Music Trade Review

Issue: 1929 Vol. 88 N. 9

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
CHICAGO AND THE MIDDLE WEST
Frank W. Kirk, Manager, 333 North Michigan Avenue, Chicago
Agrees With Gulbransen
That Public Can Buy Pianos
People Are in Financial Position to Purchase
Instruments but it Rests With Dealers to
Make Proper Approach
The H. D. Munson Sons Music Co., of Zanes-
ville, O., in a letter to the Gulbransen Co.
agrees with Mr. Gulbransen's contention that
people are in a financial condition to buy pianos
and that the public is not poverty stricken.
He states:
"We have read with considerable interest
your article in the December 15 issue of the
Music Trade Review and heartily agree with
you in the feeling that dealers themselves are
largely responsible for the condition in which
the piano business finds itself, but the great
question is, what will the answer be in the
course of the next few years?
"In view of your opinion expressed in this
article, we have clipped from this morning's
local paper two ads, one inserted by another
dealer, and the other by ourselves. We leave
it to your judgment as to which ad is helping
to create the condition of which we are all
complaining."
Larger Chicago Offices
for Schiller Piano Go.
More Commodious Quarters Occupied by Con-
cern in the Republic Building Where Full
Line is Shown
CHICAGO, III., February 25.—The Chicago office
and showrooms of the Schiller Piano Co.,
formerly located in Room 932 Republic Build-
ing, have been moved to larger quarters in
Room 600 of the same building.
The complete Schiller line of uprights, grands
and reproducing grands in attractive designs
and rare figured woods is on display. Acquir-
ing larger Chicago headquarters is in keeping
with the Schiller policy to increase the sale of
Schiller pianos. The company recently issued
a statement to the trade stating that it is not
going to manufacture radios or furniture, but is
going to build pianos exclusively.
Zenith Slogan Contests
Arousing Much Interest
CHICAGO, III., February 25.—The Zenith Auto-
matic Slogan contests, now being conducted by
Zenith distributors over the principal radio sta-
tions throughout the country, are bringing ex-
cellent publicity on Zenith's exclusive radio
feature. The contests call for slogans limited
to fifteen words on automatic tuning and its
advantages. The reward is one of the model
39-A automatically tuned Zenith receivers.
In a recent contest conducted in Chicago
over stations WMAQ and WJAZ by the Kim-
berly Radio .Corp., the mid-West distributors,
more than 5,000 slogans were received in the
one-week duration of the contest.
The winner of the Chicago contest was Rob-
ert M. Barnes, 7104 Lowe avenue, Chicago,
whose slogan, "Zenith Automatic is the door-
bell to every broadcast studio," won first place
from a field of thousands of entrants. A sec-
ond award of a Zenith consolette was given
J. H. DuBois, 1907 Montrost Blvd., Chicago,
who also submitted a clever slogan, "Why
keep music in a safe, when available like money
from a cash register?"
Radio Course of Piano Instruction
Is Being Sponsored by M. Schulz Co.
Lessons by Edward Barry, Noted Artist, Being Broadcast from Station WGN—Since
Series Started Three Years Ago Over 30,000 People Enrolled
/CHICAGO, ILL., February 25.—A movement
that should be of great aid in the promo-
tion of interest in piano playing is now being
fostered by the M. Schulz Co., well-known
Chicago piano manufacturers, which on Friday
of last week officially assumed the sponsor-
ship of Edward Barry's radio piano lessons on
Station WGN.
This popular feature is well known to radio
fans as it has appeared each Friday afternoon
from 5.00 to 5.30 for nearly three years. Dur-
ing that time 30,000 students have taken the
course and a larger number are enrolled at
present than ever before.
The M. Schulz Co. with the assistance of its
large dealer organization will handle the dis-
tribution of music books, keep registration rec-
ords and answer fan mail. In fact, it is the del-
uge of mail which caused the Tribune station
to seek an outside sponsor, who could effi-
ciently handle the requests for the music folios,
answer questions, and enroll students.
