Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 80 N. 20 - Page 4
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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Cincinnati May Music Festival Shows
Increased Sales With the Local Dealers
Most Music Merchants of City Report Increased Volume of Sales Because of Large Influx of
Visitors for Event—Baldwin Adds Mezzanine Floor to Retail Store
/CINCINNATI, O., May 9.—The big event here illness with typhoid fever, and his associates
in musical circles this week has been the are glad to see him once more at his desk.
May Music Festival, which has just come to a
Edward Roberts, of the Baldwin retail sales
successful close. Naturally, the sales of dealers department, states that business is good, and it
in musical merchandise were increased by pur- is improving right along, which makes the pros-
chases of hundreds of out-of-town visitors who pect bright. The factory, he explained, is work-
remained several days in order to hear the pro- ing full time with a full force, and even then
grams they preferred.
it is hard to produce enough grands to meet the
While the weather has been cold and unsea- demand.
In order to relieve the congestion of the first
sonable, and not at all favorable to business
increases, the demand from local people was at floor of the Baldwin Piano Co.'s store, at 142
least up to the average. With the added pur- West Fourth street, a mezzanine floor has been
chases of visitors who came to the May Music added at the rear. This will be occupied by
Festival, the volume of sales of most houses some of the clerical force and the space vacated
was larger than normal. It is not thought that by them will be used for the display of mer-
business will diminish next week, because many chandise. The high ceiling of the room permits
prospective customers have put off buying, be- the addition of a mezzanine floor without de-
cause of the lateness of the Spring, and their stroying the beauty in the least, and if anything
it adds to the attractivenss of this part of the
purchases will then be due.
There is still some discussion here among room.
James A. Jacober, head of the publicity de-
members of the music trades in regard to the
practicability and advisability of adding a flat partment of the Otto Grau Piano Co., was
carrying charge to instalment accounts, to take elected vice-president of the Cincinnati Adver-
place of the present method of adding interest tisers' Club, at its annual meeting, held May 6.
to balances. In the opinion of Charles J. Mein-
berg, sales manager of the Starr Piano Co., the
flat charge plan would neither be just nor satis-
factory either to the buyers or to the seller,
and for this reason the company will not con-
sider the adoption of the proposed new method. Results of Questionnaire Sent Recently to
Manufacturers to Be Analyzed in Chicago
W. J. Furnell, of the Starr publicity depart-
During Convention Week
ment, is making a trip through southern Ohio,
calling on company agents.
The Technical Committee on Standard of
The John Church Co. is directing a great
amount of attention to keeping its show win- Musical Pitch of the Music Industries Chamber
dow displays in harmony with the trend of the of Commerce, of which Charles Deutschmann
times. That is, they keep the merchandise and is chairman, which has been working on this
decorations in harmony with the tendency to subject for some time will hold its next meeting
smaller living quarters in bungalows and so- during convention week at Chicago. Since the
called "efficiency apartments." The company's previous meeting questionnaires have been sent
window display this week shows "the smallest out to various manufacturers in the trade to get
upright piano made" and "the smallest repro- the evidence concerning the pitch now used so
that the committee will be in a position to make
ducing grand" that is obtainable.
"Business has improved considerably the past its report based upon actual evidence.
Nearly sixty questionnaires have already been
two weeks," stated Arthur Mergott, sales man-
ager of the Church establishment. Roswell received, filled out, and they are coming in
Burchard, president of the company, is on a daily. In addition, the National Association of
business trip to New York and other eastern Piano Technicians is gathering information
points. Howard Weber, of Chicago, general which will be made available to the committee.
The committee does not expect to make the
manager of the company, spent a day in this
city this week, while in this section on an in- final report at the convention as the mass of
evidence is such that a complete report embody-
spection tour.
R. E. Wells, of the local branch of Steinway ing recommendations will take much longer to
& Sons, has just returned from a visit to their get up than the committee at first thought prob-
Indianapolis branch house. Mr. Wells was ac- able.
The matter of pitch is proving to be of par-
companied by Mrs. Wells, who was the guest
of Mme. Yolanda Mero, the famous pianist. ticular interest to the pipe organ manufacturers
"Business is at about the average in our local who have difficulty with the pitch problem when
store and branches," stated Mr. Wells, "and installing organs in theatres and other places
where they are used in conjunction with orches-
grands are moving well."
