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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, AUGUST, 1W1
FRADE!
ADIES and gentlemen take And Here Is
your hats off to "Bill" Mennie Another
the human dynamo who kept
Seldom we hear of two success stories in one breath but
the convention wheels turning until that is practically the case this time. Another man who in
every one attending the great 40th his day had sold pianos running into millions of dollars
conclave of the National Association found himself, like many others out on a limb after the
of Music Merchants in New York depression. Three years ago he took on a territory for a
was ready to stand up and cheer. manufacturer with six customers. In the meantime he has
We also take our hat off to the gen- opened up 54 new accounts most of which never sold pianos
eral and sub-committees who engi- before, and now disposes of 25', of the manufacturer's
neered the arrangements but they we output. Not so bad, old timer, and our hat is off to you
know will agree that while they were also.
enjoying their beer and skittles
"Bill" was still working. We have Is There a
been searching for a word which Player Piano Demand?
Carletoti C/iuce
ENTIONED to us several times during the conven-
might describe the atmosphere sur-
tion was the fact that there is a demand for a foot
rounding this the greatest of all conventions ever held by the
power player piano What have you dealers to say
music industry but all we can say is that it was a stupendous
success artistically, socially, merchandisely, and financially about this? We will be glad to hear from you.
—in spite of these powder keg times.
L
M
Adversity That Is
Paying Dividends
OUR years ago a man who had been identified with the
piano business came in to see us seeking a job. He had
been associated with a manufacturing company in a
promotional capacity which paid him little. He had done
considerably better in other days and considered he could do
so again. Jobs were noe plentiful then so he was just at his
wits ends when he decided, and as it has turned out, wisely,
that he would endeavor to enter the retail piano business.
He had little money but finally persuaded a manufacturer
to consign him pianos. He chose a city in which pianos had
been sold to a moderate extent, rented a small store, paid
the rent and the freight on the first shipment and had
enough left to live on for one week.
That he has found his niche in the world and has proved
"it can be done" is manifested in what he told us during
the convention. In his second year he sold $34,000 worth
of pianos and in the first half of this year has already done a
business of $70,000 with six months to go. Business with
manufacturers is now done on a cash basis, the local bank
carries the majority of his paper, he employs four people
and is now looking for a capable asistant who is a go getter
like himself with whom he is willing to make an interesting
proposition. When he went into the city in which he has
been located now for three years he didn't know a soul
there. But in that time he has been active in all kinds of
civic projects, has been a director of the local Board of
Trade and has promoted so many benefits that his name is a
by word in the community. Furthermore when he adver-
tises he only advertises the name of his firm and "pianos"
and doesn't sell a new piano for less than $275. His pen-
chant for unusual promotion has won for him widespread
commendation and his window displays has won national
awards. Furthermore, although enthusiastic about his suc-
cess, he attributes it to the fact that he had to do it—or
starve. Our hat is off to him.
F
MUSIC IS ESSENTIAL
WUJ11
ON OPPOSITE PAGE
TOP ROW—F. E. Fitzgerald, Looser & Co., and A. Dalrymple; Mr. and Mrs. Wil-
liam C. Heaton; Winter & Co., window display around which are grouped J. L. Seltzer,
C. E. Jackson, Henry R. Heller, Paul Fink* Herman Roemcr and W. S. Hauschild;
Miss Jessie Robertson does her best to make liugene Schmitt Smile—Edward H. Droop
oi Washington and Robert N. Watkin, Dallas, Texas.
SFCOND ROW—Henry G. Behning and Julius A. White, president of Kohler &
Campbell Inc.,—Knabc window display with miniature pianos—Wurlit/er group in-
cluding Clark Gross, President R. C. Rolfing, William Zaiser, designer, vice president,
Cyril Farney, vice president, Hugh Stewart, Thomas R. Young, Salisbury, Md., and
Phillip Kellerman, Honolulu, Hi.
THIRD ROW— Janssen group with Emile Carp, Webster Janssen, A. F. Wilson,
Harry Meyers, and Mr. and Mrs. W. O. SchaefTer, Cleveland, O.—Harry J. Sohmer,
Jr., Harry J. Sohmer, president of Sohmer & Co., and J. C. Van Straten, vice-president;
—A Straube group including vice-president C. H. Bartholomee, P. E. Mason, Mr. and
Mrs. A. G. Weber, Nashville, Tenn., L. H. Reniccke, A. R. Borroff, Marie Borroff, and
J. N. England:—Chauncey D. Bond of Weaver Piano Co. tagged and sealed.
FOURTH ROW—An attentive group listens to Rober Goldsand play the Baldwin
Grand in the Baldwin exhibit:—A L. Ziesler, vice-presdent and Arthur Hahn, Presi-
dent of the Kraukauer Bros, standing beside one of the new Empress models:—F. O.
Tangemann and W. C. Heaton point to the new Flstey Louis XV model:—A. O.
Brungardt, Estey Organ Co., seated at the new Estey Spinet model.
FIFTH ROW—G. A. McDermott and Joe Reid caught in conversation at the Gul-
bransen exhibit:—William Perlman, president of the National Piano Corp.:—M. J.
Connelly and Alfred Walter of the Griffith Piano Co., Perth Amboy branch.
SIXTH ROW—John H. Parnham smiles into the camera:—W. B. Brinkerhoff and
G. Laurance Miller, president of the Lester Piano Mfg. Co.:—L. P. Bull, vice-president
of the Story & Clark Piano Co. seated beside the Lord Carlton Spinet:—A. A. Mahan,
salesmanager and Clarence S. Pond, president of Ivers & Pond Piano Co., Boston,
Mass.:— M. B. Colwin, Joseph I lagemeyer, Harold Hagemeyer and Eugene Schmitt of
Hardman Peck & Co.
SEVENTH ROW—Hclmuth Kranich seated and standing are Helmuth Kranich,
Jr., Miss E. M. Martin and Louis F. Ruppell of Kranich & Bach, New York:—In
the Starr group are David Eisen, li. ). Pringle, Harry Gennet, Harry Gennctt, Jr., C.
R. Hunt, C. L. Dawson, M. Jaeuper, Oscar Tauer and Adolph Stauber:—H. D. Hewitt,
J. V. Sill, vice-president, D. W. Kimball, treasurer, Mr. and Mrs. Rolla Burke, Ben
this W. \X'. Kimball Co. group; Justus Hatteiner and Henry Behning of Kohler &
( impboll, Inc.