12
PRESTO-TIMES
Comments, News
,
,
in How Dealers Keep Moving
How Leading Houses Attract Trade
and Bring in Business and Dollars
NOTES ON A LOS ANGELES
LEADING MUSIC HOUSE
Mr. Richardson's Work Highly Praised by Cor-
respondent
By Marshall Breeden
When a new salesman joins the Richardson Music
Co. of Los Angeles, Mr. W. H. Richardson, the pres-
ident, usually says to him: "We stress high grade
merchandise, fair prices, honest terms and do not care
for business on the catch ad catch plan. Sell pianos
but sell them to responsible people.''
Richardson's has perhaps the highest class clientele
of any pf the western music stores. This does not
mean that it is not inclined toward business from the
general public. Nor does it mean that Richardson's
would refuse to see you or me. But it is rather likely
that we would not wander in for the reason that
Richardson's advertising is usually restricted to ap-
peal only to the more or less wealthy folks. Cer-
tainly that lets me oat though you might remain.
STEINWAY AT PHILADELPHIA
The above plate has been used by N. Stetson &
Co., Philadelphia, the Steinway piano salesrooms of
that city, with a suitable text, part of which we quote
herewith:
"Children grow away from home too easily these
days . . . into a world of superficial amusements. It
Please Send Presto-Times Daily
and Other Papers Containing
Music Dealers' Advertisements
. . . a place where young people may enjoy the
delights of good music. And your Steinway will en-
dure for a half century or more."
DALLAS HEADQUARTERS FOR MUSIC
PROFESSION
The Will A. Watkin Music House, Dallas, Tex.,
gives out the following announcement to the Dallas
public:
Desiring to further increase o«.ir sphere of useful-
ness to the music profession, on September the first
we enlarged and relinished our studio quarters. These
have been well received and arc now occupied by
the teachers.
The night recital hall for pupils' recitals is also
ready. Our day club room for the meeting of music
clubs has proven popular and is already "well dated
up" by some dozen clubs. The above we have done
in the direct interest of the teachers, clubs and music
lovers.
LANG BROTHERS TAKEN OVER BY ELBEL
BROTHERS AT SOUTH BEND
The Lang Brothers' Music Mouse, at South Bend,
lnd., has consolidated with Klbcl Brothers and the
entire stock of pianos has been transferred to the
Libel Brothers' store, 112 X. Michigan street. The
firm of Lang Brothers was established nine years ago
and Mr. J. E. Lang, who organized the firm, will
again join Libel Brothers, with whom he had been
associated before going into business for himself.
Libel Brothers have been in the music business in
South Bend for nearly half a century.
Chas. M. Stieff & Sons
Seven or eight years ago it is likely that the Chas.
M. Stieff & Sons' piano line was not much handled
in Southern California. But that was years ago.
Richardson's took hold of the Stieff line and has
made it one of the outstanding values in the south-
land. He has sold hundreds of expensive grands, and
some of his customers are in the local and national
blue book, and some of them are not.
A few folks who own Stieff or other pianos sold
by Richardson's are William Gibbs McAdoo, John
Gilbert, and E. L. Doheny. Big names these in their
respective lines of endeavor.
Radio and Small Goods
The same stress for quality both in merchandise
and in customers is placed on the radio and small
goods department. It is pleasingly surprising the
large number of enormously expensive special radio
cabinets sold. But they also sell the usual run of
the popular priced makes. However, Richardson's
rather specializes in placing radio receivers in elab-
orate cases.
Be all of that as • it may be, the one fundamental
and outstanding thing about Richardson's is its qual-
ity. This successful firm has proven that it is not
necessary to advertise outlandish terms. Pianos, ra-
dios, and such are sold on shorter terms than is per-
haps customary. The policy has also proven that
in this (and every community) there are a number
of people who want the best in period designed cases
both in piano and radio. It also proves that a music
store can make money and still maintain the dignity
which once surrounded the business before something
or other happened to it.
Mr. Richardson has twice been elected president
of the Southern California Music & Radio Trades
Association, and is likely to be drafted again.
In accordance with a resolution adopted at the Mu-
sic Trade Convention, held at Chicago last June, an
ethics committee has been appointed by the presi-
dent of the National Association of Sheet Music
Dealers.
President Harden appointed the following to serve
on this committee:
Mr. Charles Glaser of Messrs. G. Fred Kranz
Music Co., Baltimore.
Mr. William Witt of Messrs. Witt-Hamill Music
Co., Washington.
Mr. Chas. Homeyer of Messrs. Chas. W. Homeyer
& Co., Boston.
Mr. Henry Mutscliler of Messrs. A. K. DeLemos
& Co., Newark, N. J.
President Harden will take an active part in the
work of the ethics committee, the members of which
are within easy reach of each other.
A clear statement of what is fair and what is un-
fair competition will be a big forward step. It is the
object for which the National Association was called
into existence in 1914. The time is ripe for the
accomplishment of this end. L'nethical practices are
unprofitable and their discontinuance can be brought
about through the co-operation of publishers and
retailers.
GOOD AND STRONG FOR PIANOS
Orton Brothers, Butte, Mont., are in the field good
and strong for increased piano business. They have
just received a shipment of thirty-six pianos and have
had special sales. A local paper speaking of this
shipment says:
"With hundreds of children taking advantage of the
new inexpensive system of class instruction in the
piano, Orton Brothers state that more interest is be-
ing shown in music as a means of self-expression and
enjoyment and culture in the home. For a small out-
lay a child can have expert instruction and also be
supplied with a real little piano in the home."
November. 1931
should be your effort, as a thoughtful parent, to pro-
vide a happy setting for your children, to give them
an environment that holds their interest. And an
important part of this environment is a fine piano.
'"An instrument such as the Steinw T ay offers a center
of attraction about which the children and their friends
will gather. The product of master craftsmen, built
with the utmost care to produce true tone, it has a
remarkable ability to develop talent.
"Visit N. Stetson & Co. Choose of the many beau-
tifully designed Steinway models. Owning a Stein-
way will help make your home more than attractive
Concerning the French song, "La Vivandiere," now
heard over the radio from time to time, this story
in connection with the song is interesting as sent out
by the promoters: "The courage of woman is that of
a tigress. With the French troops of by-gone days,
there traveled women simply known as Les Vivan-
dieres. There w r ere several with each company. They
were company mothers; they cooked for the men,
mended their clothes, nursed them when they were
sick or wounded, helped drag up shells when there
were no others to do the work, and inspired courage
when courage waned. Godard sings of these un-
named heroines of many a conflict in his song 'La
Vivandiere,' a song in the spirited tempo of the
French inarch."
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