Music Trade Review

Issue: 1929 Vol. 88 N. 11

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
MARCH 16, 1929
Effective Advertising in
Grigsby-Grunow Go. Makes
New Edition of "Modern
Large Additions to Plants
New Gulbransen Campaign
Piano Tuning" Is Ready
Manufacturers of Majestic Radio Receivers
Enlarge the Two Plants to Meet Steadily
Growing Demands
Appeal for Child Training in Piano Playing
Through Use of "Home Series" Pianos Is
Impressive
Authoritative Book by Wm. Braid White Has
Been Revised Throughout and Brought Up
to Date
The Grigsby-Grunow Co., manufacturing
Majestic radio receivers, Chicago, announces
the erection of additions to its two plants at
4550 Armitage avenue and Dickens and Austin
avenues.
The former is being doubled in size through
a two-story addition which will contain ap-
proximately 215,000 square feet. This structure
will be used for the manufacture of the parts
of the radios, and will be completed during the
Spring at a cost of about $500,000.
A one-story addition is being added to the
factory at Dickens and Austin, formerly the
plant of the Yellow Coach Co. It will be used
for manufacturing and painting the radio cab-
inets. The addition will contain about 50,000
square feet and cost $300,000. One of the fea-
tures will be a system for distributing 16,000,-
000 cubic feet of heated and filtered air in the
rooms where the cabinets are being dried.
In carrying on its campaign to promote a
greater interest in piano playing in the home,
particularly by children, for which purpose it
has created its "Home Series" pianos with spe-
cial appeals, both as to size and price, the Gul-
bransen Co., Chicago, has launched an impres-
sive advertising campaign in the national maga-
zines directed for the musical education of the
American child.
The advertisements in the March magazines
carry a personal message from A. G. Gulbran-
sen, head of the company, who explains his
purpose in producing the "Home Series" pianos.
The copy goes on to tell of the ease with
which children can learn to play the piano
under modern means of instruction so that
playing becomes a game rather than serious
study. The copy is regarded, both by adver-
tising men and educators, as being particularly
effective and will be followed consistently by
other advertising designed along the same lines.
The second and revised edition of "Modern
Piano Tuning and Allied Arts," by William
Braid White, is now off the press and avail-
able to the tuners and other technical men of
the industry. The first edition of the book ap-
peared in 1917 and has been in great demand
among piano technicians as an authoritative
text book on piano tuning. When a new print-
ing became necessary the entire volume was
revised and, where needful, brought up-to-date
by Mr. White.
The adoption in 1925 by the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce of the 440 Pitch in-
volved the recalculation of the tables of fre-
quencies, beat-rates, etc., and this has been
carefully done in the new edition. Various de-
velopments in the tuning art that have occurred
in the past decade have also been considered
in the revision of th.e text.
"Modern Piano Tuning and Allied Arts" is
published by Federated Business Publications,
Inc., 420 Lexington avenue, New York. The price
is $3.00 a copy postpaid in the United States.
Aeolian Duo-Art Organs
Popular in Philadelphia O. K. Music House Bankrupt
March 12.—In view of the
increased popularity of the Aeolian Duo-Art
pipe organ for installation in high-class resi-
dences in this territory, the local representa-
tives, C- J. Heppe & Sons Co., are planning the
installation of one of the organs for demonstra-
tion purposes at their headquarters, 1117 Chest-
nut street. When the organ is installed in
the company's concert auditorium it will be
used regularly for recital and demonstration
purposes.
Aeolian Duo-Art organs are at present to
be found in the Curtis Institute of Music, in
the homes of E. P. Stotesbury, the financier;
Cyrus H. K. Curtis, head of the Curtis Pub-
lishing Co.; Frederick Schmidt and Smiley
Herkness, both well known in financial circles,
and Edwin Bok, formerly editor of the Ladies'
Home Journal. At the present time an organ
is being installed in the home of Pierre S.
Dupont, head of the Dupont Co., Wilmington,
Del., to replace an instrument which Mr. Du-
pont has presented to the University of Dela-
PHILADELPHIA, PA.,
To Visit Story & Glark Go.
