Music Trade Review

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SEPTEMBER 25, 1926
The Music Trade Review
Sale of Grands Showing a Steady
Increase in Milwaukee Trade
Dealers Report That Period Models Are Steadily Gaining in Favor With the Public—Players
and Uprights Also Gain—Edmund Gram Campaigning for Installation of Organs in Homes
\/fILWAUKEE, W.IS., September 21.—With
Fall business coming up to expectations,
Milwaukee music dealers are making plans to
promote business which promise some inter-
esting developments.
Florian F. Flanner, of the Flanner-Hafsoos
Music House, Inc., home of the Kurtzmann,
Brinkerhoff and Behr Bros, pianos, reports the
sale of grands continuing nicely. The latest
Kurtzmann Florentine model in walnut is at-
tracting much attention, as well as the new
Brinkerhoff Aria Divina reproducing grand in
the Venetian model. Small player-pianos are
going well, according to Mr. Flanner.
Mr. Flanner stated that the saxophone and
banjo still maintain their popularity among in-
struments. Band instruments are going well,
and a good many gold-plated instruments are
sold. The Flanner-Hafsoos company recently
supplied the orchestra at the Alhambra The-
atre with a complete line of C. G. Conn instru-
ments, all gold plated. The theatre is celebrat-
ing its first anniversary as the home of Uni-
versal pictures, and the orchestra is being fea-
tured. A billboard and newspaper advertising
campaign has been stimulating interest in the
orchestra which is playing on the stage during
this week. They are endorsing the Conn instru-
ments exclusively.
The Flanner-Hafsoos company is celebrating
its thirty-fifth anniversary this year.
Elmer G. Netzow, secretary of the Milwaukee
Piano Mfg. Co., said: "We note a decided gain
in our grand department, with the period grand
being favored. We find the regular satin finish
moves slowly in comparison with the walnut
finish in grands, a condition almost reverse to
that which existed a year ago. Our reproduc-
ing grands have also shown a marked improve-
ment in sales, with the small expression grands,
selling from $1,200 to $1,600, gaining in pop-
ularity.
"Although the general trade reports have
been to the effect that the upright piano is
again reaching a place of its own, in our house
player-pianos continue in preference. How-
ever, the upright business has shown a gain of
11 per cent over last year.
"We are looking to our Fall business with
much optimism and enthusiasm, and we should
have by far the biggest year in the history of
our house. Collections are holding up well,
and employment conditions undoubtedly con-
tribute a large part to the splendid results
we have been obtaining so far this year. That,
coupled with a consistent newspaper advertis-
ing campaign, has helped swell our sales."
Mr. Netzow states that the Milwaukee Piano
Co. has tripled its space at the Milwaukee Jour-
nal Food and Household Show, which will be
held in October.
"Have you a little organ in your home?"
has become the query of some of the Mil-
waukee music houses. "No well-appointed home
is complete without a reproducing pipe organ,"
they declare.
Edmund Gram, of Edmund Gram, Inc., home
of the Steinway, has been figuring in recent
newspaper stories as one of those backing the
movement for domestic organs. The Wan-
gerin Organ Co., Milwaukee, maker of all sizes
of organs, testifies that the use of organs in
the home is growing, although Milwaukee is
rather lukewarm in its reception of them.
Hausmann & Co., who specialize in organ re-
pairing, find the organs slowly working their
way into the homes of the well-to-do.
Great interest is being shown in the Mil-
waukee radio show which is to take place in the
Auditorium, September 25 to 29. Dealers are
making plans for the event, and 300 reserva-
tions have been made. A banquet will be held
on September 28.
Several music firms have contracted for space
at the Milwaukee Journal Food and Household
Show. Among them are Kesselman-O'Driscoll
Co., the Milwaukee Piano Mfg. Co., Carberry-
Parker Co., the Walker Music Exchange, Hol-
ton Band Instrument Co. and the Noll Piano
Co.
R. K. Paynter, president of Wm. Knabe &
Co., visited his Milwaukee dealers during the
week.
W. T. Brinkerhoff, president of the Brinker-
hoff Piano Co., was a visitor in this city last
week.
Oscar Swanitz, representing Behr Bros.
