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Buffalo Melody Way Plan Begins With
Co-operation of Buffalo Evening News
Local Dealers Using Newspaper Advertising, Direct Mail Publicity to Teachers and
Window Displays to Put Over the Campaign — Columbia Record Tie-ups
DUFFALO, N. Y., July 9—The first Buf-
-*-* falo public announcement of the Melody
Way system of piano teaching was made re-
cently by the Buffalo Evening News, one of the
country's most conservative newspapers, and
with the largest circulation of any newspaper
in New York State outside New York City,
which is co-operating with the Piano Mer-
chants' Association of Buffalo and Western
New York. The Buffalo News will carry edi-
torial material on the Melody Way method
throughout the week, publishing the first lesson
on Saturday. Simultaneously, merchants of the
city, who are members of the association, will
conduct their first classes in clubrooms, either
in their own stores, or in rented spaces outside
their stores. Final arrangements for the class
work were made to-day at a meeting of the
association in the Hotel Lafayette. The work
will be conducted under the supervision of
teachers, and report cards will be issued to the
pupils each week, it was decided to-day.
Individual stores will dress their windows ap-
propriately to the innovation, attractive an-
nouncement cards, hand lettered on gold leaf,
featuring the display. Local color will add to
the window dress, through photographs of
Melody Way classes, which each store plans
using in its window. A direct mail educational
campaign, for the benefit of piano teachers, ap-
praising them of the worth of the Melody Way
system in building up future classes for them,
is being conducted by the piano merchants, as
one step in breaking down any ill will on the
part of piano teachers who might have a mis-
conception of the purpose of the Melody Way.
It is planned to hold a teachers' meeting some-
time this week, before the classes actually get
under way.
Music dealers of this city took advantage of
the appearance at Shea's Buffalo Theatre, of
Ted Lewis and his musical clowns, through
window tie-ups, featuring either Columbia
records, sheet music or saxophones. It is re-
ported by Columbia dealers and the local Co-
lumbia distributing office that they have been
practically "cleaned out" in Ted Lewis records,
all his old numbers, as well as the latest ones,
moving in phenomenal volume. His appear-
ance at record counters, where he autographed
records purchased during his appearance, was
a double inducement to record buyers, and a
big boost to the Columbia line in general.
The Columbia Music Shop, in Michigan ave-
nue, has completed a reconstruction program
which has practically doubled its former floor
space. Sam Freedman, member of the firm, re-
ports that Summer sales in pianos, as well as
phonographs and records, have been excep-
tionally brisk this year.
The Gunther Music Store, in Dansville, N. Y.,
is being remodeled and a new front being in-
stalled.
William L. Brush, for a number of years
member of the sales staff of the Buffalo Talk-
ing Machine Co., was married last week to Miss
Helen Robertson of Buffalo.
G. Kurtzmann & Go. Issue
$400,000 Preferred Stock
Prominent Buffalo Piano Manufacturers Now
Have Capitalization of $1,000,000—No Public
Offering of Securities by Company
BUFFALO, N. Y., July 11.—C. Kurtzmann & Co.,
the prominent piano manufacturers of this city,
under a certificate granted by the Secretary of
State, now have an authorized capital stock of
$1,000,000, the increase of $600,000 representing
a new $400,000 issue of preferred stock, con-
sisting of 4,000 shares of a par value of $100
each. There has been no change in the com-
mon stock capitalization, which still remains
at $600,000, or 6,000 shares of a par value of
$100 each. It is stated by the company officers
that there will be no public offering of its
securities.
Abraham & Straus Feature
New Columbia Records
Prominent Brooklyn Department Store Installs
Complete Library of Columbia New Process
Records—Stages Interesting Concert
Abraham & Straus, the big Brooklyn depart-
ment store, has announced the installation of a
complete line of Columbia New Process rec-
ords, the formal announcement to the public
laking the form of a concert given by the store
which was widely advertised and at which a
number of Columbia artists appeared in person,
including Seamus O'Doherty, Franklyn Baur,
George O'Brien, the Columbians, "Whisper-
ing" Billy Day, Flanagan Bros., John Oakley,
and Vaughn DeLeath. A large audience at-
tended the concert.
Lauter Building Being
Entirely Renovated
New Grand Piano Salon to Be a Feature at
the Newark Headquarters of the Lauter
Piano Co.—Various Departments Moved
NEWARK, N. J., July 12.—The Lauter Building,
in which are located the warerooms and main
offices of the Lauter Piano Co., is being en-
tirely renovated this Summer. A new and
beautiful grand salon will replace the radio
and phonograph departments in the rear of
the first floor, the latter having been moved
to the fourth floor.
The basement will be devoted to receiving,
shipping and storage. In addition to the grand
salon, the first floor will house the cashier,
credit department, music roll department, rec-
ord department and the offices of the sales
manager and vice-president. The second floor
will be devoted to the Lauter-Humana player-
pianos and the Lauter uprights.
On the third floor is located the Lauter
broadcasting studio of Station WGCP and the
offices of the Newark Musical Festival. The
fourth floor will contain the phonograph, radio
and used piano departments, in addition to
the general offices.
Fourteen More Krakauer
Pianos in New York Schools
Nearly 300 Instruments of That Make Now in
Regular Use in the Public Elementary and
High Schools of the Metropolis
Krakauer Bros, announce the receipt of an
order from the Board of Education of the City
of New York for ten upright pianos, style 56,
and four grands, style 72, to be placed in the
public schools of the city. This latest order
tor fourteen instruments brings the grand total
of Krakauer Bros, now in use in New York
City schools to 299, and many of them are to
be found in the prominent high schools,
such as George Washington, Julia Richmond,
Thomas Jefferson, etc.
ince
^ S T I E F F PIANO
1842
Will attract tke attention of those
yAxo know and appreciate tone guality
1
I
11
The Music Trade Review
JULY 16, 1927
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