Presto
Issue: 1927 2156 - Page 4
PkESTO-TlMES
November 26, 1927
FORM HENRY F.
INDICATIONS OF SALES
IN THE PIANO FIELD MILLER PIANO CO.
Cheering Anticipations of Improved Business This Season Noted in State=
ments of Bankers and Interviews With Representative Music Dealers
and Prominent Piano Manufacturers
Creditors' Committee Has Been Withdrawn
and Division of Continental Piano Co.
Organized with Separate Company;
G. W. MacDow, President.
PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT
The opinions of the financial and industrial writers the general relation of affairs at the present season
that 1928 will be a better business year than 1927 is he calmly predicts a condition of trade, vying with
Loyalty of Henry F. Miller Dealers and Admirably
cheering, because they supposedly are based on the that of last year at least.
situation at this time as it bears on the months to
"Work to Win"—Lucien Wulsin.
Artistic Character of the Instrument Assurances
come. As usual, the man in the music trade, with
Lucien Wulsin, of The Baldwin Company, Cin-
of Fine Future of Company.
others in business, considers the circumstances of
cinnati, Ohio, a man whose characteristics typify the
the farmer in their relation to the buying ability this conservatism and solidity of the big house of which
Announcement is made from the Boston offices of
winter and the seasons to follow in 1928. Good he is at the head, said he was glad to note that v/e the Continental Piano Company that the creditors'
farmer years have always been good piano years had got over the gushing condition of piano business committee has been 'withdrawn and that the Henry
and even good anticipations evoke the optimist'c and now must get right down to brass tacks and
F. Miller Division of this company has been organ-
ized into a separate company under the name of the
frame of mind in the piano dealers.
hard work for the trade we want to secure.
Henry F. Miller Piano Company, with offices at ^00
What Banker Sees
Piano manufacturers, wholesale men, jobbers, retail
Dartmouth street, Boston.
'"The situation of the middle west and southwest is salesmen all must realize that this is the situation.
The officers of the Henry F. Miller Piano Com-
the best in years," Frederick H. Rawson, chairman of
He said that he thought that with plenty of work
the Union Trust Company, Chicago, and a direc'.or next year's trade could be made to total more than pany are C. Wilson MacDow, president and treasurer;
Frederick R. Allen, vice-president. The director.
of the Burlington railroad, said this week. "The good that of this year.
Harold L. Perrin, is clerk and director.
grain and cotton crops have been a boon to the
Indiana Manufacturer Speaks.
The new company acquires the Henry F. Miller
agricultural sections. Iowa has had only a fair corn
When a Presto-Times correspondent called up in
crop, but Nebraska and Kansas had both good wheat advance to know if the Jesse French & Sous Piano factory at Wakefield, Mass., and all rights to the
and corn crops. Wyoming and Colorado did well Company's factory at New Castle, lnd., would be famous Henry F. Miller pianos and the Trowbridge
with sugar beets. The southwest has a tine co'.ton open Saturday afternoon, the answer came back from pianos which have for many years been the exclu-
sive products of this factory.
crop."
the switchboard operator at the plant. "You bet."
''In spite of a backward season and unfavorable
The Dealers' Attitudes.
The writer knows cf no better text with which to business conditions this fall," states Mr. MacDow.
In addition to these generalizations are the more introduce what he is going to say about that piano president of the Continental Piano Company and of
intimate views of ohseivant dealers in the middle manufacturing concern, for while the plant is not the new Henry F. Miller Piano Company, "our busi-
west, west and southwest, many of whom were per- obliged to run all its departments overtime, it must ness has been very satisfactory. It has been particu-
sonally interviewed by a Presto-Times man. In Illi- do so in order to get out certain styles that are under larly gratifying to have the sales on Henry F. Miller
nois, for instance, where the corn crop has turned out
urgent promise to dealers who are awaiting their pianos so strong this fall.
much better than anticipated, music dealers are more shipment. The factory is running during the week at
Trade Appreciates the Piano.
active in seeking for trade. Even within the past the regular working hours and sometimes at nights
"It is quite natural, of course, that sales on the
two months business has picked up in a most cheer- on the other orders.
