Presto Buyers' Guide
Presto Year Book
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
E*abu.h*d itu.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
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CHICAGO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 19, 1925
DELAWARE PIANO
WELL STARTED
Manufacturers of Grand Pianos Exclusively
Will Produce in Steadily Increasing Num-
bers and with Purpose of Sustaining
High Quality.
CHARLES HOUSTON, PRESIDENT
Long Experience of Control, and Acknowledged
Skill of Factory Superintendent, Insures Ex-
pectations of Fine Progress.
The starting of an ambitious, exclusive grand piano
factory is a matter of great importance in the Ameri-
can piano industry and trade. The Delaware Piano
Co. was organized by Charles Houston July 27, 1925,
and the company purchased the factory and equip-
ment formerly occupied by the Bell Brothers Piano
Company, at Muncie, Ind.
Mr. Houston has been connected with the piano
industry for over twenty-five years, having entered
the business while a law student, and was first en-
gaged as a retail sales manager; then became a job-
ber, selling output of several factories, together w r ith
sales and reorganization work, for many prominent
dealers in the United States and Canada. He estab-
lished collection systems for retail piano dealers. He
has also been engaged in the establishment of new
stores and financing dealers. Later he became con-
nected with Wilcox & White Company, of Meri-
den, Conn., in the capacity of factory representative.
Mr. Houston's Career.
After several years of his connection with the
Wilcox & White company Mr. Houston was pro-
moted to sales manager and resigned that position to
become general sales manager of the reproducing de-
partment of A. B. Chase Company, Norwalk, O. After
completing his contract with A. B. Chase Company
he became general factory representative of Paul G.
Mehlin & Sons, New York, which position he held
up to his retirement from the traveling field. He
then found that the Muncie factory of Bell Brothers
Piano Co. was to be sold, and induced his associates
to consider the purchase of the property. He then
organized the Delaware Piano Company, which com-
pany purchased the factory, machinery and equipment
from his associate, who had ample capital to pay cash
for the property and also to take stock in the com-
|pany.
The Officers.
Mr. Houston became president of the new organ-
ization and B. W. L. Robinson, of Chicago, secretary
treasurer. Mr. Robinson is a certified public
iccountant. He has held a position as office manager
several corporations, and is thoroughly versed in
>anking, besides having had several years' experience
the capacity of credit expert. Mr. Robinson is
/ell fitted to handle the finances and management of
he new company.
Charles Stanley became vice-president and general
factory superintendent. With his forty years of ex-
perience in the science of scale drafting and piano
jmilding, the Delaware Piano Company is assured of
|he very finest production under his supervision.
Mr. Stanley's last achievement before joining the
)elaware Piano Co., was to engage with a large man-
Ifacturer of Paris, France, in drawing their grand
liano scales and installing American methods of man-
ufacturing, in the French factory. The Delaware
pano Company is very fortunate in being able to
scure Mr. Stanley as a member of its personnel.
An Industrial Engineer.
The Delaware Piano Company is also to be con-
ratulated in having secured as a member of its
cecutive staff, as a result of Mr. Houston's knowl-
Ige of the help required, Clarence G. Wood, a resi-
pnt of Muncie and a gentleman highly regarded as
of the best industrial engineers in the United
[ates. Mr. Houston believes the acquisition insures
his company one of the most excellent executives
the piano industry. Upon accepting the connec-
tion with the Delaware Piano Company, Mr. Wood
was elected to the office of vice-president, and Mr.
Houston appointed him also as director, with general
supervision in the absence of Mr. Houston.
Mr. Wood was director of purchases for the United
States government, motor corp division, in France dur-
ing the World War. Mr. Wood started the move-
ment in Muncie and organized the Muncie Aerial
Company. He also established a flying field and ar-
rangements are now under way to make Muncie an
air-mail port.
The Delaware Piano Company is now producing
grand pianos and will be in a position to make ship-
ments of two hundred and fifty grands during the
next six weeks. Plans are now being made to start
on a production of ten grands daily, by January 1,
and to increase production to full capacity of twenty
grands daily as soon as possible. The size of the
grand piano made by the Delaware Piano Company is
five feet, one inch, mahogany only.
Many Orders Booked.
The policy of the company is to sell its produc-
tion on a definite, established price basis. The com-
pany starts off with a large quantity of orders booked,
and it is the intention of Mr. Houston to keep
orders at least thirty days ahead of production. The
factory is equipped with the most modern machinery
and sprinkling system, and is well laid out. It has a
special veneer room, dry kilns, lumber sheds. The
factory is located on the main line of the Big Four
Railroad, between St. Louis and Cleveland, and has a
switch siding on a belt line connecting with four
trunk lines.
The company also owns two and one-half acres
adjoining the factory for future expansion. So that it
must be seen that the new Delaware Piano Co. is
equipped to sustain a good place in the piano indus-
try and it has started under conditions the most
promising. The retail trade is already displaying in-
dications of the kind of appreciation that sustains the
right kind of enterprise. The new year will dawn
brightly for Mr. Houston's industry and "Delaware"
is a name destined to play a good part in the annals
of 1926.
