Music Trade Review

THE
7, 1923
JULY
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIE'V
9
JUNE EXCEEDS EXPECTATIONS IN PHILADELPHIA TRADE
Month Shows Much Better Record Than Same Month of Last Year-Ramsdell & Son to Occupy
New Quarters-H. O. Neff Returns to James Bellak's Sons-Demand for Harmonicas
PHILADELPHIA, PA .. July 3.· The last week of
June, first of the series of three months of quiet­
ne,s in the music trade, this yea,' broke rec­
ords and the opening days of the new month
carried on the good times of the preceding week.
It must not be assumed that a rushing business
is being done, but it can be properly assumed
that June of this year was considerably better
than was June of last and that the last week of
June went far ahead of the average of its prede­
cessor. Though it be hard specifically to point
out the reason thereof trade opinion seems to
have been voiced by L. H. :Moore, senior sales­
man for N. Stetson & Co., when he suggested
the larger number of wealthy stay-at-homes and,
in a general way, the influence of the larger
Illusical education being developed by numerous
agencies, which have cultivated a taste for good
music and thereby an increased patronage par­
ticularly for the piano dealers.
It was suggested by several in the trade that
at the shore resorts, which ordinarily are over­
crowded at this seaSon, the number of vacant
cottages and of apartments is unprecedentedly
large, doubled and trebled rents being ascribed
as the reason thereof. Even those who can
afford to pay seem to have gone on a strike of
protest, with the consequence that they will en­
tertain in their country and city homes more
largely than before and the reaction comes in
the larger buying during this ordinarily dull
season. G. C. Ramsdell, of Ramsdell & Son,
one of the oldest dealers in the city, takes a
,iluilar view of the situation; reports, indeed,
that June of 1923 was perhaps the best June in
the firm's history. His optimism regarding Fall
business equals that of Mr. Moore, of C. J.
H cppe &. Son and other representatives of the
trade whose opinion was sounded.
In the department stores experience parallels
that of the regular trade. Manager Robert S.
"lcCarthy, of Gimbel Bros., characterized con­
.1
I.
Lauter-Humana
The player-piano that is dif­
ferent! Possesses a quality
appeal that makes it a leader
everywhere.
Investigate!
Lauter-Humana CO.
Newark. N. J.
USED PIANOS
RE"paired-Ready to Retail
All Makes hom
$40 up
F. O. B. Br'ooklyn, jn cal"loads of
Any
quantity.
L~ss
than
HILL &
Phunp
1~
c'Irloarl
or rnore.
lots 'Ilso.
SONS
~;\,(,l".l..n·c(~n
RIXO
1365-1375 Myrtle Ave., Brooklyn, N. Y.
~
ditions, as June ended and July began, as the
best for conesponding periods ever experienced.
New Quarters for Ramsdell & Son
Announcement was made during the week
that the time-honored firm of Ramsdell & Son
would become possessed, with the opening of
Fall business, of a new home. The property
at 127 South Twelfth street, a four-story struc­
ture, has been secured and extensive renova­
tions arc now under way for occupancy by the
firm in August. The lease on its present quar­
ters at 1225 VI/alnut street expires on September
l. The new home has more than double the
space facilities of the old and, while there will
be no departure from the firm's policy of deal­
ing exclusively in pianos, it will carry a larger
stock and make more extensive displays of its
lines, including the Laffarguc, the Davenport &
Treacy and other makes.
After a sixteen-year absence from the piano
trade H. O. Neff has returned to his old love
with the firm of James Bellak's Sons. Mr. Neff
is now, as he was before, in the accounting
department. He spent the sixteen years of in­
terim in the financial world.
Florence J. Heppe, of C. J. Heppe & Son,
left on July 2 for Poland Springs, ]\I[e., where,
with his family, he ",·ill spend all the Summer,
keeping in daily touch with the office, however,
by letter and 'phone. Manager Albert E. \;\Iil­
cox, of the piano department, is enjoying a va­
cation in Ocean City. William Burnham, of the
piano sales force, returned during the week
from a honeymoon trip. Mrs. Burnham was
.Miss Marie Carin, of Fort \;\Iashington, Pa. Ivliss
Sadie Wilson, of the accounting department, is
enjoying a v'acation in Spring Lake. Robert S.
Vvarren, head bookkeeper, is commuting to
Ocean Grove.
Though extensive renovations but recently
were completed in the Story & Clark Piano Co.
headquarters, 1105 Chestnut street, artisans
again have made their appearance. They were
sent, however, by the owners of the property,
the Stephen Girard Estate, for the purpose of
improving the elevator installation.
Vice-president Jacob Schiller, of the Lester
J'iano Co., leaves immediately after the Fourth
for a Western trip, going as far as Kansas City
Treasurer George Miller, in charge of the fac­
tory at Lester, has taken a cottage in \tlantic
City, but is so occupied with business that he
is able to lllake only week-end trips.
L. H. Moore, saleSlllan for N. Stetson ,,\: Co.,
11<1S jllst returned from a vacation, whose fea­
ture was a fishing trip at Strathmore, N. J. Sam­
uel S. North, bovkkeeper, is summering ln
Ocean City and C. J. Pavey, of the office, at
Atlantic City.
Following treatment at the Orthopaedic Hos­
pital for an infected jawbone resulting from an
abscess of the tooth Robert S..McCarthy is again
able to attend to business and this week re­
turned to his duties as manager of the piano
and talking machine department of Gimbel Bros.
During his absence the business was looked
after by his assistant, Frank P. Anton. It is the
intention of .Mr. Anton to leave the latter part
of July for a trip to Canada. George Hartman,
one of the oldest members of the sales force,
is back from an auto trip through the moun­
tains of northern Pennsylvania.
Heavy Demand for Harmonicas
The first shipment of bandonions since the
great war came during the week to Hafner &
Sutphin, 925 Arch street, wholesale distributors
of musical instruments, coincidentally with the
first shipment this year of accordions and har­
monicas from Germany.
Both lots were in
thirteen cases of goods received from Gebrued­
cr-Luc1wig. So great has been the demand for
the recently introduced chromatic scale hartll0­
nica made by M. Hohner that it has been im­
possible to keep the stock up to requirements
and an apportionment had to be made.
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always requires per­ •
sistent effort. The •
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"The first touch tell." •
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597 East 137th St., New York •
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