Presto

March 24, 1923
PRESTO
tailers who represent prominent instruments in such a half-hearted
manner that, for a few dollars more profit, some other piano will be
substituted on every possible occasion. The representation of some
famous instrument is made a sort of mask for the other kind. The
local fame of the fine piano is sacrificed in favor of some interloper
which affords a larger profit at risk of the dealer's reputation. That
is a species of unfairness. It may not come within the scope of the
Trade Relations investigations. But it has, in early days, caused the
protests of the piano manufacturer's associations. And it is a cus-
tom just as common today as ever it was.
But, all said and done, the piano trade is better than it used to
be. There are not many evils common in a general way that inflict
the business of making and selling musical instruments. Still, the
item this week on the trade relations movement will interest all busi-
ness men who handle pianos, no less than those in other lines.
SOON FORGOTTEN
far as selling influence is concerned. They would be as good if ap-
plied to electric washing machines and perhaps better.
Fame is evanescent. It won't continue to flash and glow after
the world has surrendered one generation to another. The piano
dealers will take little interest in a piano merely because it was once
active and kept prominently before their attention in the trade papers
but is now forgotten. Now its dead because the ambition of its
makers is dormant.
Last week's Presto told of a piano dealer from a South American
city who spoke well of a piano made in an Indiana town. A second
dealer, who was in the trade paper office at the time, on hearing the
piano name spoken, said that he "didn't know such an instrument
existed at all." He thought it must be a "stenciled piano," and said
so! The South American was reassured—he had been to the factory
in the Indiana town, any way. But the incident illustrates what has
been said in this editorial. No industry can win success of a broad
kind and keep it after the light of its ambition and enterprise begins
to flicker and is permitted to go out.
The ephemeral character of advertising is recognized by all men
whose life-work it is to promote manufactured things. No matter
how intense the pushing by printer's ink, the thing advertised will
begin to lose its place in the world the very day the publicity mills
cease to grind.
It is like life itself. The day of a child's birth marks not only its
beginning to live but its starting toward death. And the difference
between the child's life and the vitality of advertising is not so very
great all the way through. As the child develops to fullness of phys-
ical stature, so the publicity of the thing advertised grows, from a tiny
spark of public interest to a nation, or world-wide, understanding and
demand. And then, the vitality withdrawn, the-thing advertised is
more or less quickly forgotten until in time it becomes lost even as
a memory.
Apply this to pianos. Not that pianos are essentially different
from other things in their advertised effects, but that we are here
more directly interested in them. We all know piano names which
were at some time influential and are now forgotten. They may have
been new pianos, and their makers were flushed with ambition. The
trade papers wrote about them, and the advertising pages contained
enthusiastic calls for the attention of the dealers. That was life for
the piano names back of which was the special merit and attractive-
ness of the instruments themselves. The pianos became famous in
some degree. The dealers, who read the trade papers—as most of
them do—began to advertise the same pianos in their local news-
papers.
And then, for some reason hard to understand, the piano names
ceased to appear. Perhaps the factories changed hands, or the plan-
ners in the industries died, or the instruments were absorbed by "com-
binations" in which commercialism dominated and pride was negli-
gible. In any event the publicity department became listless and the
pianos themselves began to die.
And do you know of anything that will die any faster than a well-
known piano name? We could print a column of good names, once
famous, or nearly so, every one of which is now practically extinct so
Years ago Presto discussed the advisability of standardizing piano
sizes. Even the convenience which might arise from duplication of
case details was thoroughly discussed by writers in this paper. When
the w r ar came on the proposition was renewed. And now the U. S.
Chamber of Commerce is giving emphasis to the campaign against
"wasteful variety" in manufactured things. In England the stand-
ardized piano has been in operation for several years. It especially
helps the commercial grades.
* * *
Certainly the bugaboo, of the "stencil" has lost its terrors when
substantial old piano industries openly announce that they will put
the dealers' name on the fall-board, on order. But the dealers' names,
in conjunction with that of the manufacturers, has always been con-
sidered ethical. The sting of the stencil has been pretty well
eradicated.
