Music Trade Review

Issue: 1929 Vol. 88 N. 9

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
6
The Music Trade Review
Jenkins Music Co. Observes Golden
Anniversary With Gift Distribution
T^ANSAS CITY, MO., February 25.—The
• ^ Golden Anniversary gift distribution insti-
tuted by the J. W. Jenkins Music Co., of this
city, launched early in 1928, and continuing for
nine months, resulted in the casting of more
than forty million votes for schools and
churches in all sections of the United States.
A purchase of merchandise of any amount
made at one of the company's sixteen stores
located in Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, Ar-
kansas and Texas entitled the buyer to the cast-
ing of a vote for the school or church of his,
choice. Orders by mail were received from all
over the country, and all votes were deposited
in sealed ballot boxes. Expert accountants
were employed to tabulate the voting and two
weeks were required to obtain the results.
Twenty thousand dollars were spent by the
Jenkins Co. in advertising this event. Prizes
distributed ranged from $175 Victrolas to a
$1,575 Weber grand piano. Four carloads of
gift merchandise were used in the distribution
and totaled a cost of $78,358.
The Kansas City, Mo., quota of the gifts was
announced as follows: $1,575 Weber grand
piano, Lincoln High School; $1,385 Weber
grand, Paeso High School; $1,125 Vose Grand,
Faxon School; $1,000 Vose grand, First Baptist
Church; $995 Duo-Art, Independence Boulevard
Christian Church; $950 Steck grand, Border
Star School; $875 Vose grand, Keneseth Israel
Congregation; $795 Everett grand, Southwest
High School; $695 Everett grand, Linwood
L
Jack Denny Makes
Records on the Fly
Uses Planes to Keep Dance Orchestra Engage-
ments in Montreal and Record Making Dates
in New York
Boulevard Christian Church; $675 Brambach
grand, First Christian Church, Fulton, Mo., and
$365 Elburn upright, Hale Cook school.
Awards of $175 Orthophonic Victrolas were
made to thirteen schools and churches in Kan-
sas City, Mo., and to six organizations in Kan-
sas City, Kan. Other Kansas City, Kans.
awards included a $1,125 Vose grand, St. Bene-
dict's School; $995 Duo-Art, Wyandotte High
School; $795 Everett grand, St. Paul's Episco-
pal Church; $675 Brambach grand, Washington
avenue M. E. Church; $495 Vose upright, Ar-
gentine High School; $365 Elburn upright,
Rosedale High School.
Milwaukee Music Stores
Enlarge Radio Activities
Increase Size of Departments and Staffs to
Handle Growing Business and Add New
Lines
MILWAUKEE, WIS., February 26.—Radio business
continues to show gains, as compared with
activity of last year, and the recent period has
seen some enlargements of radio departments
in Milwaukee music stores, and the announce-
ment of plans for bigger radio departments in
other prominent retail music houses.
Eric S. Hafsoos of the Flanner-Hafsoos
Music House, Inc., has announced that the
radio department in this store has had its sales
force increased by six members. Radio busi-
ness, and the outlook for future sales warrants
this expansion, according to Mr. Hafsoos. The
company recently enlarged its facilities for
demonstrating and servicing radios, and at that
time additions were also made to the selling
staff in this department. A. F. Matthies is the
manager of the radio department of the Flan-
ner-Hafsoos Co.
The radio department of the J. B. Bradford
Piano Co. has also recently been enlarged, hav-
ing much more display and sales space, and an
enlarged service department. This department
is in charge of C. E. Oerding, vice-president of
the Bradford Co.
Another enlargement has taken place in the
Norbert J. Beihoff Music Co. store at 811
Forty-seventh street, which has announced that
it has added several new lines of nationally
known radios. According to Norbert Beihoff
the store will feature the Majestic and the
Edison, in addition to the lines which it has
been carrying, the Zenith, Atwater Kent and
Bush & Lane.
MARCH 2, 1929
The Musical Instrument
Business in Canada
Trade Over the Border Shows a Steady In-
crease According to Figures of Department
of Commerce
WASHINGTON, D. C, February 23.—The manu-
facture of musical instruments in Canada is be-
coming an important industry, with the 1927
production estimated at more than $11,000,000,
according to reports on the Canadian census of
industry just received by the Department of
Commerce. It is also indicated that there is a
considerable concentration going on in the Ca-
nadian industry, only 47 establishments report-
ing for 1927, as compared with 64 in 1923.
