Nov.-Dec, 1932
PACKARD PIANO BUSINESS TO GO ALONG
UNDER THE ABLE MANAGEMENT OF
W. B. MARSHALL
Concerning the sale of the Packard Piano Company
to W. B. Marshall, which transaction was affirmed
early in November by the receiver of the Packard
Piano Company, Mr. Marshall outlines briefly his
plans for the future of this well known piano manufac-
turing industry.
In an interview with a Presto-Times representative
Mr. Marshall says that his purchase consisted of the
entire merchandise stock including all pianos and sup-
plies and the Packard name and good will as relates to
pianos. The special efforts for the present are to dis-
pose at retail of the pianos taken over. The idea is to
continue the manufacture of the Packard piano and
begin operations as soon as the stock on hand is dis-
posed of. The Packard Piano Factory is now occu-
pied by Mr. Marshall and his associates but it is prob-
lematical as to whether any part of this plant can be
retained inasmuch as the factory and real estate is to
be sold and to secure other and more modern premises
which can easily be done in Fort Wayne. Mr. Marshall
is not only a piano man in the pecuniary phase of the
business, but is a piano man at heart and, as he puts
it: "I am very much piano minded and believe thor-
oughly in the future of the piano and for that reason
we are making a real drive on piano sales; and we are
selling and taking orders for immediate and for future
delivery."
When the receiver for the Packard Company was
appointed Mr. Marshall was immediately put in charge
of both the retail and wholesale business.
Mr. Marshall was with the M. Steinert & Sons
Company, Boston, for some sixteen years and for
some ten years was a traveling representative for
Krakauer Bros., leaving that house to join Packard in
1927.
ANOTHER OLD-TIME INCIDENT
In the prime of his activities the late Hobart M.
Cable, w T ho was at one time the secretary of the Cable
Piano Company, leaving that concern to establish the
Hobart M. Cable Piano Company, was asked for his
estimate on the standing of a member of the music
trade paper fraternity, whereupon he wrote that gen-
tleman about the incident and the following facsimile
d-
\S
^
(f
reproduction of that communication is shown here
with. Mr. Cable was a staunch friend and one of the
most capable men in the music trades and industries
of his day. Herewith is a facsimile of Mr. Cable's
letter.
•
i n jHemortam
IT WAS NEVER "CHARLIE" PARSONS;
HARDLY EVER
J. W. JENKINS
The late Charles H. Parsons was devoted in his
friendships and always cordial but he could not tol-
erate undue familiarity.
Soon after he secured control of the Needham
piano and organ business he took offices and sales-
rooms in the little brown front building at the corner
of 5th avenue and 17th street, New York City, a
music trade paper representative went to call upon
him and as he entered the store inquired if "Charlie"
Parsons was in his office. The remark was overheard
by Mr. Parsons in his "half-deck" office at the rear
of the store with the result that the music trade paper
man was obliged to sit many long minutes waiting to
be admitted, but, finally, sending- in his card he was
received with Mr. Parson's familiar smile. Here
again the m. t. p. man put himself in disrepute by his
greeting, "Well, Charlie, how are things starting out
in the new business?" No answer came but a frown.
The visitor waited long minutes for an "atmospheric"
change in the room, hoping for some sign of recog-
nition from Mr. Parsons. Other callers came and
were cordially received. When the m. t. p. man could
stand this rebuke no longer he excused himself to
call again. As he left the store a friendly tip was
given him by a friendly salesman who mentioned the
old-time proverb that "familiarity breeds contempt."
The next morning when the m. t. p. man called
again and offered the salutation, "Good day, Mr. Par-
sons," he was received with that familiar smile of
cordiality known to so many friends of the late
lamented gentleman.
From this time on casual acquaintance grew into
friendship and one day twenty-five years later while
the two gentlemen were chatting together during a
music trade convention at the Drake Hotel, Chicago,
the music trade paper man propounded this inquiry:
"Mr. Parsons, I have known you for a long time, but
have never to this day heard your full name." "Charles
Harding Parsons is my full name," replied Mr. Par-
sons, "but to you it is Charlie Parsons, if you so
desire."
