Music Trade Review
Issue: 1917 Vol. 65 N. 10 - Page 9
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
DETROIT PIANO DEALERS EXHIBITING AT STATE FAIR
Local Retailers Expect Profitable Results From A nnual Fair—Simplifying the Delivery Problem-
Ben Weissenbrach Marries—Hawaiian Music Greatly in Demand—Other News
DETROIT, MICH., September 4.—The event of in-
terest this week is the number of piano exhibits
at the Michigan State Fair which opened for
business on Friday, August 31, and which ends
Saturday of the current week. Weather per-
mitting, the State Fair officials expect daily at-
tendances that will far exceed last year. They
have advertised the event in every conceivable
manner—billboards, newspapers, circulars, coun-
try weeklies, theatre programs, street cars, mov-
ing picture slides, etc. The Review representa-
tive questioned a number of dealers making ex-
hibits if anything was done the first two days,
but they replied that it was a bit too early to
tell—that what business, if at all, usually came
the last few days. The J. L. Hudson Co., which
in the past exhibited at the fair, is absent this
year, and instead is conducting a used piano
sale at the store, in addition to preparing for
its thirty-sixth anniversary sale which gives
promise of being something quite out of the
ordinary.
However, among those firms who
have exhibits this year is a new face—Ling's
Music House, represented by John Alexander,
manager of the store for J. Henry Ling. The
complete list of piano exhibits consists of: Grin-
nell Bros., pianos, players and Victrolas; J.
Henry Ling, players, pianos and Columbia
Grafanolas; Clough & Warren, in charge of R.
L. Dupraw, exhibiting pianos, players and Mana-
phones; Detroit Piano Co., in charge of F. M.
Ramsdell, pianos and players; Bush & Lane, in
charge of C. W. Cross, showing company's own
make of pianos, players and phonographs; and
Starr Piano Co., company's own make of play-
ers and phonographs in charge of W. H. Huttie.
The space occupied by the Hudson Co. last
year is occupied this year by Clough & Warren.
The "carry it home" campaign being waged
by local merchants is having a good effect on
the music roll and phonograph record business.
Heretofore many women had small orders sent
out when they could just as well have carried
the goods home. These same people are now
joining in the movement of economy, and are
showing their patriotism by taking such pack-
ages home. It is certainly helping the local
situation, and it is making the delivery problem
much easier, especially in view of the number
of drivers who have either voluntarily enlisted
or else were taken in the draft.
"We will lose one or two" is a common ex-
pression by piano dealers since the announce-
ment of the first selective draft.
Dealers are
making the best of the situation by either get-
ting others to take their places, or doubling up
the work of those already in the same depart-
ments. Of course, if business slows up this
fall their absence will not be so serious, but
dealers do not feel that way and want to be
prepared for big fall business with the same staff
as they always have had.
The stability of Detroit was further enhanced
this week with the announcement by the Le-
lands, formerly at the head of the Cadillac
Motor Car Co., that they would build imme-
diately a million dollar airplane motor plant
which would employ hundreds of men. They
Awarded first prize in many world compe-
titions during the past sixty; years, the
Schomacker Piano is now daily receiving
first prizes of preference won by its superb
tone, wonderful breadth of expression and
structural beauty.
SCHOMACKER PIANO CO.
23d and Chestnut St>.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
plan to enter the field in real earnest, and al-
ready they are predicting that Detroit will be
the airplane motor center of the world—the same
as it is in the motor car industry.
Ben Weissenbrach, local representative for the
American Photo Player Co., of New York, re-
cently became a benedict. Mr. Weissenbrach
and his bride are living at the Henry Clay apart-
ments, where he is also making his office head-
quarters until the completion of the new film
building at John R and Elizabeth streets, when
he will have salesrooms there.
Hawaiian music is still very popular in De-
troit. There is a great demand for such records
and music rolls containing Hawaiian selections.
A leading hotel which features cabaret and danc-
ing had an Hawaiian orchestra for many weeks,
but dismissed it recently believing that the pub-
lic would welcome a change. The orchestra
has been recalled, owing to the numerous re-
quests of the hotel patrons.
EXCELLENT TRADE IN CINCINNATI
Piano Merchants Report a Most Pleasing Vol-
ume of Trade During August—Otto Grau and
Party Thinning Out the Fish—Other News
CINCINNATI, O., September 3.—Big things were
accomplished by Cincinnati piano merchants
during the close of August, according to talk-
heard along Piano Row this morning. At the
Baldwin Co.'s store the statement is made that
all previous records for August were excelled,
and the Cable Company reports four sales of
Mason & Hamlin grands on Friday, the buyers
being local musical artists.
