MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1927
LATE TRADE NEWS
FROM INDIANAPOLIS
Several Changes in Store Location Impend-
ing—Success of Hobart M. Cable Styles
and Other Interesting Facts.
Business in Indianapolis has been beyond expec-
tations during the summer, and the majority of the
dealers have noticed that the higher grade instru-
ments are gradually increasing in sales.
One of the developments in the city is the change
that will take place to the Hobart M. Cable Com-
pany's store. Ray Coverdill, who has managed the
store for some time, and held the lease on the loca-
tion, has sold out to the W. W. Kimball Company,
and the complete Kimball line will be sold exclusively
from now on.
H. P. Williams, representing the Hobart M. Cable
Company, is in the city at present looking after the
interests of his company, but refrains from giving
any information as to the future plans of his com-
pany. It is understood that the Hobart M. Cable
Company will remain in the city, and conduct their
business at some other location, which information
will be given out later. It is also understood that
the services of a capable manager has been secured
and the sales force will be kept intact.
Hobart M. Cable Wins.
During the conversation with H. P. Williams of
the Hobart M. Cable Company it was learned that
the new style grand known as the Aristocrat is meet-
ing with wonderful success, in fact it is selling better
than was anticipated, and the same applies to the
new "Song Bird," which is one of the latest produc-
tions of the Hobart M. Cable factories.
As to the future of the Kimball Company under
the supervision of Mr. Coverdill nothing definite
could be learned, other than that he will be retained
as the manager, and everything manufactured by the
Kimball Company will be sold in Indianapolis. Kim-
ball pianos were formerly sold by the Wilson-Stewart
Company, until the present arrangements were made
to open an exclusive Kimball store in Indianapolis.
Jesse French in Schools.
The Wilking Music Company is very enthusiastic
over the success of the Jesse French & Sons' line
during the past few months. In reviewing the situa-
tion it has been found that the French line of pianos
are now in some of the foremost homes in the city,
not making mention of the public schools, churches
and schools of music. The instrument has made
many friends in Indianapolis, and is continually gain-
ing popularity, which is proven by the increased sales.
Frank Wilking reports the summer business far in
excess of any previous year in the history of the con-
cern, with prospects very encouraging.
Eugene Wilking is spending his vacation at Lake
James, where he will remain for several weeks, spend-
ing his time fishing, which seems to be his favorite
sport.
The Rapp & Lennox Piano Company is well
pleased in their new location, which seems a trifle up
town, but out of the restricted district of traffic. The
general summer business has been up to expecta-
tions. During the past week the company report
some activity in the used instrument line, which they
have been featuring to some extent.
Harry Wert Pleased.
Harry Wert, manager of the Pearson Piano Com-
pany, reports a very satisfactory business for the
summer, especially on high grade merchandise. Mr.
Wert believes that the cheap and shoddy instrument
is a thing of the past, and that the higher grade
of pianos will head the sales lists from now on. The
public is not accepting the cheaper instrument as
easily as it did several years ago; instruments of
worth and reputation are coming into their own, and
the public are demanding them.
Edgar T. Daab, in charge of the Steinway salon,
is away on his vacation touring Canada by way of
Detroit. Mr. Daab will visit the Kurtzmann fac-
tories at Buffalo, N. Y., while on his vacation, leav-
ing Detroit by boat en route to Buffalo. C. E. Stout
of the sales force is away on his vacation for several
weeks.
Harry Fuller, representing the Kimball Company
of Chicago, was a visitor in Indianapolis during the
past week.
Mr. Shall, representing Wm. Knabe & Company,
spent several days in the city this week, most of his
time at the company's warerooms.
Aliss Leavitt, in charge of the Ampico music divi-
sion, has left for a vacation of several weeks.
PIANO TRADE HONORS
GEORGE M. SLAWSON
Representative Gathering of Old Friends of
Veteran Traveler for The Cable Company
Attend Last Rites at Grave.
George M. Slawson, dean of The Cable Company
travelers, died on Thursday, August 4, at the age of
64 years. The funeral was held at his home in
Bangor, Mich., Saturday, August 6.
Mr. Slawson had been associated with The Cable
Company for over forty years and was very well
known throughout the Northwest. His death came
GKO. M. SLAWSON TEN YEARS AGO.
as a shock to his many friends and marks the passing
of one of the most genial characters in the trade. His
activities are best described by the success of the
Cable line in the territory in which he was so well
known.
