Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2011

February 7, 1925.
CHASE=HACKLEY PIANO
CO/S BUSINESS GROWS
Under the Factory Management and Vigorous
Sales Policy a Quick Approach to Normal
Conditions Is Noted.
Recent changes in the Chase-Hackley Piano Com-
pany, Muskegon, Mich., are the appointment of H.
F. Adams as sales manager, and J. E. Jennings as
factory manager, and as a result of the changes in
management and policy a noticeable activity in
manufacturing and success in sales are in evidence.
All signs point to a quick approach to the healthy
normal condition of this fine old industry organized
in 1863.
The company has been employing an average of
35 men for some time, and since the change took
place, the working force has been increased to 45
men. In a period of months this force will be in-
creased to 150, a normal force for the plant.
Messrs. Adams and Jennings came to the Chase-
Hackley Piano Co. from . Lyon & Healy, Chicago,
where the former was manager of the wholesale piano
department. Mr. Jennings is rated as one of the best
technical piano men in the country.
Prospects for the future of the business are bright,
according to Mr. Adams, many orders having been
received during the last few weeks. A sales force
of nine experienced men has been added, and under
the direction of Mr. Adams, dealers are being lined
up in every city in the country.
The success of the concern in its attempt to en-
large its business is said to be due mainly to the
fact that the Chase-Hackley product is generally
recognized in the trade as thoroughly reliable. The
Chase Brothers pianos are high grade instruments
whose wide fame as artistic instruments has been
won by years of striving to attain the perfection of
an ideal American piano. The Chase Brothers re-
producing pianos are of the same high character
which has won distinction for all instruments bear-
ing the name. The Chase Brothers Player de Luxe
and Exceltone and Chase Brothers artistic grands
are other products of the Chase-Hackley Piano Co.,
whose merits perpetuate the character by the name
for excellence.
The material going into the pianos and the crafts-
manship of their builders is recognized throughout
the country as being of the highest order.
The company under the new policy will build
four upright models and two grands, including the
small grand. Its production of grands will keep pace
with growing demand for the grand piano. For the
present its production will be about 30 per cent
grand and 70 per cent uprights, which is a slightly
higher proportion of grands than is being built by
the average of piano companies. It has been building
several makes of pianos, but will concentrate on the.
Chase Brothers, the leading model from now on.
WEBSTER PIANOS
Noted for Their Musical Beauty
of Tone and Artistic Style
ATTRACTIVE
PRICES
Executive Offices
138th St. and Walton Ave.
New York
Division W. P. HAINES & CO., Inc.
For a
Bigger and Better
Business
There is nothing to compare
with the complete line of
M. SCHULZ CO.
The Players are RIGHT in
everything t h a t means
money to the dealers and
satisfaction to the public
You will never do anything better
than when you get in touch with
M. SCHULZ CO.
711 Milwaukee Avenue
CHICAGO
OUTHRRN BRANCH: 730 Gandler Bid*, ATLANTA, GA
BOOSTER'S CLUB FORMED
IN JESSE FRENCH FACTORY
Jesse French & Sons Piano Company Employes Plan
Enjoyable Activities at Meeting.
The Jesse French Piano Company, New Castle,
Ind., has organized a Booster Club, composed of the
foremen of the factory and also the Jesse French
Piano Company Athletic Association.
These two organizations, consisting of about sixty
members, held a big pep meeting recently in the piano
factory show room, putting on a program of music,
singing and speaking.
The meeting was opened with music by the orches-
tra, and the singing of the Star-Spangled Banner.
Mr. McKown, assistant superintendent, then gave a
short talk on "Friendship, Knowledge and Wisdom."
He was followed by the traveling salesmen, Mr. Ham
and Mr. Strub, who told of the success of other fac-
Man of Wide Experience in Retail Field Forms New tories which had organizations similar to this one.
