March 17, 1928
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
OLD PIANOS IN NEW PLACES
PIANO CLUB HEARS
TOURNAMENT VICTOR
be selling these instruments for some time to come.
The sales of the Mason & Hamlin continue good
and orders are continually being sent to the factory.
In Los Angeles the Cable line is still actively repre-
sented by the Wiley B. Allen Company, Mr. Dowling
said, but in San Francisco no definite arrangements
have been for Cable representation.
In Chicago the reports of the purchase of several
buildings to house the line of the American Piano
Company interest the piano fraternity. Among the
buildings said to be possible purchases for the pur-
pose are the McClurg building, now occupied by
Brentano's; the P. A. Starck, Steger and Adam Schaaf
buildings. In no case has there been confirmation of
any sale, but in several positive denials have been
voiced.
Saul Dorfman Grand Prize Winner in Contest
of 1927 Gives Proofs of his Progress
in Piano Playing.
AMERICAN PIANO CO.
AGENCY CHANGES
In Indianapolis, No Statement of Change in
Representation Is Made—In Chicago
Choice of a Building to House the
Line Not Yet Announced.
CHANGE IN BALTIMORE
The Hamilton Company to Close Out Chickering,
Marshall & Wendell and Brewster—Possibilities
in Chicago.
Some important changes in the piano industry are
about to take place in Indianapolis in the very near
future where the American Piano Company's line has
been represented by two concerns, Rapp & Lennox
and Christena Teague Piano Company. Just what
changes will take place will not be made public until
one of the representatives of the American Piano
Company arrives in the city. Rumors to the effect
that one of the large department stores will take over
the entire line have been brought to Indianapolis
from other cities by traveling men, but nothing posi-
tive can be learned. Officials of the department store
refuse to make any statement, in fact refuse to be
interviewed on the subject. Other reports to the
effect that the American Piano Company will open
its own branch house are heard from many sources,
but after investigating the rumors they are found to
have little merit.
Rapp & Lennox Silent.
When the correspondent of the Presto-Times called
to see Mr. Rapp of Rapp & Lennox, who have been
representatives for the Knabe, J. & C. Fisher and
Haines Bros, pianos, part of the American Piano Co.'s
line, and asked as to the company's future plans, he
refused to reveal any plans for the future. "We are
not ready to talk of the future just yet," said Mr.
Rapp.
William Christena Doesn't Know.
William Christena of the Christena-Teague Piano
Company doesn't know anything yet. When ap-
proached on the subject as to who would represent
the American Piano Co.'s line in Indianapolis, Wil-
liam Christena said he had no advice on the matter
up to this time. "I can't tell you a thing," was his
answer. Our business is showing a marked improve-
ment in the last week, and prospects are very good.
Our business is showing a marked' improvement in
the last week, and prospects are very good. There is
every indication of a good spring business in the
future, and we expect to get our share of it.
During the past week Paul Fink, representing the
Aeolian Company, was in Indianapolis and called on
several of his old friends. Mr. Fink spent most of
his time with the Pearson Piano Company local repre-
sentatives in Indianapolis for the Aeolian line.
In Baltimore.
The Hamilton Company, trading as the Chickering
Warerooms, 309 North Charles street, Baltimore,
Md., will discontinue the Chickering piano in its busi-
ness after this month, and beginning with April 1 the
company will conduct a strictly talking machine and
radio store.
According to an announcement of the company, it
will discontinue the agency for Chickering, Marshall
& Wendell and the Brewster pianos, which it has
carried for many years in Baltimore and surrounding
territory on the date named. The company will close
out its entire stock of pianos, including grands, up-
rights, players, reproducing instruments and coin-
operated pianos.
In order to clear out all pianos the company is
offering its entire stock at prices ranging from twenty
to fifty per cent of the regular selling prices. All
pianos sold during this sale, how y ever, will be serviced
by the Hamilton Company, so they advertise, and the
instruments are covered by the manufacturers' guar-
antee.
The Talking Machine Shop, owned and operated by
A. J. Oldewurtel at 301 North Howard street, has
secured a more modern building at 316 North How-
ard street, which it will occupy with a full and com-
plete line of talking machines, records, sheet music
and allied lines. The building at 316 North Howard
street was recently completely remodeled.
In Chicago.
George J. Dowling, president of The Cable Com-
pany, Chicago, who returned this week from a month's
visit to the Pacific Coast, said his company still has
the Mason & Hamlin piano and presumes they will
GEORGE J. DOWLING RETURNS
FROM THE PACIFIC COAST
President of The Cable Company, Chicago, Foresees
Favorable Effects of New Conditions in
Los Angeles.
George J. Dowliug, president of The Cable Piano
Co., Chicago, who returned from a month's visit to
the Pacific Coast a few days ago, had important com-
ments to make on piano conditions in California. The
Cable company's line in Los Angeles continues an
active source of business with the Wiley B. Allen
Company, although no decisive arrangements have
yet been made for the line in San Francisco.
In that city the line of The Cable Company, so
ably handled by the Wiley B. Allen Company, has
been accorded great favor by piano buyers for many
years and the appreciation of the leading pianos of
the line by musicians and musical people generally,
as well as schools and colleges is an asset of great
value.
The selling conditions in the piano field at Los
Angeles for some years past were detrimental to the
business of all the dealers, Mr. Dowling said. The
methods employed by several houses were rather too
strenuous and in too many instances too disregardful
of the ethics of piano merchandising. He sees the
pleasant possibilities of ultimate benefit to the piano
trade in the new piano alignments.
