Presto

February 23, 1929
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
NEWS NOTES OF THE
PACIFIC COAST TRADE
Vigilance in Advertising Supervision Results
in Issuance of Folder for Radio Dealers
Which Frankly Lists Objectionable
Practices.
The Pacific Radio Trade z\ssociation, in conjunction
with the Better Business Bureau of San Francisco, has
issued a folder containing recommendations for radio
advertisers. These are designed to develop more
accuracy in advertising and the fair play methods
which evoke public confidence. Bait advertising is
condemned in a specific way.
The use of the word "electric" should be limited to
sets which operate directly from an electric light
socket, is the statement in the folder.
A set originally designed for battery operation and
subsequently ef4tiipped with A and B power devices is
not "electric," as the term is used in the trade and
as it is generally understood by the public.
When citing the number of tubes in the set, the
advertiser should specify, the number used for power
conversion and that for regulation, is the advice
which adds: "It should be appreciated that the num-
ber of tubes utilized in a radio receiver does not
necessarily give an indication of its performance."
The folder recommends that the word "dynanr'c"
should be used only in connection with the speakers
which are of the true dynamic type. That is, those in
which the reproducing element is a moving coil
rather than a magnetic armature. Also the word
"complete" should be used only if the fully equipped
set is sold at the advertised price. If any of the equip-
ment is omitted, this fact should be stated in type
of a size easy to read, in immediate proximity to the
price.
Other objectionable practices in radio exploitation
are laid bare in the folder, which has been widely
distributed.
Pacific Coast cities are no worse than cities else-
where in the use of objectionable methods of adver-
tising and selling radios, but two prominent bodies
have jointly issued a booklet of advice, recommenda-
tion and warning to radio advertisers.
The department and branch store manager of Sher-
man, Clay & Co., San Francisco, held a conference
last week at the Palace Hotel. At the various ses-
sions which extended throughout three days the oper-
ations of every department in the music store were
discussed. The requirements of the piano, phono-
graps, musical merchandise, sheet music, organ and
radio departments were set forth by speakers and
the nature of operations in each evoked by discus-
sions.
Featuring Jesse French & Sons.
The Union Music Co., San Francisco, is actively
featuring the line of pianos and radios of the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co., New Castle, Ind. And
satisfactory results arc pointed out by D. A. Hen-
nessy, owner and manager of the progressive firm,
who says the dependable character of the Jesse
French & Sons piano throughout the years since their
first introduction to California is now favorably influ-
encing prospects for Jesse French radio sales. The
Jesse French receiving set made a good start at its
first appearance in San Francisco.
The Union Music Co. has taken over the second
floor of the building which has been subdivided into
piano showrooms. The growth of the firm's radio
business recently demanded more accommodations
and accordingly two radio demonstration rooms were
provided on the main floor.
The repair shop for band and orchestra instruments
operated by Sherman, Clay, & Co., has been moved
from 536 Mission street to the retail store of the
company at Kearny and Sutter streets. Ray Towl,
manager of the shop, believes its effectiveness will
be increased by the removal.
PROGRESSIVE SYRACUSE STORE
The Godard Music Store, formerly located at 113
East Washington street, Syracuse, N. Y., is now
occupying the splendid new store at 436 South War-
ren street, giving to this popular Syracuse firm one
of the best-appointed and most centrally-located music
shops in the Central City. The constantly growing
business of this enterprising firm made removal to
more spacious quarters a necessity. The location on
busy South Warren street is in the center of the retail
section and desirable in every way.
Four Progressive Firms Contribute to Effort
in Making Blue Grass Section Notable
for Lively Sales.
Lexington, Ky., the historic city, in what is widely
known as the famous "Blue Grass" section of a most
interesting state, is the home of four progressive and
successful piano houses. Business in the music line
is really good in Lexington and the piano men are
not only cheerful, but are looking forward to in-
creased business for the year of 1929. Lexington is
a prosperous city. It has had a remarkable growth
in population during the past ten years. There is
much wealth there and surprising business activity.
The Proper Spirit.
There are four piano houses in the city and so far
as membership in the National Association of Music
Merchants is concerned, the city is not only one
hundred per cent, but really one hundred and twenty-
five per cent represented, for the Music Shop, one
of the houses, includes in its membership W. A. Bur-
nett, the proprietor, and also J. P. Simmons, one of
the charter members of the association, who is now
connected with the establishment. The Music Shop
BUYS FRENCH LICK STORE.
