Wide Territory.
A. B. Chase Instruments Given as Christmas
Presents to Children—O. E. Westerfield, of
Greenfield, Ohio, Closes Big Deal.
(Special to The Review.)
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., December 27.—Christ-
mas week is normally quiet in the piano trade,
but Tuesday at least was an unusually good day
with many local stores, both number of sales
and cash receipts on the current business run-
ning far above the average. Most dealers report
the month so far a little ahead of last December,
but say the increase has not been as great as
they had hoped or expected, while collections
have been, if anything, a little slower than be-
fore. The tendency this year, however, has been
to work for a better class of business, and judg-
ing by the complaints general in all business cir-
cles the piano men are faring as well as anybody.
The prevalent opinion among San Francisco busi-
ness men is that the first three or four months
of the year will be decidedly quiet, but that a
period of renewed activity will begin about April
or May, to continue until after the Exposition.
The crop outlook was never better for this time
of the year, and since the passage of the cur-
rency bill it is expected that the larger industrial
and development interests will soon be able to
get the money needed for contemplated expansion.
Eilers Changes Interest.
The local trade is still interested in the changes
which seem to be taking place in the Eilers or-
ganization. Conflicting rumors proceed from the
frozen North, where Eilers makes his lair, and
intrepid explorers who have come from those re-
gions have thrown no light on the subject, while
the force of the local store seems to be as much
in the dark concerning recent developments as
any one else. Walter S. Gannon, who has just
returned after a fortnight's absence, neither con-
firms nor denies the report recently published
that he had at the last moment withdraw his
resignation from the Eilers house. A. H. Eilers,
manager of the southern California business, is
now at the local headquarters.
New Incorporation.
Two incorporations of some interest are an-
nounced this week: The Auto-Orchestra Co.,
capitalized at $100,000, by A. Taylor, G. C. Ring-
olsky and R. E. Clark; and the H. J. Werner Co.,
with a capital of $10,000, with the same incorpora-
tors. H. J. Werner, head of the American Photo-
Player Sales Co., and who has taken a prominent
part in the Auto-Orchestra Co.'s affairs in the pasi,
will be actively interested in the company under his
name, if not in the other, at the same time main-
taining his interest in the Photo-Player concern.
Mr. Ringolsky, named in both incorporations, is a
prominent attorney, who- has engineered a number
of important local piano deals. It is announced
that the H. J. Werner Co. will engage in the regu-
lar piano business, and the Auto-Orchestra Co. will
start an active campaign on electrics, but further
than this the plans have not been made public.
Reports Extraordinary Business.
The Wiley B. Allen Co. reports an extraordinary
business for the days immediately preceding Christ-
mas, and the sales record has been greatly increased
by the lively interest taken in the Angelus grand
player, which is completely refuting the old idea
that grand players would never be an important
factor. The stock of these instruments has been
completely cleaned out, and more are anxiously
awaited.
as his assistant. He also hopes to add another
high-class line. In the larger towns, he says, about
two-thirds of the instruments sold are players,
though the country still takes kindly to the
"straight" pianos.
Big Trade for Players.
Byron Mauzy reports a very nice player busi-
ness for the holidays. The principal feature of the
shipment is the "cottage" player, a very compact
instrument, said to be the smallest on the market.
It is expected to be even more popular among
apartment house "cliff-dwellers" than former mod-
els of the same type, as it embodies a number of
improvements in construction.
Capturing
Desirable Territory.
Apparently the piano dealers of the Pacific
Northwest have no intention of letting any desira-
ble territory go by 1 default. As per announcement
of some months ago, the Eilers Music House will
withdraw from all of the State of Washington ex-
cept the Spokane territory, which has now been
turned over to a new corporation to be known as
the Spokane Eilers Music House; but there will
be very few vacant spots left in the Washington
piano trade. Mq£ormack Bros, are already in
the field at Tacoma, lest there should be any lack
of competition after the closing of the Eilers
branch there on December 31; and now comes the
Bush & Lane Co., of Seattle, with new branches
opened in several Washington towns from which
the Eilers people are booked to withdraw. Earlier
in the month the Bush & Lane Co. opened at North
Yakima, and this week they have a store under
way at Walla Walla, with a suggestion of others
to follow. The new Walla Walla store will be
managed by R. Frank Henderson, who was for a
number of years vice-president of the Leyhe Piano
Co., operating some fifteen stores in Texas. Mr.
