Music Trade Review
Issue: 1932 Vol. 91 N. 2 - Page 15
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THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
February, 1932
NEW STYLES AND SIZES OF WHEELOCK
PIANOS ROUND OUT POPULAR LINE
T
HE Aeolian Co. has demonstrated its
confidence in the immediate future of the
piano business by placing on the market
shortly after the opening of the year a num-
ber of new styles and sizes of Wheelock grand
pianos, which serve to complete that line and
so round it out that the dealer and his cus-
tomer will find therein a type of instrument
to meet practically every requirement.
The additions include two new scales, one
a four-foot-ten-inch grand which is already
in production and being shipped to dealers,
and a new six-foot grand. The latter has
been carefully tried out over a lengthy pe-
riod, samples shipped to dealers for testing
and it will be actually in production at the
factory by the end of this month.
As now constituted, the Wheelock line of
instruments embraces four sizes in grands,
the new four-foot-ten-inch, the five-foot, the
five-foot-four-inch and the new six-foot, to-
gether with a studio upright only three feet
seven inches high. The addition of the new
grands comes about as a result of the cordial
reception accorded the Wheelock instruments
by dealers and the public throughout the
country.
In presenting the new Wheelock instru-
ments, the Aeolian company has kept in mind
the prestige won by Wheelock pianos since
they were first made in 1877—as has been the
policy of the company ever since they ac-
quired control of the Wheelock instruments in
1903. Numerous improvements have been
made both in the scales and the structural
features of the instruments.
In introducing the new line the point is
emphasized that there has been no let-down
in the matter of quality, the attractive prices
being made possible by more efficient meth-
ods in the factory. The idea is not to com-
pete with instruments made at a price to
appeal to every-day piano buyers, but to rep-
resent unusual values within the dealer price
range. To that end only first-class materials
and workmanship are found in the Wheelock
line, for while recognizing existing market
conditions, the manufacturers have felt that
piano buyers are entitled to and should re-
ceive a real musical instrument for their
money and have sincerely tried to make that
possible in the new productions.
The n e w four-foot-ten-inch Wheelock
grand is to be known as style RW and is
offered in what may be termed a conventional
case design, as well as in three period
models, the Queen Anne known as the style
RW-A, the William and Mary, RW-B, and
the Louis XV, RW-C. It may be explained
that although the non-period design is termed
conventional, it is cased in high-lighted
veneers that make it an attractive addition
to any home. The fine case work and rich
veneer treatment also applies to the five-foot
grand, known as model GW, the five-font-
four-inch, HW, and the six-foot grand.
In every case the effort has been made to
produce a quality instrument available at a
moderate price rather than to consider the
price first and then build down the piano to
meet it.
The instruments in the complete Whee-
lock line will be illustrated in THE REVIEW
next month.
FRANK E. EDGAR TO TRAVEL
FOR KRAKAUER BROS.
Mr. and Mrs. Behning, whose home was in
Pelham Manor, were visiting friends in New
York and were on their way home when Mfs.
Behning suddenly collapsed in the street of a
heart attack and was dead when medical
assistance arrived.
She was sixty-five years old, and in addition
to her husband is survived by a son, Albert
Behning, Jr. Funeral services were held at
the Harlem Presbyterian Church in New
York on February 3.
Krakauer Bros., the New York piano
manufacturers, announce the appointment of
Frank E. Edgar as traveling representative
for the company and he will take up his
new duties at once.
Mr. Edgar requires no introduction to the
piano trade because of the fact that he has
spent the greater part of his business life
in the sales end of the industry and has a
nation-wide acquaintance among music mer-
chants.
Starting with the old Wilcox & White
Co., Mr. Edgar remained with that con-
cern and promoted the sale of the Angelus
piano players and player-pianos for a num-
ber of years, later to become vice-president
of the Autopiano Co., then wholesale sales
manager of the Aeolian Co., and more re-
cently wholesale sales manager for Ludwig &
Co. He is familiar with the handling of
high-class instruments and should prove a
decided asset to the Krakauer organization.
MRS. JENNIE C. BEHNING
DIES SUDDENLY ON STREET
Albert Behning, secretary of the National
Piano and Music Travelers Association, has
the deep sympathy of his host of friends in
the music industry in the sudden death of
his wife, Jennie C. Behning, which occurred
on January 31.
John G. W. Kuehl Retires
After over a half century of service with
Steinway & Sons, fifty-one years, to be exact,
John G. W. Kuehl retired from the sales staff
of that company on January 1 and plans to
take a well-deserved rest at his home in Mor-
ristown, N. J. Mr. Kuehl joined the Stein-
way staff as a floor usher but studied the
methods of the salesmen very carefully with
the result that he soon joined their ranks.
During his long career he set up several high
records in Steinway piano sales.
New Style Guitars
The Globe Music Co., of St. Charles, 111.,
is now showing some new style guitars, and
President F. H. Johnson spent the latter half
of January in the East on a business trip.