The lessons are for beginners or persons who
have studied piano at one time and want to
review their work. Simple melody-playing is
introduced, almost immediately arousing the
interest and enthusiasm of the pupil. Some of
the lighter classics in special arrangements are
used and are included in the series of folios.
The music folios are printed and edited by
the WGN staff and will be issued by the M.
Schulz Co. without any cost to all listeners
sending their names and addresses to the sta-
tion or direct to the sponsors. The folios in-
clude a great many easy transcriptions of popu-
lar melodies and will prove a valuable addition
to the musical library of anyone who plays the
piano. Announcement will be made that com-
plete sets of this music may be had at Schulz
dealers throughout Illinois and adjoining states.
A complete roster of pupils enrolled at present
will be furnished the Schulz dealer organization
so that they can keep in touch with the fans.
The manner of instruction is similar to the
piano class work that is being carried on in
public schools and dealers' stores. Dealers will
be encouraged to hold the broadcast in their
own store each week and provide pianos for
children whose homes lack either a piano or
radio. Mr. Barry's pupils are most enthusiastic
about his work and hundreds of letters are re-
ceived each week from pupils pleased at the
progress they are making.
The feature will also receive publicity in the
radio columns of the Chicago Tribune. Its
wide circulation throughout the Middle West
will prove a valuable help in keeping up inter-
est and in increasing the popularity of the half
hour.
Mention will be made that the piano lessons
are sponsored "by Chicago's own piano manu-
L
U
D
facturer, the M. Schulz Co., which has manu-
factured musical instruments in that city for
sixty years.
In an interview Mr. Otto Schulz, Jr., said:
"We feel that no other form of advertising
could prove such a boon to the piano itself and
to the whole piano industry as the support of
Edward Barry's weekly half hour of piano les-
sons on WGN. We are not so much inter-
ested in our direct gain as we are in helping
to encourage interest in piano playing. WGN
is a wonderful medium for this service. It is
a 25,000 watt station and has the exclusive use
of its particular wave band at 416 meters or
720 kilocycles. It can be clearly heard on all
types of sets throughout the Mississippi Valley.
We shall be glad to hear from persons enrolled
in these courses and know we will have the sup-
port of our dealers in carrying on this work.
We urge music dealers everywhere to listen in
on Mr. Barry next Friday afternoon at five
o'clock to familiarize themselves with the scope
and method of the lessons.
"In the past pupils have ranged in age from
seven to seventy years. We find a great many
of them are married women, housewives who
would have no other opportunity to study the
piano.
"There is absolutely no charge for whatever
music is needed. These folios will be furnished
by us to anyone who sends in their name and
address either to the station or to the M.
Schulz Co., general office at 711 Milwaukee ave.,
Chicago."
George B. Dow on a Trip
George B. Dow of the George B. Dow Piano
Co., 338 West 63rd street, Chicago is on an ex-
tensive Western trip. On account of ill health
Mr. Dow has been forced to seek the Western
climate to recuperate.
Closes Branch Store
AKRON, O., February 25.—The Waltham Piano
store at 34 West Market street is being discon-
tinued this month, it was announced this week.
This concern has maintained two piano stores
here for some time and will now confine its
activities to one establishment.
BOARDMAN 6c GRAY
Reproducing (Welte Lic'e) Grand and Up-
right Pianos are pianists' and tuners' favor-
ites for Quality and Durability. Est. 1837.
Art Styles a Specialty—Send for Catalog
Factory and Warerooms
7, 9 & 11 Jay St., Albany, N. Y.
W
I G
Grands—Uprights—Player Pianos—Reproducing Pianos
of the Highest Quality in Straight and Period Models
Ludwig &L Co*, 136th St. and Willow Ave., New York
n
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
12
MARCH 2, 1929
Radio Distributors in
Pacific Trade Prepares
New Managers for the
Philadelphia Organize
For Its Next Radio Show
Ditson Victor Departments
SAN FRANCISCO, CAL., February 25.—Although
the Pacific Radio Show will not take place
till August, applications for sixty-five per
cent of the space available have already been
received. Next week a meeting of the Asso-
ciation will be held to apportion the space
to the various exhibitors. The new secretary,
George H. Curtiss says that the Association
has decided to re-establish the employment
bureau conducted in its offices for the benefit
of the dealers. The dealers' branch of the
Association now meets on the third Thursday
of each month.
