FREtt
TO
BUSH & LANE ANNUAL PICNIC
MARKED BY FROLIC AND MIRTH
Eight Hundred Persons Qo to Jenison Beach, Six Miles from Holland,
Where Day Is Well Spent.
With weather that was ideal, a great crowd of
about 800 persons set out on Saturday morning of
last week from Holland, Mich., for Jenison Park,
six miles west of that city and on the Lake Mich-
igan shore, to enjoy the annual picnic of the Bush
& Lane Piano Company's factory and office forces.
They went by interurban trolley cars that were
chartered for the purpose. Included in the merry
party were Walter Lane, president of the company;
were the "best ever." As for the tug-of-war, it
was a real tug, as the accompanying picture shows.
SOME OP FRANK CONGLETON'S STENOS—YOU
PROBABLY GET MAIL FROM 'EM RIGHT ALONG.
VICE-PRESIDENT PRANK CONGLETON (AT RIGHT)
DISCUSSING ADVERTISING.
F. J. Congleton, vice-president, and Chester L.
Beach, secretary.
The great party was accompanied by the Amer-
ican Legion Band, of Holland, which went to the
picnic to furnish the music.
Everything that has made picnics famous in the
past was done at this one, and more. For instance,
the home-cooked cakes and other good things to eat
And note the husky, happy sort of men that make
the Bush & Lane. Was Mr. Congleton happy? Judge
by his smile in the picture. Were the office girls
pleased to be present? Note their happy and in-
telligent faces.
The picnic idea has taken firm hold upon the
managers of the big piano industries. And they
pay—pay in dividends that get more than pay checks,
and more than money can buy, at its best. The Bush
& Lane pianos are better because of the picnics, and
other entertainments that break in upon the every-
day work. And the workers in the Bush & Lane of-
fices and factory are better by the same reason, and
because of the closer intimacies the meetings bring 1
and encourage.
The snap shots which brighten this report of the
Bush & Lane picnic show some of the events of the
day. One of them gives an idea of how Vice-Presi-
dent Congleton looks when he is discussing things
with a bunch of the trade paper boys. He knows
just what kind of news they want, and he has had
the experience that enables him to give it to them
entertainingly. If the trade papers don't have some
"good reading" about the picnic it won't be Mr. Con-
gleton's fault.
Last Saturday's event was well worth while. It
belongs to the records of the big piano industry, and
everj' one who attended will say that the day was
as perfect as any in their experiences. The only
suggestion of a cloud was that a whole year must
pass before the next Bush & Lane picnic.
July 31, 1920.
ONE WEEK'S DOINQS
IN PORTLAND TRADE
Oregon City Contributes One New Industry,
a Good Old-Piano Story and Other
Items of General Interest.
Some of the answers given Presto's correspondent
in Portland, Oregon, when asking how piano sales
were this week: "Oh, fair," "So, so," "Infernally
dull," "Nothing doing," "We sell some or we'd have-
to shut up shop," "Don't mention it," "What do you
mean, sales?" So you can draw your own conclu-
sions as to the piano trade in Portland this summer.
Some of the dealers and salesmen say this fall will
be a "hummer," while others more pessimistic, per-
haps, see no relief as long as the high prices prevail.
An old square piano, which was brought around
the Horn in 1851, has been presented to the Mc-
Laughlin Memorial Association by Mrs. Louise
Holmes-Martin and occupies an honorable position
in the restored home of Dr. John McLaughlin,
founder of Oregon City. A handsome bronze plate
will be placed upon the old instrument, telling of its
history.
The two year old son of Homer A. Smith, sales
manager of the Seattle branch of the Bush & Lane
Piano Co., died recently. The little fellow had spinal
meningitis and the entire force of the Portland
Bush & Lane store feel the greatest sympathy for
Mr. Smith, who was formerly the sales manager of
the local house.
The International Violin Company has received
two carloads of maple timber which was shipped to
them by L. R. Henderson of Lebanon, Oregon. The
International is engaged in the manufacture of
stringed instruments and it has been found that the
maple of this district possesses many superior quali-
ties for the purpose named. The maple shipped was
sufficient to make about 10,000 violins.
The Perry Music Company has been incorporated.
The incorporators are Wm. B. Perry, O. C. Shindler
and A. E. Porth. Capital stock, $10,000. They will
manufacture and sell musical instruments and also
deal in musical merchandise.
SHORT LETTERS FROM
OBSERVING PRESTO READERS
Widely Known Piano Traveler Adds Tribute to
Sterling Worth of Fred Lohr.
THE LATE FRED LOHR.
Desplaines, 111., July 24, 1920.
Editor Presto: I have just read your account of
the passing of Fred Lohr and endorse every word
said of the piano veteran, loved by every one who
had the pleasure of his acquaintance. During my
visit in New York last year Fred and I were check-
ing up the old Pacific Coast travelers who have
"made" that territory regularly, he being the pioneer
then living and, Geo. Griswold having gone to pre-
pare the way, now leaves me the honor as their suc-
cessor.
Brother Furbush, and possibly Reinhold Koch-
mann, made a few trips prior to 1890 but they have
not been regular scouts in that territory—two good
boys to whom I am always glad to extend the glad-
dest of glad hands. "Pop" Ells, while not a piano
man, outranks us all. It is only a matter of a short
time when we will all join the club that Fred and
Geo. will by that time have in good order for our
reception.
Very truly yours,
I. N. RICE.
LIKES TUNING ARTICLES.
Harrisburg, Pa., July 24, 1920.
Editor Presto: The articles in Presto on tuning
are right to the point, when they appear, but not
enough of them. Some good practical articles I
would suggest now and then, especially on player-
pianos. Your New York competitor, the Music
Trades, is a bit too strong in this department. In-
deed, friend White's volubility at times is almost
painful.
Very truly yours,
WM. W. LOTT.
JUST A SAMPLE.
Beatrice, Nebr., July 20, 1920.
Editor Presto: Enclosed please find $2 in cur-
rency to pay for subscription to Presto for another
year. I think you have a fine paper and enjoy read-
ing it very much.
Yours very truly,
WALTER L. HORNER.
THE TUG-OF-WAR PROVED THAT THE BUSH & U N E PLANT TURNS OUT GOOD BRAWN" AND SINEW
AS WELL, AS GOOD PIANOS.
Fred Gennett. secretary of the Starr Piano Com-
pany, Richmond, Ind., was in Chicago on Thursday
of this week.
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