Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
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Musical Merchandise Section of The Music Trade Review
"Our policy has always been to tie-up with
the best, most conscientious teachers to be
found; those who have a marked degree of
salesmanship in their make-up. They, in turn,
as soon as the student is prepared to take his
place in the world of better music, begin sell-
ing him the idea of securing the best instru-
ment that is made; and here is where we come
in. For I believe that the line of musical
goods handled by us is the best in their field,
so the prospect naturally looks us up, when
he wants the best.' 1
We went over into Pennsylvania for our last
interview with successful Gibson dealers, and
talked to E. W. Frankhouser, of Wittich's,
"The Musical Shop" in Reading. Mr. Frank-
houser's ripe experience in the small goods
held, together with his remarkably human in-
sight into the needs and wants of the musically
inclined, entitles him to a place of honor in
summing up the harmonious working together
of Gibson factory officials and dealers.
Mr. Frankhouser said, "We have been quite
successful with our class work, which forms
one of the most important factors of our mer-
chandising plan. We have at the present time
eighty-five pupils on our list, coming once each
week to our store, taking class or private in-
struction.
We started these classes last
November, and I am only too glad to say that
none of our firm has ever been sorry to have
taken this step. We are selling many more in-
struments and accessories than ever before,
and are pushing the Gibson instruments to the
front at all times, because we find that Gibson's
pre-sale campaigns for the prospect's dollars
make it possible to move their merchandise
much faster than other makes.
"We have the services of a very able fretted
instrument instructor, Leslie Price of this city,
who is highly efficient on all stringed instru-
ments. But best of all, Mr. Price takes a
personal interest in each pupil, and creates an
incentive among the beginners to keep up their
lessons.
"We have found, after considerable investi-
gation and experimentation, that our best bet
is in teacher-pupil tie-up—a tie-up that is made
possible, as well as profitable, through the
barrage of literature which is sent out from the
Gibson factory. We are now preparing a re-
cital for the three score pupils on our books,
and the plan, although not yet executed,
already has begun to bear fruit in increased
sales and music interest.
"The students who are to take part in the
recital are enthusiastic over the outcome, and
there is little doubt that they will put the best
there is in them when they are called upon to
play their parts. And by giving a bang-up
performance these pupils will create consider-
able envy among other young people, and this
inevitably will lead to more students, and more
students mean more instrument sales.
"We work on a plan of renting the new pupil
a used instrument for a period of six weeks
for $5. At the end of this period the pupil
will have taken six lessons, which is about the
number required for the student to make up
his mind whether he has any desire to own his
own instrument. If the pupil decides to pur-
chase an instrument at the expiration of the
rental period, we sell him one, and credit him
with the $5 which he paid in rent.
"We have specially constructed studios right
in the store, and find that with all our host of
pupils coming in once a week the increase in
sales is very noticeable."
Brenner Estate, $283,888
Growth in Demand for
Jones-Koeder Instruments
The remarkable growth in their output has
marked the removal of the brass band instru-
ment plant now known as the Jones-Koeder
Co. from Naperville to Pekin, 111. T . M.
Koeder, who is the manufacturing head of the
business and personally designs all the in-
struments and makes tools for their manufac-
ture, also selects the material and in short is
responsible for the product.
He started business alone about ten years
ago in Naperville, 111., at that time making cor-
nets, trumpets and trombones, and did a large
repair business in that line. In 1928 he moved
to Pekin, 111., and in conjunction with Mr.
Jones incorporated the business under the title
of the Jones-Koeder Co., continuing the use of
the name Koeder Majestic for all their brass
band instruments. They now make clarinets,
trumpets, trombones, alto horns, mellophones,
and French horns. Mr. Koeder is now work-
ing on a baritone horn, which is expected to
be ready for the market within a few weeks.
President Jones,, talking to a representative
of the Music Trade Review, said, "Business has
been growing rapidly, and we anticipate big
things for the Koeder Majestic line of brass
band instruments, with this very efficient build-
er and designer, Mr. Koeder, at the head of
our plant and in sole charge of manufacturing."
Chromatic Rolmonica Rolls
The latest releases for the chromatic Rol-
monica announced during the month are as
follows:
Sing, You Sinners.
I'm in the Market for You.
Telling It to the Daisies.
I Never Dreamt.
If 1 Had a Girl Like You.
Give Yourself a Pat on the Back.
Under a Texas Moon.
Just Like in a Story Book.
You're the Sweetest Girl This Side of Heaven.
Sing a Little Theme Song.
Sweepin' the Clouds Away.
Why All the Gloom, Mister ?
E v e r y once i n a w h i l e y o u ' l l m e e t o n e of t h e s e
gloomy b i r d s — ( y e s , y o u ' l l even r u n across those
. . ...
?•£
fellows right here in the Music business!). And
when you ask what's the trouble, he says it's
business. He tells you that it's gone plumb to
hell. According to him, this nation of ours with
its measly population of 125,000,000 enthusiastic
spenders is all through and washed up. No
more business—nothing ahead of us but ruin,
chaos and real Prohibition.
We listen sympathetically. And then we re-
member the retailer who sold $1,865.00 worth
of La Tosca Piano Accordions in one week, this
June (yeah, we said THIS June) and we laugh
like—well, we laugh heartily.
// you, by any chance, feel a fit of those late
June blues coming on, why, drop us a line.
JVe've got a prescription to cheer you up—no
kidding.
The Fred. Gretsch Mfg. Co.
Musical Instrument Makers Since 1883
William A. Brenner, a member of the firm of
Gretsch & Brenner, prominent musical im-
porters of New York, who died on July 18,
1929, left a net estate of $283,888, according to
a report filed in the Surrogate's Court. Mr.
Brenner left no will and the estate will be
divided between two brothers and a sister.
General Offices and Factory
60 Broadway
Brooklyn, N. Y.
1
Same-Day
Service From
Either Point
Mid-Western Branch
226 S. Wabash Ave.
Chicago, 111.