Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MARCH 3, 1928
The Music Trade Review
Gross Co., of Cincinnati,
Rearranging Its Wareroom
Carl J. Rist Recently Made Manager of Firm, Which Is Con-
ducting Melody Way Classes — Alterations in Starr Piano
Co. Branch — DeVine Co. Goes Out of Business
C
Over-Allowances Evil
in Milwaukee Trade
In Fight for Business, One or Two Local Firms
Are Resorting to This Type of Injurious
Methods
MILWAUKEE, WIS., February 27.—A music dealer
here, who for obvious reasons did not care to
have his name mentioned, stated to a represent-
ative of Music Trade Review that in his opin-
ion the hardest thing that the local trade has
to contend with at this time is "cheap competi-
tion" which manifests itself most of all in over-
allowances.
"There are one or two music dealers in Mil-
waukee who will double the rest of us on allow-
ances in order to get business," this man de-
clared. "I know of one particular case where
a local merchant actually offered a man more
on his trade-in than he actually paid for the
merchandise. Obviously this is not good busi-
ness, and while we do not want it we are,
nevertheless, alive to the fact that we are hurt
by this kind of competition. It results in a
feeling of skepticism among prospective cus-
tomers toward the entire music industry. They
naturally wonder whether what they are buying
is really merchandise that is worth the price
paid, since such a big allowance can be made
on it."
A number of local music dealers interviewed
on the subject were of the opinion that a firm
who does this kind of business "cannot last
long" and stated that they felt no worry be-
cause of this kind of competition as the dealer
would eventually "get what was coming to
him."
INCINNATI, O., February 25.—The store of the George P. Gross Co., at Main, and Wood-
ward streets, has been completely rearranged, under the direction of Carl J. Rist, who re-
cently became manager. The corner roo m , which before had been occupied by pianos
and other merchandise, is now occupied exclusively by expensive radio and combinations, and
this is one of the finest displays of its kind in the city. The piano department has been moved
to the third floor, where it occupies three room s . one for grands, another for uprights and an-
other for players.
Besides rearranging the store, Manager Rist has been changed in a manner that permits
has entirely reorganized the Gross sales force, the passer-by to see into the establishment as
eliminating non-producers and adding a number well as see the goods displayed in the hand-
of new men. "We are now going after business some show window.
Takes Columbia-Kolster
in an intensive way, and we expect our men to
The William R. Graul Piano Co. has just put
get results," he explained. "It is not our in-
tention to ask impossibilities, of course, but we in the Columbia-Kolster line of talking ma-
do expect every man on our sales force to chines, featuring the electric pickup. "In the
future we will pay more attention to high-class
get a reasonable amount of business."
The Gross Co. is now conducting a Melody- talking machines and combinations than we
Way class in a large first-floor room that ad- have in the past," stated W. R. Graul, head of
joins its place of business. It is held every the company. "With this added feature our
afternoon after school is out, and there are a volume of sales is increasing, and we are in-
few more than 125 pupils. The company is clined to feel rather optimistic as to the future."
making preparations to open up a Melody Way
Bankruptcy Filed
class for adults, to be held in the same room,
A voluntary petition in bankruptcy was filed
two or more evenings each week, commencing a few days ago in the U. S. Court by C. L.
at seven o'clock. A number of adult pupils Mullinix, who formerly did business as the
have been enrolled, and it seems that the class Norwood Radio Shop. Liabilities are listed at
W. H. Daniels in Florida
will be a great success.
$1,661 and assets exclusive of life insurance
In speaking of business prospects, Manager policies are placed at $150.
Mr. and Mrs. W. H. Daniels of Denton,
Rist was inclined to be optimistic, especially
Cottier and Daniels, Buffalo, N. Y., are enjoy-
in regard to grands, small grands and the more
ing a vacation at the Flamingo Hotel, Miami
Longview Store Enlarged
expensive radio combinations. "Undoubtedly
Beach, Fla.
the general business conditions are getting
The store of Sherman, Clay & Co., in Long-
better," he stated, "and this is bound to be re-
view,
Cal., has doubled its space in the Peasley
Hoermle Shoppe Moves
flected in our trade.
Building, 1325 Commerce avenue, where it has
Starr Co. Alterations
been located for some time. Extensive altera-
The Hoermle Music Shoppe, formerly lo-
Once more the Starr Piano Co. is making tions have been made and new demonstration
cated at 1887 Parsons avenue, Columbus, O.,
changes in the location of some of its depart- booths for phonographs have been installed in
has moved to larger quarters, due to increased
ments. It is remodeling the third floor, putting the store.
business.
in booths there for the demonstration of rolls
and records. At the rear of the second floor a
room is being arranged for the Biddle Bruns-
wick Shop, to be used for demonstration pur-
poses. The Biddle department, it is stated, is
about to add a full line of band and orchestra
Grands—Uprights—Player Pianos—Reproducing Pianos
instruments. Richard Peavey, manager of the
Biddle department, is well known to radio fans,
of the Highest Quality in Straight and Period Models
as he is one of the broadcasters of WSAI.
DeVine Co. Discontinues
The C. H. DeVine Co., which not long ago
became a tenant of the Starr Piano Co.,
has discontinued business, and the pianos it
handled were shipped back to the factory, these
being the Knabe make. The Ampico rolls in
Direct Manufacturers of
>tock are being sold to former patrons at re-
duced prices. C. H. DeVine, the head of the
Also—Felti
Punching;
company, has not yet announced his plans for
Cloths, Furnished
Washers
the future. He came to Cincinnati years ago
In Any Quantity
BRIDLE STRAPS
as the manager for the- Aeolian Co., which
TUNERS' TRADE SOLICITED
5814-37th Ave.
Woodside, L. I., N. T.
had a store on Fourth street, adjoining the
present location of the Starr Piano Co.
H. N. White a Visitor
Easy to Repair DAMAGED FINISHES
A complete line of
A recent visitor at the Ray Lammers Music
CAMPBELL'S Stick Shellac
Piano Benches, Music
Shellac
Store was H. N. White, head of the H. N.
Permanent repairs are easily and
Slicks
White Co., of Cleveland. Mr. Lammers has
Roll and Radio Cabi-
quickly made. No use to cut prices
or Incur expense of refinlshing.
hist added the new Silver Bell trumpet and
nets, carried in stock.
Campbell's stick Shellac easily re-
trombone to his stock. The front of the store
stores scarred ana scratched finishes
L
U • D
W
I
G
Ludwig & Co*, 136th St. and Willow Ave-, New York
George W. Bvaunsdorf, Inc.
PIANO TECHNICIANS SCHOOL
(Under Y. M. C. A. Auspices)
Practical Shop School Tuning, General Repairs.
Rebuilding
GRANDS—UPRIGHTS—PLAYERS
Send for catalog
The T. M. O. A. Piano Technicians School
52nd and Sansom Streets.
Philadelphia, Pa.
to perfect condition. Melted into
hole, dent, scratch, then rubbed down
and polished. An Ideal way to eco-
nomically repair finishes.
Write for nett
catalogue.
A color card of Campbell's Stick Shellac will
be sent free to anyone upon request. Shows
actual samples and the range of 54 colors.
Write for one today.
THE M. L. CAMPBELL COMPANY
1008 West Eighth Street
Kansas City, Mo.
f»
The
Art Novelty Co.
Style Wo. 174
Coshen, Ind.