Music Trade Review
Issue: 1918 Vol. 66 N. 22 - Page 10
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
10
NORMAL CONDITIONS PREVAIL IN TWIN CITY PIANO TRADE
Local Dealers Will Be Represented at Coming Conventions—Raudenbush Factory Not to Engage
in War Work—Dyer & Bro. Taking Inventory—Personals and Other News of Interest
ST. PAUL and
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., May
27.—
Preparations for the big conventions in New
York interested a few of the Twin City piano
dealers last week, but not many. Only W. J.
Dyer, Robert O. Foster and C. L. Waldo had
decided definitely to attend the gatherings when
this letter was written, while Elmer A. Brooks
was on the fence of uncertainty. But he al-
ways goes at the last minute, and it will not
do to wager that he will not be on hand.
Raudenbush & Sons, who had been figuring
for several months to devote a part of their
plant to Government work to reimburse them
for the forced reduction in the output of pianos,
have quit figuring.
"We will stick to pianos," explained Mr. Rau-
denbush. "With the conditions so chaotic and
with the high cost of machinery necessary for
the proposition that was put up to us, we feel
that the risks are too great to venture deeply
into the game. We find that we can sell all the
pianos we are allowed to make and we simply
will confine ourselves to that one task."
Webb Raudenbush, who went from St. Paul
as Lieutenant Commander in the Minnesota
Naval Reserves, is attached to the ordnance bu-
reau of the Navy Department, having turned in
his commission and taken a civilian position.
He has responsible and exacting duties, but
there is no chance of promotion and his pay
does not begin to equal his salary as superin-
tendent of the piano factory.
W. J. Dyer & Bro. report that they are jog-
ging along at a moderate gait, but without creat-
ing any noticeable dust on the highways of
trade. The inventory work is keeping the staff
quite well occupied, but the sales for May were
handled with some ease. Several of the Foto-
players and pipe organs contracted for recently
are being installed, which keeps one depart-
JUNE 1,
1918
ment bustling considerably. The $7,500 organ
for the Mandarin Cafe will be formally dedicated
June 10 with appropriate American and Chinese
ceremonies.
Arthur L. Wessell, of Wessell, Nickel & Gross,
New York, action makers, is visiting the North-
west.
Piano factories are not quite as numerous in
this part of the United States as in the metro-
politan district, but there is no chance that he
will return empty-handed.
"We are very busy in our tuning and repair
departments, but we can't say very much for
the other branches just at present," said Presi-
dent Edward R. Dyer, of the Metropolitan Music
Co., when the inevitable and stereotyped ques-
tion was fired at him. "We are having some in-
quiries for Steinways, but persons who are af-
fected materially by the Liberty Loan and Red
Cross campaigns will not be in position to invest
ia pianos for a few weeks."
"Repeat what The Review said last week and
you won't miss the mark," advised Robert O.
Foster. The retail piano business in Minne-
apolis is slow, distinctly so. Everything looks
most hopeful and rosy for a big business in the
fall, with the outlook for a tremendous grain
crop and high prices, but we will not predict
that trade will be active. It should be, as the
preliminary conditions are very auspicious, but
who can tell what course business will take in
times of war?
Cable Piano Co. reports, both from St. Paul
and Minneapolis, indicate that piano sales can be
made, but it requires at least 100 per cent, more
effort to secure them than normally is the rule.
The St. Paul store has lost one of its best sales-
men in Ted Erickson, who has joined the navy.
He was a member of the Victrola staff and a
comer in the business.
KROEGER CO. ISSUES INVITATION
Dealers Throughout the Country Invited to At-
tend Music Show and Conventions and Get
Acquainted With the Kroeger Products
ion—Inspection—Inspection
Inspected three times are the wool fibers selected for American
Hammer Felt. This takes place in the "specking" department
shown in the illustration. Each tuft of wool is picked over and
over by trained workers, to make certain that it is free from
any foreign substance.
Before coming to that department all the wool is dusted in
special machines and thoroughly scoured with pure soap and
pure water to free it from spot and stain. After three inspec-
tions in the "specking" department we know it is right.
