Presto

PRESTO
May 5, 1923
"come-back" and again proves its supremacy in point of popularity and
sale. A remote possibility as things look at this time.
In any event, the music roll business is reducing" itself to a few
industries. Unlike sheet music publishing, it is a complicated system
of production. And the prospect now seems to be that eventually
there will be actual competition between the old way and the new.
The music roll makers and the sheet music publishers will be in oppo-
sition. One will be independent of the other, and possibly people with
playerpianos will sound forth quite different "pieces" and perhaps
better, than those who sing- songs to hand-played accompaniment
and produce their own effects by caressing the ivories.
WHOLESALE BARGAINS
The piano "bargains" are not always to be found by means of
newspaper advertising. Bargains are sometimes more important to
the merchants than to the buying public, which is always on the
look-out for something for nothing. Xor are all the bargains talked
about in the advertising columns. In the wholesale sense the best
of them are not often announced in big type at all. And here is
where the trade paper may and sometimes does prove its usefulness
and its real place in the world.
There are sometimes reasons for bargains, in all industries,
in which the ordinary causes are not the propelling, or compelling,
bases. In the piano industry this may seem especially so. For, while
pianos are usually so made as to lie practically indestructible, they
are, nevertheless, fragile in the sense that they do not long remain
new—fresh and of their pristine beauty. For this reason it is cus-
tomary for the manufacturers to sell them and ship as soon as pos-
sible after the final work is done. There are not many articles man-
ufactured of substantial, almost imperishable, materials, that more
quickly bear evidence of time's passing than pianos. Nor are there
many that seem open to a greater degree of danger by small acci-
dents. The fine surface and polish of a piano may be blemished by
a careless passer, with buttons on garments doing even a slight
scratching. The first care of the factory superintendent, after the
instrument is rolled into the show room, or shipping room, is to see
that the paper covering is placed over it. In the retail store the
concern of the dealer is that the instruments be protected against
careless customers, or their children who like to place their hands
upon the shining cases.
Small matters, you say? Yes, but often also ven big ones.
And they, added to the value of floor space in factories, not infre-
quently provide the "bargain opportunities" in both wholesa 1 e and
retail trade. And where the well read trade paper may help is seen.
within the past two weeks, in a Presto item and its results. The in-
cident also illustrates what has been said about bargains, especially
in the wholesale trade, having nothing to do with financial require-
ments of the manufacturers, but resting altogether upon other con-
siderations of newness of the instruments and exigencies of floor
space.
One of the industries of the Middle-West found that because of
an over-stock of a certain finish, due to a large buying of fumed oak,
at a very tempting price, it was advisable to dispose of those instru-
ments. The demand for oak cases had in a large measure subsided
before the supply of cases had been finished. The instruments were
LARGE SCHILLER DEALER
PAYS CHICAGO A VISIT
Enterprising Head of Stranburg Music House, of
Jamestown, N. Y., With Many Branches.
Oscar Stranb'erg, head of the Stranburg Music
House, of Jamestown, N. Y., who operates a chain
of stores at Jamestown, N. Y., Hornell, X. Y., Brad-
ford, Penn., Oil City, Penn., Franklin, Penn.. Titus-
ville, Penn., Meadville, Penn., Warren, Penn., and
Conneaut, Ohio, was a visitor for a few days in
Chicago last week, making his headquarters at the
wholesale office of the Schiller Piano Company. 932
Republic Building.
Mr. Stranburg reports business improving every
day in his section, and looks forward to a very suc-
cessful year. My orders with the Schiller Piano
Company alone during April has been upwards of
200 pianos.
On this visit, I have concluded negotiations with
John Barnhart, head of the department of special
sales of the Schiller Piano Company, to promote a
series of special sales for me embracing all of my
stores." said Mr. Stranburg, who is filled with
enthusiasm c^' ?ernitig the outlook for business with
of admirable quality and the products of an industrv high in repu-
tation. The circle of the industry's dealers was not sufficient to con-
sume all of the fumed oak cases, and it was suggested that Presto
might help without making an announcement in the ordinary man-
ner of a displayed advertisement. The pianos were so good, and the
prices, in order to move them quickly, seemed to offer such advan-
tages to dealers, that an item appeared in this paper stating the facts.
