Music Trade Review

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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
BUCKNAM BECOMES MANAGER
CAPACITY AT AMERICAN PLANT
REORGANIZATION^ ALGER CO.
Is Now in Charge of Portland Branch of M. American Piano Co. Reports Orders for August
Steinert & Sons Co.—Has Had Wide Experi-
Were Twice as Great as During Same Month
ence in Piano Retailing—Also a Composer
Last Year—Optimistic as to Future
Complete Control of A. L. Alger Co. Now in
Hands of A. L. Alger and J. Stephans—Will
Bring Out Two New Fall Styles
PORTLAND, ME., August 28.—Arthur K. Hucknam,
for many years connected with the M. Steinert
& Sons Co., in this city, has been appointed
manager of the local store, succeeding Harry
W. Seaford, who has been transferred to the
Ifbston store. Mr. Bucknam is a native of this
city, and started his business career with the
Steinert concern, remaining with them for four
years. He then went to Boston and entered
the employ of Homeyer & Co., importers of
foreign music. After five years with that con-
cern he returned to Portland and re-entered the
employ of the Steinert concern, remaining with
them ever since. He is thoroughly experienced
in the retailing of pianos and other musical in-
struments, and is also regarded as a Victor ex-
pert. He is a fine musician and has several
musical compositions to his credit, one of which,
"In Autumn Time," has been exceedingly popu-
lar, over a half million copies having been sold.
W. B. Armstrong, vice-president of the Amer-
ican Piano Co., states that the various factories
controlled by the company are all doing capac-
ity business. An indication of the increased
activity in the piano industry is given by the
fact that the month of August this year brought
orders to the American Piano Co., which were
more than double the amount of orders received
during the same period of last year. At the
Rochester plant plans are being made to turn
out two thousand pianos per month during the
coming season. The output at the Knabe plant,
has been about two hundred pianos less than
the orders on hand for several months past.
The Chickering business has increased over
60 per cent, above last year, and is still grow-
ing. The officials of the concern predict that
this year will be one of the biggest years in
the history of the business.
The A. L. Alger Co., of 127 Christopher street,
New York City, has been completely reorgan-
ized, the entire stock of the concern now being
held by A. L. Alger and J. Stephans. Mr. Al-
ger, who founded the concern, is a thorough
piano man, having had twenty-six years of
active experience, and under his direction the
Alger Co. has thus far made excellent progress.
Mr. Stephans is also thoroughly experienced,
having been connected with several well-known
concerns, and he is especially familiar with
grand piano work. He was elected treasurer of
the company at the re-organization, and in addi-
tion will superintend the factory of the Alger
concern. Two new styles for the fall trade will
be ready for Alger dealers shortly, one of them
being an upright, and the other a player. These
two new styles will form an important addition
to the regular Alger line, and the company ex-
pects to do a very successful business during the
coming season.
HOUCK'S "OFFICIAL" ADVERTISING
RICHMOND, I ML, August 28.—Foreign shipments
by the Starr Piano Co. are on the increase in
spite of the war, according to statements is-
sued by a member of the firm recently.
Many
shipments have been made to Greece and other
countries on the Mediterranean Sea, although
the English market has been given but little
attention by the Starr export department. The
greatest number of foreign sales are now being
made in Australia, New Zealand and the sur-
rounding islands, where the trade has not been
affected by the war.
Features Steinway Price Raise and No-Com-
mission Plan—What the Company's Phrase
"Official Advertising" Really Means
MEMPHIS, TENN., August 28.—The O. K. Houck
I'iano Co., in company with Steinway represent-
atives throughout the country, is at present
advertising the fact that there will be a substan-
tial raise in Steinway prices on September 1.
The company also makes excellent advertising
copy regarding the other instruments of their
line, together with their no-commission plan.
In order to win public confidence the Houck
Piano Co. uses the words "official advertising"
on all their publicity and at the bottom of each
ad the use of the words is explained as follows:
"It is so commonly the rule among some ad-
vertisers to greatly exaggerate assertions rela-
tive to the merits, quality and prices of the
goods offered, that we do not deem it improper
to state that our advertising is 'official adver-
tising,' which means that every ad is passed
upon by one, two or more officials of our com-
pany, who in effect present the adertising mat-
ter to the public over their official signatures."
