11
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
March 31, 1928
NEWS OF TRADE IN
NEW YORK CITY
CContinued from page 5.)
George W. Gittins was no longer with the company
hut could he found at the Studio, 695 Fifth avenue,
where R. F. Lytle, one of the new managers, is also
holding his office. Young Mr. Webster said that the
company has an expansive program of manufacturing
which it is going, to promote very vigorously, and he
predicts a fine success for it.
School for Music Research.
The Aeolian Hall School for Music Research is be-
ing advertised in New York. The Aeolian Company
announces "a new aid for elementary piano study,
called the Visuola," which has been endorsed by Josef
Hofmann as "a most useful innovation in piano teach-
ing for both pupil and teacher." The sponsorship
committee of the school is given as consisting of
Leopold Stokowski, Ernest Schelling, Rudolph Ganz,
George H. Gartlan, T. E. Steinway, Mrs. Harold
Vincent Milligan, Mrs. Adrian Iselin, Mrs. Janet
Schenk, Mme. Yolando Mero and H. B. Tremaine.
Business Improving, Says C. Albert Jacob.
The keynote of business can only be sounded by
asking some man who is in a position to know just
how "matters and things" stand; by asking a man in
charge of the larger affairs pertaining to the line of
endeavor and output about which the inquiry is made;
by asking a man of long experience, one not to be
discouraged by temporary setbacks or fluctuations of
the market. Such men are Charles Jacob and C.
Albert Jacob, of New York. Charles Jacob might be
described of late years as being of both New York
and Baltimore, for he seems to actually commute
between those two cities. He is one of the busiest
individuals and one of the most observing in the
piano trade.
Optimistic Views.
C. Albert Jacob, treasurer of James & Holmstrom
Piano Co., Inc., is experienced and reliable in any-
thing he says. When met by Presto-Times corre-
spondent he said that he was glad to note that busi-
ness was considerably better than it had been and he
felt that it would continue to improve.
August Gemunder Dead.
August M. Gemunder, aged 66 years, president of
the violin manufacturing firm of August Gemunder &
Sons, Inc., 125 West 42nd street, New York, died on
March 22 at his home, 312 West 109th street, New
York. His widow, Emilie L. Gemunder, and his
brother, Oscar, survive. Mr. Gemunder was born in
Manhattan May 4, 1862, and was the eldest of three
sons of August Gemunder, who founded the firm in
New York. His grandfather, Johann Gemunder, of
Wurtemburg, was violin maker to Prince Hohen-
lohe. The man who has just passed away attended
the public schools and became apprentice to his father
at sixteen years of age. In 1890 the elder Gemunder
founded the firm of August Gemunder & Sons. In
1895 the elder Gemunder died and August Gemunder,
Jr., became president of the firm.
Wm, G. Cooper, Loeser's Head, Dies.
William Gillette Cooper, president of Frederick
Loeser & Co., big department store of Brooklyn,
N. Y., which handles pianos, died on March 22 at the
Polyclinic Hospital, New York, where he had been
undergoing treatment. He had been active at his
business until two weeks ago. In respect for its
dead chief, the Loeser store was closed on Friday and
Saturday. March 22 and 23. Thirty-seven years ago
Mr. Cooper came to New York from Bridgeport,
Conn., where he was born a comparatively poor youth.
His first job was at the linen counter of the store,
then under the direction of Frederick Loeser. He was
trustee in several big corporations, and he belonged
to several golf clubs.
Music Center Projected.
Plans for the erection of a building to house musical
and other art societies were revealed at the annual
dinner of the Society of the Friends of Music at the
Hotel Astor, New York, at 8 p. m. Wednesday of
this week, March 28. Mrs. James F. D. Lanier is
president. Rubin Goldmack, composer, presided.
Charles Stumpf, Faithful Salesman.
Charles Stumpf has been selling pianos continu-
ously for 35 years and for one concern. Such rec-
ords in the piano trade are scarce, or in any trade,
for that matter, but Mr. Stumpf is justly proud of his
long connection with the Mathushek, Jacob Bros, and
James & Holmstrom pianos. He is one of the floor
men at the James & Holmstrom and Mathushek store
and headquarters, 37 West 37th street. He is cheer-
ful over the improvement in business. "Trade is a
little better this month than it was last month," he
said to Presto-Times' eastern representative.
AMERICAN PIANO CO.
IN INDIANAPOLIS
Christena-Teague Piano Company Certain to
Be Given the Franchise for Entire
Line, According to Letter to
William Christena.
According to a letter sent to William Christena of
the Christena-Teague Piano Company, Indianapolis,
his company will be awarded the American Piano
Company franchise. The letter in his possession was
exhibited to the correspondent of the Presto-Times
on Monday morning, this week, who was making
inquiry as to "who" will be the exclusive representa-
tive of the line in question. The entire contents of
the letter was not read, but the last paragraph em-
phatically stated that Mr. Christena's house would
draw the lucky number.
