Presto

Issue: 1941 2299

ARE D O I N G T H I N G S
SOUTHERN CALIFORNIA MUSIC COMPANY
PREPARES FOR A GREAT FUTURE
Southern California Music Company, San Diego, California, is
one of the most complete and aggressive exclusive music stores
in the entire southwest, in an empire embracing San Diego and
Imperial counties in California as well as Baja, California, which
to those who know is northwestern Mexico.
San Diego, known and appreciated by world travelers as the
region having one of the world's most delightful year round equa-
ble climates, has for years been the niecca of retired folks from all
walks of life, with the result that cultural activities were prominent.
San Diego In Midst of Great Expansion
But conditions have changed, according to Stuart (i. Ashen-
berg, president of this company. In previous years these retired
people, a goodly percentage of them being former officers of our
armed forces, would re-enter civilian life, buy good homes and
the higher type musical instruments. Naturally a splendid business
was developed. The picture changed because of the national de-
fense program; the majority of these men who had joined the
naval reserve upon retirement were recalled to the colors and busi-
ness from this source took a decided slump. However, this decline
was immediately overcome through the very cause that created it.
With so much defense activity and the immediate demand for air-
planes, San Diego again stepped right into the center of the busi-
ness spotlight. Three leading airplane manufacturers have located
in San Diego and the immediate expansion of these factories has
been so great that the most conservative estimators say that San
Diego will have an increase of 100,000 persons this year.
Southern California Music Company Looks Ahead
Mr. Ashenberg says: "When a community shows such a de-
cided increase in population the institution which makes it a policy
to look ahead is in a fortunate spot. Southern California Music
Company practices such a policy, and being located in a section
of the shopping district that enjoys the patronage of a select clien-
tele results are cheerful. This store has five complete departments.
Such names as Knabe, Story & Clark, Mason & flamlin, Wur-
litzer, Fischer, Everett, Magnavox, and Solovox testify to the
firm's standing in the musical world. The majority of these and
other line instrument makers have named Southern California
Music Company as their exclusive dealer for San Diego and Im-
perial counties.
"It is interesting to cite the fact that this store has sold many
pianos to residents of Imperial valley and the modern instruments
are not affected by the extreme heat of this famous region where
temperatures frequently soar to from 120 to 130 degrees.
Store lias Private 'Teaching Rooms
"A feature which our company pronounces as highly successful
is the installation of a number of private rooms for teaching and
practice work. Two teachers are employed to teach the accordion.
If customers desire lessons on any other instruments arrangements
are made to accomodate them right in the store."
WURLITZER GRAND FOR RADIO STATION WMJM
Bradshaw Music Company of Fitzgerald. (Georgia, has recently
announced the sale of a Wurlitzer Grand, Model 260, to Radio
Station WMJM. Cordele, Georgia. Hie sale was made by Mr.
C. F. Bradshaw.
STONE PIANO RECITALS ATTRACT CROWDS
Roat Music Company, Wurlitzer dealer at Battle Creek, Michi-
gan, stimulates a great deal of piano interest and store traffic by
permitting local music teachers to hold recitals in the store. These
recitals bring hundreds of piano-conscious parents and (heir friends
to the store each month.
AIKIL. l'Ml
O. B. Fawlcy Music Company, Fairmont, W. Va.
unloading a carload of Baldwin Pianos.
F AW LEV COMPANY
INCREASES
ITS PIANO
BUSINESS
The above picture was sent to Presto Music Times recently by
Mr. O. 13. Fawley of the (). B. Fawley Music Company, 917
Morgantown Avenue, Fairmont. West Virginia. It shows the
company unloading a carload of Baldwin pianos. Mr. Fawley
says, "Piano business is looking up. We had a 33% increase in
1940 over 1939."
After eight years with the W. F. Frederick Piano Company
Mr. Fawley started in the musi cbusiness for himself March 1st,
1932. Me began in a small room on a side street, then moved
to Uigh Street in 1936 and now has the largest exclusive music
store in West Virginia.
lie opened a branch store in Fairmont, West Virginia, in Oc-
tober, \9M). lie will sell Baldwin and Wurlitzer pianos and will
have a complete stock of small goods. His hobbies are golf, fish-
ing, and bridge.
IIOLLENBERG PIANO CO. OS 77//: A/h'
Tannen Hoilenberg of the llollenberg Piano Company, Mem-
phis, Tennessee, has announced that he is sponsoring a series of
weekly radio broadcasts. The llollenberg program, featuring
three excellent musicians, goes on the air everv Sunday at 3 :0C
P. M. over the famous Scripps-Howard station WMC. Spot
announcements are read at frequent intervals.