Henderson will be assisted by Frank G. Lewis.
Both Mr. Henderson and Mr. Lewis have removed
their families to Walla Walla, where they purpose
establishing permanent homes.
Spokane Eilers Co. Incorporates.
The Spokane Eilers Music Co., which recently
took over the eastern Washington and northern
Idaho business of the Eilers Music House, has filed
articles of incorporation at Spokane. The capital
stock of the company is placed at $200,000, and the
incorporators of record are: G. A. Heidinger, W.
A. Heidinger, W. L. McCalu, H. J. Eilers and S. J.
McCormick.
Demonstrating Krell Player.
Hugh K. Wilson, representing the Eilers Music
House, is spending the present week at the Rich-
mond, Cal., branch of the company, where he is
holding demonstrations of the Krell Auto-Player.
The Richmond store of the Eilers Music House
will soon after Christmas be moved to a better
location farther up McDonald avenue.
Small Fire in Seattle.
A small fire in the basement of the building oc-
cupied by the Rose Music Co. at 1420 Second ave-
nue, Seattle, Wash., last week did damage to the
company's stock to an amount estimated at $5,000.
NEW HAMILTON SMALL GRAND.
The Hamilton Piano Co., Chicago, 111., is now
placing on the market a new small grand, measur-
ing but five feet in length. This instrument, which
embodies the many constructional merits of the
Recent Visitors.
Hamilton line, is designed to take care of the
Kohler & Chase have recently been entertaining
rapidly increasing demand for small grands. The
Mr. \Kline, of the Blasius Co. J. H. Shale, presi- new Hamilton grand has been the subject of gen-
dent of the Foster-Armstrong Co., was also a re- eral praise.
cent visitor in the city, coming down from Port-
land.
Increases Outside Connections.
G. O. Heine reports a good year on the whole,
but admits that business this month might have
been better. He has lately greatly increased the
number of outside connections, having representa-
tives at Los Angeles,, Santa Rosa, Bakersfield
Stockton and several other points, and expects to
extend his work still further early next year, when
he expects to employ a well-known local piano man
(Special to The Review.)
GREENVILLE, O., December 29.—Omer E. West-
erfield, the active piano dealer of this city, states
that the business for the year just coming to a
close has been the best he has experienced in.
the twelve years he has been in the local field,
the holiday trade being particularly satisfying. A
particular and unusual feature of the Christmas
trade was the sale of four A. B. Chase pianos to
John Murphy, of Versailles for Christmas pres-
ents to his children. The deal amounted to over
$2,000, and the order was secured by Mr. West-
erfield in the face of strenuous competition. The
selling of four pianos at one time and to one
man is an achievement of which any dealer
should be proud.
The Waco Talking Machine Co. has opened a
new store at 618 Austin street, Waco, Tex.
Me otona
The Mellotona has
g o n e steadily ahead
during 1913 and judg-
ing from present con-
ditions the New Year
will give it a higher
s t a n d i n g t h a n ever
among the discriminat-
ing piano men.
The Mellotona is a
player which possesses
more than o r d i n a r y
merit.
Its features of excel-
lence will be plain to
those who test it, and if
you wish to start the
New Year right, you
will take a long step in
the right direction if
you have the Mellotona
displayed in your ware-
rooms.
WILL CONTINUE THE BUSINESS.
The firm of Chapin, Holbrook & Green, Peta-
luma, Cal., has been dissolved, owing to the retire-
ment of Mr. Holbrook because of ill-health, and
the piano and music stock has been bought by H.
S. Gutermute, a piano dealer with several stores.
Messrs. Chapin & Green will form a partnership
and remain in the piano business, where they have
quite a following.
THE
Established 1843
NEW YORK
THE MUSIC TRADE
11
REVIEW
PACIFIC COAST PIANO MEN LOOK FOR QUIET SPELL.
SOLD FOUR PIANOS TO ONE MAN.
