Music Trade Review
Issue: 1916 Vol. 63 N. 25 - Page 10
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
10
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
HOLIDAY PIANO TRADE WELL UNDER WAY IN DETROIT
Christmas Buying Now in Full Swing—Piano Dealers Are Using Extensive Advertising Space—
J. Henry Ling Issues Attractive Catalog—Grinnell to Exhibit at Industrial Show
DETROIT, MICH., December 11.—With Christ-
mas only two weeks distant, everything at this
particular time is holiday business. Dealers in
all kinds of musical instruments are making
a drive for holiday trade and have prepared for
it by the addition of their sales organizations,
circulars and advertising. Frankly, holiday trade
was nothing worth while boasting of for the first
two weeks of December, but starting Saturday,
the 9th, there was a big improvement. Wherever
The Review correspondent called on Saturday
there seemed to be a lot of people, and sales
people were on the jump signing contracts,
taking the cash, writing up the slips, etc. In
• other words, there was a great deal of activity
every place—all symbolic of the pre-holiday
season. As far as the piano business for the
holidays is concerned, pianos and players are
not looked upon as Christmas gifts except in
rare instances. Those people who do buy them
for Christmas gifts would buy any way. Maybe
they had intended to buy in October or No-
vember and realizing- Christmas comes in De-
cember, would wait until a week before that
holiday and call it a Christmas gift. If any-
thing, Christmas, as far as the piano business
is concerned, has a tendency to retard business
in November and early December and then to
boost it for the two weeks preceding Christmas.
The vast amount being spent by Detroit deal-
ers in newspaper advertising this year is the
best proof of the prosperity of the city and
the optimistic spirit of the dealers. In the
Sunday papers of the 10th inst. there was hardly
a piano dealer not represented in the advertising
columns, and this included as well those dealers
who handle other lines besides pianos and
players.
A change from warm and rainy weather to
cold weather the last few days brought about
a greater realization of the "spirit of Christmas
shopping." It only goes to prove that weather
has a lot to do with the musical instrument busi-
ness, just as it enters into other lines of retail
mercantile trade.
We acknowledge receipt of the latest catalog
issued by J. Henry Ling, dealer, at 78 Library
avenue, Detroit. It is called "Sketch Book,"
and is nothing short of being a "catalog sensa-
tion." Mr. Ling gives the public an insight into
the dealings of piano selling by many piano
houses, for which there can be great praise, and
on the other hand, much criticism by competi-
tors. In his "introduction" Mr. Ling says, for
instance, "While some of the criticisms in this
book are severe, they are not personal, but re-
late to methods. We trust they are not destruc-
tive criticisms, but constructive." Attention is
called to the fact that the Ling Piano House is
strictly a "one price" house and that it employs
no agents. Photographs are shown of Conrad
Ling, who started in the business in I860, and
his son, J. Henry Ling, who now bwns the busi-
ness. The Ling Piano House sells Weber,
Krakauer, Newby & Evans, Fischer, Milton,
Schiller and other pianos and player-pianos.
J. Henry Ling spent last Monday and Tues-
day in New York, where he personally visited u
number of factories with the purpose in view
of getting merchandise. He found the factories
busy and oversold, but nevertheless succeeded
in ^picking up a number of bargains.
J. L. Hudson Co. are making a drive for holi-
day business on the following lines in their
piano and Victrola store: Chickering, Bram-
bach baby grand, Marshall & Wendell, A. B.
Chase, Haines Bros, and Brinkerhoff pianos and
players. The Hudson Co. has set $1,250,000 as
the mark for the month of December in its en-
tire store, which includes the piano and Vic-
trola departments. Last year the mark was one
million dollars. Every sales person in the store
will receive one per cent, of the sales he or she
makes during the month of December.
Wallace Brown, 31 East Grand River, De-
troit, reports good results from his exhibit of
New Edison phonographs during the Electri-
cal Show, which ended last Saturday night.
The large installment furniture houses, such
as Weil & Co., People's Outfitting Co. and
Brushaber's, are going strong after player-piano
business.
Grinnell Bros, have already contracted for
space for the Made-in-Detroit Industrial Show,
which is scheduled for the Light Guard Armory,
December 28 to January 4. In fact, Grinnell
Bros, will take two spaces at the show for the
display of their Grinnell piano.
