Music Trade Review
Issue: 1917 Vol. 64 N. 14 - Page 9
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NORMAL PIANO TRADE DURING PAST MONTH IN DETROIT
Unsettled Diplomatic Conditions Have Some Influence in Slowing Up Business—Hudson Co. and
Grinnell Windows Attract Favorable Comment—Bush & Lane Co. Give Five Pianos Away
DETROIT, MICH., April 2.—The past week has plicable to all retail lines, which prevents
been one of unusual dullness in the piano busi- fraudulent, bankrupt, selling out, fire and other
ness for some reason or other, and this dullness misrepresentative sales. Fortunately the piano
even hit the talking machine business. The business, especially in Detroit, has not suffered
writer interviewed no less than a dozen piano much from such sales during the past few years,
and talking machine dealers last week, and there but it is a good plan to have a law in effect
wasn't a single one who reported a good trade which would forever wipe out such sales from
for the week. Of course, for the month of the retail business. To conduct such a sale,
March, as a whole, it was not bad—in fact, it under the Warner law, the dealer would have
was a normal month, and everybody seemed to get a license, and he would have to file a
satisfied. Being a few days before Easter Sun- statement with the clerk giving all the facts in
day, women are busy with their spring buying the case, the whys and wherefores. Any person
of clothes, housecleaning, etc., and this may ac- making a false statement in the filing of such
count somewhat for the dullness. On top of application would be subject to five years' im-
this is the possibility of war, and there isn't a prisonment.
bit of doubt that the war agitation is affecting
The Michigan Legislature adjourns April 20,
the piano business. We must all admit that and there is much work to be done meanwhile.
the first line of business to get hit when there The Detroit credit men are behind an important
is any uncertainty is that devoted to pianos, bill that would make it a misdemeanor or
players and talking machines, although the lat- felony to give a check when a person has in-
ter industry feels it less because the amounts in- sufficient funds to cover it in the bank. While
volved are so much smaller. Regardless of times the piano dealers do not have much trouble in
there is always a demand for records, and right the course of a year with bad checks, such a
now this is the department of the music busi- bill would tend to put a stop entirely to the
ness which seems to be getting the biggest play. practice of giving checks without sufficient funds
Dealers who handle talking machines realize the in the bank.
great possibilities of the record business, and
The Bush & Lane Co., 244 Woodward avenue,
are constantly in touch with their customers to ran a rather startling ad last week heading it
see that they keep a new supply on hand. "Easter Offering; Five Pianos Given Away, You
There are so many ways to create record busi- Pay the Cartage." Of course, they were used
ness, not only by newspaper advertising, and instruments, nevertheless people came for them
personal solicitation but by special windows, just the same, and the result was that five per-
telephone, approvals, etc.
sons were made happy. Manager C. W. Cross
In a certain music store last week the writer reports the sale of used pianos and players,
heard several men outside the trade discussing which he is conducting this week, is doing fairly
the splendid windows of the J. L. Hudson Co., well, everything considered. Mr. Cross finds
and Grinnell Bros. "I am glad to see Detroit it more trouble to get rid of old instruments
waking up to the possibilities of its windows," than it is to sell new ones.
said one of them. '"In Chicago Lyon & Healy
The "used" piano problem still confronts the
spend at least $50 on every window, and it pays dealer, and it is quite a source of worry to some
them, too." The importance and value of the dealers as to the best method of getting rid of
window as an asset to retail business is cer- second-hand instruments at prices that would
tainly becoming more evident every week in all not mean a loss.
lines of trade, and the Hudson and Grinnell
The J. L. Hudson Co. this week continued to
stores have improved 100 per cent, during the advertise Brambach baby grand pianos, but not
past year. They have given instructions to at the sale price of the previous week. The
their window men to go the limit in order to regular price is $495, and even at this price sev-
get attractive windows.
eral sales were reported last week.
A. E. Noble, of the Noble Piano Co., manu-
facturer as well as dealer, with three retail stores
REPORT PROSPEROUS BUSINESS
and a local factory, continues to spend his ad- St. Joseph Music Co., Cable Company Distrib-
vertising appropriation with the street car com-
utors, Meeting With Success—E. J. Burr Re-
panies. "I find it inexpensive and beneficial,"
cently Taken Into Reorganized Firm
he said recently. "The street cars have been
practically my only method of advertising for
ST. JOSEPH, MICH., April 2.—The St. Joseph
many, many months, and it is surprising the Music Co., of this city, factory distributors for
number of people who come in on the strength the Conover, Cable, Kingsbury and Wellington
of our street car cards. I find it pays."
pianos and the Carola and Euphonia Inner-Play-
We are anxious to see what the Michigan er pianos, report an excellent demand for these
Legislature will do with the Warner bill, fos- Cable Company lines. This concern was for-
tered by the retail clothiers of the State and ap- merly known as Schoeneberg & Rahn, but was
dissolved last year, at which time the present
firm was organized. In addition to F. A.