Henry F. Miller would be strong, because our deal-
ing way and the interest in pianos is an attitude
Must Work for Trade.
ers are thoroughly acquainted with the selling points
promising good holiday piano sales. In all sections,
Jesse French gave Presto-Times correspondent a of this well-known instrument and are also conver-
perhaps the surest indications of improved business
are the earnest preparations of the dealers to take very interesting interview last Saturday at the offices sant with conditions of manufacture in our Henry
F. Miller factory. The Henry F. Miller reputation,
advantage of the pleasing condition. The piano pro- of the plant in answer to the question: "What is the
which has been built up over a period of nearly three-
motion plans of the active dealers, put into force for outlook?"
He immediately replied- "The outlook is good, quarters of a century, has been maintained. The
-.cveral months, are producing results in piano sales.
but we see that there is going to be a great deal of
All of this, noted by a Presto-Times man in a uphi'l work to keep the piano business in anything piano today is being built by the same workmen that
have been with the us for years; in fact, many of
recent trip through several states, finds a reaction in
like its old-time push for some months ahead."
these men have spent their lifetime in the building of
the piano factories, and it is enlightening to set
This estimate, Mr. French said, he based upon fac-
down the expressed views of several prominent man- tory conditions all over the United States and not this piano.
Finest Materials.
ufacturers.
upon their own business which he believed was bet-
''The same materials have been used in Henry F.
Harry Gennett's Opinion.
ter than the average. His conclusions also were
Harry Genuett, president of the Starr Piano Com- based upon his own observation in traveling exten- Miller pianos for years. We are using the same
plates, the same cases, strings, sounding boards and
pany, Richmond, lnd., recently back from the Paci- sively among the dealers.
other materials that were found years ago to be
fic Coast, was met at the Starr factory by a Pres'o-
the very best we could secure for the building of a
Times representative one day last week. He seemed
"TOM THUMB" FOR CAFE.
piano of the highest grade. For years no changes
tilled with enthusiasm, new life and health that he
The "Tom Thumb" model of the Milton Piano have been made in the quality of materials or meth-
says he acquired while in California.
Company, New York, which is meeting with such ods of workmanship entering into the construction of
"I may be over-enthusiastic." he said, "about busi- success over the entire country as the ideal instru- this famous old piano, with the exception of a few
ness as I find it, and perhaps 1 should attribute that ment for the small home, nursery, camp or restaurant, changes where we have been able to secure even
to my own good feelings from my stay out west. has just made a triumphant entrance into the Picca- better materials or where our men have developed
My wife is still out there with the children and T dilly Cafe, smartest of Philadelphia eating places.
methods of manufacture which give even greater
don't know when 1 can get them back. But to turn Carter Ramsdell of Kamsdell & Son, the Milton rep-
fineness to their craftsmanship.
from family affairs to business, I find that we have a resentative in Philadelphia, who made the sale, was
Piano's Profit Possibilities.
good many orders for holiday delivery of instruments. personally congratulated by the cafe owner on the
"Our dealers are well aware of these conditions in
"X'ot only in the piano department but also in pho- excellence of the instrument.
our factory, and know that the Henry F. Miller piano
nographs 1 find this condition. In phonographs and
is an instrument which they can profitably use as a
Gennett records we'll go away ahead of last year.
AD-MAN AT H. C. BAY CO.
foundation upon which to build their own reputa-
The boys here at the office are not as enthusiastic as
L. M. Michaelson is now advertising man at the tions. It is no wonder, with these conditions well in
I am, it seems, for they are mighty anxious for every
II. C. Bay Company's headquarters, 305 South mind, that the Henry M. Miller piano shouM continue
order they can get, and I've no objection to that
Wabash
avenue, Chicago. Mr. Purcell, sales man- to hold its. high place in the field.
spirit."
ager, has been too busy of late to take care of the
"The new Henry F. Miller Piano Company will
Mr. Gennett is pre-eminently a desk man, often to details involved in advertising and the recent appoint-
be found in his office before 7 a. m. lie seems to ment of Mr. Michaelson to that work helps to round he in a position to carry forward progressive policies
which we have been formulating for some time. The
have an inordinate capacity for work and seeing
out the office efficiency. The H. C. Bay Company new 5-inch 2-foot grand which we recently put on
things ihrough.
is having great success in the sale of its grands this the market, and which was named the "Messo Grand,"
Plate Maker's Views.
fall.
upon the suggestion of our Philadelphia dealer, G. J.
