PRESTO-TIMES
CONFERENCE OF
STRAUBE FORCES
Officials, Department Heads, Factory Execu-
tives, Road Men and Straube Dealers
Gather at Headquarters in Ham-
mond, Ind., for Annual Re-
view of Business.
public confidence it enjoys. That 1928 will be a
Straube year," stated Mr. Stewart, "is well confirmed
by the cordial relationship existing between the Straube
dealer organization and the Straube Piano Company
and the sales activity that is now going on. Period
designs by Straube in both grand and upright in-
struments sold well during 1927 and the number will
be increased during 1928. New literature is in press
at this time. In addition the unique features of con-
struction which have proven so practical and popular
PLANS FOR 1928
President Jacobson and Sales Manager Stewart Make
Statements Which Evoke Cheerful Antici-
pations in the Dealers.
The annual business conference of the Straube
Piano Co. was held at the headquarters of the Straube
institution at Hammond, Ind, on January 3, 4 and 5.
In addition to the usual gathering of the officials,
department heads, factory executives and various
members of the wholesale staff, a considerable num-
ber of Straube merchants visiting the factory during
the week were included in the activities and partici-
pated in what was declared to be the most successful
and constructive business conference since the in-
ception of the business fifty years ago in 1878.
George B. Dow, prominent piano merchant of Chi-
cago, when commenting upon the leadership that
the Straube piano has attained, also presented the
gathering with a most interesting demonstration and
sales talk pertaining to the Straube grand piano.
Although in a highly competitive market, Mr. Dow
and his sales manager, Charles Nelson, have built
up a very large distribution of Straube pianos.
Among Those Present.
Among other Straube merchants visiting the fac-
tory who addressed the conference were Chas. C
Adams of Peoria, 111.; George P. Gross, Cincinnati;
L. H. Paul Jones, Fort Wayne, Ind.; C. J. Kramer,
Gary, Ind., and W. O. Gross of Eaton, Ohio.
''Concrete evidence of the success of the Straube
in Peoria," stated Mr. Adams, "is the fact that in our
locality more Straube pianos have been sold than in
any other community in the United States. Although
times have changed, the Straube piano and the
Straube Piano Co. policies of merchandising meet
conditions as they are today and we expect to sell
a lot of Straube pianos during 1928."
At a luncheon tendered to. the conference at the
Woodmar Country Club on January 5, E. R. Jacob-
son, president of the Straube Piano Co., and who
was for two terms president of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, stated that the Straube
Piano Co. had made very favorable progress during
1927 and that continued advancement was anticipated
during 1928.
Sales Manager's Statement.
II. A. Stewart, sales manager, outlined the sub-
stantial character of the Straube institution and the
January 28, 1928
INTERESTING TRADE NEWS
FROM WISCONSIN STATE
Common Belief of Public Is Rendered Erroneous by
Portable Phonograph Production.
Contrary to common belief the radio has not made
severe inroads on the talking machine business, in
view of the fact that the Allen-Hough Manufacturing
Company of Racine, Wis., is producing five hundred
portable phonographs daily. The qompany came to
Racine about a year ago and began operations with
a force of fifteen employes. Today it is employing
eighty-seven and the plant is being operated night
and day to fill orders.
The Ward-Brodt Music Company at Madison, Wis.,
which was organized early in 1927 by Cecil Brodt and
T. Lane Ward has met with considerable success de-
spite the fact that the company is not quite a year
old. Mr. Ward and Mr. Brodt organized the shop
with the idea that Madison musicians would receive
better service and would be able to select from a
larger stock, if all the music were available in one
place.
The Noll Piano company, located on Milwaukee's
south side, furnished the Charles Frederick Stein
Grand piano in the new million dollar National the-
ater, the first atmospheric de luxe neighborhood house
to be erected on M ilwaukee's south side.
SELECTS CHICKERING AMPICO.
Frederick Brosseau of Greenwich, Conn., and pres-
ident of the Mack Truck Company, has purchased a
Chickering Ampico grand in the style of William and
Mary for use in his Greenwich, Conn., home. The
sale was made at Chickering Hall, New York.
Dolk of Lamport-McDonald Advertising Agency.
South Bend.
E. R. JACOBSON
At the conclusion of the conference the group
during the past year will be continued so that people adjourned for dinner at the Terrace Gardens, Mor-
rison Hotel, Chicago, and later, in a body, attended
may continue to see as well as hear the merit of
the theater. Among those present were: P. F.
the Straube. Policies of National Advertising and
Pfingsten and C. J. Lenz, Glen Eliyn. 111.; L. B.
National Pricing will be maintained in the future
Kewith, George B. Dow and his sales manager,
as they have been for many years past. The 'Good
Charles Nelson, Chicago; W. O. Gross, Eaton, O.;
Housekeeping Magazine' and the 'Ladies' Home
L. H. Paul Jones, Ft. Wayne, Ind.; Geo. P. Gross,
Journal' will be the outstanding publications used and
Cincinnati, O.; Frank Justin and A. Nawquist, Cicero,
merchants will reeeive effective tie-up material so 111.; C. J. Kramer, Gary, Ind.; Chas. C. Adams and
that they may enjoy the local benefit of what the H. H. Bland, Peoria, 111.; I. S. Dolk and W. K. Lam-
Straube Piano Co. is endeavoring to do. Although port, South Bend, Ind. Of the wholesale staff pres-
we have taken on a number of new dealers during ent were included Capt. J. A. Bryan, eastern terri-
1927 and hope to have many others with us in the tory; Robt. E. Lauer, Ohio and West Virginia; J. N.
future, nevertheless, we appreciate the loyalty of
England, southeastern representative; W. A. Berry,
our present merchants and nothing will be done that western representative; D. L. Sterling, central west,
will prevent old Straube dealers from enjoying the and Chas. T. Phelan, southwestern representative.
The Straube offices were represented by E. R. Jacob-
fruits of their efforts."
son, president; C. H. J. Thorby, vice-president; J. F.
Others Who Spoke
Jacobson, secretary; A. T. Schuldes, treasurer; H. A.
Other Straube executives who addressed the con- Stewart, sales manager; W. G. Betz, superintendent;
ference were C. H. J. Thorby, vice-president; A. T. H. R. McVey, Clarence Kritch, R. E. Folk, retail
Schuldes, treasurer; W. G. Betz, superintendent; manager; Charles Levin, Joe Martin, and A. D.
R. E. Folk, manager of the retail division, and I. S. Myer, purchasing agent.
STUART ROSS PLAYS AMPICO RECORDS
JANE SPABDER STEPPERS.
The Knabe Ampico played an important part in a
recent entertainment given at the Cleveland, Ohio,
Masonic Temple by the Holyrood Commandery,
?tuart Ross* celebrated concert pianist, used the
Knabe Ampico very effectively, playing in alternation
JANE SPAEDER HERSELF.
with his own Ampico recordings. The Jane Spaedyr
Steppers, shown above, executed a series of seven
dance numbers, the Knabe Ampico again furnishing
delightful music for the intricate dance steps. The
Ampico part of the program was made possible
STEPPERS IN BUCCANEER DANCE.
through the efforts of W. O. Shaffer of the Cleveland
Knabe Warerooms, who writes:
"Audience somewhat stunned at first, but you
ought to have heard the applause later. Not one hitch
in program,"
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