Among those in attendance at the funeral were
the officers of The Cable Company and a great many
of his dealer friends.
M. SCHULZ COMPANY'S REPORTS
SHOW WHOLESALE INCREASE
Schulz Dealers Throughout the Country Place Orders
for Various Styles of Instruments.
The M. Schulz Co., 711 Milwaukee avenue, Chi-
cago, reports at the end of July that the wholesale
trade is on the upward trend, which indicates that
the piano trade in general is in a much improved
condition. The active Chicago concern reports that
the month of July was far better than had been
anticipated early in the month and with dealers
showing more activity in exploiting the wide range
of instruments now on the market, the trade will
improve steadily until September, when large fall
orders are expected.
The many M. Schulz styles, which includes period
are grands and uprights, have made a wide appeal
to the trade and the factory has maintained a steady
pace in its production in order to fill all requirements
without delay.
$2 The Year
MID-SUMMER ACTIVITIES OF
THE CHICAGO PIANO CLUB
The Monday attendance is Retting larger each
week and the Great Northern Piano Club parlor is
growing in favor.
E. D. Waldren, of the Waldren Storage and Trans-
fer Co., celebrated his seventieth birthday last Mon-
day by having the cigars passed around to the mem-
bers and guests after a speech fitting the occasion
had been made by Axel Christensen, who came over
from the Palace theater, where he has been playing
an engagement this week, to give his friend the
proper kind of a send-off. Mr. Waldren announced
that he was also on that day celebrating the advent
of a grandson, born the day before.
Harry Bibb spoke a good word for the coming
Detroit convention which he said promised to out-do
itself this year. The Cheese-Hounds, for instance,
have planned something extraordinary. Harry says
"every cheese-hound should be there."
Sympathy was expressed for Mr. A. IT. Grim, in
the death of his beloved wife, which occurred last Sun-
day at the late home of deceased, 7644 Rastlake ter-
race. Services were held in Chicago Monday evening
after which the body was taken to Dayton, Ohio, for
burial, where a daughter resides. The club sent a
floral wreath.
Frank Albright, formerly a Chicagoan, now resid-
ing in New York, called at the club rooms in com-
pany with William Bauer, president Julius Bauer &
Co. Mr. Albright carried a "dee]) dyed" sunbrown
from a week's tour with W. B. Armstrong, late of the
American Piano Company, on Mr. Armstrong's
yacht.
The best wishes of the Club were expressed to
member E. B. Fox, general representative of the
B. K. Settergren Co., Bluffton, Indiana, who is leav-
ing Chicago to go to New York, which, will be his
headquarters hereafter. Mr. Fox is known as one
of the trade hustlers in the grand piano business and
his hosts of friends wish him well. President Gordon
Laughead's last words to him were that if he had
more orders than he could fill that he (Gordon)
would see that all such orders were properly taken
care of.
E. F. Lapham told a story of the making of an
impromptu musical composition that brought fame
and fortune to a cabaret piano player over night. If
the story, as it came to Mr. Lapham, is true it is a
wonder; if only half true it is one of the best the
Club has heard in a long time.
The nominating committee for the October elec-
tion met at the close of the luncheon hour and
deliberated on a ticket, but did not give the names of
any selections they had made or intended to place
before thec lub.
SOUTH DAKOTA DEALER
VISITS STORY & CLARK
J. W. Swift, of Williams Piano Company, Sioux
Falls, Places Order for New Store.
A welcome visitor to the Story & Clark Piano
Company's headquarters at 174 North Michigan ave-
nue, Chicago, this week was J. W. Swift, of the
Williams Piano Co., Sioux Falls, S. Dak. Mr. Swift
came to Chicago for the latest market quotations
and in the end placed a handsome order for Story
& Clark instruments which have always held a
prominent place in the Sioux Falls dealer's ware-
rooms.
While in Chicago Mr. Swift made the announce-
ment that his firm is to open a branch store at
Rapid City, S. Dak. While the store has been offi-
cially opened, it has not been stocked with merchan-
dise and the Story & Clark order was one of the
first steps in that direction. The Williams Piano
Company is one of the most active in the Northwest.
It has conducted a successful business which has
as its foundation, courtesy, service and quality mer-
chandise. Rapid City, which was chosen as the Sum-
mer White House this year, is the scene of much
activity at the present, and Mr. Swift has come in
contact with President Coolidge on several occasions
and reports the President as saying that he was
enjoying his vacation immensely.
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