Music Trade Review

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OCTOBER 31,
1925
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
11
October Shows Advance Over Previous
Victor Withdraws Record of
Month With the Merchants of Cleveland " W r e c k of
Unusual Action Taken Out of Respect to the
Family of the Commander of the Airship and
Those Who Died in the Disaster
H. N. White Co. Announces It Will Erect Addition to Present Plant—Cleveland Talking Machine
Co. Reports Heavy Advance Orders for Orthophonic Victrola—Other News
/CLEVELAND, O., October 20.—More pep is
^ manifested by Cleveland's musical instru-
ment retailers. They are all planning for the
Christinas trade, and new models of pianos,
players, phonographs and radio sets are shown
in almost every retail music store. There is a
more optimistic feeling all around among deal-
ers. They admit the first half of October was
better than September and the "pick up" in
radio, talking machine and piano and player
sales during the past ten days indicates a
healthy business from now until the Christmas
rush order season reaches its peak.
Stringed instruments, according to such firms
as the Grossman Bros. Music House, the Rob-
ert L. White Music Co., the Cleveland Conn
Co., dealers in the N. H. White King band
and orchestra instruments, the Muehlhauser
Bros. Piano Co., the Dreher Piano Co. and
the big department stories, are finding increased
sales.
The big thing ahead in talking machines is
the new Victor and other models for which
heavy advance bookings are being reported.
The new models of R. C. A. Radiolas, those of
the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., the Freed-
Eisemann and Atwater Kent products are being
sought.
The N. H. White Co., of Cleveland, will erect
an addition to its present musical instrument
manufacturing plant for King band instruments
at 5225 St. Clair avenue. The work will be done
by the H. K. Furgeson Co., of Cleveland. The
new addition will be designed to fit in with the
architecture of the present building. Growth
of business necessitated the new addition.
Frank Sawyer, a piano salesman of Pitts-
burgh, was mixing along Music Row, Cleve-
land, this week.
Mrs. Carroll Burke, manager of the sheet
music department of the Kresge store, in lower
Euclid avenue, has made a local reputation as
a radio favorite, appearing as a soloist on the
Willard Storage Battery Co.'s WTAM pro-
grams.
A department on orchestral instruments has
been added to the Cleveland Institute of Music.
Five faculty members have been employed to
give instruction. They arc Ward Lewis, theory;
Laura Newell Veissi, harp; Constant Omers,
percussion instruments; Marie Martin and l.ois
Brown, children's department.
Howard J. Shartle, president of the Cleveland
Talking Machine Co., said that the new Ortho-
phonic Victrola will be offered for sale in this
city by Victor retailers early in November.
Following several demonstrations for the bene-
fit of dealers in this city, Toledo, Indianapolis
and other places, Mr. Shartle's company has al-
ready booked orders for $100,000 worth of the
new machines.
The October 19 issue of The Cleveland Shop-
ping News, a co-operative, tvvice-a-week paper
published by more than a score of the city's
leading retail merchants- and delivered to the
homes of more than a quarter of a million resi-
dents of Greater Cleveland and immediate sub-
urbs, pays a high tribute to music. The paper
contains only one editorial and no news matter
every issue. Under the heading "Music Makes
Happier Homes—Anent the Radio, Phonograph
and Player Piano" the News says:
"It is within the talents of few people to
possess musical ability. Some of us can not
even whistle a tune. And yet, we all get rare
enjoyment from music, and enjoyment that
nothing else equals.
"In our grandfather's age this pleasure was,
for the most part, restricted. To-day, even the
humblest home may have as fine music as re-
sounds within the walls of homes of wealth.
"Not only can every home have music, but
every home should. Music makes happier
homes. It lifts our thoughts above the daily
humdrums—it soothes tired nerves—quickens
the pulse and fills hearts and minds with a
goodly bit of the joy of life that is ours by
birthright.
"Musical ability is not necessary. Anyone
may enjoy the lilt notes of harmony blended.
