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saves the time of a record g'irl, and
especially the young folks like to look
over the titles and make their selection.
It not only sells new records but the
older records also move out. The rec-
ord department also has a double class-
ical rack, with 50 bins on each side for
12" and 10" records, with 15 each rec-
ord capacity, designed along the same
W.
C.
Gusher stands beside specially
record display counter
built
line. It is 63" long by 35V 2 " wide.
These self-service single record racks,
designed by Mr. Busher, have had sen-
sational acceptance.
The modernistic sales counter is
sloped inward at the bottom and has a
glass top, which allows display of rec-
ord accessories under the glass. Be-
hind the counters are racks for surplus
stock. A three-tier small appliance
table adjoins counter, awaiting this
The slogan of the Emerson Piano
House, "We always have and always
will continue to represent only the
best in appliance and musical instru-
ments," i.e., Baldwin, Chickering &
Sons, Wurlitzer, Gulbransen and Lester
pianos; Capehart, RCA-Victor radios
and phonograph combinations; Ham-
mond Solovox.
Mr. Busher is naturally proud of
his new achievement. "Dealers from
several states," he said, "have already
visited our new warerooms, and anyone
contemplating remodeling is cordially
invited to see this new home. Anyone
can 'paint up' a store but the decorat-
:
ng details have to be carefully planned
before starting the work and the re-
sults will be marvelous."
The personnel of the Emerson Piano
House include besides Mr. Bushor:
Leighton Homebrook, sales manager;
Alan Easterling, sales department;
Wallace S. Brockley, sales department;
Dorothy Myers, office manager; Louise
Ulbrich, cashier; C. C. Poarch, piano
tuning and repair dept.; Don Bring-
ham, piano tuning and repair dept.;
Robei-t Reed, piano tuning and repair
dept.; Mary Lohr, record dept.; Vir-
ginia White, record dept.; William
Coffer, frigidaire service dept.; Thom-
as Ragsdale, range and washer service
dept.; Charles Schnepper, radio service
dept.; Raymond Tackett, radio service
dept.; Harold Montgomery, radio serv-
ice dept.; Evelyn Cooley, stenographer
service dept.; Edward Dulgar, delivery
Self Service record Department of the Emerson Piano House
type of merchandise. Album racks of
5 shelves each are along the entire 37'
east wall, making striking display.
Three double 4 shelve album racks arc
adjoining the self-service single record
racks. Title strips about racks describe
the type of albums below. Victor.
Columbia, Decca and Capitol are sil-
houetted in wooden cut-out letters
above the 8 record listening rooms.
24
service dept.; Vernon Lee, delivery
service dept.; Ozzie Bolden, janitor.
Present Location for 30 Years
The Emerson Piano House moved to
its present quarters at 143-145 N. Main
Street in Decatur, 111., 30 years ago.
At that time it was owned by the
Emerson Piano Co., Boston, Mass., then
a John Wanamaker subsidiary.
Twenty-five years ago Harry I.
Spayd, John McDermott, W. Curtis
Busher and Rufus Peabody purchased
the store. Eight years later John Mc-
Dermott and W. Curtis Busher pur-
chased the interests of Harry I. Spayd
and Rufus Peabody. On May 22, 1945,
John McDermott passed away, and W.
Curtis Busher purchased his interest
and is now the sole owner.
Stromberg-Carlson
Releases Annual Report
In its recent annual report for 1945,
signed by Dr. Ray H. Manson, presi-
dent, and Edwin C. Roworth, corporate
secretary, the Stromberg - Carlson,
Rochester, N. Y., announced a net prof-
it, after tax provisions and transfer-
ring reconversion expenses to reserves,
of $708,926.
The report shows that shipments dur-
ing 1945 reached the third highest
point in the company's history, being
topped only by the billings of the war
years 1943 and 1944. Upon consoli-
dated billings for 1945 of $33,144,603
(which included some $7,000,000 in
termination claims), and upon the
company broadcasting operations, a
total profit of $2,566,533 before income
taxes was earned. Income and excess
profit provisions amounted to $1,877,-
500, while the previously established
reserve for postwar rehabilitation was
drawn on to the extent of $29,929.
In addition to the regular quarterly
dividends on preferred stock, there was
declared a dividend of $.75 on common
stock, equal to that paid in 1944. Also
$168,721, equal to 20% of the 1944
earnings, was used to retire 1,654
shares of preferred stock, leaving
3,124 shares outstanding at December
31. 1945. Based on the experience of
the company with renegotiation pro-
ceedings applicable to the years 1941
to 1944 inclusive, it is not believed that
the Company will be required to re-
fund any of its 1945 earnings under
governlrcnt contracts.
The report indicates that manu-
facture of telephones and switchboards
for civilian usage was resumed quick-
ly after V-J Day but that reconversion
for the production of radio receiving
•sets has taken somewhat longer
The report refers to two new build-
ings now being constructed and states
that the new cabinet shop now near-
ing completion adjacent to the com-
pany's main plant will be particularly
helpful this year in the manufacture
of the company's radio and television
receivers, when the radio industry is
finding it difficult to obtain cabinets.
The company enters the postwar
market production-wise with a complete
line of AM, FM and television re-
ceivers. A
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, APRIL, 1946