Everett Sherry and Fred White, employes of the
Company in Minnesota City.
factory, rendered vocal selections, followed by several
Lee Inman, McAlester., Minn., one of the best selections by a quartet composed of R. Runyan, E.
known men in the musical goods field in that sec- Wilkinson, C. Fuller and G. Slicbk.
tion, has opened a music house at 114 North First
J. C. Markley, president of the factory Athletic
street. He will handle a general line of musical
Association, then introduced C. A. Denny, physical
goods.
director of the Y. M. C. A., who explained the Y. M.
Mr. Inman went with Hayden & Co., in 1910, and C. A. schedule. Mr. Markley appointed the follow-
installed the music department of that firm, remain- ing men to take charge of the different branches of
ing the active manager of it until 1920, when he went sports at the Y. M. C. A.: Volley ball, Kenneth
to Dallas, where he was engaged in special educa- May; indoor baseball, J. Grady. The Athletic Asso-
tional work, embracing the application of the Vic- ciation plans to have playground baseball this spring
trola to school work.
and several other athletic events, which will be held
Later he returned to McAlester and rejoined Hay- for all the factory employes at different times during
den's (now Arnold Arn & Son). Mr. Inman was the coming summer.
accredited by Mr. Hayden with the development of
One of the features of the evening was an old-
the ideals of the House of Hayden in the music field, fashioned dance.
and expects to follow up these ideals in the house he
W. R. McKown was the originator of the Booster
is now locating in McAlester.
Club and Athletic Association.
LEE INMAN OPENS MUSIC
STORE IN McALESTER, MINN.
INTERESTING TRADE FACTS
COMPILED BY DEALER
Robert N. Watkin, of Will A. Watkin Co., Dallas,
Provides Figures for Bulletin.
Factory
Leominster,
Mast.
17
PRESTO
The following enlightening music trade facts con-
tributed by Robert N. Watkin, of Will A. Watkin
Co., Dallas, Tex , were published in the Bulletin of
the Dallas Chamber of Commerce recently:
"The music business in 1924 shows a normal year.
Every year for the past four years has shown a bet-
ter stabilization of prices so that during 1924 there
has been practically no fluctuation in prices. The
business done in 1924 in some departments has been
considerable. Twelve million dollars was spent for
pipe organs by the public, which was the largest sum
that has been spent in this country for pipe organs
since the Armistice was signed. United States Gov-
ernment figures show that the average expenditure
per family in the United States for pianos and player-
pianos has increased from $6.21 in 1918 to $7.54 in
1923. W 7 e look forward to a good year in 1925."
WALTER J. STAHLSCHMIDT
SELLS INTEREST IN BUSINESS
EXPANDS IN AMARILLO, TEX.
To accommodate its increasing business the Pan-
handle Music Company, 511 Polk street, Amarillo,
Tex., has enlarged its store and installed a number
of new features in musical instruments and parts.
One feature to which W. F. Becktold invites Ama-
rilloans to enjoy is the installation of a large radio.
Concerts over this can be heard every evening. A
new shipment of stringed instruments and upright
pianos has been received.
J. R. McCann, Fifth and Ella streets, Beatrice,
Neb., plans to enlarge his stock of musical instru-
ments.
The Best Yet
Graceful lines, rugged construc-
tion, moderately priced. It's the
very best commercial piano from
every standpoint.
Elmer D. Luhring and Others Purchase His Holdings
in Evansville, Ind., Firm.
Walter J. Stahlschmidt has sold the greater part
of his holdings in the Stahlschmidt Piano Company,
Evansville, Ind., which he founded fifteen years ago,
it was announced Saturday.
Mr. Stahlschmidt's interest has been purchased by
Elmer D. Luhring, Henry B. Walker and Harry
Voss, who have been elected president, vice-president
and secretary-treasurer-manager, respectively. He
has not left the firm entirely, though he will discon-
tinue management, it was stated this week.
FEATURES ADAM SCHAAF.
The J. T. Gill piano store on West Locust street,
Fairbury, 111., is now open for business, and Mr. Gill
is doing some very effective advertising for the Adam
Schaaf piano, playerpiano and reproducing piano.
