Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
DECEMBER 3, 1927
The Music Trade Review
The Hancock Music Co., Pasadena, a
Remarkable Record of Seven Years
Firm Started With a Capital of Three Figures and Today Occupies Two Stores With
a Large New Warehouse Just Completed—a Record of Steady Success
T OS ANGELES, CAL., November 23.—All
suburban towns are referred to more or less
as the "bedrooms" of the great city which they
adjoin, but Pasadena, situated ten miles from
Los Angeles, proudly lives up to its title—
"Crown City," and is sufficient unto itself. It
contains many important and splendidly ap-
pointed stores with ranges of prices for articles
and goods which compare favorably with those
in the big "City of the Angels."
Among the several music stores in Pasadena
there is none finer than the Hancock Music Co.
on East Colorado street. And the history of
this store is so interesting that it compares
with a romance, for it is a wonderful example
of what can be done toward the beginning—at
least, of the building of a fortune through the
retail mvsic business. This is due, perhaps, to
the fact that the principal and founder, New-
ton Hancock, possesses IT to a marked de-
gree. We do not mean the IT referred to by
specious lady novelists, but the IT in busi-
ness—that quality which is difficult to define, but
which is probably composed of pluck and nerve,
perseverance and hard work, common-sense and
personality.
Newton Hancock, seven years ago last
Spring, was senior salesman, although in his
early twenties, for the Columbia Phonograph
Co. He resigned from this very good position
and, with a capital represented by three figures,
opened a small phonograph store in Pasa-
dena. He commenced to sell phonographs at
once and, at the same time, augmented his
income by leading a dance orchestra with his
saxophone of which he was a master. One of
his first accomplishments, however—an accom-
plishment which means so much to the end—
was the establishment of credit with a local
bank. That needed nerve and determination
and Hancock had it—as he has to-day. He went
on selling phonographs and his charming wife,
Mrs. Hancock, sold records and kept the books.
He increased the number of his orchestras to
three, which shows that he understands organ-
ization.
A year or two later, the Hancock Music Co.
added a small goods department and some sheet
music. Then expansion became necessary and
a small mezzanine floor was added. A few
months later and a line of pianos was installed,
bought from the Fitzgerald Music Co., headed
by the prestige building Knabe piano. The need
for expansion again made itself felt and so an
addition was built giving more space in the
store and extending the mezzanine—a two-story
expansion. Then came radio and the Hancock
Music Co. had developed into a music store
containing everything in music and radio, plus
service. Service had become one of the best-
Ijved-up-to mottoes of the store and a remark-
able good will or confidence had been built up
and maintained.
To-day the Hancock Music Co. has expanded
and expanded, two stories, back to the alley one
hundred and fifty feet back and consequently
has been obliged to leap across this thorough-
fare and there is being constructed a large
warehouse three times the width of the store
from which it has sprung, where storing, ser-
vice and finishing rooms will be maintained.
Air. Hancock has a large force of loyal sales
people, maintains three piano and phonograph
service men and four radio experts. His busi-
ness is growing in all departments and his cus-
tomers include many rich men who make their
Winter homes in Pasadena—millionaires whose
names are famous through' their riches; dis-
tinguished motion picture stars—whether they
live in Pasadena or Beverly Hills, a dozen miles
away, and hundreds of more or less prosperous
citizens who might be designated as the "com-
mon or garden" variety or the real backbone.
We have no portrait of Newton Hancock, but
it might be maintained that many persons, when
they have seen portraits or snap-shots of the
Duke of York, younger brother of the popular
Prince of Wales, have exclaimed that there was
a striking resemblance between Newton and
ihe Dook!
Ghickering Ampico Supplies
Music at Larkin Plant
Used With Great Pipe Organ for Noonday
Programs and for Impromptu Concerts Given
at Frequent Intervals
The Larkin Soap Co., Buffalo, N. Y., believes
that soap and music go well together, with the
result that there is installed in the Administra-
tion Building of the company in Buffalo a con-
cert organ, the gift of the late John D. Larkin,
president of the company, which is one of the
largest organs in the country, and equipped
with the latest development in automatic play-
ing devices and control. It has 6,691 pipes, and
concerts are given daily at the noon hour.
Connected with the organ is the Chickering
concert grand with the Ampico, which may be
played separately, or from the organ console.
The Chickering, together with the organ, is
played frequently during the day for the en-
lertainment of the many visitors to the Larkin
plant.
Musical Instruments
Barred From Russia
WASHINGTON. 1). C, November 26.—According
to an announcement in the Moscow Economic
Life, a Russian publication which has just
reached the Department of Commerce here, the
Soviet Government has stopped the importation
of musical instruments. The announcement
reads:
"The Commissariat of Trade of the Soviet
Union brings to the attention of all interested
organizations and persons that importation of
musical instruments is forbidden. No licenses
for obtaining musical instruments from abroad
will be issued."
While no reasons are known here for the
ban, the presumption is held that the Soviet
regards musical instruments as a luxury and
will open a factory to fill such requirements as
are found to exist.
to new quarters at Fourth sticil and Broadway,
this city, where he handles a complete line of
Steinway pianos and the Duo-Art, as well as
the Brunswick Panatropc. Mr. Schafer pur-
chased the Brunsvrick agency about six years
ago from A. E. McAllister, whose shop was
at 421 Santa Monica boulevard.
L. A. Holtzman Dead
CANTON, O., November 28.—Louis A. Holtzman,
sixty-eight, Columbus, O., piano salesman, died
in a hospital in Wheeling from a stroke of
apoplexy suffered ten days ago in a Wheeling
hotel. The body was returned to Columbus for
burial.
John A. Krumme, wholesale representative
for Hardman, Peck & Co., New York, in the
West, was a visitor at the executive offices of
the company last week. He was accompanied
by Mrs. Krumme and they will return shortly
to their home in La Crosse, Wis.
•I
The Last Payment
Comes in as Easily
as the First
The Prosperity line of Pianos and
Player Pianos manufactured by
Winter & Co. creates no problem
for dealers because their customers
are invariably pleased with the in-
struments and satisfied with the
values.
Their beautiful veneered cases in
various styles and finishes possess
the beauty of enduring lustre. Their
tone is noteworthy for true musi-
cal quality and richness, and for
flexible modulation from faint pia-
nissimo to thunderous crescendo.
Their action is responsive to the
soft touch of staccato to long held
sostenuto.
Winter Pianos suit the require-
ments of the typical American
family in design, in price, and in
complete musical accomplishment.
That's why they also suit our
dealers.
If'ritp for our dealer's plan
and sales proposition
Lopez Gut-Out in Scotland
The cut-out of Vincent Lopez prepared by
the Ampico Corp., and featured successfully in
this country, has made an excellent impression
abroad, according to Paterson Sons & Co., Ltd.,
Ampico dealers in Glasgow, Scotland, who
stated that the display brought in a number of
prospects. The cut-out is life size and depicts
Mr. Lopez seated at a piano.
krrs ot Rudolf and llcller
Pianos and flayer Pianos
853 East 141st Street
NEW YORK
Richter Opens New Store
George Richter has opened a new music
store in the remodeled building at King and
Webster streets, Madison, Wis., handling pianos
and Columbia phonographs.
Schafer Moves Store
SANTA MONICA, CAL., November 21.—Ray
E.
Schafer has recently moved his music business
& C<>
Style "F"—3 ft., 8 in. High