Music Trade Review
Issue: 1917 Vol. 65 N. 24 - Page 7
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
CHRISTMAS PIANO TRADE IN FULL SWING IN DETROIT
Local Piano Dealers Already Enjoying Good Business, and Expect Still Better Trade Before the
Holidays—Special Displays at Grinnell Bros.—Better Business Bureau Organized
DETROIT, MICH., December 11.—The music
stores of this city will surely get their just share
of the holiday expenditures; of that there isn't
the least question. The number of people seen
every hour of the day in the music stores is the
reason. From now until Christmas most of the
music stores will be open evenings, and this is,
of course, more true of those selling talking
machines than pianos. But even piano business
is satisfactory and normal with a year ago for
the month of December. Detroit is in need of
skilled mechanics by the thousands in view of
the number of factories working on war orders,
trucks, motors, airplane parts, shells, muni-
tions, etc., for the Government. One banker
estimates that at least $500,000,000 worth of war
orders will be given to Detroit manufacturers
during 1918, while already factories are at work
on orders amounting in excess of $80,000,000.
The coal situation is nearly as bad as ever, there
being at least 2,100 families absolutely unable
to get it. Relief has been promised during the
coming week, but the fact still remains that
many families have doubled up for the winter
and will remain that way until spring. As the
year draws nearer to its end, merchants in all
lines are inclined to be very optimistic, and after
all they say, "It's a better year than we looked
for."
All through Grinnell Bros, big store you get
the Christmas spirit; on the first floor there are
special displays of musical instruments of every
description; music rolls and sheet music. On
the second floor is a most attractive and ex-
tended department for player-piano rolls; on
the third floor is the piano department; on the
fourth and fifth the player-piano and Duo-Art
departments; and further up are the repair
rooms, sales correspondence department, etc. In-
dications point to 1917 being a big year for the
progressive firm of Grinnell Bros, in Detroit
and all their stores. Their factories are busy
making Grinnell Bros, pianos and players, and
their wholesale Victrola jobbing headquarters is
busy making shipments every minute of the
day. The Duo-Art is having particular atten-
tion this Christmas, and the firm is reported
as having made quite a number of sales during
the year.
The Detroit Talking Machine Dealers' As-
sociation held a meeting Monday at the Hotel
Charlevoix, and discussed further plans for the
entertainment to be given for the boys in train-
ing at Camp Custer.
A Better Business Bureau has been organ-
ized by leading advertising men, merchants and
retailers in connection with the Detroit Board
of Commerce. It has for its purpose the care-
ful scrutiny of all business methods and ad-
vertisements. We might say right here that
during the past sixty days several advertise-
ments have appeared in local newspapers mak-
ing offers and claims that were absolutely far
from being the real truth. The dealers them-
selves know this yet they persist in their ex-
travagant claims. It's one thing to make a
statement and another thing to back it up. If
the "acid test" were applied to some piano ad-
vertisements appearing in local newspapers—
and no doubt this is true throughout other big
cities—dealers responsible for them would find
it mighty difficult to "make good." For this
reason Detroit welcomes the Better Business
Bureau and so do its leading merchants and
business people.
Quite a number of piano and talking machine
dealers are offering to accept Liberty Bonds
atvabove par as payments on contracts. This
is resulting in the closing of some orders more
speedily.
Merchants are glad of the oppor-
tunity to accept Liberty Bonds, which they con-
sider the very best kind of investment.
The J. H. Reardon Piano Co., at 63 East
Forest avenue, is certainly right after business,
even though it is some distance from Detroit's
loop. It is selling new and used pianos, and
used talking machines. It recently engaged in
business.
Grand Rapids had a Better Homes Show last
week for the purpose of stimulating interest in
the better things that make a home more at-
tractive. Among those making special displays
were the Bush & Lane Piano Co. and the Her-
rick Piano Co. at the exposition held in the
Klingman Building. There were other special
displays by retailers in their own windows. An
admission fee was charged.
ABSOLUTE PROOF PRODUCED!
