10
November 15, 1924.
PRESTO
MUSIC DEALERS
VERY OPTIMISTIC
Scattered Facts of a Cheerful Kind Gathered
in the Trade Considered Significant of
the Desirable Return of Long Awaited
and Welcome Prosperity.
ENCOURAGING INSTANCES
Men with Ability to Keenly Gauge Music Trade
Possibilities Show Faith in Future by Extending
Their Businesses.
The cheering facts of improved business come from
all points and the merchants show their belief in the
future by preparations for a bigger and better trade
than that enjoyed heretofore.
From everywhere
come the stories of little businesses being made
lugger, of big ones being further enlarged and of
brand new ones hopefully taking advantage of the
opportunities the owners, feel assured are presented
to them. -
But the regular music stores are not alone in the
cheerful anticipations for the future of the music
business. The keen and observant managers of big
department stores see the possibilities of big music
goods sales and prepare accordingly. L. Bamberger
& Co., Newark, N. J , which has built up a fine music
business under the management of William J. Con-
noly, has about doubled the space allotted to music
goods and radio and considerably increased the sales
force.
Another Instance.
Hahne & Co., another big Newark department
store, has listened to the advice of W. O. Black, the
music department manager, and has increased the
floor space for music goods. The constantly increas-
ing sales of music goods, especially pianos and play-
ers, for the past few years had impressed the store
management, but the well-founded bright anticipation
of Manager Black was the strong influence that
brought about the expansion of the music goods
section.
When L. Ginsberg & Sons opened a new six-story
addition to its big department store in Des Moines,
la., last week it was seen that the entire first floor
of the big structure had been given over to music
goods. Pianos, players, reproducing pianos, phono-
graphs, record and music rolls are carried and the
most modern means for showing and demonstrating
the goods have been provided.
Music Firms Alert.
Old established music houses and ambitious newer
ones have shown their faith in the approach of a sea-
son of big sales and have prepared accordingly with
bigger stocks and more commodious warerooms in
which to show the goods. In Denver the Wells Music
Co. is showing an enlarged line of pianos and play-
ers and reproducing pianos in a remodeled and re-
decorated store.
In Boise, Idaho, the Sampson Music Co. has ac-
quired the ability to accurately judge the music re-
quirements of the state. But in addition to gauging
the musical wan'.s of the people the keen managers
of the big Boise house keep keen tab on the buying
moods of the Idaho folk. So that when the Samp-
son Music Co. spreads out with branches it is taken
as a sign that "there's something doing" throughout
the s'ate. The company recently opened a branch
at Weiser without waiting until after election, and
when another branch was opened last week at
Nampa, a lively Idaho railroad town, piano travelers
and other observant ones agreed that there was busi-
ness ahead in Idaho.
A Traveler's Report.
Very convincing evidence of the improved condition
of sales with piano dealers is gathered from travelers
who have recently returned from their territories. A
very cheering report is made by Otto M. Heinzman,
Eastern representative for the M. Schulz Co., Chicago,
who recently returned from a five weeks' trip in which
he visited New England, New York State and Penn-
sylvania, where he found the dealers preparing for a
busy fall. Mr. Heinzmann says that dealers all over his
territory, who are handling the Schulz pianos and
player-pianos, showed their belief in a busy season's
business by placing substantial reorders with him during
this recent trip.
From All Points.
A. H. Fitch, the music merchant of Arkansas City,
Kans., has no doubts about the future conditions of
the music business and his optimism takes the con-
crete form of a plan for a new structure to house his
piano and general music goods business. Mr. Fitch
has allotted the contracts for his new three-story
brick building to cost $50,000. He will move to the
new building when it is completed and expand all de-
partments of his music business.
The formal opening last week of the Landon-
G!eckner Music Co., Williamsport, Pa., was a signifi-
cant mark of the improved activity of the music
business in that portion of Pennsylvania. Both
Ernest E. Landon and Byron L, Gleckner are experi-
enced men who are qualified to properly gauge the
opportunities for a new firm in that city. In the fine
store at 427 Market street they have shown their
faith in their own ability as salesmen and the ability
as well as the willingness of the public to buy their
pianos and musical merchandise.
PIANO TO CUSTOMER.
If the prospect cannot be.brought to see the piano,
hear its melodious tones and admire its beauties of
case, the next best, or just as good, proceeding is to
take the piano where the prospect can do the admir-
ing. And the easiest and pleasantest way to effect
that is to use a One-Man Piano Loader, made by the
Bowen Piano Loader Co., Winston-Salem, N. C.
The simplicity and effectiveness of the Bow r en device
is acknowledged by a great number of pleased deal-
ers. No prohibitive price prevents its adoption by
dealers of even the smallest business. The opening
of communications with the makers of the Bowen
Loaders always resulted in a sale and one more
pleased user is added io the list of Bowen enthusiasts.
EXPANDS IN ALBERTA.
Adequate space for the proper showing of its lines
of Hardman, C. C. Kurtzmann, Hallet & Davis and
Milton pianos by the Carder Piano Co., Atlanta, Ga.,
has been secured in the new store at 61 North Pryor
street, where the company has about four times the
floor space that it had at the old quarters at 103
North PVyor street. The new store has been com-
pletely remodeled, decorated and furnished and every
accessory for making buying pleasant for customers
has been provided. The object of Manager Carder
is to make it the most popular music store in Atlanta.