Lewis S. Bowles has purchased the stock of mus ; cal
instruments and radios at French Lick, Ind , formerly
owned by the late George Ellensohn, and which has
been in operation there for a number of years. Mr.
Bowles advises that the store will now be known as
the Valley Music and Radio Company and that same
will be under the management of Miss Vivian Mere-
dith, assisted by Mrs. Bowles. Since the death of
M. Ellensohn, the store has been operated by Frank
H. Stonnaker of Bedford, executor of Mr. Ellen-
sohn's will.
NEW NASHVILLE STORE.
Theodore Sharpe, son of the Rev. George N.
Sharpe, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, Nashville,
Tenn., will open a music store in that city in the
near future. Mr. Sharpe is widely known as a musi-
cian, and many Nashvillians have heard him on his
broadcasts from the station in Toronto, Canada, as
well as on records. He plays both the violin and the
saxophone. The new store will be opened under his
rad : o name, Ted Arden, and will be known as the Ted
Arden Music Company.
PIANO LESSONS IN STORE
RECITAL, AT AUGUST GROSS' PIANO CO.'S STORE.
The accompanying cut shows the audience of
pupils, their parents and friends assembled recently
at the store of the Aug. Gross Piano Co., 3933 to
3935 North Kedzie avenue, Chicago.- It was a large
assemblage of enthusiastic people who braved a
below r zero temperature to come to hear the ambi-
tious children. The sympathetic attitude of the audi-
ence was conclusive evidence of the existence in the
public of a recognition of the piano as the most im-
portant instrument for the reproduction of music.
Miss Ellen Munson is the instructor of the Curtis
system classes, which are continuous in the store
and have proven potent for results for the past three
ACTIVE MUSIC TRADE
MEN OF LEXINGTON, KY.
years; The classic character of the program showed
the ability of the students.
The Aug. Gross Piano Company is one of the
alert piano houses which show a realization of the
fact that the perpetuation of piano playing largely
depends as the encouragement dealers give to piano
class instruction. The encouragement most produc-
tive of results is the practical kind favored by the
energetic Chicago piano house. Mr. Gross is free to
state the benefits to business of the piano group in-
struction fostered by the house. "Piano sales at any
time are in equal ratio to the enthusiasm for piano
playing," is an epigram of Mr. Gross which voices
a situation and suggests a course of action.
J. P. SIMMONS.
is the local representative of the Baldwin line of
pianos, the Victor and Sonora talking machines;,
Conn band instruments, Gibson string instruments,
Atwater-Kent and Philco radios and sheet music.
J. P. Simmons Active.
Mr. Simmons, whose mother is now an invalid liv-
ing in Lexington, returned recently to his native
state. He has had an active and intertsting career in
the music industry. He entered the business in 1883
as shipping clerk in the Baldwin wareroom in Louis-
ville. Four years later when the Memphis store was
opened he was made manager of that store. Later he
was connected with the Smith & Nixon Company and
following that connection he was for twenty-five
years the principal owner of the Junius Hart Piano
House in New Orleans. He recently spent two years
on the Pacific coast.
The Music Shop was started six years ago by Mr.
Burnett and has been very successful. U. G. Row-
botham is also associated with this house.
J. H. Templeman's Standing.
J. H. Templeman is the dean of the piano men in
Lexington. Associated with him as treasurer of the
J. H. Templeman Piano Compapy is Dan S. Ste-
phens, a piano man of unusual ability. The line
includes the Steinway, Kranich & Bach, Kurtzmann
and the Milton pianos.
Donald B. Neal has given attention particularly to
special sales and has not only been successful in the
music business but is known as an unusually success-
ful real estate operator. He operates a piano ware-
room on one side of North Limestone street and a
phonograph shop in the opposite side.
Joe Candioto has been in the piano and music
business in Lexington for about twenty years and
he has built up a prosperous business. His line of
pianos includes the Henry F. Miller, Becker Brothers
and Schubert. He also handles talking machines and
radios.
Isadore Meyer, 222 Georgia street, Valejo, Cal.,
will open a branch music store in another part of the
town.
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