Presto
Issue: 1928 2186 - Page 10
June 23, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
10
BIQ IMPROVEMENT IN
INDIANAPOLIS TRADE
Reports of Dealers Generally Agree in Optimis-
tic Vein—Period Models in Grands Hold
Favor with Customers.
Frank Carlin of the Carlin Music Company reports
big improvement in the piano business. During the
liast week several Period model instruments of the
Cable Company's line were sold. Mr. Carlin believes
that fevewer sales with the legitimate profit mean
more than volume minus profit. "Volume," said Mr.
Carlin, "has ruined the piano industry, because vol-
ume and price cutting are two evils that travel hand
in hand and lead to a vicious circle.
The Wilking Music Company reports a steady run
on the Jesse French & Son's instruments. During
the week two grands, one Style G and one Style SG,
both in hylited mahogany, were sold.
John Pearson and L. T. Gliddcn, manager of the
State Radio Company, a subsidiary of the Pearson
Piano Company, have returned from Chicago, after
attending the Radio Convention. Business at the
Pearson Company's store is good, and reports from
its branch houses over the state are very encour-
aging.
1. M. Douthit, traveling representative of the Kohler-
Campbell Industries, was interviewed by the Presto-
Times correspondent, and found that Mr. Douthitt
sees an improvement in the piano trade. Mr. Douthit
is on his way south, and will make Louisville, Ky., his
next stop.
Ted Perkins stopped off in Indianapolis last week
while on a flying trip south, and expects to stop in
the city on his return trip.
Ned Clay, sales manager of the Starr Piano Com-
pany in Indianapolis, is planning another fishing trip
on his vacation. He is delaying his trip at present
on account of business, which requires all of his
attention.
Rapp & Lennox has added the Packard piano to
its line. With this instrument the company has
added another high grade piano that needs little intro-
duction in Indianapolis. Alfred Rapp says that his
company has been fortunate in securing the Packard
piano, as the instrument is well known in Indianapolis
and has many admirers. Business, according to Mr.
Rapp, is showing a big improvement, and the future
looks very promising.
Frank Davis, manager of the House of Baldwin,
has just returned from a week's work in Detroit and
brings with him encouraging reports about conditions
in that citv.
SELLS BEAUTIFUL CHICKERING.
One of the most beautiful pianos ever shown in
th's country, a Chickcring Ampico Grand, in a hand-
carved Italian Renaissance case, has recently been
delivered to the apartment of Mr. and Mrs. E. C.
Gould at the Hotel Plaza, New York City. Mrs.
Gould is the granddaughter of the late Thomas F.
Manville, founder of the Johns-Manville Company.
The piano was sold for $17,500 and was purchased
at Chickering Hall, New York. The walnut case,
finished in soft natural color, is an object of surpass-
ing beauty. The carvings were executed in detail in
Italy by an Italian wood sculptor of international
reputation. Some idea of the tremendous amount of
work, time and patience employed in the carvings
may be judged from the fact that it took the sculp-
tor nearly twenty months to complete this work in
the solitude of his home. Frequently he spent sev-
eral weeks on a single delicate piece of carving.
BREWSTER POPULAR IN BOSTON.
The Chickering & Sons Retail Store, BostouJ
Mass., reports the following recent sales of Brewster
pianos: five Brewster Studio Uprights to the Ritz-
Carlton Hotel, Boston, Mass.; one Grand and one
Upright to the Riverside Theater, Medford, Mass.;
one Brewster Studio Upright to the New Commander
Hotel, Cambridge, Mass.; one Brewster Grand to the
New Baptist Home, Newton Centre, Mass.; one
Brewster Grand to the New Humboldt Theater, Rox-
bury, Mass.
COLORADO DEALER DIES.
Herman F. Vorbeck, a retired music dealer of Grand
Junction, Col., died at the Presbyterian Hospital, Den-
ver, recently, of pneumonia, at the age of 66. He was
born in Germany and came to New York with his
parents when five years old. He was a resident of
Grand Junction since 1902. He is survived by two
sons.
GERMAN MUSIC INDUSTRY
DULL FROM MANY CAUSES
Piano Business Hurt from Low Purchasing Power
of Customers—Other Phases Unsatisfactory.