BUSY WEST VIRGINIA FIRM.
' The Mauley Piano Co., Williamson, \\ r . Va., of
which W. T. Mauley is the proprietor, moved recently
to new quarters in the M. Z. White Building in the
central business district, which was remodeled to
meet the special requirements of the company. The
business was founded about fifteen years ago. In
addition to pianos, Victor and Brunswick phono-
graphs and records and a full line of small instru-
ments are carried.
FEATURES GOOD LINE.
The line of band instruments made by C. G. Conn,
Ltd., Elkhart, Ind., is ably featured in advertising
and window displays by the Consolidated Music Co.,
Salt Lake City, Utah. The band instrument window
shows of the company are considered most effective
means to stimulating interest in the goods that leads
to numerous sales. Manager Dean R. Daynes of the
musical merchandise department devises the displays.
SOME INCIDENTS IN
THE WEEK'S WORK
How the Problem of Catching the Elusive
Piano Prospect Is Being Worked Out
to a Gladsome Finish by
Live Ones.
Maher Bros., Jackson, Mich., has erected a two-
story building on Otsego avenue, in that city.
George D. Noel was recently appointed manager of
the Willimantic, Conn., store of the United Music
Co., of Boston. Mr. Noel has been assistant man-
ager of the New London branch for the past four
months, where he was connected with the sales force
for several years.
The Sadowski Music House, Detroit, Mich., has
moved to Chene street and Milwaukee avenue, where
the advantages of more wareroom space are being
taken advantage of.
The McCormick Music Co., at 187 Broadway, Port-
land, Ore., has added a radio department with Her-
man Miller in charge. Mr. McCormick has installed
the Federal and the Atwater Kent lines.
A Good Preparation.
B. B. Todd, Inc., music house at 1306 Arch street.
Philadelphia, recently completed alterations and ad-
ditions to its store which cost about $2,500.
Bryan's Department Store, Main street and Cen-
tral avenue, Staunton, Va., has added a music depart-
ment.
The Brown Music Co., 285 South Thomas street,
Pomona, Cal., was recently sold to the Fidelity Re-
serve Corp., of Los Angeles. The music store was
established in 1907 and is considered one of the old-
est concerns in Pomona Valley.
Jerome W. Ackerly, 42 Ocean venue, Patchogue.
L. I., N. Y,. has built a new store on East Main
street for his piano and phonograph business.
Albert E. Smith has sold his interests in Hook
Bros., Madison, Wis., and has retired from the com-
pany. Mr. Smith has been engaged in the music
business since 1906, when he opened a store on Car-
roll street.
The Bush & Lane Music House, 1519-23 Third
avenue, Seattle, Wash., has extensive alterations to
accommodate its growing business. A new front was
installed.
Open9 in Iowa.
The Nelson Music House was opened recently in
Algona, Iowa. Pianos, radio sets, phonographs, and
sheet music are handled. O. Nelson, who is the
owner of the store, in the Klamp Building, has had
more than 15 years' experience in the music business.
The Brook Mays Piano Co., 1005 Elm street,
Dallas, Tex., has awarded the contract for the erec-
tion of a one-story addition to its store.
The Gordon Furniture Co., with a music depart-
ment, has succeeded Harold I. Gordon at 3827-29
Cottage Grove Avenue, Chicago.
William F. Schmttz recently opened a music store
in spacious quarters in the McDermott Block, Fond
du Lac, W 7 is., and finds the location at 24 South Main
street most desirable.
The music and fnrniture business of Cofling & Rob-
inson, South Perry Street, Attica, Ind., has been
moved to the McDermond Building, which was pur-
chased by the house recently.
Thomas Goggan & Bros.. Woolworth Building,
San Antonio, Tex., has announced plans for a build-
ing on Broadway Street.
GEN. DAWES DIRECTS ORCHESTRA.
The Oriole Orchestra of the Edgewater Beach
Hotel, Chicago, has H new claim to distinction. At
a dinner held there recently in honor of Charles G.
Dawes, Vice-President-elect, the noted American is
said to have flourished the baton usually handled by
Dan Russo or Ted Florito. In honor of the occasion
the orchestra played "Charlie, My Boy."
RADIO EXPORTS DROP.
STRICH & ZEIDLER, Inc.
GRAND, UPRIGHT and PLAYER
HOMER PIANOS
740-742 East 136th Street
NEW YORK
While it is acknowledged that the manufacture and
sale of radio apparatus this summer far exceeded that
of any previous similar period, it is a curious fact
that exports of radio apparatus during the summer
months this year were around $67,000 less than those
of last year.
DE FOREST SHARES AT 22.
The shares of the De Forest Radio Company made
their debut on the New York curb market Tuesday
and trading in the issue was quite active. The opening
price was 23, the low was 22 and the close 22^4, on
a turnover of 5,000 shares. This is the stock of which
75,000 shares were offered for public subscription at
$21 per share last week by Jesse L. Livermore.
Becker Bros.
Manufacturer* of
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
'
Factory and Wareroomi
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
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