Music Trade Review
Issue: 1925 Vol. 81 N. 19 - Page 7
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
NOVEMBF.R 7,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1925
October Proved to Be a Very Good
Month Among the Dealers of Milwaukee
Pianos Show the Greatest Activity—Dealers Looking Forward to Heavy Talking Machine Busi-
ness—Three Milwaukee Dealers Co-operating in Ampico Advertising Campaign
WIS., November 2.—Busi-
M ILWAUKEE,
ness for the month of October was
brought to a very satisfactory close in Mil-
waukee music stores and the majority of dealers
are very well pleased with the results of the
month's business. Piaanos have been showing
the greatest activity, but there has also been an
increased demand for other lines, such as band
instruments, radio and sheet music. Interest in
phonographs has been aroused through the re-
cent announcements of the Victor Co., and this
department is expected to show a marked
improvement during the coming month.
"Business has been wonderful," stated Henry
Steussy, vice-president and general manager of
the Kesselman-O'Driscoll Co., home of the Am-
pico in Knabe and Fischer pianos. "All de-
partments have been very satisfactory, with the
exception of phonographs, and announcements
which have just been made regarding the new
Orthophonic Victrola and the new Brunswick
line are expected to improve this business. All
other departments are ahead of last year. With
radio, our only trouble has been in getting the
sets fast enough. We are completely sold out
on Brunswick-Radiolas."
This firm has been featuring a sale of used
player-pianos in order to dispose of the number
which have been taken in on recent big deals.
In connection with this, a window display ex-
hibiting player-piano construction was arranged
and attracted much attention from people pass-
ing the store.
Co-operate in Ampico Campaign
An advertising campaign which has created
considerable interest in Milwaukee and which is
helping to stimulate business at three music
stores is the Ampico campaign, which is being
carried out by the Kesselman-O'Driscoll Co.,
home of the Ampico in the Knabe; the Mason
& Hamlin Studios, home of the Ampico in the
Mason & Hamlin; and the Carberry-Parker Co.,
which features the Ampico in the dickering.
Newspaper advertising is the basis of the cam-
paign, although other advertising mediums are
also being used. In the majority of these news-
paper ads an Ampico in the home of some prom-
inent Milwaukee resident is featured, together
with a statement from the owner as to the en-
joyment and satisfaction he or she has secured
from the instrument. Prominent business men
are selected in a number of cases as it is thought
that other business men of this type would be
influenced by the experience of their business
friends, even though they do not know the Am-
pico owner intimately enough to visit his home.
At the bottom of each advertisement are the sig-
natures of the three stores participating in the
campaign. Other methods of promoting sales
are being used in connection with the campaign,
such as a series of six colored illustrative cir-
culars which are being mailed to a selected mail-
ing list. Of particular interest is the large elec-
tric sign and billboard which have been placed
above the buildings on Wisconsin street, one of
the principal downtown thoroughfares, where it
may be seen from one of the important street
intersections of the downtown district. The
words "The Ampico" are in large illuminated
letters, while the billboard below bears the
names of "Knabe, Chickering and Mason &
Hamlin pianos." Executives of the three stores
report that the campaign is proving very suc-
cessful.
The J. B, Bradford Piano Co. has also been
conducting an extensive newspaper campaign
Highest
Quality
featuring the Duo-Art and Weber pianos. Dur-
ing the past two months this store has been
running small but effective advertisements in the
daily newspapers, appearing several times a
week. More recently, Bradford's used a full-
page in the Roto-Art section of the Sunday Mil-
waukee Journal, devoting the entire space to the
Duo-Art reproducing piano. Although the rates
on advertising in the Roto-Art section are high,
the advertising is very effective and Bradford's
advertisement was of a very attractive character
The center of the page was taken up by an il-
lustration of one of these instruments in an at-
tractive setting. At one side was a list of nearly
forty prominent artists, who record solely for
the Duo-Art, and pictures of fourteen were
shown. A list of thirty educational institutions
where the Duo-Art is in daily classroom use
was also given.
