Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1923 1915

April 7, 1923
PRESTO
on a consignment basis. By this method he can at
all limes get the pianos he needs; sell them on either
a cash or time basis; does not have the burden of
carrying time sales himself; has no notes falling due
which he must meet (or renew if he can); is relieved
of practically all financial worries, and is assuming
only one obligation and that is honesty in his deal-
Strong New York Piano Industry Protests ings with the house that is backing him.
A Silent Partnership.
That the Easy System cf Securing Stock
The relations between a manufacturer and dealer
Without Cash Investment Is Very
handling pianos on consignment are virtually that of
Generally in Vogue.
a silent partnership. The manufacturer furnishes the
goods, the dealer furnishes the store and salesman-
New York City, March 28, 1923.
Editor Presto: We read your "Where Doubts Are ship, and the profits on the retail sales of pianos are
Dispelled,'" issue of Saturday, March 24th, and we practically all the dealer's, only a small percentage of
are particularly interested in your answer to a dealer it going to the manufacturer as his compensation for
in Vermont who inquires about pianos on consign- carrying the consignment account.
ment. We are writing this in hopes that you will
We hope that you will realize that this letter is not
give i* place in your publication, for we believe that written in a spirit of criticism, nor are we making a
the casual reading of your reply to this dealer's in- bid for business, nor for free advertising, for if you
quiry may give a wrong impression of the consign- see lit to publish it we have no desire for you to use
ment proposition, and unwittingly cause an injustice our firm name, unless you wish to do so. The letter
to the manufacturers who are backing such a large is written in hopes that it will correct any wrong im-
percentage of your readers to the extent of furnish- pression that your readers might get concerning con-
ing them all the pianos they need, without demanding signment, as a business proposition, and we trust
the cash or notes in settlement.
that the letter will be received in the spirit it is
written.
You state in your answer that the consignment
system is not much in vogue at the present time. In
Y r ours truly,
our own individual case we do not think this is cor-
"JACOB BROS. CO.
rect. We arc- doing a bigger consignment business
today than we ever did, and are constantly turning
MOUNTAIN TO MAHOMET.
down applications for pianos on consignment from
Commissioner Blair of the Internal revenue bureau,
dealers because we simply cannot supply the demand.
This would hardly indicate that the consignment busi- Washington, D. C, this week announced a new plan
for dealing with the adjustment of back taxes by
ness was decreasing.
taking the bureau to the taxpayer rather than, under
Requires Capital.
the present system, requiring the taxpayer to come
We are pleased to note that you state that reliable to Washington for adjustment of grievances. The
concerns are still doing a consignment business. This plan will get its initial tryout in St. Paul April 20. A
is correct and we would like to point out that it takes special subcommittee of the appeals and review com-
a reliable and financially responsible concern to mittee which has charge of tax adjustment questions
finance a large consignment business. This in itself
will open hearings in St. Paul with a docket of 100
is an assurance to the dealer of the integrity of the important cases. It was explained today by bureau
firm he is dealing with on that basis.
officials that there are thousands of unadjusted cases
There arc admittedly only three basic plans on which involve amounts so small that the expense of
which a dealer may start in business. One is to buy a trip to the capital would exceed the amount the tax-
for cash, thereby limiting his purchases to his own payer would derive from adjustment of his claim if
capital, and his sales to cash sales, and a few time it were determined in his favor.
sales which he is able to finance. Another method
is to buy on notes (which eventually have to be paid),
FIRE IN MANCHESTER, N. H.
and confine his purchases to the amount of credit he
can obtain. This method gives a dealer a little more
A recent tire in the Desautels Music House, 1094
leeway in making time-sales, but at the same time Elm street, Manchester, N. H., did estimated damage
he has worries of notes continually falling due, and of $1,000 to the stock and store. The fire chief and
which are forever hanging over his head like the deputies were not wholly decided upon the cause of
"sword of Damocles."
the blaze last night, but attributed it to a carelessly
The third method, and the one which we believe thrown match or cigarette butt by some smoker in
the most logical for the dealer, is to obtain his pianos the basement.
CONSIGNMENT PLAN
IS STILL POPULAR
ANOTHER F. C. BILLINGS PATENT
WAREROOM WARBLES
(A New One Every Week.)
By The Presto Poick.
DO IT YOUR OWN WAY.