REMODELED QUARTERS IN SAN JOSE
The Small Grand Is a Necessity in Every Home;
if You Don't Believe it, Here Is Documentary
Evidence Which Cannot Be Refuted!
Sherman, Clay & Co. Now Have One of the
Handsomest Stores in That Section
The.demand for the small grand is growing
apace. Manufacturers and dealers alike are all
agreed on this point and should there be need
of further verification along comes De Beck, the
SAN JOSE, CAL., December 7.—Sherman, Clay
& Co. have recently finished remodeling and
enlarging their store at 192 South First street,
this city, and now have one of the handsomest
stores in this section of the Pacific Coast. The
store, which runs in the shape of an " L " with
an entrance on San Antonio street, is finished
in birch, specially treated. The First street
side is entirely taken up with demonstrating and
showrooms for Victrolas and records, and with
the offices. There is a large piano salesroom in
the basement, where are also located the receiv-
ing and shipping departments.
On the San
Antonio street side there are showrooms and
demonstrating parlors for pianos and player-
pianos, and a large rest room for ladies. The
lighting, ventilating and heating arrangements
are of the most modern type.
SECOND HOME SYMPHONY CONCERT
Successful Affair Given Under the Auspices of
the New York Evening Mail
The second "Home Symphony Concert" of
the season, under the auspices of the New York
Evening Mail, was given Wednesday evening of
this week at Carnegie Hall, by the Philharmonic
Orchestra, Josef Stransky conductor. The so-
loists of the evening were Sophie Braslau, con-
tralto, of the Metropolitan Opera Co., and Eddy
Brown, violinist. This was Mr. Brown's first
appearance with orchestra in this city, and his
rendition of the popular Tschaikowsky concerto
was enthusiastically received. The program was
as follows:
Symphony, No. 1, C minor,
Brahms; violin concerto in D, op. 35, Tschai-
kowsky, Eddy Brown; Scherzo Capriccio, Aria
from "Samson et Dalila," Saint-Saens, Sophie
Braslau; Carneval Romaine, Berlioz.
R. S. HOWARD CO.'^ANNUAL SOUVENIR
How One Woman Got a Baby Grand
cartoonist, to prove beyond the doubt of a
Thomas that the home without a small grand
is as dull and uninteresting as kissing one's own
wife.
The cartoon reproduced herewith, and which
appeared in the Chicago Herald, not only shows
the demand for the small grand, but also demon-
strates to what lengths the deadlier sex will
go in endeavoring to obtain what it wants. In-
cidentally, if Cartoonist De Beck will send the
name and address of the heroine of his cartoon
to William Braid White, the Technical Editor
of The Review, he will be pleased to send her
several recent clippings from his justly famed
Technical Department, wherein he proves that
the small grand is N O T an upright piano laid
flat.
The lady can then show her hubby how inade-
quate her makeshift grand really is, and despite
the beak he wears, sure indication of a parsi-
monious nature, he may be prevailed upon to put
a baby grand in his wife's stocking or what-
ever it is that the dear girls hang up before the
steam pipe on Christmas Eve.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
Convenient Memorandum Book for 1918 Bound
in Leather Sent to Trade Friends
The R. S. Howard Co., New York, has just
sent to its friends in the trade its usual holi-
day souvenir in the form of a most convenient
memorandum book for the year 1918, with a
half section of a large page set aside for each
day. The first few pages of the book, which
is bound in grained leather, act as a catalog for
the Howard products and present views and
specifications of the leading Howard styles, in-
cluding styles 2, 3, 4, 7 and 21 uprights, styles
A, S and D players, style F electric player, and
also the R. S. Howard Grand and the R. S.
Howard player grand. With the large memo-
randum book is also included a convenient vest-
pocket memorandum book.
JOINS THE MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION
The American Piano Supply Co., 110 East
Thirteenth street, New York, has been elected
to membership in the Merchants' Association
of New York, with W. C. Hess, vice-president,
as official representative.