I. L. Grinnell, president of Grinnell Bros.,
has protested vigorously the new rigid parking
order by the police department, which does not
permit motorists to park their cars in the
downtown section. Mr. Grinnell says the order
is not only hampering retail trade, but is also
causing serious inconvenience to owners of
automobiles.
There's more money in selling a leader
that the great masses of the people
can afford to buy—
Especially when in tone, appear-
ance and durability that leader
holds its own with any piano made
—irrespective of price. The 93,-
000 families who own—
Henry Zickel, of the Cable Piano Co., reports
an excellent Christmas business on talking ma-
chines and player-pianos.
C. W. Cross reports a number of good sales
on the Cecilian player-piano for the Bush &
Lane store. He says that prospects who have
been on the verge of buying are signing up as
the holiday season advances.
President Ramsdell, of the Detroit Piano Co.,
75 Broadway, hasn't a complaint to make. He
i^ celebrating his first year on the hrst floor and
a! that location, and says if next year can show
a normal increase he will be entirely satisfied.
TRADE NEWS FROM CLEVELAND
Association to Elect Officers at Next Meeting—
Cleveland Piano Co. Seeking a New Hcme—
New Organ for Theatre—Other News
CLEVELAND, O., December 11.—Though com-
pletely immersed in the tidal wave of holiday
trade members of the Cleveland Music Trades
Association haven't all forgotten that the next
meeting of the organization brings the annual
nomination of officers, and with it the thought
of the annual banquet the second week in
February. The press of the holiday business
has, however, completely forestalled whatever
might have been contemplated in the matter of
slate-making.
Next month's list of Victor records is to
contain two compositions by A. Maresh, head
of the Maresh Piano Co., and secretary of the
Cleveland Music Trades Association.
Both
numbers are waltzes. One is titled "Life Is
But a Dream," and the other, "Moonlight."
Last month's Victor list also contained two of
Mr. Maresh's compositions: "In Dreamland"
and "The Dove Waltzes." Dan J. Nolan, head
of the May Co. piano department, reports a
good sale in Mr. Maresh's Q R S roll selec-
tion, "The Golden Star March."
O. K. Kellogg, for many years in the piano
department at McMillin's, has left the Stearn
Co. piano department, a recent addition to that
store handling Henry F. Miller pianos and
Pathephones.
The Cleveland Piano Co., 1612 Euclid avenue,
announces in an advertisement that it is con-
sidering eight locations for its new home, giv-
ing a list of the sites, and in connection with
the announcement the company is offering a
free piano for the best suggestion for a new
location.
"This is not a guessing contest,"
reads the ad.
Conrad, Baische & Kroehlc, owners of four
furniture stores here, have announced a re-
duction sale of Vita-Nola talking machines.
The Board of Education has voted $100 for
the purchase of a Victrola or Grafonola to re-
place the Victrola stolen from Mound school
last summer. Because of board rules, dealers
here will have to bid for the sale, Director of
Reference and Research C. W. Sutton says.
It has been reported that the Knickerbocker
Theatre, Euclid avenue and East Eighty-third
street, is considering the installation of an or-
gan. This is one of the highest class motion
picture theatres in Cleveland.
CAMPAIGN AMONG THE RETAILERS
The National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music to Seek Financial Support From the
Retail Trade in January Campaign
PIANOS
•are convinced that the Ludwig is the most artistic of all pianos.
There are many 25-year old Ludwigs
giving perfect satisfaction today.
Your territory may be
open on the LUDWIG
LUDWIG & CO.
Willow Ave. and 136th St.
.
New York
The National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music is at present working on plans for a two
weeks' campaign among the dealers for the
purpose of securing contributions in support of
the Bureau. It is felt that inasmuch as the work
of the Bureau in developing interest in music
will most directly affect the interest of the re-
tailer and depends upon his co-operation for
success, that the interest of the dealer is best
insured when he has some direct financial con-
nection with the Bureau. A number of dealers
have already expressed themselves as being not
only willing but anxious to aid in the Bureau's
work, especially in view of the fact that it has
the support of the National Association of
Piano Merchants.
