Music Trade Review

Issue: 1946 Vol. 105 N. 2

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
and there the instrument's mechanism
is again throughly gone over, and ev-
ery detail inspected finally and ready
to be sold at retail.
By ALEXANDER HART
No wonder the manager felt a cer-
Instructor in Piano Tuning,
tain uneasiness. Well, a few questions
Teachers College, Columbia University, New York
had to be put to the new purchaser,
Registered Member of the National Association of Piano Tuners
and here they are.
EDITOR'S NOTE: Dealers and tuners can pick up some
Ques. How do you like the instru-
extra practical training by addressing Mr. Hart, c/o
ment, Mrs. Conway?
Music TRADE REVIEW, 1270 Sixth Ave., New York 20, N.Y.
Ans. Just fine.
Ques. Do you like the tone?
Ans. Yes, very much.
Ques. Do you play the piano any?
The Manufacturers and the Dealers
wise he finds himself losing the good
Ans.
Enough for my own personal
Outstanding piano makers rarely
will of his customers which is vital to
enjoyment.
ask anyone to sell their goods in vari-
future sales—that he must have.
Ques. Do you find anything wrong
ous localities, they usually appoint the
So it is, morally speaking, consistent
in
any way that you can think of to
representative, and in return expect on the part of each person involved
tell me?
one real reward, that is, loyalty.
in the sale of a piano or any other
Ans. 1 really have no complaint to
A A A
instrument to be able to make adjust-
make,
it's my fnend who tried it, and
Character also stands out very strong ments one way or another, i.e., try to
she
said
the touch was too heavy for
and honesty helps to estimate a deal-
make a call as soon as you can on the
her.
er's worth for disposing of their goods. one who complains about the piano
Ques. How about the touch in your
A A A
they have just purchased.
own case?
Some of our piano distributors start-
A A A
Ans. It suits me very well. I want-
ed out as piano tuners, then by obser-
Dampness getting into the piano
ed to know whether there was any-
vation and experience became salesmen
action creates a cause, and we know
who have been privileged to handle by experience the keys do not respond
thing to be done about it.
high grade products, internationally effectively. Another reason is the in-
A A A
known.
strument is too near windows that
Explaining diplomatically the folly
A A A
must be kept open during the night.
of mechanical interference, as no two
There are many angles to selling
It should be suggested to the cus- persons touch the keys the same way,
pianos and these must be learned by tomer indirectly about this after the
some people like a heavy touch, others
experience, each salesman develops his
sale is made because some of the living
very light and so on.
own talents.
rooms have but one large window and
Mrs. Conway was convinced that she
the only space that is going to show
They are not always born, hard
was the one to be satisfied.
off the instrument, and give them nice
____ A
.
work, or sitting at a desk, waiting for
light for reading music and practicing.
prospects.
Who Can Help This Tuner?
FIRST AID IN PIANO REPAIRS
Information About Pianos
Not everyone can sell pianos.
At this point it should be of interest
to every dealer entering into the piano
business to know (if ever so little)
something about the instrument he sells
and represents, in a practical sense;
by this I mean, to be able to jump in
at short notice and try and adjust an
honest call, especially when the cus-
tomer places reliance on every word
that has been said to make the sale.
This is not a talk to an old estab-
lished firm who has a number of tun-
ers they can send out on short notice,
and take care of the most vital happen-
ings, such as the moving men accident-
ally letting an instrument fall and
bruising the case—; and again when
instruments must be taken all apart
and put together and very often by
incompetent persons.
Value of Dealers Repair Shop
Old established dealers fortunately
are wise enough to build an up-to-date
repair shop, to be always ready for
things like the ones mentioned.
The small dealer is in the same
plight, but unable perhaps to take care
of such an occurrence, and is in more
ways than one held responsible, other-
Therefore the best way out—as I
see it—is to follow up the sale and
advise the new purchaser what is best
to do in order to keep it in good play-
able condition.
