PRESTO-TIMES
Announcing a New Grand
December 29, 1928
Heppelwhite
%anm
The New Packard Grand—
Heppelwhite Model, Style R
A ft. 7 in. long. Mahogany.
Bench, to match.
..Hacked by a T[eal Saks Plan/
1929 is the year of opportunity for Packard dealers. The Packard organization, old
in reputation but youthful in spirit, has kept in contact with dealers' problems in a
way that is enabling Packard to produce new designs in Packard instruments that
will sell most readily and to supply the selling assistance dealers need.
1 he Heppelwhite Grand shown at the right is the newest Packard value—a splendid
instrument in an exquisite case at a surprisingly low price. It's true Packard quality
in every line with the rich full rounded tone Packard Grands are noted for. Get the
Packard plan behind you—get Packard values on your floors. Write us now!
THE PACKARD PIANO COMPANY
3335 Packard Avenue.
very wide experience. The Aeolian Company is an
organization that has its own methods of promoting
and finding business.
Has No Fear of Radio.
Carl Peck, of Hardman, Peck & Co., New York,
has no fears of radio seriously interfering with the
piano business. He jokes about the fears of others,
who have set up this bugaboo to frighten themselves
with, or as an excuse for not getting the business that
would be theirs for the hustling. Saturday morning
when I made a call at the Hardman, Peck & Co.
headquarters, a very fine grand had been sold for
between $1400 and $1500 just before my call. And
the salesmen on the piano floors were expecting sev-
eral other good prospects to keep their appointments
Saturday afternoon. Mr. Peck says there is piano
business for those who will go after it in the right
way.
Buys Mathushek.
H. J. Kenner, manager of the Better Business Bu-
reau of New York city, called at the Mathushek Piano
Company's warerooms at 37 West 37th street, New
York, one day last week, and bought a beautiful
Florentine Period Model Mathushek Grand for his
home. Mr. Kenner showed excellent judgment in
thus providing his family with the very best kind
of a Christmas present.
Good Mathushek Business.
John J. Glynn, Secretary of the James & Holm-
strom Piano Co., 37 West 37th street, New York, and
manager of the store there which also handles the
Mathushek and the Jacob Brothers' pianos, said to
the Presto-Times caller that business in Mathushek
pianos was now coming along very nicely. They
have sold a good many; other customers were coming
in daily through holiday week. The personnel at this
store consists of some of the politest and most experi-
enced piano salesmen in America. They do not
deceive customers, for the goods always bear out the
representations they make about them.
Premier Grand Had a Good Fall.
"We had a fairly good fall," said Walter C. Hep-
perla to Presto-Times correspondent on December
24. "Our business was secured by going after it
pretty hard, but I think we got our share. There
is always business to be had for those who sell good
pianos in the right way."
Mehlin Trade Holds Up Well.
A call was made on December 24 at the fine piano
warerooms of Paul G. Mehlin & Sons, 509 Fifth ave-
nue. New York, whose factory, as the trade knows, is
in West New York, N. J. This store has been run-
ning successfully for more than five years and has
had a good trade under the general management of
Alfred R. Spoerl, a piano man of wide acquaintance,
long experience and splendid personality. Here also
1 met H. B. Abberley, a courteous and successful
salesman of Mehlin & Sons' goods. Mr. Spoerl ad-
mitted that trade had been pretty fair considering all
the conditions.
Sorrow Over H. Faul Mehlin's Death.
A feeling of sadness prevailed among the staff over
the recent death of H. Paul Mehlin, head of this big
manufacturing concern. While Mr. Mehlin has been
on the invalid list for something like a year past,
since he suffered from a stroke, his death came with
no less of a shock to these faithful people who had
Fort Wayne, Indiana
served him long and who loved him. This feeling of
sorrow was also expressed by some of the customers
who had known Mr. Mehlin in his lifetime. Always
a gentleman, correct in dress and deportment, he was
deserving of the affection and commercial support
that came to him through a successful career, and as
the son of the founder of the house whose name he
bore.
APPLY FOR EXHIBIT SPACE
DIRECT TO DRAKE HOTEL
And Prompt Action Is Advised for Intending
Exhibitors of Musical Goods at Conven-
tion Show Week of June 3.
