Presto

1920.
rilJNTINGTON'S PLACE
ON THE PIANO MAP
What Present Management Has Done for the
Schaff Bros.' Piano by Which the Pretty
Little Indiana City Has Been
Made Famous.
Many years ago a piano industry was established
in Chicago which bore the name of Schaff Bros.
The instruments produced in this Chicago factory
bore all the signs of popularity and they had won
a good place in the trade when the city of Hunting-
ton, Indiana, made such an attractive proposition
to the Schaff Bros. Company of that time that the
factory was removed to the present site. An en-
tirely new plant was established and the necessarily
slow processes of equipping it with all the modern
machinery and appliances was begun.
Good progress had been made when the manage-
men changed. New policies took control and prog-
ress continued. The trade, in increasing numbers,
found in the Schaff Bros.' instruments just what was
needed to strengthen prosperity and insure in-
creased profits. And the Schaff Bros. Company
grew steadily, as all who keep pace with the piano
industry know.
A Vigorous, Active Plant.
But to one who visited the piano industry at
Huntington, Ind., in the old days and who visits it
now there is a marked change apparent at once.
There is a vigor and activity about the Schaff Bros.
Co. of today that had been unknown to it until the
present management took hold. It may not be that
the energies or influences of any one man have
worked this betterment. No doubt the steady im-
provement in the piano itself and the gradual spread
of a knowledge of what the industry at Huntington
is doing have a great deal to do with it. But what-
ever the reason it is apparent, to even the casual
visitor, that the Schaff Bros. Co. is pushing forward
today as never before since the industry was
founded.
Nor is it any less in evidence that the Schaff
Bros.' pianos and player pianos are better in qual-
ity, handsomer in style and finish, more satisfactory
in every way than they ever were before. And
therein lies the nib of the proposition. It accounts
for the greatly increased demand for Schaff Bros.
Co.'s instruments and justifies the steady increase
in the factory output.
Improved Methods Bring Results.
But it is an undeniable fact that no business can
rise far above the ambitions of its management as
measured by those characteristics which the world
classifies as energy, initiative and personality. This
applies equally as much to the piano industry as to
PRESTO
any other line of business. And it must remain
true that the present prosperity of the industry at
Huntington, Indiana, owes a great deal to the im-
proved methods adopted by the men who are in
control of its destinies.
When a representative of this paper called at the
office and warerooms of the Schaff Bros. Company
every opportunity was afforded for gaining an in-
sight into the methods employed by which not only
to extend the sale of the instruments of that in-
dustry but equally to make their sale at retail a
profitable and easy undertaking by the dealers.
Within a half hour the discussion of Schaff Bros.'
methods was interrupted twice by long distance
calls for players—more players as soon as they could
be shipped.
Many Calls for Players.
"That's a common occurrence these days," said
Sales Manager C. S. Miller, when he laid down the
'phone. "We are having more calls right now than
ever before in the business, and what pleases us
still more, our trade likes the goods better with
every player we ship them."
To'the retail trade generally it will be interesting
—perhaps inspiring—to know what the retail store of
the Schaff Bros. Co. is doing under the management
of Vice-president Miller. It must be remembered
that Huntington is a small city and the center of a
"territory" that has been worked hard by the agents
of large city houses not far distant. Indianapolis
is not far away. Ft. Wayne is only an hour's trol-
ley ride distant. And there are other competing
cities close by.
A Remarkable Retail Trade.
But, nevertheless, the Huntington store does a
business which averages better than $10,000 a month.
And that is done without disturbing the operations
of the factory or holding back a shipment for a
minute. How is it done? We are not prepared to
tell. It is done by the energy and salesmanship of
Manager Miller, who has had schooling in the re-
tail trade as well as in factory and wholesale work.
And if you want to know what it means to possess
the power of salesmanship—the personality that
permits a piano man to "do things"—you may get
a good idea of this knowledge by writing the Hunt-
ington industry and making the acquaintance of
Manager C. S. Miller of the Schaff Bros. Company.
AGAINST HIGHER FREIGHTS.
Protests agaist the applications of steamship com-
panies for higher freight rates were entered at
Washington, D. C, on August 18 by shippers at a
hearing before the Shipping Board. Approximately
sixty steamship lines operating on the Great Lakes
and along the Atlantic and Gulf coasts under the
jurisdiction of the Shipping Board have asked per-
mission to increase their rates about one-third. A
number of shipping and traffic organizations in sec-
tions served by the lines are opposing the increases.
A good many piano manufacturers are interested.
