PRESTO
December 4, 1920.
JOHN MARTIN AND HIS METHODS
ORGANIZATION CHART
IS ENLIGHTENING
Piano men throughout the country
are evincing the liveliest interest in John
Martin's demonstration of the Gulbran-
sen playerpiano. From every city where
he has appeared has come word that Mr.
Martin's playing, together with the dem-
onstration of his method of playing,
have been of great value to Gulbransen
distributors and salesmen, as well as tc.
player owners and the playerpiano busi-
ness in general.
John Martin has come to be recog-
nized as a playerpianist extraordinary,
and he is probably the only man living
who receives a handsome income for
playing an instrument that "any one can
play." Already Mr. Martin has covered
something like forty cities in the course
of a nation-wide tour on which he is
demonstrating the possibi'ities of the
Gulbransen, and he takes a very keen in-
terest in his work. How much energy
he puts into it may be judged by the fact
that he seems never to shirk playing for
hours for an appreciative audience, no
matter how great the strain of a public
performance of this character may be.
The following are cities at which Mr.
Martin has demonstrated his method or
playing under the auspices of the local
Gulbransen
distributors: Philadelphia.
Baltimore, Washington, D. C ; Harrison-
burg, Va.; Louisville, Ky.; Buffalo;
Rochester; Worcester, Mass ; Concord,
N. H.; Providence, R. I.; Crawfords-
ville, Ind.; Milwaukee, Wis.; St. Paul, Minn.:
Battle Creek, Mich.; South Bend, Tnd.; Colum-
bus, O.; Akron, O.; Galesburg, 111; Monmouth,
111.; Quincy, III.; Grand Rapids, Mich.; Reading, Pa.;
Newark, N. J.; Pittsburgh, Pa.;. Detroit, Omaha,
Hastings. Nebr.; Hagerstown, Md.; Lowell, Mass.;
Boston; Cincinnnati; New London, Conn.; New Ha-
ven, Conn: Toledo, O.; Shenandoah, la.; St. Joseph,
Mo.; Battle Creek, Mich.
"He did show us all a thing or two about the Gul-
bransen that sort of made us sit up and take notice."
In that fashion does the Otto Gran Piano Company,
Cincinnati, Ohio, set forth its opinion of Mr. Mar-
tin's demonstration.
A. Hospe Company, Omaha, Nebr., says: "You
would have appreciated it all the more if you could
have been in our store the next morning and heard
the different individuals practicing on the players.
They are keeping it up and I think we will have a
fine lot of player demonstrators in a short time."
"His playing is at a wonderfuMy developed stage,
thus enabling him to impart his thought so lucidly,"
wrote the M. P. Moller Co.. Hagerstown, Md. In
the following the dealer's opinion of Mr. Martin is
enthusiastically set forth:
He certainly left us with an inspiration that will
last a good while. He is a remarkable man with -i
remarkable method and we cannot speak too highly
General Manager Smith Provides Comprehen-
sive List Which Shows Status and Func-
tions of Chamber Groups.
ABRIDGED COURSE FOR
DANQUARD SCHOOL STUDENTS
Those Entering After January to Have the Advan-
tage of New Arrangement of Studies.
The Danquard Player Action School. New York,
maintained by the Kohler Industries in that city,
announci' that its special short-term course so popu-
lar during the past fall will be continued after Jan-
uary 1. This course extends over a period of ten
working days and consumes only a little over two
weeks of the students' actual time. Every player
piano repairman, tuner or salesman who can possi-
bly spare this short period from his active work is
urged to take advantage of the benefits offered.
Mr. Cheek, principal of the school, outlined the
course of studies carefully in a recent conversation.
"We have realized that the average tuner and re-
pairman cannot readily devote three, four or six
weeks of his time to come to New York and attend
our school/' said Mr. Cheek. "We know that he
is busy and in most instances loses his income while
he is in New York City. But we know that the in-
struction given by the Danquard Player Action
School is of vital importance to him. It gives him
not only a general knowledge of player action op-
eration, but he also becomes familiar with the va-
rious parts used in the pneumatic action and it en-
ables him to locate trouble and make necessary reg-
ulation in the quickest possible time So, we feel
safe in assuming that our instruction is almost neces-
sary to every man interested in the player business.''
JOHN MARTIN.
both for him and his method.—Bon Marche Dry-
Goods Co., Lowell, Mass.
The "Martin" Method" is the only proper way to
sell playerpianos.—Light Music House, Redding, Pa.
Mr. Martin's enthusiasm was absorbed by every-
body.—J. M. Hoffmann, Pittsburgh, Pa.
We are pleased that it has renewed the salesmen's
interest in the playerpiano, and we find that every
spare moment they have is spent in practicing on the
player.—Lechner & Schoenberger Company, Pitts-
burgh, Pa.
We feel that Mr. Martin has put new enthusiasm
in our sales force.—Chas. E. Roat Music Co., Battle
Creek, Mich.
It was a great pleasure to have Mr. Martin with
us, as he certainly gave our men a very valuable talk.
—Loomis Temple of Music, New Haven, Conn.
Mr. Martin gave us a very fine demonstration on
the Gulbransen and his instructions to myself and
salesmen are most valuable. We think the "Martin
Method" a great asset to our selling force.—F. H.