SCHILLER-CABLE AND JANSSEN PIANO COMPANIES
HAVE NEW DISTRIBUTORS
The Chicago Musical Company, M. H. Berlin, President, will
act as distributors for Conover and Cable pianos in various sec-
tions that do not at present have regular Schiller-Cable dealers,
according to a recent announcement by Mr. Berlin and Fdgar
B. Jones. President of the Schiller Cable Piano Manufacturing
Company of Oregon, Illinois.
The Carl Fischer Musical Instrument Company of \ T e\v York
are to be national distributors for The Janssen Piano Co. out-
side ot (ireater Xew York. The Fischer Company is opening a
midwestern wholesale office in Chicago at 20 Fast lack son Blvd.
PAGK NINE
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
TED BROWN
Newly Appointed
Steinway Dealer
Tacoma, Wash.
Mr. Ted Brown, of the Ted Brown Music
Company, Taeonia, Washington, leaning on a
Steinway grand, one of a number of Steinway
pianos personally chosen by him as initial stock.
Left to right—standing, Roman de Majcw-
ski, Theodore D. Steinway, and IVm. R. Stein-
way, Ted Brozvn. Seated at the piano, Theo-
dore /:. Steinway, President of Steinwav &
Sons.
PIANO SUPPLY RUNNING
SHORT
BECAUSE OF HEAVY
DEMAND
Interesting Interview Given by William R. Steinway
"Out in the cold world, out in the street,
Begging a piano of each one I meet."
—Parody on Old Jingle.
The threat of a piano famine was added to the world's welter
of woes, present and potential. This nation, in which virtually
all pianos have been produced since the European war got its
second wind more than a year ago, during l ( )40, has nearly readied
its piano production capacity. But the public demand for uprights
and babv grands keeps growing.
This prosperity chord of the .American piano industry was-
struck bv William Steiuwav. for thirty-five vears European man-
ager for his firm when he recently visited L. G. LaMair, president
of I .von & 1 lealv.
"In this country 140,000 pianos will be the sales total for 1940"
predicted Mr. Steinway. "That marks an increase of 27 per cent
over l°o ( ). It is also close to the peak of the industry's produc-
tion capacity, which is not more than 150,000 a year."
Piano Rising in Favor
The piano has risen in favor as the result of growing apprecia-
tion of better music, instilled bv the radio and the phonograph,
according to Mr. Steinwav. That's whv a piano as a Christ-
mas present is no longer looked upon as the height of luxury or
as representing an effort to be high-toned.
Also the dimensions of the instrument have been reduced so
that a fine specimen of baby grand will easily conquer the space
resistance of the smallest flat. And a comparative weakling of
a chap can apply lor a job as a piano mover today and get by on
his personality—not his biceps.
The Piano Is A Morale IVeapon
"The piano is a morale weapon against the bomb and the fight-
ing plane and machine gun." said Mr. Steinwav. who returned
to America after the outbreak of the war. "In subways and other
shelters in London, community singing and concerts are almost
invariably keyed to piano music. Moreover, the perils of the
'blackout' keep millions of people home after dark, and musical
instruments, such as the piano, supplement such music as they
are able to hear via wireless. You know that in most European
countries foreign broadcasts are forbidden."
I\\<;F. TKX
Mr. Steinway was instrumental in presenting a piano for the
bombproof concerts now being conducted in the basement of the
National Galleries in London under the direction of Myra Hess.
Peak Production in 1941
Mr. Steinway thinks production may reach its peak in 1941.
/. IV. JENKINS,
INTERESTINC;
III MAKES
S(U;C;ESTION
The problem of rationing our increasing costs and expenses is
a very tough problem mentioned by J. \\\ lenkins. III. We
quote here a portion of a letter recently received from him.
Jenkins Music Company
Kansas City, Missouri
Dear Mr. 1'engelly:
"We had a very sat:slactorv business in December. As a mat-
ter of fact, it was the largest we have had in over ten years. How-
ever we need more than one December in a year.
"1 am happy to report that a good part of our increase in busi-
ness was in the piano business which, of course, made me per-
sonally feel mighty good.
"I am still definitely of the opinion that it is going to be neces-
sary tor the successful merchant to find new ways and means of
rationing his costs and expenses. The old percentages that we
were taught years ago, don't seem to prove out right with the
present day set-up."
Sincerely yours
JENKINS MUSIC COMPANY
J. W. Jenkins, III
B. F. GARST OPENS PIANO SHOW ROOM
IN DRUG STORE
B. E. Garst. enterprising Wurlit/.er dealer of Guymon, Okla-
homa, recently acquired display space in one of the leading local
drug stores where he will carry a permanent exhibit of ten or
twelve Wurlitzer pianos.
I'RICSTO MUSIC T1MKS
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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