The late Mr. J. W. Jenkins, head of the great Jen-
kins Music House, Kansas City, Mo., who recently
passed away at the age of 68, was noted for many
benevolent activities and for church work. Among
his bequests was a $40,000 gift to the Y. M. C. A.,
to be paid over a period of years; $30,000 to the Kan-
sas City "Y" and $10,000 for foreign work. Mr.
Jenkins was one of the main supporters of the Trin-
ity Methodist Church of Kansas City and a trustee
of that church as well as chairman of the Official
Board.
BEN REYNOLDS
The late Ben Reynolds, head of the well-known firm
bearing his name at Washington, Pa., was born in
England and came to the United States at the age
of 16, going direct to Youngstown, Ohio, to join his
mother who had already come to the United States.
He located at Washington in 1890 where he was
employed by the C. A. House Music. Co. until 1900.
In that year he established his own business at Wash-
ington where he had become one of the leaders in
progressive movements in and about Washington.
Mr. Reynolds was a beloved citizen of Washington
and numbered his friends in the music trades and
industries by scores. He had been a friend of Presto-
Times for many years and for more than twenty years
had been a regular subscriber to Presto publications.
The Ben Reynolds Music House is managed at the
present time by E. N. Reynolds, a son of the founder.
CHARLES H. PARSONS
The late Charles H. Parsons, who passed away
December 9 at his home, 19 South Oxford street,
Brooklyn, N. Y., was in his ninetieth year. Mr. Par-
sons went to New York from Hartford, Conn., his
native city, in 1862 and engaged in the musical mer-
chandise business. He became identified with the
piano business by purchasing the Needham piano and
organ business which had been practically discon-
tinued prior to Mr. Parsons' purchase. He retired
from this business about twenty years ago.
Mr. Parsons, who was an ex-president of the Piano
Manufacturers' Association, was one of the best
known men of the national music trades and indus-
tries' annual gatherings and being a fluent orator he
was often heard at the annual gatherings and ban-
quets.
Mr. Parsons had many other achievements to his
credit. He was the founder of the Amateur Opera
Association of Brooklyn and former chairman of the
solo committee of the Apollo Club, a music society
of which he was an honorary life director. He studied
the organ under the late Dudley Buck, the noted
organist and composer, and was organist for many
years of St. Peter's, All Saints Protestant Episcopal
and the Church of the Incarnation at Brooklyn.
REMINISCENCE OF AN INTERVIEW WITH
THE LATE J. W. JENKINS
2/A
/
11
PRESTO-TIMES
Once upon a time when the late J. W. Jenkins of
Kansas City was visiting the trade in Chicago he
was met at Lyon & Healy's, or possibly at the
Vose & Sons branch store by a representative of this
paper, and after a pleasant chat on music trade mat-
ters in general the Presto representative said to Mr.
Jenkins that years ago he had been acquainted with
a family in Iowa bearing the name Jenkins who
claimed kinship with the members of the great Kan-
sas City Jenkins family. Mr. Jenkins immediately
asked, "What kind of people are those Jenkins out in
Iowa?" Receiving the reply that they were fine peo-
ple, honorable, industrious and liked to earn money,
Mr. Jenkins added, "Well, then, why not? I have no
objection."
Then when the Presto man followed immediately
with the further remark that the Iowa Jenkins family
were all good Methodists Mr. Jenkins came back with
tliis apt repartee, "Well and good; let them enter."
This fellow will feel better a year from now!
lot of people are feeling better already.
FRANK STORY IN EUROPE
Frank F. Story, president Story & Clark Piano Co.,
Chicago, has just sailed on the new Italian steamer
Savoie for Naples, from which destination he will
make quite an extended tour of Europe and perhaps
visit Cairo and make a Nile trip before his return
next spring. Secretary F. A. Burke, who has been
making an extended tour, east, west, north and south
during the past two weeks, will be home Christmas
Day.
GENERAL PIANO KEY
REPAIRING
24.HOUR SERVICE
RECOVERING
BUSHING
FRONTS
SHARPS
IVORY REPAIR WORK
PLAYER ACTIONS
REPAIRED
STRIKING PNEUMATICS
Air Motors, Governors, Etc., Recovered
E. A. BOUSLOG, Inc.
2106 Boulevard Place
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
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