Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1920 1771

PRESTO
July 3, 1920.
LONG MOTOR TRIP BY A
PIANO TRADE VETERAN
GULBRANSEN
REPRESENTATION
The Distinction of It
Last fall a Gulbransen Player-Piano was sold
to a citizen of Colombia, South America, who
never before had seen or heard a Gulbransen,
does not read English, and was wholly unfa-
miliar with Gulbransen advertising.
Shortly after the instrument arrived, he wrote an enthusiastic
letter, complimenting the factory upon the "magnificas
voces*' (magnificent tone) and also saying particularly,
"y es muy suave en su manejo" (it is very easy to play).
Here was proof that the Gulbransen has true artistic distinc-
tion. This Latin-American, uninfluenced by any suggestion,
immediately picked the two qualities—tone and pedal-touch
—which we have always claimed distinguished the Gul-
bransen, and upon which Gulbransen advertising and sales-
work have been based.
But the best proof is found right here at home. The aver-
age prospect "gets" these special qualities of the Gulbransen
at once. He hears quality in the Gulbransen tone and
feels it in the Gulbransen pedal-touch. Many a prospect
has "sold himself" a Gulbransen after playing one for ten
minutes.
And as these are not imaginary qualities—not "talking-point
stuff"—• their influence does not fade upon better acquaint-
ance. As an owner, the more he learns about what a Player
ought to be and do, the higher he esteems his Gulbransen.
You know the value of a satisfied customer.
Then, the distinction of the National Prices. You hear,
occasionally, there are other uniformly priced Players. But
do you know of another whose prices are openly and steadily
advertised? Sincerity, in pricing as in other matters, is likely
to be evidenced by complete frankness.
This price-distinctiveness of the Gulbransen naturally at-
taches to the Gulbransen Representative. Added to art-
distinctiveness of the product, it usually helps make the
Gulbransen Distributor dominant in the Player business of
his community.
Hampton L. Story Conies from Los Angeles in His
Touring Car.
H. L. Story, one of Chicago's pioneer piano manu-
facturers and father of E. H. and F. F. Story, of the
Story & Clark Piano Company, has just taken one of
the longest automobile trips of his life. For a good
many days he has been traveling eastward and north-
ward from Los Angeles, Cal., toward Chicago in his
machine, accompanied by one chauffeur.
Mr. Story has written regularly to the Story &
Clark offices in Chicago, telling some of the experi-
ences of the trip, the worst of which consisted in
meeting a great deal of rainy weather, particularly in
crossing Kansas. Deluges of rain had put the roads
in bad shape in many places, but the sturdy tourist
kept on. On Tuesday morning the house heard from
him at Indianapolis, with the expectation that he
would reach Chicago in a day or two. The courage
of this trip will be better appreciated when the reader
reflects that Mr. Story is somewhere between 83 and
84 years old.
Very few in the industry, especially in the West,
have made a deeper mark in the history of the trade
than Hampton L. Story. And by his initiative and
enterprise a number of other men in the piano busi-
ness have had their start and grown to prominence.
The veteran will find many of his old-time friends
still active in the trade in Chicago, and they will be
glad to see him, as need not be said.
SOMERSET PIANO CO. NOW
MAKES THE "BAUMEISTER"
Industry at Fall River, Mass., Having Purchased
Old New York Plant, Incorporates.
The Somerset Piano Co., of Fall River, Mass., has
incorporated under the laws of Massachusetts with
capital of $25,000, and the directors are: Philias
Cauchon, president and treasurer; S. Dauphinias,
vice-president and secretary; H. Cauchon, assistant
treasurer.
The company has purchased all of the stock of the
Baumeister Piano Co., of New York City, and re-
moved all of the materials to the new location. The
company is making pianos and playerpianos and it
has no connection with any other industry. This in-
formation was given to Presto by President Philias
Cauchon.
FOUNDER OF PIANO CASE
PLANT DIES IN LEOMINSTER
Model Factory Employing 125 Workers Is Monu-
ment to F. E. Wellington's Efficiency.
By the death recently of Frank E. Wellington,
founder of the Wellington Piano Case Co., Leo-
minster, Mass., New England lost one of its most
efficient and successful business men. The Welling-
ton Piano Case Co. has a model plant in Green street,
employing 125 hands, all of whom held him in the
highest esteem. The factory is the best evidence
of the abilities and efficiency of the builder.