JULIUS BRECKWOLDT ON
FLYING VISIT TO CHICAGO
Head of Great Sounding Board, and Other Wood
Supplies of Dolgeville, Comes West.
Julius Breckwoldt, senior member of the house of
Julius Breckwoldt & Son, Inc., Dolgeville, N. Y.,
made a flying visit to Chicago and a nearby city last
week. Mr. Breckwoldt is a very active and busy
man. He is a director in banks and much interested
in the local development of his city and surroundings,
and his own industry has grown to very large pro-
portions.
The Breckwoldt sounding boards, bridges, bars and
backs, are used in practically every piano factory in
America and extensively abroad.
Mr. Breckwoldt, as previously stated, intends to
take his customary winter trip to Florida, leaving
Dolgeville at about New Year's.
NEW POSITION AT SPRINGFIELD, MO.
H. L. Hoover, who has been connected with Martin
Brothers Piano Company, at Springfield, Mo., for
the past twenty-five years, will be in charge of the
phonograph and radio department after January 1.
Mr. Hoover has been handling the small goods and
band instruments department for the past twelve
years, having owned this department himself. But
on account of his appointment to be manager of the
phonograph and radio department, the small goods
and band instruments department will be taken over
by Martin Bros. Piano Company, and Will James
will be in active management there.
NEW CEDAR RAPIDS MANAGER.
Harry Gerstein is the new manager of the Waite
Music Store, Cedar Rapids, Iowa. Mr. Gerstein was
formerly a member of the sales force of the Schmoller
& Mueller Piano Co.'s musical merchandise depart-
ment, Omaha, and well known as organizer and direc-
tor of the Harmis Jazz Orchestra of that city.
E. B. JONES SEES BRIGHT
NEW YEAR FOR TRADE
President of Schiller Piano Company, Ore-
gon, 111., States Optimistic Views Following
Keen Observation of Conditions.
A statement this week by E. B. Jones, president of
the Schiller Piano Company, Oregon, 111., is signifi-
cant of the firm assurance of observant men of the
piano industry that the tide in piano affairs has turned
and that the business for the new year will be of a
satisfactory kind, in marked contrast to recent years.
In keen observation of the signs Mr. Jones cites
causes that inevitably lead to natural effects and in
the succession of conditions in the piano trade he
sees proof of the cycle theory in relation to piano
activity. But he states pleasant facts from the ex-
periences of his own company, from which every
piano man may draw optimistic conclusions:
"The year 1925 has exceeded the best year in the
history of our business by an increase in sales in dol-
lars of over twenty per cent, therefore it is only
natural that I should look ahead optimistically to
1926," said Mr. Jones.
"This at least is certain; we are about to enter
1926 with brighter prospects for the piano business
than have existed during the past ten years. It seems
characteristic of the piano business to move in long
swings and with so many favorable developments
taking place, which are fundamentally sound, the
piano business is unquestionably due for a period of
good business that will be of some duration.
"The sales of straight uprights in the future will
probably predominate, but with a continued improve-
ment in agricultural conditions, the sales of player-
pianos will run closely to that of straight uprights.
"The demand for grands, particularly for grands of
the better type, also of medium size, will continue and
has the aspects of developing into a broad market.
The correlation of activities of various kinds in trade
is a matter for consideration of any single phase of
business, according to Mr. Jones.
A seeming
monopoly of public interest in any one variety of
product may be distressing to others for the time
being, but reactions invariably result in an equitable
share of business for all. The laws of adjustment
work day in and day out and all the year 'round.
Far from viewing the radio craze as a menace to the
piano business he looks deeper and observes desirable
ultimate effects.
"The radio, as a means of supplying entertainment
and amusement at a low cost and in influencing peo-
ple to stay at home, may be considered as a pro-
moter of thrift," said Mr. Jones. "It may at least be
said that automobile expenses and the greater ex-
pense attendant thereby in various forms of enter-
tainment and amusement, are decreasing. It is well
to look at the large increase in savings accounts and
give the radio just credit, for its influence in helping
to conserve the family pocketbook.
"On the other hand, many music merchants have
incurred heavy losses in endeavoring to market radios,
because of the constant and rapid changes that are
going on in radio construction and which frequently
leaves the dealer with an unsalable stock and conse-
quent loss."
AN APPEAL TO SANTA.
Fred J. Base, well-known piano salesman for many
years and now midwestern representative of the Fred
Gretsch small goods house, of Brooklyn, N. Y., asked
a Presto representative to send a message to Santa
Claus in his behalf. He says the old gentleman has
been rather neglectful of him of late years, but he'll
promise to be a good little boy, at least until Christ-
mas, if Santa will "come across."
DR. FARNSWORTH SAILS.
Dr. Charles H. Farnsworth, chairman of the Ad-
visory Council of The Aeolian Company's Educational
Department, sailed for the Orient on the Fahe Line
S.S. Canada, on Dec. 11, to be gone for the entire
winter. He will return in April via Europe, visiting
the Paris and London houses of The Aeolian Com-
pany en route.
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