The German stringed-instrument industry has been
slack for some time, as a result of overproduction,
foreign competition, and lessening of demand from
the interior, according to the report of Consul George
P. Waller, Dresden. It is reported that the Plauen
Chamber of Commerce also regards radio, phono-
graphs, and similar devices as detrimental to the
stringed instrument trade. Only in zithers was busi-
ness satisfactory during the first part of 1928. Con-
ditions were brighter in the export field, however.
Saxony shipped $82,882 worth of violins and other
stringed instruments to the United States alone dur-
ing the first quarter of 1928. compared with exports
valued at only $.33,227 during the corresponding period
of 1927.
The piano industry is hampered by the low pur-
chasing power of consumers, and little business is
possible on a cash basis. The introduction of portial
payments has slightly increased local sales, but export
business continues weak.
Trade in harmonicas has fallen off, after having
improved during the latter part of 1927 when most
factories were well occupied with orders. Much com-
plaint about "unendurably" low prices comes from
manufacturers, but they state at the same time that
business with the United States remains good.
The demand for saxophones and woodwind instru-
ments in the first quarter of 1928 was almost wholly
confined to such instruments as are used for the
production of so-called "jazz" music. The accordion
industry is still suffering from price depression.
PIANO ALARMS POLICE.
Two youths were thwarted in an attempted bur-
glary at the ice cream parlor of Joseph Home, 170
Grand street, New York city, at 3 o'clock last Satur-
day morning when the mechanical piano which they
were trying to break open gave out a musical warning
which brought patrolmen of the Bedford avenue sta-
tion to the scene. The boys had entered by forcing
open a cellar door, the police said.
There Could Be No Better
Helper for the Salesmen In Closing Piano Sales Than
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE
It is used by hundreds of Piano Dealers and Salesmen, and is in
the hands of a large proportion of the General Music Merchants.
Price 50 cents per copy; $5 per dozen.
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE: The Invaluable Aid to Dealers and Salesmen.
Address all communications to
Presto Publishing Co.
417 South Dearborn Street
Buyers' Guide Division
Chicago, Illinois, U. S. A.
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/
PRESTO-TIMES
10
BIQ IMPROVEMENT IN
INDIANAPOLIS TRADE
Reports of Dealers Generally Agree in Optimis-
tic Vein—Period Models in Grands Hold
Favor with Customers.
Frank Carlin of the Carlin Music Company reports
big improvement in the piano business. During the
liast week several Period model instruments of the
Cable Company's line were sold. Mr. Carlin believes
that fevewer sales with the legitimate profit mean
more than volume minus profit. "Volume," said Mr.
Carlin, "has ruined the piano industry, because vol-
ume and price cutting are two evils that travel hand
in hand and lead to a vicious circle.
The Wilking Music Company reports a steady run
on the Jesse French & Son's instruments. During
the week two grands, one Style G and one Style SG,
both in hylited mahogany, were sold.
John Pearson and L. T. Gliddcn, manager of the
State Radio Company, a subsidiary of the Pearson
Piano Company, have returned from Chicago, after
attending the Radio Convention. Business at the
Pearson Company's store is good, and reports from
its branch houses over the state are very encour-
aging.
1. M. Douthit, traveling representative of the Kohler-
Campbell Industries, was interviewed by the Presto-
Times correspondent, and found that Mr. Douthitt
sees an improvement in the piano trade. Mr. Douthit
is on his way south, and will make Louisville, Ky., his
next stop.
Ted Perkins stopped off in Indianapolis last week
while on a flying trip south, and expects to stop in
the city on his return trip.
Ned Clay, sales manager of the Starr Piano Com-
pany in Indianapolis, is planning another fishing trip
on his vacation. He is delaying his trip at present
on account of business, which requires all of his
attention.
Rapp & Lennox has added the Packard piano to
its line. With this instrument the company has
added another high grade piano that needs little intro-
duction in Indianapolis. Alfred Rapp says that his
company has been fortunate in securing the Packard
piano, as the instrument is well known in Indianapolis
and has many admirers. Business, according to Mr.
Rapp, is showing a big improvement, and the future
looks very promising.