Schoeneberg and E. J. Rahn, the third member
of the firm is E. J. Burr, formerly of Indiana,
who was connected with the old organization as
a salesman. His efficient work was recognized
by his employers when the new firm was organ-
ized, and his selection as a member of the con-
cern is a tribute to his ability as a piano man.
Arfrmpn
Record Rolls
"Music as Actually Played"
HESE record rolls repre-
T
sent a true, scientific re-
production of piano playing
as performed by e m i n e n t
artists. Made with a respect to
the ideals of past and present
composers. Artempo rolls sell
on a merit basis only.
Your proof is in our sample
box at $2.00. Ask for it today.
HENRY CHRISTMAN ON TRIP
Henry Christman, of the Christman Piano
Co., left last week for a trip through Penn-
sylvania, where he will call on Christman
dealers, and where he expects to secure a vol-
ume of orders that will keep the factory busy
for some time. Charles Van Wagner, of the
Christman forces, returned last week from a
very successful trip throughout the West.
Business is booming at the Christman factory,
an extraordinary demand for Christman grands
being reported.
BENNETT & WHITE, Inc.
67-71 Gobel St., NEWARK, N. J.
The Taylor Music House of Houston, Tex.,
recently moved tcr 809 Fanning street.
CROWN
PIANOS
New Sty!*
'416"
Crown Comblnola Player
Crown Combinola
Player-Piano
Can be played easily, con-
veniently and with expres-
sion. Keeps the music roll in
perfect alignment and per-
mits of perfect phrasing.
Has flexible metal tubing
(silk covered), and flexible
striking fingers which give
a d e l i c a t e , human-finger
touch.
Exclusive
Features
In addition to all piano music,
the Crown Combinola reproduces
the tones of the harp, autoharp,
chimes, guitar, banjo—and other
instruments—by means of the
famous "Multitone Adjustment"
found only in our makes.
The Crown Combinola knows
no competition.
Send for full information and
our "Sales Plans." They will
help you build.
Manufacturers
Est. 1870
214-216 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, U. S. A.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
NORMAL PIANO TRADE DURING PAST MONTH IN DETROIT
Unsettled Diplomatic Conditions Have Some Influence in Slowing Up Business—Hudson Co. and
Grinnell Windows Attract Favorable Comment—Bush & Lane Co. Give Five Pianos Away
DETROIT, MICH., April 2.—The past week has plicable to all retail lines, which prevents
been one of unusual dullness in the piano busi- fraudulent, bankrupt, selling out, fire and other
ness for some reason or other, and this dullness misrepresentative sales. Fortunately the piano
even hit the talking machine business. The business, especially in Detroit, has not suffered
writer interviewed no less than a dozen piano much from such sales during the past few years,
and talking machine dealers last week, and there but it is a good plan to have a law in effect
wasn't a single one who reported a good trade which would forever wipe out such sales from
for the week. Of course, for the month of the retail business. To conduct such a sale,
March, as a whole, it was not bad—in fact, it under the Warner law, the dealer would have
was a normal month, and everybody seemed to get a license, and he would have to file a
satisfied. Being a few days before Easter Sun- statement with the clerk giving all the facts in
day, women are busy with their spring buying the case, the whys and wherefores. Any person
of clothes, housecleaning, etc., and this may ac- making a false statement in the filing of such
count somewhat for the dullness. On top of application would be subject to five years' im-
this is the possibility of war, and there isn't a prisonment.
bit of doubt that the war agitation is affecting
The Michigan Legislature adjourns April 20,
the piano business. We must all admit that and there is much work to be done meanwhile.
the first line of business to get hit when there The Detroit credit men are behind an important
is any uncertainty is that devoted to pianos, bill that would make it a misdemeanor or
players and talking machines, although the lat- felony to give a check when a person has in-
ter industry feels it less because the amounts in- sufficient funds to cover it in the bank. While
volved are so much smaller. Regardless of times the piano dealers do not have much trouble in
there is always a demand for records, and right the course of a year with bad checks, such a
now this is the department of the music busi- bill would tend to put a stop entirely to the
ness which seems to be getting the biggest play. practice of giving checks without sufficient funds
Dealers who handle talking machines realize the in the bank.
