Music Trade Review
Issue: 1915 Vol. 61 N. 6 - Page 11
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
11
FIRST HALF OF 1915 SHOWS INCREASE IN BALTIMORE.
The Review Interviews Leading Piano Houses in Baltimore and Finds That the First Six Months
ot 1915 Have Made an Excellent Showing, AH Things Considered—News of the Week.
(Special to The Review.)
BALTIMORE, MIL, August 2.—Despite the various
pessimistic reports that have come from the piano
trade at certain times during the year of the lack
of trading, many of the dealers admitted during a
survey of the trade in this city that the business in
most instances during the first six months of this
year had equaled, in practically all instances, the
business of the first half of 1914. Several of the
linns stated their business had advanced slightly
over that of 1!>14. The fact that the trading held
its own practically during the so-called war time
surprised many dealers when they made their ac-
counting, for many were of the opinion that they
had gone slightly back.
But the chief object that impressed itself on the
situation was the fact that collections had been as
good as Hie previous year, and in most instances
better than the same period of comparison. In
fact, several of the firms stated that collections
were in such shape that if the sales force had kept
pace they would now be making records.
"Our piano business for the first six months of
this year," said Robert Anscll, chief salesman for
Cohen & Hughes, Inc., "was in excess of what it
was during the same period of 1!>14. This, I think,
was due to the fact that we utilized advertising
space liberally and made a feature of low-priced
instruments. I look forward to a very good fall
trade, for I believe the time is ripe for trading.
Collections have been holding up pretty well, and
in some instances better than a year ago."
Frederick Stieff, Jr., of Charles M. Stieff; J. G.
Schncpfe, the Stieff auditor, and C. J. Gross, su-
perintendent of the Stieff factory, spent the week-
end at Atlantic City, and all enjoyed themselves.
Miss Agnes Feeley, of the office force, has gone
on her vacation of two weeks. The firm reports
that some excellent orders were received at the
factory last week.
Emmett M. Howard, manager of the Newport
News branch of the William Knabe Co., and Miss
Bernice Elizabeth Fairall, one of the members of
the Knabe office force, were married on Saturday
at the home of the bride, in Walbrook. Only the
immedia'e families were present. After the cere-
mony, which was performed by Rev. Henry
Sharpe, of Prince of Peace P. E. Church, Mr. and
Mrs. Howard went to Newport News. The an-
The Christman
Attachable Player
which can be installed in any grand or
upright piano, regardless of size or style,
without altering the case.
Write us for Further Information.
CHRISTMAN PIANO CO.
597-601 East 137th St., New York
announcement of the wedding came as a great sur-
prise to the other Knabe employes, as none of them
knew about the romance.
Despite the warm weather, William Knabe &
Co. report that last week was a fair one and some
good sales were made. Lee Anderson, the Balti-
more manager, has gone on a two weeks' vacation.
The Mann Piano Co. did not find business for
the half year equal to tlu same period last year.
Harvey H. Johnson, the firm's bookkeeper, said the
collections were about 20 per cent, better so far
this year than they were during the same period in
1!>14. Joseph M. Mann, of the firm, left Fri-
day for New York and New Haven. He will at-
tend the wedding of his sister, and also visit his
daughter and son-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph I.
Linde.
Leopold Fhrlich, the linn's head salesman, who
has been on a tour of the Tidewater Counties of
Virginia, was at headquarters for a few days, and
then returned to Virginia. He met with marked
success there, and sent in more than a half a dozen
orders for instruments.
The vacation of the various employes of the firm
is now under way. Miss Mary Scales, of the
player department, announced just before she left
on her trip to Boston by the sea that she had sold
more than 1,000 rolls for players during the past
few weeks. Johnny Franklin and Harry H. Roeh-
ner, of the sales force, have just returned from
Atlantic City. Miss Bertha Freeburger, of the
office force, will leave next week for Atlantic City.
There is quite a good bit of rivalry among the
members of the force as to who is the champion
"Ike Walton." John Manly and Carl Sauter made
an angling trip to the Gunpowder, and report the
capture of thirty-live dozen perch, while Harvey
Johnson and David Schneeberger, salesmen, report
the capture of twenty fine rock of extra large size.
C. H. Hildebrandt & Son, the Tonk representa-
tives, through Albeit Hildebrandt, stated that the
business for the first half of this year showed an
improvement over the same period of last year.