MUSIC TRADES ASSOCIATIONS
OF N. CALIFORNIA MEETS
Annual Meeting of Important Trade Body Held at
Stewart Hotel, San Francisco, This Week.
The annual meeting of the Music Trades Associa-
tion of Northern California was held at the Stewart
Hotel, San Francisco, on Tuesday of this week. The
annual dinner preceded the business meeting at which
several important addresses were made.
The president, Shirley Walker, had sent out a letter
to the members in which he said ''We want not only
heads of houses but department heads and sales peo-
ple as well. And remember that the ladies are wel-
come."
Dr. Frederick A. Kolster was scheduled for a talk
on "Reproduction of Recorded and Broadcast Music,
the points of which he illustrated by sound repro-
duction experiments.
FILM STAR LIKES BRAMBACH
Claire Windsor, the famous Metro-Goldwin-Mayer
movie star, recently visited Denver, Colo., in person,
where she is a favorite on the silver screen. At the
time of the Automobile Show Miss Windsor was a
guest of the Rocky Mountain News. The day of
her arrival she requested by telegram the Knight-
Campbell Music Co., to have a Brambach baby grand
piano placed in her suite at the Cosmopolitan Hotel
for her personal use during her stay in the city. An
exquisite Brambach instrument was hurried to the
hotel and many of Miss Windsor's admirers in Den-
ver, who are legion, have been flocking to the Knight-
Campbell showrooms to purchase a piano "just like
Claire's."
Events at the weekly luncheon this week of the
Piano Club of Chicago, pointed to the notable efforts
of the club last year in supporting to the fullest extent
all movements and activities that had for their goal
the betterment of business in the music field.
One outstanding accomplishment was the conduct-
ing of the First Annual Greater Chicago Children
Amateur Piano Playing Tournament to a highly suc-
cessful conclusion, the executive committee being
composed of members of the Piano Club of Chicago
At the luncheon this week Saul Dorfman, Chicago's
1927 amateur champion pianist and grand prize win-
ner of the tournament, was the guest of honor. In
addition to this head liner an able representative of
the 1928 tournament executive committee had an
important message to the club.
Chas. E. Byrne, called the originator of the piano
players' contests, talked about the progress made in
such events and their spread abroad. Recent con-
tests in England, he said, are credited to the American
initiative. It was recalled that Mr. Byrne's speech
at Dallas, Tex., three years ago and later at the meet-
ing of the Illinois Music Dealers' convention at Rock-
ford in that year, had the effect of actually creating
the contest movement.
H. W. Hewitt, who is familiarly called the "boss"
among the Chicago tournament promoters, is chair-
man of the committee.
SPECIAL BALDWIN
SPRING ADVERTISING
New Material Prepared for Strong Campaign
of Sales by Baldwin Piano Co. and Deal-
ers Are Urged to Use Them.
A special folder announces new numbers in the
line of the Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati. They are
Model G, Miniature grand: Model E, Baby grand,
and Model C, Parlor grand. Mailed to dealers it is
accompanied by proofs of ads prepared for the ben-
efit of Baldwin dealers. Other materials provide the
dealer with new and compelling matter for the ap
proach to prospects:
Formal announcement of the new models. Prints
of Baldwin National Advertising, announcing the new
models. Half-tones and electros for local newspaper,
magazine and program advertising. Suggested letter
of invitation to musicians and music lovers.
"Use this material to stimulate interest. Then
follow-up closely with personal calls upon musicians
and music lovers, inviting them to see, hear, play
the new Baldwin models on display in your sales-
rooms,' is the advice in a special letter in which this
is said:
"So important is the announcement of the new
Baldwin model that we have interrupted the spring
series of Baldwin advertising, featuring the great
Baldwin artists, to devote our national advertising in
March to the introduction of these new models.
All Baldwin dealers are urged to direct their local
advertising efforts for the next thirty days to a tie-in
on this announcement.
The Publicity department is prepared to provide
without charge the necessary material to do this. The
beautiful photographic illustration of the New Bald-
win Model "C" used in the national advertising has
been made adaptable to newspaper and program use.
These advertisements, used this month, in your local
newspaper and program advertising should bring ex-
cellent results. Use them without fail."
HISTORIC BEHR BROS. AD
J. B. Wood of El Dorado, Ark., has secured a five-
year lease on a building between Sixth and Seventh
avenues on Main street, Pine Bluff, Ark., where he
purposes opening a new music store. Mr. Wood is a
brother of Harold A. Wood, formerly connected with
Nowlin, Carr Music Company of Pine Bluff.
Back in 1889 an advertisement of Behr Bros. & Co.
appeared in the October issue of the Philadelphia
Musical Journal. At that time the Behr Bros. & Co.
organization had already been in existence for many
years, and had built up an enviable reputation for the
quality of its line of instruments.
While the styles shown appear decidedly "passe"
today, they represented the ultimate at the time and
proof that this well-known organization has kept
abreast of the times is most forcibly exemplified by
the completeness of the catalog now issued by this
progressive company. The catalog contains baby
pianos, grands, uprights, players, electric expression
pianos and reproducing uprights and grands. It also
contains a complete line of Period instruments.
Soward Co., Federation Building, North
street, Dayton, Ohio, is a new music store.
Aspell's Ardmore, Okla., increase of capitalization
to $20,000.
NEW ARKANSAS STORE.
Main
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