April-May, 1934
PRESTO-TIMES
STORY OF THE MAKING
OF A GREAT PIANO BUSINESS
How
Frank Wilking Established The Wilking Music Co. at Indianapolis
Starting to sell pianos in a small and humble way
and within scarcely ten years, half of these years
within the depression period; to organize and put into
operation one of the most important exclusive piano
houses in the country is an accomplishment well
worth seeking.
Such is the record and such the reward of Frank
O. Wilking, president and principal owner of the
ing a successful representation of this product in a
territory where the Baldwin has for years been held
as an Ultima Thule of pianoforte excellence and
standing. The Baldwin in the hands of the Wilking
Company is represented in a dignified and high grade
manner as befits the honor of this representation.
The Baldwin parlors at the Wilking establishment
are graced by the latest styles and models from the
great Cincinnati factories. The most important mu-
sical societies, the leading conservatories of music
and many of the prominent teachers, artists and con-
noisseurs of music in and about Indianapolis select
the Baldwin in this locality as at all other important
musical centers. The Matinee Musicale of Indianap-
olis uses the Baldwin in all its concerts and a contract
is in force with the Wilking Music Company which
specifies each year how many Baldwins they will re-
attracted unusual attention. The program of these
artists ranges from the classics to popular music of
today. It is said of them that there are no "two-
piano" artists in the country today who do the type
of work shown by Noller-Straub piano twins.
Never a week passes that the Apollo piano is not
in demand by visiting artists at the various places of
amusement in and about Indianapolis. Just recently
Kate Smith and her show and Martin Downey used
Apollo grands.
:
Wilking Broadcasting
The Wilking broadcasting station at the Wilking
store is an interesting place where many artists appear
and when anything of particular importance is going
on invitations are sent out to come to the store to
listen and witness these performances. The Wilking
Company get a lot of satisfaction out of these broad-
casts and get "their say" by announcing that such
and such a piano of the Wilking Company is used on
such and such an occasion and by such and such an
artist, all of which is good stuff and adds prestige
to Wilking.
The Wilking Branch Stores
The Wilking Company has established two branch
FRANK O. WILKING
President, Wilkins" Music Company,
Indianapolis, Indiana
Wilking Music Company, Indianapolis, Indiana, and
such also, is a brief epitome of his work leading up
to the enterprising and representative business man
that he has become and great music house that he
has established. This record is an accomplishment to
be taken as an inspiration to any young man starting
out in life with success as his goal.
Moving from one location to another, each time
to secure more room and greater facilities to carry
on a growing business, Mr. Wilking is now established
at a location which he has made famous as probably
the most unique piano center and piano salesrooms
of this country; a piano shop noted in the trade as
about the prettiest and handsomest anywhere to be
found, and so regarded by both competitor and patron.
Words give no adequate description of this piano
WILKING
WILKING
quire. This contract has been in effect continuously
for over twenty years and is carried out most care-
fully today by Wilking.
Apollo Representation
From the beginning of his business and since its
establishment as a represetative music business, Mr.
Wilking has all along given undivided efforts for the
Apollo piano, the instrument selected by him at the
beginning of his career. The Wilking Music Com-
pany carries also a complete line of Wurlitzers and
of some of the other so-called "Wurlitzer-made" in-
struments; the Bauer, the Schaflf Bros., the Farny.
The Wilking Company has placed the Apollo in
scores of prominent places in Indianapolis and other
MUSIC COMPANY—Special Baldzvin Parlor; Blue and
Gold Room
shop, these piano parlors; the whole lay-out must be
s e n at 120 East Ohio street, in person to be appre-
ciated. Words of compliment and praise therefore
are few; leaving the illustrations of interior views to
tell only in concise manner of this famous musical
rendezvous of the Hoosier capital.
The Baldwin Line with Wilking
The Wilking Music Company carries a very im-
portant franchise in the Baldwin agency and is mak-
MUSIC COMPANY—Special Sales Parlor
stores aside from various local agencies at points a
hundred miles or more away from Indianapolis. One
of these stores is located at Richmond, the other at
Terre Haute.
The Richmond store is located in the Richmond-
Leland Hotel Building, at the corner of Ninth and A
Streets. It is a beautiful establishment and it is in
charge of W. B. Morrison, who has given a mod-
ernistic touch to his salesrooms by having black
oil-cloth drapes lined with rose, together with a beau-
tiful line of furniture and a special lighting arrange-
ment all attracting particular attention; an attraction
that draws many people to the store.
The Terre Haute store is at No. 7 South Sixth
WILKING MUSIC COMPANY—Office and Reception Room
Parlor at Left
cities of central and southern Indiana. Theatres, con-
cert halls, broadcasting stations, artists' and teachers'
studios all over Indianapolis use the Apollo. Many
of the artists and stage celebreties who visit Indianap-
olis use the Apollo and practically all the theatres use
this prime favorite. Every night broadcasting is done
from Wilking Audition Hall, the Wilking broadcast-
ing station in the store. The recent engagement of the
Noller-Straub piano twins the performances of which
were broadcast every night from the Wilking station,
Street in a new and attractive building. And here,
too, the salesroom has been beautifully decorated and
made particularly attractive. The location is excellent.
This store is in charge of Thomas W. Riddick, Jr.,
who hails from New Orleans, where he was associated
with the Werlein house for several years. Mr. Rid-
dick is assisted by James Henderson and these two
workers are enterprising and business-getters. In fact,
Mr. Wilking, himself, says that they are "doing a
splendid job."
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