Music Trade Review

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AUGUST 10, 1918
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
9
PITTSBURGH TRADE DOING AN ACTIVE SUMMER BUSINESS
High-Grade Instruments Forming the Bulk of Present Sales, With Cash or Short-Time Contracts
the Rule—Schroeder Co. Featuring the Kurtzmann—Personals and Other News
PITTSBURGH, PA., August 5.—Trade conditions
in the Pittsburgh piano marts for the month of
July were reported by all dealers seen by The
Music Trade Review representative as excep-
tionally good. In fact, quite a few dealers
emphasized the fact that the sales of pianos for
the month far exceeded the sales that were made
in July, 1917. On all sides it was pointed out
that the extraordinary sales of pianos and player-
pianos made during the month were princi-
pally due to the enormous weekly payrolls that
have been made possible by the large iron and
steel establishments of the Pittsburgh district.
Every week over $10,000,000 is paid out by the
various industrial plants of this city and, in turn,
this money goes to the home markets.
The higher priced pianos and player-pianos,
it was stated, appeared to have the call and not
a few of the sales were on a cash basis. While
time sales are still in favor, there is a string
trend among piano buyers, especially those who
earn high wages, of paying cash down.
This feature as a notable instance of this state
of affairs, as it particularly applies to Pittsburgh,
is shown in one of the branch music stores
where a mill worker and his family called to
purchase a talking machine. A $50 machine was
shown and the man asked to see a higher priced
style. A $100 phonograph was next shown and
still the man was not satisfied. He finally bar-
gained for the purchase of a $150 phonograph
with the understanding that within a week if he
chose to, he would return the instrument and
take a $225 machine that struck the fancy of
the family.
The Schroeder Piano Co. devoted one of their
large show windows the past week to an attrac-
tive and tasty display of the Kurtzmann piano.
This is one of the leaders of the Schroeder Co
and sales were reported especially brisk. This
was said to be a good market, for grand pianos
are also a feature of the week's business.
W. H. Schroeder, of the Schroeder Piano Co.,
has left on an extended vacation trip to moun-
tain resorts, while George Schroeder has re-
turned from a vacation trip to Lake Chautauqua
with his family.
The Schroeder Piano Co. are making extensive
alterations to the talking machine departments
of their stores at' Butler, Pa., and Charleroi, Pa.,
and when they are completed there will be added
three new demonstration booths at each store.
W. C. Dierks, general manager of "the C. C.
Mellor Co. interests, said: "Trade is very good
and we have no complaints to make. Pitts-
burghers are great music lovers and conse-
quently pianos, player-pianos-fnd other musical
instruments havi a steady demand practically
throughout the entire year. The past month has
been a good one and the prospects-for August
are very bright indeed."
Jacob Schoenberger, of Lechner & Schoenber-
ger, one of ,the ojdest established piano houses
in Western Pennsylvania, said to the repre-
sentative of The Review: "We are doing a- nice business and find that our sales for Jujy
far exceeded the business that we did in Juljiy,
1917." The firm have a large and commodious
storeroom on Liberty avenue, right in the iifeart
of the downtown business section, and they
Simplest and Best
The GEORGJfP. BRAND
Mechanical Tracking Device
Destined to be the Standard
in the trade
Manufactured by the
BRAND PLAYER ACCESSORIES COMPANY
140th Street and Jackson Arenue, New York
utilize their show window for splendid exhibits
of pianos and talking machines in which there
is a marked spirit of patriotism shown by use
of the American flag and colors of the Allies.
Mr. Schoenberger is prepared to take his vaca-
tion in a few days and will auto leisurely with
his family to Lake Chautauqua, N. Y. He will
be absent several weeks.
G. W. Watkins, manager of the piano depart-
ment of the W. F. Frederick Piano Co., stated
that there was considerable, activity in the piano
trade at present and that sales were most en-
couraging. Mr. Watkins appeared somewhat
concerned over the ruling of the War Industries
Board relative to their allotting of steel to in-
dustries that are not classed as essential to the
successful carrying on of the war. "It is to be
hoped," said Mr. Watkins, "that the decision of
the board as it affects the piano and allied in-
dustries will not be so drastic as to curtail to any
marked extent the output of the piano factories.
Music is decidedly essential to the well being and
morale of the American people just at this time
when the issues that we are contending for are
being so bitterly contested on the Old World
battlefield. It is to be hoped, therefore, that
while we must use and put forth every effort
to win the war, the brakes will not be put on
too hard on the piano industry. No class of
business men in this country is more loyal to
the Government than the piano dealers and
they are back of Uncle Sam with all their heart
and soul."
Mrs. Mae Hall, who represents the W. F.
Frederick Piano Co. at New Castle, Pa., was a
visitor to the Pittsburgh office the past week
and brought with her a customer who purchased
an $850 piano.
Edward Hoffman, of J. M. Hoffman & Co.,
the Wood street piano dealers, left on a two
weeks' vacation last week. He is making a tour
of the St. Lawrence and Saguenay rivers and
will visit Toronto, Montreal, Quebec, Lake
George and New York.
E. Harwood, manager of the piano depart-
ment of Kaufmann's, was quite enthusiastic
over business conditions and stated that the
piano department for the month of June made
the highest percentage of sales of any depart-
ment in the big store, which is one of the lead-
ing department stores west of New York.
"June was a record-breaking month in this de-
partment for piano sales," said Mr. Harwood.
"We went over the top by 200 per cent, better
than we did in June, 1917. The month of July
we expect will show a corresponding increase."
Mr. Harwood left last Saturday on a two weeks'
auto trip to various points in New York. He
will combine pleasure and business in the outing.
N. Y. BARGE CANAL FREE FOR ALL
The Railroad Administration has lowered
freight rates on the New York State Barge
Canal about 20 per cent, on intrastate and 10
per cent, on interstate traffic, as compared with
all rail rates, for the purpose of deflecting traf-
fic from the congested railroads to the water
routes. ]t is essential for the welfare of the
nation that the Canal be used to full capacity,
and shippers within the State and on the Great
Lakes should co-operate for the purpose.
Much misinformation exists regarding Gov-
ernment operation of the Canal. The rates fixed
by the Railroad Administration apply only to
boats operated by the Governrrient. Any pri-
vate corporation or individual can buy or build
barges and operate them freely on the Canal,
and can cut the Government rates as much as
they please in either interstate or intrastate
'traffic. The Canal is a free highway for all
-'corners. For local traffic the Government rates
i, will be about 25 per cent, less than the rail
j rates, but. private barge owners can charge still
less if they choose.
r
Christman
Pianos
Players
Grands
because of their
style and quality
are quickly sold.
They have TONE,
lots of it. and of
that wonderful pu-
rity and power for
which they are
justly famous.
In every detail of case
designs, veneers and
finish they are right up
to the minute.
By selling the Christ-
man line your sales and
profits are bound to in-
crease for your com-
petitor could not pos-
sibly offer pianos of
such exceptional value
for the price.
If Christman Pianos
are not sold in your ter-
ritory it will pay you
to write for full partic-
ulars.
"The first touch tells"
Christman Piano Co.
597 E. 137th Street New York