In the value of production a gain of $883,181
is indicated, the total having increased from
$10,873,293 in 1926 to $11,756,474 for 1927. Musi-
cal instruments represented $9,525,151 of the
total value, musical instrument material, $1,-
549,049, radio sets, parts and accessories $226,-
494, and all other products $455,780.
Compared with 1926 there were increases in
the value of production of musical instruments
of $1,419,373, in radio sets, parts and accessories
of $61,403, while musical instrument material
showed a decrease of $341,897 and in all other
products of $255,698.
According to the report, the Province of On-
tario is still the manufacturing center. Out of
47 establishments reporting, 34 are located in
this Province, ten in Quebec, one in Nova
Scotia and two in British Columbia.
Of the total production of the industry 58
per cent was manufactured by firms located in
the Province of Ontario, which is a substantial
decrease from 1923, when the Province pro-
duced 74 per cent of the total. The Province
of Quebec made up Ontario's loss, producing
during 1927, 39 per cent, Nova Scotia and
British Columbia produced the other 2.5 per
cent.
Toy Piano Has History
February 23.—The recent announce-
ment of the release of some new records by
CLEVELAND, O., February 25.—A miniature piano
Jack Denny, director of the Mount Royal Hotel
that is attracting considerable interest is being
Orchestra, made by the Brunswick Co., has a
shown by Abraham Hodgins, piano dealer of
story behind it of a race against time by air-
St. Clair avenue and East 143rd street, Cleve-
plane and train which is as good as a movie
land. Mr. Hodgins has had the instrument for
thriller.
the past thirty years and made it himself from
Mr. Denny, who records exclusively for the
wood from a tree on the farm of Abraham Lin-
Brunswick Co., was asked to appear in the
coln. He came into possession of the wood
Brunswick laboratories and perform. But the
while employed by Smith & Nixon, piano manu-
laboratories are in New York and right here
facturers, who were commissioned to make two
in Montreal there are thousands of dance fans
pianos by the Lincoln Memorial Society for the
who would be greatly disappointed if Mr.
World's Fair from an oak on Lincoln's farm.
Denny did not wield the baton which sets the
Mr. Hodgins helped build these two instruments
rhythm for their stepping.
and the remnants of the wood were given him,
What was to be done? Snapping his fingers
and from it he built the tiny piano as a play-
at the old saw that says "By trying to please
thing for his children, and which he now pre-
everybody you please nobody," Mr. Denny de-
serves for its historical value.
cided that both his recording company and his
dance patrons should have what they wanted.
On Satu/day evening he remained with his
NEW ORLEANS, LA., February 26.—Considerable
orchestra at the Mount Royal until after mid- publicity was gained through a stunt conducted
night as usual. Then, leaving the hotel, he last week by Philip Werlein, Ltd. The words
dashed out to the St. Hubert airdrome, where "Werlein's For Music" were printed on the
PHILADELPHIA, PA., February 26.—The Lang
he boarded a plane at half-past two on Sunday bottom wing of one oi the largest airplanes in Piano Co. has further extended its chain music
morning and flew for Albany, where it was cal- the city and on Mardi Gras day, when thou- stores by the addition of another branch located
culated he could catch the last train which had sands of people gather here to witness the ar- in Chester, Pa. The new store is located at
left Montreal on Saturday night. The plan
rival of Rex, the king of Carnival, the plane 1819 West Third street, and is un-der the man-
worked perfectly and the plane arrived just in flew above the city and was equipped with an agement of Sam Lang, son of the proprietor.
time for him to make the train connection.
unusually loud siren to attract the attention of With the newest addition the Lang stores will
When he pulled into New York at 9.30 on the public. The Werlein company has success- number five, all devoted to the sales of pianos,
Sunday morning, he went immediately to the fully used nearly all the advertising methods musical instruments, radios and talking ma-
Brunswick laboratories and set to work at the there is, including moving pictures, direct mail chines and accessories.
arduous and exacting task of turning out campaigns, broadcasting over the radio and
records. He worked along practically without newspapers, as well as operating a large and
Thomas Goggan & Bro., of Houston, Tex.,
a break until noon on Monday in order to fulfil efficient staff of outside salesmen.
have opened a branch in Brian, Tex., under the
his contract with the Brunswick Co. And then,
management of A. E. Barto.
instead of taking a well-earned rest, he once
The Des Moines, la., branch of the Baldwin
again mounted a plane so that he might be Piano Co., formerly located at 924 Walnut
Bracy Jenkins has opened Bracy's Melody
back at the Mount Royal at his regular street, has been moved to 902 Walnut street. Shop in Bearden, Ark. He handles talking ma-
scheduled time.
