Presto

July 1, 1929
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
TRADE IS BRIGHTER
AT SAN FRANCISCO
Presto-Times Correspondent Hears That
High-Priced and Lowest-Priced In-
struments Sell Best—Tells of His
Rounds in Good Style.
By MARSHALL BREEDEN.
Reports have it that the piano end of the trade
in Seattle is not so good; especially* in the middle
grade lines, but that the higher priced instruments
and the very lowest are going rather well. There is
a big demand for rentals and for used uprights, and
of course several dealers make a specialty of this.
Drifted around to see most every piano account in
town, and while business is not up to snuff, still
there is a general idea of its being better in the fu-
ture. Du Barry has his windows filled with special
offerings, so has Alfred Krahn, and the Meyer-Toner
Piano Co. showed one handsome period model Grand.
The newspapers show many radio advertisements,
and so far as I could see, only one or two featuring
pianos. Perhaps therein lies part of the trouble
with the piano business in the Northwest.
Played bridge on the train with Ed. Kelly of the
Hooper-Kelly Co., of Seattle. Ed. is a sharp bridge
player and knows his stuff. In the windows of his
firm this day, I observed a complete display of wood
winds and small goods, and in the other window sev-
eral Atwater Kent Radios.
A Fine Seattle Store.
I must tell about the wonderful new store of
Sherman Clay & Co. It is as fine a building as one
will see in many a day.
Arrives at San Francisco.
The steamer deposited your letter writer at the
dock in San Francisco in the morning at five. That's
an unearthly hour for a piano traveler to be found
walking in his sleep. The city of San Francisco lay
on its-usual hills, and after the day started, I was
able to get around to see a few music dealers.
The..Union Music Co. on Mason street is being
altered. It appears as if its face is being lifted. When
the alterations are completed Dan Hennessey will
have a tine piano display room. There will also be
somd studio rooms for teachers. R. J. Stine is now
the store manager and perhaps will be in complete
charge^ of the pianos when the piano display looms
into being. Stine is a good piano man.
Prosperity at Sherman, Clay & Co.'s
Kohler & Chase are showing one grand piano and
half a dozen radios in their windows. This firm has
apparently brightened up its reception room and
looks more prosperous than ever. So for that mat-
ter do Sherman, Clay & Co. After seeing the new
store in Seattle the San Francisco Sherman, Clay
keep up with their northern brothers.
The San Francisco papers this day are carrying
rather a larger number of piano advertisements. That
is a good and healthy sign. I noticed some piano
displays put in by Hansen, Sherman-Clay, Heine,
Kohler &. Chase, and two "or three stores in the mis-
folks will have to move high, wide and handsome to
sion. The Examiner was also showing almost two
full columns of want ads, mixed between radio and
pianos.
Earnest Ingold gave the local Atwater Kent deal-
ers a dinner and speech fest.
In Oakland, over the bay, I failed to find much
doing'in pianos, but small goods and radios seemed
to be prosperous. The piano departments of Jack-
son's and Bruner's, were, maybe, the best I looked
into. Of course, these furniture stores do not actu-
ally compete with the Oakland stores of Kohler &
Chase, Wurlitzer, or Sherman, Clay & Co. That
is, they do not carry as large a stock, but still they
are making their presence felt. And that distinctly.
The pleasant ocean trip from Portland was con-
siderably marred by the early hour of arrival, and be-
cause old man Ocean did not take such a fancy to
me.
But it was mainly the fact that immediately
upon expanding myself into the local marts of trade,
1 encountered no less than five piano travelers that
put the kibosh upon this visit to the city by the
Goldtn Gate. Why in the world don't those other
pian# travelers go into window washing and leave me
alone with the piano game? I w r i11 give a reward for
the correct answer to that one. And now home to
Los Angeles.
not help but credit that largely to the promotional
work that has been done. We hear a lot of pessi-
mism even today about the piano business, but I
believe we have made the turn. Tn m y own mind I
have analyzed the condition of the piano business,
and I believe the patient is going to get well. This
is my opinion and I am going to stick to it." -
INDIANAPOLIS
The loan exhibit and home demonstration of grand
pianofortes in art and period model encasements, by
the Everett Piano Company, at the warerooms of the
Pearson Piano Company, was unusually successful.
The demonstration was conducted by George Walton
and Miss Grace Greenman, and the second floor was
decorated for the occasion, with tapestries and
oriental rugs, and other homey settings. Fifteen
models of the Everett pianos were on exhibition, and
many of the beautiful instruments found their way
into the homes of the music lovers of the city. Hun-
dreds of people visited the display during the week,
which was given much publicity in local papers.
The Tabernacle Presbyterian Church just pur-
chased two Jesse French & Sons' grand pianos and
two uprights. The instruments will be used in va-
rious parts of the parish house and chapels. The sale
was made through the Wilking Music Company.
The Marion Music Company have closed the sales
of two of the Schumann period model instruments,
one Spanish and another William, and Mary style
to very prominent musicians of the city. The com-
pany report the Brinkerhoff Mayfair model selling
very well. Prospects look very promising is the re-
port of the concern.
Visitors in the city during the past two weeks were:
Charles Howe of the Apollo Piano Company, De
Kalb, 111.; H. Libin, of the Wurlitzer House in Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, and W. C. Hess, of the Settergen Com-
pany, Bluffton, Ind.
NEW KIMBERLY SALES MANAGER.
