Presto

18
January 31, 1925.
P R E S T C
TRADE EVENTS
IN DENVER, COLO.
Prominent Dealer Anticipates Big Business in
Music Goods for 1925 and Gives Improved
Position of the Farmer as Reason for
His Optimism.
NEW TRADE CONDITIONS
Frank D. Darrow Very Interestingly Points Out
Important Events in Successive Periods in
the Music Trade.
By J. B. DILLON.
Looking ahead for 1925 J. H. McKannon, presi-
dent of the McKannon Piano Co., Denver, Colo.,
said last week:
"One reason I foresee a bigger boom in trade this
year is the better price farmers received for their
crops. The real benefits of this will be felt by busi-
ness interests in general during the ensuing year than
was the case last year. I also feel optimistic over the
business outlook for several years to come with the
farmer getting back to normalcy financially, and this
should be a big trade factor from now on.
"Interest in the radio is increasing at such a rapid
rate that the whole city apparently is wrapped up in
it and the demand for apparatus is enormous.
"We have discontinued sending out phonograph
records on approval, which guarantees every cus-
tomer getting fresh and perfect records."
With the rearrangements the company has added a
used piano and piano player department in the base-
ment and a splendid phonograph department on the
mezzanine.
"Bulling" the Piano Market.
No doubt many folks seeing the likeness of a big
bovine topping the newspaper advertisement of a
Denver, Colo., music company would think about
the "Tune the Old Cow Died On," but this guess
would be wrong. However, the McKannon Piano
Company, of Denver, did that very thing, embellish-
ing its advertisement with our big horned friend.
Why? Because it was the stock show week in Den-
ver and Mr. Bull was King. Of course everybody
read the ad because everybody is interested in the
stock show.
The McKannou Piano Company has just finished
redecorating the inside of its store.
George C. Wilson Dies.
George C. Wilson, who was connected with the
Knight-Campbell Music Company, Denver, Colo.,
for twenty years, died recently after a brief illness
with pneumonia. At the time of his death Mr. Wil-
son was president and manager of the credit Finance
Corporation.
Mr. Wilson was born at Stafford, Ohio, July 5,
1868 coming to Denver when he was 39 years of
age. Starting in with the Knight-Campbell Music
Co. as a salesman, he was advanced until at the time
of leaving in 1923 1 he was secretary and a stockholder.
He was a Mason and a member of the Kiwanis Club.
Surviving him are his widow and two children,
George A. and Nina.
The Best Sellers.
The Darrow Music Company, corner 15th and
Stout, Denver, Colo., sold all its stock of player
pianos during the holidays. Radio went like hot
cakes on a cold morning. Looking at the present
and reviewing the past, Frank D. Darrow, president
said this week:
"About forty years ago the organs that had been
popular were being traded in on pianos. Twenty
years ago the pianos were being traded in for player-
pianos, and today playerpianos and phonographs are
btnig exchanged for radios."
The business for 1924 exceeded the previous year
by more than 24 per cent, according to Mr. Darrow.
According to custom, the Darrow Music Company
recently called all its executives, sales managers and
representatives to meet at the Adams Hotel, Denver,
and after a hearty repast, business for the year ended
and that of the new year was discussed. It was de-
cided to do a little more educational advertising in
the interest of natural expression players. All were
sanguine that the good business of 1924 would be
eclipsed in 1925.
Some of those present and responding to toasts
were: R. I. Darrow, assistant manager of the com-
pany; Oscar Frazier, manager of the radio depart-
ment; Miss Hazel Perkins, manager of the phono-
graph department; Robert Lallar, manager of the roll
department, and Francis E. Tate, Perry Odl, H. H.
Stanton and Rutherford Ver Lee, representing out-
side agencies.
Diary of Russell B. Wells.
If Russell B. W T ells, vice-president of the Chas. E.
Wells Music Company, Denver, Colo., was keeping a
diary, like "Little Benny," it would be necessary for
him to inscribe: "Yes, I was Santa Claus at the
Globeville Nursery when the Civitan Club showered
that institution with presents, and now I am elected
president of the Civitan Club for 1925."
The W r ood Live Stock Company, of Spencer, Idaho,
has written the Denver Chamber of Commerce ask-
ing for the names and addresses of jobbers handling
musical instruments.
NEWS NOTES FROM THE
HENRY F. MILLER STORES
Interesting Collection of Items Tell of Activities of
Big Boston House.
Frank A. Butler, salesman of the Henry F. Miller
Store, Boston, for the past twenty years, is visiting
the wholesale trade along the east coast. Mr. Butler
is an enthusiastic salesman and is expected to pro-
duce big results. He will stop in New York for a
few days and then proceed as far south as Baltimore.
