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NOVEMBER 22,
THE
1924
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
N. Snellenburg & Co., Philadelphia,
Remodel and Expand Music Section
Letters that Make
the Piano Prospect
New Manager Placed at the Head of the Department—Strawbridge & Clothier Open Small Goods
Department—William Staiger, Jr., Dies—Ludwig Piano Co. Opens Radio Department
the cash in hand and then wonder why the time
never comes.
Yet these same people purchase their homes
on time and often their automobiles. There is
an impression also that one receives a large
discouot if one can pay cash for the piano or
Victrola.
Yet nothing is farther from the truth than
this impression. The firm of Philpitt's does the
largest instalment piano and Victrola business
in Florida and the only difference in price be-
tween cash and instalment is 6 per cent interest
charged on the deferred payments. This small
interest charge is even less than you would
pay if you borrowed money from your bank or
what you pay now on your home or automobile.
Therefore if one is desirous of owning a
piano or Victrola he should by all means con-
sult Philpitt as most advantageous terms can be
arranged on thoroughly high-grade nationally
known pianos and the equally well-known Vic-
trola. It is no longer to your advantage to
wait until you have the cash.
Purchase your instrument and enjoy it while
paying for it.
The fourth and final letter of the scries is
devoted to the question of quality and really has
to do with the selection of the proper place
where an instrument may be bought with con-
fidence. In this letter the company says:
In re Quality
How often do you consider this word when
you decide to purchase a piano?
Yet this word—quality—should be your first
consideration. Price second.
A difference of but a few dollars may, in fact
will, make a difference of many years in the
service you will receive from the instrument you
purchase.
"A good workman is worthy of his hire."
This is just as true of a piano. A well-made
standard high-grade piano is worthy of every
dollar charged for it.
You may well ask, "How am I to know a
piano of quality when there are so many makes
on the market and every dealer claims his is the
best?"
There are many ways to assure yourself that
you are selecting a standard piano.
First, assure yourself as to who is the out-
standing and leading piano merchant of your
city.
In Jacksonville you would quickly decide on
the Philpitt store.
It has demonstrated its leadership by bring-
ing the foremost musical attractions to Jackson-
ville in the last few years; by its aggressive
methods, its rapid growth covering the whole
State with a chain of music stores and its
policies of handling only instruments of proven
worth.
The next step is to look at its pianos. Here
again you are quickly satisfied because the
names of the instruments shown you are house-
hold words: Steinway, Mechlin, Kurtzmann,
Francis Bacon pianos whose makers were
founded from a half century to over a century
ago.
In conclusion you can interview several of the
owners of these instruments and establish firmly
in your mind their entire satisfaction with their
instruments.
Confidence in the house you purchase from is
the largest factor to be considered.
At various times other good literature, such
as instrument and record folders, is included
with the letters. Where the first couple of
letters develop a nibble, following up is done
in person by a salesman, and even after the
series is finished an occasional piece of mail is
sent to those who have not evinced any direct
interest.
PHILADELPHIA, PA., November 18.—Re-
ports regarding business conditions in the local
trade vary considerably according to the location
and type of dealer who is making the report. It
is a noteworthy fact that the bulk of the de-
mand appears to be for more expensive in-
struments of the high grade, and dealers in
such lines are having difficulty in getting stock
to meet demands. The medium and low-priced
lines are moving rather slowly at present, but
it is expected that they will show signs of life
in a week or so as the holiday demand becomes
apparent.
In the talking machine departments machine
sales are not over-abundant, although there is
a fair demand for popular records. Band and
stringed instruments and musical merchandise
generally are selling well.
Enlarging Snellenburg Stocks
Since taking over the management of the en-
tire mus^c ^dpjpartment of the N. Snellenburg &
Co. Department Store here, Manager E." W.
Eisenhart has greatly extended the stocks and
modernized the surroundings and display facil-
ities. All the music goods are now assembled
on the fifth floor and include a complete as-
sortment of wind and string instruments, talk-
ing machines and, in the piano department,
players and pianos. There has been installed
attractive show counters and wall cases for the
greater exploitation and display of the various
lines carried, which include the Kurtzmann,
Wissner, Haines and Schumann Pianos. The
largest patronage which the Snellenburg store
enjoys is centered in the Autopiano and this
instrument is broadly exploited by the firm in
concert demonstrations and advertising cam-
paigns. In the talking machine sections, on the
fifth floor and in the basement, are featured the
Victrola, Cheney, Sonora, Brunswick, Edison,
Pathe, Columbia and other makes, as well as
the combination radio and phonographs. Man-
ager Eisenhart Succeeds Maurice Tutuer, who
severed his connection with Snellenburg & Co.
last September. Mr. Eisenhart joined the
Snellenburg store forces 18 years ago as a sales-
man in the talking machine department and in
1915 became manager of that department.