Do Not Expect Much Trade Activity Until Spring—Excellent Crop Outlook and Passage of Cur-
rency Bill Looked Upon Favorably—Big Houses Covering Wide Territory.
A. B. Chase Instruments Given as Christmas
Presents to Children—O. E. Westerfield, of
Greenfield, Ohio, Closes Big Deal.
(Special to The Review.)
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., December 27.—Christ-
mas week is normally quiet in the piano trade,
but Tuesday at least was an unusually good day
with many local stores, both number of sales
and cash receipts on the current business run-
ning far above the average. Most dealers report
the month so far a little ahead of last December,
but say the increase has not been as great as
they had hoped or expected, while collections
have been, if anything, a little slower than be-
fore. The tendency this year, however, has been
to work for a better class of business, and judg-
ing by the complaints general in all business cir-
cles the piano men are faring as well as anybody.
The prevalent opinion among San Francisco busi-
ness men is that the first three or four months
of the year will be decidedly quiet, but that a
period of renewed activity will begin about April
or May, to continue until after the Exposition.
The crop outlook was never better for this time
of the year, and since the passage of the cur-
rency bill it is expected that the larger industrial
and development interests will soon be able to
get the money needed for contemplated expansion.
Eilers Changes Interest.
The local trade is still interested in the changes
which seem to be taking place in the Eilers or-
ganization. Conflicting rumors proceed from the
frozen North, where Eilers makes his lair, and
intrepid explorers who have come from those re-
gions have thrown no light on the subject, while
the force of the local store seems to be as much
in the dark concerning recent developments as
any one else. Walter S. Gannon, who has just
returned after a fortnight's absence, neither con-
firms nor denies the report recently published
that he had at the last moment withdraw his
resignation from the Eilers house. A. H. Eilers,
manager of the southern California business, is
now at the local headquarters.
New Incorporation.
Two incorporations of some interest are an-
nounced this week: The Auto-Orchestra Co.,
capitalized at $100,000, by A. Taylor, G. C. Ring-
olsky and R. E. Clark; and the H. J. Werner Co.,
with a capital of $10,000, with the same incorpora-
tors. H. J. Werner, head of the American Photo-
Player Sales Co., and who has taken a prominent
part in the Auto-Orchestra Co.'s affairs in the pasi,
will be actively interested in the company under his
name, if not in the other, at the same time main-
taining his interest in the Photo-Player concern.
Mr. Ringolsky, named in both incorporations, is a
prominent attorney, who- has engineered a number
of important local piano deals. It is announced
that the H. J. Werner Co. will engage in the regu-
lar piano business, and the Auto-Orchestra Co. will
start an active campaign on electrics, but further
than this the plans have not been made public.
Reports Extraordinary Business.
The Wiley B. Allen Co. reports an extraordinary
business for the days immediately preceding Christ-
mas, and the sales record has been greatly increased
by the lively interest taken in the Angelus grand
player, which is completely refuting the old idea
that grand players would never be an important
factor. The stock of these instruments has been
completely cleaned out, and more are anxiously
awaited.
as his assistant. He also hopes to add another
high-class line. In the larger towns, he says, about
two-thirds of the instruments sold are players,
though the country still takes kindly to the
"straight" pianos.
Big Trade for Players.
Byron Mauzy reports a very nice player busi-
ness for the holidays. The principal feature of the
shipment is the "cottage" player, a very compact
instrument, said to be the smallest on the market.
It is expected to be even more popular among
apartment house "cliff-dwellers" than former mod-
els of the same type, as it embodies a number of
improvements in construction.
Capturing
Desirable Territory.
Apparently the piano dealers of the Pacific
Northwest have no intention of letting any desira-
ble territory go by 1 default. As per announcement
of some months ago, the Eilers Music House will
withdraw from all of the State of Washington ex-
cept the Spokane territory, which has now been
turned over to a new corporation to be known as
the Spokane Eilers Music House; but there will
be very few vacant spots left in the Washington
piano trade. Mq£ormack Bros, are already in
the field at Tacoma, lest there should be any lack
of competition after the closing of the Eilers
branch there on December 31; and now comes the
Bush & Lane Co., of Seattle, with new branches
opened in several Washington towns from which
the Eilers people are booked to withdraw. Earlier
in the month the Bush & Lane Co. opened at North
Yakima, and this week they have a store under
way at Walla Walla, with a suggestion of others
to follow. The new Walla Walla store will be
managed by R. Frank Henderson, who was for a
number of years vice-president of the Leyhe Piano
Co., operating some fifteen stores in Texas. Mr.