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
CHRISTMAS PIANO TRADE IN FULL SWING IN DETROIT
Local Piano Dealers Already Enjoying Good Business, and Expect Still Better Trade Before the
Holidays—Special Displays at Grinnell Bros.—Better Business Bureau Organized
DETROIT, MICH., December 11.—The music
stores of this city will surely get their just share
of the holiday expenditures; of that there isn't
the least question. The number of people seen
every hour of the day in the music stores is the
reason. From now until Christmas most of the
music stores will be open evenings, and this is,
of course, more true of those selling talking
machines than pianos. But even piano business
is satisfactory and normal with a year ago for
the month of December. Detroit is in need of
skilled mechanics by the thousands in view of
the number of factories working on war orders,
trucks, motors, airplane parts, shells, muni-
tions, etc., for the Government. One banker
estimates that at least $500,000,000 worth of war
orders will be given to Detroit manufacturers
during 1918, while already factories are at work
on orders amounting in excess of $80,000,000.
The coal situation is nearly as bad as ever, there
being at least 2,100 families absolutely unable
to get it. Relief has been promised during the
coming week, but the fact still remains that
many families have doubled up for the winter
and will remain that way until spring. As the
year draws nearer to its end, merchants in all
lines are inclined to be very optimistic, and after
all they say, "It's a better year than we looked
for."
All through Grinnell Bros, big store you get
the Christmas spirit; on the first floor there are
special displays of musical instruments of every
description; music rolls and sheet music. On
the second floor is a most attractive and ex-
tended department for player-piano rolls; on
the third floor is the piano department; on the
fourth and fifth the player-piano and Duo-Art
departments; and further up are the repair
rooms, sales correspondence department, etc. In-
dications point to 1917 being a big year for the
progressive firm of Grinnell Bros, in Detroit
and all their stores. Their factories are busy
making Grinnell Bros, pianos and players, and
their wholesale Victrola jobbing headquarters is
busy making shipments every minute of the
day. The Duo-Art is having particular atten-
tion this Christmas, and the firm is reported
as having made quite a number of sales during
the year.
The Detroit Talking Machine Dealers' As-
sociation held a meeting Monday at the Hotel
Charlevoix, and discussed further plans for the
entertainment to be given for the boys in train-
ing at Camp Custer.
A Better Business Bureau has been organ-
ized by leading advertising men, merchants and
retailers in connection with the Detroit Board
of Commerce. It has for its purpose the care-
ful scrutiny of all business methods and ad-
vertisements. We might say right here that
during the past sixty days several advertise-
ments have appeared in local newspapers mak-
ing offers and claims that were absolutely far
from being the real truth. The dealers them-
selves know this yet they persist in their ex-
travagant claims. It's one thing to make a
statement and another thing to back it up. If
the "acid test" were applied to some piano ad-
vertisements appearing in local newspapers—
and no doubt this is true throughout other big
cities—dealers responsible for them would find
it mighty difficult to "make good." For this
reason Detroit welcomes the Better Business
Bureau and so do its leading merchants and
business people.
Quite a number of piano and talking machine
dealers are offering to accept Liberty Bonds
atvabove par as payments on contracts. This
is resulting in the closing of some orders more
speedily.
Merchants are glad of the oppor-
tunity to accept Liberty Bonds, which they con-
sider the very best kind of investment.
The J. H. Reardon Piano Co., at 63 East
Forest avenue, is certainly right after business,
even though it is some distance from Detroit's
loop. It is selling new and used pianos, and
used talking machines. It recently engaged in
business.
Grand Rapids had a Better Homes Show last
week for the purpose of stimulating interest in
the better things that make a home more at-
tractive. Among those making special displays
were the Bush & Lane Piano Co. and the Her-
rick Piano Co. at the exposition held in the
Klingman Building. There were other special
displays by retailers in their own windows. An
admission fee was charged.
ABSOLUTE PROOF PRODUCED!
REMODELED QUARTERS IN SAN JOSE
The Small Grand Is a Necessity in Every Home;
if You Don't Believe it, Here Is Documentary
Evidence Which Cannot Be Refuted!
