Music Trade Review
Issue: 1915 Vol. 60 N. 18 - Page 9
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
9
FRANK J. BAYLEY WANTS REAL MONEY FOR HIS LEASE.
Detroit Piano Man Not Worried by Lease of His Store Property for New Enterprise—Grinnell
Bros. Window Display to Stimulate Summer Talker Trade—General Business Very Fair.
(Special to "i ]•><: R e v i e w . )
DETROIT, MICH., April 24.—Announcement was
made this week to the effect that John H. Kunsky,
who operates a chain of moving picture and vaude-
ville theaters in Detroit, had taken a long lease on
the entire property located at the corner of Broad-
way and Witherell street, which included the store
occupied by Frank J. Bayley, dealer in pianos,
players and Edison talking machines and records,
and would erect thereon the largest motion picture
theater in the city. Mr. Kunsky plans to start
building operations during the summer. Mr. Bay-
ley says his lease runs for two years yet and that
he will not vacate unless someone—he doesn't care
who—comes across with $5,000. "I don't believe
this amount is a hold-up price," said Mr. Bayley.
"My location is getting better every day, and
within the next two years, on account of the ac-
tivity around Grand Circus Park, my location
would improve 100 per cent. Surely Mr. Kunsky
or the property owners cannot expect that I am go-
ing to move out just because someone wants it for
a theater to make money. I figure out that it is
worth $5,000 to me to be away from here for two
years, because I could not secure another store in
as good a location and at so low a rental. I have
just spent a lot of money remodeling the store, re-
decorating it throughout, putting in new booths for
the talking machine department, and if I moved
now I would be losing all that. I am perfectly
willing to stay here for two years more in accord-
ance with my lease, although I will move before
that if I am paid what my losses would be. I
have no other location as yet, and I might find it
pretty hard to secure one that would be suitable
for my ibusiness."
One of the front windows on the ground floor
of the Grinnell Bros.' store in Detroit has been
very prettily decorated to resemble a summer
scene along the water. It shows a girl sitting in a
real canoe getting ready to play a small phono-
graph. There is probably no other city in the
country where canoeing is so popular as in De-
troit. This is due to the beautiful Detroit River, on
which Detroit is located, and Belle Isle Park,
known the world over as the "Venice of Amer-
ica," directly opposite Detroit and connected with
the city by a bridge. Ferryboats also run there.
This park is enlivened with artificial canals, and
on nice days they are filled with canoes, most of
which are owned by the people who paddle them.
The city also operates a iboathouse and rents out
canoes by the hour. The people who own their
canoes try their best to make them look as attrac-
tive as possible, and there are dozens and dozens
who have small phonographs in their canoes, which
ply up and down the canals playing the latest rec-
ords. The small talking machine just about fits in
at the bottom of the canoe. The warm weather
of the past week has already stimulated canoeing
and there have been people in the Grinnell stor^
every day inquiring about small phonographs. This
is what brought about the early window display
above referred to. It is needless to say that the
window has attracted a great deal of attention.
music department, said to the writer: "We are
sending in orders right along for Chickering
grands, as we are finding a good demand for them
as well as our line of players and pianos. Business
slowed up early in the week, but became very ac-
tive again on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For
our new store the Angelus and Apollo stock will
be shipped about May 1, while the Chickering
stock will be shipped the last week in April. All
of our records for the talking machine department
are in the store already.'' Mr. Andrew does not
expect the new store to be ready much before the
latter part of May. In fact, he says only a miracle
will get the new store ready by May 15.
The new piano factory which A. E. Noble will
erect in the rear of his new salesrooms at 971
Woodward avenue, Detroit, will be two stories
high and will cost $20,000.
P. A. Starck, of the P. A. Starck Piano Co., of
Chicago, was a visitor in Detroit during the past
week. He came to get a glimpse of his new store at
274 Woodward avenue, which has already been
opened even though it is not yet completed. The
manager is Fred Stinson, who has been associated
with Mr. Starck for the past seven years as manager
of the branch stores. The Detroit store consists
of a first floor and basement, and the annual rental
is said to be around $3,000. While pianos and play-
ers will be handled for the present, it is Mr. Stin-
son's plan to later on add a line of talking machines.