Self Aid
Taking care of minor adjustments
does not always mean taking along a
set of tools. Adjustments can be made
verbally in many instances.
I recall a case where a piano had
been delivered only a few days when
the head salesman, or should have I
said general sales manager, asked a
service man to call on Mrs. Conway
and see what the trouble is. "I can't
imagine why there should be anything
wrong, it does not seem possible!"
His Tools Were Stolen
E. J. Chamberlain, tuner with the
Hockett & Cowan Music Co., Fresno,
Cal., was recently the victim of a theft.
All his tools except a hammer and a
few wedges were stolen.
As piano tuning tools are scarce Mr.
Chamberlain is appealing to his brother
tuners in the hope of locating some
surplus tools or the possibility of a
tuner who has an extra set he may be
willing to sell. His address is 1254
Fulton Street, Fresno, Calif.
Harmony School Now Has
25 Students Enrolled
Latest report from the Harmony
School of Piano Tuning, Harrisburg,
Let me pass on this recalled experi-
Pa., disclose the enrollment of 25
ence (which is a good many years old)
students.
to those who might find one to com-
"Everything is progressing nicely
pare with it.
with us and at the present time we
Of course the manager wanted a
have an enrollment of twenty-five
report right away. "Well," he asked,
which I believe compares favorably with
"what did you find wrong with the
any other school in the country. We
instrument?"
have as fine a set of boys as you ever
This particular piano-forte was in
saw. They are all genuinely interested
perfect condition. I say this because
in thear work and will, I believe, be-
after the factory examination it is sent
come a credit to the profession," said
over to the wareroom—or showroom—
John Collins Cake, head of the school.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, FEBRUARY, 1946
29
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
EMIL RAYMOND
Emil Raymond, 54, since 1944 Editor
of The Music Trades, New York,
passed away suddenly on January 18
in New York Hospital after a brief
illness. Mr. Raymond had contracted
a cold in December which finally devel-
oped a heart condition which proved
fatal. He is survived by a mother and
a sister. Funeral services were held
on January 20th at the Memorial Fun-
eral Chapel.
CHARLES CLINTON ADAMS
Charles Clinton Adams, 69, head of
the Adams Music Co., Peoria, 111. and
one of the city's widely known business
men, died on January 25th at his home
following an illness of four months.
Mr. Adams who founded the Adams
Music Co. at Dwight, 111. in 1894, came
to Peoria in 1903, acquiring the Bald-
win Music house here. In 1911 the firm
purchased Peoria's oldest music firm,
MAN POWER
TUNER WANTED
Experienced Tuner for permanent position.
Town of 63,,000. Emerson Piano House,
Decatur, III.
Piano Tuners Attention
Have just lost my complete set of piano tun-
ing equipment through theft. If you have any
extra tools or wish to dispose of your own,
please send me particulars. E. J. Chamber-
lain, 1254 Fulton St., Fresno. Calif.
W A N T E D
Good, sober tuner and repair man. Good
salary, good working conditions in good
city.
R. C. BRISTOW & SON
Petersburg, Va.
POSITION WANTED —Experienced Action
Regulator and Repair Man wishes to make a
connection with a Piano Manufacturer or a
Dealer who is reconditioning pianos. Address.
Box No. 12. The Music Trade Review, Room
510, 1270 Sixth Ave., New York 20, N. Y.
PIANO TUNER AND VOICER—First class ex-
pert to supervise Department. Firm develop-
ing along new engineering lines is prepared
to make advantageous offer to a top man.
Box 512. The Music Trade Review, 1270 Ave-
nue of the Americas, New York 20, N. Y.
30
Brown, Page and Hillman, and con-
tinued there until 1920 when, the loca-
tion was changed. Growth of the busi-
ness through the 52 years since its in-
ception required larger quarters and in
1934 the Adams Music Co. opened at
529 Main Street, where it has con-
tinued to serve efficiently the musicians
of Central Illinois.
Mr. Adams married Miss Cora B.
