January 3, 1925.
PRESTO
RETAIL TRADE STIMULATED
a result of the growing demand and rising prices for
iron and steel, copper, tin, zinc, lumber and other
basic materials. This gives assurance of steady em-
ployment for labor and that collective distribution
of all kinds of commodities will be maintained.
"'It is significant that while many buyers continue
to pursue a hand-to-mouth policy in their operations,
an increasing disposition to anticipate requirements is
becoming plainly perceptible. Evidence of this is
seen in the fact that the great movement of mer-
chandise, which usually falls off at this period, con-
tinues in almost record volume, bank clearings remain
exceptionally large and visiting merchants in the
principal wholesale markets are reported to be much
more numerous than customary at this period."
Improvement Experienced in Rural Communities,
Where Farmers Prosper, as Well as in Industrial
Centers Where Workers Thrive.
NEW YORK HAS NEW STORE
ON FORTY=SECOND STREET
While it would he an exaggeration to say that the
piano business in 1924 was all that might have been
wished for, it is true that, with most other lines of
trade, it was at least satisfactory as compared with
a number of years of recent past. There have been
vastly better years, and there have been decidedly
worse years.
And, as always in a progressive business, depend-
ing largely, in its retail aspects, upon the personal
energies of the dealers, the piano business has been
"spotted." in some sections sales followed fast;
in other sales were slow and far between. Obvi-
ously much of the difference in results was due to the
dealers themselves or their salesmen. There is al-
ways •business for the men who are active and tire-
less in their endeavor to find prospects and to close
the sales. In some sections it has been necessary to
work for every sale. And so it-will always be. In
other sections the customers seemed almost as ready
to buy as the dealers were to sell.
Lindsey Bros. Lease Part of Large Building Nearing
Completion at Sixth Avenue Corner.
BUSINESS REPORTS
A PROSPEROUS YEAR
Leaders in Many Lines of Business Forecast
Broadening of Activities Will Be Shown
Early in This New
Year.
On the Whole Satisfactory.
Among the wholesalers it was the same. Natur-
ally so. In any locality where sales at retail are easy,
A that section also the work of the wholesaler is cor-
/esp^ndingly easy. As to the future the forecast
seem^ to be good.
On die A'nuJe, leaders in the world of trade and
finance expressed satisfaction regarding results for
1924, as the end of the year approached, according to
Dun's Review. Even m those lines that have not fully
participated in the improvement recently witnessed,
confidence is expressed that .. broadening out of
activity will be witnessed early in the new year,
when annual inventories have been completed.
Holiday Trade Good.
More seasonal weather in many sections, the pay-
ment of large sums in the way of bonuses by bank-
ing and trading concerns and the release by banks ot
Christmas savings funds have greatly stimulated
retail trade during the past two weeks, and holiday
sales at practically every important center have ex-
ceeded previous records.
In most wholesale departments, due largely to the
fact that traveling men are home for the holidays and
business houses are devoting attention to prepara-
tions for inventories, the customary quieting down
of this period is noticed, but the confident feeling and
optimism with which the future is regarded present
quite a marked contrast to the situation that prevailed
a year ago.
Many of the important industries have benefited as
Max Landay, president of Landay Eros., Inc ,
music chain stores, recently signed a lease for 12,000
square feet in the nine-story Hart Building nearing
completion at the southwest corner of Sixth avenue
and Forty-second street, New York, for a long term
of years at an aggregate rental of $2,000,000.
Resides store space- the firm will occupy the entire
second floor and the mezzanine. It will be known as
"Landay Hall." It will be the tenth store conducted
by Landay Brothers, and the fourth operated by them
in New York City within a radius of three-quarters
of a mile, the other three being on Forty-second
street, Fifth avenue and Thirty-eighth street, and in
the Marbridge Building.
LATEST PIANO ESTABLISHMENT
IN HAMILTON, OHIO
Wagner Piano Store Is Equipped in Style of the Big
City Warerooms.
F. W. Wagner, of the Wagner Piano Co., at Ham-
ilton, Ohio, is a veteran of many years in the piano
trade. The new Wagner store was opened to the
public December 1, as has already been told in Presto.
It is three doors south of the old establishment at
110-112 South Second street, where the business was
conducted for eight years.
Mr. Wagner sold his first piano in Butler County
34 years ago. For seventeen years he managed some
of.the large piano houses in Cincinnati.
The president of the F. W. Wagner Co., Kenneth
Curtis, is manager of the Chicago division of the
Kohler Industries. In 1908, Mr. Wagner located in
Hamilton as manager of the Aeolian branch. Three
.rears were spent as manager of the Krebs, and then
he engaged in business for himself. The new warc-
ro(/ms of the Wagner piano store would do credit to
a city the size of Cincinnati or Cleveland.
