Music Trade Review

Issue: 1928 Vol. 87 N. 7

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
16
Chicago and Middle West
(Continued from page 15)
among the public by use of the newspapers.
Among those who attended the meeting on
Friday was E. H. Uhl, of Los Angeles, past
president of the National Association of Music
Merchants, and at one time in the retail music
business in Chicago, who had some valuable
suggestions to offer.
D. Sterling, Straube Piano Co., A. M. Koch,
Music Trade Indicator and J. T. Bristol, Bank-
ers' Commercial Security Co.
The annual meeting and election of officers
will be held in October. Plans are being made
by the Chicago Piano Club to entertain the vis-
iting delegates to the mid-Winter meeting of
the National Association of Music Merchants,
who will be in the city October 21 and 22, and
if possible arrange to have the annual meeting
at that time.
Music Supervisor for
Chicago School System Gordon Laughead Back
From Pacific Coast Trip
Dr. J. Lewis Browne, Organist, Composer and
Director, First Holder of This Position in
Chicago Public Schools
Dr. J. Lewis Browne, organist, composer and
director of wide reputation, has been appointed
music supervisor of the Chicago public schools,
a branch of the local school service which was
created two years ago but for which there has
been no head.
The appointment was made in connection
with a general reorganization of the executives
and personnel of the educational department of
Chicago public schools, when the Board ot
Education unanimously approved the recom-
mendations of Supt. W. J. Bogan.
In making the appointments, Mr. Bogan said:
"We are living in :> new world. We must have
people with the vision to bring into Chicago
schools the best of the latest developments in
education. That is what I had in mind. Poli-
tics, religious creed and favoritism had nothing
to do with the appointments."
Members of the local trade are highly
pleased with the appointment of a supervisor
for the music department, and believe that this
move will greatly aid in bringing about group
class instruction for the piano and other in-
struments.
In fact, there has been a real need for this
and a number of members of the Chicago piano
trade have been active in bringing about the
appointment of such an official to carry on this
important branch of Chicago's school curricu-
lum.
Chicago Piano Club
Election in October
At a meeting of the Board of Governors of
the Chicago Piano Club held Monday, August
13, the following nominating committee was
appointed: E. V. Galloway, Henry Holtzman
& Son, chairman, J. V. Sill, W. W. Kimball Co,
Finds Wurlitzer Plant at De Kalb in Capacity
Production Upon Return From Six Weeks'
Trip
Gordon Laughead, sales manager of the Wur-
litzer Grand Piano Co., DeKalb, 111., returned
last week from a six weeks' trip to the Pacific
Coast and Inter-Mountain States, where he
called upon Wurlitzer dealers in ten States and
British Columbia.
The Pacific Coast trip concludes a personal
survey of the United States for the Wurlitzer
factories by Mr. Laughead for 1928. Mr.
Laughead reports that many good orders for
grand pianos were received on this latter trip.
Upon his return he found the factory at De-
Kalb running to full capacity.
"The piano business is on a sound basis, and
I doubt if manufacturers of moderate priced
small grands and uprights can manufacture and
ship all of the orders they receive up to No-
vember 1," states Mr. Laughead. "Pianos can-
not be made in quantities overnight. Dealers'
stocks are low and many good retail sales will
be lost by those who expect manufacturers to
magically supply them with merchandise at
the eleventh hour."
Steady Improved Trend
Shown in Piano Demand
H. A. Stewart, Sales Manager of the Straube
Piano Co., Reports on Investigation of Con-
ditions in the Trade
An interesting summary of trade conditions
has been made by H. A. Stewart, sales man-
ager of the Straube Piano Co., gathered from
dealers all over the country which emphasizes
a general improvement in agricultural as well
as industrial centers.
"For the past several months there has been
an increasingly noticeable improvement in the
AUGUST 18, 1928
piano trade situation," says Mr. Stewart,
"March seems to have been the month in which
the trend changed. There has been a con-
sistent upward movement since that time.
