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The Music Trade Review
Bush & Lane Piano Co. Closes Retail
Branch Stores Throughout the Country
In Future Company Will Devote Efforts Entirely to Manufacturing and Wholesaling
Pianos, Phonographs and Radio—New Organization
\\T
ITII ;i view to carrying out most com-
* * pletcly its new policy concentrating all
its activities in manufacturing, the Bush & Lane
Piano Co. has closed out its branch stores in
Portland, Seattle, Detroit, Port Huron and
Flint, and has thus retired entirely from the
retail field. In the future the company will
devote its efforts entirely to the production of
pianos, phonographs and radio apparatus.
In giving full attention to manufacturing, the
company has arranged to concentrate on the
production of a limited number of popular piano
models up-to-date in style, with a view of mak-
ing it possible to cut production costs and
thereby enable the dealer to offer an instrument
of quality profitably and at a popular price
In other words to build up sales volume.
The development of the new policy is cred-
ited chiefly to E. P. Stephan, who took over
the general managership of the company some
time ago, and has brought into his work a
substantial fund of creative and executive abil-
ity, he having had wide experience as a manu-
facturer, a factory organizer and a sales execu-
V. R. Hungcrford, Secretary, Bush & Lane
Piano Co.
tive in the furniture industry. Mr. Stephan is
strongly opposed to the long-term settlements
so prevalent in the piano trade, in the belief
that it interferes with volume and, therefore,
has decreed that current models of Hush &
Lane instruments wiH be sold on a basis of
2 per cent, thirty days and net sixty days. On
this basis it is believed that the turnover of
pianos can be made as substantial as that of
furniture.
Mr. Stephan, by the way, has spent practically
all .his life in Holland and has taken a promi-
nent part not only in the business but in the
civic activities of the city, having served in
various official capacities, and held the office
of Mayor for five years. He stands high in the
furniture world and is president of the Na-
tional Furniture Manufacturers' Association.
The success of the Holland Furniture Co. is due
to his executive ability and the policies he laid
down while general manager of that company.
Another strong member of the Bush & Lane
organization is Chester L. P>each, president
and treasurer, also a native of Holland, edu-
cated in the city, and connected with the Bush
& Lane Co. for over twenty years. He started
as stock clerk, then advanced in order to office
MAY 19, 1928
ing Co., and also president of the Netzow and
Waltham piano companies, which he established
here, died at his home at 34 Prospect avenue
on May 10, after a year's illness. Mr. Netzow
was born in Dorfhagcn, Germany, and came to
Milwaukee when he was twenty-four years old.
Two years later he started the Waltham Piano
Co. on Reed street. Illness forced his retire-
ment from business on March 1, and his sons
are now conducting it. He is survived by his
wife, Mrs. Helen Netzow, five sons, Paul, Carl,
Edgar, Elmer and Earl Netzow, and six
daughters, Mrs. John Albert, Mrs. Erwin
Dohmen, Mrs. William Olds, and the Misses
Anita, Myrtle and Norma Netzow. The body
lay in state at the Grace Lutheran church on
May 12 when the funeral took place. Burial was
from the Forest Home cemetery.
Will A. Watkin Go. Holds
Exhibit of Art Pianos
DALLAS, TEX., May 15.—At the music salons of
the Will A. Watkin Co., an elaborate exposi-
tion of art craft pianos in grands and Ampicos
which is attracting much attention from local
music lovers, is being held this week. The ex-
position follows the announcement that the
Watkin Co. has been appointed representative
in the Dallas district for the products of the
American Piano Co.
In order to avoid confusion the various lines
Chester L. Beach, President and Treasurer,
Bush & Lane Piano Co.
manager and secretary. In June of last year
he was made treasurer, and early this year
elected to the presidency as well. He has a
thorough knowledge of the piano trade and is
particularly keen about sales and promotion
work.
Win. H. Beach, vice-president of the com-
pany, despite the fact that he has not been
able to take an active part in affairs for some
time owing to illness, nevertheless, makes his
influence felt in its policies and its activities,
drawing from his wide experience in the field.
He was born in New York State, but received
his high school education in Pt. Huron, Mich.
Fll health forced him to seek outdoor life on
the plains for a couple of years after which he
returned to Pt. Huron, engaged in the insur-
ance business with his father, and later built
up a grain business of his own from a meagre
capital basis. It was he who persuaded the
Bush & Lane Co. to move its plant from Chi-
cago to Holland in 1905, and the following year
purchased a controlling interest in the company,
of which he was up to this year treasurer and
general manager.
V. R. Hungerford, secretary of the Bush &
Lane Co., is of the type who is efficient with-
out getting excited about it. He has through
lung association acquired a thorough knowl-
edge of the Bush & Lane business and performs
his duties smoothly and well.
Charles F. Netzow Dies
at Age of Sixty-Nine
<
President of Milwaukee, Netzow and Waltham
Companies Had Been 111 More Than a Year
MILWAUKEE, WIS., May 14.—Charles F. Netzow,
sixty-nine, piano manufacturer and founder and
president of the Milwaukee Piano Manufactur-
E. P. Stephan, General Manager,
Bush & Lane Piano Co.
of pianos were featured on different days. Mon-
day, May 7, was Mason & Hanilin day; Tues-
day was Chickering day; Wednesday, Knabe
day; Thursday, Fischer day; Friday, Haines
Bros, day, and Saturday was given over to a
display of Marshall & Wendell pianos. Each
day special art models of the lines were dis-
played.
Grinnell Bros. Buy
Bush & Lane Retail Stocks
DKTROIT, MICH., May 7.—Grinnell Bros, have
just purchased the stock on hand of the Bush
& Lane Co. stores in Port Huron, Mich., and
Flint, Mich. This means the discontinuance of
the Bush & Lane stores in these cities, where
Grinnell Bros, have maintained retail stores for'
many years. The stock in each city is being
moved over to the Grinnell store where it will
be closed out.