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8
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
There is quite an epidemic of ''Sales of Pianos
Returned from Hire" in London and other cities
Strong Efforts Being Made to Start Such an
at the present time, and there is much question as
Organization—Some of the Advantages Set
to the genuineness of many of them. One par-
Forth—Offer Bonuses for Completed Work to
ticular instance is known where a certain manufac-
Competent Piano Workmen—Selling New
turer
was worried considerably by the manager of
Pianos as Used Instruments Now the Fad—
a furnishing company because he did not deliver
George Rose to Visit the United States En
pianos in time to be used in the sale. A large
Route to Australia—A Noted Piano Man.
proportion of the public will rush to such sales,
seemingly in a frenzy to buy a pianoforte cheap,
(Special to The Review.)
regardless of the quality. It is thus possible for
London, Eng., Nov. Ki, 1911.
The recent suggestion to the effect that a piano the trader to sell new instruments in such sales,
with wonderful adjectives, such as "lovely mellow,"
club be started in this city for the convenience of
local and visiting members of the trade is meeting "fine singing," "full bright" and "copious," to de-
with general favor and plans are now under dis- scribe the alleged tone quality.
George Rose is leaving England shortly to join
cussion relative to the proper location for such a
the
management of Beale & Co., Ltd., of Sydney,
club, the manner in which the project should be
launched, and detail regarding the membership and New South Wales. He retains his interests in the
its accommodation. The general idea seems to be firm of Sir Herbert Marshall, Sons & Rose, Ltd.,
that some sort of piano club should be started at of which he remains a director. Before going to
an early date and be permitted to expand gradu- Australia he intends visiting the United States,
ally. With the quartet of strong trade associations, where he will spend some weeks.
the Manufacturers' Association, the Music Trades
Association, the Music Publishers' Association and DISPLAY AT STATE FAIR INTERESTS.
the Association of Dealers in Pianoforte Supplies,
all interested in such a venture, its success would Jesse French Piano Co., of Dallas, Tex., Present
Plaque of Liszt to Visitors to Their Booth.
seem assured. Such a club would prove especially
useful as a rendezvous for trade visitors from vari-
(Special to The Review.)
ous sections of Great Britain and the colonies, and
Dallas, Tex., Nov. 25, 1911.
where they could meet the London manufacturers
In connection with the State Fair held in this
and their representatives.
The report to the effect that the Piano Club city, the Jesse French Piano Co. sent out invita-
formed in New York some time ago has proven tions by the thousand to visitors to make their
successful has had its influence on those who have store and booth in the Main Exposition Hall head-
quarters on their visit to the city. In this con-
opposed such an organization in this. city.
There is a decided dearth of competent piano- nection resting rooms, telephones and other con-
forte makers at the present time, and the result veniences, especially for the ladies, were in evi-
is that, in order to secure sufficient workmen to dence.
This cordial spirit of hospitality was manifested
meet their requirements, various manufacturers are
not
only through the personal invitations but in
advertising for experienced men and offering cash
bonuses for all work completed. The bonus offer the advertisements which appeared in the Dallas
is being condemned in many quarters, as it not papers preceding the fair—advertisements that
only encourages workmen to desert old situations were admirably and interestingly written.
To those who called at the booth a very hand-
but also causes dissatisfaction among faithful em-
ployes who, although remaining with one house for some souvenir was given in the shape of a very
years, receive no bonus for their work beyond artistically designed and well executed plaque of
Franz Liszt in commemoration of the great com-
their wages.
poser's centenary.
Large crowds visited the Jesse French Co. booth
and everybody expressed pleasure, not merely at
receiving such a substantial souvenir, but became
keenly interested in the line of instruments dis-
played and demonstrated for their benefit. Mr.
Phelps, the Southwestern manager, has been con-
gratulated on the success of his efforts.
PIANO CLUB FOR LONDON.
It would seem that four or five sizes and shapes
should be ample to cover the field if the matter
were carefully gone over by the members of the
American manufacturers associations and general
attention called to the importance of this matter.
The following sizes mignt cover the field: 3 by 8
inches for small catalogs and folders; 6 by 8
inches for the medium catalogs; 8 by 9 inches for
the standard size; 8 by 12 inches for another size,
witli possibly an additional size for extreme neces-
sities. The printed matter could be arranged either
way on the page to suit the subject and the taste
of the compiler.
If some such system were adopted it would be
profitable and much more convenient for all con-
cerned. This should be carefully considered by all
manufacturers and exporters, because a catalog sent
out not of size or shape to file with other catalogs
is often dropped into the waste basket at once, or
is put away and forgotten.
Neat catalogs and price lists count for much in
the export business, but it would seem that uni-
formity in size and shape need not interfere with
neatness and appropriateness of style. It is better
to use a little more or a little less paper rather than
to have the catalog thrown away after so much
time and money has been spent on it.
BLINDNESS NO^DRAWBACK
In Selling Pianos, According to Experience of
Pittsburgh Dealer.
That to be afflicted with blindness does not pre-
vent a live man from making good as a piano sales-
man is evidenced in the experience of W. H. Long,
the piano dealer of Pittsbugh, Pa., who employs
only blind salesmen and enjoys a constantly in-
creasing business. It is said that one of the sales-
men has sold ten pianos since August, which would
not be a bad record for a salesman with possession
of all his faculties. Mr. Long is also superinten-
dent of the Pittsburgh Workshop for the Blind,
having been appointed to that position not long
ago.
Strube Bros, have opened a branch music store
in Spirit Lake, la., in charge of Ed Strube.
PIANO MAN MAKES CHANGE.
A satisfied customer
\ l l is a real profit maker
—the best salesman a
piano dealer can possibly
have
Every Packard owner is a Packard
booster. He is more than satis-
fied—for he has received more
than "full value" for his money
That's the region Packard pianos
are easy to sell—and that's the
reason you will find profit and
pleasure in selling them. Also it's
the reason why we are finding it
easy to get the better dealers
everywhere to handle them. Write
The Packard Company, Fort
Wayne, Indiana—to-day. If we
are not already represented in
your territory, we may be glad
to make agency arrangements
with you—and it may mean for
yMi the one big opportunity.
H. T. Lattner Buys Interest
Concern.
in New Florida
H. T. Lattner, secretary and treasurer of the
Seals Piano and Organ Co., Birmingham, Ala., has
disposed of his interests in that concern and has
made arrangements to join the forces of the Cham-
berlain Piano Co., Orlando, Fla., with a financial
interest in the company. The Chamberlain Co.
was organized at a comparatively recent date, but
have already met with considerable success with
their line of Knabe, Krell and Kimball pianos and
Knabe-Angelus and Kimball player-pianos. S. H.
Warrick, of the Montgomery, Ala., branch of the
Seals Piano and Organ Co., succeeds Mr. Lattner
as secretary and treasurer.
THEY'RE
SIZE AND SHAPEM)F CATALOGS.
Consul A. A. Winslow, of Valparaiso, Chile,
Makes Plea for Uniformity in Such Matters.
If American manufacturers and exporters would
adopt some system whereby there might be more
uniformity in the size and shape of their catalogs
these would prove much more useful to the buyer,
and fewer would find the waste basket. At present
most manufacturers seem to have their own idea
of what is appropriate in this line, so that there
is an endless number of sizes and shapes included
in the collection of catalogs now on file in this
consulate, with the result that the files are very
irregular in appearance and inconvenient to refer
to.
values bis reputation, and to
tomer • confidence, demand
them in the pianos you han-
dle—especially in the playera
401-424 E. 163d St., New York
Chicago Office: Republic Bldg.