10
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
HOLIDAY PIANO TRADE WELL UNDER WAY IN DETROIT
Christmas Buying Now in Full Swing—Piano Dealers Are Using Extensive Advertising Space—
J. Henry Ling Issues Attractive Catalog—Grinnell to Exhibit at Industrial Show
DETROIT, MICH., December 11.—With Christ-
mas only two weeks distant, everything at this
particular time is holiday business. Dealers in
all kinds of musical instruments are making
a drive for holiday trade and have prepared for
it by the addition of their sales organizations,
circulars and advertising. Frankly, holiday trade
was nothing worth while boasting of for the first
two weeks of December, but starting Saturday,
the 9th, there was a big improvement. Wherever
The Review correspondent called on Saturday
there seemed to be a lot of people, and sales
people were on the jump signing contracts,
taking the cash, writing up the slips, etc. In
• other words, there was a great deal of activity
every place—all symbolic of the pre-holiday
season. As far as the piano business for the
holidays is concerned, pianos and players are
not looked upon as Christmas gifts except in
rare instances. Those people who do buy them
for Christmas gifts would buy any way. Maybe
they had intended to buy in October or No-
vember and realizing- Christmas comes in De-
cember, would wait until a week before that
holiday and call it a Christmas gift. If any-
thing, Christmas, as far as the piano business
is concerned, has a tendency to retard business
in November and early December and then to
boost it for the two weeks preceding Christmas.
The vast amount being spent by Detroit deal-
ers in newspaper advertising this year is the
best proof of the prosperity of the city and
the optimistic spirit of the dealers. In the
Sunday papers of the 10th inst. there was hardly
a piano dealer not represented in the advertising
columns, and this included as well those dealers
who handle other lines besides pianos and
players.
A change from warm and rainy weather to
cold weather the last few days brought about
a greater realization of the "spirit of Christmas
shopping." It only goes to prove that weather
has a lot to do with the musical instrument busi-
ness, just as it enters into other lines of retail
mercantile trade.
We acknowledge receipt of the latest catalog
issued by J. Henry Ling, dealer, at 78 Library
avenue, Detroit. It is called "Sketch Book,"
and is nothing short of being a "catalog sensa-
tion." Mr. Ling gives the public an insight into
the dealings of piano selling by many piano
houses, for which there can be great praise, and
on the other hand, much criticism by competi-
tors. In his "introduction" Mr. Ling says, for
instance, "While some of the criticisms in this
book are severe, they are not personal, but re-
late to methods. We trust they are not destruc-
tive criticisms, but constructive." Attention is
called to the fact that the Ling Piano House is
strictly a "one price" house and that it employs
no agents. Photographs are shown of Conrad
Ling, who started in the business in I860, and
his son, J. Henry Ling, who now bwns the busi-
ness. The Ling Piano House sells Weber,
Krakauer, Newby & Evans, Fischer, Milton,
Schiller and other pianos and player-pianos.
J. Henry Ling spent last Monday and Tues-
day in New York, where he personally visited u
number of factories with the purpose in view
of getting merchandise. He found the factories
busy and oversold, but nevertheless succeeded
in ^picking up a number of bargains.
J. L. Hudson Co. are making a drive for holi-
day business on the following lines in their
piano and Victrola store: Chickering, Bram-
bach baby grand, Marshall & Wendell, A. B.
Chase, Haines Bros, and Brinkerhoff pianos and
players. The Hudson Co. has set $1,250,000 as
the mark for the month of December in its en-
tire store, which includes the piano and Vic-
trola departments. Last year the mark was one
million dollars. Every sales person in the store
will receive one per cent, of the sales he or she
makes during the month of December.
Wallace Brown, 31 East Grand River, De-
troit, reports good results from his exhibit of
New Edison phonographs during the Electri-
cal Show, which ended last Saturday night.
The large installment furniture houses, such
as Weil & Co., People's Outfitting Co. and
Brushaber's, are going strong after player-piano
business.
Grinnell Bros, have already contracted for
space for the Made-in-Detroit Industrial Show,
which is scheduled for the Light Guard Armory,
December 28 to January 4. In fact, Grinnell
Bros, will take two spaces at the show for the
display of their Grinnell piano.
