Music Trade Review
Issue: 1917 Vol. 64 N. 3 - Page 15
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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The letter is made up from parts of two let-
ters which appeared in a recent issue of the
Standard Player Monthly. I especially call at-
tention to the effective manner of putting the
point about allowing pianos to stay out of tune
for indefinitely long periods of time. The letter
is clever and well thought out, and I present it
gladly herewith:
"I heard a man say the other day that his
piano was one of the finest made, and that
while he had owned it for six years, he had had
it tuned but once.
"If that man had told you that he had very
fine front windows in his house and had had
them washed but once in six years, you would
have had the same feelings that I did when he
spoke of his piano.
"A great many people have the erroneous idea
that if a piano isn't played upon it does not
get out of tune. Others think that it does a
piano no harm to get out of tune.
"As a matter of fact, the finest piano in the
world will not produce good music if it is not
in tune, and it_ is not in tune unless it is tuned
at least twice a year.
"Furthermore, it works a positive injury to
the piano to permit it to go much over a year
without tuning. Many fine pianos are ruined
because of neglect of this kind. A piano out
of tune is worthless as a musical instrument and
is nothing more than a useless piece of furni-
ture.
"For a very small sum you can arrange with
me to keep your piano in perfect condition at
all times. It will then be a source of pride
and pleasure to you and your friends. My
work is guaranteed to be of the most expert
character."
15
ill Ike new Aacricaru
Player Action, you do no}
merely pump—you j^lay.ih
treadles are a<; ^en^itive y
feet as the keys are to your
hand? "
American. Player Action do. —
^#k A
NeW l\otk City
DETROIT PIANO DEALERS PLANNING FOR BUSY YEAR
Continued Prosperity Expected During 1917—Grinnell and Hudson Announce Price Increases—
Hudson Salesmen Receive Bonus—Preparing for Association Election—Other News
DETROIT, MICH., January 15.—January is a month
Trades Association, says a meeting will be held
when piano dealers give all their time to auditing of the Executive Committee during the current
their books, figuring their sales and net profits week to get up a slate for the annual election,
for the previous year; incidentally, making plans which takes place either in January or February.
for the current year. In Detroit, as we have said When asked why meetings had not been held
many times before, dealers had a very satisfac- since last May, President Zickel said: "We have
tory business in the year just past, and judging all been busy and really nothing has come up
from the way January is coming along, every- that required our meeting. Things in the piano
thing points to another prosperous year in 1917. game never were running as smooth as now."
Detroit is certain to keep up, its record of pros-
Speaking for the Cable Piano Co. in Michi-
perity according to figures given out by the gan, Mr. Zickel said it was the best year the
Board of Commerce showing the number of firm ever had. Also that January was starting in
building additions, factory extensions, etc., al- fine.
ready planned. Detroit is gaining in importance
The annual convention of the branch mana-
daily from a commercial standpoint; its popula- gers of Grinnell Bros, will be held in Detroit
WHILE I THINK OF IT!
tion is increasing, new factories are being started the last week in January and will last for six
The Standard Player Monthly, from which right along and new money is coming into the days. There will be business sessions every day
Brother Kiker derived the materials for his in- city for the development of its industries. Out- as well as a number of entertainment features.
spiration, has been publishing some very good side capital is being attracted to Detroit because On the night of January 23 there will be a
things for and about tuners lately. You get it is true that outsiders can often see opportuni- masque ball at the Detroit Board of Commerce
the magazine monthly free by addressing the ties in a city where those living in the town do for the employes of Grinnell Bros, and the
Standard Pneumatic Action Co., 638 West not, or else they are too conservative to take the branch managers. The affair will be given by
Fifty-second street, New York, and asking to chances of the outsider. Detroit is destined to Grinnell Bros., but under the auspices of the
be put on the list. Why not get on? I'm on, be a big, big city by 1920. The business leaders Goodfellowship Club. All expenses will be paid
have been on for some time, and don't want to are very anxious to see Detroit stand fourth in for by the company. Dancing will start at 8.30
population by 1920.
p. m. and at 10.30 there will be a fine supper.
get off at all.
Detroit business men are heartily in favor of a
Percy Guest, of the small goods department
Communications for this department should bill to be introduced into the present Michigan of Grinnell Bros, said 1916 was a tremendous
be addressed to William Braid White, care The legislature to be known as the Bad Check Law. year for his department, and that he could have
Music Trade Review, 373 Fourth avenue, New It would call for punishment of any person giv- done considerably more had he been able to
ing a check without sufficient funds in the bank, get merchandise when he wanted it.
