Music Trade Review

Issue: 1929 Vol. 88 N. 7

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
8
The Music Trade Review
REVIEW
(Registered in the U. S. Patent Office)
Published Every Saturday by
Federated Business Publications, Inc.
at 420 Lexington Avenue, New York
President, Raymond Bill; Vice-Presidents, J. B. Spillane, Randolph Brown; Secretary
and Treasurer, Edward Lyman Bill; Assistant Secretary, L. B. McDonald; Assistant
Treasurer, \Vm. A. Low.
B. BRITTAIN WILSON, Editor
CARLETON CHACE, Business Manager
WM, J. DOUGHERTY, Managing Editor
RAY BILL, Associate Editor
F. L. AVERY, Circulation Manager
E. B. MUNCH, Eastern Representative
WESTERN DIVISION:
FRANK W. KIRK, Manager
E. J. NEALY
333 No. Michigan Ave., Chicago
Telephone: State 1266
Telephone:
BOSTON OFFICE:
JOHN H. WILSON, 324 Washington St.
Telephone: Main 6950
Lexington 1760-71
Vol. 88
N
Cable:
Elbill New York
February 16, 1929
No. 7
Cooperation in Right Way
O more significant development in the present situa-
tion in the piano trade is to be found than the
marked improvement in the relationships between
the music merchants of the country and the music teachers. Not
so many years ago, it appeared as though the great majority of re-
tailers gave little thought to the piano teacher and his, or her, im-
portance in the development of sales. In fact, it was generally
believed that the teacher was essentially a nuisance with the pri-
mary thought in mind of getting a commission on a sale whether
or not anything had been done to earn the commission. It is to
be admitted, of course, that this attitude was brought about by
New Store in Sharon, Pa.
Curran Music Co. Formally Opens Finely
Appointed Quarters
February 11.—The new store of
the Curran Music Co. was re-opened by R. A.
Curran, with the formal opening taking place
on Friday, February 8.
The new store is modern in every respect,
with all modern conveniences for the display
and demonstration of the instruments. On the
first floor there are six talking machine booths,
player roll demonstration room and sheet music
department. A balcony leads off from the first
floor, where the musical instrument department
and offices are located. On the second floor
there is a large grand parlor and recital hall and
several piano and phonograph demonstration
rooms.
About 6,000 people attended the formal open-
ing, which was featured with an excellent musi-
cal program by the Sharon Syncopators, vocal
selections by Prof. A. N. Davis of the West-
minster College, New Wilmington, Pa., and a
quartette.
SHARON, PA.,
Owens-Reese Go. Grows
The Owens-Reese Music Co., Abilene, Tex.,
has arranged to move from 241 Pine street to
233 Pine street that city, where larger space
will be available. The company which was
established in 1926 by D. A. Owens and J. C.
Reese, features Kimball and other makes of
pianos, Brunswick and Columbia phonographs,
together with small musical instruments and
sheet music
FEBRUARY 16, 1929
the tactics of some of the teachers themselves, but it was unfor-
tunate that it was made to apply to the profession as a class. From
the teacher's angle, too, the dealer was looked upon as something
apart and not to be considered seriously by the teachers, except,
perhaps, when some favor was to be desired such as the loan of
a piano.
How different is it all to-day, with the teachers all over the
country co-operating heartily with the trade in the development
of the idea of group and individual piano instruction. We find
the Music Supervisors' National Conference, the National Asso-
ciation of Music Teachers and teacher groups in many localities
working hand-in-hand with the merchants for the encouragement
of piano instruction in the schools. It is true that the teaching
profession is carrying on its work primarily on the premise that
musical education is just as essential to the child as is the train-
ing in the three R's, but, nevertheless, these same teachers have
sufficiently keen minds to realize that unless the importance of
musical training is more widely recognized the demands for their
services is liable to be seriously curtailed.
The music merchants naturally realize that a more general mu-
sical training of children must of necessity bring about a stronger
demand for musical instruments upon which to practice and play.
In short it is one occasion when the trade and profession meet
on a common ground. A steadily increasing recognition of this
fact is a matter for congratulation.