Dealers in West Indies
R. A. Burke, sales manager of the Story &
Clark Piano Co., Chicago, sailed on the S. S.
San Lorenzo for the West Indies Islands on
March 7.
Mr. Burke will be gone about five weeks, but
is planning to save considerable time in cover-
ing an extensive area by going direct to San
Juan, Porto Rico, to Haiti and then taking an
aeroplane to San Domingo and Cuba, in which
territories Story & Clark have long had a num-
ber of good customers. On his return to the
United States, he will visit Florida and other
southeastern Atlantic States.
Praises Ghristman Piano
A letter was recently received by the Christ-
man Piano Co., New York, from Elenora Grey,
pianist, who has been spoken of by New York
critics as an authoritative exponent of classical
as well as modern work. In speaking of the
Christman piano Miss Grey said:
"I can't say enough in favor of the Christman
Piano, the manner in which its bell-like tone,
its absolute evenness of scale, and sympathetic
quality respond to every mood is a constant
inspiration."
PHILADELPHIA, PA., March 11.—A voluntary peti-
tion in bankruptcy was filed last week by the
O. K. Music House, with stores at 13 South
Twenty-first street, and 1317 Arch street. No
schedule is given of the liabilities or assets.
The heads of the firm are Thomas Meany, Jr.,
and Raymond F. Haertter and the business was
devoted to the sale of sheet music and orches-
trations and educational musical publications.
L. Leroy Dienninger has been appointed referee.
New Baldwin Agent Named
Chester S. Anderson has just been appointed
Baldwin agent for San Jose, Cat., and the sur-
rounding part of the Santa Clara Valley. He
is the sole proprietor of the Anderson Music
Co. of San Jose and his store is in the new
and handsome St. Clair Hotel building. The
appointment makes Mr. Anderson the exclu-
sive Baldwin agent for that vicinity.
Now Jenkinson Mfg. Go.
The Jenkinson Player Action Co., established
for many years in Cincinnati, has changed its
name to the Jenkinson Mfg. Co. and has added
the making of radio tables and cabinets to its
activities in the piano field. The company is
located at 2016 Elm street.
Joins Sonatron Go.
CHICAGO, III., March 11.—John M. Redell, sec-
retary of the Mid-West Radio Trades Asso-
ciation, director and member of the executive
board of the Federated Trades Association, was
appointed Chicago sales representative of the
Sonatron Tube Co. last week.
New Haven Dealer Bankrupt
The R. A. Wrozina Co., music dealers of 22
Center street, New Haven, Conn., recently filed
a voluntary petition in bankruptcy, with liabili-
ties listed at $49,653.61, and assets $36,151.
Heyer Goes to Meridian
NEW ORLEANS, LA., March 11.—Bismark Heyer,
who was formerly advertising manager of the
Junius Hart Piano House, Ltd., left for Meri-
dian, Miss., where he will be the general man-
ager of the branch of the Hart Piano House,
that city.
Baldwin Piano for KOH
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., March.8.—The Baldwin
piano house here has sold a Baldwin reproduc-
ing grand to J. PeteVs, Inc., broadcasting sta-
tion, KOH of Reno, Nev. Mr. Peters states
that many letters and calls have come to the
station expressing appreciation of the recently
installed Baldwin piano. He has just been visit-
ing San Francisco, and told about the succc-'s
of the piano with the fans. Part of the pro-
gram cf KOH consists of broadcasting music
made by De Luxe Welte-Mignon rolls used
with the new Baldwin piano.
As Coast distributor for the De Luxe Welte-
Mipnon rolls, Louis F. Goelzlin, of the Pacific
Mi:>ic Company, is naturally much pleased wirh
the appreciation the Nevada listeners-in are
showing for the reproducing Baldwin piano's
performances when using the De Luxe Welte-
Mignon rolls. Mr. Goelzlin is now sufficiently
recovered from a long illness, following pneu-
monia, to call on his customers throughout tlie-
Bay region and he is steadily gaining in
strength.
