Music Trade Review
Issue: 1919 Vol. 69 N. 23 - Page 12
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
12
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ST. LOUIS DEALERS DISCUSS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Shortage of New Instruments Emphasizes Trade-in and Service Problems—Slight Falling Off in
Demand—Raising Fund for Music Advertising—Tuning Prices Are Increased
ST. LOUIS, MO., December 1.—November's end-
ing was not in keeping with the business record
made by the month as a whole. There was an
easing up in the piano sales last week that
could not be mistaken. Whether it was merely
a temporary setback, due to the week being
bioken up by the Thanksgiving holiday, or the
beginning of a reaction is not certain. There
has been an expectation that sooner or later
there would occur a mild revolt against the
increasing prices of pianos and players, but the
opinion has been that this would not manifest
itself until after Christmas. However, there is a
suspicion in some quarters that such a reaction
has already begun. This view is strengthened
somewhat by the fact that there has been no
corresponding weakening of the demand for
talking machines and records.
With stocks of pianos and players steadily
dwindling the Music Merchants' Association is
wrestling with the growing problem of prices
to be paid for trade-ins. Trade-ins were given
top line space on the program at the last meet-
ing of the association Mbnday night at the
American Annex. A committee composed of
P. E. Conroy, E. A. Kieselhorst and John D.
Barthel had been appointed at a previous meet-
ing to struggle with the question and submit
recommendations. The committee struggled,
but it did not recommend. The reason was
that it was found that considerable more strug-
gling would be necessary before anything could
be recommended. Correspondence with East-
ern dealers who have been trying to solve the
problem helped some, but not enough. There
was a general discussion and the committee was
given more time. The plan which meets with
most favor is that employed by the typewriter
people, who make a fixed allowance for trade-
ins based on the make and number without re-
Nearly Half a Century of Growth
After nearly half a century of growth, this
company represents probably the largest com-
plete organization in the country devoted to
the production, manufacture and distribution of
Mahogany Lumber and Veneers
Growth is the natural result of service, and
now that we have co-ordinated all branches of
the industry under one organization we are
in a position to offer even more complete
service than in the past.
DECEMBER 6, 1919
gard to condition. The difficulty of adapting
the method to pianos is presented by the stencil
instruments. The committee hopes to be able
to make recommendations at the next meeting.
The committee is also working on a uniform
guarantee which is expected to eliminate the
causes of controversies between dealers and
customers. It is intended to cover the condi-
tions under which the sale is made and make it
plain that there are to be no free tunings and
that the dealer is not responsible for checking
of the varnish. It will set forth the interest to
be paid on deferred payments and it is intended
to have the purchaser sign it, so that there will
be no ground for dispute later on.
The music merchants are not going to let
the music teachers get the best of them when it
comes to advertising music. It was decided to
raise among the members of the association an
amount equal to that raised by the teachers,
to be used in a local advertising campaign.
The need of a constitution and by-laws is
felt and W. P. Chrisler, J. F. Ditzell and P. A.
Lehman were appointed a committee to draw
up and submit one at the next meeting.
Prices for tuning were increased as follows:
Pianos, from $2.50 to $3.00; players, from $3
to $3.50; grands, from $3.50 to $4. Most of the
dealers have been charging these prices, but
there has been lack of uniformity.
O. A. Field, president of the Field-Lippman
Piano Co., has returned from a trip to the Texas
branches of the firm.
Edward Mahoney, of Kranich & Bach, was
in St. Louis during the week. From here he
went to Cincinnati.
The Ampico will share honors with Leo Orn-
stein when he appears at the Odeon Wednesday
evening. Three of his numbers, En Batau, Noc-
turne Op. 15, No. 2 F Sharp, and Liebestraum
No. 3 will be reproduced on the Ampico imme-
diately after he has played them. The dicker-
ing Ampico used in the demonstration will be
furnished by Manager J. F. Ditzell, of the
Famous & Barr Co. piano department.
