Music Trade Review
Issue: 1921 Vol. 73 N. 1 - Page 8
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
INTERESTING VOLUME FROM PARIS
"LET'S GO" SLOGAN PROVES A HIT
Auguste Bosc's Music Trade Directory for 1921 Fortune Gallo Among Those Who Praise Pro-
Most Authoritatively Compiled
gressive Policy of Milton Piano Co.
From Auguste Bosc, the prominent publisher
of Paris, France, we have just received his ad-
mirably edited Music Trade Directory for 1921,
which covers every branch of the music industry
in France, the French colonies, Belgium and
Luxemburg. In this volume of 500 pages are to
be found the names and addresses of practically
every manufacturer, jobber and dealer making
or handling any kind of musical instrument, in-
cluding talking machines, in every city, town
and hamlet throughout France and the surround-
ing colonies.
The volume is very cleverly arranged, is well
edited and, from cover to cover, is a splendid
example of modern typography. This publica-
tion as a whole gives a very comprehensive idea
of the extent of the music trade industry in
France. We extend our congratulations to M.
Bosc on the production of this handsome and
useful volume, which is issued from 15 Rue de
Madrid, Paris.
The Milton Piano Co., New York, recently
sent to all its dealers an interesting circular urg-
ing optimism and outlining the present business
spirit in America. "Let's Go" was the caption
of the circular, and many dealers took occasion
to commend George W. Allen, president of the
Milton company, for the clarity of the message.
The effects of the circular, in fact, were felt out-
side of the trade proper, for there was received
from Fortune Gallo, the noted musical authority
and impresario, a letter in which he said:
"Thanks for sending me the circular 'Le.t's
Go.' I agree with you that is the spirit that
should prevail throughout the nation today. I
am passing the thought on to others."
This answer from Mr. Gallo came at an oppor-
tune time when New York newspapers generally
were quoting his new and progressive policy of
putting the opera on a more popular basis by
making it possible for the public to see the well-
known operas at popular prices.
The Cheney Factories
Our cabinet factory and
metal parts plant are com-
plete—geared to the pro-
duction of the finest in
phonographs.
CHENEY TALKING MACHINE COMPANY,
Chicago
The ^Master Instrument
With the ^Violin c F(esonator and Orchestral Chambers
JULY 2, 1921
NO CHANGE IN BROOKLYN TRADE
Housing Situation and Unemployment Blamed
for Slow Business—Grands and Player-pianos
in Popular Demand, Say Dealers
Little change is recorded in the Brooklyn
piano business during the past few weeks.
Dealers, in general, report business as good as
could be expected under existing conditions.
The grands and player-pianos are in popular
demand and recent sales point to more discrimi-
nation in the selection of instruments.
The seriousness of the housing situation, high
rents and unemployment are blamed, in part,
for the slackness in the business by Manager
Fry, of the Sterling Piano Co. "The money
that could be spent for pianos is paid to the
landlord each month," said Mr. Fry. "An-
other thing that affects the trade is the fact
that many families and newly married couples
are living in two or three rooms. They are
not doing this from choice, but simply because
they either can't get larger apartments or the
rents of more pretentious places are prohibitive.
Only a few weeks ago a woman came in to look
at some pianos. She was enthusiastic over a
grand and as she handed me the initial pay-
ment she exclaimed that she didn't know where
in the world she would find room for the in-
strument. I talked to her for a while and found
out that if she purchased the piano she would
have to put it in the bedroom. Now, that is
just a concrete illustration of hundreds of
similar cases and it is my opinion that when the
housing situation is remedied the piano trade
will show a material increase."
The retail piano department of Frederick
Loeser & Co. reports that conditions have not
changed for the past several weeks. While
there is nothing startling in the amount of busi-
ness done, enough pianos are sold to indicate
that the bottom has finally been reached and
that the trade is taking an upward trend which
will probably be subjected to greater accelera-
tion in the late Fall and early Winter.
W. H. Bishop, of the talking machine and
record department, states that just at present
the demand for talking machines centers around
the small portable machines and records con-
taining dance music. This demand can be
traced to vacationists who take the instruments
with them to the camp, seashore and-picnics.
Despite the fact that the demand for dance rec-
ords predominates at this time Mr. Bishop is
making every effort to push the Red Seal rec-
ords. He also states that while business would
be extremely dull in this line if they waited
for it to come to the store this is overcome
to a certain extent by keeping a complete force
of canvassers and follow-up men on the job.
The Pease Piano Co. is experiencing a big
demand for grands and player-pianos at present.
To date the month of June has shown a larger
percentage of business than was experienced
during May. The Wissner Piano Co. and
Hardman, Peck & Co. also report a fair de-
mand for pianos. These three latter compa-
nies are also doing a fair business in the talking
machine line.
F. T. PHILLIPS PASSES AWAY
Veteran Piano Dealer of Decatur, 111., Dies in
His Sixty-fifth Year
Fletcher T. Phillips, veteran piano dealer and
for thirty years a resident of Decatur, 111., died
in his home, 1076 West Main street, late last
week. He was sixty-five years of age at the
time of his demise and had been in poor health
for several years.
He was engaged in the musical instrument
business in Decatur and vicinity, but was perhaps
better known to the older residents as the owner
of "Dr. Kelley," a black pacing horse which was
at one time a familiar figure on all Central tracks.
The deceased leaves a widow and two chil-
dren, Mrs. H. A. McClure, of Decatur, and Mrs.
