Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE
APRIL 18, 1925
REVIEW
Lee S. Roberts, Inc., San Francisco,
Is Expected to Be Opened About May 1
pied by the Settergren plant, to permit an nn-
creased output of the business. It is understood
that Mr. Settergren has a tentative agreement
to purchase the Brown factory building.
New Home of the Chickering in That City to Be Handsome Warerooms—H. L. Stoner Joins
New House—Music Festival to Be Held Soon—Association Work in Seattle
Thomas J. Mercer Opens
Office in Los Angeles
CAN FRANCISCO, CAL, April 9.—Lee S.
Roberts arrived from the East on April 7
and has since spent much of his time with his
architect and interior decorators. Work is being
rushed on the fine store at 230 Post street,
which will be the home of Lee S. Roberts,
Inc., piano dealer, specializing in the Chicker-
ing and the Ampico in the Chickering. The
store affords excellent space for the display of
pianos and for demonstration rooms. There is
a large main floor running back to a street in
the rear, and also a large mezzanine floor which
is being equipped for demonstration rooms and
an Ampico room. It is hoped that the store
will be completed and ready for opening on
or about May 1. Speaking of his new depart-
ure, Mr. Roberts said that he would be able to
say more about it when the store is ready for
opening. It is understood that the well-known
song writer and former vice-president of the
Q R S Music Co. will give his personal atten-
tion to his establishment. Being a San Fran-
ciscan and a native son naturally makes Mr.
Roberts feel that he is returning home rather
than launching in business in a new city.
H. L. Stoner Joins Roberts' Forces
H. L. Stoner, for the past four years man-
ager of the retail Ampico department of Kohler
& Chase, has resigned. Mr. Stoner, always an
Ampico enthusiast, is now with Lee S. Roberts,
Inc., and he is already taking part in the pre-
liminary work of opening the new piano store.
He is one of the best-known piano men on the
Pacific Coast, and successfully managed a num-
ber of recitals of artists, given in conjunction
with the Ampico, while managing the retail
Ampico department for Kohler & Chase. Prior
to coming to San Francisco Mr. Stoner was
with a leading music house in Portland, Ore.
Delighted With Prospects for Crops
Just back from visiting Sacramento and the
Valley in that region, Henry Hauschildt spoke
of the conditions he had seen there and of the
reports coming in to his Sacramento store. In
Mr. Hauschildt's opinion, all the country north
of the Tehachepi is due for a good Summer so
far as crops are concerned. "The outlook has
never been better. A lot of pianos will be sold,"
said Mr. Hauschildt. He added that he has just
received a carload of Schumann pianos.
Easter Window Arouses Admiration
There were many attractive Easter windows
in San Francisco this year, but Sherman, Clay
& Co. had the one that was generally believed
the most artistic and full of the real Easter
spirit. It was an organ window featuring prod-
ucts of the Estey Organ Co. In the back of
the window were two stained glass windows, of
the type one sees in fine churches, and an added
ecclesiastical effect was given by light which
poured through the colored windows from be-
hind. There were numbers of fine potted Easter
lilies and roses.
Association Work Strong in Seattle
Fred C. Buell, Welte-Mignon (Licensee) tech-
nician, has just returned to the offices of Bee-
man P. Sibley after traveling through much
territory of the Pacific Northwest with Walter
Lund, Mr. Sibley's assistant. He saw Mr. Lund
established in his headquarters in Portland,
Ore., and together he and Mr. Lund drove 4,000
miles in three weeks calling on dealers in the
Northwest territory. Mr. Lund, who was sent
out here by the Kohler Industries, liked the peo-
ple of the Northwest and seemed to get on with
them. He and Mr. Buell visited Seattle, Ta-
coma, Vancouver, B. C, also Spokane and other
Highest
Quality
points in the Inland Empire of the Northwest.
What especially impressed Mr. Buell in Seat-
tle was the excellent spirit among the dealers.
They had some difficulty in establishing their
music trades association at first, but now nearly
all the dealers are not only association men but
are also enthusiastic for organization. Mr.
Buell is convinced that there will be a very good
Northwest representation at the convention of
the Western Music Trades, to be held in Los
Angeles, June 23 to 26.
City Urges Support for Festival
The Mayor of San Francisco, James Rolph,
Jr., has issued a proclamation addressed to
clubs, civic organizations, etc., as well as to citi-
zens generally, urging active support for the
city's second Spring music festival which com-
mences next week. "The Spring music festival
is a great civic project—as Mayor of this great
city of San Francisco, I earnestly request your
co-operation in bringing this important musical
event to the attention of our citizens," said the
Mayor, in part. There will be a chorus of 600
voices. The symphony orchestra will assist and
several famous singers are coming from the
East to take part.