* * *
This spring will be a good one for the active kind of piano deal-
ers and their salesmen. In most sections there has been no blizzard to
threaten the early crops, and the farmers are feeling better and more
ready to consider the investment in musical instruments.
* * *
There is a good deal of talk about conflicting interests and mana-
gerial disagreements in one of the big New York piano combinations.
But there is always a lot of gossip which must be discounted or
thrown out altogether. We prefer the latter process.
* * *
There is promise of new activity in the fine old Mehlin piano,
which has recently entered several of the larger cities with increased
vigor. Some of the finest pianos are stepping to the front this year
as never before, and it's a good sign.
* * *
Have you a systematized music roll department? Even the
smallest piano store should carry a line of player rolls. Don't let so
profitable a part of your business escape. Sell more music rolls.
BOWEN ONE=MAN LOADER
IDEAL IN HILL COUNTRY
Delivery Problems of Dealers in a Rough Country
Solved by Use of Ideal Device.
The Bowen One-Man Piano Loader and Carrier is
exactly what its name implies—a device by which one
man can load, unload, and demonstrate an upright
piano without assistance. And the operation can be
performed in five minutes. It is designed to fit a
Ford runabout and is easily attached. By this unique
device the runabout is converted into an ideal piano
truck. The new model weighs only 90 pounds.
Prior to the invention of the Bowen One-Man
Piano Loader & Carrier the inventor—himself a
practical piano man covering a large territory in the
country—experimented extensively in piano trucks.
He was using a truck costing, equipped, about $1,300.
Then one day through absolute necessity he was
compelled to use a Ford to deliver a piano thirty
miles out in the country. The event marked the cre-
ation of an idea. From the circumstance developed
the perfection of the Bowen One-Man Piano Loader
& Carrier, designed to fit the Ford runabout. The
larger trucks were satisfactory, but their use called
for a helper. Counting the cost of a helper and de-
preciation in value the trucks cost about $45 per
week whereas the Ford with the Bowen attachment
costs from $10 to $15 per week, a helper being un-
necessary. This is what one southern dealer writes
about the loader:
"Bowen Piano Loader Co., Winston-Salem, N. C.
"Gentlemen: In reply to yours of the 5th instant,
beg to state that I like the One-Man Piano Loader
and Carrier very much. One man can operate it all
O. K. The Ford car will carry the piano all right,
even in the hilly sections.
"Yours truly,
"D. M. YATES,
"Roanoke, Ala."
TO EXPAND PIANO DEPARTMENT
The Ilecht Co., Washington, D. C, which handles
the Hardman, Peck & Co.'s lines of pianos and
players and the Gulbransen players will increase the
space in its music department in the new store build-
ing to be erected by the company at Seventh and F
streets, N. W. According to the plans of the new
structure and the layout of departments the entire
fifth floor will be given over to the display of pianos
and talking machines. ' The projected building for the
Hecht Co. will cost $2,500,000.
NEW PARCEL POST METHODS.
New methods of handling parcel post in transit,
both on the trains and in vehicles, are about to be in-
troduced by the Post Office Department in order to
make the parcel post system effective and economical.
Parcels will be handled distinct from all other mail
matter and the new plans include more frequent
movements over the railroads.
THE COMPLETE MUSIC
STORES OPEN IN SOUTH BEND
Headquarters of the Progressive Indiana Firm Now
in Lively City Named.
The Complete Music Stores, Mishawaka, Ind., now
a big force in music goods sales in that lively manu-
facturing city evidences the ambitious purpose to oc-
cupy a similar position in South Bend, that other
prosperous Hoosier city. Last week The Complete
Music Stores Co. opened for business in spacious
warerooms at 217 West Washington street in the
new Oliver Hotel Annex building.
Hereafter the South Bend store will be considered
the headquarters of this progressive company. The
manager is E. H. Konold. The line will include the
Steinway piano and the line of pianos and players
of the Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. Co. and Lyon &
Healy, Chicago. Talking machines, band instru-
ments, musical merchandise generally, rolls, records
and sheet music are also carried in the new South
Bend store.
A tasteful scheme of decoration has been carried
out and the arrangement of the different departments
conduces to the comfort of the customers and the
convenience of the sales force. In the talking ma-
chine department five sound-proof booths have been
provided.
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