MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1927
NEWS OF THE TRADE
ON PACIFIC COAST
New Season Interests Music Merchants in All
Sections of California and Excellent An-
ticipations of Improved Business Are
Heard from Dealers in All Sections.
SIGNIFICANT PREPARATIONS
Enlarged Piano Facilities and Rearranged and Newly
Decorated Warerooms Show Dealers' Faith in
Piano Sales Expectations This Fall.
A change in allocating several departments of
Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, has been an-
nounced. The growth in importance of Period
models in pianos has prompted an extension of the
piano department on the fifth floor. The showrooms
are to be remodeled and special provision made for
the presentation of the artistic styles with charac-
teristic surroundings.
Other important changes are to be made in the
Duo-Art department on the eighth tioor where the
decorators have been assigned an artistic icT..
For Fair Exhibit.
M. P. Thompson, manager of the Pacific Coast in-
terests of the Baldwin Piano Co., with headquarters
in San Francisco, is preparing a comprehensive dis-
play of pianos, players and reproducing pianos for the
Lake County Fair, one of the important fall events
in that section. Lake county is without any large
cities but its communities are composed of prospec-
tive piano buyers of a highly desirable kind. The
Baldwin exhibit there in previous years has always
resulted in very satisfactory sales.
New Sales Manager.
Harald Pracht. the new sales manager of the retail
piano department of Sherman, Clay & Co., San
Francisco,' is widely known in trade and art circles
throughout California. He is a proficient pianist and
possessor of a beautiful baritone voice, which makes
him a desirable aid in music movements. He is a
foremost member of the Olympic Club and other
prominent social and artistic organizations.
Mr. Pracht entered the music trade field as sales-
man for Kohler & Chase and four years later became
sa!es manager for the Wi'ey B. Allen Co., where he
remained until the beginning of this year, when he
joined the piano department of Sherman, Clay & Co.
Theodore Strong, a prominent organist of San
Francisco, has been made manager of the Aeolian
pipe organ section of Sherman, Clay & Co., in that
city.
Two Steinway pianos, Style B Grand, were re-
cently bought by Sherman, Clay & Co., for the
studios of the National Broadcasting Company, 111
Sutter street, which occupy the twenty-second floor
and which are remarkable for the completeness of
their equipment.
The M. Schulz Line.
I'rank 15. Long, representing, the M. Schulz Co.,
Chicago, has opened new offices and showrooms at
973 Market street. The fine showing of pianos, play-
ers and reproducing pianos, brought by R. K. May-
nard, special Pacific Coast representative of the M.
Schulz Co. for exhibition at the recent convention of
the Western Music Trades Association, has been
added to the stock already shipped from the M.
Schulz Co.'s factory in Chicago. A showing of Wer-
ner pianos is included in the presentations of Mr.
Long.
A new store front has been designed for the Sher-
man, Clay & Co.'s store in San Jose, Calif., accord-
ing to the manager, L. F. Galliani. Other improve-
ments to the store include a separate entrance to the
music studios on the second floor. The new show
window will have special lighting arrangements to
add to the attractiveness of the exhibits at night.
Old Firm Moves.
H. L. Whitehead, piano dealer, San Francisco,
who has been located at 1282 Market street for many
years, has moved to 1226 Market, corner of Fell
street. More space and a better location has been
secured by Mr. Whitehead in the move.
The approaching opening of the schools has stimu-
lated the music dealers to take action towards sales
of piano and band instruments to the schools. The
Conn San Francisco Co. and Sherman, Clay & Co ,
both have well developed schemes for interesting
school heads and pupils.
Change of Policy.
An importaant change in policy is to be put into
effect by the Martin Music Company throughout the
territory covered from its headquarters in Los An-
geles. It is said the company has decided to con-
centrate all of its efforts on the sale of pianos, retail
and wholesale. The phonograph and radio depart-
ments as well as the band and orchestra instrument
and sheet music departments will be discontinued,
unless they are rented out as concessions. It is
understood that the Gulbransen line will be carried
exclusively on the Boors and distributed on the
wholesale basis to music dealers in southern Cali-
fornia by the Martin Music Company.
WINNER IN CONTEST
PLAYS CABLE MIDGET
Vivian D'Arkos, Winner in Elementary Divi-
sion in Detroit Piano Playing Contest,
Prizes Her Little Piano.