I. L. Grinnell, president of Grinnell Bros.,
has protested vigorously the new rigid parking
order by the police department, which does not
permit motorists to park their cars in the
downtown section. Mr. Grinnell says the order
is not only hampering retail trade, but is also
causing serious inconvenience to owners of
automobiles.
There's more money in selling a leader
that the great masses of the people
can afford to buy—
Especially when in tone, appear-
ance and durability that leader
holds its own with any piano made
—irrespective of price. The 93,-
000 families who own—
Henry Zickel, of the Cable Piano Co., reports
an excellent Christmas business on talking ma-
chines and player-pianos.
C. W. Cross reports a number of good sales
on the Cecilian player-piano for the Bush &
Lane store. He says that prospects who have
been on the verge of buying are signing up as
the holiday season advances.
President Ramsdell, of the Detroit Piano Co.,
75 Broadway, hasn't a complaint to make. He
i^ celebrating his first year on the hrst floor and
a! that location, and says if next year can show
a normal increase he will be entirely satisfied.
TRADE NEWS FROM CLEVELAND
Association to Elect Officers at Next Meeting—
Cleveland Piano Co. Seeking a New Hcme—
New Organ for Theatre—Other News
CLEVELAND, O., December 11.—Though com-
pletely immersed in the tidal wave of holiday
trade members of the Cleveland Music Trades
Association haven't all forgotten that the next
meeting of the organization brings the annual
nomination of officers, and with it the thought
of the annual banquet the second week in
February. The press of the holiday business
has, however, completely forestalled whatever
might have been contemplated in the matter of
slate-making.
Next month's list of Victor records is to
contain two compositions by A. Maresh, head
of the Maresh Piano Co., and secretary of the
Cleveland Music Trades Association.
Both
numbers are waltzes. One is titled "Life Is
But a Dream," and the other, "Moonlight."
Last month's Victor list also contained two of
Mr. Maresh's compositions: "In Dreamland"
and "The Dove Waltzes." Dan J. Nolan, head
of the May Co. piano department, reports a
good sale in Mr. Maresh's Q R S roll selec-
tion, "The Golden Star March."
O. K. Kellogg, for many years in the piano
department at McMillin's, has left the Stearn
Co. piano department, a recent addition to that
store handling Henry F. Miller pianos and
Pathephones.
The Cleveland Piano Co., 1612 Euclid avenue,
announces in an advertisement that it is con-
sidering eight locations for its new home, giv-
ing a list of the sites, and in connection with
the announcement the company is offering a
free piano for the best suggestion for a new
location.
"This is not a guessing contest,"
reads the ad.
Conrad, Baische & Kroehlc, owners of four
furniture stores here, have announced a re-
duction sale of Vita-Nola talking machines.
The Board of Education has voted $100 for
the purchase of a Victrola or Grafonola to re-
place the Victrola stolen from Mound school
last summer. Because of board rules, dealers
here will have to bid for the sale, Director of
Reference and Research C. W. Sutton says.
It has been reported that the Knickerbocker
Theatre, Euclid avenue and East Eighty-third
street, is considering the installation of an or-
gan. This is one of the highest class motion
picture theatres in Cleveland.
CAMPAIGN AMONG THE RETAILERS
The National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music to Seek Financial Support From the
Retail Trade in January Campaign
PIANOS
•are convinced that the Ludwig is the most artistic of all pianos.
There are many 25-year old Ludwigs
giving perfect satisfaction today.
Your territory may be
open on the LUDWIG
LUDWIG & CO.
Willow Ave. and 136th St.
.
New York
The National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music is at present working on plans for a two
weeks' campaign among the dealers for the
purpose of securing contributions in support of
the Bureau. It is felt that inasmuch as the work
of the Bureau in developing interest in music
will most directly affect the interest of the re-
tailer and depends upon his co-operation for
success, that the interest of the dealer is best
insured when he has some direct financial con-
nection with the Bureau. A number of dealers
have already expressed themselves as being not
only willing but anxious to aid in the Bureau's
work, especially in view of the fact that it has
the support of the National Association of
Piano Merchants.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).