THE LABOR QUESTION
AND THE MANUFACTURERS
Bearing on the Problems Involved an International
Conference Is Planned for 1921.
The labor question everywhere is an important
source of wrong. In the United States it is part of
the much-discussed immigration question. "Inter-
national agreements are being made between Old
World countries regarding immigration. Diplomats
of Hungary, Poland, Greece, Italy, France, Lithu-
ania, Spain, Portugal and the Balkan countries have
taken the lead in such conferences, but the United
States, which has so much at stake in the matter,
has shown indifference," says Frances A. Kellor,
vice-chairman, The Inter-Racial Council, with offices
in the Woolworth Building, New York.
"The time has passed," continues the writer,
"when the American employer could count upon an
rn'.imited supply of labor from abroad. Emigration
from the countries of Europe will be strictly regu-
lated by the governments in the near future, and is
already being directed in some of the Old World
nations, which have begun to realize the value of
their workers."
The French government has offered Italy six tons
of coal per month for each Italian miner induced to
go to France, and the Commissioner of Emigration
of Italy is advising his people to emigrate to France,
according to Mrs. Kellor. It is asserted that op-
portunities are better there than in America, both
for steady work and high wages.
Other countries are making efforts to keep their
citizens at home. Greece is offering inducements
of farms to the people, having passed an act by
which large land owners may retain only one-third of
their estates, while surrendering two-thirds to the
peasants. Similar conditions are found in Finland
and elsewhere.
An international conference on immigration is
planned for 1921. in which the United States should
play a leading part. Business men who are inter-
ested may obtain further details through The Inter-
Racial Council, Woolworth Building, New York.
APPEALS TO GROWN-UPS.
The grown-ups are addressed this week by the
J. H. Troup Music House, Harrisburg, Pa., which
prints this: "just imagine what pleasure a player-
piano would bring you. Come home tired, and you
have your favorite music to rest your mind»and re-
fresh you. . Come home 'peppy' and you can get
everybody singing and dancing with the newest hits.
Don't say you can't afferd it. Our players are rea-
sonably priced and we will arrange a plan of settle-
ment to suit you. See us today; 36 rolls and bench
included free. Your present piano accepted in ex-
change."
KOHLER & CAMPBELL CROWD AT CLAMBAKE LINED UP
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The annual clambake of the employes of Kohler
& Campbell Inc., New York, which took place re-
cently at Stotzky's, Belvidere Park at North Beach,
Long Island, is the subject of the accompanying cut
which shows most of those attending when grouped
back of the baseball bleachers.
The 300 or more employes who joined in the
day's outing got together shortly after 9 o'clock in
the morning and most of them made the trip in the
fleet of big Kohler & Campbell 5 ton trucks which
were lined up in front of the factory for them. The
trip down to the beach took about 45 minutes and
shortly after their arrival all within hailing distance
were grouped together for pictures.
Several interesting field events were then carried
out. The most interesting one was the fat man's
race won by Paul Sessa of the General Department.
W. H. Rammelkamp, standing at the wire straining
his eyes to pick the winner, came into an unequalled
collision with two of the weighty stars. Upon land-
ing back to earth, Mr. Rammelkamp expressed him-
self as not having received serious damage.
The committee on games was comprised of H.
Koehler, G. Engel and C. Hagenhauer.
The following are the events and winners:
Fat man's race—1st. Dr. Schoenberg, 2nd, Gallucio.
100-yard dash—1st, Daglo, 2nd, Vehleradstky.
100-yard dash—1st, W. Hartman, 2nd, J. Pistenno.
Three legged race—1st, Rice and Sheehan, 2nd,
Spenglo and Johnston.
Bowling—1st, T. Kubulka, 2nd, Elliosh.
Breakfast was served at noon. A popular ballot
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decided, "This is the life." Then everyone adjourned
to the baseball game between the team of the Stand-
ard Pneumatic Action Company which, grown confi-
dent through its leadership in the Kohler Industries
League for some weeks past, had been presuming
enough to challenge the redoubtable Kohler &
Campbell on their own big day. Both teams played
excellent ball but as said the whole day had been re-
served in advance by Kohler & Campbell. The final
score was Kohler & Campbell 2; Standard Pneumatic
Action Company 1.
Jupiter Pluvius, peeved at not being invited to the
day's festivities tried to get in damping trucks and
put in an appearance for just long enough to drive
all under cover for the serving of the clambake.
The return to town was made by motor trucks, the
party breaking up around 7:30 in the evening.
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