The wise ones like to tell us how
To do things that they do.
And oftentimes we like to bow
Down to their w T isdom, too;
Experience is worth a lot,
But change comes every day,
And my advice—take it or not—
Is '"Do ft Your Own Way."
Of course we can't all go to school
That "keeps in" all our life,
We've got to learn some golden rule
That holds through calm and strife;
And I have watched the course of men
Who fought, but lost the fray,
Because they knew not how nor when
To "Do It Their Own Way."
The world is never quite agreed
That any way is best,
And nothing fills the long-felt need
At any man's behest;
Tis every man out for himself—•
Disprove it as we may—
And if you capture fame or pelf
You'll "Win It Your Own Wav."
POET TAKES PIANO CLUB
FAR AFIELD THIS WEEK
Wallace Bruce Amsbary Introduces Members to Jean
Baptiste and His Brethren.
For many weeks members of the Piano Club of
Chicago have listened to business talks at the Mon-
day luncheons. They were very interesting talks,
but talks that kept thoughts on the good old grind.
But last Monday they were temperamentally enter-
tained. Wallace Bruce Amsbary, the poet, turned on
the romantic control and did things to their feelings.
Mr. Wallace Amsbary is lecturer in general litera-
ture of the Armour Institute of Technology and
author of the ''Ballads of Bourbonnais." His writ-
ings have ce-ntered largely around the people of
French Canada. He gave a humorous talk about the
doings of "Jean Baptiste and His Brethren." It is
a story of the people, the rivers and forests of the
French-Canadian country, told in French-Canadian
dialect, of which the teller is a master. It was one
of the greatest pleasures of the season to the piano
men.
An especially good musical number was also on the
program.
Frank Crumit, one of the stars of the
"Tangerine" company, which opens up at the Gar-
rick this week, put on a musical act that is one of
the cleverest of the season.
HASSMER BROS.' SECOND
STORE OPENED SATURDAY
Successful Chicago Retailers Enterta Inauguration Night at 3224 Lawrence Ave.
A special program of music marked the opening
of Hassmer Bros.' second store, at 3224 Lawrence
avenue, Chicago, Saturday evening, March 31. Ben-
son's Orchestra played, and Wendell Hall, composer
of the new waltz number, "Mellow Moon," sang.
Victor records of that number were autographed by
Air. Hall as they were sold.
Hassmer Bros, entertained thousands of visitors in
the afternoon and evening, and in a few hours handed
out 2,500 flowers.
This substantial retail institution, which has been
in business since 1895, with a successful store at
Clark and Belmont streets, has a beautiful and invit-
ing djsplay of Gulbransen playerpianos, Acousti-
grande upright and grand pianos, and Victor phono-
graphs and records.
? r ack out of 'W*^
the e d ^
Fred C. Billings, Milwaukee, Wis., has another in-
vention relative to playerpianos to his credit. The
latest invention in the piano field for which Mr.
Billings has received a patent is the "Billings Spring
Brass Roll Band and Spool Holder," a device which
adds to the efficacy of a music roll. "One Rolled,
Always Rolled" is a slogan that suggests the opera-
tions of the device.
The Billings Spring Brass Roll Band and Spool
Holder does away with rewinding by hand, "a proc-
ess which soils the paper, causes the roll to track out
of line, tears and frays the edges of the paper and
causes traction devices to fail to function. The dust
collecting disadvantages of the older forms of roll
holder are not possible with the new clamp," said
Mr. Billings this week.
Mr. Billings intends to have a big display of the
new device and a demonstration of its purposes at
the trade convention in June at the Drake Hotel,
Chicago. Already many manufacturers and dealers
who have examined the new Billings' patent have
booked orders for supplies of it in advance. The
Scovill Mfg. Co., Waterbury, Conn., which made the
first of the Billings brass flanges, is at work on a
first order of half a million of the Billings Spring
Brass Roll Band and Spool Holder.
COMPARISON IN OFFERS.
The man who offers nothing but price and terms
to his prospects usually has nothing but price and
terms to offer. He is continually bothered with
complaints, past due and repossessions," says the
Baldwin Keynote. The man who offers Music to his
prospects offers an investment of immeasurable value
—happiness, home entertainment and education.
And when in addition he represents the products of
Baldwin he offers quality and character—quality in
factory workmanship and character in business
dealings."