York City, N. Y.
calling it a felony, so that if the person moved
The Steinway business done by Grinnell Bros,
to another section of the country, he could be in 1916 was larger than any previous year, the
brought back to the town where he committed sales representing transactions with some of the
the act. This bill is copied after the Colorado very richest people in Grosse Pointe and Bloom-
Bad Check Law, and merchants believe it would field Hills. Most of the Steinway business is
put a stop to a great deal of bad check giving. done on a cash basis.
Grinnell Bros., and J. L. Hudson Co., Detroit,
Sincerest regrets to Max Strasburg, talking
are advertising that prices will be advanced on machine dealer at 74 Library avenue, this city,
February 1 on some grades of the lines they over the sudden death of his brother, Herman A.
handle. Grinnell Bros., for instance, announce Strasburg, Detroit's best known dancing instruc-
that prices on Knabe pianos will be advanced tor.
from $60 to $100, according to style, while the
J. L. Hudson Co. announce increased prices on
The Doherty Piano Co., Ltd., of Clinton,
the Chickering. The result of the announce- Canada, has assigned to James A. Thomas.
ments of the proposed advances has been that a
number of sales pending on these instruments
have been closed up already, the prospective cus-
tomers preferring to save the difference. This
same thing happened to Grinnell Bros, some
months ago when they announced that prices
would advance on Steinway instruments.
There's a good reason why the entire sales
force of the J. L. Hudson store are wearing a
smiling countenance these days. In accordance
Known to* the Public for over
with the usual plan of the company, each sales-
man received a bonus the first week in January,
which was based on the total sales for the year.
as always' one of
Some of the checks were good sized ones, but
every salesman was recognized in the profit-
MONEY MAKERS FOR THE DEALER
sharing distribution and all were satisfied. The
We have a fine offer to make
J. L. Hudson Co., in all its departments, did a
Write for Catalogues and Prices
to Hue wire dealers
business of $1,600,000 and over during the month
of December alone, a considerable portion of
this being in the piano and talking machine de-
partments.
88 Brown Place
New York
1872 Clybourn Avenue
CHICAGO
President Harry Zickel, of the Detroit Music
Smith,
Barnes
and
Strohber
Company
CHICAGO
RAYMOND
Over 145,000 Pianos
in American Homes and
All Giving Satisfaction
PIANOS
50 YEARS
THE BEST
Smith, Barnes & Strohber Go.
Raymond Piano Co.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
The letter is made up from parts of two let-
ters which appeared in a recent issue of the
Standard Player Monthly. I especially call at-
tention to the effective manner of putting the
point about allowing pianos to stay out of tune
for indefinitely long periods of time. The letter
is clever and well thought out, and I present it
gladly herewith:
"I heard a man say the other day that his
piano was one of the finest made, and that
while he had owned it for six years, he had had
it tuned but once.
"If that man had told you that he had very
fine front windows in his house and had had
them washed but once in six years, you would
have had the same feelings that I did when he
spoke of his piano.
"A great many people have the erroneous idea
that if a piano isn't played upon it does not
get out of tune. Others think that it does a
piano no harm to get out of tune.
"As a matter of fact, the finest piano in the
world will not produce good music if it is not
in tune, and it_ is not in tune unless it is tuned
at least twice a year.
"Furthermore, it works a positive injury to
the piano to permit it to go much over a year
without tuning. Many fine pianos are ruined
because of neglect of this kind. A piano out
of tune is worthless as a musical instrument and
is nothing more than a useless piece of furni-
ture.
"For a very small sum you can arrange with
me to keep your piano in perfect condition at
all times. It will then be a source of pride
and pleasure to you and your friends. My
work is guaranteed to be of the most expert
character."
15
ill Ike new Aacricaru
Player Action, you do no}
merely pump—you j^lay.ih
treadles are a<; ^en^itive y
feet as the keys are to your
hand? "
American. Player Action do. —
^#k A
NeW l\otk City
DETROIT PIANO DEALERS PLANNING FOR BUSY YEAR
Continued Prosperity Expected During 1917—Grinnell and Hudson Announce Price Increases—
Hudson Salesmen Receive Bonus—Preparing for Association Election—Other News
DETROIT, MICH., January 15.—January is a month
Trades Association, says a meeting will be held
when piano dealers give all their time to auditing of the Executive Committee during the current
their books, figuring their sales and net profits week to get up a slate for the annual election,
for the previous year; incidentally, making plans which takes place either in January or February.
for the current year. In Detroit, as we have said When asked why meetings had not been held
many times before, dealers had a very satisfac- since last May, President Zickel said: "We have
tory business in the year just past, and judging all been busy and really nothing has come up
from the way January is coming along, every- that required our meeting. Things in the piano
thing points to another prosperous year in 1917. game never were running as smooth as now."
