May 5, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
right in the heart of things in the Quaker City. Like
the store in the Maryland city the branch in Phila-
delphia maintains the dignity of the trade in its adver-
tising and the manner of presenting its instruments.
Business in the store is good and gaining with the
advance of the season.
The Stieff Philadelphia store sells mainly their own
Manufacturing Field Exhibits Its Old Charac- makes, the Stieff piano, and Welte Mignon (Licensee)
teristics of Factory Heads Consistent in Ef- reproducing pianos.
fort to Continuously Improve Product and
Cunningham Piano Co., Inc.
You cannot think of pianos in Philadelphia without
to Forcefully Present It to Trade.
giving considerable thought to the Cunningham Piano
Co., Inc., and to its founder, the energetic P. J. Cun-
ningham, to whose keen mind and forceful personality
the prosperity of the company is due. The factory
Evidence of Optimistic Attitude of Lester Piano Co. of the Cunningham Piano Co., Inc., at 50th street,
Parkside avenue and Viola street, is ideally managed
Shown in Cheerful Conditions in Factory, Which
and thoroughly equipped in the most modern way.
Runs Continually Without Let-Up.
"You cannot make good pianos without good tools,"
was the suggestive statement of Mr. Cunningham
Mr. Heppe's Cheerful Talk.
that recognized a fact observed in an effective way in
The Heppe Piano Co., of which Florence J. Heppe every department of the factory.
is president and treasurer, is prominent in the piano
The Cunningham Piano Co. manufactures the
activities of Philadelphia. The other officers are
M. F. McDowell Heppe, vice-president, and Geo. "Matchless Cunningham," "Girard Cunningham,"
W. Witney, secretary. The company produces three "Forrest" and the "P. & E Cunningham" pianos.
The offices of the Cunningham Piano Co., Inc.,
makes of pianos: The C. J. Heppe & Son, the Mar-
and the retail warerooms are in the 16-story Cun-
cellus and the Edouard Jules.
The leader is the C. J. Heppe & Son, an instru- ningham Building at 1312-14 Chestnut street.
Mr. Cunningham was just starting for his factory
ment which stands high in the estimation of musical
when Presto-Times' Eastern correspondent colled on
him Friday morning, but he was back aPnoon, and ac-
companied by Treasurer Mickel of the company, the
three men went to luncheon together. Mr. Cunning-
ham keeps in touch with conditions and men in the
trade throughout America, and he seems to think
that it will require pretty strenuous work on the part
of piano salesmen to bring this year up to where it
will make a good comparative showing.
The Wurlitzer Store Busy.
The Wurlitzer store at 1031 Chestnut street finds
but little to complain about these changeable spring
days. The motto is "Never mind the weather—get
out and sell." H. B. Bruck, floor manager, is happy
to report that in one day last week the Philadelphia
store sold 50 radios, and all from two samples in the
store. Customers were told they'd have to wait ten
days for delivery, but they signed up just the same
and cheerfully consented to wait. Mr. Bruck is a
musical instrument man of long experience. For a
number of years he conducted his own music store
in Cleveland, Ohio, under the title of H. B. Bruck &
Son.
Large display ads were used last week by Wur-
litzer's in Philadelphia, announcing a sale for Satur-
day only of the "wonderful six-tube Concollette radio
at a price that would make it the greatest of all radio
values—$99.50. Only W'urlitzer, the world's largest
FLORENCE J. HEPPE
folk for its heautiful tone. The Marcellus and music house, with coast-to-coast distribution through
Edouard Jules also have sustained a character for more than 100 stores, can offer you such money-
tone. The entire product of the company is distinct saving values."
Weymann's Three Good Lines.
from that of any other company through the use of
three sounding hoards instead of one. The inven-
Weymann's, 1108 Chestnut street, is representative
tion has been patented in the United States and for- in the Quaker City for the Gulbransen, the Kurtz-
eign countries.
raann and the Baldwin lines of pianos and player
Florence J. Heppe, head of the Heppe Piano Co., pianos. Besides, the Weymann concern has long been
who was seen this week at the offices of C. J. Heppe known as the manufacturer of an excellent line of
& Son, 1117 Chestnut street, the retail department banjos.
of the company, is one of the optimistic men whose
"I am glad to say that trade is looking more lively,"
attitude on piano trade conditions and possibilities said Herbert Weymann, "and we are expecting bigger
do much to preserve the spirit that results in achieve- changes for the better." Mr. Weymann is a young
ment. His own concern shows an active condition, man that it would be impossible to discourage, and
both in the wholesale and retail phases. In addition he is bound to win, too, for he is a busy individual
to the main store the company has a branch at South who keeps persistently at work.
Fourth and Thompson streets.
Ledger's Harmonica Contest.
Mr. Heppe is the picture of good health and after
The annual contest for the silver cups awarded by
getting through with a conference with his advertis-
ing man, Mr. Witney, he discoursed freely about the Philadelphia Evening Public Ledger to harmonica
champions is being conducted in Philadelphia this
conditions in the piano trade.
week. Albert N. Hoxie was the originator of the
Otto R. Trefz, Jr.
harmonica movement in Philadelphia, which was for-
A Philadelphia business that interests many piano merly a city affair. But this year Baltimore sent its
tuners and repairmen throughout the country is that champion harmonica band to compete; Chester
of Otto R. Trefz, Jr., 1305-09 North 27th street, County, Pa., sent a delegation, and other Pennsyl-
which has built up a splendid reputation as a reliable vania towns represented were Coatesville, Downing-
supply house for the men who tune or repair pianos. ton, Kenneth Square, Unionville, Spring City and
It is a tribute to the house that it not only continues Pottstown.
to increase its list of customers, but that it also re-
Lester Piano Co. Is Very Busy.
tains them. Advertising and assiduous pursuit of
There is no more spirited company in the piano
prospects will gain new customers; only satisfaction
busines anywhere than the Lester Piano Co., with
with their purchases will tie the buyers to a house.
