May 26, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
TRADE EVENTS IN
NEW YORK FIELD
very rapidly. Mr. Kraft buys the finest of South
American buckskin, and he has peculiar processes of
finishing it for use in piano actions. He has a beauti-
ful home out northeast of New York City, where his
friends who drive out are always welcome, and just
now he is going on a little fishing trip, a sport in
which he takes peculiar delight.
Stores Suggest Assurances of Dealers That a
Lively Piano Business of a Seasonable
Character Is Here and Factories
Give Other Evidences.
As Mr. Horton Sees It.
Presto-Times correspondent had a pleasant chat
with Mr. Horton, representative of the Cornwall
Patterson Company, Bridgeport, Conn., manufacturers
of piano hardware, who was making a call in New
"Business has been coming in a good deal better," York this week. He said he had observed that piano
said Max de Rochemont, president of Laffargne & manufacturing was commencing to spruce up quite
Co., 455-459 East 147th street, New York, this week. a bit.
"In fact, we have had quite a noticeable increase in
Autopiano Company Shipments.
our trade, and it is coming in from all points of the
country."
"We are shipping pianos from our plant every
Mr. de Rochemont spoke of the probable after- week day; not as many as we'd like to, perhaps,
but a good many," said Corley Gibson, president of
effect of the recent heavy trading in the Wall street
the Autopiano Company, 12th avenue, 50th and 51st
section of New York. It had been his observation
that it took about three months for the big fellows streets, New York, to Presto-Times correspondent
who gained and lost by such heavy trading to recover on Friday. "Trade is increasing; times are getting
their equipoise, and the general business throughout
better, and our own trade has been very fair."
the nation would take a straight shoot forward. No
The excellent instruments turned out at this great
doubt, he said, a good many lost heavily—were
factory are splendid trade builders for any dealer,
burnt—but on the other hand, many others made a
for the?? always make satisfied customers, thus bring-
lot of gains, and both these classes were temporarily
ing new inquiries.
upset. As soon as the nominees on the leading tickets
Bogart Piano Company Keeps Busy.
are known, Mr. de Rochemont believes, times will
Botli
E.
B. Bogart and C. A. Bogart of the Bogart
react for the better. He actually believes that Presi-
Piano Company, New York, were busy in their office
dent Coolidge will be drafted to head the Republican
on Friday when Presto-Times correspondent made a
ticket.
call there. C. A. Bogart, who travels extensively for
Pianos for Piano Men.
the company, as becomes a younger man, has been
That piano dealers lose out by spreading themselves in the South a good deal and over several thousand
over too many side lines, particularly radio, is the miles of territory lately. A keen observer and judi-
firm belief, of John J. Glynn, vice-president of James
cious piano man, C. A. Bogart took note of condi-
& Holmstrom, Inc., 37 E. 37th street, New York. He tions generally in the Southern States. He says the
knows of several instances of this very folly.
piano retail trade down there has lost a good many
dealers within the last ten or twelve months.
Mr. Glynn said that the seeming success the dealer
experienced the first few weeks or months after
At Jacob Bros.
switching over to radio was more than swamped later
"Our business is coming in regularly, a little from
by overhead, by loss of time in running out to cus-
tomers' houses to fix this or adjust that, loss of time here and there and everywhere, but it is gaining no-
ticeably and we welcome the improvement," said C.
by the presence in the store of chatterers who called
Albert Jacob, Jr., secretary of Jacob Bros., at the
to ask what to do about aerial interference, what bat-
factory office in the Bronx, on Tuesday of this week
teries were best, how to overcome static troubles or
to the caller from Presto-Times.
what was new in radio invention.
Jacob Bros,, known in every state in the Union
In some of these conversations neither the dealer
nor the customer knew scientifically what they were as manufacturers of "pianos of quality," are more
talking about, nor realized that each had wasted his than living up to their reputation as quality piano
time because the language of each was Greek to the builders, for no better money's worth in pianos can
other. After the dealer had made a few radio sales be found anywhere than in the instrument produced
he found he had a lot of petty, vexatious accounts at this great and progressive Bronx factory.
and that his piano business had so suffered by neglect
A Busy Needle Company.
that it had all but died on his hand; whereas, if he had
The
New
York
headquarters of the Brilliantone
stuck to the piano, the basic instrument, he would
Steel Needle Company of America, Inc., Suite 1214,
have had a lot of larger accounts and a much stronger
No. 370 Seventh avenue, New York, is a very busy
bank balance besides.
place these days, under the general management of
Halsey Hazelton at Darien, Conn.