In the interview with Alfred Rapp of the Rapp &
Lennox Piano Company it was learned that nothing
has been decided as far as his company knew; and,
in fact, was still waiting patiently to hear from the
American Piano Company. Mr. Rapp had a letter
which was received a few days ago from the eastern
headquarters of the company, stating that in the early
part of this week the matter w T ould be decided. In
fact, that a representative was en route to Indian-
apolis. This same information was received before
and several weeks have passed since, and nothing has
developed. The situation seems to take on a new
bit of color as the days and weeks go on, and is being
General Traveler for the M. Schulz Co. Over a Wide freely discussed along piano row.
The Main Topic.
Section Sees Trade Improvement.
Men who have been in the game a long time are
R. K. Maynard, general traveler west of the Rock- commenting on the fact that the newly appointed rep-
ies for the M. Schulz Co., Chicago, was in Salt Lake resentative will throw all other makes overboard, and
City this week and in a talk with a Presto-Times rep- devote all his time and attention to the line comprised
resentative spoke very cheerfully of the conditions of nine different makes of pianos—nine makes seems
in the inter-mountain states and his territory gen- a rather large selection for Indianapolis. Some very
erally.
popular pianos are now being sold where the famous
"I find a noticeable improvement in orders which, makes of the American Piano Company line are
of course, means a livelier time for the dealers. This being sold. They have some good friends in this
applies to Utah and adjacent states, as well as Cali- city, and there is no doubt that they will continue
fornia.
to be sold there. Years of hard work have made
"Los Angeles is showing a great improvement and them popular, they have been highly advertised on
one plainly observed by the piano traveler. It is a bill-boards, in street cars, and on highways. They are
great city and in every phase of its grow T th offers far from being strangers in the piano trade.
assurances of bigger business to the music merchant.
Wurlitzer for Theater.
"The centralizing of lines there will make for good
The
new
Granada
Theater, one of the new attrac-
and that is the belief of observant piano men.
tive picture houses in Indianapolis, has purchased
two Wurlitzer style R grand pianos. The new
MRS. STIEFF MAKES DEBUT.
Granada Theater is a member of the Universal chain.
Mrs. Ruth Bollins Stieff, wife of Frederick P. The sale was made by the Wilking Music Company
Stieff, Jr., member of the firm of Charles M. Stieff
local representatives for the Wurlitzer line. The sale
Co., manufacturers of the Stieff and Shaw pianos, of Jesse French & Son's grands has been very good
will make her recital debut March 31 before a Balti- during the past week, especially the style S, one of
more audience in Stieff Hall, 315 North Howard which was sold to a very prominent orchestra leader
street, Baltimore, Md. Mrs. Stieff, a soprano, will be in Indianapolis, and another to a real booster for the
accompanied by Frank Bibb, of the Peabody Con- line who has used a Jesse French & Son's instrument
servatory of Music. Mrs. Stieff, formerly in light for the past eighteen years.
opera, will present groups of French, German and
Edgar French Returns Home.
Spanish songs. Stieff Hall is the music auditorium
of the Stieff piano store in this city. It is the only
H. Edgar French of the Jesse French Piano
piano concern in Baltimore which maintains a music Company, New Castle, stopped over in Indianapolis
auditorium in its store.
last Tuesday on his way home from the south. Other
visitors in Indianapolis during the week were
An artistic Italian Period model Schumann piano Gordon Laughead of the Wurlitzer Grand Piano Com-
has been installed in the beautiful Klausmeier home pany, who was returning from an outing in Florida.
L. E. Warner of the Apollo Piano Company,
in Decatur, 111.
George Mansfield of the Everett Piano Company,
M. O'Leary of the M. Steinert Piano Company, Bos-
ton, Mass.
Fred Martin, special representative
of the Aeolian Company spent several days in Indian-
apolis with the Pearson Piano Company on sales
promotion work.
R. K. MAYNARD IN
SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH
THE JEWETT PIANOS
Reliable Grand, Upright and Player Pianos
JEWETT PIANO CO., Boston
Factories: Leominster, Mass.
OPENS IN SPRINGFIELD, O.
The "Freed Music Shop," backed partly by local
interests, w y ill be opened at Springfield, Ohio, soon.
James White, formerly employed at the Murdocks
Music Co., and well known in that city, will be in
charge of the store.
Coin Operated and Selection Controlled Pianos
MECHANICALLY PERFECT
Music That Pays as It Plays
W E S T E R N ELECTRIC P I A N O CO., 832-850 Biackhawk St., Chicago, 111.
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