The radio is for those who would hear, near
and far, the music of America, instrumental and
vocal, variety, always new.
"The phonograph preserves, for those who
may wish, a favorite selection to be played at
will and as many times as is wished.
"The player-piano is for the musical prefer-
ences desiring more robust harmonizing of
pleasant tones—the concert of a master pianist
or a rhythmical melody for the impromptu
dance."
Sousa's annual visit to Cleveland, October 17,
when he gave two concerts to 18,000 people in
the Public Hall, was marked by two events.
The presentation of a new march, written by
him and dedicated to Troop A, a local mili-
tary organization, and entitled "The Black
Horse Troop," and the group playing of a band
of 350 pieces selected from the city's high
school bands. The band was massed under the
direction of Russell V. Morgan, director of
music in the city schools, and Sousa directed the
players during the afternoon concert, the big
hall being packed by parents and their children,
most of them students of music and members of
school bands and orchestras.
Joseph Keit, general manager of Jerome H.
Remick & Co., was a Cleveland visitor during
the past week. He said he could see a pros-
perous year ahead for music publishers.
Henry Dreher, president of the Cleveland
Music Trades Association, expects to spend
part of the coming Winter in Florida, where
he usually goes every cold season.
Herman Wolfe, head of the Wolfe Music Co.,
was in Toledo this week.
Otto C. Muehlhauser, recently elected presi-
dent of the Music Merchants' Association of
Ohio, is getting into working harness ,or an
active Winter's campaign in behalf of new
members. Mr. Muehlhauser is also active in
the affairs of the Cleveland Music Merchants'
Association.
H. L. Kraus, Hush Terminal Building, New
York, has been appointed export manager for
the Mohawk Corp. of Illinois, manufacturer of
Mohawk radio receivers.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
An unusual and highly commendable action
was taken by the Victor Talking Machine Co.
recently in the withdrawal from the market of
the record of the "Wreck of the Shenandoah"
in deference to the family of Commander Lans-
downc of the airship and those members of the
crew who lost their lives in the catastrophe, the
withdrawal being made despite demands for the
record on the part of those of more or less
morbid tendencies. The letter announcing the
withdrawal of the record, which aroused much
favorable comment read:
"Out of deference to the family of Com-
mander Lansdowne of the Shenandoah we have
decided to make no more shipments of record
No. 19779, 'Wreck of the Shenandoah.' The
record listed on the other side will be re-issued,
doubled with some other appropriate number, i
"In taking this action we feel justified in
pointing out to the trade that it is our opinion
that great care must be exercised in the issu-
ance of songs of this character. We think a
mistake has been made. Such being the case,
the best thing to do is to acknowledge it
frankly, even though there be a great demand
for the record.
"We feel certain that you will agree with us
that it would be unseemly to give the appear-
ance of wishing to capitalize a national disaster.
We think it is our duty, and we feel sure you
will concur in the thought, not to in any way
bring distress upon the survivors or those who
have been bereaved by such occurrences as the
loss of the Shenandoah.
"Wherever an error in judgment has been
made in regard to so delicate a matter as this,
we are quire sure that the common decencies
demand an acknowledgment of the error, and
also that an effort be made to counteract what-
ever harm may have ensued.
"We sincerely trust that we will have your
co-operation in spreading this idea in your com-
munities."
Brambach for "Perfect Home"
A Brambach Baby Grand, Jacobean model,
has been selected for installation in "The Per-
fect Home" recently erected and furnished in
Youngstown, O. The instrument was supplied
by the Yahrling-Rayner Music Co., Brambach
dealers in Youngstown.
The Paradiso Piano Co., of Passaic, N. J.,
has filed papers of incorporation recently with
a capital stock of $7,000. The officers of the
company are Joseph Paradiso, Vincenzo G.
Paradiso and Damiano Paradiso, all of Passaic.
A COMPLETE LINE
Grands, Uprights, Player Pianos
Reproducing
Pianos
Factories—New York and
L'eotnin.ster
Divisions — Bradbury Pianos
Webster Piano Co