Within a week the manufacturers received several calls for
particulars. The requests came from responsible dealers in different
parts of the country—from the Pacific Coast to the (ireat Lakes—
and, without doubt, there will be none of the beautiful fumed and
golden oak pianos left by the time the manufacturers finish putting
the last skilled "touches" to the cases and can ship them.
That may not be the best work of the trade paper. Of course,
it isn't. But it illustrates one source of usefulness—practical helps
to both manufacturer and dealer. For the manufacturer, being a
regular advertiser, is entitled to whatever assistance the trade paper
can render. The dealers, who sustain the trade paper because of the
help it may .be able to give, is entitled to all the opportunities for
profit-making possible. No doubt the readers who, reading Presto
regularly, saw the fumed oak item and followed the suggestion,
have or will profit by it; the manufacturers will relieve the pressure
upon their factory space, and the piano buying public to that extent
will receive fine instruments at unusual prices.
And Presto is almost always in possession of the same kind of
information by whichv its readers may profit and its advertisers be
quickly served. That's one of the best aims and purposes of the trade
paper—to help at both ends of the business—the factory and retail
store alike.
Mr. Tom Fletcher, of the (.) K S Company, doesn't believe that
a tournament of high school bands can create a greater demand tor
fine pianos, even if it does make a loud noise and si ir up the waves
of old Lake Mich, during the coming convention, lint it will draw
crowds.
:j;
*
*
There is a full page advertisement in this issue of Presto in which
some startling promises are made concerning the June convention.
But no one who reads will mistake fun for fact, and all that is said
about the advance arrangements is true even if a little highly co'ored.
* * *
Dealers who expect to attend the June conventions should dose
all sales possible before 'caving home. When they get back their
i 'ens of how to sell may have so changed as to make it impossible
to do business the old wav—the way sales were started.
* * *
For the first time in the history of the music trade conventions
professional advertising experts are doing their level best to
make the June meetings a success. And yet it is admitted that the
music "men themselves are great advertising experts.
* * *
The June convention will be so entertaining that the music man
who comes the longest distance will be fully repaid. There was
never a convention of the kind that was not filled with, interest and
this year will prove no exception.
his several houses. There is always a way by which
to awaken interest in pianos and to keep sales going,
and Mr. Stranburg understands the needs of his
trade. His selection of the Schiller line is one of
the evidences of this fact, says F. L. Jordan, the
Chicago sales manager of the big industry at
Oregon, 111.
SCHUBERT PIANO CO. INCRFASES.
The long-established and successful Schubert
Piano Co., of New York, has certified to increase of
capital stock from $3,000 to $100 000. Of course, the
smaller figure did not represent the investment, or
value, of the old New York industry. Peter Duffy,
founder of the house., is one of the financially strong
members of the piano industry. The Schubert Piano
Co. has been in existence for a half century and is
known in the trade everywhere.
TO DISCUSS TRANSPORTATION.
European problems, from the viewpoint of Ameri-
can business men. will receive principal attention at
the opening sessions at New York, May 8, of the
eleventh annual meeting of the Chamber of Com-
merce of the United States, which for the remaining
I wo days of its convention will devote its considera-
tion chiefly to transportation problems.
CABLE PIANO COMPANY
MOVES IN JACKSON, MICH.
Business Expansion Evident in Fine New Quarters
at 186 Main Street.
The Cable Piano Company, Jackson, Mich . is now-
located in line new quarters at 186 West Main street.
This comp; ny, which has been in business in Jack-
son for the last nine years, has been located tor seven
years of that time at 2XV West Main street.
Xorman Leonard, manager of the company for live
years, continues in that capacity in the new location.
The building which is now occupied lias been re-
modeled throughout, the interior being finished in
white enamel and gray. Four sound-proof booths
for demonstrating phonographs and two piano dem-
onstration rooms are features of the new quarters.
In addition the latest equipment for giving efficient
service to customers in the purchase of talking ma-
chines and records has been instal'ed. The company
has taken over the exclusi\e agency for the Bruns-
wick phonograph.
The Snyrler Music Co., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., last week
celebrated the third anniversary of its founding.
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