Sherman, Clay & Co. Now Have One of the
Handsomest Stores in That Section
The.demand for the small grand is growing
apace. Manufacturers and dealers alike are all
agreed on this point and should there be need
of further verification along comes De Beck, the
SAN JOSE, CAL., December 7.—Sherman, Clay
& Co. have recently finished remodeling and
enlarging their store at 192 South First street,
this city, and now have one of the handsomest
stores in this section of the Pacific Coast. The
store, which runs in the shape of an " L " with
an entrance on San Antonio street, is finished
in birch, specially treated. The First street
side is entirely taken up with demonstrating and
showrooms for Victrolas and records, and with
the offices. There is a large piano salesroom in
the basement, where are also located the receiv-
ing and shipping departments.
On the San
Antonio street side there are showrooms and
demonstrating parlors for pianos and player-
pianos, and a large rest room for ladies. The
lighting, ventilating and heating arrangements
are of the most modern type.
SECOND HOME SYMPHONY CONCERT
Successful Affair Given Under the Auspices of
the New York Evening Mail
The second "Home Symphony Concert" of
the season, under the auspices of the New York
Evening Mail, was given Wednesday evening of
this week at Carnegie Hall, by the Philharmonic
Orchestra, Josef Stransky conductor. The so-
loists of the evening were Sophie Braslau, con-
tralto, of the Metropolitan Opera Co., and Eddy
Brown, violinist. This was Mr. Brown's first
appearance with orchestra in this city, and his
rendition of the popular Tschaikowsky concerto
was enthusiastically received. The program was
as follows:
Symphony, No. 1, C minor,
Brahms; violin concerto in D, op. 35, Tschai-
kowsky, Eddy Brown; Scherzo Capriccio, Aria
from "Samson et Dalila," Saint-Saens, Sophie
Braslau; Carneval Romaine, Berlioz.
R. S. HOWARD CO.'^ANNUAL SOUVENIR
How One Woman Got a Baby Grand
cartoonist, to prove beyond the doubt of a
Thomas that the home without a small grand
is as dull and uninteresting as kissing one's own
wife.
The cartoon reproduced herewith, and which
appeared in the Chicago Herald, not only shows
the demand for the small grand, but also demon-
strates to what lengths the deadlier sex will
go in endeavoring to obtain what it wants. In-
cidentally, if Cartoonist De Beck will send the
name and address of the heroine of his cartoon
to William Braid White, the Technical Editor
of The Review, he will be pleased to send her
several recent clippings from his justly famed
Technical Department, wherein he proves that
the small grand is N O T an upright piano laid
flat.
The lady can then show her hubby how inade-
quate her makeshift grand really is, and despite
the beak he wears, sure indication of a parsi-
monious nature, he may be prevailed upon to put
a baby grand in his wife's stocking or what-
ever it is that the dear girls hang up before the
steam pipe on Christmas Eve.
WINTER & CO.
220 SOUTHERN BOULEVARD, NEW YORK
Manufacturers of
Convenient Memorandum Book for 1918 Bound
in Leather Sent to Trade Friends
The R. S. Howard Co., New York, has just
sent to its friends in the trade its usual holi-
day souvenir in the form of a most convenient
memorandum book for the year 1918, with a
half section of a large page set aside for each
day. The first few pages of the book, which
is bound in grained leather, act as a catalog for
the Howard products and present views and
specifications of the leading Howard styles, in-
cluding styles 2, 3, 4, 7 and 21 uprights, styles
A, S and D players, style F electric player, and
also the R. S. Howard Grand and the R. S.
Howard player grand. With the large memo-
randum book is also included a convenient vest-
pocket memorandum book.
JOINS THE MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION
The American Piano Supply Co., 110 East
Thirteenth street, New York, has been elected
to membership in the Merchants' Association
of New York, with W. C. Hess, vice-president,
as official representative.
Superior Pianos
and Player Pianos
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).