"The agricultural districts now show the
most pronounced improvement. This is emphat-
ically true in the wheat belt. The reports from
the industrial regions, however, are also of a
favorable nature.
"The reports reaching us from industrial sec-
tions indicate that factories generally are now
more active. More people are employed; the
family income is larger and buying is now
showing more liveliness. This activity is re-
ported on the increase, and the industrial out-
look is now brighter. We have been obliged
to increase our own factory activity.
"The situation referred to herein is quite re-
liably reflected in the orders that the Straube
Piano Co. is now receiving. Our business is
increasing and we are making shipments to
localities which have been out of the piano
market for several years."
Aeolian Garwood Plant
Employes' Annual Outing
Employes of the Garwood factory of the
Aeolian Co. held an enjoyable outing at Belve-
dere Beach, N. J., on Saturday, August 4. The
event was purely a stag affair, as in other
years, and included such sports as baseball be-
tween the married and single men, swimming,
diving and the like. Following the games, a
shore dinner was provided, with E. Vail, super-
intendent of the Weber Piano Co., presiding as
toastmaster. Mr. Vail praised the work of the
committee, consisting of H. Zimmering, J.
Collins, Pete Letizia, and hoped for a still
larger picnic next year with the organ depart-
ment participating.
The Texas Music Co., Breckcnridge, Tex.,
has been incorporated with a capital stock of
$5,000.
PIANO SALESMEN
WANTED
By one of New York's oldest and most
successful piano houses; combination
outside and floor salesmen. Must be
able to create business as well as follow
house leads. Should play the piano
acceptably. State age, qualifications and
previous experience. Permanent posi-
tion. Liberal compensation. Applica-
tions will be kept confidential. Address
Box 3263, Music Trade Review, 420
Lexington Avenue, New York City.
THE REVIEW'S UNIVERSAL "WANT" DIRECTORY
NY member of the music trade may
forward to this office a "position
wanted" advertisement intended
for this Department, to occupy four
lines agate measure, and it will be in-
serted free. Replies will also be for-
warded without cost. Additional space
charged at the rate, of 25c per line. If
bold-faced type is desired, the cost for
same will be 25c a line, 7 words to a line.
"Help Wanted" advertisements will be
charged for at the rate of 25c per line.
Cash must accompany order.
Business Opportunities and For Sale
advertisements inserted as display space
only at $7.00 per single column inch.
All advertisements intended for this
department must be in hand on the Sat-
urday preceding date of issue.
WANTED SALESMAN—Who we will offer
a very attractive proposition to represent at
wholesale one of the oldest moderate priced
lines of uprights and grands on the market, on
a commission basis, either exclusively or in
connection with other lines. Terms and prices
to dealers are the best, and credit will be given
to salesmen on all shipments to territory cov-
ered. Correspondence will be treated con-
fidentially. Address, Box 3267, Music Trade
Review, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York City.
STORE MANAGER WANTED—A good
retail piano salesman who also has the ability
to successfully direct others, will find a real
opportunity here. Previous store management
experience not essential. There is plenty of
room for growth for the man of energy and
ability. Weaver Piano Co., Inc., Manufacturers,
York, Pa.
POSITION WANTED—By successful piano
salesman available September 15th. Employed
two years in one of oldest piano houses in
New York as floor salesman. Desires perma-
nent location in South. Christian, age 34,
married. References. Address Box 3266, Music
Trade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue, New
York City.
WHOLESALE SALESMEN WANTED—
For Southeastern, Southern, Middle Western
and Southwestern territories, also for Pennsyl-
vania, Maryland and Virginia. Old established
moderate priced lines offering attractive prop-
osition to dealers. All correspondence will be
held in strict confidence. Address Box 3268,
Music Tirade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue,
New York.
POSITION WANTED—High-class store and salesman-
ager desires position with reliable piano dealer in New
Jersey, Pennsylvania or New York State. Address A.