Comments such as these would not be complete if tribute were not
paid to those members of the music industry and profession who
have been keen enough to see the vision and to work together to
the common end, through the mastering of problems that naturally
arise when two interests, divergent in many points, must be
brought together. Among the leaders in this work is C. M. Tre-
maine, Director of the National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music, on the one hand, and such men as Joseph E. Maddy,
chairman of the piano section of the Committee on Instrumental
Affairs and the National Supervisors' Conference, on the other.
Some day the full record of what they have accomplished should
be written.
Pittsburgh Rich Radio
Staunton, Va., Store
Field Says A. K. Man
Occupies Larger Quarters
PITTSBURGH, PA., February 11.—J. D. Tebben,
special representative of the Atwater Kent Mfg.
Co., of Philadelphia, is spending some time in
Pittsburgh contacting with the department
stores and dealers through the Esenbe Co., the
local Atwater Kent distributors. Advanced
merchandising methods and modern equipment,
Mr. Tebben says, have made Pittsburgh one of
the richest points of distribution in the radio
field to-day.
Forms New Radio Concern
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH, February 11.—The Jen-
nings-McCollom Co., a radio manufacturers'
agent partnership, has been dissolved. Harold
S. Jennings will continue to handle a few
accounts as an individual under his own name,
while Mr. McCollom has organized the Mc-
Collom Products and Service Co., which will
service radios and handle a few accounts as
well. Mr. Jennings is permanent secretary of
the Mountain States Music and Radio Trades'
Association.
Arleigh Dom With Sonora
The Bryan-Mills Music Store, Staunton, Va.,
has moved to new and larger quarters in that
city. The quarters have been entirely re-
modeled and fitted with demonstration rooms
for pianos, phonographs and radio receivers.
J. Harry Bryan, of Staunton, is president of
the concern, Marshall T. Miles is vice-president,
and J. Earman Bryan is secretary and treasurer.
Mr. Miles will give his personal attention to
the Waynesboro store, and will be assisted by
Mrs. Miles. Donald V. Whitbeck of Freder-
icksburg, will be in charge of the radio depart-
ment, and James W. Lightfoot will be manager
of the phonograph department.
Sails for Mediterranean
Accompanied by his wife and their son, Louis
Maisel, proprietor of the Maisel Music Shop
at 703 Fillmore avenue, Buffalo, N. Y., sailed
from New York on the steamer "France" for a
Mediterranean cruise until May.
Close Branch Store
Turner & Bartlett, who have been operating
musical instrument and furniture stores in
Batavia and Caledonia, N. Y., have sold their
lease in the former city and after a clearance
sale will move their remaining stock to the
Caledonia store, which they will continue.
Arleigh Dom, well known in the music trade
in the Middle West, most recently with the
Cleveland branch of the H. C. Schultz Co.,
Sonora distributors, and before that with the
QRS Music Co., has been appointed manager
of the new Sonora Phonograph branch in Cin-
The W. P. Fowler Music Co., Duncan, Okla.,
cinnati.
will shortly move to a larger store.
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
FEBRUARY 16, 1929
Takes Twelve Pages in One
James Stafford Named
New Gulbransen Models
Paper to Announce Radio
Manager of J. R. Wilson Go.
Win Quick Recognition
Latest Products of Company Designed in
Keeping With Needs of Dealers and Public,
Is the Claim
The announcement and introduction by the
Gulbransen Co. of the three new styles known
as the "Home Series" have already met with
greater response than any line the company has
ever produced.
This favorable trade reaction is attributed to
the exhaustive survey made by the manufac-
turers to determine just what the dealer needs
to stimulate business. It was found that not
only would a lower price line incite the interest
of the trade and the public, but would be par-
ticularly adaptable to the development of group
class instruction and piano-playing.
With the growing interest in class piano in-
struction, it is the belief of the Gulbransen Co.
that a new modern instrument made available
to the public at a national nominal selling
price will encourage a greater interest in the
study of the piano and musical growth of the
country.
In line with this observation, the company
determined upon suitable names for the three
new styles introduced which would have a di-
rect association with the home and piano-play-
ing. The upright instrument is known as the
Home Study Model; the registering piano as
the Home Harmony Model, and the Grand as
the Home Culture Mo-del.