Great inroads are being made on the fish in
a creek near Sidney, O., by Otto Grau, J. Van
Court, Carl Bill, James Hadican and William
Sandt. The party left for the fishing grounds
in automobiles Friday, and is expected back to-
morrow.
E. E. Roberts, of the Baldwin Co., is due back
from his vacation to-morrow.
Mr. Beinkamp, of the Church-Beinkamp Co.,
is spending the second half of his vacation in
Maine.
Private Schultz, of the quartermaster's sec-
tion of the Third Ohio Artillery, is the happy
possessor of a Victrola, and the manner of its
gift is somewhat unusual.
Some time ago
Schultz saved the lives of several children at
Pleasant Ridge, and the people in that part of
the city decided to remember him in an appro-
priate manner as well as bring happiness to
many of his associates. The Victrola was given
Saturday with the understanding that it was
to be used in the company until the end of the
war when it reverts to Schultz.
I. B. NIXON GETS SOME BIG FISH
Piano Man of Newark Breaks Record During a
Day's Sport on Branch Brook Lake
NEWARK, N. J., September 3.—I. B. Nixon, well-
known piano man of this city, and formerly
manager of the Nixon Piano Co., has proven
that he can fish as successfully as he can sell
pianos. While on a trip to Branch Brook Lake
recently, Mr. Nixon caught the limit of six
fish, the catch including three small-mouthed
bass, weight seven pounds two ounces, four
pounds four ounces, and two pounds twelve
ounces respectively, one large-mouthed bass, one
yellow perch and one white perch. Inasmuch as
no fish of that size has been taken out of the lake
in some years past Mr. Nixon's friends are
wondering what kind of patent bait he used.
Miss Nelle Johnston, who has been connected
with the store of the J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music
Co. in Atchison, Kan., for the past three years,
has been appointed manager of the branch to
succeed J. L. Fox, who recently resigned.
Style "D."
The Public
KEEPS
IT
GOING
because t h e r e
are many excel-
lent f e a t u r e s
about it that the
public is willing
to pay to hear.
CO1NOLA
is Troubleproof
and has the ability to
stand up under hard
usage.
It will prove a profit-
able addition to any
dealer's line. Write to-
day for particulars of our
Free Trial Offer
Operators Piano
Company
LOUIS M. SEVERSON, Pres.
Clybourn Ave. and Osgood St.
CHICAGO, ILL.
THE MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
DETROIT PIANO DEALERS EXHIBITING AT STATE FAIR
Local Retailers Expect Profitable Results From A nnual Fair—Simplifying the Delivery Problem-
Ben Weissenbrach Marries—Hawaiian Music Greatly in Demand—Other News
DETROIT, MICH., September 4.—The event of in-
terest this week is the number of piano exhibits
at the Michigan State Fair which opened for
business on Friday, August 31, and which ends
Saturday of the current week. Weather per-
mitting, the State Fair officials expect daily at-
tendances that will far exceed last year. They
have advertised the event in every conceivable
manner—billboards, newspapers, circulars, coun-
try weeklies, theatre programs, street cars, mov-
ing picture slides, etc. The Review representa-
tive questioned a number of dealers making ex-
hibits if anything was done the first two days,
but they replied that it was a bit too early to
tell—that what business, if at all, usually came
the last few days. The J. L. Hudson Co., which
in the past exhibited at the fair, is absent this
year, and instead is conducting a used piano
sale at the store, in addition to preparing for
its thirty-sixth anniversary sale which gives
promise of being something quite out of the
ordinary.
However, among those firms who
have exhibits this year is a new face—Ling's
Music House, represented by John Alexander,
manager of the store for J. Henry Ling. The
complete list of piano exhibits consists of: Grin-
nell Bros., pianos, players and Victrolas; J.
Henry Ling, players, pianos and Columbia
Grafanolas; Clough & Warren, in charge of R.
L. Dupraw, exhibiting pianos, players and Mana-
phones; Detroit Piano Co., in charge of F. M.
Ramsdell, pianos and players; Bush & Lane, in
charge of C. W. Cross, showing company's own
make of pianos, players and phonographs; and
Starr Piano Co., company's own make of play-
ers and phonographs in charge of W. H. Huttie.
The space occupied by the Hudson Co. last
year is occupied this year by Clough & Warren.
The "carry it home" campaign being waged
by local merchants is having a good effect on
the music roll and phonograph record business.
Heretofore many women had small orders sent
out when they could just as well have carried
the goods home. These same people are now
joining in the movement of economy, and are
showing their patriotism by taking such pack-
ages home. It is certainly helping the local
situation, and it is making the delivery problem
much easier, especially in view of the number
of drivers who have either voluntarily enlisted
or else were taken in the draft.
