Music Trade Review
Issue: 1921 Vol. 72 N. 8 - Page 7
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
FEBRUARY 19, 1921
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
PIANO TRADE IN ST. LOUISJJHOWS UPWARD TENDENCY
Business Is Somewhat Spotty, but General Average Shows Steady Improvement—Local Associa-
tion to Hold Meeting—Death of Joseph E. Medairy—Personals and Other News
ST. LOUIS, MO., February 14.—There is some-
thing eccentric about the piano business in St.
Louis in the penchant that it lias for taking
odd and unexpected spurts. The general level
of business during the past several months lias
been low, but hardly a week passes without one
firm or another reporting a good streak of sales.
It is seldom that the streaks, can be traced to
their causes. Dealers do not account for them.
They only know that the Streaks come and they
are duly thankful for them and hope they will
come again and often. There has been a slight
general improvement the first half of this month
over January. This week's streak struck the
Lehman Piano Co. It set in on Saturday of
the week before and in the six days that fol-
lowed the Lehman salesmen sold more instru-
ments than they sold in the same number oi
days in the early part of December, when the
Christmas business was coming strongest. Most
of the sales were players and grands. P. A.
Lehman, president of the company, says the
sales ran up to $11,000, which, in the present
condition of trade and in view of the fact that
the Lehman house does not handle any exceed-
ingly high-priced instruments, may be said to
be going some. There were a few minor streaks
here and there, but in the main the week's busi-
ness was only a little better than in January.
Members of the Music Merchants' Associa-
tion of St. Louis will have a chance, when they
gather next Thursday night at the American
Annex Hotel, to see themselves as others see
them. Edward J. Brennan, general manager and
counsel of the Better Business Bureau, is go-
ing to tell them how music merchants' adver-
tising and selling methods strike him, viewing
them from the standpoint of the purchasing
public, which the Better Business Bureau rep-
resents. The merchants will also have a chance
to tell each other what they think of each other
in relation to alleged violations of resolutions
recently adopted by the association for the
elimination of abuses. Two of these relate to
the advertising of reduced prices ajid the break-
ing of sales. The association, not long ago,
adopted a resolution binding the members not
to advertise reduced prices, and at the last
meeting a resolution was adopted defining the
point at which a sale becomes a sale and should
be exempt from breaking efforts. It is alleged
that there have been violations of both resolu-
tions. The members will talk it out at the
meeting.
Joseph E. Medairy, former manager of the
talking machine department of the Stix, Baer
& Fuller Dry Goods Co., died Monday at the
home of relatives here, aged thirty-seven years.
Mr. Medairy was for six years at the head of
the Stix department. He resigned early in the
Winter to go to Atlanta, Ga., and take charge
of the Goodart-Tompkins Co. His health failed
there and lie returned to St. Louis and his
malady ran to a fatal termination. He was one
of the charter members of the Tri-State Victor
Dealers' Association, Before going to the Stix
firm he was with the Bollman Bros. Piano Co.
and the Aeolian Co. At the funeral, Wednesday,
the Tri-State association was represented and
the Stix talking machine department employes
attended in a body, headed by Sidney Baer and
F. J. Ennis, the new manager of the depart-
ment. He is survived by a widow and one child.
Fred Lehman, head of Lehman's Music House,
East St. Louis, has been elected a member of
the Board of Directors of the Southern National
Bank. His ejection was in recognition of the
soundness of his business policies. Nineteen
years ago Lehman became associated with his
father in the music business in East St. Louis.
He was, for three terms, president of the East
St. Louis Retail Merchants' Association and is
now treasurer of the Tri-State Victor Dealers'.
Association.
J. W. Ong, of Kansas City, formerly manager
of the Stix, Baer & Fuller Dry Goods Co., w^s
in St. Louis during the past week.
O. E. Walters, formerly with the Kieselhorst-
Piano Co., and W. J. Williamson, formerly with
_ the Scruggs, Vandervoort & Barney piano de-
partment, are now with the P. A. Starck Piano
Co.
Joseph Say ward, sales manager of M. Steinert
& Son, Boston, and William J. Ennis, of the
Premier Piano Co., New York, visited St. Louis
dealers.
TINKER WITH K0K0M0 MUSIC HOUSE
Well-known
3 Great Pianos
With 3 sounding boards
in each (Patented) nave the
greatest talking points in
the trade.
