The Richmond Virginian. (Richmond, Va.) 1910-1920, 1910-05-14
CARS Of PIANOS
SOLO EVERY WEEK
Richmond's Trade Best in Any Of
South Atlantic .-
States.
$3.50, 900 INVESTED
IN BUSINESS HERE
About Eight instruments Are Sold
in This City Each Day by
Six Flourishing
Houses.

Keen competition has mada Rich
mond one of the largest distributing
points OF pianos in the South Atlantic
States. Each week about SO instru-
inents are sold by local houses, the
larger portion OF which are shipped
into this State and North Carolina
About x25e,0ee Ia invested IN the
business here. according 10 the most
authentic Information obiatna bic con-
corning the combined capital of the
six houses here which sell all OF the
weli-known makes.
The growth of the piano business
in Richmond has been healthy. TWEEN
ty-fse years ago three houses sup
piled the trade. They were Ryiand
and Lee. Walter ID. Moses and Manly
u. Ramos, Those doing business here
to-day are Walter d. Moses and Com
pasy, Cable Company. Lee Ferguson
pany.s Stien Plano Company and Fer
fusson Brothers.
About nifty mon are ION the road
for Richmond houses. travelling Viz
gtnta, West Virginia and North Caro-
lima Many tuners are kept busy In
and out ef the city.
Have Suppianted Organs.
Not many years ago. especially
throughout the South, reed organs
were found In most homes. These
have been gradually supplanted by
pianos. To supply the increasing de-
mand for instruments Richmond was
Ideally situated. With more perfect
manufacturing facilities the price OF
pianos has constantly decreased. until
they may now be bought for about
$500. Most OF the stock on hand In
KrchM0nd r. composed OF moderaic
priced uprtghts, though few grands
and baby gTAnds are on hand and are
occasionally sold at price from $1,000
% $500.
Though all OF the piano stores here
carry stocks az organs. they are not
in evidence TO visitors to the show
rooms. Upon asking to see an organ
= prospectiev buyer IL escorted to an
upper floor. As the automobile IL TAX
fng the place OF the horse 70 is the
piano filing tho place of the organ.
we have sold many pianos re-
Gently for day-schools." said one
prominent piano, dealer. to illustrate
the passing OF the organ. Reed or
gans are now largely confined to small
So An Can Play.
with the many steps forward In the
manufacture OF pianos come many
added improvements which tend t.
mako pianos desirable In all homes.
although : musiefan may not he
among the members OF the household.
Selections from Wagner. Chopin
and Mo1art to rag time melodies from
the latest. mustcal comedy successes
may be Peeled on by the yard with
little effort ON the part Of one's pedal
extremitieS. t@
Tnis mas been brought about by the
advent Of nianolaY. inner-p players.
play-pianoe ana mechanical deytces OF
various nAinea adopted by rival manu-
These instruments are costly and
are seldom found In homes whore
tkArs Ii not q certain amount OF
luxury. But It y ssid the prace OF
piano players u coming down and
! Win eventually place them in reach
OF tho family OF moderate means
Now Have BABY Grands.
For the ambitious daughter doing
parents are inclined to buy grands.
hut thsso magnificent products OF the
piano makerss art arc too expensive.
Not only that. the average house win
not accommodate . grand. These
dtS1cnltisas hAxs been overcome with
I M production o. the baby grand.
many ~ which are on display In
MI on i suaAtl scsle pianos wsrs made
~ RiehMonds thirty 9eAr1 -. Older
keesl R5eno 4eaasl-
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