PRESTO
April 10, 1920.
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED
GOOD WEATHER HELPS
TRADE OF KANSAS CITY
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, or
Other Subjects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
March Behaved Like Real Old-Fashioned Spring
and Dealers Had Big Sales Totals.
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
zvriter in order to receive attention. Answers thought
to be of general trade interest will be published. If an
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro-
vided stamp is inclosed.
LETTERS WAITING.
There are letters at the offices of this paper waiting
for A. Harnoff (6) "G. N. P." (3), and "Foreman A."
All of these advertisers have heretofore called for their
mail. If they will notify Presto of present addresses
their letters will be forwarded.
THE BEST PIANO TRUCK.
Deer Creek, 111., April 11, 1920.
Editor Presto: Please send me Presto Buyers'
Guide, paper cover, also the Presto for balance of
money enclosed.
I would like for you to give me address of a firm
that sells a good piano truck, or refer my letter to
them to send me prices.
Yours respectfully,
H. R. FOSTER.
The best piano truck within our knowledge is
manufactured by the Findlay Piano Truck Co.,
Findlay, Ohio. This truck is self-lifting, and is per-
fectly adapted to the handling of pianos. In fact,
we understand that one man may use it easily. We
suggest that you write to the Findlay Piano Truck
Co., Findlay, Ohio, for particulars.
There is also a piano loader which should interest
you. It is produced by the Atwood Piano Loader
Co., Cedar Rapids, la. This article is attachable
to any ordinary automobile, and especially to the
Ford. It is an ideal convenience for any salesman,
and for delivering instruments.
* * *
THE THREE PIANO GRADES.
Boston, Mass., April 1, 1920.
Editor Presto: Representing us in Greece, Tur-
key and the Balkan States we have an A No. 1 con-
cern with whom we have done business for nine
years. Their main office is in Athens and they
have a branch in Constantinople.
They have asked us to obtain for them some in-
formation about several different articles which they
believe can be sold to good advantage in their ter-
ritory, and among these are pianos and player-
pianos.
We have seen a copy of the Presto Buyers' Guide
and we know that our agents will be very much
interested in this book, and while we have not seen
a copy of the Export Edition, we feel that this will
be more valuable to them than the regular edition.
Therefore, please send us two copies of each—the
Export Edition in English.
For our customers' benefit we would like to give
them all the information we can about pianos and
a list of the different grades of pianos would help
a whole lot. Would it be asking too much to have
you compile a list of the names of pianos in the
three grades mentioned in Presto Buyers' Guide,
namely, High Grade, Medium and Commercial?
Very truly,
BRISTOL PATENT LEATHER CO.,
Bertram C. Gould.
Detailed information concerning all American pi-
anos will be found in the regular edition of the
book. It would not be consistent to further indi-
cate the three grades of pianos, and the book
clearly indicates the various degrees of quality from
highest to medium and commercial. The distinc-
tion, in some cases, is not as great as between the
artistic instruments of established renown and the
distinctly high grade instruments which in a few in-
stances may not as yet have attained to prominence
in the critical musical world. But we have tried to
indicate, as nearly as possible, the three shades of
quality.
* * *
PIANOS ON CONSIGNMENT.
Greensburg, Pa., April 2, 1920.
Editor Presto: I would be pleased if you could
furnish me with the address of several good piano
manufacturers that sell or rent pianos out on a con-
signment basis. Thanking you for past favors, I
am,
Yours respectfully,
F. D. CONNOR.
Just at this time there is a demand for pianos
far exceeding the possibility of supply. Of course,
this makes it very difficult to find manufacturers
who will consign instruments.
The cash demand is quite insistent and while,
under ordinary conditions, there would probably be
no trouble in getting a consignment account, we do
not know of any manufacturer who would be will-
ing to ship goods on that basis at the present time.
We suggest that you consult the advertising pages
of Presto and write to any of the concerns on the
subject.
* * *
PHONOGRAPH CABINETS.
La Porte, Ind., April 3, 1920.
Editor Presto: I am desirous of securing the
names of several manufacturers who build phono-
graph cases for the trade and have taken the liberty
to write you for this information.
Any information you can give me on this matter
will be greatly appreciated by
Yours very truly,
WM. E. CLARK.
