Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 80 N. 5 - Page 9
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
JANUARY 31, 1925
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Chicago P. &. O. Association Entertains
Visiting Members of National Bodies
Principal Speaker Was E. Allen Frost, Who Analyzed Piano Production in Relation to Capi-
tal Invested—Other Speakers Were Richard W. Lawrence and Mark P. Campbell
, ILL., January 24.—An intimate
analysis of the piano business since the year
1909 was given by the principal speaker at the
annual banquet of the Chicago Piano and Organ
Association at the Chicago Athletic Club last
Thursday evening. As guests, the local asso-
ciation had the visiting members of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce who were
here attending the mid-Winter meetings of this
body. E. Allan Frost bearded the lions in their
dens by telling these piano men that they had
been experiencing a business decline during a
period when others were experiencing the exact
opposite.
Mr. Frost made a very lengthy talk which
was burdened considerably by statistics, but
the idea behind it all provided subject matter
for considerable thought on the part of our
per cent of it is based on price appeal. This
statement paved the way for the later remarks
by Allan Frost. Mark P. Campbell, president
of the Hrambach Piano Co., was also called
upon and expressed optimism over the prospects
of business for 1925.
Piano Tuning Course of
Philadelphia Y. M. G. A.
Includes Full Tuning Instruction as Well as
Complete Course on Player-Action Repairs
PHILADELPHIA, PA.—The Young Men's Chris-
tian Association of this city is placing special
emphasis behind its school of piano tuning, re-
pairing, rebuilding and player-piano adjust-
Annual Dinner of the Chicago Piano and Organ Association
industry. It can here be presented in brief ments. This school has been in existence for a
number of years and is well organized. In
form.
Mr. Frost pointed out that although the aver- the prospectus issued for the present term its
age annual production of industries in relation course of study and work is interestingly set
to capital was accepted as being in the neigh- forth. A tribute is paid to the importance of
borhood of 150 per cent per annum, the piano the tuner's work, in a foreword which states
industry in its best year showed something like "the tuner's work is of prime importance in
an 80 per cent turnover. He resorted to census shaping up the instrument that is to express
figures to show that since 1909, when the pro- the soul of the musician. It is second only to
duction was some $66,000,000, as compared witli that of the artist." Illustrations are given of
a capital investment of $81,000,000, the amount the various classes at work and the equipment
of capital invested in piano production has been available is described. It is stated that actions
increasing steadily, though the value of produc- of the following manufacturers are in use at
tion has shown a distinct falling off when con- the school: Wessell, Nickel & Gross, Strauch
sidered on a proportionate basis.
Bros., Staib-Abenschein, Standard Pneumatic
As a remedy for these unfavorable conditions Action Co., Motor Players Corp., Pratt Reed
Mr. Frost proceeded to recommend a different & Co., Simplex Player Action Co. and Auto
sort of advertising and propaganda, in which Pneumatic Action Co.
the player-piano and its ability to bring out the
The school is under the general direction
personal expression powers was advanced as a of W. O. Easton, director of the department
basis of action. He pointed out that just as of instruction of the Philadelphia Y. M. C. A.
automobiles have attained their remarkable pop- The immediate supervision is under Roy Schow,
ularity upon the strength of the individual's who is described as a man of wide experience
innate instinct for freedom of motion, so music and an able instructor. He has had years of
can be made to become as popular if it is based practical work with some of the largest piano
upon the instinct of personal expression. His factories in the country. Mr. Schow is assisted
final appeal was for advertising and selling by Leroy Amber, also an experienced tuner.
based upon this idea with the establishment of
The course is divided into five parts and may
a national school for training retail salesmen be taken either in the daytime or during the
in the proper methods of piano salesmanship. evening.
Delightful entertainment was provided by
Heniot Levy, internationally known pianist;
Margery Maxwell, soprano, and the Fred Renk
CHICAGO, III., January 26.—Incorporation papers
Trio. Eugene Whalen, chairman of the enter-
tainment committee, was responsible for bring- have been filed here recently by Bell & Co., Inc.,
ing together this fine group of artists.
to deal in pianos, radio and musical accessories
The meeting opened with a word of welcome at 1389 Milwaukee avenue. The concern will
by Traugott Webber, president of the Piano and have a capital stock of $1,000, and has engaged
Organ Association, who proceeded to introduce Cochrane & George, 35 South Dearborn street,
Richard W. Lawrence, president of the Music as correspondent.
Industries Chamber of Commerce, who spoke
of the coming convention and struck the key-
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
note of the evening when he said that a recent The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
analysis of piano advertising showed that 80 free of charge for men who desire positions.
Bell & Go. Chartered
Griffith Takes Over
Newark Aeolian Branch
Will Handle Duo-Art and Aeolian Lines in
Newark, Paterson, New Brunswick and Tren-
ton, N. J.
An important arrangement for intensive dis-
tribution in northern New Jersey of the Duo-
Art reproducing piano and allied musical pro-
ductions has been completed by the Aeolian Co.
and the Griffith Piano Co., and was announced
by William H. Alfring, vice-president and gen-
eral manager of the Aeolian Co., last week.
