Music Trade Review
Issue: 1920 Vol. 70 N. 2 - Page 11
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JANUARY 10, 1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
11
PHILADELPHIA TRADE STARTS NEW YEAR WITH SHORTAGE
Instruments in Great Demand, but Local Dealers Are Unable to Supply Them—Lester Factory
Working Ahead at Full Speed — Heppe Employes Receive Substantial Bonuses
PHILADELPHIA, PA., January 5.—The first week
of the new year has brought no changes
whatever into the piano business. Very few
pianos have been received here, and there are
still many orders taken during the holidays that
remain unfilled, and from present appearances
will so remain for a considerable time.
Some pianos have been received since Christ-
mas but not enough to close the great gap of
disappointments. The dealers have the assur-
ance that the New York factories are working
as hard as they can to get stock for delivery,
but it must be a number of weeks before this
will be possible, as every instrument that had
been started when the strike came was finished
up, after delays, and shipped to some destina-
tion, so that the factories will practically have
to begin the new year by building from the very
bottom.
The Lester Co. was compelled to shut down
for several days between the two holidays, but
on Friday last again started up with the re-
cently installed big power plant in full blast
and with a full quota of men. On Monday of
this week their road men started for their first
trip of the new year, and the factory is planning
to at least double its output during the coming
year.
The Lester Co. has called upon its dealers to
send in monthly orders this year, and many of
them have done so. The officials feel that if
their dealers will co-operate with them in this
request it will assist them very materially in
their plans to keep every one fully supplied,
and give a satisfactory distribution of their
stock. This will be one way to insure the get-
ting of pianos, for they believe there will be
more or less of a shortage of pianos right along.
While the Lester people feel that they made a
record shipment in December, they would have
been able to have shipped several hundred more
if it would have been possible for them to have
gotten piano actions and keys.
George Boyd has taken the place of Mr.
O'Neill as the head of the talking machine de-
partment at the F. A. North & Co.'s 1306 Chest-
nut street (main) store. George H. Lofland,
in charge of the branch store in Camden, at 831
Broadway, was found asphyxiated from the
3 Great Pianos
With 3 sounding boards
in each (Patented) have the
greatest talking points in
the trade.
famtaratot Sum*
We fix " o n e p r i c e " —
wholesale and retail.
The Heppe Piano Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
fumes of gasoline while working about his
garage last Saturday.
F. J. Heppe, of C. J. Heppe & Son, as usual,
gave all his employes substantial money gifts
this year during the holidays, from the highest
man in his employ to the lowest, following a
custom of many years at the Heppe house.
William Whitbeck, who was formerly employed
at the Heppe house, but now is connected with
the John Wanamaker piano department in New
York, called here during the holidays to see his
old friends. Fred Hoese, for several years sales
manager at the Heppe house, and well known in
the piano business in this city, was also in
Philadelphia during the holidays. He is at
present in the shoe business in Allentown,
where he has a very fine store in the center of
that thriving city.
The Cunningham Piano Co. began the new
year in an encouraging way. In spite of their
very heavy holiday business, to start the year
they have a complete stock of all their lines
in their warerooms, and new instruments are
being received from their factory right along.
P. J. Cunningham, the head of the firm, is con-
templating a gunning trip to Pike County in
January. Joseph Cox, in charge of the West
Philadelphia branch of the Cunningham house,
says that he was able to more than double
his usual December business the past year. H.
J. Farrell, the Scranton representative of the
Cunningham house, was also in Philadelphia,
and reports that he had a tremendous business
and that he is being well stocked up for the
new year, and anticipates that 1920 is going
to be even larger, in his section, than 1919. The
same reports are coming from E. C. Malarkey,
who sells the Cunningham at Girardville,
Shamokin and Pottsville; A. A. Frankle, Mill-
ville, N. J., and V. E. Houyoux, of Bridgeton,
N. J.
Manager C. B. Miller, of the Snellenburg
piano department, made two trips to Union
County over the holidays, one to spend Christ-
mas and the other to spend New Year's Day with
his family and old friends. Mr. Miller says that
he has been able to gradually stock up on
pianos, and has received some Kurtzmann and
Poole as well as Hallet & Davis players. He
has received several very fine Kurtzmann grands,
which have been a favorite seller in his de-
partment. He says that the Kurtzmann and
Poole companies have notified him that they
will be able to take care of his department
fully in a very short time. The department had
an exceptionally fine music roll business in
December, which was more than double the
December of a year ago.
