Music Trade Review
Issue: 1916 Vol. 62 N. 4 - Page 7
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
OTTO F. MEHLIN MAKES INITIAL TRIP.
Visits Dealers in New England After Twenty
Years as Factory Manager—Other Members
of the Mehlin House to Travel at Intervals.
Otto F. Mehlin, who for twenty years has been
factory manager and general supervisor of manu-
facturing of Paul G. Mehlin & Sons, 27 Union
Square, New York, whose extensive factories are
in West New York, N. J., made his first business
trip this week, and expects to visit all Mehlin
construction which was invented by Charles Mehlin
has created widespread interest throughout the
trade. Its many unique and valuable features have
not only brought favorable comment from piano
merchants who have handled the Mehlin product
but from many others who have been impressed by
its merit. Piano merchants who will be visited by
the members of the firm will be made thoroughly
conversant with this advanced idea and its many
important features explained in detail.
DETROIT ASSOCIATION MEETS.
Harry Zickel Elected President at Recent
Meeting of the Detroit Music Trades Asso-
ciation—Plan for Semi-Monthly Luncheons.
(Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., January 17.—The annual meet-
Otto F. Mehlin.
dealers in New England, consuming a period of
ten days for the trip.
This business tour is part of a new policy which
has been recently adopted by this time-honored
house and which will bring the different members
of the firm in closer contact with the retail trade
than ever before. Last year the trip which was
made to the Pacific Coast by Charles Mehlin, on
the return from which he visited the dealers
throughout the country, was considered so success-
ful that it was decided recently that during the
coming year H. Paul Mehlin, Otto F., as well as
Charles Mehlin, will also visit the trade when it is
possible for them to get away, and in this way
meet and study the requirements of the many piano
merchants who have for years been staunch admir-
ers and exploiters of the Mehlin pianos and player-
pianos.
The new method of bridge and sounding board
ing of the Detroit Music Trades Association took
place Tuesday evening, January 11, at the Hotel
Charlevoix, with an attendance of about twenty-
five. It was a short meeting, despite its being the
first session in many monttis. The result of the
election was that Harry Zickel, of the Cable Piano
Co., was elected president; Sidney Guest, piano
and talking machine dealer at 541 Dix avenue, was
elected secretary; E. K. Andrew, of the J. L. Hud-
son Co., was elected vice-president, and Max Stras-
burg, talking machine dealer, was elected treasurer.
A number of topics were brought up for discussion,
but they were touched upon very briefly. The re-
ports of the old officers were read and approved.
The association has not been as active as it might
have been since it was reorganized last February.
Meetings have been irregular, and somehow or
other there has not been the proper organization
spirit prevailing among the members. It is hoped
that the coming twelve months will see a great im--
provement and that meetings will occur regularly
on the second Tuesday of every month during the
winter and spring months.
Someone has suggested that the association hold
luncheons several times a month and abolish the
evening meetings. It is a fact that noonday lunch-
eon clubs among different trades are becoming very
popular. Most of the piano dealers eat downtown
at noon anyway, and they could just as well get
together once or twice a month at the Board of
Commerce or one of the hotels and hold a short
business meeting after the luncheon.
ABNORMAL DEMAND FOR PIANOS.
British Workmen Investing Their Savings in
Musical Instruments of Every Description.
The London correspondent of the New York
Evening Post, commenting on conditions existing
throughout the Kingdom, reports that the demand
for pianos amounts to almost a craze. In Birming-
Tiam it is said that the second-hand pianos are
almost unobtainable, and the manufacturers are
away behind in the delivery of orders. A big busi-
ness is being done in talking machines of every
description, according to the correspondent, who
accounts for the large business being done in mu-
sical instruments on the ground that the working
people, who are beginning to reap some of the
benefits of the great profits which war orders
bring, are investing their surplus savings in things
which will make their homes more livable, and
their minds naturally turn to music and the instru-
mentalities for its making.
WANAMAKER TRADE BOARD DINES.
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
The Wanamaker Board of Trade, which has for
its object the interchange of ideas between depart-
ment heads for the betterment of the department
store business generally, and that of John Wana-
maker particularly, held its second annual dinner
at the Vanderbilt Hotel, New York, on January 15.
The officers of the board are : J. Wade McGowin,
chairman; Hiley S. Ditmars, vice-chairman; Albert
E. Hurst, secretary, and John Hawthorn, treasurer.
Among the members of the board of directors are
\ T . A. Secord, manager of the piano department,
and Louis J. Gerson, buyer for the Victrola de-
partment.
HOUCK CO. TO GIVE MUSICALES.
Local Talent Will Present Selected Programs
of Vocal and Instrumental Music in Recital
Hall of Nashville Firm Every Two Weeks.
NASHVILLE,
(Special to The Review.)
TENN., January 17.—The
O.
K.
Houck Piano Co. is arranging a series of "musical
Monday evenings" in its recital hall, adjoining the
warerooms on Church street, for the purpose of
affording an opportunity to the people of this city
to hear and become better acquainted with the
higher class of both vocal and instrumental music.