Recommendations for radio advertising have
been issued in folder form by the Pacific Radio
Trade Association and the Better Business Bu-
reau of San Francisco. The recommendations
are offered, it is stated for the development of
increased accuracy and fair play, to develop
public confidence in radio merchandise and ad-
vertising.
Paul E. Carlson Returns as Manager of Victor
Wholesale Business in New York and Robert
A. Drake Takes Charge in Boston
The Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, held to be
one of the oldest music houses in the United
States, having been founded nearly a century
and a half ago, and taken over by Oliver Dit-
son in 1835, has together with its associated
company, Chas. H. Ditson & Co., New York,
manifested the confidence of its officials in the
future of the radio and talking machine busi-
ness by expanding the activities of its whole-
sale Victor departments which have been main-
tained for something over twenty years.
The move for expansion follows the election
of Wm. Arms Fisher as president of Oliver
Ditson & Co., and David King as general sales
manager, and it is particularly interesting to the
talking machine-radio trade because it places
in charge of the Victor departments both in
Boston and New York men of wide experience
and recognized ability. In New York, for in-
stance, it brings back into the organization of
Chas. H. Ditson & Co. Paul E. Carlson, who
for more than a decade had charge of that de-
partment until about a year ago when he be-
Los ANGKLES, CAL., February 23.—A window came special representative of the Victor Talk-
display in the window of the Fitzgerald Music ing Machine Co., an experience that will enable
Co., which brought many passers-by to a stop him to resume his duties with Ditson with a
as they passed down Hill street, consisted of broadened knowledge of the trade situation
three small grand pianos in various conditions. generally.
One, on its side, showed the front of the piano
In Boston the wholesale Victor department
with the action taken out, various parts of
of
the Oliver Ditson Co. has been placed in
which had been taken apart and displayed so
as to show their construction. A second piano, charge of Robert A. Drake, who for the past
also on its side, but endways, showed the nine years has been a special representative of
sounding board and rim construction. In the the Victor Co. in New England and in that
background, mounted on a pedestal platform, capacity has developed close contact with the
dealers throughout that territory, contacts that
stood a third—complete small grand piano.
will prove invaluable to him in his new con-
Credit for this unusual display which not nection.
only attracted much attention, but brought a
The assisting organizations in both Boston
number of actual sales, goes to Bruno Heinze,
and
New York will remain about the same.
finished piano salesman of the Fitzgerald Co.
Henry A. Winkelman, who recently resigned as
manager of the Victor department in Boston,
in order to take a well-deserved rest, will con-
tinue to take an interest in the department af-
fairs, and his assistant, Otto Piesendel will con-
tinue as assistant to Mr. Drake. In New York
Three of the Instruments Placed in Prominent Mr. Carlson will be assisted by Joseph C. May,
Churches and Three More in Theatres of the with Miss Ada V. Arnold as office manager,
Stanley Chain in That City
both of them having been with the Ditson or-
ganization for lengthy periods.
PHILADELPHIA, PA., February 26.—Six notable
Both in New York and Boston the sales
installations of Kimball pipe organs have been forces will be materially enlarged and the serv-
made in the Philadelphia territory since the ice and shipping facilities expanded in accord-
first of the year, three of them being in promi- ance with the energetic plans of the companies.
nent Roman Catholic churches, and three in
new theatres in the Stanley chain. The churches
include St. Stephen's, which has been equipped
with a new Kimball three-manual organ; the
Church of Our Lady of Holy Souls, also
equipped with a three-manual organ, and the
Church of Our Mother of Consolation in Chest- Are Guests of Local Distributor, Inspect New
nut Hill, which has an instrument of the two- Instruments and Listen to Line Sales Talk
manual type. The theatres in which Kimball
ALTOONA, PA., February 26. — About fifty At-
organs have been installed are the Boyd, the
water Kent radio dealers in Blair, Clearfield,
State and the Uptown.
