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Musical Merchandise Section oi The Music Trade Review
Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co. Opens Large
Western Branch in Chicago
' T p H E Fred Gretsch Mfg. Co. has opened a
•*" large Western branch at 226 South Wabash
avenue, Chicago, and will carry at that point a
complete line of jobbers' musical merchandise as
well as banjos, drums and other instruments
made by the Gretsch Co. in its Brooklyn, N. Y.,
plant.
The company has taken a long lease on the
entire sixth floor in the new building at 226
South Wabash avenue. Vice-President Philip
Nash, of the Fred Gretsch Co., who came to
Chicago late in January, will make his home in
Chicago for some months, and devote his entire
attention to fitting up the new quarters with a
complete line of goods. He is also creating a
Chicago organization and the new stockrooms,
sample rooms, and salesrooms will be com-
pleted and stocked by February IS.
The new space is about 4,500 square feet, well
lighted, and with freight as well as passenger
elevator service. Fred J. Base, who for a num-
ber of years has capably represented the Fred
Gretsch Co. in the mid-West, will continue to
serve in that capacity and at the present is mak-
ing an extensive road trip through the central
States, whose dealers will find this Gretsch
branch a valuable service because it will permit
their orders being shipped promptly and at a
fraction of the freight cost hitherto prevailing.
Talking with a representative of The Review,
Vice-President Nash said: "The Fred Gretsch
Co. has for some time contemplated the estab-
lishment of a real branch in Chicago to serve
our trade in the central and the Mississippi Val-
ley States. We intend to make it a real branch
and carry an ample stock not only of all the
Fred Gretsch instruments, but a complete job-
bing line, and this will permit our dealers'
orders to be filled not only more quickly but
more economically. Our trade in this field has
been growing steadily each year, and we have
long been aware of the importance of Chicago
as a distribution center and its facilities for
reaching a very large number of enterprising
and successful dealers. We have, therefore, de-
cided to open up here. Mr. Base will be assisted
by an organization of trained musical merchan-
dise people with whom we can assure the trade
of prompt and accurate service."
Paul Moennig Home From
Lengthy European Trip
Paul Moennig, president of the Tonk Bros.
Co., returned to his Chicago headquarters on
February 20, after a two months' visit to Eu-
rope. He was pleased with business here, as he
said, "We are easily meeting the figures for the
same period of last year, which were very good,
and we think this is due to our fine dealer fol-
lowing won through selling only to an estab-
lished dealer and protecting him in every way.
"General conditions in Germany are far from
satisfactory, not alone in the music industry but
in all industries in general. When I arrived in
Germany the latter part of December official
figures showed something like 1,800,000 men
out of work and when I left about the first of
February this figure had already amounted
pretty close to three million.
Factories in most all industries w-ere cut-
ting down their forces to fifty per cent and in
many instances factories closed altogether. Al-
though the eight-hour day is practically
abolished and the German workman has to put
in longer hours it seems the factories are not
STRINGS
A PAGE FROM THE CATALOG
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able to compete with other countries, probably
due to high prices they have to pay for raw ma-
terial, and, above all, the enormous taxes.
"Conditions in Czecho-Slovakia are much bet-
ter, especially in the musical instrument fac-
tories, which are very busy—but from conversa-
tion I had with well-informed men it seems
that the poor business conditions of Germany
have some influence on Czecho-Slovakia.
"Conditions in France seem to be fair, but
there, as well as in other European countries,
they are all complaining about heavy taxes and
after one listens to their tale of woe we first
realize that we have no reason to complain
about taxes we have to pay in the United
States. The taxes we are called upon to pay
are a mere nothing against what the European
business men and workmen have to pay.
"I am glad to state that I was fortunate in
lining up some new things, especially in violins
and bows which will be ready for the trade
shortly, and this we think will make the Tonk
Bros. Co. line one of the most complete ever
offered."
Forms Girls' Sax Band
The Forbes Music Shoppe, Cheyenne, Wyo.,
has organized a girls' saxophone band under the
direction of Karl Weihe, who recently became
connected with the company to look after band
and concert work. A few years ago the Forbes
Shoppe organized a boys' band which has
proven most successful.
David Wexler to Marry
David Wexler, for the past nine years a sales-
man for Targ & Dinner Music Co., announces
his forthcoming marriage to Miss Jeanette Par-
mesak. The event will be celebrated March 18
at the Edgewater Beach Hotel and undoubtedly
a large number of his trade friends will attend.
They
Sell
Because "They Play"
— these
VIOLIN G STRINGS
•
No. 200—Silver Plated Copper wire wound on
fine quality gut. Light Green Silk ends.
No. 205—Sterling Silver wire wound on special
quality gut. Very strong and durable. Pol-
ished. Purple silk ends.
No. 210—Pure Silver wire wound on very fine
quality gut. Polished. Blue silk ends. A very
fine tone quality combined with strength and
durability.
No. 215—Pure Silver wire wound on very best
quality gut. Polished. Old Gold Silk ends.
A string that is appreciated by the great mu-
sicians.
ALUMINUM WOUND VIOLIN D STRINGS
No. 250—Aluminum wire wound on special
quality gut. Polished. Green silk ends.
No. 255—French Aluminum wire wound on very
best quality gut. Polished. Red silk ends. A
very fine string.
Reeds
ELIMINATE the waste of rejected "picked
over" reeds.We guarantee a greater percent-
age of good playables. Samples free to any
dealer or reed player on request.
Alexandres are hand selected and graded in
3 strengths, {i} soft, (2} medium, {3} strong
— for Saxophone or Clarinet. They'll make
you friends with all reed players. Write for
samples, prices and literature, today.
SELL THEM by
the 12 's or 100'$.
Packed in sealed
boxes. Wonderful
gift suggestion.
V. C. SQUIER COMPANY
BATTLE CREEK, MICH.
Order Squier-Trued Strings From Your Jobber
378 Selmer Building, Elkhart, Indiana
20 (In Canada: 10 Shuter St., Toronto)