Music Trade Review
Issue: 1926 Vol. 82 N. 20 - Page 11
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MAY 15, 1926
The Music Trade Review
Cincinnati Music Merchants Report
Better Demand During Month of April
Still Better Demand Reported for First Week in May for All Lines of Musical Instruments—
Starr Piano Co. Branch Receives First Stock of New Gennett Portables
/CINCINNATI, May 10.—There was a decided
^ increase in the demand for pianos, talking
machines, records and other musical merchan-
dise the last week of April, and there was even
a greater increase the first week of May. Deal- .
ers expect the market conditions to keep on im-
proving up to the beginning of Summer.
Pianos, player-pianos and reproducing pianos
are now moving well, the dealers state, and the
same is said in regard to talking machines,
records, radio and other musical merchandise.
While the sales of all varieties of pianos have
been satisfactory, player-pianos have been in
the lead. In the talking machine line the great-
est demand has, of course, been for the new
instruments. The expected reduction in the de-
mand for radio did not come, and this is still
moving well, especially the combination instru-
ments.
At the Grau Piano Co. it was reported by
Otto Grau, head of the company, that April of
this year was better than the same month of
the previous year. May has started off well, he
stated, and increased activity is expected. The
demand for pianos has been good, and the call
for talking machines grew so much that he had
to employ an assistant to help F. A. Young,
who recently became manager of that depart-
ment. He has also purchased an additional
light truck, to be used in deliveries and in giv-
ing service to talking machine and radio cus-
tomers.
At the store of the Starr Piano Co. it was
reported that studio models and player pianos
are moving best. April sales, it was stated,
showed an increase over the corresponding
month of the previous year and there was an
increase the first week of May. The company
has received a stock of the new Gennett Por-
taphones and Starr Portables, both of which
are selling well.
W. M. Purnell and R. C. Ball represented the
Starr Piano Co. at the joint convention of the
Ohio Music Teachers' Association and the Ohio
Federation of Music Clubs held here the latter
part of April. They did some promotion work
in connection with the company's new studio
piano and the school phonograph. The school
piano takes up but a small amount of room, and
it is so low that the teacher can see over it and
observe the pupils. The school phonograph
rests on a light frame, with rollers, making it
easy to move the instrument from room to
room.
Clarence Gennett, of Richmond, Ind., visited
the Starr executive offices here May 4. W. J.
Purnell, of the Starr's wholesale department, is
making a business trip through Central Ohio
this week. Four new piano salesmen were added
to the Starr's force the first of May. Mr. Halley,
manager of the phonograph and roll depart-
ment, reports an increasing demand in that sec-
tion of the store.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Dunning, directors of
the Starr Piano Co.'s Chautauqua Lyceum, and
who also are promoters of the National Radio
Shut-In Societies, are completing the seventh
year of work in churches and societies of this
territory. They give a radio concert each Wed-
nesday afternoon at three o'clock for the bene-
fit of the shut-ins, furnishing instruments for a
great many homes in which they cannot be
afforded. Many old instruments that have been
discarded because of the purchase of new ones
are donated for this purpose. This work is
sponsored by the Starr Co., and $26,000 has
been raised for this form of benevolence.
Ray Lammers, who conducts the small-goods
department in the Starr store, has just been ad-
mitted to the Rotary Club, as band instrument
disributor. Business is getting better in his
section every day, he stated.
The Sixteenth Anniversary Sale of the
George P. Gross Co. was a big success and the
company's sales in the first four months of this
year have been larger than they were in the
corresponding period of the previous year.
Pianos of all kinds are moving well, talking
machines and records are in fine demand and
radio is doing better than fair.
Dan Summey, Mason & Hamlin representa-
tive, has just returned from a business trip
through West Virginia.
"After a short lull in the middle of April
business began to pick up again, and now the
demand is normal for the season," said Edward
E. Roberts, of the retail department of the
Baldwin Piano Co. The high-grade pianos are
selling best. George W. Armstrong, Jr., presi-
dent of the company, has just returned from
a four-months' visit in Mexico. H. C. Dickin-
son, who had just returned from a trip to
Europe, spent a few days here last week.
Music House Well
Past the Century Mark
Well-known Music House of Charleston, S. C
Was Founded in 1819 and Is Still Controlled
by Members of the Siegling Family
CHARLESTON, S. C, May 8.—A continuous career
of 107 years in the retail music business is held
to give the Siegling Music House, this city, the
distinction of being the oldest retail music
house in the United States, and at present the
business enjoys a solidity that should insure its
continued existence for many years.
The Siegling Music House was founded in
1819 by John Z. Siegling, who had been trained
in piano building abroad, and upon coming to
America entered the line of business with which
he was most familiar.
John Siegling was born in Saxony in 1789,
going to Holland when a youth and thence to
Paris, where he was employed by the celebrated
piano house of Erard. Later he was sent to
Glasgow and London to manage branches for
that firm. In 1819 he sailed to Charleston from
Glasgow after having debated whether to cast
his fortunes in America or Russia.