Otto R. Trefz, Jr., specializes in piano bass strings headquarters at 1306 Chestnut street, Philadelphia,
and piano repair supplies, and for these commodities and stores and agencies in many other cities. In con-
it has a roster of tuners and repairmen who put the versation with H. R. Whitcraft, advertising manager
utmost trust in anything ordered from the house. of the Lester Piano Co., Presto-Times Eastern cor-
Prompt shipments and satisfactory goods are fea- respondent was delighted to hear that the Lester
tures of the business that makes its customers its factories are running full tilt, with no idea of shutting
friends. The company has a new illustrated catalog down to part time, but, instead, the company is build-
of piano hardware, felts, tools and other necessities ing additions to its plant, speeding up production and
carrying out special sales in various parts of the
for the tuner "and repairman.
country. This company runs winter and summer,
The Chas. M, Stieff Branch.
spring and fall, producing its line of fine instruments,
The Philadelphia branch of the Chas. H. Stieft firm in the faith that there is plenty of business for
Piano Co., Baltimore, Md., is at 1717 Chestnut street, those who push to get it. In fact, they were so
PIANO ACTIVITIES
IN PHILADELPHIA
THE LESTER SPIRIT
ENCOUNTERS CABLE
PIANO ON SPANISH TRIP
Friend of C. E. Jackson, Sales Manager, Writes
About Interesting Event of His
Visit to Seville.
C. E. Jackson, sales manager of The Cable Com-
pany, Chicago, has received an interesting letter from
a friend of his, who is touring through Spain.
"As we were walking through oue of the narrow
streets of Seville," he writes, "a truck passed with one
boxed upright piano from The Cable Company. It
seemed so strange to us, but on the dock, they were
unloading a number of other American products. So
we are not altogether unknown in Spain."
The export department of The Cable Company has
many contacts in Spain and the South American coun-
tries, and now publishes complete literature in Span-
ish for its export pianos.
PLEASANT COMMENT BY
ST. LOUIS MUSIC DEALER
E. A. Kieselhorst, President of the Kieselhorst
Piano Company, Sees Instructive Value
in Last Week's Presto-Times.
"Editor, Presto-Times—Among other interesting
features of the splendid Presto-Times, two in this
week's issue struck me rather forcibly, the first cover-
ing the comments of various dealers on radio selling
and piano selling, page 7, the second the article top
right-hand column, page 13, with its sub-heading, and
immediately through my mind Hashed the following.
"Fine! Some see it by 'artificial booze' and acquire
an artificial idea of what New York City really IS.
Others have experienced a 'fade out' even under arti-
ficial light. Of course both classes always give a
copious supply of 'reasons why.' Be that as it may,
thoughts of that kind keep us from growing old.
"Then on page 16 I noticed the article headed,
'Zenith and Q. R. S. Favorite on Chicago Stock Ex-
change This Week, Securities of Industries Named
Show L T pward Trend.' For several years past I have
told my friends in the trade and outside of it to keep
their lamps glued on Q. R. S. Company and Zenith
Radio Corporation. Some of them are mighty glad
they did. E. A. KIESELHORST, St. Louis."
NORTH CAROLINA ASSN. MEETS
Charles S. Andrews was unanimously re-elected as
president of the North Carolina Music Merchants'
Association at the annual convention held in Char-
lotte last week. Other officers elected were C. H.
Stephenson, first vice-president; W. R. Murray,
second vice-president; S. W. Gardner, secretary, and
H. A. Dunham, treasurer. About 50 dealers and
salesmen were present for the annual gathering. The
banquet was held at the King Cotton Hotel, with
several excellent talks on subjects dealing with the
association's activities.
busy all last summer that when the workmen begged
for the Saturday half-holiday in order to see the
baseball games, they could be allowed only two
Saturday afternoons for that sport in the season.
One of the special sales is now being held at Johns-
town, Pa.
Steinway in Philadelphia.
N. Stetson & Co. has the agency for the Steinway
and other pianos in Philadelphia at 1111 Chestnut
street, an easy number to remember on account of
the four ones. August von Bernuth, the manager,
who is a piano man of long experience and a highly
cultured gentleman, was called upon by Presto-Times
Eastern representative. Mr. Von Bernutt assured
the caller that business in the Steinway pianos has
kept right up since the beginning of the year; in fact,
this year's business in Philadelphia so far will aver-
age with any first four months in the last five years.
This, of course, is a very satisfactory showing and
again proves the popularity of the Steinway instru-
ments. Mr. von Bernuth says these Steinways have
not been bought mostly by rich people, but largely
by people in moderate circumstances such as con-
stitute the preponderance of the inhabitants of the
giant Quaker City.
William Boyd.
William Boyd, a vice-president of the Curtis Pub-
lishing Co., Philadelphia, on Friday was elected a
director of the Victor Talking Machine Co. at the
annual meeting of the stockholders. He succeeded
Albert W. Atkinson, who resigned several weeks ago.
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