These musicales will be given under the direction
of George H. Zimmerman, who has had consider-
able experience in conducting similar affairs in
other cities. The best local talent will appear at
these recitals, the first of which will be given dur-
ing the latter part of this month, and others will
follow at least twice each month until the coming
of warm weather. No charge is made for admis-
;it n, though tickets are necessary, but the tickets
are issued free on application. The venture is at-
tracting considerable attention and is adding to the
popularity of this firm and its instruments.
HONOR ROLL STARTED BY LESTER CO.
Employes with Perfect Records Are Given Gold
Rings and Their Names Published.
(Special to The Review.)
LESTER, PA., January 17.—The Lester Piano Co.
has awarded gold signet rings to forty-three of its
employes in commemoration of their names being
placed on the roll of honor which was instituted
among the workers last year. Tardiness and ab-
sence, negligence and poor work on the part of the
employes are .kept track of by a system of demerit
marks, while meritorious work is noted by a system
of credits. At the end of the year the records of
the various employes were compiled, and all those
who averaged 100 per cent, were awarded a gold
ring and their names, with those who have attained
a percentage of 95 or more, were placed on the
honor roll, which will be posted in the plant
throughout the year. Twenty-nine employes, in
addition to those who received gold rings, aver-
aged a sufficient mark to attain the horror roll.
HOLLERBACH PIANO CO. ENLARGES.
Purchases Entire Plant of the Wegman Co.—
Will Greatly Increase Output in Near Future.
(Special to The Review.)
TOLEDO, O., January 17.—The Hollerbach Piano
Co. has purchased the entire equipment of the
Wegman Piano Co., of Auburn, N. Y., and will
move the Auburn plant to this city in the imme-
diate future. The local Hollerbach plant on South
St. Clair street has proven inadequate to handle
the increasing business of the firm, and a new
site is being looked for at the present time. The
equiment of the Wegman Co. will be com-
bined with that of the Hollerbach factory here,
and as soon as a suitable factory location is found
the Hollerbach Co. will begin a greatly increased
production of instruments.
LARGE EXPORTS FROM NEW YORK.
Exports here in the week ended January 15 ex-
ceeded those of the week before by more than
$1,000,000, it was announced at the custom house.
Last week's shipments, as officially recorded, had a
value of $58 443.008, compared with $57,371,441 in
the week ended January 8. The daily average of
exports for the six days of last week was $9,740,501.
BOARD OF CONTROL TO MEET.
The meeting of the board of control of the
National Association of Piano Merchants will be
held at the Hotel Astor, New York, on February
15 and 16.
Omer N. Kruschke's piano and music house is
now located at 2205 Shattuck avenue, Berkeley, Cal.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
OTTO F. MEHLIN MAKES INITIAL TRIP.
Visits Dealers in New England After Twenty
Years as Factory Manager—Other Members
of the Mehlin House to Travel at Intervals.
Otto F. Mehlin, who for twenty years has been
factory manager and general supervisor of manu-
facturing of Paul G. Mehlin & Sons, 27 Union
Square, New York, whose extensive factories are
in West New York, N. J., made his first business
trip this week, and expects to visit all Mehlin
construction which was invented by Charles Mehlin
has created widespread interest throughout the
trade. Its many unique and valuable features have
not only brought favorable comment from piano
merchants who have handled the Mehlin product
but from many others who have been impressed by
its merit. Piano merchants who will be visited by
the members of the firm will be made thoroughly
conversant with this advanced idea and its many
important features explained in detail.
DETROIT ASSOCIATION MEETS.
Harry Zickel Elected President at Recent
Meeting of the Detroit Music Trades Asso-
ciation—Plan for Semi-Monthly Luncheons.
(Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., January 17.—The annual meet-
Otto F. Mehlin.
dealers in New England, consuming a period of
ten days for the trip.
This business tour is part of a new policy which
has been recently adopted by this time-honored
house and which will bring the different members
of the firm in closer contact with the retail trade
than ever before. Last year the trip which was
made to the Pacific Coast by Charles Mehlin, on
the return from which he visited the dealers
throughout the country, was considered so success-
ful that it was decided recently that during the
coming year H. Paul Mehlin, Otto F., as well as
Charles Mehlin, will also visit the trade when it is
possible for them to get away, and in this way
meet and study the requirements of the many piano
merchants who have for years been staunch admir-
ers and exploiters of the Mehlin pianos and player-
pianos.
The new method of bridge and sounding board
ing of the Detroit Music Trades Association took
place Tuesday evening, January 11, at the Hotel
Charlevoix, with an attendance of about twenty-
five. It was a short meeting, despite its being the
first session in many monttis. The result of the
election was that Harry Zickel, of the Cable Piano
Co., was elected president; Sidney Guest, piano
and talking machine dealer at 541 Dix avenue, was
elected secretary; E. K. Andrew, of the J. L. Hud-
son Co., was elected vice-president, and Max Stras-
burg, talking machine dealer, was elected treasurer.
A number of topics were brought up for discussion,
but they were touched upon very briefly. The re-
ports of the old officers were read and approved.
The association has not been as active as it might
have been since it was reorganized last February.
