August 6, 1927.
PRESTO-TIMES
SELLING STARRS IN TEXAS
The accompanying picture shows
the front of L. L. Withers' Piano
Store at Fort Worth, Tex. Mr.
Withers, who is one of our most
progressive dealers, handling the
line of the Starr Piano Co., Rich-
mond, Ind., just recently moved
into his new quarters which are
equipped with all the accessories of
an up-to-date progressive music
store. He is prominently located
in music row and one of the lead-
ing music dealers of Fort Worth.
He handles Starr pianos, phono-
graphs and records, of which he
has a large selection. A late addi-
tion to his store is the Song Shop,
which is under the management of
the Lullaby Boys, who are now so
popular over the radio station
KFQB.
These two well-known
artists make an excellent advertis-
ing tie-up and drawing card for .Mr.
Withers' music business.
Mr. Withers, proprietor, has
been familiar with Starr pianos for
many years, having been with the
old Jesse French Piano Company of
Dallas, which handles the line. He
has held important positions w r ith
several of the leading piano houses
of Texas.
HEAD OF KRAKAUER
)
BROS DIES IN NEW YORK
I. E. Bretzfelder, Associated with the Industry
Since 1900, Was Active in Continuing
Its Artistic Spirit.
I. E. Bretzfelder, president of Krakauer Bros.,
Xew York, died on Wednesday of this week at his
home in that city.
Mr. Bretzfelder, who was a son-in-law of the late
Julius Krakauer, and brother-in-law of Maurice Kra-
kauer, who died about twenty years ago, acquired
an interest in the business in 1900 and later succeeded
in the presidency of the company, lie had admir-
ably carried out the original purpose of the founder,
Simon Krakauer. and of the sons of the latter, to
produce instruments of high tone quality, artistic
Imish and great durability.
• Mr. Bretzfelder's ambition was to preserve and
continually increase the artistic character of the Kra-
kauer Bros.' instruments and maintain their high
place among artistic American piano;?. His particular
efforts were directed to inaugurating improvements
and in the grands and reproducing typos of pianos
in the line line.
FROM LEFT TO RIGHT ARE: .J. A. WART"), SALESMAN; W. (\
WITHERS, MEMBKK OF THE FIRM; L. L. WITHERS, MEMBER AND
MANAGER OF THE FIRM; MRS. L. L. WITHERS. BOOKKEEPER AND
CASHIER; C. J. REEVES; A. C. ROAN. ADJUSTER AND SALESMAN;
GEO. J. SIMPSON, SALESMAN.
WILD AUTOMOBILE WRECKS
GREAT FALLS, MONT. STORE
As a Result the Kops Piano House Reckons Up
Damages Totaling $4,0C0.
P. S. Trainor drove his sedan automobile into the
Kops Piano House, 508 Central avenue, Great Falls-
Mont., last week, and did $4,000 damage. Trainor
had parked his car in front of the music house and
is thought to have left the machine in gear. When
he stepped on the starter the car lunged forward,
crossed the sidewalk, crashed through the plate glass
store front and for a distance of 60 feet lived a
riotous life, finally coming to a stop with its forward
works on a $600 piano and its rear end on a costly
phonograph.
The path of the car through the store was a scene
of ruin. Pianos, music racks, phonographs and musi-
cal instruments of all kinds, crushed or twisted out
of shape, were strewn down the center of the store
in the wake of the rampant automobile.
When the confusion had subsided, Captain of Po-
lice Fred Locker and Officer Pat Finneran discov-
ered a little portable phonograph singing away at the
top of its voice. In some way it had escaped the
four-wheel volcano, but it evidently had been near
enough to the disaster to. get a bad scare, for it was
voicing a protest in the words of that little ditty
that just now is enjoying a vogue: "But He Done
Me Wrong!"
Trainor was booked at police headquarters on a
charge of reckless driving and was released on his
own recognizance to appear for a hearing in the
city court. Shortly after the accident the damage
done to the store front and the merchandise was esti-
mated at $4,000.
NEW BOSTON MANAGER.
Becker Bros.
Manufacturer*
ot
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
Factory and Wareroomb
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
R. C. Hodgkinsou, manager of the retail ware-
rooms of Chickering & Sons at 395 Boylston street,
Boston, has resigned and has been succeeded as
manager by Louis C. Wagner, brother of C. Alfred
Wagner, president of Chickering & Sons and of the
American Piano Co.
GULBRANSEN VISITOR.
A. S. L'rockett, of the Milligan Music Co., Car-
bondale, 111., was a visitor to the plant of the Gul-
bransen Co., Chicago, this week. Mr. Brockett's
firm is one of the most active in the southern portion
of Illinois and represent the Gulbransen instrument
with considerable success.
THE JEWETT PIANOS
Reliable Grand, Upright and Player Pianos
JEWETT PIANO CO., Boston Factories: Leominster, Mass.
GEORGE M.SLAWSON,
CABLE TRAVELER, DIES
Veteran Roadman in Northwest for The Cable Com-
pany Expires After Long Illness.
George M. Slawson, traveler in the Northwest for
The Cable Company, Chicago, died on Thursday of
this week at a hospital in Hastings, Mich., where
he had been a patient for several weeks. The bare
facts came, to Presto-Times just as the paper was
going to press.
His body was removed to his home in Bangor,
Mich., from which he will be buried today (Au-
gust 0).
PLANS FOR ENLARGEMENT
Rudick's. Akron, ()., one of the best-known music
stores in the city, moved to a new location this week.
In the new store, which affords considerable more
floor.space, the concern plans to enlarge its musical
goods department.
INCREASES MUSIC STOCK.
The Akron Drygoods Co., Akron, ()., a large de-
partment store, is planning to enlarge its music de-
partment. J. H. Vineberg, formerly secretary-treas-
urer, with several associates, took over the store last
week and already has received incorporation papers.
DECKER
U
EST. 1856 51 SON
Grand, Upright
and
Welte-Mignon
(Licensee \
Reproducing
{Electric)
Pianos and Players
of Recognized
Artistic Character
Made by a Decker Since 1856
699-703 East 135th Street
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE
New York
GOLDSMITH
Price 50 Cents
Players and Pianos
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
Have Every Advantage in Quality and Results
i
to the Dealers
An Investigation Will Prove It
CHICAGO
GOLDSMITH PIANb COMPANY
1223-1227 Miller Street, CHICAGO
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