Piano Co., called on Milwaukee merchants.
Jesse French Go. to
Hold Salesmen's Contest
in June. Mrs. Horner—$5; going over month
of May sales. Phonograph Department—$5;
going over month of May sales. J. E. Bowman
and T. A. Lambert, office—$15 for beating May
collections.
The parent company itself is offering a large
sterling silver loving cup to the salesman or
dealer who is the champion seller of Jesse
French piano products for 1926. The winner
for 1926 will hold it throughout next year and
if he wins it twice he keeps it permanently. It
is sixteen inches high with graceful carvings,
set on an ebony base.
The rules of the contest are as follows: First,
the salesman reporting the greatest number of
sales of instruments from the Jesse French fac-
tory, 500 points. Second, the one reporting the
greatest amount of net sales of Jesse French-
made instruments, 500 points. Third, the sales-
man reporting the greatest amount of cash re-
ceived on the sale of pianos, players, etc., 500
points. Fourth, every reproducing grand sold,
200 points. Fifth, every Jesse French grand
sold, 100 points. Sixth, every cash sale of any
make of new piano, 100 points.
Silver Loving Cup to Be Awarded to Leading
Salesmen During Coming Year—Details of
Contest and Names of the Winners
NEWCASTLE, IND., September 20.—The Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co. has just gotten out
the first number of a house organ which it calls
Musico with the subtitle of "More Music—Bet-
ter Music." It contains many items that inter-
est the entire trade because the purpose is to
pep up many sales organizations and give credit
and prizes to the successful sales leaders. The
result of one monthly meeting of the Mobile
branch house is given in detail. The Jesse
French manager in Mobile, J. H. Resch, held a
meeting of his force which adopted the slogan
"Cash and More Cash" and offered prizes for
the month's work which covered nine different
angles of the store's activities.
The winners and what they won follow: R. E.
(Styles B) Pearson—$25 for most cash. H. G.
($5,000) Wade—$15; largest volume. R. E.
(Style B) Pearson—$10; over $3,500 in sales.
H. G. ($5,000) Wade—$10; over $3,500 in sales.
L. R. Myers—$5; most Edison phonographs.
R. E. (Style B) Pearson—$5; smallest expense.
H. G. ($5,000) Wade—$5; most sales Last week
Incorporation papers have been filed recently
for the Levin Piano Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y.,
which will have an authorized capital of $20,000.
Officers and directors of the company are Hy-
man Levin, Celia and Max Levine.
Davis, Burkham & Tyler Go.
Closing Some of Branches
Company Plans to Cover Same Territory, but
in a More Intensive Manner and With Fewer
Stores to Cut Down Overhead
EAST LIVKRPOOI., O., September 20.—Davis, Burk-
ham & Tyler Co., dealer in pianos, talking
machines and general musical merchandise,
who for many years has conducted a success-
ful store in East Fifth street, has closed the
store here and will concentrate its efforts on
smaller territory, with headquarters in Wheel-
ing, W. Va., it was announced this week.
During the past ten years the company has
expanded until to-day it operates seventeen re-
tail stores. The company's policy has been
changed and while it will work just as large a
territory it will do so with fewer stores, thereby
eliminating large overhead expense.
Allan Dawson, in charge of the local store
for many years, has not announced future plans.
New Post for F. E. Biggs
TORONTO, ONT., September 21.—F. E. Biggs, for
seventeen years manager of the Winnipeg
branch of Mason & Risch, Ltd., has been ap-
pointed manager of the sales promotion depart-
ment of the company at its head offices here
and has arrived to assume his new duties. Mr.
Biggs has been succeeded in Winnipeg by W. J.
Wilson.
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. has opened a new
branch store at 7510 Madison street, Forest
Park, 111., handling a general stock of music
goods with W. H. Walter as manager.
Pratt Read
Products
have stood for years
as an asset of
incalculable value
to the piano industry.
Know Our
PIANO KEYS
PIANO ACTIONS
PLAYER ACTIONS
and Our Service
Write us at the
first opportunity
PRATT, READ & CO.
Established in 1806
The PRATT READ PLAYER ACTION CO.
Deep River, Conn.