Presto

PRESTO
20
March 1, 1924.
SMALL GOODS AND SUPPLIES
GENERALIZING THE LINE
Advantages of Stocking a Complete Line of
Musical Goods and Accessories Are
Pointed Out.
By J. C. LYLE.
The music store devoted to one line exclusively is
considered by many the survival of an effort to main-
tain an ideal. But they allow the ideal is admirable
but impossible so long as all the dealers do not agree
to maintain it. There are still exclusive piano stores
and exclusive phonograph stores, but owing to the
changed and continually changing character of the
music business and new features of competition, the
number of these grows less at the passing of every
year.
When the phonograph was proved a merchantable
commodity the then exclusive piano stores began to
lose their exclusiveness and in time the phonographs
and records became associated with the pianos, play-
ers and music rolls in most of the stores. Soon came
the necessity for further expanding of the lines to
include musical merchandise. The general music
stores became remarkable in their very numbers.
Many dealers who lost their exclusiveness and ex-
panded their lines to fulfill the purposes of the gen-
eral music store admit it was a matter of necessity
with them. While the ideal of the exclusive store
was admirable, as a business proposition it was un-
sound, they claim. Music dealers took their cue from
other trades. The exclusive clothier added haber-
dashery and followed with shoes and hats. They
found it was not sound policy to make a customer di-
vide his purchasing, buying each separate article in a
different store.
In the music business the dealer who wants to
build up a reputation for excellence in one line has
to deal with competitors who have no such stand-
ards to preserve and who offer the allurements of
staple lines in every branch rather than a rich as-
sortment in one line. But even in the matter of
financing, the exclusive store is at a disadvantage
compared with the general store. When a music
merchant has several lines it is not absolutely neces-
seary that each yield a profit continuously. Every
variety of music goods has its busy season and a
period of the year when business is slow. Some de-
partments are dull in summer while some keep up
an even turnover all the year 'round. Then of course
there is the advantage of the smaller average over-
head in the general store.
The general store attracts every member of the
musical family. Where the family playerpiano has
been purchased is the likely place to purchase a violin
or a saxophone or sheet music. Every customer
making a purchase in one department is a possible
customer at some time or other for every department.
But the success of dealers in musical merchandise is
a suggestion to the exclusive piano or talking ma-
chine or sheet music dealer to generalize. In every
community it is the dealer who stocks a complete line
of music goods and accessories who does the biggest
business and reaps the greatest profits.
Manufacturers of
PIANO ACTIONS
ONE GRADE ONLY
The Wessell, Nickel & Gross action is a
guarantee of the grade of the instrument
in which it is found.
FACTORIES:
lVJFW Y f i P K "
45th St.,
*.,HHhAw. &W46th. l ^ I - « W
I VyJTVlV
Talking Machine Men, Inc., Adopts Radio as Adjunct
of Phonograph Business and Changes Title.
At a meeting in the Cafe Boulevard, New York,
last week Talking Machine Men, Inc., changed the
name of the organization of the trade for New York,
Connecticut and New Jersey to Talking Machine and
Radio Men's Association, and officially accepted radio
as a part of the talking machine dealer's business.
The by-laws were amended in conformity with the
plans.
An important feature of the meeting was the ad-
dress of Maurice Richmond of the Richmond Music
Supply Co., who ably set forth the opportunities for
the radio and talking machine men in the sheet music
business. He said it was a natural merchandising
proposition for them and in reciting the history of
sheet music proved that line offered greater oppor-
tunities today than ever before.
An enlightening talk on radio was given by H. H.
BAND LAW HELPS TRADE.
The operation of the Iowa Band Law has stimulat- Roemer, general sales manager of the De Forest
ed the business of the musical merchandise dealers in Radio Telegraph and Telephone Co. Radio was also
a satisfactory way. The State tax law permits Iowa the subject of Randall M. Keater, foreign sales man-
towns under 40,000 population to maintain band or- ager of the same company.
ganizations for the benefit of the public at the ex-
pense of the taxpayer. It is said that 98 per cent of
NEW GENNETT RECORDS.
the towns have accepted the band aid plan. To Major
Miss Tiny Franklin, for the Starr Piano Co., Rich-
George W. Landers, Clarinda, belongs the credit for mond, Ind., has recorded for Gennett records six
the creation of the movement which brought about songs published by the Geo. W. Thomas Music Co.,
the passage of the band law. Maj. Landers is leader 428 Bowen avenue, Chicago. The songs sung by
of a real "dirt" farmers' band of fifty pieces.
Miss Franklin, which are big sellers in sheet music
form, are: "I've Got a Man of My Own," "Houston
Blues," "Up Country Blues," "Shorty George Blues,"
TONK GOODS GOING WELL.
"I've Found a Sweetheart," and "Sweet Baby Doll."
A. H. Grim, general traveling salesman for the
Tonk Manufacturing Company, Chicago, who made
FONOGRAF FAILURE.
an extensive trip in January for that house, expects
to start in about a week for another selling trip, this
Grand Phonograph Co., 1809 Third avenue, and
time through the East. He says that mail orders have 1714 Second avenue, New York, has failed. It was
been coming in steadily during the spell that he has put into bankruptcy by Carl Kronberger for $45;
been in his office on the fifth floor of the Republic Robert Goldman, $875; Michael Harrison, $658. Lia-
Building, Chicago. And the factory in the northwest- bilities, about $30,000; assets, about $7,500. The mem-
ern part of Chicago is humming.
bers of the firm are Joseph Siegel and Albert Sokol.
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
HIGHEST GRADE
ASSOCIATION CHANGES NAME
OFFICE:
457 w .
Street
45th s
Comstock, Cheney & Co.
TRUCKS
That Are Labor Savers
Your equipment is not complete without our TRUCKS for handling
Pianos and Talking Machines.
Sill Trucks and End Trucks
for Pianos
With the LEA TALKING MACHINE TRUCK, one man can
handle the Edison Chippendale, Victor No. 17, Cheney No. 6 Queen
Anne, and other large makes, from show-room to any apartment
floor.
Atk for Circular
Ivory Cutters and Manufacturers
Piano Keys, Actions and Hammers
MADE ONLY BY
SELF-LIFTING PIANO TRUCK CO.
FINDLAY, OHIO
IVORY AND COMPOSITION-COVERED ORGAN KEYS
Th« only Company Furnishing the Keys, Actions, Hammers and Brackets Complete
Saw Mills'
Telegraph and R. R. Station: Essex, Conn.
Office and Factories: Ivory ton, Conn.
THE: O S. KELLY CO.
Manufacturers of High Gr&d&
PIANO 1 PLATE :s
-
SPRINGFIELD
OHIO
DOLGEl/ILLE.N.Y J U L I U O DI1CUIVTTUI.UI Ob O U H , II1U.
Manufacturers of
Fu
] ton Chain
and
Tupper Lake
Piano Backs, Boards* Bridges, Bars,
Traplevers and Mouldings
SOLE AGENTS FOR RUDOLF GIESE WIRE
WESTERN REPRESENTATIVE:
CENTRAL STEEL & WIRE CO.,
119-127 N. Peoria Street,
J. BRECKWOLDT. Pres.
Chicago, III.
W. A. BRECKWOLDT. Sec. & Treas.
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