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/
PRESTO
April 7, 1923
CHRISTMAN
REPRODUCING PIANOS
Remarkable in their distinctive
qualities of master interpreta-
tion, case designs and exclu-
sive features. Made in both
Grands and Uprights.
STUDIO GRAND
Wonderful Little Piano but 5
feet long but as powerful as a
Parlor Grand. Your trade will
be delighted with it.
Enhance Your Future Prosper-
ity By Investigating
the
Irresistible Appeal of
CHRISTMAN
GRAND5, UPRIGHTS
PLAYERS
and
REPRODUCING PIANOS
"The First Touch Tells' 9
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
POOLE PIANO CO.'S LINE
IN PICTURES AND PRINT
Special Booklets of Artistic Kind Designed to
Interest Discriminative Prospective
Customers of Retailer.
Two recent folders issued by the Poole Piano Co.,
Boston, are forceful mediums for a further dissemi-
nation of the knowledge of Poole piano merits. They
are designed for distribution by dealers and this end
was wisely considered by the man who wrote them.
One, a folder, covers the entire Poole line, uprights,
grands, playerpianos and reproducing pianos. The
other, a handsome booklet, is confined altogether to
the Poole reproducing piano which is now winning
additional distinction for the company.
"The Poole piano—an instrument of distinction," is
a phrase that provides the title for the booklet telling
about the general line. Poole piano distinction is a
thing that transmits distinction to the dealers repre-
senting the line. The distinction is no mere phrase.
It is the summing up of the efforts of a great many
years of constructive craftsmanship.
"If we were asked in a word to tell you why the
Poole is eligible to rank with the finest of pianofortes,
we should say, because of the craftsmanship which
has gone into its making. Or, better, perhaps, be-
cause of the individuality of its structure. The Poole
lias a pronounced identity in a distinctively musical
sense. Certainly, the tonal distinction of the Poole,
for instance, is an undeniable quality," is a foreword
in the folder.
Two Poole grands, style G, with a length of six
feet, and style S, measuring four feet in length, are
pictured and described in the general booklet. Four
Poole uprights and a Poole playerpiano are also
pictured and described in a manner to interest the
prospective buyer. Space is also given to the Poole
reproducing piano in the folder.
The little booklet devoted to describing and
illustrating the Poole reproducing piano is an artistic
production appropriate to the topic. Style G grand
reproducing piano and style 22 upright reproducing
piano are shown in admirably printed halftones. In
a pleasant way the prospective reproducing piano
buyer is told the convincing Poole facts.
"To know the Poole is to have formed a musical
friendship. This statement is peculiarly true. For
the Poole is an achievement in pianoforte craftsman-
ship. Tt represents that blend of materials and that
technique of craftsmanship which result in the fash-
ioning of a superior product," is the statement.
"Not alone is the Poole an instrument that com-
mends itself to the artist, to the finished musician,
but it has won for itself a place of highest regard in
the homes of a music-loving public.
"The Poole reproducing piano combines all the
elements of Poole value, its perfection of detail, its
tonal identity, with the world-renowned Welte-
Mignon (licensee) reproducing action. In other
words, the Poole reproducing piano is simply the
Poole piano plus the Welte-Mignon (licensee) re-
producing action.
"The Poole tone, the Poole identity, the standard
and unvarying Poole excellence, are as much and as
vitally ?„ part of the- Poole reproducing piano as they
are of the Poole pianoforte without the reproducing
device."'
PIANO TUNER'S JOKE GAVE
POMEROY, 0., A THRILL
A. L. Fitzgerald Confides in Nosey Porter and Con-
sequences Follow in Order.
At the Remington Hotel, Pomeroy, O., there is a
porter with the nose for news, unaccompanied, how-
ever, by the requisite keenness of scent. He evinces
a curiosity that is amusing to some guests and irri-
tating to others. It all depends upon the size and
quality of the sense of humor in the inquisitive
porter's subject.
Everybody who knows A. L. Fitzgerald, the
Westerville, O., piano dealer and tuner, is aware that
his joy in a joke is as great as his pleasure in doing
a good job of piano tuning or repairing. When Air.
Fitzgerald reached the Remington Hotel at Pomeroy
one night recently his tool bag at once became an
object of suspicion to the porter.