"There have been one hundred and twenty-six of
these high-grade Adam Schaaf instruments sold from
a former piano store of J. T. Gill in the past few
years, which is good evidence of the splendid satis-
faction of having an Adam Schaaf piano in your
home," says the Fairbury Blade.
ACTIVE ILLINOIS FIRM.
Weilers,
successful
pects and
to closing
show best
Quincy, 111., has built up a vigorous and
method of writing piano and player pros-
has equipped itself with the able means
sales—an energetic staff of salesmen who
results.
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
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
18
February 7, 1925.
P R E S T C
P. L HANSON WINS
HOBART M. CABLE PRIZE
Traveler for Illinois and Missouri Field Goes
Over His Quota in Contest of Sales-
men of La Porte Industry.
P. L. Hanson, Danville, 111., who travels in Illinois
and Missouri for the Hobart M. Cable Co., of La
Porte, Ind., has been receiving congratulations from
friends for winning the quota prize given each year
by the Hobart M. Cable Company to the salesman
having the highest score. He went over his quota
nearly 300%, Jack Norris, who travels the Southern
states being a close second.
Mr. Hanson attributes his success mostly to the
piano he sells, and another reason for his success
was his early training in salesmanship by his father,
Col. C. P. Hanson, of Bridgewater, S. D., was one
P. L. HANSON.
of the most successful merchandise auctioneers in
America. As a result the state of South Dakota
appointed Mr. Hanson official state auctioneer for
four years, and during these sales he sold over seven
million dollars' worth of school land for the state.
In 1909 A. N. Anderson, piano man at Centerville,
S. D., induced Mr. Hanson to go into the piano
business. Mr. Anderson is a very successful piano
man who has sold more pianos individually in South
Dakota than any other salesman. He sells pianos
through the summer months and spends his winters
at Long Beach, Cal. One of Mr. Anderson's drastic
laws to his salesmen was that when he loaded up
the pianos and phonographs and started out he must
not return before he had sold his instruments On
one occasion Mr. Hanson loaded his phonographs
and was driving a wild team of western horses when
the team started to run up the street, then onto the
sidewalk, through fences, and finally into the river,
phonographs, Hanson, sled and all. When the crowd
reached the spot they heard music. One of the
phonographs in which a demonstration record had
been placed was playing "Asleep In the Deep."
Another of Mr. Anderson's drastic laws was that
no salesman could return any trade-ins to the store.
One day Mr. Hanson received a good organ as first
payment on a piano, and going from house to house
to sell it found a family that would accept the organ
as a gift but would not buy it. Finally the salesman
asked if they would trade two large roosters for the
organ and the accepted the "bargain" and Mr. Han-
son was busy for an hour running down the roosters.
He succeeded but realizing that it was too late to
drive home, asked permission to stay all night. After
the evening meal Mr. Hanson talked piano and be-
fore bed time sold them a beautiful Hobart M. Cable
and allowed his customer $40.00 for their beautiful
organ they had just traded for. Mr. Hanson had to
find another customer for his organ, but the two
roosters were brought safely home.
In 1910 Mr. Hanson left Centerville and opened
a music store in Bridgewater, S. D., his old home
town, and was very successful in his business until
the war broke out. In 1916 he was elected sheriff of
McCook county and the piano business suffered, as
war work occupied his time.
Mr. Hanson received recognition from the govern-
ment for his fast work in making his quota. At one
time he had to raise $24,000 in McCook county for
the United Welfare Association, and the campaign
was to commence at noon of a certain day. He
wired the state headquarters at 11:30 the same morn-
ing that McCook county had made its quota and
the draft was sent the same day, giving McCook
the honor of being the first county to report.
After the war Mr. Hanson accepted a position with
the Hobart M. Cable Co., as field manager for
North and South Dakota and moved to Sioux Falls,
where in nine months he retailed 100 pianos.
In 1923 he became manager of the Dependable
Music Stores, Inc., at South Bend, Ind., owned by
the Hobart M. Cable Company and was successful,
as the sales jumped from $10,000 per month to $25,000
and $30,000 per month. On January 1, 1924, Mr.
Hanson took over the territory of Illinois and Mis-
souri and moved to Danville, 111., his present home.