"Business has been very good with us," stated
F. F. Flanner, of the Flanner-Hafsoos Music
House, Inc., which features Kurtzmann, Brinker-
hoff and Behr Bros, pianos. Several important
deals were announced by the Flanner-Hafsoos
music house at the end of October. A Kurtz-
mann grand was sold to J. P. Keating, mechan-
ical superintendent of the Milwaukee Journal.
G. A. Knauer, assistant cashier of the Security
bank, is also a new Kurtzmann owner in this
city.
Stores handling sheet music tied up with the
local appearance of Ernest R. Ball, well-known
composer, by means of window displays and
similar methods, and special orders of his more
popular numbers were placed in stock for use
during the week he appeared here. Some of his
favorites, such as "Mother Machree" and "Let
the Rest of the World Go By," were given a
prominent place in the displays and an attempt
was also made to exploit his newer composi-
tions.
Lloyd Sutton, with the Q R S Red Top tube
division and formerly Q R S roll representative
in this territory, was in Milwaukee last week to
take part in a program broadcast from one of
the Milwaukee stations.
New Pipe Organ Concern
The firm of Jerome B. Meyer & Sons, pipe
organ manufacturers, has been incorporated un-
der Wisconsin laws as Jerome B. Meyer & Sons,
Inc., according to announcement made here.
The capital stock is placed at 250 shares at $100
each, and the company will manufacture and
sell pipe organs to both retail and wholesale
trade. Incorporation papers were signed by Je-
rome B. Meyer, Anna Mary Meyer and Charles
T. Meyer. According to Jerome Z. Meyer, there
has been no change in the officers or manage-
ment as a result of the incorporation, but busi-
ness will be continued as usual.
Increased Employment in
Piano Plants in September
Figure Jumps 21 Per Cent Over That of Au-
gust, Indicating Heavy Jump in Business
WASHINGTON, D. C, November 2.—A tremen-
dous increase in activity in the music industry
is denoted by figures just issued by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, showing that employment
in piano and organ manufacturing in September
increased 21.6 per cent above that of August,
while aggregate weekly payrolls jumped 29.8
per cent. Only one other of the fifty-two indus-
tries surveyed by the bureau showed as great an
increase in activity, while the average increase
in employment for all industry was but 1.5 per
cent and aggregate payrolls averaged six-tenths
of one per cent less than those of the preced-
ing month.
Reports to the bureau from thirty-eight piano
and organ establishments show 7,819 persons em-
ployed in September, against 6,432 in August,
while the aggregate weekly payroll for Sep-
tember was $230,862, against $177,799. As com-
pared with September of last year, employment
showed an increase of 4.2 per cent and payrolls
an increase of 3.6 per cent. Per capita earn-
ings of employes, while six-tenths of one per
cent below those of September, 1924, were 6.8
per cent above those of August, 1925.
New Pooley Portfolio
PHILADELPHIA, PA., November 2.—An attractive
salesman's and dealer's portfolio, featuring the
double appeal of the Pooley radio cabinets and
Atwater Kent radio, has been issued by the
Pooley Co. The portfolio reveals the feminine
appeal of the artistic construction of Pooley
furniture, with the masculine appeal of me-
chanical perfection of the Atwater Kent set.
The national advertising campaign of the
Pooley Co. is described, and a number of speci-
men advertisements are shown. The Pooley
Co. is now preparing a large assortment of
dealer helps, which are described in the port-
folio.
Pratt Read
Products
P i a n o Ivory
Piano Keys
P i a n o Actions
Player Actions
Established in
1806
at Deep River, Conn,
Still There
Standard Service and Highest
Quality
Special Repair Departments
Maintained for Convenience
of Dealers
PRATT, READ & CO.
THE PRATT READ
PLAYER ACTION CO.
