Music Trade Review

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MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Conducted By Thomas W. Bresnahan
San Francisco Chronicle
Promotes Harmonica Contest
Event Is Open to All Children in City Between
the Ages of Ten and Twenty Years—Many
Prizes Offered
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., September 7.—The sound
of the harmonica is heard in the land, and it is
generally the Hohner harmonica. Boys and
girls are playing as they walk to school, play-
ing in the home and in the school yards, all in
preparation for the great Din Derby, which
opens to-morrow, at 4:30 p. m., in Golden Gate
Theatre. The San Francisco Chronicle is con-
ducting the harmonica handicap, and dealers
in the city already say that it has led to a brisk
demand for the instruments, especially Hohners.
After asking: "Why a Harmonica Contest?"
the Chronicle answers its own query thus—
"John Philip Sousa, dean of band conductors,
says the harmonica develops respiration. Ted
and Al. Waldman, blackface comedians from
the Keith-Albee circuit, godfathers to the
Chronicle Harmonica Handicap, say it develops
perspiration. In the youth of San Francisco
it should promote aspiration, for the best non-
professional tootler of from ten to twenty years
of age will find himself richer by $50, and the
five next best boys and girls win $20 each."
Hohner harmonicas will be given away to-
morrow to all boys and girls who present them-
selves, with coupons, at the stage door of the
Golden Gate Theatre, at 4.30 p. m. There will
be a whole week to practice, and then the elimi-
liation contest will begin to select six winners
who will broadcast over KPO. Later they will
assemble on the stage of the Golden Gate
Theatre to select the chief winner by popular
applause.
Paramount Banjo Player
Sends Word of Aviators
First Message of Hassell and Kramer's Fate
Comes From Player of That Instrument Near
Arctic Circle
The first radio message received by the out-
side world announcing the safety and rescue
of the lost Hassell and Kramer, pioneering an
air route from Rockford, 111., to Stockholm,
Sweden, was sent by a Paramount banjoist.
Francis M. Baer, of Washington, D. C, radio
man with the University of Michigan Green-
land Expedition, transmitted news of the rescue
direct to the New York Times, this information
being received in New York two minutes after
the discoverers of Hassell and Kramer had sig-
naled the observatory at Mt. Evans, Greenland,
that the flyers were safe. Mr. Baer made final
preparations and arrangements for direct radio
communication with the New York Times in
New York last Spring.
At that time he called upon William L.
Lange, manufacturer of Paramount banjos, at
225 East Twenty-fourth street, securing all
accessories needed for a Paramount banjo for a
two years' sojourn in the Arctic. Mr. Baer has
carried his Paramount banjo with him on vari-
ous and interesting adventures in all parts of
the world, following his profession of radio ex-
pert. He finds it a source of unending pleasure
and enjoyment, both to himself and to the mem-
bers of the expedition.
When in New York, he made the statement
that his Paramount was purchased in Balti-
more in March, 1923, and has given perfect sat-
isfaction through years of hard usage. A
harsher test of a musical instrument could
hardly be devised than to be performed upon,
under racking conditions, on ships at sea, in
dry atmospheres, from the Tropics to the
Arctic Circle, and to have it give perfect satis-
faction in any clime and under all circum-
stances.
Opening of Season Good
With Milwaukee Dealers
Resumption of School Work, Together With
Best Industrial Conditions in City's History,
Creates Optimism
MILWAUKEE, WIS., September
10.—With the
opening of schools, band instrument business is
showing a gain, according to A. S. Arnstam, of
the Walker Musical Exchange.
"We have had a good Summer business, par-
ticularly from the farm trade, and early Fall
should see this continuing," he pointed out.
"With school under way, and music taking a
more important place on the curricula, it will
mean an improvement in business conditions."
Mr. Arnstam reported a good general interest
in band instruments, and in small goods noted
a great demand for the Chromonica of M.
Hohner. This has been a big seller, and he
indicated his belief that it will continue to take
well with the retail trade.
Another helpful indication for the band in-
strument business in Milwaukee is the broaden-
ing demand for labor marking the start of Fall
and Winter production schedules. Music re-
tailers are quoting reports from the public em-
ployment office which indicates that Milwaukee
will continue to have the largest number of
people at work in peace-time history for at
least the next quarter.
With many of the largest industrial plants op-
erating under the largest production schedules
in their history, and with a good apparent
assurance of continued activity, music houses
are reporting good prospect lists for Fall,
which should make up a good year for the
business with present active trade.
Reserves Custom Decision
Judge McClellan reserved decision this week
in Customs Court in a case involving the ques-
tion whether a harmonica is a toy and subject
to 70 per cent duty ad valorem or a musical
instrument upon which 40 per cent should be
paid. Joseph Hoffman, leader of a harmonica
orchestra, testified it was a musical instrument.
So?
}or
Rolmonica Wins Instant
Popularity With Public
New Instrument, Distributed by Buegeleisen
& Jacobson, New York, Being Sold Faster
Than Factory Can Produce It
One of the fastest selling items which has
been introduced to the retail music merchant
in many years is the new Rolmonica, for which
Buegeleisen & Jacobson, New York, are the
exclusive distributors in the United States. The
new instrument, which has only been on the
market for the past three months, has already
attained national distribution, and the produc-
tion at the factory is having a difficult time to
keep up with the orders from the dealers, de-
liveries at the present moment being from ten
to fifteen days behind orders. It is expected,
however, that the factory will be caught up
with orders during the present month, but with
the holidays ahead, it is advisable "for the deal-
ers to anticipate their wants.
The Rolmonica, which is best described as
a pocket player-piano, is only four by three
and one-half inches in size, and with one dozen
rolls, takes up but very little room. It is
played simply by blowing into the mouthpiece
and turning a little crank, so the trick of play-
ing it is an extremely simple matter, which
everyone picks up in the first few moments it
is in their possession. One hundred different
rolls are now in the Rolmonica library, in-
cluding a majority of the popular songs of the
day as well as many of the ever-popular favor-
ites. New rolls are issued monthly. A hand-
some window display card is being issued to
dealers with all orders, and many of them find
that a store demonstration moves the stock
almost immediately. It is a novelty musical in-
strument that has an extremely wide field of
possible purchasers.
Boyer Declares Conn
Gathering Most Successful
ELKHART, IND., September 8.—J. F. Boyer, sec-
retary of C. G. Conn, Ltd., reports that the
recent Conn convention was the most success-
ful dealer gathering it had ever held. Dealers
recognize that the future of their business is in
the development of school bands and orches-
tras and they came from all over the country
to listen to successful merchants outline their
plans for developing such organizations in
schools.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review.
DRTTBCH
Mark
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS
SINCE 1883
The Fred Gretsch
6O Broadway Brool
25
Mr