Akron Piano House Closes
AKRON, O., March 11.—With the close of busi-
ness Saturday, the B. A. Emerson Piano Co.,
one of the pioneer music houses of the Akron
district, passed from existence. Fixtures and
all stock have been disposed of and the location
abandoned. The store, for years, was located
in East Mill street.
Jones Piano Co. Moves
The Jones Piano Co., Sioux City, la., owned
by Harrod M. Jones and Edward H. Jones,
will shortly move into a new and larger store
at 421 Sixth street, that city. The company
handles Kimball, Schiller, Wurlitzer and other
makes of pianos as well as RCA and Crosley
radios.
H. W. Lunceford has been appointed man-
ager of the piano department of the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co. store in Montgomery,
Ala. He has engaged in the music trade in that
territory for the past fourteen years.
A. L. Chatfield, formerly a piano dealer of
New York State, has re-entered the field in
Southern Pines, N. C, where he recently
opened a piano store with the Weaver line.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MARCH 16, 1929
Arleigh G. Dom, Sonora
Manager in Cincinnati
The Music Trade Review
Steinway of World-Wide Fame
{Continued from page 3)
different types of people who buy our pianos.
There are, for instance, Argentine cattle men,
Australian sheep raisers, professional men, mer-
chants, shipbuilders and planters; there are
manufacturers to please, Indian Rajahs, Chinese
mandarins, as well as the educators in colleges,
conservatories, etc. Then we have miners, en-
gineers, * bankers, and the owners of ocean
liners and private yachts to cater to. Not all
of these people, of course, demand pianos of a
design to meet a particular whim, but the na-
tionals of any country as a rule have certain
more or less standard ideas which they seek to
have incorporated in the instruments they pur-
chase.
"In our offices we have an alphabetical list
of the countries in which we do business, and at
first glance it is a very commonplace list. First
comes Argentine, then Austria, then Australia,
followed by Belgium and Borneo. It is fas-
cinating to make mentally that little jump from
the Argentine to Austria, from Austria to Aus-
tralia, then back to Belgium, from there to
Borneo and then to Brazil, etc. Here are coun-
tries almost half the circumference of the globe
apart and separated by continents and oceans
and yet they all are buying pianos and buying
them in increasing numbers.
"We get a particular kick at different times
through having someone visit our factory and
headquarters in New York, Hamburg or Lon-
don and tell us of having found the Steinway
piano far out in the veldt in South Africa, close
Arleigh C. Dom
graph Co. The Cincinnati headquarters are lo- to a mountain top in the Andes, or furnishing
music for the travelers on ocean liners on the
cated at 708-9 Peoples' Bank Bldg.
^
P
a
cific."
Mr. Dom has had a long experience in the
Here is an international business that repre-
music trade in the south and southwest and is
well known to dealers in that territory, hav- sents just what is claimed for it, and it is a
ing been for a number of years sales represen- business that in the main is so broad in its
scope that it does not depend upon what might
tative for the Imperial Roll Co. and later for
the QRS Co. Most recently he has been act- be termed local conditions in any one country
for its growth. Last year was the greatest year
ing as field sales manager for H. C. Schultz
ever
experienced in Steinway export business,
Co., Inc., Sonora jobbers of Cleveland and
and the company makes and sells nothing but
Detroit.
pianos. Surely with Steinway pianos encircling
the globe, as it were, it is hard to believe that
the general interest in the instrument can be
permanently on the wane in any one particular
locality.
ALBANY, N. Y., March 9.—An allowance of
Some idea of the extent of the Steinway ex-
$40,000 granted A. Page Smith, Albany attor- port trade can be found in the list of countries
ney, as a receiver for the Baker Music House, to which instruments are shipped regularly. Get
Inc., for four and one-half years, is contested by out your geography and check it. They are
creditors who must be answered by Mr. Smith Argentine, Austria, Australia, Belgium, Borneo,
in federal court to-day.
Brazil, Bulgaria, Canada, Czecho-Slovakia, Chile,
Records will be introduced, it is reported, to China, Costa Rica, Cuba, Denmark, Egypt, Eng-
show that the Albany attorney spent $15,000 in
personal expenses and incurred other obliga-
tions that will cut his actual honorarium to less
than $25,000.
