Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MAY 21, 1927
The Music Trade Review
H. M. Conrad, of the M. P. Moller Co.,
Hagerstown, Md., Wins Weaver Contest
H. H. Trader, of the Holland Co., Cumberland, Md., Is Winner of Second Prize in
Exciting Finish Decided by One Reproducing Piano Sale
X^ORK, PA., May 16.—The prize winners in
*• the recent sales contest for retail dealers
and members of their sales organizations, con-
ducted by the Weaver Piano Co., of this city,
have just been announced. First honors were
carried off by H. M. Conrad, of the M. P.
Moller Co., Hagerstown, Md., with a score of
22,462 points; H. H. Trader, of the Holland
Co., Cumberland, Md., was second, with 19,574
points, and M. C. Dale, a dealer of Oneonta,
N. Y., third, with a record of 9,559 points.
Fourth prize went to Floyd W. Stanton, a
dealer of Cortland, N. Y., and fifth prize to
J. L. Garwood, North Wilkesboro, N. C. The
prizes were, respectively, $200 in gold for first;
$100 in gold, second; $50 in gold, third; $32 in
cash, fourth, and $18 in cash, fifth. The final
days of the contest were really exciting from
a number of angles and it was the last-minute
sale of a reproducing grand that put Mr. Con-
rad in first place.
The contest covered a period from February
1 to April 30, and the standing of the contest-
ants was made on the basis of points, as
follows: For each dollar of the net price at
which the Weaver piano was sold, two points
were awarded, and an extra two points were
given for each dollar of the initial payment
made on the instrument at the time of sale.
On sales of York pianos the allowance was one
point on price and one point on initial cash
received, the net price being that received after
any allowance for trade-ins had been made. An
extra 10 per cent of the total points of the
sale were allowed where it was made to a
prospect previously registered with the direct-
mail advertising department of the Weaver
Piano Co.
There were twenty-six dealers and salesmen
in all who took part in the contest and who
were represented in the finals, and as a result
sales activities were stimulated materially.
Those who failed to get in the prize money
still had a real incentive for working beyond
the direct income from the sales, for the
Weaver Co. distributed a special fund among
the contestants on the basis of one-fourth of
1 per cent for each point scored. On this basis,
and in addition to $200 in gold, Mr. Conrad
received $55.92 additional for the points he
scored, and even the tail-enders received prize
money for their efforts.
Records and Radio Sales
Ruth Kemper Pays
Aids to Each Other
Tribute to Brambach
Well-known Violinist, Conductor of Cameo
Symphony Orchestra, Praises the Brambach
Instrument
A valuable tribute to the Brambach baby
grand piano was received recently by Gordon
G. Campbell, vice-president of the Brambach
Piano Co., New Yo.k, in a letter from Miss
{Continued from page 5)
t-sted in a popular-dance number by emphasizing
that present-day orchestration brings out the
true melody underlying nearly all jazz. Need-
less to say, we have sold countless records of
Gershwin's 'Rhapsodic in Blue' to people who
had bought classical records exclusively before
being invited to listen to it in our store."
Another valuable plan is put into operation by
the Mayers stores and that is a comprehen-
sive study of the individual neighborhood sur-
rounding each store in order to adapt the record
stock to meet the particular demand. It has
been found that the store at 861 Eighth avenue
is patronized by many Irish residents and it is
therefore advantageous to have a good supply
of Irish ballads and McCormack records in the
racks at all times. The store at 7831 Ninth
avenue has a strong Negro following and
"blues" and dance numbers are the best sellers
here. In this way customers have been made
to feel that if they go to a Mayers store they
will find what they want.
Without question the chief difficulty experi-
enced by the Mayers organization in applying
its sales ideas to the record department is in
supervising the salesmen themselves. William
Mayers is of the opinion that a record salesman
is of little value unless he is himself a music
lover and can talk sympathetically and intelli-
gently to the customer. Much stress is there-
fore laid on the necessity of the salesman to
familiarize himself with the descriptive matter
in record bulletins and catalogs. The slogan
"Sincerity of Service," recently adopted by the
Mayers company, would seem from the fore-
going an appropriate one.