C. H., Box 634, Greene, N. Y.
POSITION WANTED—An aggressive, educated young
man, thoroughly experienced, desires position as bill and
charge clerk, preferably with established jobber. Best
references. Address Box No. 3265, Music Trade Review,
420 Lexington Ave., New York City.
POSITION WANTED as manager or sales manager.
Many years' experience handling salesmen; 20 years as
manager and sales manager for one firm. Always worked
high-class trade, reproducing and player pianos. Address
Box 3264, care The Music Trade Review, 420 Lexington
Avenue, New York City.
POSITION WANTED—Experienced retail piano man
wishes connection in East with reliable concern. Experi
enced in all phases of retail selling. Aged 37. Can fur-
nish references as to character and ability. Address Box
3261, Music Trade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue, New
York City. •
POSITION WANTED by small goods man; open foi
connections Sept. 1. Six years with present house. Best
of reference.
Address Box No. 3259, care The Music
Trade Review, 420 Lexington Avenue, New York City.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Conducted By Thomas W. Bresnahan
Sherman, Clay Band
Organization Department
E. J. Delano Describes Fundamental Activities
in Developing Band Organization by the
Dealer
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., August 9.—Sherma'n, Clay
& Co. have started a band instrument organ-
ization which was really put to work over two
months ago, and has just publicly shown re-
sults. After nine weeks rehearsal, the new
Legion Band of Hayward, (Alameda County)
has appeared and has won the plaudits of the
community. "Hats Off to Our Band" is the
caption on an enthusiastic editorial, published
in the local newspaper, The Hayward Review.
The band was heard when Hayward welcomed
home its sons from the national guard training
camp. City officials, Legionnaires, Boy Scouts
and the population generally had all assembled
at the station when the train arrived. The
American Legion Band struck up a gay tune
and enthusiasm ran high. The band played
for the parade which followed, the affair being
quite a stirring occasion for the entry of the
Legion band into the civic life of Hayward.
Speaking of the new activity of Sherman,
Clay & Co., E. J. Delano said that they have
found a way to sell a band a set of instruments
and get a whole list price. He added: "We
also protect ourselves against price-cutters, if
any, that might go after the band after it is
organized. The secret is service. We give
band instruction till the band is on its own
feet, and we have our own instructor. Each
bandsman pays us a weekly fee to cover his
instrument and instruction.
"I've found out, in long experience, that there
are two or three tricks necessary in making a
band a success. One trick is to have your own
instructor, he's got to be good and he must
be well paid. Another trick is to have your
own representative on the ground at every
rehearsal or nearly every one. Our conductor
looks to us for his money. Another trick is
to do all the work of organization, and this
requires technical knowledge, for it is no use
taking up the organization of a band without
technical knowledge."
Mr. Delano did not divulge any other activi-
ties of the new band organization, but appar-
ently one may look at any time for new bands
to spring up, ready to make music and surprise
and delight their fellow citizens.
July Showed Increase
Over June in Sales
trades, and to the interest in bands," Mr. Ihbe
continued.
"Another thing, people are interested in the
high grade instruments. For instance, during
the past week we sold a gold Buescher trumpet
de luxe. There is an amount of interest in the
instruments of known worth and fine workman-
ship. I am very confident on the outlook for
Fall."
One Dealer's Influence
on Music in Springfield
Missouri City Has Largest Boy Scout Band as
Well as Largest Proportionate Music Enroll-
ment in Schools
Largely as the result of continuous sponsor-
ing of musical activities and seven years of
hard work in the music industry, Lester C. Cox,
president of the Ozark Motor & Supply Co.,
Springfield, Mo., distributor for the Sonora
Phonograph Co., Inc., has become one of the
most successful retail operators in the music
industry.
Mr. Cox says, regarding his business success,
"It has been purely a question of hard plugging
and keeping on the job." Then in the next
breath he adds, "I am a great believer in luck.