R. G. Boland is the manager.
chine records and small musical instruments.
MONTREAL,
Werlein Uses Airplane
for Mardi Gras Publicity
New Lang Piano Go. Branch
Opened in Philadelphia
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
MARCH 2, 1929
Mississippi Governor's
Music Week Proclamation
Governor Bilbo Urges That the Citizens of the
State Co-operate in Supporting the Cause of
Music During Celebration
JACKSON, MISS., February 25.—A proclamation
has been issued by Gov. Theo. Bilbo proclaim-
ing the week of February 25 as "Music Week."
The proclamation was as follows:
"Whereas, The State of Mississippi and
City of Jackson are indeed fortunate in having
within their borders on February 25 and 26 a
musical event of notable importance, namely,
Grand Opera, and,
"Whereas,
The
public-spirited
business
men of Jackson and vicinity are making every
effort possible to make this occasion a signifi-
cant milestone in the annual progress' of our
city; and
"Whereas, Of all the arts that beautify and
enrich human life, there is none that speaks a
more universal language than music. The mes-
sage of music is as limitless as human under-
standing, as deep as the human soul, as wide
as the range of humanity itelf.
"Pursuant to this idea, therefore, with which
I am in hearty sympathy, I, as Governor of the
State, hereby proclaim the week of February
25, 1929, as Music Week, and recommend that
all our citizens show their appreciation of the
efforts being put forth by a few and co-operate
with them in their efforts that they may meet
with the complete success they deserve.
"THEO. G. BILBO,
Governor.
(Seal)
"By the Governor:
"WALKER WOOD,
"Secretary of State."
Pittsburgh Radio Dealers
Organize New Association
PITTSBURGH, PA., February 25.—The Retail
Radio Merchants' Association has been organ-
ized here, consisting of retail dealers in radio
sets and accessories in this city and vicinity.
The officers are: President, John H. Phillips,
Northside, Pittsburgh; vice-president, William
C. Wampler, McKeesport; secretary, F. C. Mil-
lard, Mt. Lebanon; treasurer, John Cooper, of
Cooper Brothers, New Kensington, Pa. Messrs.
Phillips, Wampler and Cooper are veteran
music dealers and Victrola men and were active
in the former talking machine association of
Pittsburgh, now disbanded. The next meeting
will be held on Wednesday evening, March 13,
in the Congress of Women's Club rooms, Penn
avenue near Stanwix street. Mr. Phillips desig-
nated C. C. Latus, the well-known trade press
writer and executive secretary of the Piano
Merchants' Association of Pittsburgh, as pub-
licity director of the new association.
Awards Made in Weaver
Sales Contest for 1928
L. B. Norfleet, of Franklin, Va., was the
winner of the annual sales contest of the Weav-
er Piano Co., York, Pa., for 1928, the contest
coming to a close on December 31, and the
awards made according to points represented
by sales. He had 10,625 points. The second
prize went to William D. Piquette, Bridgeport,
Conn., with 7,832 points; Arthur Geist, Sha-
mokin, Pa., third, with 7,623 points, and Jacob
Zaltzman, Chelsea, Mass., fourth, with 7,252
points. Various prizes were also given to many
others who participated in the contest.
Charles M. Stieff, Inc., have leased quarters
on West Pike street, Clarksburg, W. Va., where
a branch store has been opened under the
management of S. R. Thompson.
The Music Trade Review
San Francisco Prepares for Annual
Music Week Piano-Playing Contest
Preliminary Try-outs Will Be Held in Early April—Contestants Will Be Divided Into
Seven Groups—Other Interesting Trade News
C A N FRANCISCO, CAL., February 25.—
Piano students who will take part in the
annual piano-playing contest, now an estab-
lished feature of San Francisco's Music Week,
are being urged to register at headquarters of
the San Francisco Civic Association. The pre-
liminary try-outs for the contest will be held
early in April at the Civic Auditorium and the
final tests, for which there will be important
prizes, will take place during Music Week on
May 8. The contestants will be divided into
seven classes for the purpose of selecting the
winners by ages. They will range from the
first group, composed of children of six and
seven years of age, to the seventh group for
students of nineteen to twenty-one years of age.