NOT WORRIED OVERCANADIAN TRADE
A. P. Willis, the Prominent Canadian Piano
Man, Declares That Slump Following Early
Days of War Is Forerunner of Better Times
—Deplores Unwholesome Methods in Trade.
(Special to The Review.)
MONTREAL, QUE., April 26.—A. P. Willis, head
of Willis & Co., Ltd., Montreal, and C. D. Patter-
son, director of the same firm, recently spent some
time in Toronto. This was the occasion of their
annual visit to the supply firms, and they conferred
with a number of Ontario agents of Willis & Co.,
who met him in that city. They also visited St.
Catherines. Mr. Willis is very optimistic from a
trade standpoint, and is in no way worried over
the slump being experienced in Canada, which he
accepts quite philosophically and as a sort of ad-
vance guard for better times.
"There is no denying that trade with us in Mont-
real has been slow," said Mr. Willis, "though in
our own firm we have made no reductions in salary
nor dismissals. For example," said he, "we employ
nine stenographers under normal conditions, and
not one of these has been let go. We have en-
deavored to keep the factory going to the full,
although accumulating a great deal of stock, as
wholesale trade has been quiet." Speaking of
conditions in piano retailing, Mr. Willis commented
on the difficulty of bringing piano men together for
their own individual welfare and keeping them to-
gether. The retailers' association, which had ibeen
so active in Montreal, was unfortunately allowed
to die a natural death, and he hoped that the or-
Oscar Webber, vice-president of the J. L. Hud- ganization of Toronto dealers would have a longer
son Co., Detroit, has announced his engagement career. He deplored the unwholesome methods
to a prominent local belle, the wedding to take and ethics of piano retailing that would exist in
spite of all that was argued for cleaner and better
place within the next few months.
F. P. Andrew, manager of the J. L. Hudson practices. Asked regarding the effect of the war
tax on the piano business, Mr. Willis stated that it
would be serious. In connection with this firm's
importation of Knabe lines, the additional 7 Ms per
cent, made a serious increase in the cost, most of
which his own firm would have to bear, owing to
the difficulty of securing an adequate increase in
mean good sales and good profits.
prices. The increased cost of materials for piano
For Sheet Music, Player-piano
Rolls and Phonograph Records.
manufacturing, as a result of the duty, he consid-
Afford perfect protection and
ered, was not offset by the protection to the fin-
instant accessibility. Made in a
variety of styles and beautiful fin-
ished article.
TINDALE
Music Cabinets
ishes.
Write to-day for Illustrated
Catalog and Trade Prices
Tindale Cabinet Company
"I really am
unable
to decide
today."
This is the constant exasper-
ating excuse, and more fre-
quently the absolute reason for
piano customers leaving a store
without making a purchase.
Where the prospective pur-
chasers are making comparison
among a number of different in-
struments, it is often hard for
them to decide upon the ONE
that will prove best for a life-
time's use.
At such a time, what a power-
ful help is given to the salesman
who is able to say:
"Madam; this piano is made by
the Makers of the famous HARD-
MAN—the official piano of the Met-
ropolitan Opera House in New York
—the instrument used by all the
greatest artists, in their own apart-
ments, during the opera season.
You cannot make any mistake
when you buy a piano that has been
selected by such unquestioned ex-
perts, and made by manufacturers
of such renowned artistic standards.''
The famous Hardman Line in-
cludes:
The HARDMAN Piano
The Autotond—the per-
fect Player-Piano
The Harrington Piano
The Hensel Piano
The Playotone
Write for full information, or
call at our warerooms in New
York City, or Chicago.
HARDMAN, PECK & CO.
Founded 1842
Hardman House
433 Fifth Avenue, New York
Chicago Office and Wareroom,
where a complete stock of the
output can be seen:
Republic Building
Style E.
Henry Rankans has purchased a store build-
ing at Coopersville, Mich., and will occupy it as
a piano store.