Edward Johnson, famous tenor, and Mme. tras. The problem is likewise of vital impor-
Astral, English soprano, who were here all tance to manufacturers of band instruments.
week as artists for the May Music Festival, The desirability for a standard pitch for pianos
were the guests of the Baldwin Piano Co., and is obvious.
asked for the Baldwin piano for use during their
stay. J. A. Pastor, traveling representative for
the Baldwin Co., in Mexico, and Mr. Garrido,
Baldwin dealer in the City of Mexico, have just
departed, after spending several days here visit-
ing the company headquarters and inspecting Plans to Display Pianos and Other Musical In-
struments in Special Quarters in Residence
the factory and manufacturing processes. C. H.
District
Dickinson, of Chicago, vice-president of the
company, was in Cincinnati a few days last
CANTON, O., May 11.—An innovation in music
week, visiting the executive offices. Lucien
Wulsin, secretary and treasurer of the Baldwin merchandising in Canton and district was the
Piano Co., is back from Honolulu, Hawaii, opening last week of the new music home of
where he went to recuperate from a serious the W. S. Custer Music Co., in the residential
Standard Pitch Committee
to Meet at Convention
Custer Music Co. Opens New
Home for Music in Canton
Highest
Quality
MAY
16, 192S
part of the city. It is planned by the company
to exhibit its line of Baldwin pianos in the
music home as well as a complete line of
Sonora talking machines. The purpose of the
innovation, according to W. S. Custer, is to
enable the prospective piano and talking ma-
chine buyer to see the various types of these in-
struments in home environment. Opening of
the home was featured by a musical program
in which a number of local artists appeared.
The Custer home was arranged following the
purchase of the interests of William E. Strass-
ner by Custer. The firm was formerly known
as the Strassner-Custer Co.
The firm will continue to maintain complete
service at its original store, Cleveland avenue.
Convention Golf Tournament
Program Now Complete
Arrangements Made to Entertain Visitors at
Olympia Field Country Club on Friday of
Convention Week—Many Fine Prizes
CHICAGO, III., May 11.—The Music Industries
Convention Golf Tournament, which will be
held on June 12 at the Olympia Fields Country
Club, one of the largest private golf clubs in
the world, is open to everyone connected with
the music industry, including dealers, manufac-
turers and traveling men.
Players participating in the Music Industries
Golf Tournament will pay an entrance fee of
$10 which covers all tournament expenses, in-
cluding transportation to and from the club,
luncheon and dinner, with the exception of
caddie fees.
Competition in the morning will be nine holes
medal play, handicaps to apply. Players will
tee off in flights of four each, and there will be
first and second prizes for the low net scores in
each foursome.
Competition in the afternoon will be eighteen
holes match play. There will be first and sec-
ond prizes for the winners of each nine holes
in the afternoon play. In addition prizes will
be given for first and second low gross in the
afternoon as well as for first and second low
net.
Entries, with check for $10, should be sent
to Kenneth W. Curtis, chairman of golf com-
mittee, Kimball Building, Chicago. Accom-
panying each entry should be the name and ad-
dress of the player, his club handicap, if he be-
longs to a golf club, his five best scores for
1924, whether or not he belongs to a club, and
the address to which he wishes his transporta-
tion and tournament tickets sent. If any fail to
receive tournament tickets through the mail
they can be obtained at the information desk
in the lobby of the Drake Hotel.
Blackman Sales Co. to
Feature Premier Grand
Aggressive Kansas City Concern to Act as Sell-
ing Factor for Premier Small Grands in
Western Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma
The Premier Grand Piano Corp., New York,
announces that arrangements have been made
with the Blackman Sales Co., 17 East Four-
teenth street, Kansas City, Mo., of which M. M.
Blackman is the head, whereby that company
will act as selling factor for the Premier Small
Grand in western Missouri, Kansas and Okla-
homa.
The Blackman Sales Co., organized some time
ago, is particularly well fitted to give the Pre-
mier excellent representation in the territory
mentioned for the reason that the company
maintains a strong traveling sales staff and
keeps in close touch with music dealers.