Huntingdon, Mifflin and Bedford counties were
guests of the Johnstown Automobile Co., At-
water Kent district distributors. H. A. Hosmer,
of the radio department of the Johnstown Co.,
KNOXVILLE, TENN., February 23.—Funeral serv-
presided. The meeting was held in the Penn
ice for A. L. Wilhite, sixty-seven, former pro- Alto Hotel and addressed by E. B. Sellers, of
prietor of the Wilhite Piano Co., Knoxville, Philadelphia, sales representative of the At-
who died at his home, Sweetwater, Tenn., was water Kent Mfg. Co., who presented the new
conducted in that town February 20. He had line of Atwater Kent radios and outlined the
retired from activities recently owing to failing sale possibilities of the new sets. Other speak-
health. He leaves a widow and two daughters. ers were Richard Graver, factory sales repre-
sentative for the Pittsburgh district; S. R. Burd,
The Lawrence Klein Furniture Co., 160 East territory representative of the Johnstown
154th st., Harvey, 111., has been incorporated Automobile Co.; A. R. Reed, manager of the
with capital stock of $25,000 to deal in furni- Johnstown Co., and E. R. Oppenheimer, the
ture, radio and musical instruments. The in- well-known specialist of the Atwater Kent Co.,
corporators are E. Yedor, I. Sokoloff, and A. who explained how to increase the sales of
radios through the house-to-house method.
H. Levy.
Piano Construction Shown
in Fitzgerald Display
New Kimball Pipe Organs
Installed in Philadelphia
Atwater Kent Dealers
Convene in Altoona, Pa.
Death of A. L. Wilhite
Radio Wholesalers in Quaker City Secure State
Charter for New Board of Trade—Plan to
Improve Business Conditions
PHILADELPHIA, PA., February 25.—After several
weeks of preliminary work, the Philadelphia
Radio Distributors Board of Trade last Thurs-
day was granted a State charter and imme-
diately met for the purpose of perfecting the
organization . The meeting was held at 713
North Broad street when Charles Gomprecht,
of Trilling & Montague, presided and articles
were signed by members representing fourteen
leading radio distributing firms of the city and
the metropolitan territory. Besides the fourteen
firms enrolled at the meeting it was announced
that nine others had made application for
membership. Committees were appointed on
by-laws, arbitration and to select a permanent
meeting place. Those who attended the
Thursday meeting were representatives of the
Raymond Rosen Co., the Keystone Radio Co.,
Royal Electric Co., Schimmel Electric Co.,
Stewart Warner Electric Co., Supplee Biddle
Hardware Co., Philadelphia Motor Accessories
Co., Philip Cass Stores, General Electric Sup-
ply Co., H. C. Roberts Electric Co., J. V. Kane
Distributing Co., Trilling & Montague, Frank-
lin Electric Co., Graybar Electric Co., Roberts
Auto & Radio Supply Co. and the Dickel Dis-
tributing Co. All these firms distribute radios
to the music trades.
Western Radio Co., Denver,
to Expand Its Business
DENVER, COLO., February 25.—One of the note-
worthy indications of a local firm's growth is
the announcement of the expansion program of
the Western Radio Co., at 150 Broadway. This
company has enlarged their storeroom, and will
devote the space to the installation of a com-
plete and up-to-date musical instrument stock.
Ashley B. Gone on Trip
Ashley B. Cone, president of Hardman, Peck
& Co., New York, left this week for a two-
months' trip through the trade. Mr. Cone is
making stops in Pittsburgh, Chicago, Kansas
City, and points in Texas en route to California.
Mr. Cone was recently appointed president of
the company, succeeding Carl E. Peck, who is
now chairman of the board of directors.
In the
manufacture of
Period Benches
we are giving the
same satisfaction
as in the more
Popular Designs
which we make in
mass production
on a quality basis.
fAMERRIAMOa
SO. ACTON, MASS.
,

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