Mav 9. 1925.
17
PRESTO
agement to 28, in 23 cities and 19 states. In making
this business Mr. Philpitt had interests under his
supervision from the Great Lakes to the Gulf of
Mexico, and from the Rocky Mountains to the
coast of Maine.
While with the American Music Stores he made
Formal Opening of New Headquarters in his first visit to Miami, in 1912, and thereafter annual
business visits until 1916, when he thought that the
Miami, Fla., Recalls Interesting Incidents
time had arrived for him to embark in business for
in History of Progressive Music Dealer.
himself. His bankers advised him not to embark in
An important event in musical art and in the music business in Florida, predicting failure, and urging
trade was the recent opening of the latest store— that no musical business had succeeded in any tropi-
and state headquarters—of S. Ernest Philpitt & Son, cal climate.
Mr. Philpitt's first venture was in Jacksonville,
on Lincoln road at Jefferson avenue, Miami Beach,
where he opened a store in Cohen's Department Store
Fla. "It marks the climax of what is nothing short
of a Floridian business romance and emphasizes the selling pianos, phonographs and sheet music. Thirty
virtue of foresight and determination. It furnishes days later he shipped three pianos to Miami and
opened a branch store. That was on May 1, 1916.
the peg upon which to hang the remarkable story of
One year later he opened a branch at Tampa, and
how one man located in business in Florida against
the strong advice of his bankers—and in eight years later still one at St. Petersburg and one at Orlando,
built up a state-wide enterprise now doing business and he plans to open several more.
Realizing that something had to be done to assist
at the rate of $750,000 a year," is the comment of the
in creating a musical atmosphere in which he could
Miami Tribune.
The incidents in the history of the successful live and do business, in 1919 Mr. Philpitt brought to
Florida music merchant are naturally interesting to Miami the first of the internationally known artists
the trade. Mr. Philpitt was born in Washington. whose concerts have marked his greatest endeavors
D. C. in 1874, and has been "growing younger ever there.
Miami's pioneer musical establishment is now the
since he came to Florida." as he humorously puts it.
He entered the music business at the age of 13 years, exclusive state representative for Steinway, Steinway-
Dno-Art, Francis Bacon, Norris & Hyde, Briggs,
as a result of family adversities, and followed through
Kurtzman, Ricca & Son, Miessner, Premier and
for 28 years in the employ of others, before entering
Pbilpitt pianos; Aeolian Reproducing pipe organs, of
into business for himself in Florida in 1916. During
the 28 years in which he worked for others, he was which instruments to the value of $315,000 are being
manager of the sheet music department, and later built and installed in Florida this year; the Estey
manager and buyer, for E. P. Droop & Sons Com- reed organ; Buescher band instruments; Vega, Mar-
pany, of Washington, D. C. (and now owns the tin and Maurer banjos, guitars and ukuleles.
Mr. Philpitt is a member of six chambers of com-
sheet music and instrumental section of that com-
pany's business in Washington). Later he entered merce in Florida, four or five credit associations and
the service of M. D. Swisher, of the Philadelphia boards of trade; he is a Miami Shriner, a Miami Ro-
music publishers and had charge of Swisher's pub- tarian, a member of the City Club of Washington and
lishing, jobbing and retail stores with headquarters of the City Club of Miami. He is an honorary life
in Philadelphia. Later he was with John Wana- member of the Miami Music Club. His firm organ-
maker. as buyer of musical instruments and talking ized and conducted the Orlando Symphony Orches-
tra. Mr. Philpitt has served two terms as president
machines for Wanamaker's Philadelphia house.
Then Mr. Philpitt became general manager of the of the National Association of Sheet Music Dealers.
American Music Stores of New York, which operated and has been a director of the executive committee
music stores and departments throughout the coun- throughout the existence of that organization; he is
try. When he assumed his position with that con- still one of three on the executive board. He is also
cern, it had 14 stores, and increased under his man- an original director of the National Association of
Concert Managers, which takes in Georgia, Alabama
and Florida.