The Griffith Piano Co. is to feature the Aeo-
lian line, the Duo-Art reproducing piano in the
Steinway, Steck, Wheelock, Stroud, Aeolian and
the Weber makes and also the Weber and Steck
straight pianos, Duo-Art and Melodee music
rolls in Newark, Paterson, New Brunswick, and
Trenton, N. J., as well as its Scranton, Pa.,
stores. Through this new arrangement the
Griffith Piano Co. acquires the Aeolian branch
in South Broad street, Newark, which formerly
covered this territory.
Thus in Newark the Duo-Art is to be sold
from the Griffith Piano Co.'s store in the heart
of the high class retail shopping district in
North Broad street, facing the park, one of the
highest priced retail districts in the country.
In anticipation the Griffith Piano Co. has
opened a finely-appointed piano wareroom in
Paterson.
"This new arrangement with the Griffith
Piano Co.," said Mr. Alfring, "is a further ex-
pression of Aeolian policy. It is our plan to
go forward increasing our business, co-operat-
ing with our dealers by increasing their oppor-
tunity, for we believe we can only achieve great
things as our dealers share in the Aeolian Co.'s
advances'."
Good Demand for Actions
The first month of the new year has wit-
nessed an unabated demand for the Wessell,
Nickel & Gross piano action. Arthur L. Wes-
sell, vice-president of the company, reports that
the demand for high-grade actions has been
way ahead of any other January on record and
that the prospects for the future never looked
better. He looks for general prosperity and
bases his faith on the confidence universally
manifested in the government at Washington.
It is his opinion that the present government
is particularly strong for the supremacy of
America. The promotion of American products
and the protection of American manufacturers,
Mr. Wessell points out, is bound to have a
very favorable effect on business and bound to
place America in the lead in financing and
manufacture.
Alfring on Vacation
William F. Alfring, vice-president and gen-
eral manager of The Aeolian Co., sailed Sat-
urday on the S.S. Metapan, of the United Fruit
Fleet for a month's vacation. Mr. Alfring's
headquarters will be at the Biltmore Sevilla
Hotel, in Havana. He is planning to spend
considerable time visiting planations over the
island and, before returning north, will spend
a week at Belleair, Fla.
Lopez Plays Marr & Golton
The Marr & Colton organ in the grill room
of the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York, was
specially designed by its manufacturer for the
use of Vincent Lopez, the well-known orchestra
leader, to use with his organization as well as
for solo selections. Mr. Lopez will play the
organ himself and the music will be broad-
cast every evening from the hotel. In addition
to its musical excellence, the instrument is an
additional beauty to this famous room.
JANUARY 31, 1925
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Chicago P. &. O. Association Entertains
Visiting Members of National Bodies
Principal Speaker Was E. Allen Frost, Who Analyzed Piano Production in Relation to Capi-
tal Invested—Other Speakers Were Richard W. Lawrence and Mark P. Campbell
, ILL., January 24.—An intimate
analysis of the piano business since the year
1909 was given by the principal speaker at the
annual banquet of the Chicago Piano and Organ
Association at the Chicago Athletic Club last
Thursday evening. As guests, the local asso-
ciation had the visiting members of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce who were
here attending the mid-Winter meetings of this
body. E. Allan Frost bearded the lions in their
dens by telling these piano men that they had
been experiencing a business decline during a
period when others were experiencing the exact
opposite.
Mr. Frost made a very lengthy talk which
was burdened considerably by statistics, but
the idea behind it all provided subject matter
for considerable thought on the part of our
per cent of it is based on price appeal. This
statement paved the way for the later remarks
by Allan Frost. Mark P. Campbell, president
of the Hrambach Piano Co., was also called
upon and expressed optimism over the prospects
of business for 1925.
Piano Tuning Course of
Philadelphia Y. M. G. A.
Includes Full Tuning Instruction as Well as
Complete Course on Player-Action Repairs
PHILADELPHIA, PA.—The Young Men's Chris-
tian Association of this city is placing special
emphasis behind its school of piano tuning, re-
pairing, rebuilding and player-piano adjust-
Annual Dinner of the Chicago Piano and Organ Association
industry. It can here be presented in brief ments. This school has been in existence for a
number of years and is well organized. In
form.
Mr. Frost pointed out that although the aver- the prospectus issued for the present term its
age annual production of industries in relation course of study and work is interestingly set
to capital was accepted as being in the neigh- forth. A tribute is paid to the importance of
borhood of 150 per cent per annum, the piano the tuner's work, in a foreword which states
industry in its best year showed something like "the tuner's work is of prime importance in
an 80 per cent turnover. He resorted to census shaping up the instrument that is to express
figures to show that since 1909, when the pro- the soul of the musician. It is second only to
duction was some $66,000,000, as compared witli that of the artist." Illustrations are given of
a capital investment of $81,000,000, the amount the various classes at work and the equipment
of capital invested in piano production has been available is described. It is stated that actions
increasing steadily, though the value of produc- of the following manufacturers are in use at
tion has shown a distinct falling off when con- the school: Wessell, Nickel & Gross, Strauch
sidered on a proportionate basis.