The reputation of many high-grade pianos is admitted by the
makers to be due in no small measure to the fact that the ham-
mers are made of American Hammer Felt, the unvarying uni-
formity of which is the result of inspection checking inspection.
How does this carefulness affect the cost of American Ham-
mer Felt? Let our quotation answer.
American Felt
Company
TRADE,
100 Summer St.
BOSTON
k MARK
25 Madison Ave.
NEW YORK
32S So. Market St.
CHICAGO
The Kroeger Piano Co., of Stamford, Conn.,
has recently mailed a very interesting letter to
the trade urging dealers in all sections of the
country to go to the convention and the Na-
tional Music Show, and incidentally to shake
hands in person with the Kroeger officials and
make a personal inspection of the Kroeger in-
struments which will be on exhibition at the
show. The letter reads in part as follows:
"June 1-8 is the occasion of our music show in
conjunction with the various convention gather-
ings that are scheduled in the same period.
"We aim to have a lot of visitors, and the
occasion will not be as complete as we could
wish it if you are not among that number. Can
you arrange to be with us and help us make this
a bigger and better music show and one that
will make for business progress for all of us
and a more intimate relationship between the
musical factors and fabrics of which our in-
dustry is built up?
"We want you to be with us; we want to
meet and greet you and tell you of our plans
and purposes. We want to show you what is
being done in the way of developing Kroeger
quality to a point where it will be supreme of
its kind, and we hope to learn your views upon
a lot of points that are vital to our joint inter-
ests and through which we may be enabled to
serve you more successfully.
"And incidentally, if we can sit across the table
from each other and talk face to face, we know
that we can assimilate a lot of helpful ideas that
will have continual bearing upon the future
problems that are certain to arise because of the
world disturbance that is so largely influencing
present-day trade conditions. And finally, in
the words of the Biblical scribe, 'Come with us
and we will do thee good.' (Memo.: Be care-
ful how you interpret this scriptural quotation.)"
The North American Music Store, Chicago,
has been incorporated with capital stock of
$2,500 by C. A. Grimm, R. Huttman and Harry
L. Shaver.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
10
NORMAL CONDITIONS PREVAIL IN TWIN CITY PIANO TRADE
Local Dealers Will Be Represented at Coming Conventions—Raudenbush Factory Not to Engage
in War Work—Dyer & Bro. Taking Inventory—Personals and Other News of Interest
ST. PAUL and
MINNEAPOLIS, MINN., May
27.—
Preparations for the big conventions in New
York interested a few of the Twin City piano
dealers last week, but not many. Only W. J.
Dyer, Robert O. Foster and C. L. Waldo had
decided definitely to attend the gatherings when
this letter was written, while Elmer A. Brooks
was on the fence of uncertainty. But he al-
ways goes at the last minute, and it will not
do to wager that he will not be on hand.
Raudenbush & Sons, who had been figuring
for several months to devote a part of their
plant to Government work to reimburse them
for the forced reduction in the output of pianos,
have quit figuring.
"We will stick to pianos," explained Mr. Rau-
denbush. "With the conditions so chaotic and
with the high cost of machinery necessary for
the proposition that was put up to us, we feel
that the risks are too great to venture deeply
into the game. We find that we can sell all the
pianos we are allowed to make and we simply
will confine ourselves to that one task."
Webb Raudenbush, who went from St. Paul
as Lieutenant Commander in the Minnesota
Naval Reserves, is attached to the ordnance bu-
reau of the Navy Department, having turned in
his commission and taken a civilian position.
He has responsible and exacting duties, but
there is no chance of promotion and his pay
does not begin to equal his salary as superin-
tendent of the piano factory.
W. J. Dyer & Bro. report that they are jog-
ging along at a moderate gait, but without creat-
ing any noticeable dust on the highways of
trade. The inventory work is keeping the staff
quite well occupied, but the sales for May were
handled with some ease. Several of the Foto-
players and pipe organs contracted for recently
are being installed, which keeps one depart-
JUNE 1,
1918
ment bustling considerably. The $7,500 organ
for the Mandarin Cafe will be formally dedicated
June 10 with appropriate American and Chinese
ceremonies.
