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DECEMBER 3, 1927
The Music Trade Review
Toledo Music Merchants Report Steady
Advance in the Demand for the Piano
Small Grands Leading in Inquiries From the Buying Public — Greene Co. Features
Brambach in the November Campaign—Milo Barrett With the Grinnell Store
•"p OLE DO, O., November 21.—A grand march
•*• is sweeping through piano stores here. The
Miiall grand lias captured the interest of piano
prospects to such an extent that it is the first
type which the majority of persons inquire
;'.bout. There arc many reasons for this wave
of grand popularity, according to retailors. In
tlic magazines many items of inercliandi.se ad-
vertised, if they arc attempting to put over the
idea of quality, have in some manner a grand
piano woven into the picture. Motor cars show a
pretty girl skipping out of a mansion, the door
of which has remained open, and through this
a grand piano is visible. Household appliances
of one kind or another are advertised with a
corner of the grand piano visible somewhere
in the picture, and so on through a long list
of items. Dealers are, of course, cashing in
upon this demand in so far as it is practical,
but are not overlooking the opportunity to
merchandise other varieties of piano—the
player, upright and the newer novel types.
Music roll sales are more active now than
for some time. Cooler weather has evidently
induced many persons to again take up this
form of entertainment. The popular type of
music is favored by patrons—-this includes
"When Day Is Done," "Just a Memory" and
"My Blue Heaven."
The J. W. Greene Co., through its corps of
canvassers, is obtaining a very desirable list
of piano prospects. W. W. Smith, president,
reported that sales the past month were 10 per
cent greater than for the corresponding period
of last year. The Vose small grand is a favor-
ite with patrons, and the Brambach baby grand,
on account of Brambach November campaign,
is figuring in many deals. The store couples
its current merchandising efforts with the
national publicity of the manufacturers. The
Chickering Ampico—William and Mary period
models—is displayed nightly in the corner win-
dow under a spotlight of amber rolor, which
tiives the effect of a cozy corner in a beautiful
living room. The new Ampico Symphoniquc
has been [received and is displayed in the Am-
pico stiid,fo of the store. Customers are in-
vited to come and try the instrument and
become acquainted with its advanced improve-
ments.
In the radio section Robert C. El well, man-
ager, $(£ted that a shortage of electric sets is
< ur1ailriii£;voliimc. However, sales for the sea-
son are far above the same period of last year.
Combinations loo, are moving at a good pace.
Small gpods sales to schools have been very
satisfactory this Fall, Sam Santelli, manager,
reported. Sales total of the department averages
more than 25 per cent greater than in 1926.
At Grinnell Bros, the Steinway Ebonized
baby grand is given distinctive window
presentation and similar showing in the studio
upstairs. The store is making an effort to
capture a share of the popular price business,
which can be raised to a higher level through
better salesmanship. Milo Barrett recently as-
sumed charge of the small goods section of
Grinnell's and Helyn Daly is a new member
of the record force.
The Whitney-Biaine-Wildermutii Co. reports
greater activity in piano sales. Buyers are
more numerous—people from the country are
coming in and are satisfying their .musical
wants. The fanner should bo a verv ~ood
prospect for pianos and other musical instru-
ments this Fall, Henry C. Wildermuth stated
Crops were abundant, prices were crood and on
the whole the man in the country should be in
an excellent position to enjoy the better things
of life. Therefore, outside salesmen are mak-
ing frequent trips into the country in an effort
to interest the farmer. The Schumann Studio
upright walnut in the new lacquer finish has
interested several customers residing in small
apartments. The Schumann Louis XVI period
grand walnut is another type which is fancied
by patrons. M. Schulz pianos in the whole
range of styles are featured in the drive for
small-town business.
Chas. Cunningham, of the American Piano
Co., was a recent Toledo visitor.
Red Burns and his Recreation Orchestra re
cently purchased two grands from the J. W.
Greene Co. for use in their dance and broad-
casting work.
President Guylee Appoints
Manufacturers' Committees
Names Those Who Will Serve National Piano
Manufacturers in Various Capacities During
the Present Administration
President W. E. Guylee of the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association has announced the
committees of that organization to serve until
the next administration. In addition to tin-
executive committee, which consists of the offi-
cers, W. E. Guylee, president; C. E. Bond,
first vice-president; F. P. Bassett, second vice
president; Herbert Simpson, secretary, and
Charles Jacob, treasurer, and the following re-
gional representatives: Eastern States, Edward
S. Payson, chairman; D. D. Luxton and Jerome
F. Murphy; Middle States, Mark P. Campbell,
chairman; George Miller and W. II. Alfring;
Western States, A. G. Gulbransen, chairman;
J. H. Parnham and E. R. Jacobson, the com
mittees are as follows:
Finance—Max J. de Rochemont, chairman;
H. B. Morenus, Ashley B. Cone, George J
Dowling, A. G. Gulbransen, Richard W. Law
rence, Farny Wurlitzer, Walter L. Bond, Otto
Schulz, Herbert Simpson, C. L. Beach, G. W.
