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OCTOBER 9, 1926
The Music Trade Review
Wiley B. Allen Co. to Discontinue
Its Branch Warerooms in Portland, Ore.
Firm to Concentrate Its Activities Henceforth in California, Where It Operates Eight Stores—
Sherman, Clay & Co. Find Piano Instruction Profitable in Making Sales
C A N FRANCISCO, CAL., October 2.—The
Wiley B. Allen Co. is closing out its branch
at Portland, Ore., in order to concentrate its
capital and activities in California. This is the
furthest north branch of the firm and the only
one outside the State of California, where the
company operates eight stores. The Portland
store was founded in 1873, and to-day it is sell-
ing practically the same line of pianos it intro-
duced when it first entered the Portland mar-
ket. James J. Black, treasurer of the Wiley B:
Allen Co., stated that administrative offices will
be maintained in Portland in order to give thor-
ough attention to the pianos, etc., which the
company is selling on the instalment plan in
the Portland territory.
George J. Dowling Dines Department Heads
George J. Dowling, president of the Cable
Company, is at present visiting the Wiley B.
Allen Co. on his annual Pacific Coast trip. To-
night Mr. Dowling is giving a dinner at the
Family Club at which the guests will be the
executive officers and heads of departments of
the Wiley B. Allen Co.'s store here, as well as
the branch managers and heads of departments
of the various 'northern California branches of
the house.
Lee S. Roberts Becomes Victor Dealer
Hitherto Lee S. Roberts, Inc., Chickering
Warerooms, has been known in San Francisco
principally as a piano house. The corporation
has just become a Victor dealer and formal pub-
licity will be given to the fact within a few
days.
Wholesale Connections Made for Redtop Tubes
Just back from the radio show at Portland,
Ore., where he went with a display of Redtop
tubes, A. L. Quinn, Western nia^iager for the
Q R S Music Co., stated that while in the North
jobbing connections were made with P. J.
Cronin Co. for handling Redtop tubes in
Oregon and Washington. This house has a
branch in Seattle and maintains a corps of
traveling salesmen in both States. Mr. Quinn
stated that the company was impressed with the
Q R S Redtop tubes displayed at the Portland
Radio Show. In addition to its other lines, the
Cronin Co. has entered very actively into the
radio field. The advertising campaign for the
Q R S Redtop tubes was quite a factor in decid-
ing the company to handle the product.
Richard Ahlf Tells of Educational Work
Several different systems are being tried out
throughout the country for class instruction in
piano playing, and even the National Associa-
tion hails this as a new idea and one that should
be fostered by dealers. It may be interesting
to know that this is the third year that Sher-
man, Clay & Co. at their own expense are pro-
moting class instruction.
Regarding this work, Richard Ahlf, in general
charge of the entire piano section of Sherman,
Gay & Co., stated to-day:
"Music dealers who are interested in the ad-
vancement of music would no doubt like to hear
what Sherman, Clay & Co. are doing in their
territory on the Pacific Coast through Mrs. Zay
Rector Bevitt, author of 'Piano Playing by Har-
mony Diagrams,' a comparatively recent publi-
cation of Sherman, Clay & Co. This lady, who
is an experienced teacher, is in the employ of
Sherman, Clay & Co., working in connection
with their entire system of branches. Mrs.
Revitt offers to the music teacher a normal
course in teaching her system, this course being
given with the compliments of Sherman, Clay &
Co. In addition, Mrs. Bevitt demonstrates how
easily a beginner can learn through the system,
by holding pupils' classes at the various Sher-
man, Clay & Co.'s stores, with no charge what-
ever to the prospective pupil. In addition,
classes and demonstrations are given with Sher-
man, Clay & Co.'s compliments to various asso-
ciations of teachers, school teachers, convents,
etc.
System Tied Up With Duo-Art
"The system used is also tied up with the
Duo-Art reproducing piano," said Mr. Ahlf in
telling of the educational campaign, "and it is
easily demonstrated how the pupil can progress
in his music study through the medium of the
Duo-Art. The work being done by Sherman,
Clay & Co. during the last three years has
started thousands of pupils to practicing piano
lessons, has assisted the music teachers in ob-
An Advertisement With
an Unusual Argument
Welte-Mignon Copy Indicates Unfamiliarity of
General Public With the Reproducing Pianos
as Compared With Other Products
The Welte-Mignon advertising which has ap-
peared in the New York papers has long been
of the sort that has not only served to attract
attention but has given to the reader some tan-
taining thousands of new pupils and has with-
out doubt done much to further the sale of the
straight piano and the Duo-AVt.
"In addition to the actual direct result ob-
tained by Sherman, Clay & Co., a great many
additional new students of the piano are created
through the adoption of the 'Piano Playing by
Harmony Diagrams' in various public and
private schools."
Hauschildt Plans Not Yet Announced
The lease of the Hauschildt music house on
O'Farrell street expires in a few months. At
present the firm is not ready to make announce-
ment regarding any future plans, it was stated
to-day.. The lease here in no way affects the
handsome new store in Oakland, which the
Hauschildt music house opened over a year ago.
Features Batteryless Zenith
Lee S. Roberts, Inc., is featuring in its dis-
play windows that it has the new batteryless
Zenith radio.
Joseph Sayward in West
Joseph Sayward, of the wholesale department
of the Aeolian Co., left this week for a lengthy
trip through the Middle West in the course of
which he will call on the various Aeolian repre-
sentatives in that territory. Mr. Sayward will
make a-special point of attending the forth-
coming opening of the new store of Schmoller
& Mueller in Sioux City, la.
McAllister Go. Moves
The McAllister Music Co., which has been
located for a considerable period on Charles
street, Wellsburg, W. Va., is moving into new
quarters on Seventh street.
15 good restaurants
5 fine motor cars but only
3 Great Playing Pianos!
most exacting gourmet
w in town will admit some fifteen
places that are possible for a dinner
party. And the motor fancier will
name certainly five cats that arc fine.
But when a g.eat playing piano comes
to be chosen, the musician can tell you
of three—and no more.
Wejte-Mignon is one of them—
the only one that embodies the per-
fected reproducing action in the pkno
perfected to play for it. If you would
appreciate this difference fully, bear
the other two first.
Then, in a mood that is critical
and challenging, let the Welte-Mignoa
play for you here at our studios. In
its own lovely voice it will answer
whether or no ft is the one instru-
ment you want to call your own.
Pratt Read
Service
We maintain special
Repair Departments
for the convenience
of d e a l e r s a n d
tuners.
Send your work to
us for prompt at-
tention and careful
workmanship.
WELTE MIGNON
IN THE WELTE BUILT WELTE PIANO
snovn exclusively in our studios
6 6 5 FIFTH AVENUE at 53S2
Write tor our price lists on
key—action—player
repairs and materials
gible argument for the purchase of a reproduc-
ing piano and particularly of a Welte-Mignon.
These arguments have been many and varied,
but few of them have been more interesting
than that presented last week in an advertise-
ment designed indirectly to indicate the general
lack of public knowledge regarding pianos of
the reproducing type.
PRATT, READ & CO.
Established in 1806
The PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION CO.
Deep River, Conn.