Folder on Committee for
Advancement of Piano Study
An attractive folder setting forth the aims and
object of the recently created Committee for
the Advancement of Piano Study has just been
prepared and copies will be sent to every news-
paper of importance in the United States. The
folder includes a complete list of the committee
—thirty-five men and women of international
repute as musical artists.
Join the Goodell Go.
HOUSTON, TEX., May 14.—Several acquisitions to
the personnel of the Goodell Piano Co., this
city, have been made recently and include O. R.
Bowman as vice-president and Ralph Miles as
secretary of the company and sales and adver-
tising manager. The latter has been prominent
in local music trade circles, and Mr. Bowman
was formerly identified with a large music house
in Los Angeles. Earle I. Church, well-known
local musician, has also joined the sales force
of the company recently.
Griffith Opens Branch
The Griffith Piano Co., of Newark, N. J.,
has opened a branch store at the corner of
Washington street and Schuyler place, Morris-
town, N. J., with H. D. Young as manager.
Solberg & Co., Inc., of Fort Pierce, Fla., have
been incorporated recently to engage in a gen-
eral music business with a capital of $25,000,
divided into 250 shares of $100 par. H. C. Sol-
berg, D. J. Connolly and E. Wilson compose
the board of directors.
More Than 1,000 Expected to Sit Down
to Opening Convention Luncheon, June 6
= |
Ruth Kemper
= =
Ruth Kemper, violinist, and conductor of the
Cameo Symphony Orchestra. Miss Kemper, ar.
American-trained artist, has had an interesting
career as a violinist, having appeared on numer-
ous occasions as soloist with the Cincinnati
Symphony Orchestra under the baton of Eugen
Ysaye, who has shown great interest in her
musical ability. She will be heard in recitals
throughout the country during the coming
season, both as soloist and as conductor of the
Cameo Symphony.
Her letter to Mr. Campbell, praising the
TSrambach, which she has used as her accom-
panying instrument, is in part as follows: "You
make it possible for the great mass of our
people to avail themselves of a rare opportun-
ity to develop the real musical interest of our
younger generation.
More power to Bram-
bach."
Consult the Universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
Event Will Mark First Business Session of the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce With President E. R. Jacobson, of That Body, Presiding
/CHICAGO, ILL., May 15.—The Music
Trades Convention will open Monday, June
6, at the Hotel Stevens, with one of the largest
luncheons ever held in Chicago, when the Piano
Club-Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
luncheon will mark the first business meeting
of the national organization. President Gordon
Laughead, of the Chicago Piano Club and
chairman of the convention arrangement com-
mittee, will open the meeting, and following
the welcome by the Chicago hosts, will turn
the gavel over to President E. R. Jacobson,
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
Among the features will be the appearance
of Marilyn Miller, star of "Sunny," now playing
at the Illinois Theatre; Lee Sims, of radio fame,
and other eminent artists, who will beyond
doubt comprise the most interesting galaxy of
stars that has ever appeared at any affair of
this kind. As there will be more than 1,000
in attendance, all seats are reserved and in-
vitations have already been mailed out by the
arrangement committee announcing that tables
can be reserved for groups up to ten. The cost
is $2 a ticket and members of the trade are
urged to send in reservations as soon as pos-
sible to G. R. Brownell, treasurer of the Con-
vention Committee, 243 South Wabash avenue,
Chicago, as reservations will be made in orde,r
received for choice seats.
G. S. McLaughlin, of Lyon & Healy, has been
appointed chairman of the reception committee
to welcome the many visitors who are expected
to attend the convention from all parts of the
country.
It was also announced that the Western
trade would be assessed a small fee to cover
costs of sticker seals that have been prepared
and issued to all branches of the trade to spread
the message of the coming convention, which
will be held June 6 to 9 at the Hotel Stevens.
Chicago.