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JANUARY 10,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1925
B. R. Brassfield Made Wiley B. Allen
Manager for Portland and Northwest
J. E. Whitney Is Appointed Assistant Manager for Portland and Frank Raymond City Sales Man-
ager—Q R S Pacific Coast Factory Ends Prosperous Year—Sibley Visits East
Santa Claus more or less surprised a large
CAN FRANCISCO, CAL, January 1.—Infor-
mation just given out at the headquarters number of San Franciscans by giving them
of the Wiley B. Allen Co., here, leads to the radio, and the results of Kris Kringle's activ-
understanding that important developments ities along this line are seen in a greatly in-
planned by the company are associated, in creased number of "listeners-in." By courtesy
Portland, Ore., with three new appointments of Sherman, Clay & Co. an excellent concert
made by the company in connection with its was broadcast from KGO, at the Hotel St.
branch there. The three new appointees are Francis, on December 27. W. F. Tatroe, man-
B. R. "Buck" Brassfield, just made general man- ager of the retail piano department of the firm
ager for the Wiley B. Allen Co. for Portland here, had made the arrangements, the program
and the Pacific Northwest; J. E. Whitney, as- being given by the faculty of the Musical Arts
sistant manager for Portland, and Frank Ray- Institute of San Francisco.
mond, city sales manager for Portland, Ore.
Sibley Is Visiting the East
All have been chosen for these special positions
On December 26 Beeman P. Sibley, Coast
largely with an eye to their piano knowledge manager for the Kohler Industries, left for a
and their ability to promote the interests of the brief business visit to New York.
firm's special lines, namely, the Ampico, and in
pianos, the Mason & Hamlin, as well as the
Ludwig and the Cable lines.
"Buck" Brassfield, who began his music
trades career in his native State of Kansas, was
(Continued from page 3)
for years a familiar figure up and down the
Coast as the representative for the Packard
everybody to play it, but that is no reason why
Piano Co. At one time he had a music store
we should not make an effort. We do not
of his own in Salina, Kan., but he sold out in guarantee to buyers of straight pianos that they
order to settle permanently on the Coast. The learn to play them, yet they are sold as a
Wiley B. Allen Co. considers Brassfield es- means to musical accomplishment and lessons
pecially well suited to direct their expensive are arranged. It were better for the business
operations in Portland, Ore., and in the Pacific if we did not do business with those in whom
Northwest. He knows pianos, he knows people we cannot cultivate some sort of appreciation
and is known by them and he is thoroughly
for good music.
familiar with his territory.
But if we are going to sell player-pianos to
Mr. Brassfield's assistant will be J. E. Whit- the 75 per cent we must make music the basic
ney, a trusted employe of the Wiley B. Allen
commodity and not pianos and their construc-
Co. during a period of thirty-five years. Mr.
tion, music as a living thing of beauty, a
Whitney entered the ranks of the firm's em-
friend, a companion, a necessity that must be
ployes when very young and received his train- sold on every doorstep. There are endless ways
ing under the direction of the late Wiley B. in which this can be done. In fact the sales-
Allen, founder of the company. His very thor- man selling music has something on every other
ough knowledge of all the details of the com- salesman in the world. Music is the most pro-
pany's work it is believed will make him an
found, the most universal of all arts. No
invaluable assistant to Mr. Brassfield.
branch of study is so simple, so easily under-
The
Frank Raymond, appointed city sales man- stood, so fascinating, so interesting.
ager of the Portland store, is considered by the trouble is that we give the study of music such
Wiley B. Allen Co. to be particularly well little thought that we do not realize how simple
fitted to uphold the sales traditions of the firm. it is. Music roll study and interpretation is the
He is also recognized as one of the most thor- most interesting thing any one could begin.
oughly capable men in his knowledge of the
If the player-piano is to hold its place in the
piano lines handled by the Wiley B. Allen Co. field as a musical instrument, if it is going to
Q R S Factory Ends Prosperous Year
stand as a money-making factor for merchant
The Q R S Music Co's factory here has and salesman, we must teach people to play
just closed the most prosperous month's busi-
(not pedal) it. We must also teach music roll
ness in the history of the factory. A. L. Quinn, interpretation. This can readily be done by
Coast manager for the company, expressed the making this an added feature of the music roll
conviction, however, that 1925 is going to be a department if some one fully competent is
banner year. This, he said, was partly because placed in charge. Or where the merchant's
of the rush of early delivery of January orders, business is quite extensive a separate depart-
but Mr. Quinn's faith in 1925 is also founded ment may be created and owners of players
on a number of other favorable prognostica- can take their lessons at the store by appoint-
tions. In spite of the handicap of 1924, includ- ment once or twice a month just as they would
ing a lack of rain that amounted to drought and at any studio where manual playing is taught.
