Music Trade Review
Issue: 1922 Vol. 74 N. 2 - Page 7
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE
JANUARY 14, 1922
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
MILWAUKEE DEALERS PLEASED WITH 1921 BUSINESS
Completion of Inventories and Compiling of Sales Statistics for the Year Show That Retail
Trade Was Much Better Than Was Anticipated—Interview With Edmund Gram,
MILWAUKEE, W I S . , January 11.—Completion of
inventories and trial balances of the year's busi-
ness reveal the fact that practically all music
stores in Milwaukee fared a great deal better
than they expected during 1921. Generally
speaking, the volume was larger than in 1920, and
more customers were on the books at the close
of the year than twelve months before, giving
1921 rank as the very best year, with the only
possible exception of 1919.
New business so far in 1922 has been of a
small order, as might naturally be expected after
the holidays. Tax-paying time is here, and a
great big burden stares the average family in
the face. Taxes, plus the other heavy expenses
growing out of the payment of Christmas bills,
are keeping the average purse pretty well
"strapped" for the time being, and music stores,
as well as other retail merchants, are not looking
for any marked revival of sales until later in the
month, and possibly not until after February 1.
Discussing business conditions with The Re-
view representative, Hugh W. Randall, president
and general manager of the J. B. Bradford Piano
Co., said: "We ended a magnificent December,
it having exceeded every expectation of what
the month would likely be. We beat every De-
cember in the forty-nine years of the existence
of the Bradford house, with the sole exception
of the one December which followed the cessa-
tion of hostilities. At that, we came within a
very few dollars of reaching even that towering
peak. But as a comparative month we are sup-
posed to forget the last month of 1919. In fact,
we never expected to do better than 50 per cent
of that month this last year."
The newspapers of Milwaukee during the past
week made much of the fact that "Bankrupt pays
debts in full; has $65 left." The reference is to
Herman W. Schumacher, manager of Steger's
Piano House at 786 Third street, who about
three months ago filed a voluntary petition in
bankruptcy, scheduling his debts at $2,493. The
assets consisted principally of an equity in piano
contracts. Oscar E. Schwemer was appointed
trustee, and his administration of the bankrupt
estate was so satisfactory that the final report
showed that every creditor has been paid 100
cents on the dollar, and there is a cash balance
of $65, which has now been returned to Mr.
Schumacher upon his discharge from bank-
ruptcy.
A handsome Pianola piano has been installed
in the new dormitory of the nurses' home of Mt.
Sinai Hospital, Twelfth and Cedar streets, Mil-
waukee, by the J. B. Bradford Piano Co. The
hospital has recently completed an addition,
The Lauter-Humana
A player-piano designed
to meet the needs of the
discriminating buyer.
Is Your Territory Open?
LAUTER-HUMANA CO.
NEWARK, N. J. ,
doubling the size of the institution and costing
$500,000.
The addition accommodates the
nurses' home, heretofore housed in a separate
building. There was much competition among
piano men for the contract to furnish the instru-
ment, and the Pianola won out after a thorough
trial in competition with at least six other makes.
The piano has been placed in the recreation parlor,
where about 150 nurses spend their spare time.
The B. H. Anderson Piano Co., of Fond du Lac,
Wis., recently won a hard-fought battle for the
honor of furnishing a player-piano for the club-
room of the Masonic Temple. The Autopiano
was selected, and Mr. Anderson is receiving a
great many compliments upon the high quality
of the instrument.
A full-fledged music store is being opened at
204 King street in Madison, Wis., by Edward
J. Skelton, formerly musical director of the
Orpheum Theatre, who, two years ago, began
handling instruments as a side line. Not only
has his business grown to the point that it re-
quires a building all its own, but Mr. Skelton
has developed a furniture trade of wide propor-
tions. He now has a three-story building well
stocked with musical instruments and high-grade
furniture and specialties in keeping with the
musical merchandise.
Mrs. Georgia Hall Quick, of Milwaukee, for
many years prominent on the American con-
cert and recital stage as a pianist, has recently
returned from New York, where she spent a
fortnight in the Aeolian Co.'s recording studios.
Mrs. Quick only a short time ago accepted the
offer of being placed on the list of exclusive Duo-
Art recording artists. The new recordings are
expected to be available for Duo-Art owners
within a short time. President Hugh W. Ran-
dall, of Bradford's, will make a special campaign
in appreciation of the fact that Mrs. Quick is a
"home artist," and contributing much to keep
Milwaukee on "the music map."
