PRESTO
September IS, 1923
TURNER MUSIC HOUSE
EXPANDS IN FLORIDA
Progressive Tampa Music Company Now Pre-
pared For Active Fall Business in Head-
quarters and Five Branch Stores.
THINGS SAID OR SUGGESTED
The death of David H. Schmidt, two weeks ago,
removed a unique character from the ranks of the
piano supply industry. Mr. Schmidt was one of the
hard workers—workers with his hands as well as
head. He won his success along the old-fashioned
lines of earning it. He was a good man to meet,
and he always had time for the trade paper reporter,
because he wanted to keep posted himself as to what
the industries that used his product were doing.
* * *
Had Mr. Schmidt been one of the sort of men who
felt that they are too busy to see the chance callers
at their places of business, he would never have re-
quired the large factory at Poughkeepsie which he
kept busy for many years. He was a "self-made"
man because he was willing to help some others
make themselves.
All who met Mr. Schmidt felt that he understood
his business, and a good deal more. He had a way
of welcoming which won the stranger and strength-
ened the good will of the business caller. He wasted
little time, but was never "too busy" to see the caller
who wanted to see him.
In this day of daily "conferences," such business
men are a delight. They help the grind of common-
place events, and they encourage the young men who
need the example of the busy men who seem to have
time to say a cheerful word and never seem quite as
busy as they really are. Mr. Schmidt's death was a
loss to all who knew him.
* * *
The piano manufacturer who has won success in
a comparatively short time, and says that he ''owes
his success" to any particular man points straight to
a good example of what a man should be. One day
last week the very prosperous head of a large piano
factory said to a Presto writer that his success was
due, more than to any other single person, to W. B.
Thayer, now of the piano action industry at Rock-
ford, 111. The piano manufacturer said that, while he
had never been greatly in financial "distress," at a
time when he was new in the business and needed
substantial encouragement, Mr. Thayer extended it
so whole-heartedly that progress was made compara-
tively easy.
* * *
"Are you worrying? I'm not!" is the way Mr.
Thayer put it to the young piano manufacturer.
"When I begin to worry I'll let you know it, but until
then go right on and we'll take care of your orders
just as if you had paid in advance!" And from that
day to this the industries in which Mr. Thayer has
been interested have been doing it, with the change
that of late years the piano manufacturer has been
discounting his bills.
* * *
Of course there could be no other actions in sight
for that piano industry. The successful head of the
piano industry has built up a large business and uses
a great many actions. He has many friends in the
supply industry and among the prosperous piano
dealers. But he names first the man who expressed
faith in him at a time when he had little capital and
nothing to depend Upon but his own energies and in-
tegrity.
The Turner Music Company, 608 Franklin street,
Tampa, Fla., J. A. Turner, owner, is opening a new
store in St. Petersburg, Fla., at 1 Alhambra Arcade.
The store is to be one of the handsomest and best
equipped in the South. The decorating is in charge
No doubt, too, his chief pride is in the fact that
the action manufacturer has never had occasion to
regret.the faith he placed in a beginner who frankly
disclosed his condition and gave no bonds for future
performance. Mutual confidence is a great asset in
any business.
* * *
The item in last week's Presto about the early or-
ganization of Lyon & Healy seems to have attracted
considerable interest. In the same issue there was an
editorial about the name of Estey as associated with
reed organs.
•
*
*
It must be equally interesting to recall that the
names of the old Chicago music house and the indus-
try at Brattleboro, Vt., were closely associated far
back in the early days of the late P. J. Healy. In
one of the rare original letters of the late founder of
the great music house there is one which appeared,
in fac simile, in the "Appreciation" which was put
forth by the directors of Lyon & Healy shortly after
Mr. Healy's death.
In the letter alluded to reference is made to the
Estey Company, in a way that suggests the great
activity and the popularity of the Estey organ at the
time when Oliver Ditson, of Boston, sent the young
men of his employ out to the sprawling city on Lake
Michigan to establish a music business. The letter
appears in Mr. Healy's peculiar hand-writing and,
brief as it is, the straightforward clear-cut method of
expression, which contributed so much to his success,
is apparent.
•
*
*
Here is Mr. Healy's letter about the Estey organ—
written on April 6, 1865—the year the Civil War
closed—and just one year after he had established
himself in the Smith & Nixon Hall at Washington
and Clark streets, Chicago. The letter is addressed
to Mr. Mclntyre, Princeton, Wis., presumably a
music dealer of the time:
"Dear Sir: We regret to say that we can not
promptly ship the instrument required. Messrs
Estey & Co., owing to the great demand for their
instruments, are not able to supply us." etc.
That's as much as the facsimile of Mr. Healy's
letter shows. It is enough to indicate the candor,
the characteristic promptness which marked the late
head of Lyon & Healy, and equally to prove the
activity of the Brattleboro organ which is today one
of the few that still survives.
* * *
A story going the rounds of the New York trade is
evidently a "transcription" of an old Scotch joke. A
piano dealer had sent a clerk to collect from a delin-
quent installment customer. He came back empty-
handed. Later the delinquent called and paid ex-
plaining that he asked the clerk to wait till he got the
money and the clerk went away. The dealer asked
the clerk how it happened that he didn't collect.
"I had an accident," said the clerk.
"An accident! What was it?"
"It was a cold day and I had my ear muffs on
so's I didn't hear him, and he shut the door." Ear
muffs and music never did mix well.
JOHN A. TURNER.
of S. Cusson, and the building being of Spanish-
Moorish architecture, lends itself to a great deal of
artistic elaboration. W. B. Word is manager, and
J. D. Saumening, assistant manager.
On September 15 the Turner Music Company will
open a new store in Orlando, Fla., at 136 South
Orange avenue, one of the best locations in this very
lively southern city. J. V. Borum will be the man-
ager, and Earle Stafford assistant manager of this
store.
In each of these places a complete line of Knabe,
Marshall & Wendell, Packard, Mathushek, Bram-
bach, Brinkerhoff and Turner pianos will be carried,
as well as the Ampico and phonographs and records.
The success of these two new stores is assured, by
the fact that the organizations are well trained, have
had much experience, and are thoroughly prepared
to take care of the business in the most aggressive
manner.
On November 1 the Turner Music Company will
open a new store in West Palm Beach, Fla., with the
same line of instruments. With these five stores and
an agency in Jacksonville, Turner Music Company
is well prepared to take care of the musical needs
of the state of Florida.
CATALOGUES FOR SYDNEY.
Consul E. M. Lawton of Sydney, Australia, under
date of August 14, states that any playerpiano manu-
facturers who desire distributors in Sydney can send
to him, by mail, catalogues, price lists, and other, de-
tails covering any proposition they care to make.
New Edition Ready About November First
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE
Will Contain Full Lists with Concise Classification and Description of all
American Pianos, Players and Reproducing Pianos, with Sketches of their
Makers. Edition for 1924 in preparation. Price 50 cents, post paid.
NO PIANO DEALER OR PROSPECT CAN AFFORD TO BE WITHOUT IT.
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO,
407 S. Dearborn St., CHICAGO
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