Associated with S. Ernest Philpitt is his son,
Marshall S. Philpitt. now managing the Orlando
store. Marshall Philpitt has been very much identi-
fied with the upbuilding of the business which now
spans the state. He managed the Miami store up to
last spring, when he departed to assume charge of
the store at Orlando.
ANOTHER TRIUMPH FOR
S. ERNEST PHILPITT
^ \ J ^ Ondurinsr
GERMAN MUSIC TRADE
HARD HIT BY RADIO
™*ijiardman
The ^Hardman £ine
is a complete line
It comprises a range of artisti-
cally worthy instruments to
please practically every purse:
The Hardman, official piano of
the Metropolitan Opera House;
the Harrington and the Hensel
Pianos in which is found thatin-
builtdurabtlitythatcharacterizes
al I Hardman-made instruments;
the wonderful Hardman Repro-
ducing Piano; the Hardman
Autotone (the perfect player-
piano); and the popular Playo-
tone.
c J{anbnan,Veck &Co.
NEW-YORK.
Report from Berlin Last Week Says That
Broadcasting Hurts Both Teaching and
Selling of Music.
Radio broadcasting in Germany is ruining their
business, is the constant complaint of concert man-
agers, music-teachers and the sellers of musical in-
struments, according to a letter from Berlin.
Since people now get their music at home they
are not inclined to go out for it, or study for it. The
public attendance at concerts and grand opera is
said to be falling off; music-teachers who a year ago
had five or six pupils a day now have but two or
three a week, and people are no longer interested in
learning to make music for themselves.
No such complaints have been heard in the United
States. On the contrary, teachers have said that
radio helps to a better understanding of good music,
and draws business, rather than turns it away. Pos-
sibly in Germany the people are so far advanced
musically that they have a surfeit of it, which may
have a tendency to react upon the profession and
trade.
W. P. Haines & Co.
Manufacturers of
BRADBURY, WEBSTER
and
W. P. HAINES & CO.
Grand, Upright and Reproducing
Pianos
138th Street and Walton Avenue
NEW YORK
CONVENTION RADIO TALK
BY HOWARD A. LEWIS
Man of Long and Wide Experience in Mer-
chandising the Product to Address Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants.
Howard A. Lewis, who is to address the National
Association of Music Merchants on "The Merchan-
dising of Radio" at the convention at the Drake Hotel,
Chicago. June 8 to 11, brings an experience with
radio as merchandise that dates back to the begin-
ning of the radio business. As manager of the mer-
chandising publications of the McGraw-Hill Company
he has watched the development of radio from noth-
ing to $350,000,000 last year and studied with the
manufacturer, the distributor and the retailer the
problems of radio merchandising as they progres-
sively developed.
Back of radio Mr. Lewis has a general merchandis-
ing experience and viewpoint covering many years.
From a view as wide as the industry he brings to
the music dealers an acute understanding and a clear
picture of the dealer's importance and the dealer's
function in the radio industry.
Following Mr. Lewis' address the meeting will be
open for a thorough discussion of the radio situation.
IOWA STORE SOLD.
The Whitely Music Company, Lacona, la., oper-
ated for several years by C. H. Beal. has been sold to
A. L. Rhodes, of Leon. la. Mr. Bealer, who has
changed the name of the business to the Rhodes
Music Store, was formerly connected with the Alex-
ander Music Co., in Leon.
The LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Orandu, Uprights and Playact
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that can b«
made.
YORK PIANOS
Uprlghta and Player Piano*
A high grade piano of great
vaiue and with charming tone quality.
Livingston Pianos— Uprlfhts and Playar Pianos
A popular piano at a popular price.
Over 70,000 instruments made by this company are •ing-
Ing their own praises in all parts of the civilised world.
Write for catalogues and state on what terms you would
like to deal, and we will make you a proposition if yon are
located in open territory.
WEAVER PIANO CO., loc
Factorj: YORK, » \ .
Established 1870
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 nevor do anything bottor
than whmn you got in touch with
M. SCHULZ CO.
711 Milwaukee Avenue
CHICAGO
OUTHEtN BRANCH: 7W GaadW BU*. ATLANTA, GA
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