Arthur L. Wessell, of Wessell, Nickel & Gross,
New York, action makers, is visiting the North-
west.
Piano factories are not quite as numerous in
this part of the United States as in the metro-
politan district, but there is no chance that he
will return empty-handed.
"We are very busy in our tuning and repair
departments, but we can't say very much for
the other branches just at present," said Presi-
dent Edward R. Dyer, of the Metropolitan Music
Co., when the inevitable and stereotyped ques-
tion was fired at him. "We are having some in-
quiries for Steinways, but persons who are af-
fected materially by the Liberty Loan and Red
Cross campaigns will not be in position to invest
ia pianos for a few weeks."
"Repeat what The Review said last week and
you won't miss the mark," advised Robert O.
Foster. The retail piano business in Minne-
apolis is slow, distinctly so. Everything looks
most hopeful and rosy for a big business in the
fall, with the outlook for a tremendous grain
crop and high prices, but we will not predict
that trade will be active. It should be, as the
preliminary conditions are very auspicious, but
who can tell what course business will take in
times of war?
Cable Piano Co. reports, both from St. Paul
and Minneapolis, indicate that piano sales can be
made, but it requires at least 100 per cent, more
effort to secure them than normally is the rule.
The St. Paul store has lost one of its best sales-
men in Ted Erickson, who has joined the navy.
He was a member of the Victrola staff and a
comer in the business.
KROEGER CO. ISSUES INVITATION
Dealers Throughout the Country Invited to At-
tend Music Show and Conventions and Get
Acquainted With the Kroeger Products
ion—Inspection—Inspection
Inspected three times are the wool fibers selected for American
Hammer Felt. This takes place in the "specking" department
shown in the illustration. Each tuft of wool is picked over and
over by trained workers, to make certain that it is free from
any foreign substance.
Before coming to that department all the wool is dusted in
special machines and thoroughly scoured with pure soap and
pure water to free it from spot and stain. After three inspec-
tions in the "specking" department we know it is right.
The reputation of many high-grade pianos is admitted by the
makers to be due in no small measure to the fact that the ham-
mers are made of American Hammer Felt, the unvarying uni-
formity of which is the result of inspection checking inspection.
How does this carefulness affect the cost of American Ham-
mer Felt? Let our quotation answer.
American Felt
Company
TRADE,
100 Summer St.
BOSTON
k MARK
25 Madison Ave.
NEW YORK
32S So. Market St.
CHICAGO
The Kroeger Piano Co., of Stamford, Conn.,
has recently mailed a very interesting letter to
the trade urging dealers in all sections of the
country to go to the convention and the Na-
tional Music Show, and incidentally to shake
hands in person with the Kroeger officials and
make a personal inspection of the Kroeger in-
struments which will be on exhibition at the
show. The letter reads in part as follows:
"June 1-8 is the occasion of our music show in
conjunction with the various convention gather-
ings that are scheduled in the same period.
"We aim to have a lot of visitors, and the
occasion will not be as complete as we could
wish it if you are not among that number. Can
you arrange to be with us and help us make this
a bigger and better music show and one that
will make for business progress for all of us
and a more intimate relationship between the
musical factors and fabrics of which our in-
dustry is built up?
"We want you to be with us; we want to
meet and greet you and tell you of our plans
and purposes. We want to show you what is
being done in the way of developing Kroeger
quality to a point where it will be supreme of
its kind, and we hope to learn your views upon
a lot of points that are vital to our joint inter-
ests and through which we may be enabled to
serve you more successfully.
"And incidentally, if we can sit across the table
from each other and talk face to face, we know
that we can assimilate a lot of helpful ideas that
will have continual bearing upon the future
problems that are certain to arise because of the
world disturbance that is so largely influencing
present-day trade conditions. And finally, in
the words of the Biblical scribe, 'Come with us
and we will do thee good.' (Memo.: Be care-
ful how you interpret this scriptural quotation.)"
The North American Music Store, Chicago,
has been incorporated with capital stock of
$2,500 by C. A. Grimm, R. Huttman and Harry
L. Shaver.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).