As the new line opens up a channel for in-
creased sales in placing before the public a
new instrument that is within the reach of the
average wage-earner there will be no incentive
to purchase a used instrument. The company
believes that this will have the effect of killing
off the sale of old worn-out pianos lacking in
tone quality and modern design.
Ordinarily it does not take twelve pages of a
newspaper to tell the story of the arrival of
new radio equipment. So impressed with the
tone qualities and general performance and
appearances of the new Atwater Kent electro-
dynamic line was Garrett, Miller & Co., Wil-
mington, Del., distributors of Atwater Kent
products, that they lined up their dealers for
twelve full pages of Atwater Kent factory adver-
tising, dealer advertising and factory publicity
recently. In Delaware, as elsewhere, the new
line is going over big.
The music store of G. W. Poley & Son,
Knoxville, Pa., was destroyed by fire recently,
entailing a loss of over $20,000.
The music store of F. B. Keeran, Red Bluff,
Cal., has been moved to new quarters in that
town.
PHILADELPHIA, PA., February 12.—James Staf-
ford has been appointed general manager of
the J. Ralph Wilson Co., which conducts a
chain of music stores in this city. For the past
few years he has been in charge of the Wilson
store at 5528 Germantown avenue. He will take
over the duties of manager of the six stores
which make up the group in the Wilson chain.
The J. Ralph Wilson Co. recently was reorgan-
ized with the retirement from the firm of its
former president and founded J. Ralph Wilson,
who returned to the music trade early this
year as head of Wilraths, Inc., a new concern,
in the same line of business.
Jacob Schiller, of the Lester Piano Co., of
Philadelphia, was a visitor in New York last
week and made calls at several of the music
stores in this section.
'The Logical Leader for the Retail Piano Merchant Who Sells Quality"
Cfjarlesi Jfretertcfe S>tetn
Broadcasts Help Stimulate
Piano Man's Radio Sales
MILWAUKEE, WIS., February 11.—Radio business
has been showing notable gains, according to
reports from the Noll Piano Co., 1015 Muskego
avenue. While December made unusual gains,
January showed only a small decline in com-
parison to the large December business, while
a good increase in business was registered over
the month of January, 1928, according to Mrs.
M. K. Noll.
In addition to increased demand, the higher-
priced machines are getting more attention, it
was stated, and the Stromberg-Carlson is re-
ported as being outstanding in sales with the
store. The Atwater Kent and Radiola were
also noted as gaining good sales at the Noll Co.
The Noll Co. broadcasts once each week over
WTMJ, the Milwaukee Journal station, directly
following the broadcast of the Stromberg-Carl-
son hour, and this has been found to be very
successful. The store also advertises con-
sistently, and gains good returns from its type
of institutional and merchandising advertising,
featuring only the uses and qualities of its
musical merchandise.
A great number of people are buying the
pick-ups to be used with phonographs, and the
greater interest in phonograph merchandise is
in combinations, it was stated.
Pianos are going moderately well, and the
grands are keeping up at a consistently good
rate, showing a healthful growth in sales, an
effect, which is believed to be the result of the
musical instruction in schools, it was stated.
Delbert L. l.oomis,
National Association
headquarters in New
Chicago last week
matters.
executive secretary of the
of Music Merchants, with
York, spent a few days in
attending to Association
Thirty-five years of steadfast application to the highest ideals in
piano building are embodied in the Chas. Frederick Stein Grand.
It is the expression of the practical genius of the piano maker, who
held unswervingly to his purpose to make an instrument which
would not alone realize his conception of what a grand piano
should be, but one which would also more than satisfy the most
critical professional musicians.
The Chas. Frederick Stein Grand is a proof of his ability as the
maker of pianos of the very highest class, produced irrespective of
cost in monev. time, or attention to detail. The Chas. Frederick
Stein Piano offers a rare opportunity to those dealers who them-
selves know tone quality and desire the agency of an instrument
which will give them trade and professional prestige, and get the
enthusiastic endorsement of the leaders of the musical world in their
community.
If you have not as your leader a piano which will insure you
success in competition for quality as well as inspire you with the
highest degree of enthusiasm and an assurance, you should see and
hear the Chas. Frederick Stein Grand.
Jfrebertcfe
Maker o) Fine Grand Pianos Exclusively
3047
CARROLL AVENUE
CHICAGO, I I I .

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