Henderson will be assisted by Frank G. Lewis.
Both Mr. Henderson and Mr. Lewis have removed
their families to Walla Walla, where they purpose
establishing permanent homes.
Spokane Eilers Co. Incorporates.
The Spokane Eilers Music Co., which recently
took over the eastern Washington and northern
Idaho business of the Eilers Music House, has filed
articles of incorporation at Spokane. The capital
stock of the company is placed at $200,000, and the
incorporators of record are: G. A. Heidinger, W.
A. Heidinger, W. L. McCalu, H. J. Eilers and S. J.
McCormick.
Demonstrating Krell Player.
Hugh K. Wilson, representing the Eilers Music
House, is spending the present week at the Rich-
mond, Cal., branch of the company, where he is
holding demonstrations of the Krell Auto-Player.
The Richmond store of the Eilers Music House
will soon after Christmas be moved to a better
location farther up McDonald avenue.
Small Fire in Seattle.
A small fire in the basement of the building oc-
cupied by the Rose Music Co. at 1420 Second ave-
nue, Seattle, Wash., last week did damage to the
company's stock to an amount estimated at $5,000.
NEW HAMILTON SMALL GRAND.
The Hamilton Piano Co., Chicago, 111., is now
placing on the market a new small grand, measur-
ing but five feet in length. This instrument, which
embodies the many constructional merits of the
Recent Visitors.
Hamilton line, is designed to take care of the
Kohler & Chase have recently been entertaining
rapidly increasing demand for small grands. The
Mr. \Kline, of the Blasius Co. J. H. Shale, presi- new Hamilton grand has been the subject of gen-
dent of the Foster-Armstrong Co., was also a re- eral praise.
cent visitor in the city, coming down from Port-
land.
Increases Outside Connections.
G. O. Heine reports a good year on the whole,
but admits that business this month might have
been better. He has lately greatly increased the
number of outside connections, having representa-
tives at Los Angeles,, Santa Rosa, Bakersfield
Stockton and several other points, and expects to
extend his work still further early next year, when
he expects to employ a well-known local piano man
(Special to The Review.)
GREENVILLE, O., December 29.—Omer E. West-
erfield, the active piano dealer of this city, states
that the business for the year just coming to a
close has been the best he has experienced in.
the twelve years he has been in the local field,
the holiday trade being particularly satisfying. A
particular and unusual feature of the Christmas
trade was the sale of four A. B. Chase pianos to
John Murphy, of Versailles for Christmas pres-
ents to his children. The deal amounted to over
$2,000, and the order was secured by Mr. West-
erfield in the face of strenuous competition. The
selling of four pianos at one time and to one
man is an achievement of which any dealer
should be proud.
The Waco Talking Machine Co. has opened a
new store at 618 Austin street, Waco, Tex.
Me otona
The Mellotona has
g o n e steadily ahead
during 1913 and judg-
ing from present con-
ditions the New Year
will give it a higher
s t a n d i n g t h a n ever
among the discriminat-
ing piano men.
The Mellotona is a
player which possesses
more than o r d i n a r y
merit.
Its features of excel-
lence will be plain to
those who test it, and if
you wish to start the
New Year right, you
will take a long step in
the right direction if
you have the Mellotona
displayed in your ware-
rooms.
WILL CONTINUE THE BUSINESS.
The firm of Chapin, Holbrook & Green, Peta-
luma, Cal., has been dissolved, owing to the retire-
ment of Mr. Holbrook because of ill-health, and
the piano and music stock has been bought by H.
S. Gutermute, a piano dealer with several stores.
Messrs. Chapin & Green will form a partnership
and remain in the piano business, where they have
quite a following.
THE
Established 1843
NEW YORK
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).