Bros., Staib-Abenschein, Standard Pneumatic
As a remedy for these unfavorable conditions Action Co., Motor Players Corp., Pratt Reed
Mr. Frost proceeded to recommend a different & Co., Simplex Player Action Co. and Auto
sort of advertising and propaganda, in which Pneumatic Action Co.
the player-piano and its ability to bring out the
The school is under the general direction
personal expression powers was advanced as a of W. O. Easton, director of the department
basis of action. He pointed out that just as of instruction of the Philadelphia Y. M. C. A.
automobiles have attained their remarkable pop- The immediate supervision is under Roy Schow,
ularity upon the strength of the individual's who is described as a man of wide experience
innate instinct for freedom of motion, so music and an able instructor. He has had years of
can be made to become as popular if it is based practical work with some of the largest piano
upon the instinct of personal expression. His factories in the country. Mr. Schow is assisted
final appeal was for advertising and selling by Leroy Amber, also an experienced tuner.
based upon this idea with the establishment of
The course is divided into five parts and may
a national school for training retail salesmen be taken either in the daytime or during the
in the proper methods of piano salesmanship. evening.
Delightful entertainment was provided by
Heniot Levy, internationally known pianist;
Margery Maxwell, soprano, and the Fred Renk
CHICAGO, III., January 26.—Incorporation papers
Trio. Eugene Whalen, chairman of the enter-
tainment committee, was responsible for bring- have been filed here recently by Bell & Co., Inc.,
ing together this fine group of artists.
to deal in pianos, radio and musical accessories
The meeting opened with a word of welcome at 1389 Milwaukee avenue. The concern will
by Traugott Webber, president of the Piano and have a capital stock of $1,000, and has engaged
Organ Association, who proceeded to introduce Cochrane & George, 35 South Dearborn street,
Richard W. Lawrence, president of the Music as correspondent.
Industries Chamber of Commerce, who spoke
of the coming convention and struck the key-
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
note of the evening when he said that a recent The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
analysis of piano advertising showed that 80 free of charge for men who desire positions.
Bell & Go. Chartered
Griffith Takes Over
Newark Aeolian Branch
Will Handle Duo-Art and Aeolian Lines in
Newark, Paterson, New Brunswick and Tren-
ton, N. J.
An important arrangement for intensive dis-
tribution in northern New Jersey of the Duo-
Art reproducing piano and allied musical pro-
ductions has been completed by the Aeolian Co.
and the Griffith Piano Co., and was announced
by William H. Alfring, vice-president and gen-
eral manager of the Aeolian Co., last week.
The Griffith Piano Co. is to feature the Aeo-
lian line, the Duo-Art reproducing piano in the
Steinway, Steck, Wheelock, Stroud, Aeolian and
the Weber makes and also the Weber and Steck
straight pianos, Duo-Art and Melodee music
rolls in Newark, Paterson, New Brunswick, and
Trenton, N. J., as well as its Scranton, Pa.,
stores. Through this new arrangement the
Griffith Piano Co. acquires the Aeolian branch
in South Broad street, Newark, which formerly
covered this territory.
Thus in Newark the Duo-Art is to be sold
from the Griffith Piano Co.'s store in the heart
of the high class retail shopping district in
North Broad street, facing the park, one of the
highest priced retail districts in the country.
In anticipation the Griffith Piano Co. has
opened a finely-appointed piano wareroom in
Paterson.
"This new arrangement with the Griffith
Piano Co.," said Mr. Alfring, "is a further ex-
pression of Aeolian policy. It is our plan to
go forward increasing our business, co-operat-
ing with our dealers by increasing their oppor-
tunity, for we believe we can only achieve great
things as our dealers share in the Aeolian Co.'s
advances'."
Good Demand for Actions
The first month of the new year has wit-
nessed an unabated demand for the Wessell,
Nickel & Gross piano action. Arthur L. Wes-
sell, vice-president of the company, reports that
the demand for high-grade actions has been
way ahead of any other January on record and
that the prospects for the future never looked
better. He looks for general prosperity and
bases his faith on the confidence universally
manifested in the government at Washington.
It is his opinion that the present government
is particularly strong for the supremacy of
America. The promotion of American products
and the protection of American manufacturers,
Mr. Wessell points out, is bound to have a
very favorable effect on business and bound to
place America in the lead in financing and
manufacture.
Alfring on Vacation
William F. Alfring, vice-president and gen-
eral manager of The Aeolian Co., sailed Sat-
urday on the S.S. Metapan, of the United Fruit
Fleet for a month's vacation. Mr. Alfring's
headquarters will be at the Biltmore Sevilla
Hotel, in Havana. He is planning to spend
considerable time visiting planations over the
island and, before returning north, will spend
a week at Belleair, Fla.
Lopez Plays Marr & Golton
The Marr & Colton organ in the grill room
of the Hotel Pennsylvania, New York, was
specially designed by its manufacturer for the
use of Vincent Lopez, the well-known orchestra
leader, to use with his organization as well as
for solo selections. Mr. Lopez will play the
organ himself and the music will be broad-
cast every evening from the hotel. In addition
to its musical excellence, the instrument is an
additional beauty to this famous room.
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