Frank Davis, manager of the House of Baldwin,
has just returned from a week's work in Detroit and
brings with him encouraging reports about conditions
in that citv.
SELLS BEAUTIFUL CHICKERING.
One of the most beautiful pianos ever shown in
th's country, a Chickcring Ampico Grand, in a hand-
carved Italian Renaissance case, has recently been
delivered to the apartment of Mr. and Mrs. E. C.
Gould at the Hotel Plaza, New York City. Mrs.
Gould is the granddaughter of the late Thomas F.
Manville, founder of the Johns-Manville Company.
The piano was sold for $17,500 and was purchased
at Chickering Hall, New York. The walnut case,
finished in soft natural color, is an object of surpass-
ing beauty. The carvings were executed in detail in
Italy by an Italian wood sculptor of international
reputation. Some idea of the tremendous amount of
work, time and patience employed in the carvings
may be judged from the fact that it took the sculp-
tor nearly twenty months to complete this work in
the solitude of his home. Frequently he spent sev-
eral weeks on a single delicate piece of carving.
BREWSTER POPULAR IN BOSTON.
The Chickering & Sons Retail Store, BostouJ
Mass., reports the following recent sales of Brewster
pianos: five Brewster Studio Uprights to the Ritz-
Carlton Hotel, Boston, Mass.; one Grand and one
Upright to the Riverside Theater, Medford, Mass.;
one Brewster Studio Upright to the New Commander
Hotel, Cambridge, Mass.; one Brewster Grand to the
New Baptist Home, Newton Centre, Mass.; one
Brewster Grand to the New Humboldt Theater, Rox-
bury, Mass.
COLORADO DEALER DIES.
Herman F. Vorbeck, a retired music dealer of Grand
Junction, Col., died at the Presbyterian Hospital, Den-
ver, recently, of pneumonia, at the age of 66. He was
born in Germany and came to New York with his
parents when five years old. He was a resident of
Grand Junction since 1902. He is survived by two
sons.
GERMAN MUSIC INDUSTRY
DULL FROM MANY CAUSES
Piano Business Hurt from Low Purchasing Power
of Customers—Other Phases Unsatisfactory.
The German stringed-instrument industry has been
slack for some time, as a result of overproduction,
foreign competition, and lessening of demand from
the interior, according to the report of Consul George
P. Waller, Dresden. It is reported that the Plauen
Chamber of Commerce also regards radio, phono-
graphs, and similar devices as detrimental to the
stringed instrument trade. Only in zithers was busi-
ness satisfactory during the first part of 1928. Con-
ditions were brighter in the export field, however.
Saxony shipped $82,882 worth of violins and other
stringed instruments to the United States alone dur-
ing the first quarter of 1928. compared with exports
valued at only $.33,227 during the corresponding period
of 1927.
The piano industry is hampered by the low pur-
chasing power of consumers, and little business is
possible on a cash basis. The introduction of portial
payments has slightly increased local sales, but export
business continues weak.
Trade in harmonicas has fallen off, after having
improved during the latter part of 1927 when most
factories were well occupied with orders. Much com-
plaint about "unendurably" low prices comes from
manufacturers, but they state at the same time that
business with the United States remains good.
The demand for saxophones and woodwind instru-
ments in the first quarter of 1928 was almost wholly
confined to such instruments as are used for the
production of so-called "jazz" music. The accordion
industry is still suffering from price depression.
PIANO ALARMS POLICE.
Two youths were thwarted in an attempted bur-
glary at the ice cream parlor of Joseph Home, 170
Grand street, New York city, at 3 o'clock last Satur-
day morning when the mechanical piano which they
were trying to break open gave out a musical warning
which brought patrolmen of the Bedford avenue sta-
tion to the scene. The boys had entered by forcing
open a cellar door, the police said.
There Could Be No Better
Helper for the Salesmen In Closing Piano Sales Than
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE
It is used by hundreds of Piano Dealers and Salesmen, and is in
the hands of a large proportion of the General Music Merchants.
Price 50 cents per copy; $5 per dozen.
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE: The Invaluable Aid to Dealers and Salesmen.
Address all communications to
Presto Publishing Co.
417 South Dearborn Street
Buyers' Guide Division
Chicago, Illinois, U. S. A.
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).