Highest
Quality
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Cincinnati May Music Festival Shows
Increased Sales With the Local Dealers
Most Music Merchants of City Report Increased Volume of Sales Because of Large Influx of
Visitors for Event—Baldwin Adds Mezzanine Floor to Retail Store
/CINCINNATI, O., May 9.—The big event here illness with typhoid fever, and his associates
in musical circles this week has been the are glad to see him once more at his desk.
May Music Festival, which has just come to a
Edward Roberts, of the Baldwin retail sales
successful close. Naturally, the sales of dealers department, states that business is good, and it
in musical merchandise were increased by pur- is improving right along, which makes the pros-
chases of hundreds of out-of-town visitors who pect bright. The factory, he explained, is work-
remained several days in order to hear the pro- ing full time with a full force, and even then
grams they preferred.
it is hard to produce enough grands to meet the
While the weather has been cold and unsea- demand.
In order to relieve the congestion of the first
sonable, and not at all favorable to business
increases, the demand from local people was at floor of the Baldwin Piano Co.'s store, at 142
least up to the average. With the added pur- West Fourth street, a mezzanine floor has been
chases of visitors who came to the May Music added at the rear. This will be occupied by
Festival, the volume of sales of most houses some of the clerical force and the space vacated
was larger than normal. It is not thought that by them will be used for the display of mer-
business will diminish next week, because many chandise. The high ceiling of the room permits
prospective customers have put off buying, be- the addition of a mezzanine floor without de-
cause of the lateness of the Spring, and their stroying the beauty in the least, and if anything
it adds to the attractivenss of this part of the
purchases will then be due.
There is still some discussion here among room.
James A. Jacober, head of the publicity de-
members of the music trades in regard to the
practicability and advisability of adding a flat partment of the Otto Grau Piano Co., was
carrying charge to instalment accounts, to take elected vice-president of the Cincinnati Adver-
place of the present method of adding interest tisers' Club, at its annual meeting, held May 6.
to balances. In the opinion of Charles J. Mein-
berg, sales manager of the Starr Piano Co., the
flat charge plan would neither be just nor satis-
factory either to the buyers or to the seller,
and for this reason the company will not con-
sider the adoption of the proposed new method. Results of Questionnaire Sent Recently to
Manufacturers to Be Analyzed in Chicago
W. J. Furnell, of the Starr publicity depart-
During Convention Week
ment, is making a trip through southern Ohio,
calling on company agents.
The Technical Committee on Standard of
The John Church Co. is directing a great
amount of attention to keeping its show win- Musical Pitch of the Music Industries Chamber
dow displays in harmony with the trend of the of Commerce, of which Charles Deutschmann
times. That is, they keep the merchandise and is chairman, which has been working on this
decorations in harmony with the tendency to subject for some time will hold its next meeting
smaller living quarters in bungalows and so- during convention week at Chicago. Since the
called "efficiency apartments." The company's previous meeting questionnaires have been sent
window display this week shows "the smallest out to various manufacturers in the trade to get
upright piano made" and "the smallest repro- the evidence concerning the pitch now used so
that the committee will be in a position to make
ducing grand" that is obtainable.
"Business has improved considerably the past its report based upon actual evidence.
Nearly sixty questionnaires have already been
two weeks," stated Arthur Mergott, sales man-
ager of the Church establishment. Roswell received, filled out, and they are coming in
Burchard, president of the company, is on a daily. In addition, the National Association of
business trip to New York and other eastern Piano Technicians is gathering information
points. Howard Weber, of Chicago, general which will be made available to the committee.
The committee does not expect to make the
manager of the company, spent a day in this
city this week, while in this section on an in- final report at the convention as the mass of
evidence is such that a complete report embody-
spection tour.
R. E. Wells, of the local branch of Steinway ing recommendations will take much longer to
& Sons, has just returned from a visit to their get up than the committee at first thought prob-
Indianapolis branch house. Mr. Wells was ac- able.
The matter of pitch is proving to be of par-
companied by Mrs. Wells, who was the guest
of Mme. Yolanda Mero, the famous pianist. ticular interest to the pipe organ manufacturers
"Business is at about the average in our local who have difficulty with the pitch problem when
store and branches," stated Mr. Wells, "and installing organs in theatres and other places
where they are used in conjunction with orches-
grands are moving well."