PRESTON CHAIN OF STORES
Manufacturers and jobbers of musical goods who
purpose exhibiting their lines at the Drake Hotel,
Don C. Preston lias purchased the interest of John Chicago, during the convention of the music trade
Macdonald in the Preston & Macdonald Music Co., associations the week of June 3, should apply for
San Bernardino, Calif., and will operate the storea s space direct to the hotel management. Prompt action
a unit in his chain of three stores, the other two of in doing so is recommended, as it is a rule of first
which are located at Bakersfield and Taft. Mh. Pres- come, best served, at the convention headquarters.
The array of pianos and other music goods is ex-
ton explained the purchase as a move toward the
accomplishing of his original idea of establishing a pected to be unusually large at the Drake during the
chain of stores to get the benefit of the increased convention exhibition and besides the spirited appli-
buying power. He has assigned Earle Needham as cations for space, many circumstances conduce to a
manager of the San Bernardino store, which will be big show. The radio show to be held at the Stevens
operated under the same business policy as heretofore Hotel during the same week as that of the music
adopted, he explained. The store handles a complete trades at the Drake, assures a great number of visi-
line of rndios, phonographs and musical instruments. tors who will be allured by the double attraction. The
fact that there will be two shows means that we shall
have a wonderful display of musical instruments of all
SCHILLERS IN DEMAND.
kinds, for the musical merchandise people will un-
When a Presto-Times representative called at the doubtedly want to exhibit either at the Drake or the
offices of the Schiller Piano Co., Republic Building, Stevens, and the phonograph companies will be at the
Chicago, last week, he observed many beautiful Schil- Stevens in force.
ler grands in the showroom. An inquiry about holi-
day trade conditions disclosed the fact that all grand
pianos on display were sold and awaiting delivery
except one, which was necessary to keep on hand.
Frank Hood, vice-president, gave the information and
added, "We are well pleased with the trade, both
wholesale and retail. The Schiller will complete an- Firm Which Succeeded DeForeest Music Co., Sha-
other successful year."
ron, Pa., in Disastrous Blaze.
In Sharon, Pa., Dec. 18, a fire originating in the
basement of the Curran Music Co., West State street,
EARLY BIRD MAKES THE SALE.
George H. Golding, salesman of the Baldwin Piano destroyed one building, damaged three others and for
Co., 323 South Wabash avenue, believes in the theory a time threatened an entire city block. Loss is esti-
that "the early bird catches the worm." Last week mated at approximately $240,000.
The DeForeest building, in which the music store
Mr. Golding brought a prospect to the store at 6:30
a. m. and after showing a few models of the wide line was located, was destroyed with a loss estimated by
always on display interested his prospect in a repro- M. V. DeForeest at $125,000. R. A. Curran, head of
ducing grand. By 7:30 a. m. Mr. Golding had the the music company, said his stock was worth $75,000.
The Curran Company, a successor to the DeForeest
down payment, a contract signed on the dotted line,
and the customer had a fine Baldwin reproducing Music Co., which was the oldest and largest music
house in northwestern Pennsylvania, was founded
grand in time for Christmas.
and operated for many years by the late W. C. De-
Foreest and later by his son, M. V. DeForeest, who
retired recently when he sold the business to R. A.
SPENDS HOLIDAYS AT CUBA, MO.
R. A. Burke, Story & Clark wholesale manager, en- Curran, who had been employel in the store for many
joyed the Christmas holidays at Cuba, Mo. Mr. years.
Mr. Curran said about one hundred pianos and a
Burke, accompanied by his wife, left Chicago by train
on Saturday of last week for the Missouri town, large stock of phonographs and radr'o sets were de-
wh'ch is the home of Mrs. Burke The popular Story stroyed in the fire. In addition a large stock of musi-
& Clark man was especially anxious to spend a few cal instruments and Christmas merchandise was con-
days on the large estate of his father-in-law, who sumed.
aside from being a banker at Cuba, Mo., makes a
specialty of raising thoroughbred stock and large, fine
I. N. RICE RECOVERING.
turkeys.
Friends of I. N. Rice, the general piano traveler who
makes Los Angeles his headquarters, will be glad to
The Mallory Piano Co., Inc., which is also in busi- learn that he has recovered from his attack of pneu-
ness at 316 Livingston street, Brooklyn, N. Y., opened monia and is gaining strength daily. A letter this
week from Mrs. Rice conveys the cheerful news.
a new branch in New Rochelle, N. Y., this week.
CURRAN MUSIC CO.'S STORE
DESTROYED BY FIRE
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