Mr. Wellington came to Leominster on May 8,
1880, and began working at the bench at the Cob-
leigh piano case factory, West Leominster. At the
end of two years he entered the employ of the F.
G. Smith Piano Case Co., as bookkeeper and as-
sistant manager, remaining there 13 years, during
which time he acquired a knowledge of the business
that laid the foundation of his future success.
On April 8, 1895, he incorporated the company
which bears his name and of which he was presi-
dent and general manager. His son, Curtis F. Wei
lington, who succeeds him, is secretary. The busi-
ness continued to expand and in 1906 a six-story
addition was erected and last September the shop
was further enlarged by a two-story dry kiln. Mr.
Wellington always was intensely loyal to Leominster
and its business interests.
FRANK KIMMEL ON ROAD.
GULBRANSEN - DICKINSON CO.
CHICAGO
Frank Kimmel is a new road man for the Foster-
Armstrong Co., Rochester, N. Y. For some time
past Mr. Kimmel has been sales manager for the
Arthur Jordan Piano Co., Washington, D. C, in
which position he has scored unusual successes. Mr.
Kimmel has a pleasant way with him and a gift of
persuasiveness in a piano sale that his friends con-
sider irresistible. A list of his friends in and
out of the music trade in Washington would fill a
page of a daily newspaper.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
10
PRESTO
WHERE EXPERIENCE
EXPRESSES ITSELF
Letters on Topics of General Interest from
Members of the Trade in Its Several De-
partments, with Comment When
Subject Seems to Suggest It.
THE VERY BEST PIANOS.
Port Huron, Mich., June 23, 1920.
Editor Presto: The writer, having a preference
for your valuable trade paper, would appreciate your
views on an editorial of your brother paper, the
Music Trades, of June 19th, entitled, "The New
Steinway Policy."
The writer has been under a possible illusion, dur-
ing the past eight or nine years that he has been en-
gaged in the piano business, namely, that there are
possibly several American pianos which could be
rightfully considered the very best. In fact, the ad-
vertising in Music Trades, and other papers, would
bear that out. If, however, I am wrong in my views
a correction is in order. We would very much ap-
preciate your views of this matter through your
valuable paper, or otherwise.
It would seem to me that the "at least several peo-
ple of sufficient means, intelligence, and musical cul-
ture to appreciate the very best," are well able to be
judges of what goes to make that as well as some of
our able trade paper editors.
Yours very truly,
HARRY S. MAXON.
Editor's Note: It is the policy of this paper not
to discriminate, or draw contrasts, as between the
realty high grade or artistic pianos. There is no
doubt at all about there being a number of artistic
instruments, between which there is so slight di-
vergence in musical results that to discriminate
would be not only unfair but might in the end serve
to suggest personal prejudice or preference, even if
unpremeditatedly.
Without doubt the New York trade paper was
justified in speaking in the highest terms of the
piano to which you draw our attention. It would
have been equally justified in employing superlative
terms to other pianos whose qualities are, in a sense,
supreme. We must also remember that when we
make use of the superlative in describing pianos, the
inference need not be that there is but one "best."
As a matter of fact, in our judgment, it is possible
for there to be a number of the "very best" pianos,
and the one about which you write is certainly one
of them.
We will confess to not having ready the profund-
ity of our well-beloved New York contemporary.
Usually trade editors who do not play the piano
and have only experimental or theoretical knowledge
of the instrument, are the ones who give expression
to the most positive dictums concerning one subject.
However, it is always safe to speak of the glorious
July 3, 1920.
Steinway with unreserved admiration, for that piano
has a place unique in the world of music and its posi-
tion is recognized by the public, musicians and all
ambitious piano manufacturers. For instance, you
may yourself know pianos equally as admirable as
the Steinway, but do you know of any that is better?
A PIANO TUNER'S SUGGESTION.
Ada, Okla., June 21, 1920.
Editor Presto: Am enclosing some of the printed
matter I am using—a "duplicator" notice letter I
send my customers, and a circular I use. And it oc-
curred to me that this phrase should be put in bold
letters on the under side of the lid of every piano
made before it leaves the factory:
WITHOUT A DOUBT
Your Piano Should Be Tuned Regularly at Least
Twice a Year.
