Nov.-Dec, 1934
P R E S T O-T I M E S
WILLIAM R. STEINWAY'S
ACTIVITIES
Visits Various Points in the United States—
Stops Off in London for Conferences
En Route Back to Hamburg.
A communication from William R. Stein way, th.:
general foreign manager of Steinway & Sons, sent from
London, England, speaks of his regrets that he was
not able to meet more of his friends during his visit to
the United States some weeks ago. He had hoped to
visit a greater number of Steinway representatives
here than his limited time permitted. He was not
able to get farther west than Chicago where he spent
a small part of two week-end days with his friends
at Lyon & Healy's. Returning eastward on Sunday
he paid a brief visit to Grinnell Bros, and then to
Montreal, Canada, and sailed from Canada on the
steamer "Empress of Britain" of the Canadian-Pacific
Line.
On board this steamer there were four beautiful
Steinway pianos so that naturally Mr. Steinway felt
quite at home as a guest of that elegant steamship.
Stopping at London for a few days Mr. Steinway pro-
ceeded on to Hamburg and is now, as a more recent
letter from him says, "back on the job."
The greater part of Mr. Steinway's dozen years
or so abroad has been at London but a year ago he
located at Hamburg, home of the European Steinway
factories. Activities at the Hamburg factory ha\ e
been developing rapidly of late. Steinway shipments
to all parts of the world are made from Hamburg and
trade has continued to increase rapidly during the
past twelve months particularly. In fact, as Mr.
Steinway says, shipments from the Hamburg factory
are double what they were a year ago, and he has
only encouraging words for the piano business gen-
erally, believing that the music business everywhere
will move forward steadily in the years ahead. Mr.
Steinway relates many interesting conditions in the
progress of Steinway abroad and it must be under-
stood that Steinway trade over practically the entire
world, exclusive of this country, is carried on through
the Hamburg house and produced at the Hamburg
Steinway factory.
Erom this branch house Steinway pianos go to the
trade of Australia and New Zealand, Canada, Cuba,
Great Britain, Japan, South Africa, the entire South
American trade and, of course, all countries of
Europe. In many capitals of the world Steinway
pianos are used in municipal and other functions and
in scores of broadcasting stations, schools, conserva-
tories and other prominent places of musical enter-
prise, so that, as Mr. Steinway says, "the Steinway
piano is in use in the leading broadcasting statior^
throughout the world."
Steinway trade from the Hamburg branch has been
growing very steadily and at this time Steinway busi-
ness is about double what it was a year ago and it
has been a long time since the future looks as bright
as it does today.
Steinway & Sous have supplied royalty—kings and
queens, princes, potentates and nobles—for many
years in all countries of the world, but possibly one
"high place" was missing in the grand lineup of
"pianos for royalty," inasmuch as His Highness the
Nizam of Hyderabad recently gave his order for a
style C grand in mahogany, shipped from the Euro-
pean factory at Hamburg. Incidentally, too, the lead-
ing Einland radio station, located at Helsingfors, thf
capital city, recently purchased a Steinway concert,
grand and "Diceo Musicale," of Cagliari, Italy, has
given another order for a concert grand to go from
the Hamburg factory. However,-the Steinway piano
is used in most of the important broadcasting stations
and studios in every country on the face of the globe.
NEW HOME FOR WELLS MUSIC CO.,
DENVER
The Charles B. Wells Music Co., Denver, which
concern has leased the first and second floors, approxi-
mately 12,000 square feet, of the National Broadcast-
ing building, 1629 California street, almost directly
opposite their former place of business, is making this
new location a notable music trade establishment.
Extensive remodeling is being done, new fixtures in-
stalled so that the new Wells company store will be
one of the most up-to-date music establishments in
the West. The Wells company expects to have a
grand opening during the holiday week.
It is interesting to note that in his early days Presi-
dent Charles E. Wells spent nineteen years of hi.-?
life in the store his company has secured when it
was in the name of the Knight-Campbell Music Com
pany. by whom he was employed for that period.
The Grinnell Music House branch at Saginaw,
Michigan, is preparing to move to 124 N. Washington
avenue. They will occupy three floors of this build-
ing and the location is considered by Manager Pocock
an improvement on the former store at 114 North
Bauni street.