STARR EXPORT JTRADE INCREASING
FEATURING HALLET & DAVIS LINE
COMPARES PIANOS TO HUMANS
Says Close Inspection of Instruments Will
Show Great Difference in the Matter of
Temperament, Refinement and Culture
C. E. Davies, music dealer, of Dodgeville, 111.,
has been carrying on an extensive local adver-
tising campaign in the interests of his line of
pianos, which includes the Packard and the
Tonk. In his copy Mr. Davies compares pianos
to men and women. "They look very much the
same in outward appearance," he says, "yet
close inspection and acquaintance will reveal a
great difference in temperament, refinement and
culture."
E. P. Nelson, of 4401 Fifth avenue, Brooklyn,
N. Y., who has been handling the Hallet & Davis
line exclusively for the past seven years, has
ADVERTISING ABOUT ADVERTISING
just installed several of the Hallet & Davis
Virtuolo player-pianos. Two recital rooms, for Dallas, Tex., Advertising League Carrying on
Unusual Educational Campaign
the purpose of displaying the Virtuolo to best
advantage, have recently been constructed at the
The Dallas (Texas) Advertising League, of
Nelson store, and Mr. Nelson expects to do a
which
J. C. Phelps, manager of the Field-Lipp-
banner business during the coming season with
man Piano Stores in that city, is president, and
the Hallet & Davis line.
other piano men including Robert N. Watkin,
of the Will A. Watkin Co., are active
MANSFIELD CO. J)FFICES IMPROVED secretary
members, has been carrying on an unusual cam-
The Mansfield Piano Co. has enlarged its paign of advertising about advertising. The
JENKINS CO. HOLDS ANNUAL SALE
offices during the past week, a private office for league has been running some attractive copy in
KANSAS CITY, MO., August 28.—The J. W. Jen- President Alex. Lichtenstein and Vice-President
kins' Sons Music Co. has been holding its nine- Otto M. Heinzman having been provided, in ad- the local papers over its own name, urging the
teenth annual midsummer piano sale, all of the dition to extra room for the office staff. The more general reading of its advertisements, and
thirteen branches of the concern participating interiors of the offices have been painted in white as one of the ads reads: "One no longer can
therein. Ninety well-known makes are repre- throughout and present an effective appearance. be well informed without, reading advertise-
ments." The text goes on to tell just how
sented in the twelve hundred instruments that
advertisements carry the real news of the
are being offered at special prices in the differ-
J. A. PASTOR GOES TO PORTO RICO world's progress in every line of activity, and
ent branch stores. The proposed increase in re-
James A. Pastor, a member of the export de- why the truth may be expected in the adver-
tail piano prices has made this mid-summer sale
partment
of, the Aeolian Co., New York, left tising of to-day.
especially successful, as many customers are
taking advantage of the present prices, and this week for a combined business and pleasure
buying instruments in order to save paying the trip to Porto Rico. Mr. Pastor, who is a native FRENCH INCORPORATES IN ALABAMA
of that country, will probably be away until the
MONTGOMERY, ALA., August 28.—The Jesse French
increase which will shortly take place.
middle of October.
& Sons Piano Co., of Alabama, was incorpor-
GABLER FACTORY ENLARGED
The increasing business which the firm of E-
Gabler & Bro., 347 Rider avenue, Bronx, has
been doing during the past few months has
necessitated several improvements at the fac-
tory, which include the erection of a fireproof
stairway at both ends of the building, and the
re-arranging of the business office on the second
floor. The offices of President J. A. Coffin and
Manager C. W. Norcross have also been en-
larged. Another floor has been added to the
manufacturing department, giving the concern
about seven thousand or more square feet of
working space.
SCHULTZ WITHAL & C. FISCHER
Charles Schultz, recently with the Musical
Instrument Sales Co., has associated himself
with J. & C. Fischer, the prominent piano man-
ufacturers of New York. Mr. Schultz, who took
fio'ljl September 1, is one. of the most accom-
plished and popular men in the trade.
ated last week. The concern will engage in the
general business of selling musical instruments
in this State and will begin business with a
paid-in capital of $5,000. The incorporators are:
L. O. Parsons, Myron E. Millikien and Jesse
French, Jr.
S. A. REARDON JV1AKES A CHANGE
KANSAS CITY, MO., August 28.—S. A. Reardon,
DEATH OF JVM. F. WEIR
assistant manager of the music department of
Wra. F. Weir, an organist, was found dead the Jones Store Co., has resigned his position
last Saturday evening on the bench before the to represent the Packard Piano Co. in closing
organ in St. Stephen's Church, Tottenville, S. I. out its interests at Tulsa, Okla. After that it is
not known what Mr. Reardon will do.
He had gone there to repair the organ.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos