Presto

April 4, 1925.
OAKLAND BRANCH WINS
URCHS' SILVER CUP
Second Series of Contests by Sherman, Clay &
Co.'s Branches Decided After Four Year's
Test of Selling Energy.
The Oakland store of Sherman, Clay & Co., San
Francisco, has won the second Urchs' cup put up by
Ernest Urchs, manager of the wholesale and artists'
department of Steinway & Sons, New York, for the
branch store of the San Francisco company having
the largest profit percentage in proportion to the in-
vestment. The cup becomes the property of a store
when won in three consecutive years.
The Urchs' cup contest dates back to 1913 and was
won by the Fresno branch after an exciting contest
for seven years. The cup of which the Oakland
branch has just been declared winner was put up by
Mr. Urchs in 1920, in which year and the following
the Fresno store achieved highest honors. Oakland
came out winner in 1922, 1923 and 1924 when it be-
came entitled to the cup.
SELLING AMERICAN GOODS
TO THE AUSTRALIAN TRADE
The Preference of Our Music Goods Exporters Is to
Sell to Dealer, Not Importing Agent.
The American manufacturer who wishes to sell his
product in Australia or New Zealand must, with few
exceptions, expect to deal directly with the dis-
tributor, says Emmett A. Chapman, in Commerce
Reports. Although some business is carried on
through general exporting houses, the larger part of
American exports to the Australia-New Zealand area
is shipped directly from the manufacturer. American
piano manufacturers sell direct to music dealers.
Most goods from the United States are subject to
a 10 to 15 per cent duty handicap when sold in com-
petition with similar products imported from Great
Britain, and the Australian "importer feels that by
dealing directly with the American manufacturer he
can offset this to some extent. He feels also that the
adjustment of any difficulty which may arise can be
better settled through direct dealing. Whether his
assumptions are correct or not, his wishes must be
catered to if the seller expects to do business with
him.
Our growing trade with Australia is proof enough
that American manufacturers have been and are com-
plying with the wishes of purchasers in this region.
However, some manufacturers who do a considerable
export trade do not care to be bothered with direct
KURTZMANN
Grands—Players
Manufactured by
C. KURTZMANN & CO.
exporting, preferring rather to deal through general
export merchandising houses.
Direct export to the antipodes is relatively simple
as compared with other areas where regulations are
numerous and trying, and where the differences in
language and customs present difficulties. The lan-
guage, of course, offers no problem in Australia and New Trend Is Towards the Grand Piano, the
New Zealand, and the customs are so nearly like
Bruce Co. of Springfield, 111.,
ours that, aside from the preparation of certain ex-
Points Out.
port documents, exporting to these countries is much
the same as selling in the domestic market.
"Styles as well as times are changing. The trend
now is toward the Grand Piano," says the Bruce Co.,
Springfield, 111., which points out that "grands are
priced equally as low as uprights." Continuing the
information in a strong newspaper ad in local papers
the Bruce Co. says:
"Today the Grand Piano is gradually replacing the
This Feature of Music Business Given More Atten- upright in most American homes. This is due to the
fact that a grand piano may now be had at practi-
tion Every Day by British Trade.
The remarkable renaissance in organ building is cally the same price as an upright. Too, the grand
affecting the British music trade as it is the music is now available in sizes that require no more space
trade of the United States. The rise in popularity than an upright. And, since its tone, lasting qualities
of the picture houses in every country has reacted and artistic beauty far surpass any other style instru-
very favorably on organ building. Instruments for ment, it is of course the most desirable. On our floors
providing high-class music for the motion picture right now you will find the newest style grands from
a number of America's best known makers. In fact,
houses are wanted everywhere.
stock was never more complete than at this
Besides the requirements of the new field for the our
time."
org'an builder, the improvements arid inventions of
experts in the organ plants have helped to produce
this favorable result in the organ field. Greater ease
in manipulation has helped to make the motion pic-
ture organs more available for the theaters. At the
big and prominent motion picture theaters in Ameri-
can cities the organ recitals are well advertised and
Leader of Famous Westminster Choir of Dayton, O.,
highly appreciated features of the programs.