The Columbia Phonograph Co., New York,
has decreased its capital stock from $5,000,000
to $1,700,000.
(5
PENNSYLVANIA LAW BARS
SCHOOL COMPETITION
Some months ago attention was called in
these columns to a law passed last year in
Ohio prohibiting school authorities and em-
ployes in the State from selling books or
other school supplies to the pupils.
Several of the States have similar laws in
effect, among them being Pennsylvania,
where the State Assembly on May 18, 1911,
approved the following act: "No person shall
act as agent for school books or supplies in
any district in which he is engaged or em-
ployed as superintendent, teacher, or employe
of the school district in any capacity, or in
which he is thus employed during the preced-
ing school year."
Here is a law with teeth in it, and it
should prove particularly interesting to music
dealers who have been faced with the com-
petition of school music directors and others
acting as agents for band and orchestra in-
strument manufacturers or for publishers of
teaching music.
With school music assuming so much im-
portance, it is imperative that some check be
placed on those who would use a particular
position to their own profit and in competi-
tion with retailers who are dependent upon
those sales for their livelihood. The thing
for the music merchant to do is to see that
the law is strictly enforced.
CAMPBELL FINDS PUBLIC
INTERESTED IN QUALITY
Mark P. Campbell, president of the Kohler-
Brambach Piano Co., in discussing results of
1931 business, recently stated to THE REVIEW:
"Our grand piano business for 1931 was sub-
stantially ahead of that of the preceding year,
and it is interesting to note that the most
popular model was our Style 'B,' which is far
from being the least expensive style in our
line. This fact would indicate that there is
a stability and balance among the better peo-
ple of the country who are not interested in
price alone."
MEHLIN & SONS MOVE
OFFICES TO NEW YORK
"-
Paul G. Mehlin & Sons, whose piano fac-
tory has been for many years located in West
New York, N. J., just across the river from
New York City, recently moved their execu-
tive offices to 509 Fifth avenue, New York,
in conjunction with the company's sales ware-
rooms, maintained for some years at that
address. Charles Mehlin, president, together
with the other company officials, will in the
future be found at the New York address.
Praise for Lauter Grand
The Lauter-IIumana Co., Newark, N. J.,
recently received the following very compli-
mentary letter from the Richardson Music
Co., Inc., Los Angeles, Cal:
"We wish to compliment you on the Lauter
Style 75 Grand Piano, of which we have
recently received one. At the price involved
it is a real outstanding value and superior
in tone to many higher-priced pianos. We
feel very enthusiastic about its possibilities
and hope to be able to send you a good
many orders during the coming year."
THE
MUSIC
TRADE
REVIEW,
February, 1932
NEW STYLES AND SIZES OF WHEELOCK
PIANOS ROUND OUT POPULAR LINE
T
HE Aeolian Co. has demonstrated its
confidence in the immediate future of the
piano business by placing on the market
shortly after the opening of the year a num-
ber of new styles and sizes of Wheelock grand
pianos, which serve to complete that line and
so round it out that the dealer and his cus-
tomer will find therein a type of instrument
to meet practically every requirement.
The additions include two new scales, one
a four-foot-ten-inch grand which is already
in production and being shipped to dealers,
and a new six-foot grand. The latter has
been carefully tried out over a lengthy pe-
riod, samples shipped to dealers for testing
and it will be actually in production at the
factory by the end of this month.
As now constituted, the Wheelock line of
instruments embraces four sizes in grands,
the new four-foot-ten-inch, the five-foot, the
five-foot-four-inch and the new six-foot, to-
gether with a studio upright only three feet
seven inches high. The addition of the new
grands comes about as a result of the cordial
reception accorded the Wheelock instruments
by dealers and the public throughout the
country.
In presenting the new Wheelock instru-
ments, the Aeolian company has kept in mind
the prestige won by Wheelock pianos since
they were first made in 1877—as has been the
policy of the company ever since they ac-
quired control of the Wheelock instruments in
1903. Numerous improvements have been
made both in the scales and the structural
features of the instruments.
In introducing the new line the point is
emphasized that there has been no let-down
in the matter of quality, the attractive prices
being made possible by more efficient meth-
ods in the factory. The idea is not to com-
pete with instruments made at a price to
appeal to every-day piano buyers, but to rep-
resent unusual values within the dealer price
range. To that end only first-class materials
and workmanship are found in the Wheelock
line, for while recognizing existing market
conditions, the manufacturers have felt that
piano buyers are entitled to and should re-
ceive a real musical instrument for their
money and have sincerely tried to make that
possible in the new productions.
The n e w four-foot-ten-inch Wheelock
grand is to be known as style RW and is
offered in what may be termed a conventional
case design, as well as in three period
models, the Queen Anne known as the style
RW-A, the William and Mary, RW-B, and
the Louis XV, RW-C. It may be explained
that although the non-period design is termed
conventional, it is cased in high-lighted
veneers that make it an attractive addition
to any home. The fine case work and rich
veneer treatment also applies to the five-foot
grand, known as model GW, the five-font-
four-inch, HW, and the six-foot grand.