M. L. Milligan, of The Fairbanks Company, the
Heppe & Sou. has already found a ready demand, as
great piano plate manufacturing foundry, Springfield,
VERSATILE DEALER.
it follows the trend for a" small grand slightly larger
Ohio, gave a Presto-Times representative a careful
An interesting illustration of a dealer who takes than our Henry F. Miller. Baby grand. This instru-
view of the present and immediate future outlook of
trade in the scope of pianodom. He is always con- an active part in the musical life of his community ment will be followed by a series of artistic period
models which are now being made and which we
servative in his statements, a reputation he bore for is furnished by Audre L. Stong of the Stong MUMC
Company of Grand Junction, Colo. Mr. Stong is shall announce in the near future.
years before his fe'low townsmen elected him mayor
The Other Lines.
of Springfield and gave him the title of "Honorable." director of high school music and a leader in the
town's musical affairs generally, and has been one of
"The Henry F. Miller Piano Company will han-
He said that business is now "passable," although
he would not call it satistactory. He is picking his the prime movers in organizing a state band leaders' dle as an agent for the Continental Piano Company
the Strohber. Smith & Barnes, Willard, Less'ng and
customers with care and he predicts a continuance associat:on.
HOffmann lines. These pianos will be manufactured
of well-guided manufacturing of pianos by all the
GULBRANSEN CHRISTMAS ADS.
by the Holland Piano Company, as at present. The
thorou eh-going concerns.
same scales will be used as have been used for a
The Gulbransen Company, Chicago, has issued
Mr. Milligan is looking at the present condition i,f
proofs of three advertisements for Christmas being number of years and these pianos will he furnished
piano trade in an optimistic manner. He is careful
supplied to Gu'bransen dealers throughout the coun- as formerly, as.a great many dealers have built up
enough to realize that (lie war days and spurts of
irices and orders are over and that in place of those try. These are but a few of many Christmas illus- a good trade with them, especially in the west."
feverish times we are now having normalcy of action
trations and copy suggestions that are available to
The S. V. Everett Music Co., Crooksville, Ohio,
and saner methods of driving the business car. Rut
the dealer handling the widely distributed Gulbransen
has opened a branch store in New Lexington, O,
based on sound judgment and a careful analysis cf
line.
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/
November 26, 1927
FORM HENRY F.
INDICATIONS OF SALES
IN THE PIANO FIELD MILLER PIANO CO.
Cheering Anticipations of Improved Business This Season Noted in State=
ments of Bankers and Interviews With Representative Music Dealers
and Prominent Piano Manufacturers
Creditors' Committee Has Been Withdrawn
and Division of Continental Piano Co.
Organized with Separate Company;
G. W. MacDow, President.
PRESIDENT'S STATEMENT
The opinions of the financial and industrial writers the general relation of affairs at the present season
that 1928 will be a better business year than 1927 is he calmly predicts a condition of trade, vying with
Loyalty of Henry F. Miller Dealers and Admirably
cheering, because they supposedly are based on the that of last year at least.
situation at this time as it bears on the months to
"Work to Win"—Lucien Wulsin.
Artistic Character of the Instrument Assurances
come. As usual, the man in the music trade, with
Lucien Wulsin, of The Baldwin Company, Cin-
of Fine Future of Company.
others in business, considers the circumstances of
cinnati, Ohio, a man whose characteristics typify the
the farmer in their relation to the buying ability this conservatism and solidity of the big house of which
Announcement is made from the Boston offices of
winter and the seasons to follow in 1928. Good he is at the head, said he was glad to note that v/e the Continental Piano Company that the creditors'
farmer years have always been good piano years had got over the gushing condition of piano business committee has been 'withdrawn and that the Henry
and even good anticipations evoke the optimist'c and now must get right down to brass tacks and
F. Miller Division of this company has been organ-
ized into a separate company under the name of the
frame of mind in the piano dealers.
hard work for the trade we want to secure.
Henry F. Miller Piano Company, with offices at ^00
What Banker Sees
Piano manufacturers, wholesale men, jobbers, retail
Dartmouth street, Boston.
'"The situation of the middle west and southwest is salesmen all must realize that this is the situation.
The officers of the Henry F. Miller Piano Com-
the best in years," Frederick H. Rawson, chairman of
He said that he thought that with plenty of work
the Union Trust Company, Chicago, and a direc'.or next year's trade could be made to total more than pany are C. Wilson MacDow, president and treasurer;
Frederick R. Allen, vice-president. The director.
of the Burlington railroad, said this week. "The good that of this year.