John DeLamater, of Washington, D. C, and
one brother, J. Robert Phillips, of Springfield.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
INTERESTING VOLUME FROM PARIS
"LET'S GO" SLOGAN PROVES A HIT
Auguste Bosc's Music Trade Directory for 1921 Fortune Gallo Among Those Who Praise Pro-
Most Authoritatively Compiled
gressive Policy of Milton Piano Co.
From Auguste Bosc, the prominent publisher
of Paris, France, we have just received his ad-
mirably edited Music Trade Directory for 1921,
which covers every branch of the music industry
in France, the French colonies, Belgium and
Luxemburg. In this volume of 500 pages are to
be found the names and addresses of practically
every manufacturer, jobber and dealer making
or handling any kind of musical instrument, in-
cluding talking machines, in every city, town
and hamlet throughout France and the surround-
ing colonies.
The volume is very cleverly arranged, is well
edited and, from cover to cover, is a splendid
example of modern typography. This publica-
tion as a whole gives a very comprehensive idea
of the extent of the music trade industry in
France. We extend our congratulations to M.
Bosc on the production of this handsome and
useful volume, which is issued from 15 Rue de
Madrid, Paris.
The Milton Piano Co., New York, recently
sent to all its dealers an interesting circular urg-
ing optimism and outlining the present business
spirit in America. "Let's Go" was the caption
of the circular, and many dealers took occasion
to commend George W. Allen, president of the
Milton company, for the clarity of the message.
The effects of the circular, in fact, were felt out-
side of the trade proper, for there was received
from Fortune Gallo, the noted musical authority
and impresario, a letter in which he said:
"Thanks for sending me the circular 'Le.t's
Go.' I agree with you that is the spirit that
should prevail throughout the nation today. I
am passing the thought on to others."
This answer from Mr. Gallo came at an oppor-
tune time when New York newspapers generally
were quoting his new and progressive policy of
putting the opera on a more popular basis by
making it possible for the public to see the well-
known operas at popular prices.
The Cheney Factories
Our cabinet factory and
metal parts plant are com-
plete—geared to the pro-
duction of the finest in
phonographs.
CHENEY TALKING MACHINE COMPANY,
Chicago
The ^Master Instrument
With the ^Violin c F(esonator and Orchestral Chambers
JULY 2, 1921
NO CHANGE IN BROOKLYN TRADE
Housing Situation and Unemployment Blamed
for Slow Business—Grands and Player-pianos
in Popular Demand, Say Dealers
Little change is recorded in the Brooklyn
piano business during the past few weeks.
Dealers, in general, report business as good as
could be expected under existing conditions.
The grands and player-pianos are in popular
demand and recent sales point to more discrimi-
nation in the selection of instruments.
The seriousness of the housing situation, high
rents and unemployment are blamed, in part,
for the slackness in the business by Manager
Fry, of the Sterling Piano Co. "The money
that could be spent for pianos is paid to the
landlord each month," said Mr. Fry. "An-
other thing that affects the trade is the fact
that many families and newly married couples
are living in two or three rooms. They are
not doing this from choice, but simply because
they either can't get larger apartments or the
rents of more pretentious places are prohibitive.
Only a few weeks ago a woman came in to look
at some pianos. She was enthusiastic over a
grand and as she handed me the initial pay-
ment she exclaimed that she didn't know where
in the world she would find room for the in-
strument. I talked to her for a while and found
out that if she purchased the piano she would
have to put it in the bedroom. Now, that is
just a concrete illustration of hundreds of
similar cases and it is my opinion that when the
housing situation is remedied the piano trade
will show a material increase."
The retail piano department of Frederick
Loeser & Co. reports that conditions have not
changed for the past several weeks. While
there is nothing startling in the amount of busi-
ness done, enough pianos are sold to indicate
that the bottom has finally been reached and
that the trade is taking an upward trend which
will probably be subjected to greater accelera-
tion in the late Fall and early Winter.
W. H. Bishop, of the talking machine and
record department, states that just at present
the demand for talking machines centers around
the small portable machines and records con-
taining dance music. This demand can be
traced to vacationists who take the instruments
with them to the camp, seashore and-picnics.
Despite the fact that the demand for dance rec-
ords predominates at this time Mr. Bishop is
making every effort to push the Red Seal rec-
ords. He also states that while business would
be extremely dull in this line if they waited
for it to come to the store this is overcome
to a certain extent by keeping a complete force
of canvassers and follow-up men on the job.
The Pease Piano Co. is experiencing a big
demand for grands and player-pianos at present.
To date the month of June has shown a larger
percentage of business than was experienced
during May. The Wissner Piano Co. and
Hardman, Peck & Co. also report a fair de-
mand for pianos. These three latter compa-
nies are also doing a fair business in the talking
machine line.
F. T. PHILLIPS PASSES AWAY
Veteran Piano Dealer of Decatur, 111., Dies in
His Sixty-fifth Year
Fletcher T. Phillips, veteran piano dealer and
for thirty years a resident of Decatur, 111., died
in his home, 1076 West Main street, late last
week. He was sixty-five years of age at the
time of his demise and had been in poor health
for several years.
He was engaged in the musical instrument
business in Decatur and vicinity, but was perhaps
better known to the older residents as the owner
of "Dr. Kelley," a black pacing horse which was
at one time a familiar figure on all Central tracks.
The deceased leaves a widow and two chil-
dren, Mrs. H. A. McClure, of Decatur, and Mrs.
John DeLamater, of Washington, D. C, and
one brother, J. Robert Phillips, of Springfield.
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).