Due to the increased business of the Henry F.
Miller Store, it has become necessary to use some of
the office space for warehouse purposes. Several of
the offices in the building next door have been rented
and will be fitted for use this week.
H. O. Oldhan, formerly a salesman with the Starr
Piano Co., of Detroit, Michigan, has joined the Henry
F. Miller Stores Co. as a department manager of the
Detroit store.
William Jones, of the Chicago store of the Henry
F. Miller Stores Co, has joined the sales force of the
Boston Store. He will act as supervisor of solicitors.
He has had considerable experience in this line and is
looking forward with bright hopes for the future.
FORMAL OPENING OF
FLORIDA BRANCH
Interesting Events Commemorate Occupation
of New Orlando, Fla., Quarters of
S. Ernest Philpitt & Son.
Several pleasant events added to the interest of the
formal opening of the Orlano, Fla., branch of S.
Ernest Philpitt & Son. with main store in Miami and
branches in Jacksonville, Tampa, St. Petersburg,
Orlando. W- Palm Beach. Fla., and Washington,
D. C.
This firm located ui Orlando two years ago and
has expanded so that it became necessary for larger
quarters. A ten-year lease has been taken for the
new store at 133 South Orange avenue.
M. D. Swisher, music publisher, of Philadelphia,
and S. Ernest Philpitt motored from Miami and were
in attendance at the opening.
The number of visitors from 3:30 to 9:30 p. m. was
3,165, each visitor casting a vote for the Victrola
which was presented to Mrs. F. W. Russell, holding
the first ticket to be taken from the box.
S. Ernest Philpitt & Son has exclusive state rights
for the following makes of pianos: Steinway, Weber,
Steck, Aeolian, Henry F. Miller, Kurtzmann, and the
Philpitt special which has the company's own treat-
ment for Florida climate. It also has the state rights
for the Estey reed organ, Buescher band instruments,
Martin and Gibson and Vego banjos, ukulele and
guitars.
Those who make up the personnel of the Orlando
store arc Marshall Philpitt, manager, and K. W. Rob-
inson, assistant sianager; Miss J. D. Easterling, Vic-
tor department; E. Blass, Victor department; W. R.
Miller, radio department; B. W. Elliott, band and
string instrument department, and R. W. Case in the
piano department.
The sheet music department will be greatly in-
creased, and, as in the past, the firm welcomes sug-
gestions from all teachers in the city. The firm has
always maintained that "they do not know it all" and
therefore will be glad to accept suggestions and co-
operate with all music teachers in the city.
The new store has six record demonstration booths.
These booths are furnished as de luxe living rooms.
Wires expressing congratulations were received from
the following;
Steinway & Sons, Aeolian Company, Victor Com-
pany, Sam Fox Company, Cleveland Publishing Com-
pany, Henry F. Miller Company, C. Kurtzmann,
Bacon Piano Company, Richmond Music Supply
Company, Vega Company, Oliver Dittson, Charles
H. Dittson, Century Music Company, Carl Fischer,
the B. F. Wood Music Company, Leo Feist Company,
Jack Schwartz, Otto Jordan Hams Company, G.
G. Schermer and others.
MASON & HAMLINS FOR HOTEL.
Four Mason & Hamlin pianos were recently in-
stalled in the New Arlington Hotel at Hot Springs,
one of the most elaborate hostelries in that section of
the country, by the Hollenberg Music Co., Little
Rock, Ark.
SCHULZ CHANGE IN CLEVELAND.
A "STARR" TRAVELER.
The Schulz piano, now located on Huron Road,
will move on March 1st, to 1906 Euclid avenue.
There the new Cleveland home of the popular instru-
ment will be much finer and larger than the present
quarters. The old building is to be torn down to
make room for the new building of the Bell Tele-
phone Cc. D. G. Free, now with the M. Schulz Co.,
will have charge of the new store.
A. M. Sweetland, representing the Starr Piano Co.,
stopped in Chicago to meet a dealer who desired to
visit the great factories at Richmond. Ind. Mr.
Sweetland convoyed the merchant to the Indiana
city and is now "covering" his eastern field.
The Anderson Music Co, San Jose, Cal., has in-
creased its floor space.
New Edition for 1925 Ready—Order Now
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE
It Contains Full Lists with Concise Classification and Description of all
American Pianos, Players and Reproducing Pianos, with Sketches of their
Makers. Edition for 1925 is now ready. Price 50 cents, post paid.
NO PIANO DEALER OR PROSPECT CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT.
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.,
417 S. Dearborn St., CHICAGO
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