other costly agricultural handicaps, it was a This also affords a wonderful means for pros-
remarkable year for the factory's business. Up pect building and stimulates payments. Private
to December 31 the rainfall has been three recitals may also be conducted by this depart-
times that of the previous year during the cor- ment. These will intensify musical desires,
responding period, and is several inches above create a desire for better music and will also
normal, thus practically assuring wonderful be the means of securing^.good prospects.
crops and water for power, etc. With a clean
bill of health for the State's livestock, great
developments, such as bridging the Bay, in the
initial stages, combined with a general feeling
of business confidence, Mr. Quinn expressed
TORONTO, ONT., January 5.—The Williams Piano,
the belief that business is bound to be excellent.
Ltd., of Oshawa, Ont., recently celebrated the
Air. Quinn is looking forward with the usual
75th anniversary of the establishment of the
pleasant anticipation to the annual visit of T. business which has been developed to a most
M. Fletcher, president of the Q R S Music Co., successful point. All of the employes partici-
who will come to San Francisco this month.
pated in the celebration.
What's Wrong With
Player-Piano Sales
Canadian Concern Celebrates
QuaBty
ONKRENCH
American Piano Co. Wins
Appeal in Cunningham Suit
U. C. Circuit Court of Appeals in Philadelphia
Sustains Plaintiffs and Orders Suit for Libel
Reinstated for Further Procedure
The U. S. Circuit Court of Appeals for the
Third District, Philadelphia, has sustained the
appeal of the American Piano Co., New York,
in its suit for libel against the Cunningham
Piano Co., Philadelphia, and the earlier judg-
ment of the District Court has been reversed
with instructions to reinstate the case for fur-
ther procedure.
In the earlier trial of the case before jury,
brought in the U. S. District Court, at the close
of the testimony on behalf of the plaintiff, the
trial court, on motion of the defendant, granted
a compulsory non-suit, saying:
"The libel charged in this case is that in mak-
ing and selling the "Knabe and Chickering pi-
anos the plaintiff is acting fraudulently, and
that the fraud consists in holding out to the pub-
lic that Knabe and Chickering pianos are of a
superior grade and quality, whereas, in fact,
the plaintiff is imposing on the public under the
names 'Chickering' and 'Knabe' inferior instru-
ments.
"That is the libel charge and I think that
this article is not capable of such a construc-
tion and that, therefore, there is no question
to submit to a jury."
In reconsidering the case on appeal the court
declares that, "after careful consideration, we
are of the opinion that the case should have
been submitted to the jury. The earlier judg-
ment is, therefore, reversed and the record re-
manded with instructions to reinstate the case
for further procedure."
British Dealers Visit
Trade in Portland, Ore.
Stewart M. T. Broadwood and Eric Foster, of
John Broadwood & Son, Ltd., London, Study-
ing Business Methods in America
PORTLAND, ORE., January 2.—During the past
week the Portland dealers were visited by a
couple of British pianp men, Stewart M. T.
Broadwood, director of the John Broadwood
& Son, Ltd., of London, and Eric Foster, sales
manager of the firm, who are making a tour
of Canada and the United States in the inter-
ests of their firm, studying the local methods of
doing business. While in Portland, most of
their time was spent with the Wiley B. Allen
Co., the G. F. Johnson Piano Co., and the
Reed, French Piano Co. The British visitors
came to Portland after having completed their
tour of Canada and will return east by way
of California, stopping en route at the prin-
cipal cities, where they will call upon the prin-
cipal piano dealers.
Toronto Tuners to Organize
TORONTO, ONT., January 5.—A group of Toronto
tuners recently held an informal meeting to dis-
cuss the advisability of forming a piano tuners'
association. Their idea is nothing in the shape
of a trade union but an organization similar
to a division of the National Association of
Piano Tuners as operated across the border.
Will Handle Holton Line
TERRE HAUTE, IND., January 5.—The Sterchi
Music Store has secured the local agency for
the Holton line of band instruments made by
Frank Holton & Co., F.Ikhom, Wis.
Quality