He is a booster for the Illinois State Piano Men's
Association and is going to try and have all of his
dealers at the convention in Rockford this summer.
He has been a Presto reader for eighteen years.
Mr. Hanson recently returned from a trip through
Iowa and Minnesota and the Dakotas, and reports
conditions improving in the agricultural sections.
J. W. CARTER MUSIC HOUSE
CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY
Founding of the Company Forty-eight Years Ago
Recalled in Pleasant Manner.
On Thursday of last week the J. W. Carter Music
Co., 819 Main street, Houston, Tex., celebrated the
forty-eighth anniversary of its founding by J. W.
Carter, Sr., now in his seventy-fifth year, but still
active in the business. Two sons are associated with
the father in the prosperous firm which had a begin-
ning at Beaumont street and Broadway, Brenhan,
Tex., where a branch is now operated by the com-
pany.
The J. W. Carter Music Co. lays claim to the pat-
ronage of appreciative musical people on the high
quality of the goods sold. The Steinway piano is the
leader of a fine representative line of pianos. The
Steinway business of the house has been constantly
growing since representation was required ten years.
The sales for 1924 were the biggest in the history of
the company, and the management is looking for
even better results this year.
STRAUBE PIANO CO.
REPORTS BIG SALES
All Records for January Business Smashed by
Sales and Shipments of Month
Just Closed.
The Straube Piano Company, Hammond, Ind., has
broken all records for January shipments in its busi-
ness for the 31 days ending last Saturday, and
achieved results that made it one of the best months
in the history of the house. The month started off
with a rush, and in spite of the fact that January is
always considered more or less a trial from the
standpoint of business in the industry at large, car-
ried through to a record finish.
Last summer the Straube Company added two new
models to its line, a four foot player and a companion
straight, and started business this year with a line
complete in every respect. The January demand was
for instruments of every type and is conclusive proof
of the general popularity of Straube products.
In addition to its unprecedented domestic business,
the Straube Company is beginning to enjoy an en-
viable foreign trade. C. H. J. Thorby, vice-president,
stated to Presto that hundreds of inquiries have come
from foreign countries during the last year, and that
Straube instruments are being enthusiastically re-
ceived across the water. According to Mr. Thorby,
the Straube player is meeting with special favor at
the hands of foreign buyers. The Straube valve, due
to its special patented features, is immune to friction
and corrosion, and is ideal for use in climates that
tend to corrode the valve mechanism of players.
Numerous prominent piano houses have recently
been added to the Straube list and every indication
is for a banner Straube year, according to Mr.
Thorby. The unusual domestic demand with the pros-
pect for large foreign shipments is taxing the capac-
ity of the present Straube plant, and it is expected
that a large addition will be made this year. The
present Straube factory, with a capacity of six thous-
and instruments, is considered one of the most mod-
ern in the country, and the contemplated addition
would put Straube in the front rank from the stand-
point of facilities.
The Straube plant is ideally located and the large
grounds provide ample space for expansion.
HURT GERMAN ORGAN INDUSTRY.
Ludvvig Sauer, in the Deutsche Instrumentenbau
Zeitung, deplores the fact that the German organ-
building industry is not able even to approach the
pre-1914 level of workmanship. The increased cost
of raw material and the enormous rise in workmen's
wages make new organs beyond the reach of either
church or concert enterprise. This is also largely due
to the indifference of the masses to religious or
aesthetic influences. Those who used to buy organs,
now in many cases buy motor cars.
THE LONDON TRADE SCHOOL.
The Music Trades School of London recently
issued a report which detailed the activities of a year.
Figures showed 160 apprentices were in attendance,
66 fall-time students; 260 evening students. Alto-
gether 120,000 student-hours were made. In the Lon-
don training center for disabled ex-service men over
200 men have been trained and absorbed by the trade.
The centers at Glasgow, Newcastle, Belfast and Bris-
tol have also been supervised by the school.
W. M. Baynes, engaged in the music business at
Metropolis, 111., has moved to new quarters.
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
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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