Continuing, h: said: "The first part of last year
showed a decline in business, but since the begin-
ning of this year there has been slow but steady
improvement. With the slow improvement that
continues to show itself I look for a big fall busi-
ness to get started early in October."
The Kranz-Smith Piano Co., the Chickering,
Mehlin, Bradbury and Webster representative here,
through G. Fred Kranz, stated that the business
for the six months of this year held its own over
what it was in 1014. While he said there were no
appreciable gains, the fact that it had not gone
back was considered by him a healthy sign. Col-
lections also held good with the firm. Mr. Kranz
said the business was about fair for the week. The
sheet music department has slowed down a little,
as it usually does about this season of the year.
Milton Wells, piano salesman, is on his vacation;
Miss Marion Claggett, of the sheet music depart-
ment, is spending a two weeks' rest at Cape May,
and Miss Alice Kirby, of the talking machine de-
partment, is at Atlantic City for two weeks.
Jesse Rosenstein, for the National Piano Co., re-
ports business a little better for 1915 than it was
during the first half of the year.
Jerome Benesch, in charge of the music depart-
ment for Isaac Benesch & Sons, Baltimore's largest
instalment furniture house, remarked:
"January and February of this year almost dou-
bled the same months of last year. March, April
and May dropped off, and June went 'way down.
On the whole, we did not do more than 75 per
cent, of the business in 1915 that we did in 1914."
The Rosenstein Piano Co. had a fair week's
business. Tt also reports an increase in the first
half of this year over 1914. During the week a
piano and Weaver organ were shipped to Mt. Airy,
Md., for use in a conservatory there.
The Hamman-Levin Co. reports an increase in
piano business for the first half of this year over
last year. Collections are fair and business during
the week was above the average,
Victrola XVI, $200
Mahogany or oak
Other styles $15 to $350
Victor
supremacy
is firmly established on
a basis of great things
actually accomplished.
A supremacy that is
growing greater every
day—that insures ever-
increasing prosperity to
every Victor dealer.
Victor Talking Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., U. S. A.
Iierliner Gramophone Co., Montreal,
Canadian Distributors.
Always use Victor Machines with Victor Records
and Victor Needles—the combination. There is no
other way to get the unequaled Victor tone.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
11
FIRST HALF OF 1915 SHOWS INCREASE IN BALTIMORE.
The Review Interviews Leading Piano Houses in Baltimore and Finds That the First Six Months
ot 1915 Have Made an Excellent Showing, AH Things Considered—News of the Week.
(Special to The Review.)
BALTIMORE, MIL, August 2.—Despite the various
pessimistic reports that have come from the piano
trade at certain times during the year of the lack
of trading, many of the dealers admitted during a
survey of the trade in this city that the business in
most instances during the first six months of this
year had equaled, in practically all instances, the
business of the first half of 1914. Several of the
linns stated their business had advanced slightly
over that of 1!>14. The fact that the trading held
its own practically during the so-called war time
surprised many dealers when they made their ac-
counting, for many were of the opinion that they
had gone slightly back.
But the chief object that impressed itself on the
situation was the fact that collections had been as
good as Hie previous year, and in most instances
better than the same period of comparison. In
fact, several of the firms stated that collections
were in such shape that if the sales force had kept
pace they would now be making records.
"Our piano business for the first six months of
this year," said Robert Anscll, chief salesman for
Cohen & Hughes, Inc., "was in excess of what it
was during the same period of 1!>14. This, I think,
was due to the fact that we utilized advertising
space liberally and made a feature of low-priced
instruments. I look forward to a very good fall
trade, for I believe the time is ripe for trading.
Collections have been holding up pretty well, and
in some instances better than a year ago."
Frederick Stieff, Jr., of Charles M. Stieff; J. G.
Schncpfe, the Stieff auditor, and C. J. Gross, su-
perintendent of the Stieff factory, spent the week-
end at Atlantic City, and all enjoyed themselves.
Miss Agnes Feeley, of the office force, has gone
on her vacation of two weeks. The firm reports
that some excellent orders were received at the
factory last week.
Emmett M. Howard, manager of the Newport
News branch of the William Knabe Co., and Miss
Bernice Elizabeth Fairall, one of the members of
the Knabe office force, were married on Saturday
at the home of the bride, in Walbrook. Only the
immedia'e families were present. After the cere-
mony, which was performed by Rev. Henry
Sharpe, of Prince of Peace P. E. Church, Mr. and
Mrs. Howard went to Newport News. The an-
The Christman
Attachable Player
which can be installed in any grand or
upright piano, regardless of size or style,
without altering the case.