Nobleman Becomes a Piano Salesman
Recently the San Francisco newspapers gave
quite a little space to the arrival of Baron
Bromberg, formerly an officer in a crack Hun-
garian regiment. Only seventeen at the out-
break of the world war, his unit was assigned
to the Russian front where, from luxury, he
and his fellow soldiers sank to rags and star-
vation as the war progressed, and Austria-
Hungary grew poor and finally disintegrated.
To the reporters he said he was here to earn
his living and would do any honest work he
could find. Under his family name of Halvax,
the Baron is now with the Heine Piano Co.
He is stated to be likable, well educated and,
like so many of the titled exiles who have
come to California, he is anxious to work and
make good.
Frank Edgar, manager of the wholesale de-
partment of the Aeolian Co., has been here for
nearly a week. As usual Mr. Edgar is spending
much of his time with Sherman, Clay & Co.
E. R. Potter, representing Ricca & Son, is
here from Los Angeles, calling on the trade.
Mr. Ricca called, en route North, at Santa Bar-
bara, where he found members of the trade very
hopeful.
Bluffton to Raise $30,000
to Hold Settergren Plant
Chamber of Commerce Back of Movement to
Provide Funds for Expansion of Factories—
Offers From Other Cities
BLUFKTON, IND., April 13.—At a meeting of the
Bluffton Chamber of Commerce here recently it
was voted to raise $30,000 as an inducement to
the B. K. Settergren Co., piano manufacturer,
to remain in this city. The Settergren concern,
which desires to expand, has received offers
from other cities in this section, but it is be-
lieved that any desire on the part of the man-
agement to move elsewhere has been fore-
stalled.
Of the entire amount subscribed by the trade
chamber the B. K. Settergren Co. will receive
$10,000 cash and $20,000 for stock. Under the
plan additional buildings will be erected near
the W. B. Brown factory building now occu-
Former Sales Manager of Gulbransen Co. Now
Specializing in Commercial Service at His
Old Home in Southern California
Los ANGELES, CAL., April 10.—Thomas J. Mercer,
who resigned as sales manager of the Gulbran-
sen Co., Chicago, effective December 31 Last,
has returned to his old home in Southern Cali-
fornia, where he sold his first piano, a Chicker-
ing upright, a number of years ago. He has
opened an office in the Detwiler Building, 412
West Sixth street, this city, specializing in com-
mercial service, particularly for the music trade.
Embraced in the service rendered is counsel
in market analysis, merchandising, advertising,
financing, purchasing, cost finding and sales de-
velopment. More detailed announcement of his
plans will soon be forthcoming.
"While I have received several offers to con-
nect with concerns that I would be proud to
be associated with, both inside and outside the
music business, I have preferred for personal
reasons to go it alone as a free lance," says
Mr. Mercer. "Since the first of the year I have
spent considerable time in traveling and corre-
spondence, and I have gathered information and
worked out practical suggestions that will be
of interest to my clients, both manufacturers
and dealers. I have just completed a Survey
and Forecast for early issue, and have in prepa-
ration a market analysis of the mountain and
coast territory.
"I have no musical instruments to sell, no
connection with any manufacturer or dealer, and
no bias or prejudice whatsoever to influence my
investigations, findings or service. My experi-
ence convinces me there is a need for this serv-
ice, obtainable through no other single agency.
I appreciate the many kind expressions that have
come to me since I dropped out of sight the
first of the year, and hope that any of my
friends who come to California will look me up
in my modest little office."
Otto L. Wright Now
With Pease Piano Go.
Well-known Piano Man Completes Initial Trip
Through New England in Interests of New
York Piano Manufacturers
Otto L. Wright, well known in the piano
trade, has just returned from his initial trip
through New England in the interest of Pease
Piano Co., and has met with good results. Fur-
thermore, he reports that dealers have found in
the Pease piano a leader that represents old
ideals in high-grade piano manufacturing. Mr.
Wright is planning another trip through Penn-
sylvania and Middle West territory.
A. B. Smith Go. Branch
BARBERTON, O., April 11. — Announcement is
made of the opening of a branch store of the
A. B. Smith Piano Co., at 200 Park avenue.
This store will merchandise pianos almost ex-
clusively, though handling some talking ma-
chines. The same policies as at the Akron
store will prevail at the local store, it is said.
Harry Budd, of Ashland, O., has purchased
half interest in the Bell Music House, of Galion,
O., and has taken up residence there to asso-
ciate actively in the business.
Highest
Quality