H. W r . Acton, a gentleman of wide experience in his
line. This company is selling agents for the W. H.
Halsey Hazelton, who at one time was president of
the Hazelton Piano Company, New York, now lives
Bagshacl Company of Lowell, Mass.
at Darien, Conn., at the home of his sister. Miss
John Howard Strodl Dies.
Hazelton. Their father, Samuel Hazelton, was well
John Howard Strodl, for many years active in the
known as a piano manufacturer for many years, the
musucal instrument business in New York, died on
Hazelton factory being then located on University
Saturday morning, May 12, at his home, 438 Grove
place south of 14th street.
street, Upper Montclair, N. J. Mr. Strodl was born
John Kraft Optimistic.
on Franklin Square, New York, on September 29,
1851, and was therefore 76 years old. He leaves his
John Kraft, importer of piano action buckskin
leather, was met on Tuesday this week by Presto- wife, Bertha, and four children—Edward V. Strodl
cf Oradell, N. J.; Dr. George T. Strodl of New
Times correspondent. He says he is glad to note
that the piano business is coming back into its own York; Irene, and Mrs. Charles M. Cook of Mont-
NEW YORK TUNERS GIVE
TESTIMONIAL DINNER
Hermann Irion and B. Neuer Entertained at
Pleasant Event at Commodore
Hotel This Week.
The directors of the New York Piano Tuners'
Association gave a testimonial dinner at the Commo-
dore Hotel on Tuesday nuight of this week, in honor
of Hermann Irion of Steinway & Sons, and B. Neuer,
retail sales manager at New York for the American
Piano Company.
Charles Deutschmann, president of the National
Tuners' Association, was present from Chicago. Mr.
Irion and Mr. Neuer were made honorary members of
the National Piano Tuners' Association at the meet-
ing.
This was a very pleasant gathering, with mutual
exchanges of experiences and good will, and the
occasion was one that those who participated in it
will cherish as a pleasant memory. Mr. Lane of the
American Piano Co., prominent tuner, was present,
and contributed no small part to the pleasures of
the evening.
ASSURED MARKET FOR
TREASURE CHEST OF MUSIC
Demand for Instrument of Wurlitzer Con-
struction Points to Public Interest in
Quality, Tone and Construction.
That there is a market for a reproducing upright
piano selling at retail under $600 is indicated by the
increased demand for the Wurlitzer Treasure Chest
of Music—the piano that plays for you. From the
inception of this instrument it has found immediate
favor with the trade and the orders have far exceeded
our expectations.
The usual levers and push buttons that were ordi-
narily on the keyrail have been placed in the spool
box where it is much more convenient for manip-
ulation.
The new manual control feature which controls the
volume of tone when using a regular 88 note roll
is an exclusive Wurlitzer feature. It is a valuable
addition to the reproducing piano.
Other exclusive features are incorporated in the
instrument that makes it a very distinctive style and
Wurlitzer dealers are finding that through the me-
dium of the Treasure Chest of Music, they are in-
creasing their distribution.
clair, and one sister, Mrs. G. Dimatteo of Union
City, N. J.
Premier Grand Co. Getting Its Share.
"I can only say that we are getting our share," said
Walter C. Hepperla, president of the Premier Grand
Piano Co., this week. "You know how business is—
nobody is selling up to high-water mark, but we must
be content with getting our share of the trade. We
will not have an exhibit in the Commodore Hotel at
convention time, but will have a much larger exhibit
here at the warerooms.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER HELPS SALESMEN
Outside Salesmen must be equipped so as to "show the goods." The season for country piano selling is approaching. Help your sales-
men by furnishing them with the New Bowen Piano Loader, which serves as a wareroom far from the store. It is the only safe
delivery system for dealers, either in city or country. It costs little. Write for particulars.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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