great possibilities of the record business, and
The Bush & Lane Co., 244 Woodward avenue,
are constantly in touch with their customers to ran a rather startling ad last week heading it
see that they keep a new supply on hand. "Easter Offering; Five Pianos Given Away, You
There are so many ways to create record busi- Pay the Cartage." Of course, they were used
ness, not only by newspaper advertising, and instruments, nevertheless people came for them
personal solicitation but by special windows, just the same, and the result was that five per-
telephone, approvals, etc.
sons were made happy. Manager C. W. Cross
In a certain music store last week the writer reports the sale of used pianos and players,
heard several men outside the trade discussing which he is conducting this week, is doing fairly
the splendid windows of the J. L. Hudson Co., well, everything considered. Mr. Cross finds
and Grinnell Bros. "I am glad to see Detroit it more trouble to get rid of old instruments
waking up to the possibilities of its windows," than it is to sell new ones.
said one of them. '"In Chicago Lyon & Healy
The "used" piano problem still confronts the
spend at least $50 on every window, and it pays dealer, and it is quite a source of worry to some
them, too." The importance and value of the dealers as to the best method of getting rid of
window as an asset to retail business is cer- second-hand instruments at prices that would
tainly becoming more evident every week in all not mean a loss.
lines of trade, and the Hudson and Grinnell
The J. L. Hudson Co. this week continued to
stores have improved 100 per cent, during the advertise Brambach baby grand pianos, but not
past year. They have given instructions to at the sale price of the previous week. The
their window men to go the limit in order to regular price is $495, and even at this price sev-
get attractive windows.
eral sales were reported last week.
A. E. Noble, of the Noble Piano Co., manu-
facturer as well as dealer, with three retail stores
REPORT PROSPEROUS BUSINESS
and a local factory, continues to spend his ad- St. Joseph Music Co., Cable Company Distrib-
vertising appropriation with the street car com-
utors, Meeting With Success—E. J. Burr Re-
panies. "I find it inexpensive and beneficial,"
cently Taken Into Reorganized Firm
he said recently. "The street cars have been
practically my only method of advertising for
ST. JOSEPH, MICH., April 2.—The St. Joseph
many, many months, and it is surprising the Music Co., of this city, factory distributors for
number of people who come in on the strength the Conover, Cable, Kingsbury and Wellington
of our street car cards. I find it pays."
pianos and the Carola and Euphonia Inner-Play-
We are anxious to see what the Michigan er pianos, report an excellent demand for these
Legislature will do with the Warner bill, fos- Cable Company lines. This concern was for-
tered by the retail clothiers of the State and ap- merly known as Schoeneberg & Rahn, but was
dissolved last year, at which time the present
firm was organized. In addition to F. A.
Schoeneberg and E. J. Rahn, the third member
of the firm is E. J. Burr, formerly of Indiana,
who was connected with the old organization as
a salesman. His efficient work was recognized
by his employers when the new firm was organ-
ized, and his selection as a member of the con-
cern is a tribute to his ability as a piano man.
Arfrmpn
Record Rolls
"Music as Actually Played"
HESE record rolls repre-
T
sent a true, scientific re-
production of piano playing
as performed by e m i n e n t
artists. Made with a respect to
the ideals of past and present
composers. Artempo rolls sell
on a merit basis only.
Your proof is in our sample
box at $2.00. Ask for it today.
HENRY CHRISTMAN ON TRIP
Henry Christman, of the Christman Piano
Co., left last week for a trip through Penn-
sylvania, where he will call on Christman
dealers, and where he expects to secure a vol-
ume of orders that will keep the factory busy
for some time. Charles Van Wagner, of the
Christman forces, returned last week from a
very successful trip throughout the West.
Business is booming at the Christman factory,
an extraordinary demand for Christman grands
being reported.
BENNETT & WHITE, Inc.
67-71 Gobel St., NEWARK, N. J.
The Taylor Music House of Houston, Tex.,
recently moved tcr 809 Fanning street.
CROWN
PIANOS
New Sty!*
'416"
Crown Comblnola Player
Crown Combinola
Player-Piano
Can be played easily, con-
veniently and with expres-
sion. Keeps the music roll in
perfect alignment and per-
mits of perfect phrasing.
Has flexible metal tubing
(silk covered), and flexible
striking fingers which give
a d e l i c a t e , human-finger
touch.
Exclusive
Features
In addition to all piano music,
the Crown Combinola reproduces
the tones of the harp, autoharp,
chimes, guitar, banjo—and other
instruments—by means of the
famous "Multitone Adjustment"
found only in our makes.
The Crown Combinola knows
no competition.
Send for full information and
our "Sales Plans." They will
help you build.
Manufacturers
Est. 1870
214-216 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago, U. S. A.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).