Harold L. Perrin, is clerk and director.
grain and cotton crops have been a boon to the
Indiana Manufacturer Speaks.
The new company acquires the Henry F. Miller
agricultural sections. Iowa has had only a fair corn
When a Presto-Times correspondent called up in
crop, but Nebraska and Kansas had both good wheat advance to know if the Jesse French & Sous Piano factory at Wakefield, Mass., and all rights to the
and corn crops. Wyoming and Colorado did well Company's factory at New Castle, lnd., would be famous Henry F. Miller pianos and the Trowbridge
with sugar beets. The southwest has a tine co'.ton open Saturday afternoon, the answer came back from pianos which have for many years been the exclu-
sive products of this factory.
crop."
the switchboard operator at the plant. "You bet."
''In spite of a backward season and unfavorable
The Dealers' Attitudes.
The writer knows cf no better text with which to business conditions this fall," states Mr. MacDow.
In addition to these generalizations are the more introduce what he is going to say about that piano president of the Continental Piano Company and of
intimate views of ohseivant dealers in the middle manufacturing concern, for while the plant is not the new Henry F. Miller Piano Company, "our busi-
west, west and southwest, many of whom were per- obliged to run all its departments overtime, it must ness has been very satisfactory. It has been particu-
sonally interviewed by a Presto-Times man. In Illi- do so in order to get out certain styles that are under larly gratifying to have the sales on Henry F. Miller
nois, for instance, where the corn crop has turned out
urgent promise to dealers who are awaiting their pianos so strong this fall.
much better than anticipated, music dealers are more shipment. The factory is running during the week at
Trade Appreciates the Piano.
active in seeking for trade. Even within the past the regular working hours and sometimes at nights
"It is quite natural, of course, that sales on the
two months business has picked up in a most cheer- on the other orders.
Henry F. Miller would be strong, because our deal-
ing way and the interest in pianos is an attitude
Must Work for Trade.
ers are thoroughly acquainted with the selling points
promising good holiday piano sales. In all sections,
Jesse French gave Presto-Times correspondent a of this well-known instrument and are also conver-
perhaps the surest indications of improved business
are the earnest preparations of the dealers to take very interesting interview last Saturday at the offices sant with conditions of manufacture in our Henry
F. Miller factory. The Henry F. Miller reputation,
advantage of the pleasing condition. The piano pro- of the plant in answer to the question: "What is the
which has been built up over a period of nearly three-
motion plans of the active dealers, put into force for outlook?"
He immediately replied- "The outlook is good, quarters of a century, has been maintained. The
-.cveral months, are producing results in piano sales.
but we see that there is going to be a great deal of
All of this, noted by a Presto-Times man in a uphi'l work to keep the piano business in anything piano today is being built by the same workmen that
have been with the us for years; in fact, many of
recent trip through several states, finds a reaction in
like its old-time push for some months ahead."
these men have spent their lifetime in the building of
the piano factories, and it is enlightening to set
This estimate, Mr. French said, he based upon fac-
down the expressed views of several prominent man- tory conditions all over the United States and not this piano.
Finest Materials.
ufacturers.
upon their own business which he believed was bet-
''The same materials have been used in Henry F.
Harry Gennett's Opinion.
ter than the average. His conclusions also were
Harry Genuett, president of the Starr Piano Com- based upon his own observation in traveling exten- Miller pianos for years. We are using the same
plates, the same cases, strings, sounding boards and
pany, Richmond, lnd., recently back from the Paci- sively among the dealers.
other materials that were found years ago to be
fic Coast, was met at the Starr factory by a Pres'o-
the very best we could secure for the building of a
Times representative one day last week. He seemed
"TOM THUMB" FOR CAFE.
piano of the highest grade. For years no changes
tilled with enthusiasm, new life and health that he
The "Tom Thumb" model of the Milton Piano have been made in the quality of materials or meth-
says he acquired while in California.