"We will lose one or two" is a common ex-
pression by piano dealers since the announce-
ment of the first selective draft.
Dealers are
making the best of the situation by either get-
ting others to take their places, or doubling up
the work of those already in the same depart-
ments. Of course, if business slows up this
fall their absence will not be so serious, but
dealers do not feel that way and want to be
prepared for big fall business with the same staff
as they always have had.
The stability of Detroit was further enhanced
this week with the announcement by the Le-
lands, formerly at the head of the Cadillac
Motor Car Co., that they would build imme-
diately a million dollar airplane motor plant
which would employ hundreds of men. They
Awarded first prize in many world compe-
titions during the past sixty; years, the
Schomacker Piano is now daily receiving
first prizes of preference won by its superb
tone, wonderful breadth of expression and
structural beauty.
SCHOMACKER PIANO CO.
23d and Chestnut St>.,
Philadelphia, Pa.
plan to enter the field in real earnest, and al-
ready they are predicting that Detroit will be
the airplane motor center of the world—the same
as it is in the motor car industry.
Ben Weissenbrach, local representative for the
American Photo Player Co., of New York, re-
cently became a benedict. Mr. Weissenbrach
and his bride are living at the Henry Clay apart-
ments, where he is also making his office head-
quarters until the completion of the new film
building at John R and Elizabeth streets, when
he will have salesrooms there.
Hawaiian music is still very popular in De-
troit. There is a great demand for such records
and music rolls containing Hawaiian selections.
A leading hotel which features cabaret and danc-
ing had an Hawaiian orchestra for many weeks,
but dismissed it recently believing that the pub-
lic would welcome a change. The orchestra
has been recalled, owing to the numerous re-
quests of the hotel patrons.
EXCELLENT TRADE IN CINCINNATI
Piano Merchants Report a Most Pleasing Vol-
ume of Trade During August—Otto Grau and
Party Thinning Out the Fish—Other News
CINCINNATI, O., September 3.—Big things were
accomplished by Cincinnati piano merchants
during the close of August, according to talk-
heard along Piano Row this morning. At the
Baldwin Co.'s store the statement is made that
all previous records for August were excelled,
and the Cable Company reports four sales of
Mason & Hamlin grands on Friday, the buyers
being local musical artists.
Great inroads are being made on the fish in
a creek near Sidney, O., by Otto Grau, J. Van
Court, Carl Bill, James Hadican and William
Sandt. The party left for the fishing grounds
in automobiles Friday, and is expected back to-
morrow.
E. E. Roberts, of the Baldwin Co., is due back
from his vacation to-morrow.
Mr. Beinkamp, of the Church-Beinkamp Co.,
is spending the second half of his vacation in
Maine.
Private Schultz, of the quartermaster's sec-
tion of the Third Ohio Artillery, is the happy
possessor of a Victrola, and the manner of its
gift is somewhat unusual.
Some time ago
Schultz saved the lives of several children at
Pleasant Ridge, and the people in that part of
the city decided to remember him in an appro-
priate manner as well as bring happiness to
many of his associates. The Victrola was given
Saturday with the understanding that it was
to be used in the company until the end of the
war when it reverts to Schultz.
I. B. NIXON GETS SOME BIG FISH
Piano Man of Newark Breaks Record During a
Day's Sport on Branch Brook Lake
NEWARK, N. J., September 3.—I. B. Nixon, well-
known piano man of this city, and formerly
manager of the Nixon Piano Co., has proven
that he can fish as successfully as he can sell
pianos. While on a trip to Branch Brook Lake
recently, Mr. Nixon caught the limit of six
fish, the catch including three small-mouthed
bass, weight seven pounds two ounces, four
pounds four ounces, and two pounds twelve
ounces respectively, one large-mouthed bass, one
yellow perch and one white perch. Inasmuch as
no fish of that size has been taken out of the lake
in some years past Mr. Nixon's friends are
wondering what kind of patent bait he used.
Miss Nelle Johnston, who has been connected
with the store of the J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music
Co. in Atchison, Kan., for the past three years,
has been appointed manager of the branch to
succeed J. L. Fox, who recently resigned.
Style "D."
The Public
KEEPS
IT
GOING
because t h e r e
are many excel-
lent f e a t u r e s
about it that the
public is willing
to pay to hear.
CO1NOLA
is Troubleproof
and has the ability to
stand up under hard
usage.
It will prove a profit-
able addition to any
dealer's line. Write to-
day for particulars of our
Free Trial Offer
Operators Piano
Company
LOUIS M. SEVERSON, Pres.
Clybourn Ave. and Osgood St.
CHICAGO, ILL.
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