Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
where Mr. Chips had been a teacher for many
years: "Have you been to the new cinema? I
went with my people the other day," said the
inquiring kid. "It was quite a grand affair
for a small place like Brookfiekl. And they've
got a Wurlitzer there, too."
Oct.-Nov., 1935
All trades and industries sustain groups of associations working for united
as well as individual advantages, much of which is accomplished through trade
practice agreement, for it must be understood that trade practice agreement is a
constructive, co-operative movement on the part of members of an industry who
seek to eliminate unfair methods of competition from the industry by agreement
as to fair trade practices within that industry, thus placing all competitors on an
equal competitive basis.
Another instance of Wurlitzer fame and, in this case,
far from home, was the case of the family in London,
England, where a repairman had been called to make
adjustments on a radio or some other instrument in
their home. The arrival of the repairman was an- Accurate Data on Big Shipments
nounced to the family like this: "There's a man out-
side. Mam, whose's come to demonstrate the Mighty Remarkable Reaction on a New Merchan-
dising Program Which Meets
Wurlitzer." This was regarded as a humorous item
Constructive Operations in Hand; Impor-
with Favor
by a London newspaper and appeared in the "Funny '
ant Announcements; Mr. Wilking* s
column of that paper. But it's Wurlitzer fame, never-
Hugh A. Stewart, sales manager and vice-president
theless.
of the Wurlitzer Grand Piano Company, has had
Vacation Motor Trip
occasion during the past several weeks in calling upon
"Marstield," the Marshall Field & Company Wurlitzer trade people, agencies and distributors, to
On his return from a Pacific Coast motor trip vaca-
trade-mark name, would appear quite as at- visit localities in many parts of the states of the Union.
Mr. Stewart has sized tion, Frank Wilking, president of the Wilking Music
tractive on a piano as on a piece of ribbon.
up and estimated gen- Company, Indianapolis, gave a Presto-Times repre-
sentative a vivid account of his motor travels up and
eral conditions in the
Remarkable Showing in Piano
down the West coast, through the mountains, the
trade very closely and
Wurlitzer conditions mi- National parks, the lowlands and highlands, covering,
Output
nutely. His reaction on as his speedometer read when his car pulled up at the
Total Shipments in September Largest Volume
Wilking- store, 120 E. Ohio Street, 8,552 miles. But
the outlook in general
Since 1930
and Wurlitzer prospec- he was away more than five weeks. Mr. Wilking
The monthly- report of W. A. Mennie, secretary of
started out by saying:
tives are well summed
the National Piano Manufacturers' Association of
up in his own words in
"I took in the Black Hills and Bad Lands of South
America, Inc., shows decided increases in piano out-
an interview with a
Dakota, gorges, falls, Big Horn Mountain, Yellow-
put for the month of September, 1935, as compared
Presto-Times represen- stone Park, spent three days at Lake Tahoe—a beauti-
with previous months and with a like period in 1934.
tative.
ful lake on top of the Rockies, drove in to San Fran-
Shipments during this September were the largest in
"'I have found every- cisco and then to the Yosemite National Park, Los
number as far back as the records of the secretary
Angeles, San Diego, then back through the desert to
where," he says, "that
go, January, 1931. Based on the percentage cf shipments
the Grand Canyon, Bryce's Canyon, Garden of the
the mighty influence of
which have been made so far this year these indicate
Gods, Cave of the Winds, cliff dwellers' ruins and
the house of Wurlitzer
that the total output for 1935 will be probably forty
combined with this par- home by way of Kansas City and St. Louis."
percent greater than 1934. September ii) there were
ticularly attractive plat-
well-nigh 3,000 unfilled orders on hand.
Mr. Wilking goes on to describe the entire trip as
form for the manufac-
The gain over every year since 1929 has been large,
very inspiring, the'scenery beautiful and that with the
HUGH A. STEWART
turing
and
merchandis-
Sales Manager Wurlitzer
running toward one hundred percent at one period.
various business men he came in contact with, asso-
Grand Piano Co.
ing of pianos is meeting ciated with many lines of business, he contends that
September (1935) shipments were 40.87 percent
with intensely a c t i v e he is more than satisfied with the piano business and
ahead of September, 1934; 59 percent more than 1933,
support from the industry in general and by the is certain that it is the "top-notch business to be in."
and 125 percent greater than 1932. Shipments of
uprights in September are 38 percent ahead of the importance and prominence of music merchants who
"What a peaceful, restful feeling I had when I
preceding month of August and 109 percent ahead are now taking on the Wurlitzer line of pianos and
walked into my office the afternoon I returned home
noteworthy
by
the
renewed
interest
manifested
by
of July of this year, an increase that is probably
and found myself surrounded with harmony, the har-
brought about by new styles of cases and the extraor- old-time Wurlitzer dealers who continue with added
mony that music and good business brings. It was
dinary work of dealers in placing these new models interest and sales increase."
the crowning touch to a beautiful trip. I am back to
in the hands of customers as well as manufacturers
Speaking of piano production and output at the music and harmony and my mind is a companion
producing a large supply to care for orders ahead.
Wurlitzer piano factories, Mr. Stewart remarked that piece to all these things around me and to what I
August and September shipments this year were far
have seen on my tour. I was happy when I found
in
excess of those of any corresponding period in
my store running in fine shape and found that more
A New Weser Corporation
the past several years. "Today, as I am telling this to business had been done while I was away than I had
Announcement is made of the organization of
you. many carload orders are on hand, as well as the even hoped for or believed could have been done
"Weser Pianos Corporation," New York City, which
largest group of unfilled orders that the Wurlitzer through the summer. I am thankful to my loyal asso-
is to specialize in the latest type of grand and console Company has experienced for many, many months. ciates. But now 1 have some bigger things to tell
model pianos. Walter C. llepperla and Louis C. Anyone investigating the quality of the present Wur- you about."