Company, New York, which is meeting with such ods of workmanship entering into the construction of
"I may be over-enthusiastic." he said, "about busi- success over the entire country as the ideal instru- this famous old piano, with the exception of a few
ness as I find it, and perhaps 1 should attribute that ment for the small home, nursery, camp or restaurant, changes where we have been able to secure even
to my own good feelings from my stay out west. has just made a triumphant entrance into the Picca- better materials or where our men have developed
My wife is still out there with the children and T dilly Cafe, smartest of Philadelphia eating places.
methods of manufacture which give even greater
don't know when 1 can get them back. But to turn Carter Ramsdell of Kamsdell & Son, the Milton rep-
fineness to their craftsmanship.
from family affairs to business, I find that we have a resentative in Philadelphia, who made the sale, was
Piano's Profit Possibilities.
good many orders for holiday delivery of instruments. personally congratulated by the cafe owner on the
"Our dealers are well aware of these conditions in
"X'ot only in the piano department but also in pho- excellence of the instrument.
our factory, and know that the Henry F. Miller piano
nographs 1 find this condition. In phonographs and
is an instrument which they can profitably use as a
Gennett records we'll go away ahead of last year.
AD-MAN AT H. C. BAY CO.
foundation upon which to build their own reputa-
The boys here at the office are not as enthusiastic as
L. M. Michaelson is now advertising man at the tions. It is no wonder, with these conditions well in
I am, it seems, for they are mighty anxious for every
II. C. Bay Company's headquarters, 305 South mind, that the Henry M. Miller piano shouM continue
order they can get, and I've no objection to that
Wabash
avenue, Chicago. Mr. Purcell, sales man- to hold its. high place in the field.
spirit."
ager, has been too busy of late to take care of the
"The new Henry F. Miller Piano Company will
Mr. Gennett is pre-eminently a desk man, often to details involved in advertising and the recent appoint-
be found in his office before 7 a. m. lie seems to ment of Mr. Michaelson to that work helps to round he in a position to carry forward progressive policies
which we have been formulating for some time. The
have an inordinate capacity for work and seeing
out the office efficiency. The H. C. Bay Company new 5-inch 2-foot grand which we recently put on
things ihrough.
is having great success in the sale of its grands this the market, and which was named the "Messo Grand,"
Plate Maker's Views.
fall.
upon the suggestion of our Philadelphia dealer, G. J.
M. L. Milligan, of The Fairbanks Company, the
Heppe & Sou. has already found a ready demand, as
great piano plate manufacturing foundry, Springfield,
VERSATILE DEALER.
it follows the trend for a" small grand slightly larger
Ohio, gave a Presto-Times representative a careful
An interesting illustration of a dealer who takes than our Henry F. Miller. Baby grand. This instru-
view of the present and immediate future outlook of
trade in the scope of pianodom. He is always con- an active part in the musical life of his community ment will be followed by a series of artistic period
models which are now being made and which we
servative in his statements, a reputation he bore for is furnished by Audre L. Stong of the Stong MUMC
Company of Grand Junction, Colo. Mr. Stong is shall announce in the near future.
years before his fe'low townsmen elected him mayor
The Other Lines.
of Springfield and gave him the title of "Honorable." director of high school music and a leader in the
town's musical affairs generally, and has been one of
"The Henry F. Miller Piano Company will han-
He said that business is now "passable," although
he would not call it satistactory. He is picking his the prime movers in organizing a state band leaders' dle as an agent for the Continental Piano Company
the Strohber. Smith & Barnes, Willard, Less'ng and
customers with care and he predicts a continuance associat:on.
HOffmann lines. These pianos will be manufactured
of well-guided manufacturing of pianos by all the
GULBRANSEN CHRISTMAS ADS.
by the Holland Piano Company, as at present. The
thorou eh-going concerns.
same scales will be used as have been used for a
The Gulbransen Company, Chicago, has issued
Mr. Milligan is looking at the present condition i,f
proofs of three advertisements for Christmas being number of years and these pianos will he furnished
piano trade in an optimistic manner. He is careful
supplied to Gu'bransen dealers throughout the coun- as formerly, as.a great many dealers have built up
enough to realize that (lie war days and spurts of
irices and orders are over and that in place of those try. These are but a few of many Christmas illus- a good trade with them, especially in the west."
feverish times we are now having normalcy of action
trations and copy suggestions that are available to
The S. V. Everett Music Co., Crooksville, Ohio,
and saner methods of driving the business car. Rut
the dealer handling the widely distributed Gulbransen
has opened a branch store in New Lexington, O,
based on sound judgment and a careful analysis cf
line.
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/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).