The Schomacker piano factory was not closed
down at all during the holidays, but Christmas
and New Year's Day, and Manager Schwamb
says that he is able to start the new year with
a factory filled with skilled workmen, and with
sufficient materials to keep them going for many
months. During the year the Schomacker plant
was able to make sufficient pianos for its own
trade, but could look for no new business, but
they are laying plans now ta take up, shortly,
several agencies who have been clamoring for
Schomacker pianos for some time.
H. A. Weymann & Sons are very much grati-
fied at the big business they enjoyed in 1919,
and the bright prospects for the future. Harry
Weymann states that they enter the new year
with their factory, at which the Keystone State
and Weymann goods are manufactured, in very
excellent shape and they believe that they will
be able to get out enough stock to satisfy all
demands the coming year. The Q R S roll de-
partment also enjoyed a very excellent business,
and they are very much gratified at the way
their trade has taken to this latest departure
of theirs, and also with the loyalty they showed
in sticking to them and waiting patiently for
Victor goods.
I 1
1920
PLANS
Notwithstanding
the increased costs
of both materials
and labor our aim
during 1920 is to
make
Christman
Pianos
Uprights Players Grands
not only the best
quality, but also the
best value to be had
for the money.
By selling these re-
liable instruments
you will satisfy
every customer and
increase both your
sales and profits.
Comparisons prove
Christman Quality.
It will pay you to
write today for a
catalogue.
"The first touch tells"
Christman Piano Co.
601 E. 137th Street, New York
JANUARY 10, 1920
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
11
PHILADELPHIA TRADE STARTS NEW YEAR WITH SHORTAGE
Instruments in Great Demand, but Local Dealers Are Unable to Supply Them—Lester Factory
Working Ahead at Full Speed — Heppe Employes Receive Substantial Bonuses
PHILADELPHIA, PA., January 5.—The first week
of the new year has brought no changes
whatever into the piano business. Very few
pianos have been received here, and there are
still many orders taken during the holidays that
remain unfilled, and from present appearances
will so remain for a considerable time.
Some pianos have been received since Christ-
mas but not enough to close the great gap of
disappointments. The dealers have the assur-
ance that the New York factories are working
as hard as they can to get stock for delivery,
but it must be a number of weeks before this
will be possible, as every instrument that had
been started when the strike came was finished
up, after delays, and shipped to some destina-
tion, so that the factories will practically have
to begin the new year by building from the very
bottom.
The Lester Co. was compelled to shut down
for several days between the two holidays, but
on Friday last again started up with the re-
cently installed big power plant in full blast
and with a full quota of men. On Monday of
this week their road men started for their first
trip of the new year, and the factory is planning
to at least double its output during the coming
year.
The Lester Co. has called upon its dealers to
send in monthly orders this year, and many of
them have done so. The officials feel that if
their dealers will co-operate with them in this
request it will assist them very materially in
their plans to keep every one fully supplied,
and give a satisfactory distribution of their
stock. This will be one way to insure the get-
ting of pianos, for they believe there will be
more or less of a shortage of pianos right along.
While the Lester people feel that they made a
record shipment in December, they would have
been able to have shipped several hundred more
if it would have been possible for them to have
gotten piano actions and keys.
George Boyd has taken the place of Mr.