Detroit is certain to keep up, its record of pros-
Speaking for the Cable Piano Co. in Michi-
perity according to figures given out by the gan, Mr. Zickel said it was the best year the
Board of Commerce showing the number of firm ever had. Also that January was starting in
building additions, factory extensions, etc., al- fine.
ready planned. Detroit is gaining in importance
The annual convention of the branch mana-
daily from a commercial standpoint; its popula- gers of Grinnell Bros, will be held in Detroit
WHILE I THINK OF IT!
tion is increasing, new factories are being started the last week in January and will last for six
The Standard Player Monthly, from which right along and new money is coming into the days. There will be business sessions every day
Brother Kiker derived the materials for his in- city for the development of its industries. Out- as well as a number of entertainment features.
spiration, has been publishing some very good side capital is being attracted to Detroit because On the night of January 23 there will be a
things for and about tuners lately. You get it is true that outsiders can often see opportuni- masque ball at the Detroit Board of Commerce
the magazine monthly free by addressing the ties in a city where those living in the town do for the employes of Grinnell Bros, and the
Standard Pneumatic Action Co., 638 West not, or else they are too conservative to take the branch managers. The affair will be given by
Fifty-second street, New York, and asking to chances of the outsider. Detroit is destined to Grinnell Bros., but under the auspices of the
be put on the list. Why not get on? I'm on, be a big, big city by 1920. The business leaders Goodfellowship Club. All expenses will be paid
have been on for some time, and don't want to are very anxious to see Detroit stand fourth in for by the company. Dancing will start at 8.30
population by 1920.
p. m. and at 10.30 there will be a fine supper.
get off at all.
Detroit business men are heartily in favor of a
Percy Guest, of the small goods department
Communications for this department should bill to be introduced into the present Michigan of Grinnell Bros, said 1916 was a tremendous
be addressed to William Braid White, care The legislature to be known as the Bad Check Law. year for his department, and that he could have
Music Trade Review, 373 Fourth avenue, New It would call for punishment of any person giv- done considerably more had he been able to
ing a check without sufficient funds in the bank, get merchandise when he wanted it.
York City, N. Y.
calling it a felony, so that if the person moved
The Steinway business done by Grinnell Bros,
to another section of the country, he could be in 1916 was larger than any previous year, the
brought back to the town where he committed sales representing transactions with some of the
the act. This bill is copied after the Colorado very richest people in Grosse Pointe and Bloom-
Bad Check Law, and merchants believe it would field Hills. Most of the Steinway business is
put a stop to a great deal of bad check giving. done on a cash basis.
Grinnell Bros., and J. L. Hudson Co., Detroit,
Sincerest regrets to Max Strasburg, talking
are advertising that prices will be advanced on machine dealer at 74 Library avenue, this city,
February 1 on some grades of the lines they over the sudden death of his brother, Herman A.
handle. Grinnell Bros., for instance, announce Strasburg, Detroit's best known dancing instruc-
that prices on Knabe pianos will be advanced tor.
from $60 to $100, according to style, while the
J. L. Hudson Co. announce increased prices on
The Doherty Piano Co., Ltd., of Clinton,
the Chickering. The result of the announce- Canada, has assigned to James A. Thomas.
ments of the proposed advances has been that a
number of sales pending on these instruments
have been closed up already, the prospective cus-
tomers preferring to save the difference. This
same thing happened to Grinnell Bros, some
months ago when they announced that prices
would advance on Steinway instruments.
There's a good reason why the entire sales
force of the J. L. Hudson store are wearing a
smiling countenance these days. In accordance
Known to* the Public for over
with the usual plan of the company, each sales-
man received a bonus the first week in January,
which was based on the total sales for the year.
as always' one of
Some of the checks were good sized ones, but
every salesman was recognized in the profit-
MONEY MAKERS FOR THE DEALER
sharing distribution and all were satisfied. The
We have a fine offer to make
J. L. Hudson Co., in all its departments, did a
Write for Catalogues and Prices
to Hue wire dealers
business of $1,600,000 and over during the month
of December alone, a considerable portion of
this being in the piano and talking machine de-
partments.
88 Brown Place
New York
1872 Clybourn Avenue
CHICAGO
President Harry Zickel, of the Detroit Music
Smith,
Barnes
and
Strohber
Company
CHICAGO
RAYMOND
Over 145,000 Pianos
in American Homes and
All Giving Satisfaction
PIANOS
50 YEARS
THE BEST
Smith, Barnes & Strohber Go.
Raymond Piano Co.
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