October 6, 1928
P R E S T O-T I M E S
VOLUME BUSINESS
AIDS PROGRES
A. G. Gulbransen, Head of Gulbransen Co.,
Chicago, Shows How Activities in Devel-
oping Higher Priced Products Tends
to Production of Meritorious
Lower Priced Goods.
In another part of this paper A. G. Gulbransen,
president of the Gulbransen Co., Chicago, tells how
volume business makes progress possible in any in-
dustry and that many of the greatest things of life
would be denied the people were it not their first
development were financed and made possible through
volume business of a lower priced product. Mr. Gul-
bransen uses the Gulbransen line only as an example,
which can be found in every line of endeavor. Mr.
Gulbransen said this week:
"The Gulbransen Company maintains a tone re-
search department, an experimental laboratory, which
it would be out of the question to consider if we
bad to depend on a comparatively restricted output
of higher priced units for our business. In the de-
velopment of our line, and this development is going
on now, we are thinking of the price appeal very seri-
ously, because it is so strong in the public mind. At
the same time, right now momentous steps are being
taken in tone production. Experiments are being
conducted, instruments are being produced and dis-
carded, in an attempt to still further improve Gul-
bransen tone.
Quality Even at Low Price.
"Taking the two extremes of our line from another
standpoint—the $295 Minuet and the $2,400 Triano—
musicians sit down to the Minuet, play it and express
their very great amazement at the quality of tone
and perfection of the instrument in every detail. This
proves that low price does not necessarily mean qual-
ity for which any apology need be made. It is no
exaggeration to say that the Minuet, at that low
price of $295, is an outstanding instrument in the
world of music, because of the tone that has been
put into it through years of experimentation and
study and practical carrying out of tone improvement
ideas.
"The economical production of a higher priced
product is assisted in another way that is frequently
not thought of. When successful methods of con-
struction for a high priced product have been worked
out, that instrument can be put in work in a plant
accustomed to big volume, without in any way dimin-
ishing its quality. Quality of any instrument, either
high or low priced, was never hurt by being put into
an efficient labor-saving, modernly equipped plant.
Speaking broadly, machine work is not only equal to,
but in many cases is far superior to hand work. In
many instances the only reason that certain work is
done by hand in plants restricted to the high priced
commodities, is because the volume does not justify
use of machines. fkit the machine work may actually
be superior.
Man-Power a Factor.
"The question of man-power comes into the picture,
of course, but as far as the Gulbransen institution is
concerned, it has never been the policy of this com-
pany to employ other than men of skill and ability;
girls, women and incompetent men have never been
put on heavy work in this plant, whether they work
on the Minuet or Triano. The higher class of labor
has always been employed here, with probably a
higher wage scale than obtains in the average piano
factory.
"For these many reasons, I would answer 'yes'
most emphatically to the question as to whether or
not it is possible to successfully manufacture a low
priced and higher priced instrument in the same
factory."
TRADE IMPROVES IN
SOUTHERN INDIANA
Dealers of Evansville Particularly Pleased
with Change in Conditions—Expectation
for October Very Cheering—Other News.
Dealers in musical instruments in Evansville and
other towns in southern Indiana report that trade
during the past month has held up very well and that
there has been some improvement and they are look-
ing for even a better trade during October than
during the month of September. General business
conditions have been steadily improving. Collections
are better than they have been for some time past.
Henry Hudson, head of the Hudson Music House
at Boonville, Ind., who suffered the loss of his left
leg several months ago when he fell from a traction
car in Evansville, is still confined to his home in
Boonville, but he is steadily getting better and expects
to be able to resume his business duties within a
short time. Mrs. Hudson has had charge of the
business end of the firm since her husband met with
his accident.
Miss Olive O'Xeil, president of the Philharmonic
Club at Boonville, Ind., has accepted the position of
supervisor of music in the public schools at Kinder,
La. Miss Marjorie May Welborn, of Cynthiana, Ind.,
has gone to Gibsland, La., where she will be super-
visor of music in the Gibsland high school.
The southern Indiana district meeting of the In-
diana Federation of Music Clubs will be held at
Columbus, Ind., on November 2.
MOVES IN PEORIA, ILL.
Black, Derges & Marshall, 206 South Adams street,
Peoria, 111., is holding a removal sale preparatory to
moving to its own new building on Main street within
a few weeks. The firm has the Steinway piano as
leader and a fine representative line of phonographs
and radios in its large stock.
LATE WISCONSIN
MUSIC TRADE NEWS
Forbes-Meagher Music Company, Madison,
Announces Franchise for Representation of
American Piano Co. Line—Other News.
The Forbes-Meagher Music Company at Madison,
Wis., has been appointed exclusive distributors in that
territory for the Mason & Hamlin, the Knabe, and
the Chickering pianos, and the Ampico reproducing
piano. The company has represented the Mason &
Hamlin for several years.
This will necessitate larger display quarters, and
the company has been undertaking extensive store
alterations to make way for the new stock. Store
officials stated that the appointment as exc'usive dis-
tributors for these three makes of pianos will neces-
sitate moving all the pianos purchased earlier in the
year to make way for the new instruments.
In making the announcement, J. E. Meagher said
that, "The appointment meant an altogether new
and larger piano establishment for Madison as well a-s
a broader, more far-reaching service."
A number of the leading music merchants of Osh-
kosh had displays at the annual fair held at that
city. Concerns which had booths at the fair included
the Wilson Music Company, and the Ilayden Music
Company.
A feature of the Sauk County Fair was a public
marriage, at which time a number of the leading
merchants of Baraboo presented the bride and groom
with gifts. Among those who contributed to the
ceremony was the Hook Music Company, which
awarded a sum in trade at its store.
Leading merchants located on Milwaukee's South
Side came in for a bit of favorable publicity recently
when a newspaper printed a special business review
edition for that section of the city. Music concerns
included the Noll Piano Company which handles
Bush & Lane, Charles Frederick Stein, Ivers & Pond,
Strich & Zeidler and Cable-Nelson pianos; Gitzel's
Music Shop and the Karpek Accordion Mfg. Co.,
makers of accordions.
Free prizes during the cooking school held at
Wausau, Wis., through a local paper, were recently
awarded by a number of leading merchants of that
city. Among the merchants who made awards was
Paff's Music store of Wausau.
STRAUBE ACTIVITY.
A very ingenious use of a recent I'resto-Times
story is made by the Straube Piano Company, Ham-
mond, Ind. The story, which is illustrated, tells of
the prominent part of a Straube piano in a special
program in the Capital Theater, Des Moines. The
piano, which was used in conjunction with the theater
organ, was furnished by the Des Moines Music Co.
The reprinted article is used as an insert in corre-
spondence and mailed advertising matter.
The Gates Music House, Roanoke, Ala., has been
purchased by E. B. Hern.
QUICK WAY TO PIANO SALES
The best method of reaching the piano prospects in order to show and demonstrate the
pianos is the BOWEN PIANO LOADER way. A Bowen. One-Man Loader and Carrier at-
tached to a Ford roadster enables the dealer to bring* the store to the customer. The combina-
tion also provides the quickest, safest and best delivery system for music dealers in city or
country. Write for particulars to
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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