It is an ordinary tuner's bag fitted with a special
lock, but it seemed a very questionable object to his
nosiness. When opportunity offered the porter took
a close-up of the bag, sniffed at it, hefted it and gave
it a most elaborate O. O. But it was unsatisfying, and
maddened by the pangs of curiosity he pointblank
asked Mr. Fitzgerald to explain the contents.
'"Why, sure," smiled the amiable tuner. "Because I
know you won't breathe it to a soul. In that bag is
the best set of safebreaking tools you ever clapped
an eye on. If I had the key handy I'd show you.
Believe me, the beauties in that bag can gouge a
way into any old safe in Safetyville."
Within five minutes all the town banks had re-
ceived an anonymous tip to look out for bank robbers.
Chief Belcher also warned, was on the qui vive for
suspicious characters all afternoon and evening.
Sheriff Swanson walked up and down street fully
armed. The town was thrilled with anticipation,
until Mr. Fitzgerald, encountered coming out of a
house where he had performed a good tuning job on
a piano, explained to the sheriff his business in town
and showed the innocent contents of the bag.
OLD MISSOURI MUSIC FIRM
ENDS EXTENDED CAREER
McQueen Bros. Sells Stock and Closes Doors After
Fcrty Years of Successful Trading.
One of the oldest and most familiar businesses in
Carrollton, Mo., has been discontinued. McQueen
Bros., music dealers for over forty years, no longer
exists. The stock has been sold, the doors closed,
and J. W. McQueen, last of the three brothers to be
associated with the business, has formally retired.
McQueen Bros, was established in 1885 by three
McQueen brothers, one of whom remained with the
business only a short time following its founding.
Another brother, George H., resigned from the firm
in 1905, leaving J. W. McQueen in sole possession of
the business. J. W. McQueen at one time had hopes
that his sons would carry on the music business but
one by one as they grew to manhood they were
attracted to other activities. J. W. McQueen's motto,
"A satisfied customer with every sale," voiced the
spirit of the firm from first to last.
SOME REDEEMING JOYS
IN THE DAILY GRIND
W. R. Shutes, El Paso, Tex., Said It with Roses to
Gulhransen's."
"Under the pressure of trying to fill orders and
keeping dealers satisfied with fewer Gulbransens than
they have a demand for, business becomes a stern,
serious matter with little time or few occasions for
levity," said an official of the Gulbransen-Dickinson
Co., Chicago, this week.
"Once in a while, however, an incident bobs up
that sends a smile all along the line in an organiza-
tion, and helps to lighten the day's tasks."
Such an incident came up recently following the
interchange of telegrams between W. R. Shutes, of
the El Paso Piano Co., of El Paso, Texas, and the
Gulbranscn-Dickinson Co. of Chicago.
The first
telegram, dated March 27, read as follows: "We are
out of Players d'd you ship our car today we sure
would love you if you did."
This was answered on March 2 wire: "Your car loaded Monday now come on with
the roses."
And on the very same day a florist's messenger
walked into the Gulbransen-Dickinson Co. offices
with a box of beautiful American Beauty roses. Mr.
Shutes had "made good!"
SEEBURG CO. FINDS MARCH
BUSY MONTH FOR PIANOS
J. P. Seeburg Coin-Operated Instruments Find Ready
Sales in First Quarter of Year.
The office and factory of the J. P. Seeburg Piano
Co., at 1510 Dayton street, Chicago, are being kept
busy by the incessant orders for the coin-operated
instruments which are produced by this company.
The business in the J. P. Seeburg automatic pianos
has held up steadily during the month of March, and
makes a total of three months—the first quarter—of
this year, which have been marked with unusual
activity.
The growing popularity for this type of piano and
the ability of the j . P. Seeburg Piano Co. to meet the
growing demand and fulfill the requirements, makes
it a fortunate season for this Chicago industry. The
instruments which are made include 88-note player-
pianos, electric pianos and orchestrions, pipe organ
orchestras and unit pipe organs. The styles which
are adapted to use in theaters have been exceptionally
popular, and managers of theaters take justifiable
pride in advertising the fact that they use J. P. See-
burg automatic instruments.
The Piano Repair Shop, 425 South Wabash avenue,
Chicago, presents a scene of activity now, and a con-
siderable number of instruments are being handled.
The piano repair business is made better because of
the di..culty in getting a new piano in a hurry, ac-
cording to Manager Bartholomee.
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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