11
Shortly after he reached this city, Mr. Sieg-
ling opened his first paper business on Broad
street and is credited with having brought the
first harp to America. The venture proved suc-
cessful and later was moved to Meeting street
and finally to 243 King street, the present loca-
tion.
Upon the death of John Z. Siegling in 1868
control of the business passed to his son, Henry
Siegling, who developed into a recognized leader
in musical circles of Charleston. Upon the
death of Henry Siegling in 1905 the business
was left in the hands of his sons and has con-
tinued to make steady progress under the lead-
ership of Rudolph Siegling of the third genera-
tion, who is president of the corporation known
as the Siegling Music House, Inc.
Much of the success of the business is attrib-
uted to the fact that since its foundation there
have been handled only instruments of recog-
nized quality, and the present capable organiza-
tion has been thoroughly trained along the lines
laid down by the founder of the business.
Pottstown, Pa., Dealer Gives
Music Week Concert
William F. Lamb Promotes Event at Hippo-
drome Theatre With Victor Recording
Artists
POTTSTOWN, PA., May 8.—As an opening feature
of the local activities during National Music
Week, William F. Lamb, prominent music mer-
chant, gave a concert at the Hippodrome The-
atre. The program opened with Mr. Lamb's
concert orchestra playing a selection from the
"Vagabond King," which was followed by sev-
eral Victor Herbert numbers. One of the fea-
tures of the concert came at this time, when
William F. Lamb, 2d, ten-year-old son of the
proprietor, rendered as a concert solo the "In-
flammatus" from the well-known "Stabat Mater"
of Rossini.
Parts two and three of the program were ren-
dered by a group of Victor recording artists,
including Henry Burr, tenor; Billy Murray,
comedian; Sam Herman, xylophone artist;
Frank Banta, pianist, and others. George W.
Allen, president of the Milton Piano Co., New
York, which Mr. Lamb represents locally, was
a guest at the affair and was entertained by
Mr. Lamb at his home with the Victor artists
present.
Dixie Music Go. Opens
ORLANDA, FLA., May 8.—The opening of the
Dixie Music Co., 55 West Church street, has
been held recently with an informal reception
to patrons. A full line of Seeburg pianos and
player-pianos, Columbia phonographs and rec-
ords is handled by the store, which is under
the management of W. Shayne. A special musi-
cal merchandise department has also been estab-
lished, featuring Holton band instruments
and Ludwig & Ludwig drums.
John M. Alden, music dealer of Hibbing,
Minn., has purchased the Grosso music store
and will open a branch in Chisholm, Minn.,
which he will personally manage.
MAY 15, 1926
The Music Trade Review
Cincinnati Music Merchants Report
Better Demand During Month of April
Still Better Demand Reported for First Week in May for All Lines of Musical Instruments—
Starr Piano Co. Branch Receives First Stock of New Gennett Portables
/CINCINNATI, May 10.—There was a decided
^ increase in the demand for pianos, talking
machines, records and other musical merchan-
dise the last week of April, and there was even
a greater increase the first week of May. Deal- .
ers expect the market conditions to keep on im-
proving up to the beginning of Summer.
Pianos, player-pianos and reproducing pianos
are now moving well, the dealers state, and the
same is said in regard to talking machines,
records, radio and other musical merchandise.
While the sales of all varieties of pianos have
been satisfactory, player-pianos have been in
the lead. In the talking machine line the great-
est demand has, of course, been for the new
instruments. The expected reduction in the de-
mand for radio did not come, and this is still
moving well, especially the combination instru-
ments.
At the Grau Piano Co. it was reported by
Otto Grau, head of the company, that April of
this year was better than the same month of
the previous year. May has started off well, he
stated, and increased activity is expected. The
demand for pianos has been good, and the call
for talking machines grew so much that he had
to employ an assistant to help F. A. Young,
who recently became manager of that depart-
ment. He has also purchased an additional
light truck, to be used in deliveries and in giv-
ing service to talking machine and radio cus-
tomers.
At the store of the Starr Piano Co. it was
reported that studio models and player pianos
are moving best. April sales, it was stated,
showed an increase over the corresponding
month of the previous year and there was an
increase the first week of May. The company
has received a stock of the new Gennett Por-
taphones and Starr Portables, both of which
are selling well.
W. M. Purnell and R. C. Ball represented the
Starr Piano Co. at the joint convention of the
Ohio Music Teachers' Association and the Ohio
Federation of Music Clubs held here the latter
part of April. They did some promotion work
in connection with the company's new studio
piano and the school phonograph. The school
piano takes up but a small amount of room, and
it is so low that the teacher can see over it and
observe the pupils. The school phonograph
rests on a light frame, with rollers, making it
easy to move the instrument from room to
room.
Clarence Gennett, of Richmond, Ind., visited
the Starr executive offices here May 4. W. J.