The winner of the Detroit piano playing contest
in the elementary division, little nine-year-old Vivian
D'Arkos, did all of her practicing in preparation for
the contest on her Cable Midget upright, made by
The Cable Company, Chicago. Three years ago,
when Vivian was only six years old, a Cable Midget
was purchased for her and she has used it since in
all of her musical training.
For the young pianist the Cable Midget is an ideal
instrument. This small piano is designed in such a
manner that the music is directly in front of the child
VIVIAX D'AIIKOS AT 11Kit CABl.E Ml DC. ICT.
so that there is no strain on a child's eyes and back.
Because she can maintain a natural, comfortable pos-
ture, a child can practice with great ease and con-
centration at a Midget.
Although this is a small piano, the reduction has
been accomplished so skillfully that in tone and
action it is identical with the best standard-size
pianos and there is no strangeness in transferring
from the Cable Midget to a full-sized upright or
grand.
The Mason Music Shop was opened recently in
Eau Claire, Wis., by A. C. Mason of Chippewa Falls,
Wis. A general music store will be conducted.
$2 The Yea
TRADE ACTIVITIES
IN INDIANAPOLIS
Local Music Trade Association Holds First
Fall Meeting at Which the "Carrying
Charge" Was Discussed but no
Joint Action Taken by Body.
FALL PREPARATIONS
State Fair Exhibits Planned by Several Firms—
Other Interesting Events in City's Trade
Told by Correspondent.
The Indianapolis Music Merchants' Association
held its first fall meeting on Monday, August 29 at
the Columbia Club after the usual noon luncheon.
Owing to the absence of President Wert Mr. Wil-
liams, the vice-president of the association, conducted
the meeting.
One of the principal topics of the meeting was
the carrying charge, a subject discussed pro and con
with no definite results whatever. Dealers realize
that in order to conduct a profitable business they
must eventually adopt the carrying charge, but sev-
eral are still hesitating and giving in the meanwhile
their views on the subject. Some very good letters
were read showing cities that have adopted the
charge have been greatly benefited by it and approve
the method. One of the leading dealers attribu'es
the delay to weak-kneed salesmanship, declaring that
many of the salesmen are fearful of bad results, and
a cut in sales if the method is adopted. There is no
question about the new me'hod having its effect on
sales for a very short period, but in the long run it
will prove profitable, and by many is considered a
good thing to do.
A little time was devoted to the p'ans for the com-
ing of the state association convention, and the mat-
ter of appointing committees, but President Joe kyde
is busy preparing things and in the very near future
the committee will be appointed.
Harry W r ert, the manager of the Pearson Piano
Company, reports business much improved and the
outlook is very encouraging. C-eo. Pearson has just
returned from California, and was taking an active
part in the business on Monday.
Geo. Mansfield, secretary of the Everett Piano
Company of South Haven, Mich., was in Indianapolis
during the past week, calling on the Pearson Piano
Company, representatives of the Everett piano in
this city.
Jesse French Abroad.
Again Indianapolis is being convinced of the
popularity of the Jesse French & Sons pianos in
foreign countries. The Wilking Music Company is
displaying several hundred letters and envelopes from
all parts of the civilized world, where French pianos
are being sold. All during the day it is no unusual
sight to see a group of pedestrians standing in front
of the window gazing at the enve'opes, from coun-
tries perhaps they had never heard tell of. The en-
velopes are arranged on the sides of the window with
the center open, in order to get a good view of one of
the latest style French grands in the background.
Frank Wilking. head of the Wilking Music Co.,
has returned from his vacation and was well pleased
to find that business during his absence was very
good. Mr. Wilking says that he believes the coming
season wil be one of the best the piano business
will have experienced in many years, with the better
grades of instruments heading the list of sales.
Activities at Fair.
The Christena-Teague Piano Company will dis-
tribute three hundred toy balloons each day at the
Indiana State Fair, where the company will have a
very attractive booth. "Of course we don't expect to
sell many instruments direct," said Mr. Teague, "but
we do expect to get some good prospects, which will
develop into sales later." The company reports an
improvement in business conditions. Mr. Morse,
representing Chickering & Sons Piano Company, was
among the callers at the store during the past week.
The Starr Piano Company will have a very large
and attractive booth at the State Fair, where it will
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