A FORCEFUL REPRESENTATIVE.
E. W. Furbush, of the Chicago offices of the Had-
dorff Piano Co., has closed a great year in the inter-
ests of the Rockford industry. Mr. Furbush has
placed the Haddorft and Clarendon lines in many of
the foremost warerooms throughout the middle west,
and his work has been influential the entire country
over. It is recognized in the trade that there is no
more thoroughly informed piano man than the Had-
dorff sales manager, and his word is accepted for full
face value among dealers who value their own stand-
ing as merchants.
GIVES PROMPT SERVICE
IN TONK BENCHES
Interesting Message in "Tonk Topics" Says Tonk-
benches Are Always Ready for Shipment.
Preceding the holiday rush the Tonk Mfg. Co.,
1912 Lewis street, Chicago, informed its dealers
through its house organ. "Tonk Topics," that the
K-D 88, the practical knock-down Tonkbench, is al-
ways ready and never fails in last minute ordering.
The message reads:
"It is invariably the case that some people are too
conservative. They hold off buying their stock until
the demand is upon them. Often they must see their
own prospective sales go to the competitor, because
they cannot make prompt deliveries. Tonk Manufac-
turing Co. always anticipates this condition and tries
to be forehanded by keeping ahead of the demand.
We have worked hard. Our sales are enormous, even
for this time of year, yet we arc ready for you. To
take care of the 11th hour rush we have stacked up
a lot of 'K-D' 88 Tonkbenches. They do not take
up so much room and they are the "berries' for emer-
gency business. So if you get up against it telegraph
your last minute orders for 'K-D' 88, the practical
knock-down Tonkbench that is always ready and
never fails to please."
MRS. RHODA LEEDY DIES.
Mrs. Rhoda V. Lcedy, age sixty-eight, widow of
the founder of the large drum industry at Indian-
apolis, died December 23, her forty-fifth wedding an-
niversary. She had been a widow 7 forty-three years
and had made her home with her husband's brother,
U. G. Leedy.
STARR IMPROVEMENTS.
The Starr piano factory at Richmond, Ind., will
replace the dry kiln damaged several months ago by
fire. The retail store of the Starr company on Main
street at Tenth, Richmond, will also improve by
making an opening in the east wall and installing a
marquise.
SELLS VALUABLE PROPERTY.
C. \ \ . Lindsay, Ltd., Montreal, Can., recently
sold the valuable downtown business block at 113
and 115 Sparks street, Ottawa, for a price that is
said to be in excess of $100,000. The premises, with
three floors and basement, were sold to Thorburn &
Abbott, book dealers, who occupy the main floor.
The Best Yet
Graceful lines, rugged construc-
tion, moderately priced. It's the
very best commercial piano from
every standpoint.
BRADBURY PIANO IN WASHINGTON.
GRAND PIANO
58 InchM L§h*
The best expooent of the present Baby Grand Age.
I|a tone — us tines — its restricted space requirement and
attractive price— .
MAKE IT THE PREMIER AGENCY
Get full details of this valuable veiling franchise NOW.
Premier Grand Piano Corporation
Largest Institution in the World Building Grand
Pianos Exclusively
WALTER C HEPPERLA
P
JUSTUS HATTEMER
510-532 West /3rd Street
NEW YORK
The old house of Hugo Worch, at Washington.
D. C, has secured the representation of the Brad-
bury piano. It will be recalled that the Bradbury
has always been a favorite at the nation's capital. It
was long referred to as the "Presidential Piano," and
held conspicuous place in the parlors of the White
House. The line of the Hugo Worch store is a fine
one, in which the Bradbury fits perfectly.
OREGON FIRM INCORPORATES.
Articles of incorporation were filed at the office of
the state corporation commission last week by the
Tallman Piano Store, of Salem, Oregon. The incor-
porators are J. W. Tallman, J. J. Tallman and E. A.
Forsch. The capital stock is $25,000, which includes
$10,000 in preferred and $15,000 in common stock.
AN OLD ONE REVISED.
Tin Peddler (who has met with an accident)—
What will I do now? Effery wheel off my car is
broke.
Summer Boarder (consolingly)—Leave the tins in
the flivver just as it is and perhaps you can sell it to
one of the boarding house keepers for a piano.
Style 32—4 ft. 4 in.
WESER
Pianos and Players
Sell Readily—Stay Sold
Send to-day for catalogue, prices and
details of our liberal financing plan
Weser Bros., Inc.
520 to 528 W. 43rd St., New York
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