The Mengel Music Co., Fortieth and Olive
streets, has been admitted to membership in
the Music Merchants' Association.
C. P. Tyler, president of the Tuners, Polish-
ers and Repairmen's Union, has filed suit in the
Circuit Court against the Lehman Piano Co.
for $15,000 damages on account of injuries re-
ceived in a fall down the elevator shaft at the
store.
The recital given Friday evening at the Stat-
ler Hotel by Magdeleine Brard, pianiste, and
Maurice Dambois, cellist, under the auspices of
the Aeolian Co., was a complete success artis-
tically and in point of attendance. The Duo-
Art piano, for which Miss Brard records exclu-
sively, was, of course, featured, and its per-
formance aroused unbounded enthusiasm.
A NEW MUSIC SECTION IN DALLAS
Evening Journal Devotes Entire Section of
Eight Pages to Music and Things Musical
Astoria Mahogany Company, Inc.
347 Madison Avenue, New York
Successors to
Huddleston-Marsh Mahogany Co.
Astoria Veneer Mill and Dock Co.
Mills and Yards, Long Island City, New York
44 North Market Avenue
Grand Rapids, Mich.
2256 Lumber Street
Chicago, 111,
Music sections in the local papers are becom-
ing a habit in Dallas, where music appears to
have become a dominating feature. Last week,
for the second time recently, the Dallas Evening
Journal ran a special section of eight pages de-
voted entirely to music, with most of the space
given over to articles on what local schools and
colleges were doing to train children along
musical lines. There was also an excellent ar-
ticle on the activities of the music industry of
Dallas, and considerable news about musicians
and musical affairs generally. The local piano,
talking machine and music houses supported the
section with some liberal advertising, Sanger
Bros, taking an entire page to tell why they
feature the Victrola exclusively.
NEW INCORPORATION
The Bernard-Scheib Music Co. has been
formed in Rochester, N. Y., with a capital of
$100,000. The incorporators are R. H. Wilkin-
son, G. H. Putnam and C. J. Scheib.
12
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
ST. LOUIS DEALERS DISCUSS IMPORTANT QUESTIONS
Shortage of New Instruments Emphasizes Trade-in and Service Problems—Slight Falling Off in
Demand—Raising Fund for Music Advertising—Tuning Prices Are Increased
ST. LOUIS, MO., December 1.—November's end-
ing was not in keeping with the business record
made by the month as a whole. There was an
easing up in the piano sales last week that
could not be mistaken. Whether it was merely
a temporary setback, due to the week being
bioken up by the Thanksgiving holiday, or the
beginning of a reaction is not certain. There
has been an expectation that sooner or later
there would occur a mild revolt against the
increasing prices of pianos and players, but the
opinion has been that this would not manifest
itself until after Christmas. However, there is a
suspicion in some quarters that such a reaction
has already begun. This view is strengthened
somewhat by the fact that there has been no
corresponding weakening of the demand for
talking machines and records.
With stocks of pianos and players steadily
dwindling the Music Merchants' Association is
wrestling with the growing problem of prices
to be paid for trade-ins. Trade-ins were given
top line space on the program at the last meet-
ing of the association Mbnday night at the
American Annex. A committee composed of
P. E. Conroy, E. A. Kieselhorst and John D.
Barthel had been appointed at a previous meet-
ing to struggle with the question and submit
recommendations. The committee struggled,
but it did not recommend. The reason was
that it was found that considerable more strug-
gling would be necessary before anything could
be recommended. Correspondence with East-
ern dealers who have been trying to solve the
problem helped some, but not enough. There
was a general discussion and the committee was
given more time. The plan which meets with
most favor is that employed by the typewriter
people, who make a fixed allowance for trade-
ins based on the make and number without re-
Nearly Half a Century of Growth
After nearly half a century of growth, this
company represents probably the largest com-
plete organization in the country devoted to
the production, manufacture and distribution of
Mahogany Lumber and Veneers
Growth is the natural result of service, and
now that we have co-ordinated all branches of
the industry under one organization we are
in a position to offer even more complete
service than in the past.