Corner of Adams and State Sts.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
9
FRANK J. BAYLEY WANTS REAL MONEY FOR HIS LEASE.
Detroit Piano Man Not Worried by Lease of His Store Property for New Enterprise—Grinnell
Bros. Window Display to Stimulate Summer Talker Trade—General Business Very Fair.
(Special to "i ]•><: R e v i e w . )
DETROIT, MICH., April 24.—Announcement was
made this week to the effect that John H. Kunsky,
who operates a chain of moving picture and vaude-
ville theaters in Detroit, had taken a long lease on
the entire property located at the corner of Broad-
way and Witherell street, which included the store
occupied by Frank J. Bayley, dealer in pianos,
players and Edison talking machines and records,
and would erect thereon the largest motion picture
theater in the city. Mr. Kunsky plans to start
building operations during the summer. Mr. Bay-
ley says his lease runs for two years yet and that
he will not vacate unless someone—he doesn't care
who—comes across with $5,000. "I don't believe
this amount is a hold-up price," said Mr. Bayley.
"My location is getting better every day, and
within the next two years, on account of the ac-
tivity around Grand Circus Park, my location
would improve 100 per cent. Surely Mr. Kunsky
or the property owners cannot expect that I am go-
ing to move out just because someone wants it for
a theater to make money. I figure out that it is
worth $5,000 to me to be away from here for two
years, because I could not secure another store in
as good a location and at so low a rental. I have
just spent a lot of money remodeling the store, re-
decorating it throughout, putting in new booths for
the talking machine department, and if I moved
now I would be losing all that. I am perfectly
willing to stay here for two years more in accord-
ance with my lease, although I will move before
that if I am paid what my losses would be. I
have no other location as yet, and I might find it
pretty hard to secure one that would be suitable
for my ibusiness."
One of the front windows on the ground floor
of the Grinnell Bros.' store in Detroit has been
very prettily decorated to resemble a summer
scene along the water. It shows a girl sitting in a
real canoe getting ready to play a small phono-
graph. There is probably no other city in the
country where canoeing is so popular as in De-
troit. This is due to the beautiful Detroit River, on
which Detroit is located, and Belle Isle Park,
known the world over as the "Venice of Amer-
ica," directly opposite Detroit and connected with
the city by a bridge. Ferryboats also run there.
This park is enlivened with artificial canals, and
on nice days they are filled with canoes, most of
which are owned by the people who paddle them.
The city also operates a iboathouse and rents out
canoes by the hour. The people who own their
canoes try their best to make them look as attrac-
tive as possible, and there are dozens and dozens
who have small phonographs in their canoes, which
ply up and down the canals playing the latest rec-
ords. The small talking machine just about fits in
at the bottom of the canoe. The warm weather
of the past week has already stimulated canoeing
and there have been people in the Grinnell stor^
every day inquiring about small phonographs. This
is what brought about the early window display
above referred to. It is needless to say that the
window has attracted a great deal of attention.
music department, said to the writer: "We are
sending in orders right along for Chickering
grands, as we are finding a good demand for them
as well as our line of players and pianos. Business
slowed up early in the week, but became very ac-
tive again on Thursday, Friday and Saturday. For
our new store the Angelus and Apollo stock will
be shipped about May 1, while the Chickering
stock will be shipped the last week in April. All
of our records for the talking machine department
are in the store already.'' Mr. Andrew does not
expect the new store to be ready much before the
latter part of May. In fact, he says only a miracle
will get the new store ready by May 15.
The new piano factory which A. E. Noble will
erect in the rear of his new salesrooms at 971
Woodward avenue, Detroit, will be two stories
high and will cost $20,000.
P. A. Starck, of the P. A. Starck Piano Co., of
Chicago, was a visitor in Detroit during the past
week. He came to get a glimpse of his new store at
274 Woodward avenue, which has already been
opened even though it is not yet completed. The
manager is Fred Stinson, who has been associated
with Mr. Starck for the past seven years as manager
of the branch stores. The Detroit store consists
of a first floor and basement, and the annual rental
is said to be around $3,000. While pianos and play-
ers will be handled for the present, it is Mr. Stin-
son's plan to later on add a line of talking machines.