Can you get this before the manufacturers, and
why not start this phrase going over the world with
gummed stickers like the "Give a Thought to
Music"?
I feel this would do more good than anything ever
proposed.
-
. . .
My business always was good, and the tuner who
is really competent will have little complaint, I
think.
- ^
Yours truly,
R. C. BISHOP.
THE SHAKESPEARE OF PHONOGRAPHS.
Ashland, O., June 28, 1920.
Editor Presto: We are pleased to see in "Where
Doubts Are Dispelled" your commendation in reply
to Mr. Bottacchi, of Buenos Aires, in regard to the
Stratford product.
We know that you are recommending an instru-
ment that stands head and shoulders above any
pkoiTogTaprr manufactured in the present day. Our
production will be such that we would be interested
in having a representative in South America.
Yours very truly,
STRATFORD PHONOGRAPH CO.,
Per F. K. AMREIHN.
WILL KNOW HIS NEIGHBORS.
Newton, Kans,, June 28, 1920.
Editor Presto: I wish to thank you for your
courtesy in sending me a copy of your Phonograph
Directory. It will be both used and appreciated. In
fact, I've wished for a long time that I could find
out who some of my neighbors were in nearby
states; and this directory makes it easy to find them.
I expect to have two more songs out some
time in July, and I'm going to stay with the game
till I get to the top.
Sincerely yours,
H. S. DICKEY.
WANTS MANDOLIN ATTACHMENTS.
St. Louis, Mo., June 28, 1920.
Editor Presto: Kindly have R. H. Schroeter, of
Bronx, New York, communicate with me, or send
WAREROOM WARBLES
(A New One Every Week.)
By The Presto Poick.
SO CONVINCING.
He hadn't made a record yet,
Because his sales were few,
But still he always said he'd bet
On what he sure could do;
He couldn't understand at all
His talk so free, and mincing,
Might trip him. up and cause a fall—
He was so con, convincing.
He gabbled on when he should stop
And let his prospect think,
Instead of spinning, like a top,
Right up to patience's brink,
Until his stream of words ran out,
Like water needing rinsing,
And caused a flood of muddy doubt—
He was so con, convincing.
It's always wise to savor talk
With just a pinch of thought,
And lead the hearer, lest he balk,
In ways he might have sought;
It seldom pays to try to drive
A strange bird to eat ginseng,
And if you ever hope to thrive
Be truly con, convincing.
Henry P. Veatch, manager of the Chicago office
of the Packard Piano Company, who came into
Chicago this week from a trip, left again Wednesday
evening for a two or three days' trip to Milwaukee,
Watertown, Wis., and a few other points.
his address here. Would like to get mandolin at-
tachments. Thanking you in advance, I remain,
Yours truly,
HENRY KEMPER PIANO PARLORS,
HENRY KEMPER.,
THE ORIGINAL RELIABLE
ARTISTIC CARVINGS
for PIANO and PHONOGRAPH
Manufacturers
HIGH-GRADE CARVED
NOVELTIES
Lamps, Wall Brackets, Book Ends,
Pedestals, etc.
£. KOPRIWA CO.
When in Chicago visit our showrooms
at the Factory
2220 Ward Street, near Clybourn Aye.
Tel. Lincoln 2726
TWO TRADE WINNERS
HARTFORD
I CHURCHILL
1/ you want Good Goods at Right Prices, here are two
1iiat will meet your requirements—Players and Pianos.
RELIABLE — FINE TONE — BEAUTIFUL
Made By
HARTFORD PIANO COMPANY
1223-1227 MILLER STREET, CHICAGO
(STRICTLY HIGH GRADE)
Sellers.
Certain Satisfaction
Thirty years of satisfactory service in American homes.
QBNBAAL OFFICES AND FACTORY
U
WEED and DAYTON STREETS
KROEGER
(Established 1SS 2)
The name alone is enough to suggest to dealers the Best
Artistic and Commercial Values.
The New Style Players Are Finest Yet* If you can
get the Agency you ought to have it.
KROEGER PIANO CO.
NEW YORK. N. Y.
and
STAMFORD. CON*.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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