Oldest and Best
Highest
Quality
NOVEMBF.R 7,
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
1925
October Proved to Be a Very Good
Month Among the Dealers of Milwaukee
Pianos Show the Greatest Activity—Dealers Looking Forward to Heavy Talking Machine Busi-
ness—Three Milwaukee Dealers Co-operating in Ampico Advertising Campaign
WIS., November 2.—Busi-
M ILWAUKEE,
ness for the month of October was
brought to a very satisfactory close in Mil-
waukee music stores and the majority of dealers
are very well pleased with the results of the
month's business. Piaanos have been showing
the greatest activity, but there has also been an
increased demand for other lines, such as band
instruments, radio and sheet music. Interest in
phonographs has been aroused through the re-
cent announcements of the Victor Co., and this
department is expected to show a marked
improvement during the coming month.
"Business has been wonderful," stated Henry
Steussy, vice-president and general manager of
the Kesselman-O'Driscoll Co., home of the Am-
pico in Knabe and Fischer pianos. "All de-
partments have been very satisfactory, with the
exception of phonographs, and announcements
which have just been made regarding the new
Orthophonic Victrola and the new Brunswick
line are expected to improve this business. All
other departments are ahead of last year. With
radio, our only trouble has been in getting the
sets fast enough. We are completely sold out
on Brunswick-Radiolas."
This firm has been featuring a sale of used
player-pianos in order to dispose of the number
which have been taken in on recent big deals.
In connection with this, a window display ex-
hibiting player-piano construction was arranged
and attracted much attention from people pass-
ing the store.
Co-operate in Ampico Campaign
An advertising campaign which has created
considerable interest in Milwaukee and which is
helping to stimulate business at three music
stores is the Ampico campaign, which is being
carried out by the Kesselman-O'Driscoll Co.,
home of the Ampico in the Knabe; the Mason
& Hamlin Studios, home of the Ampico in the
Mason & Hamlin; and the Carberry-Parker Co.,
which features the Ampico in the dickering.
Newspaper advertising is the basis of the cam-
paign, although other advertising mediums are
also being used. In the majority of these news-
paper ads an Ampico in the home of some prom-
inent Milwaukee resident is featured, together
with a statement from the owner as to the en-
joyment and satisfaction he or she has secured
from the instrument. Prominent business men
are selected in a number of cases as it is thought
that other business men of this type would be
influenced by the experience of their business
friends, even though they do not know the Am-
pico owner intimately enough to visit his home.
At the bottom of each advertisement are the sig-
natures of the three stores participating in the
campaign. Other methods of promoting sales
are being used in connection with the campaign,
such as a series of six colored illustrative cir-
culars which are being mailed to a selected mail-
ing list. Of particular interest is the large elec-
tric sign and billboard which have been placed
above the buildings on Wisconsin street, one of
the principal downtown thoroughfares, where it
may be seen from one of the important street
intersections of the downtown district. The
words "The Ampico" are in large illuminated
letters, while the billboard below bears the
names of "Knabe, Chickering and Mason &
Hamlin pianos." Executives of the three stores
report that the campaign is proving very suc-
cessful.
The J. B, Bradford Piano Co. has also been
conducting an extensive newspaper campaign
Highest
Quality
featuring the Duo-Art and Weber pianos. Dur-
ing the past two months this store has been
running small but effective advertisements in the
daily newspapers, appearing several times a
week. More recently, Bradford's used a full-
page in the Roto-Art section of the Sunday Mil-
waukee Journal, devoting the entire space to the
Duo-Art reproducing piano. Although the rates
on advertising in the Roto-Art section are high,
the advertising is very effective and Bradford's
advertisement was of a very attractive character
The center of the page was taken up by an il-
lustration of one of these instruments in an at-
tractive setting. At one side was a list of nearly
forty prominent artists, who record solely for
the Duo-Art, and pictures of fourteen were
shown. A list of thirty educational institutions
where the Duo-Art is in daily classroom use
was also given.