Kauling are in charge of the production and market- litzer as well as the quality of the Wurlitzer program,
These bigger things which Mr. Wilking refers to
ing of the product. This new corporation is located
will get a very concrete idea of why it is that Wur- concern expansion of his business, "for," said Mr.
at the Weser Bros., Inc., factories in 4'rd street, litzer factories are proceeding so actively."
Wilking, "we have secured a general agency and gen-
where they have the benefit of the facilities of the
eral distribution of three lines of pianos: the Baldwin,
Weser Bros, factories.
The first samples of this new product were passed Philip A. Starck, Grandson of the the Wurlitzer, the Haddorff, piano distribution fran-
chises which embrace a great part of the state of
upon by experts in the trade and have met the
Indiana, in fact to many sections where we are already
Founder of P. A. Starck Piano
approval of many piano men who know and appre-
represented. We know this to be a big proposition, but
ciate musical and structural results. Their grand will
Co., Becomes President
with eight direct points of contact already established
be known as the Coloniat type and the console as
through which we can reach any locality in the common-
the Colonial Console. The new organization seems
of That Business
wealth easily and quickly and the advantages we have for
destined to meet with decided success.
Philip A. Starck, the elder of two sons, has been
supply of goods to meet immediate demands, coupled with
chosen by the family to carry on the traditions and a force of salesmen scattered over the State in every
TONE LIBERATOR EQUIPMENT EXCLU-
business enterprises of the P. A. Starck Piano Cor- advantageous section we are in an enviable position to
SIVE ESTEY FEATURE
poration founded by his illustrious grandfather, P. A.
This invention (patent applied for) serves as a tone Starck, and perpetuated by his father, the late Philip carry on the aggressive piano selling distribution cam-
paign already well under way. Our business has been
amplifier by releasing the tone waves through the T. Starck.
growing rapidly all through this year, showing an in
front of Estey console pianos. The bottom frame is
The late Philip T. Starck, who succeeded his father, crease in sales of just about 300% over the year 1934.
hinged; when the middle pedal is depressed the top
This seems even to us a phenomenal increase in piano
P.
A. Starck, had been trained in the business from
portion of the frame opens. If the pianist desires this
selling but the figures are entirely correct for yoi'
amplified tone throughout a selection he locks the the time he left school and was perfectly equipped
pedal down by pushing a rod under the key bed. and qualified to carry on the business, which he did must remember," added Mr. Wilking, accentuating
so successfully up to the time of his death in his the statement in a stinging tone of confirmation, "we
Hence the pianist has his choice of normal Estey
palatial
summer home on the shores of Lake Geneva live, breathe and sleep pianos; that is the secret of
console tone volume or amplified volume, a highly
our success. The high-class selling force now in the
desirable option, particularly when the purchaser lives August 13 last.
By the will of the late Philip T. Starck his entire field for the Wilking Music House, individuals of
in an apartment building.
marked ability in piano selling, give assurance of the
holdings in the company bearing his name have been
big things we have in mind to do. I am today more
J. J. Haffey has returned to Jackson. Mich., as left intact in the hands of his immediate family.
than ever before piano-minded and piano-sold.'' Clos-
The
P.
A.
Starck
Piano
Company
was
established
manager of Grinnell Bros, store, that place. Mr.
ing the interview, Mr. Wilking bade the Presto-Times
Haffey succeeds Allen Weber who goes to Toledo. and did its first business in the days of the Columbian representative a cheerful "good-day" and "thanks for
Exposition,
1892-1893.
Aggressive
methods
and
vital
Mr. Haffey has been associated with the Grinnell
forces of the Messrs. Starck and efficient co-workers vour call."
Bros, organization for more than sixteen years and
who
have been with them have brought the P. A.
for fourteen years has been a manager of some one
Starck Piano Company business to a commanding
of their retail stores.
position in the industries and the retail commercial
WOMEN'S CLUB HONORS N E W CONOVER
activities of Chicago and the East.
MR. LUXTON SPEAKS
GRAND
A correspondent writing to Presto-Times says that
The new president is college trained and a graduate
The Conover piano has a faithful friend in the per-
when he recently met D. D. Luxton "Denny" ex- of the Babson Institute of Massachusetts, where he son of Ruth Sanderson Phillips, noted pianist of Glen
pressed himself, saying: "There is a decided optimism specialized in executive training and finance. He is Ellyn, 111., who recently gave a recital in dedication
all along the line and we can agree with business young, ambitious and modern, and carries the new of the new Conover grand piano recently acquired by
men generally that business is rapidly improving. school of thought which he associates with the train- the Women's Club of that city. This concert and
Concerning the new style of uprights it seems to me ing he received under his able father. The progress piano dedication was given in connection with a cele-
that they will eventually find their way into a good and marked activity evidenced throughout the history bration of the Club on its fortieth birthday and was
many homes. The American people, or at least a of this growing company will be kept very much an event which attracted a great deal of attention, par-
large number of them, crave 'something different," alive in the management which continues in the per- ticularly concerning the musical features of the cele-
especially in their homes."
son of the new president, Philip A. Starck.
bration.
WILKING
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