DECEMBER 6, 1919
gard to condition. The difficulty of adapting
the method to pianos is presented by the stencil
instruments. The committee hopes to be able
to make recommendations at the next meeting.
The committee is also working on a uniform
guarantee which is expected to eliminate the
causes of controversies between dealers and
customers. It is intended to cover the condi-
tions under which the sale is made and make it
plain that there are to be no free tunings and
that the dealer is not responsible for checking
of the varnish. It will set forth the interest to
be paid on deferred payments and it is intended
to have the purchaser sign it, so that there will
be no ground for dispute later on.
The music merchants are not going to let
the music teachers get the best of them when it
comes to advertising music. It was decided to
raise among the members of the association an
amount equal to that raised by the teachers,
to be used in a local advertising campaign.
The need of a constitution and by-laws is
felt and W. P. Chrisler, J. F. Ditzell and P. A.
Lehman were appointed a committee to draw
up and submit one at the next meeting.
Prices for tuning were increased as follows:
Pianos, from $2.50 to $3.00; players, from $3
to $3.50; grands, from $3.50 to $4. Most of the
dealers have been charging these prices, but
there has been lack of uniformity.
O. A. Field, president of the Field-Lippman
Piano Co., has returned from a trip to the Texas
branches of the firm.
Edward Mahoney, of Kranich & Bach, was
in St. Louis during the week. From here he
went to Cincinnati.
The Ampico will share honors with Leo Orn-
stein when he appears at the Odeon Wednesday
evening. Three of his numbers, En Batau, Noc-
turne Op. 15, No. 2 F Sharp, and Liebestraum
No. 3 will be reproduced on the Ampico imme-
diately after he has played them. The dicker-
ing Ampico used in the demonstration will be
furnished by Manager J. F. Ditzell, of the
Famous & Barr Co. piano department.
The Mengel Music Co., Fortieth and Olive
streets, has been admitted to membership in
the Music Merchants' Association.
C. P. Tyler, president of the Tuners, Polish-
ers and Repairmen's Union, has filed suit in the
Circuit Court against the Lehman Piano Co.
for $15,000 damages on account of injuries re-
ceived in a fall down the elevator shaft at the
store.
The recital given Friday evening at the Stat-
ler Hotel by Magdeleine Brard, pianiste, and
Maurice Dambois, cellist, under the auspices of
the Aeolian Co., was a complete success artis-
tically and in point of attendance. The Duo-
Art piano, for which Miss Brard records exclu-
sively, was, of course, featured, and its per-
formance aroused unbounded enthusiasm.
A NEW MUSIC SECTION IN DALLAS
Evening Journal Devotes Entire Section of
Eight Pages to Music and Things Musical
Astoria Mahogany Company, Inc.
347 Madison Avenue, New York
Successors to
Huddleston-Marsh Mahogany Co.
Astoria Veneer Mill and Dock Co.
Mills and Yards, Long Island City, New York
44 North Market Avenue
Grand Rapids, Mich.
2256 Lumber Street
Chicago, 111,
Music sections in the local papers are becom-
ing a habit in Dallas, where music appears to
have become a dominating feature. Last week,
for the second time recently, the Dallas Evening
Journal ran a special section of eight pages de-
voted entirely to music, with most of the space
given over to articles on what local schools and
colleges were doing to train children along
musical lines. There was also an excellent ar-
ticle on the activities of the music industry of
Dallas, and considerable news about musicians
and musical affairs generally. The local piano,
talking machine and music houses supported the
section with some liberal advertising, Sanger
Bros, taking an entire page to tell why they
feature the Victrola exclusively.
NEW INCORPORATION
The Bernard-Scheib Music Co. has been
formed in Rochester, N. Y., with a capital of
$100,000. The incorporators are R. H. Wilkin-
son, G. H. Putnam and C. J. Scheib.
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