NOT WORRIED OVERCANADIAN TRADE
A. P. Willis, the Prominent Canadian Piano
Man, Declares That Slump Following Early
Days of War Is Forerunner of Better Times
—Deplores Unwholesome Methods in Trade.
(Special to The Review.)
MONTREAL, QUE., April 26.—A. P. Willis, head
of Willis & Co., Ltd., Montreal, and C. D. Patter-
son, director of the same firm, recently spent some
time in Toronto. This was the occasion of their
annual visit to the supply firms, and they conferred
with a number of Ontario agents of Willis & Co.,
who met him in that city. They also visited St.
Catherines. Mr. Willis is very optimistic from a
trade standpoint, and is in no way worried over
the slump being experienced in Canada, which he
accepts quite philosophically and as a sort of ad-
vance guard for better times.
"There is no denying that trade with us in Mont-
real has been slow," said Mr. Willis, "though in
our own firm we have made no reductions in salary
nor dismissals. For example," said he, "we employ
nine stenographers under normal conditions, and
not one of these has been let go. We have en-
deavored to keep the factory going to the full,
although accumulating a great deal of stock, as
wholesale trade has been quiet." Speaking of
conditions in piano retailing, Mr. Willis commented
on the difficulty of bringing piano men together for
their own individual welfare and keeping them to-
gether. The retailers' association, which had ibeen
so active in Montreal, was unfortunately allowed
to die a natural death, and he hoped that the or-
Oscar Webber, vice-president of the J. L. Hud- ganization of Toronto dealers would have a longer
son Co., Detroit, has announced his engagement career. He deplored the unwholesome methods
to a prominent local belle, the wedding to take and ethics of piano retailing that would exist in
spite of all that was argued for cleaner and better
place within the next few months.
F. P. Andrew, manager of the J. L. Hudson practices. Asked regarding the effect of the war
tax on the piano business, Mr. Willis stated that it
would be serious. In connection with this firm's
importation of Knabe lines, the additional 7 Ms per
cent, made a serious increase in the cost, most of
which his own firm would have to bear, owing to
the difficulty of securing an adequate increase in
mean good sales and good profits.
prices. The increased cost of materials for piano
For Sheet Music, Player-piano
Rolls and Phonograph Records.
manufacturing, as a result of the duty, he consid-
Afford perfect protection and
ered, was not offset by the protection to the fin-
instant accessibility. Made in a
variety of styles and beautiful fin-
ished article.
TINDALE
Music Cabinets
ishes.
Write to-day for Illustrated
Catalog and Trade Prices
Tindale Cabinet Company
"I really am
unable
to decide
today."
This is the constant exasper-
ating excuse, and more fre-
quently the absolute reason for
piano customers leaving a store
without making a purchase.
Where the prospective pur-
chasers are making comparison
among a number of different in-
struments, it is often hard for
them to decide upon the ONE
that will prove best for a life-
time's use.
At such a time, what a power-
ful help is given to the salesman
who is able to say:
"Madam; this piano is made by
the Makers of the famous HARD-
MAN—the official piano of the Met-
ropolitan Opera House in New York
—the instrument used by all the
greatest artists, in their own apart-
ments, during the opera season.
You cannot make any mistake
when you buy a piano that has been
selected by such unquestioned ex-
perts, and made by manufacturers
of such renowned artistic standards.''
The famous Hardman Line in-
cludes:
The HARDMAN Piano
The Autotond—the per-
fect Player-Piano
The Harrington Piano
The Hensel Piano
The Playotone
Write for full information, or
call at our warerooms in New
York City, or Chicago.
HARDMAN, PECK & CO.
Founded 1842
Hardman House
433 Fifth Avenue, New York
Chicago Office and Wareroom,
where a complete stock of the
output can be seen:
Republic Building
Style E.
Henry Rankans has purchased a store build-
ing at Coopersville, Mich., and will occupy it as
a piano store.
Corner of Adams and State Sts.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).