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Weeks & Dickinson Observe Music
Week by Opening New Building
and office manager, besides a porter
and piano technician.
"I am at present making some
changes in my self-selection depart-
Weeks & Dickinson, Inc., Bingham-
ment. I am constantly trying to im-
ton, N. Y., observed National Music
prove the appearance of the store.
Week by opening their new five-story
Newspaper and Radio Advertising
building
comprising
approximately
"After an audit of my books for last
25,000 square feet of floor space. Over
year, I found that my advertising had
3500 people attended the opening and
been less than 2 per cent of my gross
over fifty floral pieces were received
and decided to set up a budget of about
about 4 per cent for the year 1945.
One paper set up the cut with the
store name built into the musical note,
and our other daily paper had an ar-
chitect's drawing of the front of my
store for my signature. I run these
ads in each Sunday's paper. On a few
occasions I have had original etchings
made to put my idea over a little bet-
ter. The extra cost is negligible. In
addition to these Sunday ads, I run
a daily 1-inch display ad on the amuse-
ment page which is much cheaper on
a monthly rate.
"I have recently started a Monday
through Friday 5-minute radio show
which I call 'The Record of the Day.'
I feature one new popular record each
day with a short commercial before
and after. I give free publicity to lo-
cal musical affairs (worthy of it)
such as concerts by the Jackson Sym-
phony Orchestra, a rather new project
in our city that is quite successful
though amateur.
"This group in itself would make a
good story—the way the local music
merchant can work with and help pro-
mote such activities. Having been a
former professional musician, I now
play with the symphony. Of course,
this participation would not be possi-
ble in large cities where such groups
are professional; I find advantages in
being a merchant in a small city."
Clarifies Ceiling Price on Benches
Front of the new Weeks «& Dlt-kii
from many friends locally and in the
industry which were displayed very
attractively on each of the five doors.
The evening program began with
Mayor Walker B. Lounsberry, of the
City of Binghamton, cutting the ribbon
at 7:00 o'clock. There was an orches-
tra playing on the first floor, a Ham-
mond organ playing continuously on
the second floor, and also a demonstra-
tion of the new General Electric Wire
Recorder by a factory engineer on the
same floor.
The third floor, which is devoted to
studios, was open for inspection with
each teacher in attendance at his own
studio.
On the fourth floor a capacity audi-
ence was entertained in the auditorium
with a sample of the "Talent For To-
morrow" program which is broadcasted
every Saturday. This program was
In a recent letter to Phillip Wyman,
vice President of the Baldwin Piano
Co., Cincinnati, O., Daniel L. Jacobs,
head of the Radio and Miscellaneous
The most common items carried by the
piano retailer and listed in Maximum
Unit of the Durable Goods Price
Price Regulation No. 580 are, in addi-
Branch of the OPA stated:
tion to piano benches, record and sheet-
"Confirming your recent conversation
music cabinets. Of course, many types
with Mr. Small of this Office and your
of furniture and apparel are listed in
letter dated April 24, piano retailers,
the regulation, and all are to be added
whose maximum prices for piano bench-
es have been price controlled by the together in determining what the deal-
er's total sales are in the listed com-
General Maximum Price Regulation (in
modities.
distinction to Revised Order 2525 under
Maximum Price Regulation No. 188 "We have enclosed a copy of Maxi-
mum Price Regulation No. 580 with this
which applies to the pianos themselves)
letter, but will make no attempt to ex-
may now come under the coverage of
Maximum Price Regulation No. 580, re- plain herein its pricing provisions or
requirements. Piano dealers are advised
tail Ceilying Prices for Certain Apparel
to obtain copies from their local OPA
and House Furnishings.
offices, and to study the terms carefully.
"If the retailer sells $2500 or more per
"Note that the above discussion ap-
annum of the items listed in Maximum
plies only to piano benches. Pianos are
Price Regulation No. 580, he must price
all to be price-tagged with labels fur-
his piano benches under this regula-
nished by the manufacturers, at maxi-
tion; if he sells less than this amount,
mum prices which do not include
he may legally choose to remain under
benches."
the General Maximum Price Regulation.
high-lighted by two accordion bands, a
piano and violin selection, a string trio,
and a clarinet and saxaphone trio.
The first floor is devoted to band in-
struments, sheet music and record de-
partments, and the general office with
two private offices in the rear.
NOII biiiltliiiK.
ItiiiAflismitoii.
\ . Y.
The two ground floor windows are
spacious while the second floor has a
display window across the entire front.
In back of this will be the main mer-
chandising floor for pianos, radios and
appliances with a separate room for a
Hammond organ and Steinway salon.
The third floor is devoted entirely to
studios. There are twenty of them,
each one soundproof, and each one hav-
ing an outside window. The auditor-
ium is on the fourth floor with a nice
stage at one end.
The fifth floor is for piano, radio and
band instrument repair, using the bal-
ance for some storage facilities.
There is automatic elevator which
goes to each floor, with an outside
loading door. This permits the receiv-
ing of freight at truck level height.
There are approximately 5000 square
feet of floor space on each floor.
W. C. Mayfarth, Secretary
of Music Foundation
William C. Mayfarth, who has been
handling matters pertaining to the
production of musical instruments in
the Musical Instruments and Sporting
*Goods Section, Photographic and Per-
sonal Goods Branch of WPB has re-
signed. Beginning July 15, Mr. May-
farth became executive secretary of
the Music Foundation, New York City.
Mr. Mayfarth went to WPB in April
1942. Previously, he had been engaged
in free-lance writing and research in
the field of music. For three years
prior to that, he was assistant national
director of the Federal Music Project,
Work
Projects
Administration, at
headquarters in Washington, D. C.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, JULY, 1945