In reviewing the past, present and future of
the music industries of Milwaukee, the news-
papers of Milwaukee generally chose Edmund
Gram, former president of the National Asso-
ciation of Piano Merchants, as the spokesman
for the trade, especially since he is both a manu-
facturer and dealer. Mr. Gram is quoted as
follows:
"With the music trade, 1921 has been marked
by long strides toward normal conditions with
the close of the year pointing to prosperity dur-
ing 1922. The improvement noticeable at the
close of 1920 continued at a gratifying rate.
Workers attracted by the high wages paid by
war industries have returned to their old places
in the music industries.
"There has been a marked increase in the de-
mand for higher-priced pianos, the buying pub-
lic having evidently reached the sensible conclu-
sion that quality in a musical instrument is far
more important than mere price.
"Prohibition is undoubtedly one of the reasons
for the flourishing condition of the musical trade.
Money which in the past has gone to the saloon-
keepers is being spent in the homes. This has
resulted in a demand for player-pianos, pianos
and phonographs for homes where in former
years such instruments were considered impos-
sible luxuries.
"The effect of automatic musical instruments
in cultivating a taste for, and enjoyment of, music
is undoubtedly being felt by the music trades.
This influence will undoubtedly continue to have
a larger and larger effect. Homes without music
will grow fewer, and those at first satisfied with
poor music will demand better-
"Appreciation of music is growing and assures
a prosperous future for the industries which
supply the means for its gratification."
Will Bard, formerly in the insurance business,
has been made manager of the Clarksburg, W.
Va., branch of the Davis, Burkham & Tyler
Piano Co.
-
>
Victrola No. 130, $350
Victrola No. 130, electric, $415
Mahogany or oak
Other styles $25 to $1500
Victor
Supremacy
Musically, artistically,
commercially, V i c t o r
s u p r e m a c y is always,
everywhere, in evidence.
Its universal recogni-
tion makes success easy
for every dealer in Victor
products.
"Victrola" is the Registered Trade-
mark of the Victor Talking Machine
Company designating the product! of
this Company only.
Warning: The use of the word
Victrola upon or in the promotion or
sale of any other Talking Machine or
Phonograph products is misleading and
illegal.
Important Notice. Victor Records
and Victor Machines are scientifically
co-ordinated and synchronized in the
processes of manufacture, and should be
used together to secure a perfect re-
production.
Victor Talking
Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., u. s. A.
THE
JANUARY 14, 1922
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW
MILWAUKEE DEALERS PLEASED WITH 1921 BUSINESS
Completion of Inventories and Compiling of Sales Statistics for the Year Show That Retail
Trade Was Much Better Than Was Anticipated—Interview With Edmund Gram,
MILWAUKEE, W I S . , January 11.—Completion of
inventories and trial balances of the year's busi-
ness reveal the fact that practically all music
stores in Milwaukee fared a great deal better
than they expected during 1921. Generally
speaking, the volume was larger than in 1920, and
more customers were on the books at the close
of the year than twelve months before, giving
1921 rank as the very best year, with the only
possible exception of 1919.
New business so far in 1922 has been of a
small order, as might naturally be expected after
the holidays. Tax-paying time is here, and a
great big burden stares the average family in
the face. Taxes, plus the other heavy expenses
growing out of the payment of Christmas bills,
are keeping the average purse pretty well
"strapped" for the time being, and music stores,
as well as other retail merchants, are not looking
for any marked revival of sales until later in the
month, and possibly not until after February 1.
Discussing business conditions with The Re-
view representative, Hugh W. Randall, president
and general manager of the J. B. Bradford Piano
Co., said: "We ended a magnificent December,
it having exceeded every expectation of what
the month would likely be. We beat every De-
cember in the forty-nine years of the existence
of the Bradford house, with the sole exception
of the one December which followed the cessa-
tion of hostilities. At that, we came within a
very few dollars of reaching even that towering
peak. But as a comparative month we are sup-
posed to forget the last month of 1919. In fact,
we never expected to do better than 50 per cent
of that month this last year."
The newspapers of Milwaukee during the past
week made much of the fact that "Bankrupt pays
debts in full; has $65 left." The reference is to
Herman W. Schumacher, manager of Steger's
Piano House at 786 Third street, who about
three months ago filed a voluntary petition in
bankruptcy, scheduling his debts at $2,493. The
assets consisted principally of an equity in piano
contracts. Oscar E. Schwemer was appointed
trustee, and his administration of the bankrupt
estate was so satisfactory that the final report
showed that every creditor has been paid 100
cents on the dollar, and there is a cash balance
of $65, which has now been returned to Mr.
Schumacher upon his discharge from bank-
ruptcy.
