January 29, 1927.
PRESTO-TIMES
THE BALDWIN PIANO CO.
HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING
AN ARTISTIC LESTER REPRODUCER
At Sales Conference in Cincinnati Representa-
tives from All Points Reviewed 1926
and Discussed Plans for 1927.
Splendid Sample of Graceful Case
Design in Grand Form One of
the Most Successful Styles
of the Lester Piano
Co., Philadelphia.
The annual meeting and sales conference of The
Baldwin Piano Company were held in Cincinnati on
Monday and Tuesday, January 24 and 25. During
these meetings were discussed the increased demand
for the pianos built by the House of Baldwin in 1926,
which resulted in the biggest business in the history
of the company. It was particularly gratifying to
note the greatly increased sale of Baldwin, Ellington
and Hamilton pianos and the definite trend of the
business towards the quality instruments.
The 1927 plans for publicity and national advertis-
ing and increased dealers' helps on Baldwin, Elling-
ton, Hamilton and Howard instruments were pre-
sented for discussion, which will be carried forward
during this year on a larger and more impressive
scale than ever before.
Prospects for 1927 were discussed and it was the
consensus of opinion that the factories should prepare
at once for the increased production on the quality
pianos to meet the steadily increasing demand.
On Monday evening President Lucien Wulsin en-
tertained formally at his home and on Tuesday eve-
ning the annual dinner was held at the Queen City
Club.
The following were in attendance: From Cincin-
nati: L. Wulsin, J. P. Thornton, A. J. Schoenberger,
J. Sauter, C. F. Fessler, W. Schoenfeld, A. Tischler,
R. N. Jenkinson, Philip Wyman, R. L. White, George
Wilson, Chas. Schwarz, F.. K. Bennett, E. E. Roberts,
D. M. Kline, W. H. Smith, H. A. White, H. N.
Eadon, A. H. Morse, C. H. Sisson, J. Knagge, A. W.
Krohme, P. C. Eninger, W. M. Day, A. G. Muenzen-
maier, H. W. Wade, R. Vizcarrondo, W. J. Rielly,
H. L. Adams, D. M. Allen of the Prather-AKen
Advertising Co.
From New York, A. M. Hume, G. A. Pelling, W.
B. Murray and Mr. Jacobi.
From Indianapolis, A. C. Hoffer and E. G. Ash-
craft.
From St. Louis, W. T. Abel, C. E. Storer and W.
A. Wigand.
From Chicago, E. P. Williams, G. W. Lawrence
and E. C. Hill.
From Louisville, Ky., E. J. Backer, W. E. Tuell
and A. Leahy.
Fred Thunell, Denver, M. P. Thompson, San Fran-
cisco, and C. C. Lang, Dallas, Tex., were also in
attendance.
The instrument here illustrated is the
Model "100" and "88" Lester Reproducing
piano. It requires no special discrimina-
tion to see that this instrument is of rare
beauty in its dignified substantial design
and graceful lines. There is in this de-
sign the charm of rich simplicity which
harmonizes with the unities of the hand-
some home and never wearies the eye.
The instrument is made in two sizes, the
"88" being but four feet eleven inches in
length, and the "100" five feet three inches.
and in reply received a highly commendatory letter,
an extract of which is published:
"With regard to the impressions made by the in-
strument, these are excellent in every respect, and
while Mr. Macropulos is enthusiastic and begs me to
congratulate you, many of those who have seen it are
also delighted with it. Apart from the Ampico, the
Chickering is an unsurpassable piano—my congratula-
tions to both!"
NEW AEOLIAN HALL SELLS
FOR THREE MILLIONS
Splendid New Home of Famous Industry, at
689 Fifth Avenue, New York, Sets
New Values in Metropolis.
IMPORTANT PART OF LIFE.
Chickering-Ampico, Sold by Representative in Athens,
Evokes Enthusiastic Praises of Expert.
The new Aeolian Building at 689 Eifth avenue, at
the northeast corner of Fifty-fourth street, New York,
sold on Monday to settle" the estate of the late C. A.
Gould. This fourteen-story office and showroom
structure, completed in 1926, won the first prize award
of the Fifth Avenue Association for the finest build-
ing erected in Fifth avenue during 1926. It occupies
a plot 50.5 by 125 by 75.5, and is leased to the Aeolian
Hall Company for a term of sixty-three years be-
ginning Feb. 1, 1927, at an annual rent of $150,COO
for the first ten years. It is understood, however,
that the building will cost about $1,500,000 when fully
completed.
The property was sold at auction, a large gather-
BEN PLATT IN THE EAST.
Ben Platt, of the large music house that bears ing of bidders being present, and the first bid was
his name in Los Angeles, Cal., was in Chicago early one of $2,000,000, followed by one of $2,500,000. The
this week and has gone eastward. The Platt Music price was then advanced by bids of $100,000 until it
Co. is one of the prosperous institutions of the West. reached $2,800,000, when an attorney representing
Mr. Platt had with him printed statements showing Mrs. Celia Goald Milne, a daughter of Commodore
that his house is now well along in the millionaire Gould, bid $3,00,000, and the property was sold to
class, and that last year was one of the most pro- him.
The price paid for the property established a new
gressive in his career since starting in 1904, when he
came to this country a poor boy and entered the square foot value of $432 for land and building in
that vicinity.
piano business.
Jean Bentivoglio, Chickering dealer in Athens,
Greece, recently ordered a specially made period
model Chickering Ampico for a distinguished cas-
tomer. In view of the fact that Mr. Bentivoglio in-
formed Chickering & Sons that this patron was very
particular, they expressed interest in knowing his
customer's impression upon receipt of the instrument
Damage from fire and water in building 19 of
the Starr Piano Company, Richmond, Ind., last week
was estimated at $15,000. The automatic sprinklers
flooded the building, after an overheated pulley started
a small blaze.
AMPICO BUYER IN GREECE
CONGRATULATES MAKERS
Music has taken its place in the category of useful
trades, believes Miss Bertha Bauer, director of the
Cincinnati Conservatory. Each year, she said, men
in increasing numbers are taking up music as a means
of livelihood. Strides in the popularity of music
since the Victorian era, when men musicians wore
long hair and were considered freaks, have been rapid
but the greatest advance has come in the last decade
or so. A fourth of the students in recognized musical
institutions of the country are men, according to her
figures.
STIEFF, JR., IN CHICAGO.
SPRINKLERS STOP FIRE.
Fred P. Stieff, Jr., younger son of the late Fred P.
Stieff, president of the house of Chas. M. StiefT, Inc.,
Baltimore, is in the city this week, the guest of T. F.
Weber, of Meyer & Weber, Chicago representatives
of the Stieff piano.
THE NEW BOWEN PIANO LOADER
is recognized as necessary equipment for piano dealers everywhere, and is invaluable to salesmen who work suburban and country
trade. One man is all that is necessary to load, unload or demonstrate an upright piano to a prospect. Small Grands may be hauled
on it as well as uprights. You can't afford to be without it. Send for particulars.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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