There are a great many industries of this kind,
a number of which are located in Chicago. Follow-
ing we give you the names of a few of them:
American Cabinet Mfg. Co., 2536 S. Western Aye.,
Chicago; Cincinnati Cabinet Co., 2264 Bogen St.,
Cincinnati; Columbus Phono. Mfg. Co., 400 N.
Sangamon St., Chicago; Grand Rapids Brass Co.,
Grand Rapids, Mich.; R. L. Kenyon Co., Waukesha,
Wis.; Michigan Furniture Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.;
Schram Bros., 415 Armour St., Chicago; E. H. Staf-
ford Mfg. Co., 218 S. Wabash Ave., Chicago; Udell
Works, 205 28th St., Indianapolis, Ind.; West Mich.
Furn. Co., Holland, Mich.; Cardinal Cabinet Co.,
Wabash, Ind.; Oscar Onken Co., 4th and Center
Sts., Cincinnati.
The new Phonograph Directory and Guide will
be ready on the 20th of this month. It will contain
full lists of phonographs and supplies.
* * *
TRADE RATING BOOK.
Columbus, Ohio, April 3, 1920.
Editor Presto: Will you please advise us the
name and address of the publishers of the Piano
Trade Rating Book which gives a list of all the
dealers in the United States and the rating as to
their financial standing.
We understand this book is published in Boston,
but do not have the name of the concern nor the
street address.
Very truly yours,
PIANO COMPANY.
The rating book about which you ask was put
forth by the Music Trade Mercantile Co., 234 Con-
gress street. Boston. It was issued along the line
March has proved a good month in Kansas City
and this is in a great measure because spring has
paid an earlier visit to that section than it has to
the less fortunate states to the north. C. V. Bissell,
manager of the Kansas City branch of the Starr
Piano Co.. says the piano situation in the South-
west is in a very gratifying condition, which he at-
tributes to favorable weather for the most part.
Of course he allows that the customers had the
disposition to buy which involves the ability and the
willingness to spend money.
What Mr. Bissell says about the agreeable spirit
of the piano prospects is agreed to by W. J. Simon-
son, manager of the Kansas City branch of the
Smith, Barnes & Strohber Co., but Mr. Simonson
adds that the prospects would not be so receptive
had the dealers neglected to use the usual advertis-
ing inducements. The Smith, Barnes & Strohber
Co.'s store has profited by its consistent course of
newspaper publicity and shows the best evidences
of reward in the sales totals for March. These make
a record in upright, player and grand sales.
And talking of advertising it would be missing
something good not to mention the sign recently
set in place in the front of the store of the Smith,
Barnes & Strohber Co. It is one of the most no-
ticeable objects on the street and the wording,
"Music Makes the Heart Glad," further inspires the
Kansas City prospect with the hot desire to buy.
The Wunderlich Music Co. is now ready for the
spring and summer succession of piano and player-
piano customers. Decorators have gone over every
department in the store and made Wunderlich's a
pleasanter place than ever to buy.
The Gulbransen-Dickinson Company, Chicago,
has received a letter from Weeks & Dickinson,
Binghaniton, N. Y., successors to Barrett Bros.
Music Company, in which the concern expresses its
delight with the Baby-at-the-Pedals advertising de-
of the Dun and Bradstreet enterprises; that is, an
annual fee was charged and the book loaned and not
sold. It is possible that the publication is still being
put forth. Before the Music Trade Merc. Co. had
it, it was published by the Thompson Co., Boston.
The publishers of Presto are now putting forth
a series of Presto Trade Lists, one of which will
contain a very complete directory of music dealers.
SAN FRANCISCO FACTORY OF Q R S MUSIC CO.
The above picture of the. San Francisco factory
of The Q R S Music Company is evidence that the
Pacific Coast music trade will be well taken care of
with Q R S rolls.
Located five minutes from the heart of the city,
with switch track to the door, the location is an
admirable one from a service standpoint.
The building is of modern construction, with ex-
ceptional lighting facilities, and will be equipped
with everything that will maintain the high stand-
aid of this famous product.
Plans to have this factory in operation by June
1 of this year have been completed, and some of
the machinery is already on the way.
New Master Rolls for the cutting department are
also on the way, as well as the necessary material
of all kinds Q R S equipment requires.
The office and stock room will be transferred from
15J Kearny street to the factory on Brannan street,
between Third and Fourth, in a short while.
The whole western trade appreciates the immense
value this factory will have in promoting sales of
playerpianos. Through the atmosphere of perma-
nency the enterprise substantiates.
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