*
\
BIQlffil
raiLAva. li&B
nan mots.
We fix " o n e p r i c e " —
wholesale and retail.
The Hcppc Piano Co,
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Musician Takes Position
Martz Music Shop
With
KOKOMO, INK., February 14.—Harry L. Tinker,
formerly of Fort Wayne, a baritone singer
widely known throughout Indiana and Ohio,
has accepted a position in this city with the
Martz Music Shop, 221 North Main street. Mr.
Tinker has spent the last live years in Fort
Wayne, where he met with much success in
his work for more and better music. He man-
aged some of the largest concerts ever given
in that city. He acted as music editor for the
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette.
Prior to moving to Fort Wayne Mr. Tinker
was with the Cleveland Hippodrome Opera
Company. For many years he was also soloist
in one of Cleveland's largest churches. He and
C. H. M. Bilby, concert pianist of Muncie, have
contracted with the Apollo Concert Association
to present a number of joint recitals in the
leading cities of Indiana. The concert engage-
ments will continue until Spring.
OPINIONS ON BUSINESS OUTLOOK
\ "que-itiounairc" regarding the opinion of
business iirins in all lines of industry was put
out last month by the Philadelphia Reserve
Bank. The summary of conclusions regarding
future probabilities of trade is classified as fol-
lows: Of 592 responses 78 are reported as "very
optimistic," 350 as "fairly optimistic," 89 as "un-
decided," 61 as "slightly pessimistic" and 14 as
"very pessimistic."
Keep Your
Balance—
By giving your
customers real value
for their money. Your
sales won't take a
fall if you sell Ricca
Pianos.
We've built a quality into
Ricca Pianos and Player-
Pianos that is not being
duplicated today at our
prices.
Ricca instruments will
boost your business if you
give them the opportunity.
Why not get in touch with
us immediately?
and
9 7 9 9 Southern Blvd
NEW YORK CITY
Luigi Ricca founded the House of
Ricca in 1891. Mr. Ricca was one of
America's best known musicians. His
thorough musical knowledge coupled
with his piano making ideas enabled
him to produce a real musician's piano
—the Ricca.
The Ricca heritage of quality is now
being carried forward by the second
and third generations of the Ricca
family.
THE
FEBRUARY 19, 1921
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
PIANO TRADE IN ST. LOUISJJHOWS UPWARD TENDENCY
Business Is Somewhat Spotty, but General Average Shows Steady Improvement—Local Associa-
tion to Hold Meeting—Death of Joseph E. Medairy—Personals and Other News
ST. LOUIS, MO., February 14.—There is some-
thing eccentric about the piano business in St.
Louis in the penchant that it lias for taking
odd and unexpected spurts. The general level
of business during the past several months lias
been low, but hardly a week passes without one
firm or another reporting a good streak of sales.
It is seldom that the streaks, can be traced to
their causes. Dealers do not account for them.
They only know that the Streaks come and they
are duly thankful for them and hope they will
come again and often. There has been a slight
general improvement the first half of this month
over January. This week's streak struck the
Lehman Piano Co. It set in on Saturday of
the week before and in the six days that fol-
lowed the Lehman salesmen sold more instru-
ments than they sold in the same number oi
days in the early part of December, when the
Christmas business was coming strongest. Most
of the sales were players and grands. P. A.
Lehman, president of the company, says the
sales ran up to $11,000, which, in the present
condition of trade and in view of the fact that
the Lehman house does not handle any exceed-
ingly high-priced instruments, may be said to
be going some. There were a few minor streaks
here and there, but in the main the week's busi-
ness was only a little better than in January.
Members of the Music Merchants' Associa-
tion of St. Louis will have a chance, when they
gather next Thursday night at the American
Annex Hotel, to see themselves as others see
them. Edward J. Brennan, general manager and
counsel of the Better Business Bureau, is go-
ing to tell them how music merchants' adver-
tising and selling methods strike him, viewing
them from the standpoint of the purchasing
public, which the Better Business Bureau rep-
resents. The merchants will also have a chance
to tell each other what they think of each other
in relation to alleged violations of resolutions
recently adopted by the association for the
elimination of abuses. Two of these relate to
the advertising of reduced prices ajid the break-
ing of sales. The association, not long ago,
adopted a resolution binding the members not
to advertise reduced prices, and at the last
meeting a resolution was adopted defining the
point at which a sale becomes a sale and should
be exempt from breaking efforts. It is alleged
that there have been violations of both resolu-
tions. The members will talk it out at the
meeting.