Purnell, of the Starr's wholesale department, is
making a business trip through Central Ohio
this week. Four new piano salesmen were added
to the Starr's force the first of May. Mr. Halley,
manager of the phonograph and roll depart-
ment, reports an increasing demand in that sec-
tion of the store.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Dunning, directors of
the Starr Piano Co.'s Chautauqua Lyceum, and
who also are promoters of the National Radio
Shut-In Societies, are completing the seventh
year of work in churches and societies of this
territory. They give a radio concert each Wed-
nesday afternoon at three o'clock for the bene-
fit of the shut-ins, furnishing instruments for a
great many homes in which they cannot be
afforded. Many old instruments that have been
discarded because of the purchase of new ones
are donated for this purpose. This work is
sponsored by the Starr Co., and $26,000 has
been raised for this form of benevolence.
Ray Lammers, who conducts the small-goods
department in the Starr store, has just been ad-
mitted to the Rotary Club, as band instrument
disributor. Business is getting better in his
section every day, he stated.
The Sixteenth Anniversary Sale of the
George P. Gross Co. was a big success and the
company's sales in the first four months of this
year have been larger than they were in the
corresponding period of the previous year.
Pianos of all kinds are moving well, talking
machines and records are in fine demand and
radio is doing better than fair.
Dan Summey, Mason & Hamlin representa-
tive, has just returned from a business trip
through West Virginia.
"After a short lull in the middle of April
business began to pick up again, and now the
demand is normal for the season," said Edward
E. Roberts, of the retail department of the
Baldwin Piano Co. The high-grade pianos are
selling best. George W. Armstrong, Jr., presi-
dent of the company, has just returned from
a four-months' visit in Mexico. H. C. Dickin-
son, who had just returned from a trip to
Europe, spent a few days here last week.
Music House Well
Past the Century Mark
Well-known Music House of Charleston, S. C
Was Founded in 1819 and Is Still Controlled
by Members of the Siegling Family
CHARLESTON, S. C, May 8.—A continuous career
of 107 years in the retail music business is held
to give the Siegling Music House, this city, the
distinction of being the oldest retail music
house in the United States, and at present the
business enjoys a solidity that should insure its
continued existence for many years.
The Siegling Music House was founded in
1819 by John Z. Siegling, who had been trained
in piano building abroad, and upon coming to
America entered the line of business with which
he was most familiar.
John Siegling was born in Saxony in 1789,
going to Holland when a youth and thence to
Paris, where he was employed by the celebrated
piano house of Erard. Later he was sent to
Glasgow and London to manage branches for
that firm. In 1819 he sailed to Charleston from
Glasgow after having debated whether to cast
his fortunes in America or Russia.
11
Shortly after he reached this city, Mr. Sieg-
ling opened his first paper business on Broad
street and is credited with having brought the
first harp to America. The venture proved suc-
cessful and later was moved to Meeting street
and finally to 243 King street, the present loca-
tion.
Upon the death of John Z. Siegling in 1868
control of the business passed to his son, Henry
Siegling, who developed into a recognized leader
in musical circles of Charleston. Upon the
death of Henry Siegling in 1905 the business
was left in the hands of his sons and has con-
tinued to make steady progress under the lead-
ership of Rudolph Siegling of the third genera-
tion, who is president of the corporation known
as the Siegling Music House, Inc.
Much of the success of the business is attrib-
uted to the fact that since its foundation there
have been handled only instruments of recog-
nized quality, and the present capable organiza-
tion has been thoroughly trained along the lines
laid down by the founder of the business.
Pottstown, Pa., Dealer Gives
Music Week Concert
William F. Lamb Promotes Event at Hippo-
drome Theatre With Victor Recording
Artists
POTTSTOWN, PA., May 8.—As an opening feature
of the local activities during National Music
Week, William F. Lamb, prominent music mer-
chant, gave a concert at the Hippodrome The-
atre. The program opened with Mr. Lamb's
concert orchestra playing a selection from the
"Vagabond King," which was followed by sev-
eral Victor Herbert numbers. One of the fea-
tures of the concert came at this time, when
William F. Lamb, 2d, ten-year-old son of the
proprietor, rendered as a concert solo the "In-
flammatus" from the well-known "Stabat Mater"
of Rossini.
Parts two and three of the program were ren-
dered by a group of Victor recording artists,
including Henry Burr, tenor; Billy Murray,
comedian; Sam Herman, xylophone artist;
Frank Banta, pianist, and others. George W.
Allen, president of the Milton Piano Co., New
York, which Mr. Lamb represents locally, was
a guest at the affair and was entertained by
Mr. Lamb at his home with the Victor artists
present.
Dixie Music Go. Opens
ORLANDA, FLA., May 8.—The opening of the
Dixie Music Co., 55 West Church street, has
been held recently with an informal reception
to patrons. A full line of Seeburg pianos and
player-pianos, Columbia phonographs and rec-
ords is handled by the store, which is under
the management of W. Shayne. A special musi-
cal merchandise department has also been estab-
lished, featuring Holton band instruments
and Ludwig & Ludwig drums.
John M. Alden, music dealer of Hibbing,
Minn., has purchased the Grosso music store
and will open a branch in Chisholm, Minn.,
which he will personally manage.
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