O'Neill as the head of the talking machine de-
partment at the F. A. North & Co.'s 1306 Chest-
nut street (main) store. George H. Lofland,
in charge of the branch store in Camden, at 831
Broadway, was found asphyxiated from the
3 Great Pianos
With 3 sounding boards
in each (Patented) have the
greatest talking points in
the trade.
famtaratot Sum*
We fix " o n e p r i c e " —
wholesale and retail.
The Heppe Piano Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
fumes of gasoline while working about his
garage last Saturday.
F. J. Heppe, of C. J. Heppe & Son, as usual,
gave all his employes substantial money gifts
this year during the holidays, from the highest
man in his employ to the lowest, following a
custom of many years at the Heppe house.
William Whitbeck, who was formerly employed
at the Heppe house, but now is connected with
the John Wanamaker piano department in New
York, called here during the holidays to see his
old friends. Fred Hoese, for several years sales
manager at the Heppe house, and well known in
the piano business in this city, was also in
Philadelphia during the holidays. He is at
present in the shoe business in Allentown,
where he has a very fine store in the center of
that thriving city.
The Cunningham Piano Co. began the new
year in an encouraging way. In spite of their
very heavy holiday business, to start the year
they have a complete stock of all their lines
in their warerooms, and new instruments are
being received from their factory right along.
P. J. Cunningham, the head of the firm, is con-
templating a gunning trip to Pike County in
January. Joseph Cox, in charge of the West
Philadelphia branch of the Cunningham house,
says that he was able to more than double
his usual December business the past year. H.
J. Farrell, the Scranton representative of the
Cunningham house, was also in Philadelphia,
and reports that he had a tremendous business
and that he is being well stocked up for the
new year, and anticipates that 1920 is going
to be even larger, in his section, than 1919. The
same reports are coming from E. C. Malarkey,
who sells the Cunningham at Girardville,
Shamokin and Pottsville; A. A. Frankle, Mill-
ville, N. J., and V. E. Houyoux, of Bridgeton,
N. J.
Manager C. B. Miller, of the Snellenburg
piano department, made two trips to Union
County over the holidays, one to spend Christ-
mas and the other to spend New Year's Day with
his family and old friends. Mr. Miller says that
he has been able to gradually stock up on
pianos, and has received some Kurtzmann and
Poole as well as Hallet & Davis players. He
has received several very fine Kurtzmann grands,
which have been a favorite seller in his de-
partment. He says that the Kurtzmann and
Poole companies have notified him that they
will be able to take care of his department
fully in a very short time. The department had
an exceptionally fine music roll business in
December, which was more than double the
December of a year ago.
The Schomacker piano factory was not closed
down at all during the holidays, but Christmas
and New Year's Day, and Manager Schwamb
says that he is able to start the new year with
a factory filled with skilled workmen, and with
sufficient materials to keep them going for many
months. During the year the Schomacker plant
was able to make sufficient pianos for its own
trade, but could look for no new business, but
they are laying plans now ta take up, shortly,
several agencies who have been clamoring for
Schomacker pianos for some time.
H. A. Weymann & Sons are very much grati-
fied at the big business they enjoyed in 1919,
and the bright prospects for the future. Harry
Weymann states that they enter the new year
with their factory, at which the Keystone State
and Weymann goods are manufactured, in very
excellent shape and they believe that they will
be able to get out enough stock to satisfy all
demands the coming year. The Q R S roll de-
partment also enjoyed a very excellent business,
and they are very much gratified at the way
their trade has taken to this latest departure
of theirs, and also with the loyalty they showed
in sticking to them and waiting patiently for
Victor goods.
I 1
1920
PLANS
Notwithstanding
the increased costs
of both materials
and labor our aim
during 1920 is to
make
Christman
Pianos
Uprights Players Grands
not only the best
quality, but also the
best value to be had
for the money.
By selling these re-
liable instruments
you will satisfy
every customer and
increase both your
sales and profits.
Comparisons prove
Christman Quality.
It will pay you to
write today for a
catalogue.
"The first touch tells"
Christman Piano Co.
601 E. 137th Street, New York
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