Within the last ten years in this country dead organ
Uses Instruments in School and Studio.
industries have been revived, sleepy ones vitalized,
new ones formed and old ones jolted into greater
energy by the spontaneous demand of the organ cus-
tomers. A similar condition is visible abroad. There
are at the present time in London alone over thirty
organ builders, besides many prominent firms in the
provinces, all turning out highly specialized work,
both for the home trade and the dominions.
PREFERENCES OF BUYERS
SUBJECT TO CHANGE
GROWTH OF PIPE ORGAN
BUSINESS WORLD WIDE
JOHN FINLEY WILLIAMSON
BUYS BALDWIN GRANDS
MORRIS PIANO PARLORS
CELEBRATES AN ANNIVERSARY
Firm Established a Year Ago Achieves Success with
Fine Uprights, Grands and Reproducing Pianos.
The Morris Piano Parlors, 316 South 36th street,
Omaha, Nebr., is celebrating the first anniversary of
its formation with congratulations to its own energy
in establishing itself on a firm and profitable basis.
The firm deals exclusively in pianos and reproducing
pianos and is unique in that it is the only piano house
in Omaha doing business in a residential district.
The grand and reproducing piano sales were the
most important features of the business during the
first year and henceforth the purpose of the company
is to centralize efforts on those types and the finer
types of uprights. The home showrooms are ar-
ranged to give the proper surroundings to the in-
struments shown. Mrs. Morris has announced a
series of recitals for Sunday afternoons, which she
believes will be productive of sales.
SELLS ESTEY ORGANS.
Lyon & Healy, Inc., Chicago, announces that Mr.
Damsel, head of the pipe organ department, recently
returned from a few days' trip and reports closing a
deal for a $20,000 Estey residence organ for the beau-
tiful home of Charles T. Fisher in Detroit; also a
$10,000 organ to be built in the St. Paul M. E. Church,
Celina, Ohio.
Factories and General Offices
OPENS NEW BRANCH.
526-536 Niagara Street
BUFFALO, N. Y.
E. H. Hegelman, Derry, Pa., dealer, has opened a
new music store in the Ratz and Gerber Building on
Main street, Portage, Pa. He handles pianos, play-
ers, small goods, band instruments, phonographs and
radio as well as maintaining a repair and tuning
department.
WILLIAMS
PIANOS
The policy of the Williams House is and always
has been to depend upon excellence of product
instead of alluring price. Such a policy does not
attraot bargain hunters. It does, however, win the
hearty approval and support of a very desirable
and substantial patronage.
WILLIAMS
TTILLI^ITI3
11
PRESTO
Make
"
Epworth
ot
Pianos,
p i William,
a n o 8 a f i d Ortfans
HIGH GRADE
Folding Organs
School Organs
Practice Keyboards
DaaluV Attention SoLidted
A- L. WHITE MFG. CO.
215 EngUwood Ave., CHICAGO, ILL.
The
accompanying
cut shows the famous
Westminster Choir of
Dayton, Ohio, under
the able leadership of
John Finley William-
son, now recognized
one of the foremost
American choral con-
ductors. Mr. William-
son has purchased sev-
eral instruments from
the Baldwin factories
for his School of Music
and among them, for
his own studio, a style
K Baldwin Grand, "The
singing tone of which is
unequalled, according to
his enthusiastic com-
ment.
The fame of the
Westminster Choir of
Dayton has spread to
foreign
shores. So
much interest has been
aroused in England
and on the continent
that a European con-
cert tour has been ar-
ranged for 1925, and
thirty-seven
engage-
ments have already
been booked.
The William & Van Horn Music Store, Mt. Ver-
non, Wash., has moved to new quarters in the Pioneer
Building, handling a general line of music goods.
QUALITY
in Name and in Fact
TONE, MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION,
WORKMANSHIP, DESIGN—all In ac-
cord with the broadest experience—are
the elements which give character to
Bush & Lane Products.
BUSH&LANE PIANOS
BUSH & LANE CECILIAN PLAYER PIANOS
take high place, therefore, in any com-
parison of high grade pianos because of
the individuality of character which dis-
tinguishes them in all essentials of merit
and value.
BUSH & LANE PIANO 00.
Holland, Mieh.
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