The receivership was. for twenty per cent to
preferred creditors, and five per cent to unse-
PORTLAND, ORE., March 9.—Sidney L. Johnson,
cured. Nellie F. Towner, as attorney, was al-
for the past three years Oregon manager for
lowed $15,000 for work done for Mr. Smith
Sherman, Clay & Co., has been notified of his
while he acted as receiver.
promotion to the home office of the company
at San Francisco, and expects to leave Portland
March 15 to assume his new duties. Mr. John-
son came here from the company's Tacoma
store.
Succeeding him here as Oregon manager will
OAK HARBOR, O., March 11.—More than 3,000 be Robert Armstrong, now manager of the
pupils in Ottawa county are now receiving
Fresno, Cal., store of Sherman, Clay & Co.
music instruction as a regular subject. A county
school orchestra was formed in 1927, which
this year has grown to 56 members. Lynn W.
Thayer is county director of music, and it is
through his efforts, together with the co-opera-
tion of music dealers, that this small county
E. A. Kieselhorst, head of the Kieselhorst
has made the showing it has in music instruc-
Co., St. Louis, is at the present time enjoying
tion.
a respite from his labors amid the palm trees
at Sebring, Fla., on Lake Jackson. In a letter
to The Review, E. A. sings high praises of the
The Bland Piano Co., High Point, N. C, of
manner in which the citizens of Florida are
which R. R. Bland is proprietor, recently suf-
recovering from the recent slump. He sees
fered damage from fire amounting to about
many opportunities in the State.
$10,000.
Arleigh C. Dom has been appointed manager
of the Cincinnati, O., branch of the Sonora
Phonograph Co., the appointment being an-
nounced by A. J. Kendrick, vice-president and
general sales manager of the Sonora Phono-
land, Esthonia, Finland, France, Germany,
Greece, Guatemala, Holland, Hungary, Iceland,
India, Ireland, Italy, Japan, Java, Jugoslavia,
Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malay Penin-
sula, Morocco, Mexico, New Zealand, Norway,
Palestine, Peru, Philippines, Poland, Portugal,
Roumania, Santo Domingo, Scotland, South
Africa, Spain, Straits Settlements, Sumatra,
Sweden, Switzerland, Syria, Turkey, Uruguay
and Venezuela. Certainly an imposing list.
Nicholas W. Weser Enters
Business Father Founded
Second Son of Late John W. Weser Becomes
Actively Engaged in Piano Manufacturing
Business in New York
Nicholas W. Weser, second son of the late
John Weser, who founded the firm of Weser
Bros., Inc., in 1879, has just become actively
Question Allowance to
Music Store Receiver
New Sherman-Clay Manager
Appointed in Portland
3,000 Children Taking Music
Instruction in One County
E. A. Kieselhorst Now
Sojourning in Florida
©Blank & Stoller
Nicholas W. Weser
engaged in the business and is diligently work-
ing each day in the production end learning in
detail how to construct pianos.
Mr. Weser, who just recently became of age,
was educated in the McBurney School, New
York, and Franklin & Marshall University. He
will devote as much time as is necessary for
him to absorb every detail in piano construc-
tion before studying the other branches of the
business.
Another son, John Weser, Jr., is at present
taking a postgraduate course at the Tuck
School of Business at Dartmouth College and
it is expected that he will join the Weser or-
ganization in May of this year.
Both of these young men will school them-
selves with practical experience in the piano
manufacturing business so that in years to
come they will be able to carry on this for-
midable piano manufacturing institution which
was founded by their father and has become
recognized as one of the strongest in the piano
industry.
Receiver for Miller Co.
PHILADELPHIA, PA., March 12.—Nathan R.
Rambo, of this city has been appointed perma-
nent receiver for the Miller Piano Co., of West
Chester, Pa., which was involved in bankruptcy
proceedings here a few days ago. Bond has
been fixed for $30,000 by the United States
District Court sitting in this city in which the
petition has been filed.

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