"Business has been very good with us," stated
F. F. Flanner, of the Flanner-Hafsoos Music
House, Inc., which features Kurtzmann, Brinker-
hoff and Behr Bros, pianos. Several important
deals were announced by the Flanner-Hafsoos
music house at the end of October. A Kurtz-
mann grand was sold to J. P. Keating, mechan-
ical superintendent of the Milwaukee Journal.
G. A. Knauer, assistant cashier of the Security
bank, is also a new Kurtzmann owner in this
city.
Stores handling sheet music tied up with the
local appearance of Ernest R. Ball, well-known
composer, by means of window displays and
similar methods, and special orders of his more
popular numbers were placed in stock for use
during the week he appeared here. Some of his
favorites, such as "Mother Machree" and "Let
the Rest of the World Go By," were given a
prominent place in the displays and an attempt
was also made to exploit his newer composi-
tions.
Lloyd Sutton, with the Q R S Red Top tube
division and formerly Q R S roll representative
in this territory, was in Milwaukee last week to
take part in a program broadcast from one of
the Milwaukee stations.
New Pipe Organ Concern
The firm of Jerome B. Meyer & Sons, pipe
organ manufacturers, has been incorporated un-
der Wisconsin laws as Jerome B. Meyer & Sons,
Inc., according to announcement made here.
The capital stock is placed at 250 shares at $100
each, and the company will manufacture and
sell pipe organs to both retail and wholesale
trade. Incorporation papers were signed by Je-
rome B. Meyer, Anna Mary Meyer and Charles
T. Meyer. According to Jerome Z. Meyer, there
has been no change in the officers or manage-
ment as a result of the incorporation, but busi-
ness will be continued as usual.
Increased Employment in
Piano Plants in September
Figure Jumps 21 Per Cent Over That of Au-
gust, Indicating Heavy Jump in Business
WASHINGTON, D. C, November 2.—A tremen-
dous increase in activity in the music industry
is denoted by figures just issued by the Bureau
of Labor Statistics, showing that employment
in piano and organ manufacturing in September
increased 21.6 per cent above that of August,
while aggregate weekly payrolls jumped 29.8
per cent. Only one other of the fifty-two indus-
tries surveyed by the bureau showed as great an
increase in activity, while the average increase
in employment for all industry was but 1.5 per
cent and aggregate payrolls averaged six-tenths
of one per cent less than those of the preced-
ing month.
Reports to the bureau from thirty-eight piano
and organ establishments show 7,819 persons em-
ployed in September, against 6,432 in August,
while the aggregate weekly payroll for Sep-
tember was $230,862, against $177,799. As com-
pared with September of last year, employment
showed an increase of 4.2 per cent and payrolls
an increase of 3.6 per cent. Per capita earn-
ings of employes, while six-tenths of one per
cent below those of September, 1924, were 6.8
per cent above those of August, 1925.
New Pooley Portfolio
PHILADELPHIA, PA., November 2.—An attractive
salesman's and dealer's portfolio, featuring the
double appeal of the Pooley radio cabinets and
Atwater Kent radio, has been issued by the
Pooley Co. The portfolio reveals the feminine
appeal of the artistic construction of Pooley
furniture, with the masculine appeal of me-
chanical perfection of the Atwater Kent set.
The national advertising campaign of the
Pooley Co. is described, and a number of speci-
men advertisements are shown. The Pooley
Co. is now preparing a large assortment of
dealer helps, which are described in the port-
folio.
Pratt Read
Products
P i a n o Ivory
Piano Keys
P i a n o Actions
Player Actions
Established in
1806
at Deep River, Conn,
Still There
Standard Service and Highest
Quality
Special Repair Departments
Maintained for Convenience
of Dealers
PRATT, READ & CO.
THE PRATT READ
PLAYER ACTION CO.
Oldest and Best
Highest
Quality
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