Edward Johnson, famous tenor, and Mme. tras. The problem is likewise of vital impor-
Astral, English soprano, who were here all tance to manufacturers of band instruments.
week as artists for the May Music Festival, The desirability for a standard pitch for pianos
were the guests of the Baldwin Piano Co., and is obvious.
asked for the Baldwin piano for use during their
stay. J. A. Pastor, traveling representative for
the Baldwin Co., in Mexico, and Mr. Garrido,
Baldwin dealer in the City of Mexico, have just
departed, after spending several days here visit-
ing the company headquarters and inspecting Plans to Display Pianos and Other Musical In-
struments in Special Quarters in Residence
the factory and manufacturing processes. C. H.
District
Dickinson, of Chicago, vice-president of the
company, was in Cincinnati a few days last
CANTON, O., May 11.—An innovation in music
week, visiting the executive offices. Lucien
Wulsin, secretary and treasurer of the Baldwin merchandising in Canton and district was the
Piano Co., is back from Honolulu, Hawaii, opening last week of the new music home of
where he went to recuperate from a serious the W. S. Custer Music Co., in the residential
Standard Pitch Committee
to Meet at Convention
Custer Music Co. Opens New
Home for Music in Canton
Highest
Quality
MAY
16, 192S
part of the city. It is planned by the company
to exhibit its line of Baldwin pianos in the
music home as well as a complete line of
Sonora talking machines. The purpose of the
innovation, according to W. S. Custer, is to
enable the prospective piano and talking ma-
chine buyer to see the various types of these in-
struments in home environment. Opening of
the home was featured by a musical program
in which a number of local artists appeared.
The Custer home was arranged following the
purchase of the interests of William E. Strass-
ner by Custer. The firm was formerly known
as the Strassner-Custer Co.
The firm will continue to maintain complete
service at its original store, Cleveland avenue.
Convention Golf Tournament
Program Now Complete
Arrangements Made to Entertain Visitors at
Olympia Field Country Club on Friday of
Convention Week—Many Fine Prizes
CHICAGO, III., May 11.—The Music Industries
Convention Golf Tournament, which will be
held on June 12 at the Olympia Fields Country
Club, one of the largest private golf clubs in
the world, is open to everyone connected with
the music industry, including dealers, manufac-
turers and traveling men.
Players participating in the Music Industries
Golf Tournament will pay an entrance fee of
$10 which covers all tournament expenses, in-
cluding transportation to and from the club,
luncheon and dinner, with the exception of
caddie fees.
Competition in the morning will be nine holes
medal play, handicaps to apply. Players will
tee off in flights of four each, and there will be
first and second prizes for the low net scores in
each foursome.
Competition in the afternoon will be eighteen
holes match play. There will be first and sec-
ond prizes for the winners of each nine holes
in the afternoon play. In addition prizes will
be given for first and second low gross in the
afternoon as well as for first and second low
net.
Entries, with check for $10, should be sent
to Kenneth W. Curtis, chairman of golf com-
mittee, Kimball Building, Chicago. Accom-
panying each entry should be the name and ad-
dress of the player, his club handicap, if he be-
longs to a golf club, his five best scores for
1924, whether or not he belongs to a club, and
the address to which he wishes his transporta-
tion and tournament tickets sent. If any fail to
receive tournament tickets through the mail
they can be obtained at the information desk
in the lobby of the Drake Hotel.
Blackman Sales Co. to
Feature Premier Grand
Aggressive Kansas City Concern to Act as Sell-
ing Factor for Premier Small Grands in
Western Missouri, Kansas and Oklahoma
The Premier Grand Piano Corp., New York,
announces that arrangements have been made
with the Blackman Sales Co., 17 East Four-
teenth street, Kansas City, Mo., of which M. M.
Blackman is the head, whereby that company
will act as selling factor for the Premier Small
Grand in western Missouri, Kansas and Okla-
homa.
The Blackman Sales Co., organized some time
ago, is particularly well fitted to give the Pre-
mier excellent representation in the territory
mentioned for the reason that the company
maintains a strong traveling sales staff and
keeps in close touch with music dealers.
Highest
Quality
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