Gittins.
Nominating—Clarence H. Pond, chairman; A.
S. Bond, Ben H. Janssen.
Membership—Gordon G. Campbell, chairman;
E. B. Jones, Shepard Pond, George Vose, A. E.
Johnson.
Advancement of Music—H. Paul Mehlin.
chairman; C. M. Tremaine, director; W. H
Alfring, Louis P. Bach, A. S. Bond, Henry L.
Mason, Otto Schulz, Jr., Frederick P. Stieff, Jr.,
C. Alfred Wagner.
Credit Bureau—Walter C. Hepperla, chair-
man; L. D. Perry, L. W. Peterson, A. T.
Schuldes, C. Albert Jacob, Jr.
National Legislation—E. R. Jacobson, chair-
man; A. F. Cone, G. C. Kavanaugh.
Resolutions—Ben H. Janssen, chairman; W.
H. Van Matre, Jr., Louis P. Bach.
Zenith Radio Corp. Is
Granted an Injunction
Detroit Court Issues Temporary Injunction
Against Three Concerns Advertising Radio
Receivers Under Name "McMillan"
DF.TROTT, MICH., November 26.—The United
States District Court for the Eastern District
of Michigan has, on the application of the
Zenith Radio Corp., of Chicago, granted a torn
porary injunction against three concerns doini;
business as the Mark's Auto Accessories, Tnc.
Dave's Auto Accessories and the John Ross
Sales Co., from "directly or indirectly repre
scnting, claiming, stating or implying, either
verbally or in writing or by published advertise-
ments, or by any other manner whatsoever,
that the radio apparatus known as 'McMillan"
^old or offered for sale—is the radio apparatus
used by Lieutenant-Commander Donald B. Mac-
Millan on any of his Arctic expeditions, or that
he took said apparatus with him to the North
Pole or into the Arctic regions."
The action was brought by the Zenith Corp
because of the fact that the concern complained
of had advertised radio apparatus under the
name "McMillan," and being represented as of
the same type as that taken by the explorer
on his trip to the Arctic.
Grunewald Celebrates Its
Seventy-fifth Anniversary
Famous New Orleans Music House Has Han
died the Steinway Piano for Sixty Years
NEW
OKLKANS, LA., November 26- The
L
Grunewald Co., Inc., this city, has completed
three-quarters of a century in the music busi-
ness this week, and in this connection the
establishment has been accorded much valu-
able publicity and public recognition through
the local press. When the firm was founded
!«y Louis Grunewald, Sr., just after he came
to this country in 1852, it occupied a tiny shop
in Magazine street. There was just enough
room to display a few pianos and organs, but
the increasing business made necessary a series
of moves until the present site on Canal street
was chosen, where the company now occupies
its own four-story building.
The Grunewald Co. has for many years been
ranked as one of the largest music houses in
the South. For sixty years the company has
been exclusive agent for the Steinway piano
in this region, and in addition has handled the
Vose, Brambach, Milton, Gulbransen and other
pianos for a long period of years. The Victor
and Brunswick lines of phonographs, records,
v:iall goods and sheet music are also carried
in large, separate departments. Only three men
have been at the head of the business in its
-eventy-five years. The founder, Louis Grune-
wald, remained president of the company until
!ns death in 1915, but his eldest son, William
X. Grunewald, had been in active charge since
1881. The son became president at the founder's
death, but died himself two months later. Man-
agement then fell upon his son, Benedict
Moret Grunewald, then thirty years old, who is
still president.
Daynes-Beebe Music Go.
Opens Gift Department
SAM LAKE CITY. UTAH,
November
21.—Thr
Daynes-Beebe Music Co. has opened a new
department, not really connected with the music
business, but one that should not detract from
its dignity in any way. It is called the "Gift
Department," Colonel Joseph J. Daynes, presi-
dent and general manager of the company,
said, and is located in a delightful little niche
on the north side of the store near the entrance,
which was formerly used as offices for Colonel
Daynes and his secretary. The new department
will handle piano drapes, tapestries, covers,
cushions, musical figures, Oriental drapes and
-uvular things. The goods in the department
have a very rich, luxurious appearance and
'eem very much in keeping with the merchan-
dise in a large modern music store such as
Daynes-Beebe's. It will be in ihe immediate
charge of Miss Louise Johnson of the talking
machine department.
Gilbert Buys Superior
The stock and fixtures of the Superior Music
Co., 1317 Tower avenue. Superior, Wis., have
been purchased by V. M. Gilbert, who has in-
corporated them in his own music business in
that city.