A BUSY PIANO PLANT—OLD-TIME
ACTIVITY IN MOTION —CAR-
LOAD SHIPMENTS GOING ON
A visit to the Gulbransen piano factory, Kedzie
and Chicago avenues, Chicago, by a representative
of Presto-Times, supplemented by a conversational
\isit with Gulbransen officials, substantiates an ap-
parently undeniable proposition that of the piano
manufacturing concerns which have enjoyed pros-
perity during the year now drawing to a close, the
Gulbransen must be included and the Gulbransen
factory listed as among the busiest in piano manu-
facturing. While Gulbransen is reckoned among thi
piano manufacturing concerns that have come through
the depression without a shutdown, not for even ;i
single working day, Gulbransen activity keeps on with
increased output.
This continuous movement toward the top rung
represents, as one of the officials of the company
explained, "a steady upward trend from July, 1933,
steadily increasing from month to month until today
we are enjoying what looks like a return of piano
enterprise of years past."
A demonstrable evidence of this statement was
shown when passing from one section of the factory
to the other, four carloads of pianos were load-
ing on the railroad tracks which lead into the factory
yards. These four carloads were being made ready
for shipment to various parts of the country, one of
them to a Pacific Coast point. "Really," said this
Gulbransen official, "these four cars will be loaded
and shipped from the factory within the space of
three days." It is an interesting commentary on
piano making of today to observe that of the hundreds
of pianos now going through for shipment from
the Gulbransen factory that every one of them bears
the name Gulbransen. In calling this observation
to the attention of headquarters it was stated that
"we do make a few pianos on which the names of
certain of our dealers appear, but whether this pro-
cedure is of any advantage to them or to us, we
quest'on, though we do realize that if we desire to
achieve a larger business volume quickly it could be
done by making pianos that we could sell to any
merchant anywhere using whatever names would fit
in with the accomplishment of that purpose, but we
do not seem to be temperamentally fitted for that type
of activity so we are adhering to that character of
manufacture and merchandising which is most closely
in accord with our sentiments in the matter and to
bend our efforts in concentrating upon the Gulbransen
entirely. As we view this problem of piano produc-
tion it seems to us that the one-name proposition,
Gulbransen, is best and sufficient for us. Gulbransen
is the name of the founder of this business and he is
still actively engaged with us. It is the name em-
blematic of that founder's well-known ideals. It
represents a piano that any dealer or salesman can
sell with confidence and any customer buy with cer-
tainty of satisfaction."
As one passes through this great factory he is
impressed with the spirit of high-grade surroundings,
everything is carefully and minutely cared for to pro-
duce satisfaction-giving products. The materials used,
the system of manufacture, all seem to be well nigh
perfect. One cannot fail to observe an intelligent class
of workmen at the Gulbransen factory, most of whom
have been associated with Gulbransen for many years.
Mr. Gulbransen himself says of these men that they
"take as much interest in our product as we do our-
selves, and as the Gulbransen piano is no better or
vvorse than the men who make it and the ideals they
have in mind, it can be depended upon that our
product is a good piano."
In closing these truthful remarks on Gulbranse-i
an interesting item that backs up very materially the
statements made is this: That in the Gulbransen offices
there are several packages of unfilled orders for Gul-
bransen pianos, each stack representing certain styles,
models, etc. The writer must have seen accepted
orders for as many as several hundred pianos awaii-
ing shipment. Perhaps there were more than 300
to 400, at any rate it was an inspiring th.'ng to see
with one's own eyes.
The Landers Music House, owned by Major George
Landers, Clariuda, Iowa, has been re-established in
that town after a lapse of about two and one-half
years. Major Landers moved to Kansas City, locat-
ing his business in that city, but finally decided to
forsake Kansas City and get into business again in
the old home town. His location now is at 18th and
Nodaway streets, Clarinda. At the present time the
Landers house is making a specialty of band instru-
ments and band music.
E. E. Huston of Charlotte, N. C, who has been
identified with the music business for upwards of
forty years and who is an accomplished musician, has
taken the Starr piano agency for that territory and
anticipates a line trade in Starr and Starr-made pianos.
PERSONAL MENTION
Paul Fink of the Aeolian-American Corporation.
