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Krakauer Bros. Buy Haddorff
Now Making 2 Models in N.Y.
Maurice Bretzfelder, president of
Krakauer Bros., New York, has just
announced the purchase of the inven-
tory, patents, designs, patterns and the
name of the Haddorff Piano Co., for-
merly a division of C. G. Conn. Ltd.
Local conditions in Rockford, 111.,
where the Haddorff has been manufac-
tured, became such as to make it im-
practical to continue the manufacture
of pianos in this city. Accordingly the
Haddorff factory there had to close up
a short time ago. Manufacture is being
immediately resumed in New York
City where skilled piano craftsmen are
readily available.
Under its new directorship the Had-
dorff Piano will continue to be made
in the same design and the same high-
standard for which it has been noted.
In commenting on this new venture,
Mr. Bretzfelder said: "It is common
knowledge that different piano mak-
ers, producing fine instruments, all
make their respective pianos with dif-
ferent types of tone quality. The dis-
tinctive and well liked tone of the
Haddorff, stemming from its balanced
high tension scale, will be retained as
will be the distinctive styling and the
Vertichord construction untilizing the
patented double sounding boards. In
this way the Haddorff and the Kra-
kauer pianos will each find their own
niche within the industry and will be
non-competitive with each other."
Manufacture has already been ini-
tiated on the Haddorff style 0 Verti-
chord as well as a style B Console.
Both of these will be available in a
variety of finishes. Other styles will
follow.
The new executive offices of the Had-
dorff Piano Co., division of Krakauer
Bros., will be at 25 West 57th Street,
New York, 19, and sales will be under
the direct supervision of the well known
Vice-President of Krakauer Bros., Al
S. Zeisler.
Minshall Esley Dealers (an
Win Trip To Europe
A new dealer incentive plan designed
to boost electronic organ sales in 1954.
has been announced by Burton Min-
shall, president of the Minshall Organ
Co. of Brattleboro, Vt.
The sales incentive program makes
it possible for more than 300 Minshall
dealers from coast-to-coast to partici-
pate in the "European Holiday" sweep-
stakes—the first contest of this type
ever attempted in the industry.
The contest will begin immediately
and will continue through the end of
December. 1954 when the winners will
be selected by a board of judges. The
prizes will iclude all-expense two week
trips to Europe for three dealers with
one companion each.
Winners will be selected on the basis
of total sales during the contest period.
Each dealer is eligible to compete in
one of three derbies in the sweepstakes,
depending on his store's volume and
the population of his marketing area.
In other words Mr. Minshall said, "no
matter how large or small a dealer
may be, he has a chance to win one
of the free trips to Europe. All of the
participants will be competing against
dealers of similar size and volume.
Anyone in the dealer's organization
may win—the dealer, or the dealer's
manager, buyer, salesman, etc.
A point system has been devised to
fairly evaluate all sales and to help
ihe dealer keep a month-lo-month rec-
ord of his progress in the sweepstakes.
Mr. Minshall said that a complete
and detailed itinerary has been planned
by the world-famous Trans-Globe Trav-
el Agency for the winning candidates
while they are in Europe. Included
among their stops will be many histor-
ic spots in London, Paris. Home, Nice,
Monte Carlo, etc.
Each dealer in the sweepstakes will
receive a portfolio made up to simu-
late a large passport in which he will
be able to chart his own progress in
the contest.
Baldwin Executives and Representatives Hold Round Table Discussions
Seated, left to right 1st row: Bruce Smith, J. A. Gisriel, G. A. Pelling; Lucien Wulsin, President; Philip Wyman, Vice President; James T.
Sokola, A. A. D'Amico, J. R. Armstrong; second row: Harold S. Morse, R. E. Fanning, J. A. Volz, George Stanley, J. B. Hemphill,
Jack Bertholdt, Ralph Louis, Paul Mooter; Standing: John Ortiz, James M. E. Mixter, F. W. Bertholdt, Robert C. Cosgrove, Leroy Mooney,
O. J. Olinger, George McCarvey; A. J. Schoenberger, Vice President; Richard A. Fluke, Irwin Stumborg; Walter Reneker, Manuel Fernan-
dez, John Busch, Robert Lapp, Dex Kline, Thomas Wulsin, Orland E. Armstrong, Randall Kine, James M. Gisriel; Eugene Wulsin, Vice
President; Thomas Goben, Geo. W. Lawrence, Olney Wilson, G. W. Fahrer.
The Annual Sales Meetings of The
Baldwin Piano Co. were held recently
at the company's general offices in
Cincinnati. The company's executives.
retail store and sales division man-
agers, and wholesale field representa-
50
tives—participated in round table dis-
cussions of important phases of the
business. General plans were made for
the marketing of Baldwin pianos and
organs in 1954.
While those attending the meeting
were in general agreement that the
coming year would be one of more
competitive selling, there was a similar
agreement that Baldwin's position in
the industry, and Baldwin's over-all
sales would continue to grow.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, MARCH, 1954