In every case the effort has been made to
produce a quality instrument available at a
moderate price rather than to consider the
price first and then build down the piano to
meet it.
The instruments in the complete Whee-
lock line will be illustrated in THE REVIEW
next month.
FRANK E. EDGAR TO TRAVEL
FOR KRAKAUER BROS.
Mr. and Mrs. Behning, whose home was in
Pelham Manor, were visiting friends in New
York and were on their way home when Mfs.
Behning suddenly collapsed in the street of a
heart attack and was dead when medical
assistance arrived.
She was sixty-five years old, and in addition
to her husband is survived by a son, Albert
Behning, Jr. Funeral services were held at
the Harlem Presbyterian Church in New
York on February 3.
Krakauer Bros., the New York piano
manufacturers, announce the appointment of
Frank E. Edgar as traveling representative
for the company and he will take up his
new duties at once.
Mr. Edgar requires no introduction to the
piano trade because of the fact that he has
spent the greater part of his business life
in the sales end of the industry and has a
nation-wide acquaintance among music mer-
chants.
Starting with the old Wilcox & White
Co., Mr. Edgar remained with that con-
cern and promoted the sale of the Angelus
piano players and player-pianos for a num-
ber of years, later to become vice-president
of the Autopiano Co., then wholesale sales
manager of the Aeolian Co., and more re-
cently wholesale sales manager for Ludwig &
Co. He is familiar with the handling of
high-class instruments and should prove a
decided asset to the Krakauer organization.
MRS. JENNIE C. BEHNING
DIES SUDDENLY ON STREET
Albert Behning, secretary of the National
Piano and Music Travelers Association, has
the deep sympathy of his host of friends in
the music industry in the sudden death of
his wife, Jennie C. Behning, which occurred
on January 31.
John G. W. Kuehl Retires
After over a half century of service with
Steinway & Sons, fifty-one years, to be exact,
John G. W. Kuehl retired from the sales staff
of that company on January 1 and plans to
take a well-deserved rest at his home in Mor-
ristown, N. J. Mr. Kuehl joined the Stein-
way staff as a floor usher but studied the
methods of the salesmen very carefully with
the result that he soon joined their ranks.
During his long career he set up several high
records in Steinway piano sales.
New Style Guitars
The Globe Music Co., of St. Charles, 111.,
is now showing some new style guitars, and
President F. H. Johnson spent the latter half
of January in the East on a business trip.
The Columbia Phonograph Co., New York,
has decreased its capital stock from $5,000,000
to $1,700,000.
(5
PENNSYLVANIA LAW BARS
SCHOOL COMPETITION
Some months ago attention was called in
these columns to a law passed last year in
Ohio prohibiting school authorities and em-
ployes in the State from selling books or
other school supplies to the pupils.
Several of the States have similar laws in
effect, among them being Pennsylvania,
where the State Assembly on May 18, 1911,
approved the following act: "No person shall
act as agent for school books or supplies in
any district in which he is engaged or em-
ployed as superintendent, teacher, or employe
of the school district in any capacity, or in
which he is thus employed during the preced-
ing school year."
Here is a law with teeth in it, and it
should prove particularly interesting to music
dealers who have been faced with the com-
petition of school music directors and others
acting as agents for band and orchestra in-
strument manufacturers or for publishers of
teaching music.
With school music assuming so much im-
portance, it is imperative that some check be
placed on those who would use a particular
position to their own profit and in competi-
tion with retailers who are dependent upon
those sales for their livelihood. The thing
for the music merchant to do is to see that
the law is strictly enforced.
CAMPBELL FINDS PUBLIC
INTERESTED IN QUALITY
Mark P. Campbell, president of the Kohler-
Brambach Piano Co., in discussing results of
1931 business, recently stated to THE REVIEW:
"Our grand piano business for 1931 was sub-
stantially ahead of that of the preceding year,
and it is interesting to note that the most
popular model was our Style 'B,' which is far
from being the least expensive style in our
line. This fact would indicate that there is
a stability and balance among the better peo-
ple of the country who are not interested in
price alone."
MEHLIN & SONS MOVE
OFFICES TO NEW YORK
"-
Paul G. Mehlin & Sons, whose piano fac-
tory has been for many years located in West
New York, N. J., just across the river from
New York City, recently moved their execu-
tive offices to 509 Fifth avenue, New York,
in conjunction with the company's sales ware-
rooms, maintained for some years at that
address. Charles Mehlin, president, together
with the other company officials, will in the
future be found at the New York address.
Praise for Lauter Grand
The Lauter-IIumana Co., Newark, N. J.,
recently received the following very compli-
mentary letter from the Richardson Music
Co., Inc., Los Angeles, Cal:
"We wish to compliment you on the Lauter
Style 75 Grand Piano, of which we have
recently received one. At the price involved
it is a real outstanding value and superior
in tone to many higher-priced pianos. We
feel very enthusiastic about its possibilities
and hope to be able to send you a good
many orders during the coming year."
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