8 7 2 – 1 9 3 1 ), ▁a ▁veter an ▁piano ▁factory ▁super int endent ▁and ▁piano ▁engineer ▁with ▁years ▁of ▁experience ▁in ▁the ▁production ▁of ▁grands , ▁to ▁take ▁charge ▁a ▁department ▁in ▁the ▁new ▁unit . ▁Mc Il wr ath ▁had ▁been ▁the ▁manufact uring ▁super int endent ▁of ▁J esse ▁French ▁& ▁S ons ▁P iano ▁Co . ▁of ▁New ▁Castle , ▁Indiana , ▁since ▁February ▁ 1 6 , ▁ 1 9 2 0 , ▁and ▁had ▁been ▁employed ▁there ▁since ▁ 1 9 1 3 . ▁Mc Il wr ath ▁learned ▁the ▁profession ▁in ▁Canada , ▁having ▁been ▁associated ▁with ▁many ▁of ▁the ▁leading ▁fact ories ▁in ▁the ▁East . ▁▁ ▁Stra ube ▁enters ▁radio ▁manufact uring ▁In ▁ 1 9 2 9 , ▁Stra ube ▁began ▁producing ▁rad ios . ▁▁▁ 1 9 3 0 ▁advert ising ▁In ▁ 1 9 3 0 , ▁Stra ube ▁was ▁using ▁the ▁advert ising ▁firm ▁of ▁Lam port , ▁Fox ▁& ▁Co ., ▁Ir vin ▁Syl v ester ▁Dol k ▁( 1 8 9 1 – 1 9 8 1 ), ▁ad ▁executive ▁of ▁South ▁B end , ▁Indiana . ▁▁▁ 1 9 3 5 ▁friendly ▁receiver ship ▁Sales ▁of ▁pian os ▁and ▁player ▁pian os , ▁industry - wide , ▁began ▁to ▁s lip ▁in ▁the ▁early ▁ 1 9 2 0 s , ▁due ▁partly ▁to ▁the ▁rising ▁popular ity ▁of ▁radio ▁as ▁an ▁alternative ▁for ▁home ▁entertain ment ▁and ▁due ▁partly ▁to ▁the ▁rising ▁popular