New York, having disposed of his band' ome residence
at 11 Argyle avenue, New Rochelle, N. Y., has leased
for a period of years an apartment in Beechmont
Towers in Eastchester road. New Rochelle.
Mr. A. W. Rapp, chief of the collection depart-
ment of Grinnell Bros., Detroit, remarked a few days
ago in conversation with a correspondent of Presto-
Times, that "the piano business is coming back grad-
ually and this," he believes, "through radio and other
forms of piano and music propaganda." A great in-
terest in good music is being created by the radio.
"Radio business," he added, "has not come back much,
in fact hardly at all."
Gordon Laughead, general sales manager of the
Wurlitzer Grand Piano Company, who has been visit-
ing the trade out in the Northwest, is elated over
favorable conditions up that way, particularly out in
the Rocky Mountain district. Several important
agencies were established on this last trip and whet!
Mr. Laughead returned from that gold mine country
he was convinced that business there as well as else-
where is rapidly on the mend. At any rate Wurlitzer
piano sales for October continued to show increases
over the immediately preceding months. He says he
believes the W^urlitzer factories are in for a big season
this fall and winter and that many of us are going
to enjoy some wonderful business within the comim;
six months.
The Chicago Piano and Organ Association added
another honor to its many-sided facto-factotum, Adam
Schneider, by making him one of its life member;,
similar to the Chicago Piano Club which honored
him on the day of his fifty years in the piano business,
on which occasion he was eulogized by a member
with these words: "I am at loss to find any expression
of appreciation by which to compliment him that ha.s
not already been given in some way or other in con-
nection with the many and varied services he has
rendered." To me this gentleman added: "I associate
with Adam Schneider that well-known Latin expres-
sion of friendship, 'Semper Fidelis,' always faithful,
a term we all know fits him well."
W. P. Hare, president of the Hare Music Corpo-
ration, Warren and Youngstown, Ohio, has recently
taken up his headquarters at Youngstown. He was
formerly located at Warren, but in taking charge of
the Youngstown store has moved to that city. In the
matter of trade activities Mr. Hare notes particularly
a good trade in the band and orchestral departments
of his business, a condition which has materially
helped other departments of this trade.
Jerome F. Murphy, president of the newly organized
Steinert & Sons business of Boston, is optimistic on
piano trade ahead of us. Mr. Murphy has been en-
gaged in the manufacture and distribution of pianos
during his entire business career. He believes that
the intelligent work of most of the piano manufac-
turers today and cooperating with music teachers
throughout the country in combating "canned"' music
is the principle for increased piano sales which he
believes is sure to be on the way. Steinert's is the
home of the Steinert piano. The important recent
acquisition is the Hardman agency in the Steinert
territory. The Steinert factory, located in new quar-
ters in the Carver Street Annex, is completely
equipped for the rebuilding of pianos.
E. R. Blanchard. late of Chicago, who for forty
years or more was an employe and official of the
W. W. Kimball Company, is now residing at 1660
Loma Vista street, Pasadena, Calif., enjoying, as is
sometimes remarked, "an abundant lite."
Mr. Furness, a correspondent at South Bend, Ind..
who inquires about the Fort Wayne Music Mer-
chants' Association, is informed that the president of
that organization is Bert J. Dressier and was elected
at the last meeting held some time in August at the
Packard Piano Store, Fort Wayne.
W. R. Bennett, who is succeeded by M. E. Higgins
as manager of the Grand Rapids, Mich., branch of
Grinnell Bros, branch store, takes the Saginaw Grin-
nell Bros, store. Mr. Higgins has been connected with
the Toledo, Ohio, and the Pontiac, Mich., stores of
the Grinnell organization.
Douglas Jacquith, who formerly had a music store
at Brookings, S. 1)., is opening an establishment at
Salem, Ore., his location being in the Senator Hotel
building. Mr. Jacquith will specialize in band instru-
ments, musical merchandise and the like but is pre-
paring for a line of pianos also.
R. E. Folk, who has been identified with the music
business at Hammond, Indiana, for several years, has
opened a business under his own name in the Lloyd
building, 214 Russell street, that city. At the present
time he is carrying a Cable Piano Company line of
instruments.
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