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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
STARR PIANO CO.'S NEW QUARTERS IN TOLEDO.
New Establishment Recently Occupied Most Attractively Furnished—Special Rooms Devoted
to the Various Instruments—Business Under the Management of C. J. La Roche.
9
been manager for the Hoehl & Geisler Co. at
Wheeling.
Owing to failing health Mr. La Roche came to
Ohio, where he has since been making a record.
Charles A. La Roche, son of the manager, an ex-
pert player-piano demonstrator, is also connected
with the Toledo store, having charge of the
player-piano department.
Three floors and a finished basement are occu-
pied by the Starr Piano Co. There is a handsome
large display window, which during the opening
was attractively decorated with chrysanthemums
and a handsome Starr grand piano in Circassian
DEMAND FOR A. B. CHASE LINE.
walnut, art finish case, and a Starr burl walnut
October Next to Best Month in History of Com-
player-piano.
pany
in Point of Shipments—Secretary
The color scheme throughout the store is green
Doud's Summing Up of Conditions.
and tan harmoniously blended in all the decora-
tions. The lighting arrangements are artistic and
(Special to The Review.)
restful. Throughout the store mottoes stand out
Norwalk, Ohio, Nov. 25, 1912.
piominently calling attention to the fact that the
At the present time the A. B. Chase Co. is in
Starr store is pre-eminently a "one-price" store. the midst of one of the most prosperous periods
The manager, Mr. La in the history of the concern and the factory is
Roche, is and has always
turning out A. B. Chase grands, uprights and
been known as a-strictly
artistanos at such a rapid rate tnat it is with dif-
"one-price" man, this
ficulty that sufficient cars are obtained in which
being his especial hobby. to ship them. Orders for twenty-eight pianos in
On the first floor are one day was a recent record at the factory, and
located reception rooms, according to Secretary L. L. Doud the company
display rooms, the sales never shipped more pianos in one month, with one
manager's desk, ticket
exception, than during October, and November bids
selling department, the
fair to surpass even that record. The orders on
manager's office, book- the books are in excess of the present output of
keeping and credit de- the factory despite the fact that several of the
partments. The man- departments are being operated overtime. In dis-
ager's office is so ar- cussing general conditions Mr. Doud said:
ranged that he has a
"We have heard it stated that there was a Presi-
view of the entire floor
dential election this year, but we haven't noticed
and the different offices
any falling off of our business on that account.
without leaving his desk. We hope that the Democrats, whom we hear are
The music roll depart- now in power, or will be next year, will give us
ment on the second floor
equally as good times as President Taft and the
is very complete and is kind Providence has the past year."
enclosed in a large
sound-proof room fitted
George J. Lawrence now occupies the entire store
out with a player-piano. at 91 Main street, Nyack, N. Y., with his stock of
A desk in this room musical instruments and has arranged for a formal
View of Grsnd Room, the Starr Piano Co., Toledo, O.
makes it possible for all opening to attract attention to his large and attrac-
tive quarters.
a great handicap in the former location on Su- music roll business to be kept track of in this de-
partment.
perior street. After a careful search the present
N. T. Austinson is a new piano dealer of Rush-
location was decided'upon as being the best from
A Starr and Richmond room are fitted out on
ford, Minn.
every point of view that could possibly be se- this floor, as is also the grand room. The Starr
cured. Its close proximity to one of the largest room is decorated with a handsome fern basket
department stores in the city and to the Secor, surmounting a tufted circular settee, which also
Toledo's largest and most fashionable hotel, add
adorn the first floor and the player-piano room.
no little to the value of the location which brings
The player room and two piano parlors, as well
the store to the attention of some of the most
as the workshop, are located on the third floor.
desirable people in the city.
The various parlors, all of which are finished in
The new store is a handsome one, having been
solid oak, are fitted out with heavy French plate
especially designed for their business, the lease
glass partitions and are soundproof, thus making
having been signed long before the building was it possible to try out pianos in the various rooms
completed. The opening was an event, being en-
without interference one with the other.
livened by music and attended by a large con-
The shop is a handy, neat room, well lighted
and fitted out to take
the best of care of
the tuning and repair
work.
Manager C. J. La
Roche has been with
the Starr Piano Co.
for the past seven
years, five of which
have been spent in
Cleveland as assistant
manager. His record
there was of such
an excellent character
that he was placed in
charge of the Toledo
store two years ago,
since which time a
steady growth has
been maintained very
encouraging to Mr.
La Roche and highly
satisfactory to his
superiors.
Mr. La Roche, al-
Main Wareroom of the Starr Piano Co., Toledo, O.
Q
n e w YORH
t h o u g h extremely
GfUGflGO
BOSTOtl
course of people. Every lady calling during the youthful in appearance, has been in the piano busi-
two days of the opening was presented with a
ness long enough to feel himself a veteran, having
handsome floral souvenir and souvenir post cards. started in business for himself at Wheeling, W.
Fully 3,000 carnations were given away during
Va., twenty-eight years ago. He has also
the affair.
been in the piano manufacturing business, having
(Special to The Review.)
Toledo, O., Nov. 25, V,)\±
From the interest displayed in the opening of
the new quarters of the local branch of the Starr
Piano Co., in the Fifty Associates building at
318 Jefferson avenue, this city, the citizens of
Toledo, and especially those interested in music,
are very proud of the new piano store with its
convenient arrangements and attractive lines of
instruments.
It has long been desired by the management to
secure better and more up-to-date quarters with
Starr store is pre-eminently a "one-price" store.