Write us for Further Information.
CHRISTMAN PIANO CO.
597-601 East 137th St., New York
announcement of the wedding came as a great sur-
prise to the other Knabe employes, as none of them
knew about the romance.
Despite the warm weather, William Knabe &
Co. report that last week was a fair one and some
good sales were made. Lee Anderson, the Balti-
more manager, has gone on a two weeks' vacation.
The Mann Piano Co. did not find business for
the half year equal to tlu same period last year.
Harvey H. Johnson, the firm's bookkeeper, said the
collections were about 20 per cent, better so far
this year than they were during the same period in
1!>14. Joseph M. Mann, of the firm, left Fri-
day for New York and New Haven. He will at-
tend the wedding of his sister, and also visit his
daughter and son-in-law, Dr. and Mrs. Joseph I.
Linde.
Leopold Fhrlich, the linn's head salesman, who
has been on a tour of the Tidewater Counties of
Virginia, was at headquarters for a few days, and
then returned to Virginia. He met with marked
success there, and sent in more than a half a dozen
orders for instruments.
The vacation of the various employes of the firm
is now under way. Miss Mary Scales, of the
player department, announced just before she left
on her trip to Boston by the sea that she had sold
more than 1,000 rolls for players during the past
few weeks. Johnny Franklin and Harry H. Roeh-
ner, of the sales force, have just returned from
Atlantic City. Miss Bertha Freeburger, of the
office force, will leave next week for Atlantic City.
There is quite a good bit of rivalry among the
members of the force as to who is the champion
"Ike Walton." John Manly and Carl Sauter made
an angling trip to the Gunpowder, and report the
capture of thirty-live dozen perch, while Harvey
Johnson and David Schneeberger, salesmen, report
the capture of twenty fine rock of extra large size.
C. H. Hildebrandt & Son, the Tonk representa-
tives, through Albeit Hildebrandt, stated that the
business for the first half of this year showed an
improvement over the same period of last year.
Continuing, h: said: "The first part of last year
showed a decline in business, but since the begin-
ning of this year there has been slow but steady
improvement. With the slow improvement that
continues to show itself I look for a big fall busi-
ness to get started early in October."
The Kranz-Smith Piano Co., the Chickering,
Mehlin, Bradbury and Webster representative here,
through G. Fred Kranz, stated that the business
for the six months of this year held its own over
what it was in 1014. While he said there were no
appreciable gains, the fact that it had not gone
back was considered by him a healthy sign. Col-
lections also held good with the firm. Mr. Kranz
said the business was about fair for the week. The
sheet music department has slowed down a little,
as it usually does about this season of the year.
Milton Wells, piano salesman, is on his vacation;
Miss Marion Claggett, of the sheet music depart-
ment, is spending a two weeks' rest at Cape May,
and Miss Alice Kirby, of the talking machine de-
partment, is at Atlantic City for two weeks.
Jesse Rosenstein, for the National Piano Co., re-
ports business a little better for 1915 than it was
during the first half of the year.
Jerome Benesch, in charge of the music depart-
ment for Isaac Benesch & Sons, Baltimore's largest
instalment furniture house, remarked:
"January and February of this year almost dou-
bled the same months of last year. March, April
and May dropped off, and June went 'way down.
On the whole, we did not do more than 75 per
cent, of the business in 1915 that we did in 1914."
The Rosenstein Piano Co. had a fair week's
business. Tt also reports an increase in the first
half of this year over 1914. During the week a
piano and Weaver organ were shipped to Mt. Airy,
Md., for use in a conservatory there.
The Hamman-Levin Co. reports an increase in
piano business for the first half of this year over
last year. Collections are fair and business during
the week was above the average,
Victrola XVI, $200
Mahogany or oak
Other styles $15 to $350
Victor
supremacy
is firmly established on
a basis of great things
actually accomplished.
A supremacy that is
growing greater every
day—that insures ever-
increasing prosperity to
every Victor dealer.
Victor Talking Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., U. S. A.
Iierliner Gramophone Co., Montreal,
Canadian Distributors.
Always use Victor Machines with Victor Records
and Victor Needles—the combination. There is no
other way to get the unequaled Victor tone.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).