Music Trade Review

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MARCH 4,
1922
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
SHIPMAN PIANO CO. ORGANIZED AT HIGH POINT, N. C.
New Concern Capitalized at $100,000, With W. G. Shipman as President, Thomas G. Baker Vice-
president and John A. Holmes Secretary and Treasurer—Will Manufacture a Complete Line of
Pianos and Players—First Plant of Its Kind in That Section of the Country • ; „ . ;,-.
A piano factory in the South has now been
assured by the formation on February 21 of the
Shipman Piano Co., Inc., to be located at High
Point, N. C, where a complete line of pianos
and player-pianos will be manufactured.
The officers of the new company are: W. G.
Shipman, president; Thomas G. Baker, vice-
president and factory manager; John A. Holmes,
secretary and treasurer.
The company has been capitalized for $100,000,
$30,000 of which has been paid in.
W. G. Shipman, president of the new organi-
zation, is well known in the music trade industry,
owing to his connection with the Shipman Or-
gan Co., which was established in 1908 and has
done a flourishing business since. The new
company, however, will be separate and distinct
from the organ company and will be housed in a
thoroughly modern factory, which is now being
erected.
Thomas G. Baker, the vice-president and fac-
tory manager, is one of the best-known factory
executives in the piano industry. He has had
thirty-nine years of practical piano manufactur-
Shipman Piano Co. their earnest support. Ground
was broken this week for the new plant, which
will comprise over 60,000 square feet of floor
space and which will be equipped with the most
most prosperous business men in High Point
and I can see no reason why, with the experience
of the men who have the business in charge, we
will not be able to produce a line of instruments
which will be acceptable in every respect to the
retail merchants throughout the country. The
line will be comprised of high-grade pianos and
player-pianos in which a new scale will be incor-
porated, while the designs will be thoroughly
modern, attractive and from the musician's
standpoint in every respect pleasing and satis-
factory.
"An important factor in the success of this
enterprise is the fact that there is a magnificent
spirit evident among the leading people of High
Point. They are proud of their city and of their
State, and every new enterprise of worth opened
up commands their enthusiastic support. That is
one of the reasons why High Point has become
such an important manufacturing city and why
it is admirably suited for the location of a new
company devoted to the construction of pianos
and player-pianos."
The many friends in the trade of the officers of
the Shipman Piano Co. will extend to them the
very best wishes for the success of their new en-
terprise. The establishment of a plant for the
construction of pianos and players in North Caro-
lina may mean a diversification of manufacturing
centers as far as pianos are concerned, and this
in a way is to be welcomed. The South is mak-
1
Thomas G. Baker
ing experience, having been connected with some
of the largest manufacturing plants in the coun-
try. Air. Baker has just returned from Japan,
where for almost two years he was general man-
ager for the Nishikawa Music Instrument Mfg.
Co., Ltd., Yokohama, putting into operation in
the plant of this concern a thoroughly modern
and efficient method of American manufacturing.
During his extended career as superintendent
Mr. Baker has supervised the manufacture of
all grades of instruments and his ability was
recognized by the commissioners of the World's
Fair, 1915, Panama Pacific Exposition, at San
Francisco, Cat., who awarded him a gold medal
and diploma—a unique distinction and honor
bestowed as a recognition of his skill as a de-
signer and creator of special art styles, which
displayed his individuality. At the time of the
receipt of this honor Mr. Baker was general
superintendent of the Werner Industries Co., of
Cincinnati, O., although the instruments referred
to were displayed under the auspices of Byron
Mauzy, San Francisco. He was also at one time
superintendent of the factory of Sohmer & Co.,
and later was connected with Hardman, Peck
& Co. and the R. S. Howard Co., when this plant
was located in Brooklyn.
John A. Holmes, secretary and treasurer of
the company, is another man who is thoroughly
conversant with manufacturing and merchandis-
ing methods as pursued in the music industry,
for he was formerly associated with a large
Southern retail music house and has had many
years of experience in the music trade field.
The board of directors of the new company is
comprised of prominent business men of High
Point, who are giving the executives of the
W. G. Shipman
modern devices for the manufacturing of high-
grade pianos, player-pianos and other musical in-
struments. The pianos will be manufactured in
accordance with a new scale which is being pre-
pared under the direction of Mr. Baker and sev-
eral attractive models will be produced in keep-
ing with the good name of Shipman organs.
The establishing of this piano manufacturing
concern at High Point is considered by many
to be a move in the right direction. It is the
first piano factory to be located in the Southern
territory, and High Point, known as "the indus-
trial city of the South," offers many advantages
for a manufacturing concern of this character.
It is situated on a fertile plateau, 940 feet above
the sea, and is considered the coolest place in that
part of the South. It is immediately surrounded
by a very rich agricultural country, in which the
people are well known for their prosperous con-
dition. In the city itself there are 130 industries
and during 1921 twenty-five new industries were
put into operation and nineteen factory buildings
erected. It has sixty-five furniture and wood-
working plants and last year three and one-half
millions of dollars were spent in building opera-
tions.
An interesting point in connection with the
manufacturing facilities which this city offers is
the fact that it has railroads radiating in four
directions, two of which are double-tracked, and
there are forty-eight and one-half miles of rail-
road siding within the city limits along which
many industries are located. Twenty-four passen-
ger trains and thirty freight trains per day is the
service which this city can boast of. Situated in
the heart of a lumber district, this is an addi-
tional advantage, especially in the manufacture of
pianos. One thousand new homes are being
erected this year to meet demands.
Thomas G. Baker was in New York this week
and placed orders for a large quantity of supplies
with which to commence the manufacturing of
the instruments. When seen by a representative
of The Review he was very enthusiastic regard-
ing the new project. "I feel very confident,"
hv said, "that a piano factory in the South will
prove very successful. High Point is a wonder-
ful place and is one of the most progressive manu-
facturing cities in this country—in fact, it is the
Grand Rapids of the South. The woodworking
situation there is most satisfactory and freight
conditions are considerably better than the aver-
age. We expect to have our new plant completed
within six weeks and I hope to have models of
the new instruments ready for exhibiting in New
York during the convention in June. We have
the earnest support of some of the largest and
John A. Holmes
ing steady strides industrially and the fact that
pianos are now to be made at High Point will
occasion naturally a native pride that is perfectly
logical.
MRS. WILHELMINA ANDRESEN DEAD
Mother of Mrs. Franz Goepel Passes Away in
Fort Lee, N. J.—Was Eighty Years Old
Mrs. Wilhelmina Andresen, mother of Mrs.
Franz Goepel, wife of Franz Goepel, of C. F.
Goepel & Co., New York, died this week at her
home in Fort Lee.
Mrs. Andresen was eighty years of age and is
survived by two daughters and three grand-
children. The funeral services were held on
Monday last and interment was at Woodlawn.
Among those who attended the services was
Thomas G. Baker, whose relationship with the
deceased over a long period of years had been
practically like that of a mother and son.
THE KNABE IN SALISBURY, N. C.
Maynard Bros. Take the Agency in That Terri-
tory for the Complete Line of Knabe Pianos,
Including the Ampico—Plan Live Campaign
Maynard Bros., Salisbury, N C, have secured
the agency for the Knabe piano, which they will
carry as their leader. They are large and aggres-
sive dealers and most satisfactory results are an-
ticipated from this new connection, both by the
Knabe house and by Maynard Bros. They will
carry the full Knabe line, both grands and up-
rights, including the Ampico.