10
Nov.-Dec, 1934
PRESTO-TIMES
NOTABLE W U R L I T Z E R PIANO
SALES GATHERING IN SEATTLE
Wurlitzer grand piano dealers of the Paciric North-
west attended a sajes meeting at the, Hotel Olympic,
Seattle, Dec. 3. Gordon Laughead, sales manager
outlined some of the new piano selling policies to be
inaugurated in 1935.
Several interesting suggestions were made by these
dealers. One suggestion, enthusiastically received,
was to spend more money in the display columns of
the newspapers, with character-building type of ad-
vertising, rather than to spend the entire advertising
appropriation in the classified columns. Another sug-
gestion, equally as well received, was to run a classi-
fied advertisement offering to pay $100 or more for
good used uprights. This would tend to build up the
price of both new and used upright pianos.
After lunch those attending the meeting were
escorted to KOL radio station, the Seattle Columbia
chain outlet, by Norman Storm, sales manager of the
station. There Ivan Dittmar, program director, and
other eminent artists gave a program of two piano
music and organ and piano music, which delighted
the studio listeners. Two beautiful 6 foot by 1 inch
Julius Bauer grands, recently built by the Wurlitz^r
Grand Piano Company. DeKalh, 111., and especiall'
selected and matched by Mr. Dittmar, were used.
These dealers voted the instruments the finest ever
heard in a radio station. A Wurlitzer-built organ was
used in connection with the two Wurlitzer-built
pianos.
Those attending the meeting were James Collins,
Collins & Krwin Piano Company, Portland; Ted
Brown, Ted Brown Music Company, Tacoma, Wash.;
C. Hollenhack, Hollenback Piano Company, Spokane,
Wash., and Carl Doner, owner of the Doner Piano
Company, Seattle.
COURT REVERSES EMBEZZLEMENT
CHARGE CASE
The embezzlement case of Haddorff Piano Com-
pany versus Lane Robertson, in which the defendant
was sentenced to two to fourteen years in the Indiana
state prison, has been reversed by the Indiana Su-
preme Court. The court asserted that Robertson is
found guilty in a verdict not substantiated by sufficient
evidence. He was indicted in connection with a con-
signment contract with the Haddorff Sales Company
of Rockford, 111., the plaintiffs having alleged that he
wrongly appropriated about two thousand dollars for
his own use in connection with his business, the
Robertson Music House, carrying on at Indianapolis.
Robertson has been on bail since his appeal.
E. G. Tonk, who now controls the Tonk Piano Co.,
New York, has continued to enjoy a prosperous trade
a good part of this year. He has been particularly
successful in placing the Tonk piano in the hands of
numerous small orchestras, many radio studios and
scores and scores of radio artists. The Tonk piano
desk, recently patented and made regular equipment
on one Tonk piano model, has been found to have
met an oft-felt want among music publishers, com-
posers, arrangers and others who write or transcribe
for the piano.
The Tonk piano is now a product of one of the great
piano factories of the country where every facility
exists for maintaining Tonk standard of quality and
super excellence. The offices are at 509 Fifth avenue,
New York City.
Recently Gulbransen Company, Chicago, announced
the new scale live-foot grand which they had had in
preparation for a long time as now ready for the
market, an announcement which brought orders from
every section of the country and practically the entire
Gulbransen line of dealers who had been anticipating
this new instrument which they had been told would
be a marvel of excellence in every particular that
goes to make up a first class piano of today. Their
own words in announcing this new model, called the
"Aristocrat, 1 " are: "This is no common or ordinary
piano. It is the outcome of a prodigious effort on
the part of the Gulbransen Company to present an
instrument so outstanding that in comparison with
anything else in quality, beauty, musical excellence,
sales features and generosity of money value, it will
force its own sales procedure."
Speaking further of the instrument, Hugh Stewart,
general salesmanager of the Gulbransen Company, in
referring to the care and preparation given in getting
this piano ready for the market, says: "We have taken
a long time in the preparation of this instrument; a
great many comparisons have been made; a large
number of dealers have contributed their suggestions
with respect to those features sought by the public
and an equally large number have aided us in de-
termining a wholesale price at which it is expected a
large volume of business is available for this dis-
tinctively fine piano."
from
GULBRANSEN
O the piano trade in general and to
all those whose interest has con-
tributed to the advancement of the
piano and piano music during 1934,
we extend cordial Christmas greetings and
sincere well wishes for 1935.
1934 has been a good business year for us; it
has seen the return of piano sales volume to
the extent that piano manufacture again
permits our exclusive efforts, and adjustments 1
have been made accordingly; it has seen the
attainment of the most favorable dealer
organization the Gulbransen Company has
ever known, and it has seen the accomplish-
ment of higher standards of quality, beauty
and value in the Gulbransen Piano than have
ever existed before.
To those whose interests are in the Gulbran-
sen, we wish to assure you that the improved
general excellence which you have observed
in the Gulbransen Piano in 1934 will be main-
tained during 1935 and that the fine spirit of
co-operation which you have extended to us
this year adds an additional warmth to our
seasonal greetings for your good fortune now.
Gulbransen Company
816 N. Kedzie Ave.
Chicago, 111.
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