A handsome Pianola piano has been installed
in the new dormitory of the nurses' home of Mt.
Sinai Hospital, Twelfth and Cedar streets, Mil-
waukee, by the J. B. Bradford Piano Co. The
hospital has recently completed an addition,
The Lauter-Humana
A player-piano designed
to meet the needs of the
discriminating buyer.
Is Your Territory Open?
LAUTER-HUMANA CO.
NEWARK, N. J. ,
doubling the size of the institution and costing
$500,000.
The addition accommodates the
nurses' home, heretofore housed in a separate
building. There was much competition among
piano men for the contract to furnish the instru-
ment, and the Pianola won out after a thorough
trial in competition with at least six other makes.
The piano has been placed in the recreation parlor,
where about 150 nurses spend their spare time.
The B. H. Anderson Piano Co., of Fond du Lac,
Wis., recently won a hard-fought battle for the
honor of furnishing a player-piano for the club-
room of the Masonic Temple. The Autopiano
was selected, and Mr. Anderson is receiving a
great many compliments upon the high quality
of the instrument.
A full-fledged music store is being opened at
204 King street in Madison, Wis., by Edward
J. Skelton, formerly musical director of the
Orpheum Theatre, who, two years ago, began
handling instruments as a side line. Not only
has his business grown to the point that it re-
quires a building all its own, but Mr. Skelton
has developed a furniture trade of wide propor-
tions. He now has a three-story building well
stocked with musical instruments and high-grade
furniture and specialties in keeping with the
musical merchandise.
Mrs. Georgia Hall Quick, of Milwaukee, for
many years prominent on the American con-
cert and recital stage as a pianist, has recently
returned from New York, where she spent a
fortnight in the Aeolian Co.'s recording studios.
Mrs. Quick only a short time ago accepted the
offer of being placed on the list of exclusive Duo-
Art recording artists. The new recordings are
expected to be available for Duo-Art owners
within a short time. President Hugh W. Ran-
dall, of Bradford's, will make a special campaign
in appreciation of the fact that Mrs. Quick is a
"home artist," and contributing much to keep
Milwaukee on "the music map."
In reviewing the past, present and future of
the music industries of Milwaukee, the news-
papers of Milwaukee generally chose Edmund
Gram, former president of the National Asso-
ciation of Piano Merchants, as the spokesman
for the trade, especially since he is both a manu-
facturer and dealer. Mr. Gram is quoted as
follows:
"With the music trade, 1921 has been marked
by long strides toward normal conditions with
the close of the year pointing to prosperity dur-
ing 1922. The improvement noticeable at the
close of 1920 continued at a gratifying rate.
Workers attracted by the high wages paid by
war industries have returned to their old places
in the music industries.
"There has been a marked increase in the de-
mand for higher-priced pianos, the buying pub-
lic having evidently reached the sensible conclu-
sion that quality in a musical instrument is far
more important than mere price.
"Prohibition is undoubtedly one of the reasons
for the flourishing condition of the musical trade.
Money which in the past has gone to the saloon-
keepers is being spent in the homes. This has
resulted in a demand for player-pianos, pianos
and phonographs for homes where in former
years such instruments were considered impos-
sible luxuries.
"The effect of automatic musical instruments
in cultivating a taste for, and enjoyment of, music
is undoubtedly being felt by the music trades.
This influence will undoubtedly continue to have
a larger and larger effect. Homes without music
will grow fewer, and those at first satisfied with
poor music will demand better-
"Appreciation of music is growing and assures
a prosperous future for the industries which
supply the means for its gratification."
Will Bard, formerly in the insurance business,
has been made manager of the Clarksburg, W.
Va., branch of the Davis, Burkham & Tyler
Piano Co.
-
>
Victrola No. 130, $350
Victrola No. 130, electric, $415
Mahogany or oak
Other styles $25 to $1500
Victor
Supremacy
Musically, artistically,
commercially, V i c t o r
s u p r e m a c y is always,
everywhere, in evidence.
Its universal recogni-
tion makes success easy
for every dealer in Victor
products.
"Victrola" is the Registered Trade-
mark of the Victor Talking Machine
Company designating the product! of
this Company only.
Warning: The use of the word
Victrola upon or in the promotion or
sale of any other Talking Machine or
Phonograph products is misleading and
illegal.
Important Notice. Victor Records
and Victor Machines are scientifically
co-ordinated and synchronized in the
processes of manufacture, and should be
used together to secure a perfect re-
production.
Victor Talking
Machine Co.
Camden, N. J., u. s. A.
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