Baker on Jan. 6, 1896. They celebrated
their golden wedding anniversary on
Jan 6. of this year. Mr. Adams held
membership in Livingston lodge No.
371; Peoria Consistory, Scottish Rite,
Mohammed temple, Shrine, Creve Co-
eur club and First Federated church.
Surviving are his widow; one son,
Charles B. Adams; a sister, Miss Cora
E. Adams of Chicago, and two grand-
children, Charles Clinton and Cynthia
Baker Adams.
JAMES C. HENDERSON
James C. Henderson, for many years
travelling representative for the Gulb-
ransen Co., Chicago, 111., passed away
at his home in Scotch Plains, N. J. on
February 11th. Mr. Henderson, who
was in his 86th year was a well
known figure in the industry for many
years. At one time he was president
of the Ann Arbor Organ Co., which
made organs and the Henderson piano.
In recent years before his retirement
in 1942 he travelled through the south-
east. He is survived by a widow and
two sons, George Henderson, connected
with the Rock of Ages in Newark, N. J.
and Jack Henderson of Grinnell Bros.,
Detroit, Mich. Funeral services were
held on February 13th at the Hig-
gins Mortuary, Plainfield, N. J. and
interment took place in Ann Arbor,
Mich.
GEORGE F. CRESSEY AND
ERNEST A. CRESSEY
George F. Cressey, 56, treasurer of
Cressey & Allen, Portland, Me. died
suddenly on February 2nd. His death
followed closely that of his cousin
Ernest A. Cressey, who was once vice
president of the C. C. Harvey Co.,
Boston, which occurred two days earl-
ier.
George Cressey was a native of
Portland and graduated from Bowdoin
College. He became associated with his
father, founder of the Cressey busi-
ness, and was treasurer for 20 years.
At one time he was a director of the
National Association of Music Mer-
chants.
He is survived by a widow, a son
Sgt. Walter C. Cressey and a brother
William, all of Portland.
M'F'RS FOR DE-CONTROL
fContinued from page
16 J
and to the public in an effort to pro-
mote unity and the well-being of all.
It was announced that the Associa-
tion's booklet—"Your Piano and Its
Proper Care" — has just been revised
and reprinted and is available at the
Secretary's Office at a cost of five cents
per copy.
In a bulletin sent to members on
January 30th, by George A. Fernley,
executive secretary, he said:
"As you are aware, developments
during the past week indicate that
OPA Regulations may be relaxed and
some industries completely removed
from price control.
Washington Officials have openly
stated that increased production is es-
sential and that price regulations are
of little value if they retard output.
"In view of current developments, it
is highly important for all of our Mem-
bers to again contact their Senators
and Congressmen urging that the piano
and piano parts industry be released
from price control.
quested that you communicate with
them again on this subject even though
you have sent them an expression of
your views on previous occasions.
"In support of your contention that
the piano and piano parts industry
should be released from price control,
it might be advisable to emphasize the
reasons upon which you base your rec-
ommendations such as—
(a) The pricing policies being fol-
lowed by OPA are unrealistic
and unsatisfactory and fail to
give due consideration to con-
ditions within the industry.
(b) As a result, their policies are
definitely retarding rather than
stimulating the production of
pianos and piano parts.
(c) That pianos are not "cost of liv-
ing" products.
(d) OPA Officials need have no fear
that piano prices will spiral up-
ward to inflationary levels be-
cause competition within the in-
dustry has always been exceed-
ingly keen and this in itself will
hold prices in check.
(e) The War Production Board has
revoked all controls over our in-
dustry but this has been of little
value because of the impossibil-
ity of recovering costs under
OPA Regulations.
(f) Some manufacturers of pianos
and piano parts have refused to
resume operations because of
their inability to recover pro-
duction costs. Others have been
operating at a loss.
(g) Release from price control will
definitely stimulate production
and enable the industry to de-
liver pianos to retail merchants
who are in urgent need of in-
struments for resale."
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, FEBRUARY, 1946

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