Since taking over his new duties as manager of
the music department he has made extensive
improvements, particularly in the small goods
lines.
New Small Goods Department Opened
The Strawbridge & Clothier Department
Store, 8th and Market streets, has just com-
pleted the opening of an entirely new depart-
ment in its musical merchandising section. The
latest addition is the stocking of a complete
assortment of small goods, wind and string in-
struments with accessories. The new division
of the music department is under the manage-
ment of Thomas Cummings, formerly manager
of the talking machine department. Manager
Cummings, who has been associated with the
company since 1907, will continue in charge of
the talking machine department and will also
supervise the newly inaugurated musical goods
division while the entire music department is
under the direction of General Manager Frank
Butler. There is stocked in the new division
on the same floor as the piano and talking ma-
chine sections, the fifth, a complete stock of
wind, string and brass instruments, such as
violins, banjos, mandolins, ukuleles, saxophones,
cornets, trumpets, trombones and other acces-
sories made by the Buescher Band Instrument
Co., The Weymann Keystone String Instru-
Highwt
Quality
ment Co., and the Barry Drums. There also
lias been stocked a line of supplies including
strings, picks, stands, cases and other requisites.
These stocks will be featured along with the
talking machines such as the Victor and Cheney.
Death of Wm. Staiger, Jr.
The Philadelphia trade learned with regret of
the tragic death of William Staiger, Jr., son
of the head of the Staiger Piano Co., of At-
lantic City. Mr. Staiger, who was in his 37th
year, was found dead in a bath room of his
home on November 11. He was the son of
William Staiger, head of the piano company
bearing his name, and a member of one of
Atlantic City's wealthiest families. The body
was found by his brother, Allen Staiger, in the
suite which he occupied in the Arnold Apart-
ments, Kentucky and Pacific avenues. The
young man was said to have been despondent
over a long period of illness which had much
depressed him.
Radio Department for Ludwig & Co.
A new radio department has been added to
the Ludwig Piano Co. store, 1103 Chestnut
street. There is to be featured the Ware Neu-
trodyne, the R. C. A. sets and the Atwater
Kent, with the newest addition in the De For-
est outfits. The De Forest equipment has been
installed with the aid of the engineers from
that manufacturing company, who have been in
Philadelphia supervising and instructing the
dealers and their workers in the promotion of
De Forest products and their operation. The
Girard Phonograph Co., Broad and Berks
streets, has been appointed the local distribu-
tor of the De Forest and the engineers are
working in conjunction with the dealers through
the distributor. They have been assigned to
cover the city and State trade covered by the
local distribution house. The De Forest has
been given a prominent place in the local radio
field through the promotion work undertaken
by the manufacturers in co-operation with the
Girard Co. In the installation of the sets in
the Ludwig Co. the De Forest engineers have
been working with Manager Charles Leudeke,
of the phonograph department, who will super-
vise the new radio department and its general
lay-out.
New Story & Clark Branch
The Story & Clark Piano Co. lias just com-
pleted the installation of a complete holiday
slock of the Story & Clark instruments in its
newly opened branch at Allegheny avenue and
Kensington street in the Kensington district of
Philadelphia. The firm has secured a large
store on the corner. The new store will be
under the direction of General Manager Jules
Kohnheim, while the management of the store
will be under the supervision of William Ack-
ley, formerly of the sales organization. There
also will be carried a compete stock of Q R S
rolls. The main Philadelphia store is located
in Piano Row, 1105 Chestnut street. In the
central city store there has been opened a roll
department with the Q R S stock to be used
in conjunction with the Story & Clark pianos.
Manager Kohnheim found, upon closing the
October sales records, that this year's business
was quite on a par with last year's and the
holiday sales of Story & Clark pianos and re-
producers and players have been most satisfac-
tory so far.
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
(Continued from pctyc 3)
Summers Branch in Ashland
ASHLAND, KY., November 15.—A branch of the
Summers Piano House, of Washington C. H.,
Ohio, has been opened here on East Winchester
street, with H. O. Lewis as manager. This is
the seventh branch of the company, which is
at present represented in Portsmouth, Chilli-
cothe, Jackson and McArthur, O.
Highest
Quality