All students in each class will play the same
selections, according to Chester W. Rosekrans,
director of Music Week. The obvious fairness
of having each contestant judged by his ability
in the same medium is cited as the reason for
this provision by Henry Gjerdrum, president
of the San Francisco Music Teachers' Associa-
tion and chairman of the committee on music
for the contest.
The annual conference of the band and or-
chestra instrument department managers of
Sherman, Clay & Co.'s California stores was
held here last Sunday, the 17th inst. P. T.
Clay, president of the firm, presided and Shir-
ley Walker, comptroller, was present.
It
was a regular get-together meeting at which
ideas were exchanged and matters of interest
to the trade discussed. The annual meeting of
managers of band and orchestra department
of Sherman, Clay & Co.'s Northwest stores will
be held in Seattle at some time during the
coming month.
Word was received to-day at headquarters of
the Western Piano Corporation that Mark P.
Campbell, president of the Brambach Piano Co.,
arrived yesterday evening in Los Angeles and
will sail for Honolulu (T. H.) on Saturday.
The trip is to be one combining business with
pleasure.
A new way of interesting pupils and teachers
in orchestra installations is being put into oper-
ation by Ray Towle, manager of the band and
orchestra instrument department of the Kearny
street store of Sherman, Clay & Co. Mr. Towle
took an orchestra of forty-two pieces to visit
two out-of-town schools to-day. This included
all the instruments used in a school orchestra,
and each instrument was demonstrated indi-
vidually for the pupils and teachers in the
music department. Orchestral selections were
also played. Mr. Towle was much pleased
with the interest shown by everyone concerned.
The H. C. Hanson Music House, California
Phonograph Co. and Schwabacher-Frey Co.
are devoting page advertising in the local press
to inform the San Francisco public that they
have Jesse Stafford's Brunswick records on
sale at their stores and that he is one of Bruns-
wick's Big Ten. Jesse Stafford and his orches-
tra, direct from working for some of the big
sound picture producers, will open at the Palace
Hotel on February 26, and the advertising em-
phasizes: "Using only Buescher True-Tone
Instruments and Ludwig Drums." They call
themselves "campus-minded" which it appears,
is another way of saying that they have sophis-
tication and pep. The H. C. Hanson Music
House is installing a window of Buescher in-
struments and Ludwig drums and Brunswick
records to tie up with a large picture of the
Jesse Stafford orchestra.
One of the pipe organs of the Aeolian Co.,
the Marie Antoinette, has been installed and
was put into operation this week in the Oak-
land store of Sherman, Clay & Co. Serge Hal-
man, from the Aeolian Co., is spending the
week there, in order to give expert advice and
introduce the new organ to the public and
members of the sales force.
Paul Fink, of the Aeolian Co., is in California
visiting the Sherman, Clay & Co. branches.
February has been a very fine month for
radio, according to D. A. Hennessey, of the
Union Music Co., which got in its new Sparton
radio, causing a big rush. All the customers'
money is not being spent for radio, however,
for Mr. Hennessey sold two Lester small
grands during the past few days and thinks the
outlook is good for continued piano business.
This is San Francisco Products week and
most of the stores are featuring something
manufactured here. Sherman, Clay & Co. are
giving a whole big window to displaying Gal-
leazzi accordions, made in this city.
Music Dealer Bankrupt
PRATT, READ & CO.
15. F.. i'udney, a music dealer of Sidney, Y., filed a petition in bankruptcy with liabilities
of $25,971 and assets of $13,534. There are
said to be about seventy creditors, including
local banks, whose claims are secured.
The piano store of H. L. Thuot, Taunton,
Mass., was badly damaged by fire recently.
Pratt Read
Products
P i a n o Ivory
Piano Keys
Piano Actions
Player Actions
Established in
1806
at Deep River, Conn.
Still There
Standard Service and Highest
Quality
Special Repair Departments
Maintained for Convenience
of Dealers
THE PRATT READ
PLAYER ACTION CO.
Oldest and Best

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