The Kimberly Radio Corporation of Chicago, mid-
western distributors of Zenith Radio announce the
appointment of G. P. Gunther as general sales man-
agr. Mr. Gunther, known to all in radio circles as
"Jerry-," jwtrs- the Kinibertv Curpoiatiorr w r ith a wide
knowledge of radio salesmanship, having been con-
nected with the Zenith Corporation for the past ten
years. The Kimberly Radio Corporation are look-
ing forward to the biggest year in its history, having
already signed up as Zenith dealers, some of the
largest accounts in Chicago, including the Newark,
Radio Vision and Atlas Chain Stores. The Milwau-
kee branch, now under the management of J. W.
Barrett, Jr., is now located in their new headquar-
ters at 2619 State street.
ATWATER KENT PLANT DEDICATED.
The new 16^-acre addition to the. plant of the
Atwater-Kent factory in Germantown, Pa., a part of
Philadelphia, is dedicated and at work. This makes
the total floor space of the entire plant 32 acres. At
the dedication A. Atwater Kent said: "I like a game
which puts me on my mettle, which makes me keep
my wits about me, which forces me to meet and beat
new problems."
RADIO ADOPTS FORD METHODS.
The system by which Henry Ford turns out his cars
part by part in one continuous line, will be applied
to radio at the new manufacturing plant of the West-
inghouse Electric and Manufacturing Company at
East Springfield', Mass., now Hearing completion.
The whole process will take no more than 24 hours
from start to finish on the extensive conveyor sys-
tem.
PAUL NETZOW'S VACATION.
Paul Netzow, president of the Waltham Piano Co.,
Inc., Milwaukee, left last week for his forest camp
and fishing grounds in northern Wisconsin. He is
spending about ten days as host in the company of
friends and other invited guests and boon com-
panions.
BUSY CABLE CO. DEALERS.
The Lamb Company, pianos, phonographs and
radios, 806 Gay street, Knoxville, Tenn.,, has a.fine
catch-line on its letter-heads and other announce-
ments, reading "Home of Cable Made Pianos."
PRESTO=TIMES MAN VISITS
JESSE FRENCH PLANT
Sees Fine Pianos, Ensemble Outfits and Ra-
dio Coming Through—Requests for
Used Pianos Show Scarcity of
New Ones.
En route from Cincinnati to Chicago one day last
week, a special representative of Presto-Times
stopped off at New Castle, Ind., to pay a visit to the
home of the .Jesse .French, & Sons piano.. Always
enjoyable and profitable as these visits are where
the young men are carrying on the great business
established by their fathers and grandfather, the
caller had learned with special pleasure of some spe-
H. EDGAR FRENCH,
.
Pies. Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.
. ,
cial designs and ensemble outfits the company had
been making to fill specific orders, and he announced
upon his arrival that it was these he had come to see.
He was shown a set that was just being shipped,
and was delighted with their matching, their chaste
beauty of design and their finish. Nothing cheap or
shoddy is ever permitted to go out of this factory,
and its fame continues to spread.
The correspondent found a spirit of optimism pre-
vailing. H. Edgar French, president of the concern,
states that orders are coming in from all parts of the
country for the new models of the Jesse-French
Radio, which wece introduced to the-trade June- 1.
In his opinion there will be a great demand for these
handsome instruments during the remainder of the
year.
Mr. French states that his company is receiving
more requests for used pianos and players than at
any previous time. This would seem to indicate
that the dealers have accomplished the cleaning up of
their own stocks and that the general condition of
the piano business is ready for immediate improve-
ment. Jesse French & Sons have for some time
been specializing in fine period grands and have, in
additon to their regular line and the Jesse French
Ensembles introduced a year ago, produced several
very fine instruments on special order. Among those
recently completed is a Queen Anne Period En-
semble, with S-foot 10-inch piano, and with a Jesse
French Radio in a cabinet to match the ensemble,
the whole finished in polychrome. This order was
completed on special order for a Pennsylvania dealer.
Mr. French intimated that his organization plans
to put on a very extensive direct mail campaign,
covering both their piano and their radio lines sep-
arately for the benefit of their dealers this fall. ..Al-
though definite plans have not been approved, the
campaign is intended to stimulate business in the im-
mediate vicinity of the company's established deal-
ers, and will consist of at least five mailings to the
dealer's prospect list.
STRAUBE HIGH-GRADE RADIO.
The entrance of the Straube Piano Company into
the radio field some time ago has been a,progressive
and successful step. The exclusive basis on which
the Straube radios is merchandised has won the
THE PIANO CLUB GOLF.
PIANO BUSINESS COMING BACK.
approval of merchants who have found in this ar-
The Piano Club of Chicago opens up the Golf Sea-
PiafciA 'men who have allowed depression to sway rangement an opportunity of featuring a high-grade,
son with a "Whirlwind Tournament" at the Ever-
them.ought to. take heart and go at their work with ma-gni-ficen-t--.radidKO.tr a< financially profitable basis.
green Golf Club. The entrance is at 91st Street and
new courage after reading what Jay Grinnell, of
Detroit, said at the recent convention. Reference is
P. H. Elting, president of the Adams & Elting Co., Western Avenue. The day for this big party is Tues-
made to these remarks: "Our piano business for
Chicago, paints and varnishes, died last week, aged day, July 9. E. V. Galloway, 425 South Wabash
Ave., is master of ceremonies.
some reason is better than last year. Now, I can- 62 years.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/