Frazelle, Toledo, Ohio.
The entire force from this store and also Red Oak
were in Clarinda Monday evening to meet Mr. Mar-
tin. We all enjoyed it thoroughly and unquestion-
ably will derive great benefit from his visit and valu-
able suggestions.—Benedict Piano Co., Shenandoah,
Iowa.
To make this knowledge obtainable in the short-
est possible time we have carefully abridged our
studies. We have gone thoroughly into the knowl-
edge which is most desirable and have arranged
this special course which covers all the theory ot
pneumatic action and takes the student through a
thoroughly comprehensive application of player ac-
tion parts.
"This special course is laid out to extend over a
duration of ten actual working days. As our school
convenes only five days a week the actual time taken
by a student to complete this course will be about
two and a half weeks. Allowing he comes from out
of town, the total absence from his business will be
approximately three weeks. We consider this will
be a good investment on the part of any tuner or
repairman who has not had our instruction and
urge all who possibly can to make their decision
early and come as soon after the ho'idays as pos-
sible.
"I will be pleased to correspond with any inter-
ested person and outline more in detail the course
of study offered in this abridged course. Applica-
tion for entry, or requests for information can be had
by addressing the school. 60° West 51st street, care
of my attention."
AUTOMOBILES AND THE AMPICO.
In featuring the Chickering Ampico piano in Eau
Claire, Wis., this week, the Win. E. Steinberg Piano
Co. says: "The Ampico is the only reproducing
piano about which such eminent authorities as Po-
lacco, Bodansky, Philip Hale, and others of similar
fame, have written unqualifiedly that it reproduces
as perfectly as if the artitst were at the keyboard."
An "Organization Chart" for the convenience of
trade journal editors and members of the various
trade organizations included in the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce has been prepared by A. L.
Smith, general manager of that body. Some changes
in the names of associations constituting the Cham-
ber, while properly recorded, were not definitely
noted by many, so the new chart gives the final
say on titles. Other things are also made clear.
One erroneous impression removed by the chart
is that the Better Business Bureau is an organiza-
tion of merchants. It was at one time run by the
National Association of Piano Merchants, but it is
no longer conducted by the merchants as a group.
"In fact there has been much confusion in the
trade relative to what organizations exist, the rela-
tion between them and the exact status of the bu-
reaus of the Chamber," writes Mr. Smith. "We
have found it very easy at times for us in the Cham-
ber to use an incorrect expression or title, or to use
phrases which are misleading relative to the true
nature of the various organizations and operating
units in this industry. For this reason it was sug-
gested the trade papers and individual members of
the associations would welcome something which
they could have for a guide and ready reference.
Accordingly I am sending you enclosed the organi-
zation chart of the chamber which gives the correct
names of the members and of the bureaus of the
chamber and shows their relation to each other.
We are thinking of having larger reproductions of
these charts, about 9 by 14 inches, made which
could be framed or inserted under the glass top of
a desk for quick reference."
It is the plan to send these charts to the entire
membership of each member association.
REPUBLIC PLAYER ROLLS
FOR HOLIDAY SEASON
Season Promises to Be Record-Breaker
New York Corporation.
for
the
The Republic Player Roll Corporation, New York,
believes that the coming holiday season promises to
be the best for several years. While public opinion
everywhere seems to indicate that all business is
undergoing a thorough slump at the present tirnw
the player roll business, so far as the Republic prod-
uct is concerned, does not seem to be d'minishing in
the least.
Many large stores in the states east of the Missis-
sippi are taking on the Republic line and the num-
ber of new accounts started last month has greatly
exceeded that for any month in the last two years.
It looks as if the American public is not going to
make any downward reversion on its holiday ex-
penditures so far as player rolls are concerned.
The Republic recording artists, J. Milton Delcamp.
Adam Carroll, Victor Lane, and Irene D'Giovanni.
are hard at work on special releases for January
which promise to be big sellers. These will be avail-
able for shipment early in December and with the
already strong list now on the market most of the
dealers have already started a heavy holiday trade.
THE STARCK IN DETROIT.
The P. A. Starck Piano Co., Detroit, has leased
the upper floors at 274 Woodward avenue, where
the company has occupied the ground floor since
the branch was established. K. K. Amreihm, the
manager, is highly pleased at the liveliness of th<:
holiday business which is getting bigger every da>.
Holiday buyers are particularly interested in the
Starck playerpianos in both grand and upright cases.
Continuous demonstrations in the warerooms make
visitors more familiar with the improved and effi-
cient player mechanism of the Soloist style. The
control devices which enab'e the player to obtain
the most artistic effects and the widest range of ex-
pression are powerful in influencing the decisions oi
prospective buyers.
NEW REPRESENTATIVES ACTIVE.
Horace Link & Co., Paris, 111., a progressive fur
niiurc firm weM known throughout that section of
the state, which recently secured the agency for tb<:
Gulbransen playerpiano, is doing very effective fea-
turing for the instrument. In an advertisement in the
local newspapers this week the firm ably explains
ttu- three selling factors—Performance, Production
and Price—which the Gulbransen-Dickinson Com-
pany has standardized in the product.
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