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Murray Collins & Co., Find Unique
Advertising Pays Off in Piano Sales
pianos, they obtained franchises for the
Poole, Mehlin and Ivers & Pond pianos.
Shortly thereafter, they moved from
their original location in a factory neigh-
borhood to their present one at 19375
Livernois Avenue. They showed unusual
foresight in choosing a location in the
rapidly-expanding northwest section of
Detroit; it was there that they changed
the name of the firm to Murray-Collins
& Co., and added the Sohmer and Kran-
ich & Bach franchises to their stock.
More recently, they became the ex-
clusive Detroit outlets for the Krakauer
and Bremen lines, and currently they
keep about thirty-five or more pianos
in stock. Not the least of their briskly-
moving merchandise is a good number
of hne, reconditioned Steinway grands,
for private homes and for entertainment
spots in and around Detroit.
During the first year of their business
venture, they sold a little over two
Murray Collins & Co., an exclusive
piano dealership celebrated its first
anniversary on January 2, 1953. Alton
V. Murray and Robert K. Collins, are
the sole owners of the company and
both are actively engaged in selling pi-
anos.
Prior to this enterprise, Mr. Murray
ALTON V. MURRAY AND ROBERT
K. COLLINS
and Mr. Collins worked at Grinnell's
in Detroit for more than three years.
Mr. Collins was exclusively in the pi-
ano department, and Mr. Murray sold
both pianos and Hammond organs. Mr.
Collins is a former member of the De-
troit Symphony Orchestra and is on
the staff of two Detroit radio stations.
Mr. Murray, already a veteran in the
piano industry, is, at the age of twenty-
six, probably one of the youngest piano
dealers in the country.
On January 2, 1952, shortly after
leaving Grinnell's, they bought an exist-
ing piano dealership known as the Na-
tional Piano Sales and Discount Co.
Starting with five new and nine used
EXTERIOR
22
AND
This Is A Sohmer
the
piano with the prea-
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MURRAY-COLLINS & CO.
19375 LIVERNOIS a t OUTER DRIVE
for a good piano salesman in addition
to their regular staff.
Both Murray and Collins enjoy using
new and unusual merchandising me-
thods. They like to employ fresh, pro-
vocative advertising copy—even in their
classified ads, which are often of an
institutional nature. In spite of the in-
roads made into the American home
by radio. TV, and the phonograph,
Murray-Collins & Co. know that the
piano will always be a symbol of gra-
cious living and the beginning of every
musical career. Both partners have be-
come acquainted with scores of piano
instructors, musicians, tuners and in-
terior decorators, all of whom feel as
welcome in the Murray-Collins show-
rooms as in their own homes.
As a means of inspiring confidence
and good will in customers, Murray-
Collins & Co. gives a dealer's guaran-
tee (in addition to the manufacturer's)
with every purchase of a new piano.
Also, a company decal is affixed to each
piano as it comes in.
Recently, the company arranged with
HAVE YOU A TWO-CAR FAMILY
A>I> NO K R W K H A BACH?
Don't blush. Perhaps you have, but consider that for centuries th«
piano has been a symbol of gracious living, of good t»«e—and
the cornerstone of trery musical career. As a thing of beauty, your
Kranieh &- Bach piano has no equal. As a maker of music, it will
bring your family together in a very sptcinl way. Gather your
friends 'round it for an evening of close harmony—bring in the
teen gang for a jam session—add to your piano the budding talents
in the family playing their first notes on the violin or sax, or play
ynur piano alone for an hour of unforgetable relaxation. And most
of all—Cherish these moments, for truly the music yen mmkt your-
self is the noblest musi: of all.
UN 3-4032
TWO SAMPLES OF MURRAY-COLLINS ADVERTISEMENTS.
hundred pianos,
known enough
success during
fact, they state,
INTERIOR
VIEW
and have become well-
to expect far greater
the coming year. In
they are now looking
OF THE
MURRAY-COLLINS
a neighborhood high school to feature
students' art work on the showroom
walls. This, it feels, will accomplish
three things: it will beautify the show-
CO. WAREHOUSES
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 1953