Meetings have been irregular, and somehow or
other there has not been the proper organization
spirit prevailing among the members. It is hoped
that the coming twelve months will see a great im--
provement and that meetings will occur regularly
on the second Tuesday of every month during the
winter and spring months.
Someone has suggested that the association hold
luncheons several times a month and abolish the
evening meetings. It is a fact that noonday lunch-
eon clubs among different trades are becoming very
popular. Most of the piano dealers eat downtown
at noon anyway, and they could just as well get
together once or twice a month at the Board of
Commerce or one of the hotels and hold a short
business meeting after the luncheon.
ABNORMAL DEMAND FOR PIANOS.
British Workmen Investing Their Savings in
Musical Instruments of Every Description.
The London correspondent of the New York
Evening Post, commenting on conditions existing
throughout the Kingdom, reports that the demand
for pianos amounts to almost a craze. In Birming-
Tiam it is said that the second-hand pianos are
almost unobtainable, and the manufacturers are
away behind in the delivery of orders. A big busi-
ness is being done in talking machines of every
description, according to the correspondent, who
accounts for the large business being done in mu-
sical instruments on the ground that the working
people, who are beginning to reap some of the
benefits of the great profits which war orders
bring, are investing their surplus savings in things
which will make their homes more livable, and
their minds naturally turn to music and the instru-
mentalities for its making.
WANAMAKER TRADE BOARD DINES.
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
The Wanamaker Board of Trade, which has for
its object the interchange of ideas between depart-
ment heads for the betterment of the department
store business generally, and that of John Wana-
maker particularly, held its second annual dinner
at the Vanderbilt Hotel, New York, on January 15.
The officers of the board are : J. Wade McGowin,
chairman; Hiley S. Ditmars, vice-chairman; Albert
E. Hurst, secretary, and John Hawthorn, treasurer.
Among the members of the board of directors are
\ T . A. Secord, manager of the piano department,
and Louis J. Gerson, buyer for the Victrola de-
partment.
HOUCK CO. TO GIVE MUSICALES.
Local Talent Will Present Selected Programs
of Vocal and Instrumental Music in Recital
Hall of Nashville Firm Every Two Weeks.
NASHVILLE,
(Special to The Review.)
TENN., January 17.—The
O.
K.
Houck Piano Co. is arranging a series of "musical
Monday evenings" in its recital hall, adjoining the
warerooms on Church street, for the purpose of
affording an opportunity to the people of this city
to hear and become better acquainted with the
higher class of both vocal and instrumental music.
These musicales will be given under the direction
of George H. Zimmerman, who has had consider-
able experience in conducting similar affairs in
other cities. The best local talent will appear at
these recitals, the first of which will be given dur-
ing the latter part of this month, and others will
follow at least twice each month until the coming
of warm weather. No charge is made for admis-
;it n, though tickets are necessary, but the tickets
are issued free on application. The venture is at-
tracting considerable attention and is adding to the
popularity of this firm and its instruments.
HONOR ROLL STARTED BY LESTER CO.
Employes with Perfect Records Are Given Gold
Rings and Their Names Published.
(Special to The Review.)
LESTER, PA., January 17.—The Lester Piano Co.
has awarded gold signet rings to forty-three of its
employes in commemoration of their names being
placed on the roll of honor which was instituted
among the workers last year. Tardiness and ab-
sence, negligence and poor work on the part of the
employes are .kept track of by a system of demerit
marks, while meritorious work is noted by a system
of credits. At the end of the year the records of
the various employes were compiled, and all those
who averaged 100 per cent, were awarded a gold
ring and their names, with those who have attained
a percentage of 95 or more, were placed on the
honor roll, which will be posted in the plant
throughout the year. Twenty-nine employes, in
addition to those who received gold rings, aver-
aged a sufficient mark to attain the horror roll.
HOLLERBACH PIANO CO. ENLARGES.
Purchases Entire Plant of the Wegman Co.—
Will Greatly Increase Output in Near Future.
(Special to The Review.)
TOLEDO, O., January 17.—The Hollerbach Piano
Co. has purchased the entire equipment of the
Wegman Piano Co., of Auburn, N. Y., and will
move the Auburn plant to this city in the imme-
diate future. The local Hollerbach plant on South
St. Clair street has proven inadequate to handle
the increasing business of the firm, and a new
site is being looked for at the present time. The
equiment of the Wegman Co. will be com-
bined with that of the Hollerbach factory here,
and as soon as a suitable factory location is found
the Hollerbach Co. will begin a greatly increased
production of instruments.
LARGE EXPORTS FROM NEW YORK.
Exports here in the week ended January 15 ex-
ceeded those of the week before by more than
$1,000,000, it was announced at the custom house.
Last week's shipments, as officially recorded, had a
value of $58 443.008, compared with $57,371,441 in
the week ended January 8. The daily average of
exports for the six days of last week was $9,740,501.
BOARD OF CONTROL TO MEET.
The meeting of the board of control of the
National Association of Piano Merchants will be
held at the Hotel Astor, New York, on February
15 and 16.
Omer N. Kruschke's piano and music house is
now located at 2205 Shattuck avenue, Berkeley, Cal.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).