The harder I work the more luck I seem to
have."
The Boy Scout Band in Springfield, Mo., is
the largest in the United States, having ap-
proximately three hundred and sixty-five mem-
bers. There are more public school students
enrolled in music in Springfield than in any
other city its size in the country. This interest
in music is largely due to Mr. Cox's efforts.
Music in the Public
Schools of Pennsylvania
PITTSBURGH, PA., August 13.—A survey of
Pennsylvania by the Department of Public In-
struction shows the growing importance and
appreciation of music in the public schools.
The report shows that music supervisors and
teachers in the Commonwealth's schools have
more than doubled in the last decade.
Orchestras in schools have increased, in the
same length of time, from 250 to 1,500 and
bands, from less than fifty to more than 100.
Discrimination between good and bad music
and a knowledge of the backgrounds of selec-
tions have resulted among school children,
partly through the song memorization program,
organized last year. The scheme is to teach
the children fine hymns, patriotic music and
folk songs.
Hornberger to Represent
B. & J. in Canada
Weil-Known Musical Merchandise Traveler to
Cover Entire Dominion for New York Musi-
cal Merchandise Jobber
Samuel Buegeleisen, head of the musical mer-
chandise wholesale house of Buegeleisen &
Jacobson, 5-7-9 Union Square, New York, an-
nounced last week the appointment of George
Hornberger as general traveling representative
for Buegeleisen & Jacobson for the entire Do-
minion of Canada. Mr. Hornberger is one of
the best known and most popular musical mer-
chandise salesmen traveling in Canada, and
enters his new connection with a host of friends
from Coast to Coast. He has visited dealers
in Canadian territory for fifteen years represent-
ing one of the best known houses in the trade,
and is well equipped with a rich store of in-
formation in every phase of musical merchan-
dise.
Mr. Hornberger is spending a short while at
the Buegeleisen & Jacobson offices in New York
familiarizing himself with his lines and will
leave shortly on his first trip. Mr. Buegeleisen
expressed to a Review reporter great satisfac-
tion over Mr. Hornberger's appointment, mak-
ing the statement that he considers it an im-
portant contribution to Buegeleisen & Jacob-
son's service to its Canadian trade.
D. W. Lerch Go. to Sponsor
Boys' Band in Canton
CANTON, O., August 11.—The D. W. Lerch
Piano Co., through its musical merchandise
department, is organizing a boys' band, the first
in existence in Canton. A call has been issued
by the store to those interested in playing in a
boys' band, and to date the response has been
very gratifying. It is planned by the store to
sponsor the band and to see to the instruction
of those not yet fully proficient in some instru-
ments.
Max Targ Returns From
European Tour
CHICAGO, I I I . , August 6.—Max Targ, head of
the Targ & Dinner Music Co., distributors of
musical merchandise, 229 West Randolph St.,
Chicago, returned last week from a three
months' trip abroad. Mr. Targ, accompanied
by his wife, visited the principal countries in
Europe, including many centers of musical in-
strument production.
Milwaukee Dealers Report Big Advance in Band
Instrument Sales During the Past Month
MILWAUKEE, WIS., August 11.—Sales on ba-nd
instruments have taken a decided upward trend
during July as compared with June, according
to Arthur Ihbe, manager of the band instru-
ment department of the Kesselman-O'Driscoll
Co. store.
"During July sales have been maturing, and
people have not only been examining instru-
ments, but they have been purchasing them,"
Mr. Ihbe said. "During June, while there was a
fair amount of business, there was more inclina-
tion to put off sales. This month has been a
turn for the better, with deals going through
much more actively.
"I attribute it partly to the betterment of the
employment situation, especially in the metal
BRETSCH
for
MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT MAKERS
SINCE 1883
Hie Fred Gretsch
6O Broadway Brool
17
Mark

Download Page 16: PDF File | Image

Download Page 17 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.