Joseph E. Medairy, former manager of the
talking machine department of the Stix, Baer
& Fuller Dry Goods Co., died Monday at the
home of relatives here, aged thirty-seven years.
Mr. Medairy was for six years at the head of
the Stix department. He resigned early in the
Winter to go to Atlanta, Ga., and take charge
of the Goodart-Tompkins Co. His health failed
there and lie returned to St. Louis and his
malady ran to a fatal termination. He was one
of the charter members of the Tri-State Victor
Dealers' Association, Before going to the Stix
firm he was with the Bollman Bros. Piano Co.
and the Aeolian Co. At the funeral, Wednesday,
the Tri-State association was represented and
the Stix talking machine department employes
attended in a body, headed by Sidney Baer and
F. J. Ennis, the new manager of the depart-
ment. He is survived by a widow and one child.
Fred Lehman, head of Lehman's Music House,
East St. Louis, has been elected a member of
the Board of Directors of the Southern National
Bank. His ejection was in recognition of the
soundness of his business policies. Nineteen
years ago Lehman became associated with his
father in the music business in East St. Louis.
He was, for three terms, president of the East
St. Louis Retail Merchants' Association and is
now treasurer of the Tri-State Victor Dealers'.
Association.
J. W. Ong, of Kansas City, formerly manager
of the Stix, Baer & Fuller Dry Goods Co., w^s
in St. Louis during the past week.
O. E. Walters, formerly with the Kieselhorst-
Piano Co., and W. J. Williamson, formerly with
_ the Scruggs, Vandervoort & Barney piano de-
partment, are now with the P. A. Starck Piano
Co.
Joseph Say ward, sales manager of M. Steinert
& Son, Boston, and William J. Ennis, of the
Premier Piano Co., New York, visited St. Louis
dealers.
TINKER WITH K0K0M0 MUSIC HOUSE
Well-known
3 Great Pianos
With 3 sounding boards
in each (Patented) nave the
greatest talking points in
the trade.
*
\
BIQlffil
raiLAva. li&B
nan mots.
We fix " o n e p r i c e " —
wholesale and retail.
The Hcppc Piano Co,
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Musician Takes Position
Martz Music Shop
With
KOKOMO, INK., February 14.—Harry L. Tinker,
formerly of Fort Wayne, a baritone singer
widely known throughout Indiana and Ohio,
has accepted a position in this city with the
Martz Music Shop, 221 North Main street. Mr.
Tinker has spent the last live years in Fort
Wayne, where he met with much success in
his work for more and better music. He man-
aged some of the largest concerts ever given
in that city. He acted as music editor for the
Fort Wayne Journal-Gazette.
Prior to moving to Fort Wayne Mr. Tinker
was with the Cleveland Hippodrome Opera
Company. For many years he was also soloist
in one of Cleveland's largest churches. He and
C. H. M. Bilby, concert pianist of Muncie, have
contracted with the Apollo Concert Association
to present a number of joint recitals in the
leading cities of Indiana. The concert engage-
ments will continue until Spring.
OPINIONS ON BUSINESS OUTLOOK
\ "que-itiounairc" regarding the opinion of
business iirins in all lines of industry was put
out last month by the Philadelphia Reserve
Bank. The summary of conclusions regarding
future probabilities of trade is classified as fol-
lows: Of 592 responses 78 are reported as "very
optimistic," 350 as "fairly optimistic," 89 as "un-
decided," 61 as "slightly pessimistic" and 14 as
"very pessimistic."
Keep Your
Balance—
By giving your
customers real value
for their money. Your
sales won't take a
fall if you sell Ricca
Pianos.
We've built a quality into
Ricca Pianos and Player-
Pianos that is not being
duplicated today at our
prices.
Ricca instruments will
boost your business if you
give them the opportunity.
Why not get in touch with
us immediately?
and
9 7 9 9 Southern Blvd
NEW YORK CITY
Luigi Ricca founded the House of
Ricca in 1891. Mr. Ricca was one of
America's best known musicians. His
thorough musical knowledge coupled
with his piano making ideas enabled
him to produce a real musician's piano
—the Ricca.
The Ricca heritage of quality is now
being carried forward by the second
and third generations of the Ricca
family.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).