PRESTO
ilEPSIC TRADE WRITER
LIBELS LYON & HEALY
He, Perhaps Unwittingly, Wrongs a Famous
American Industry by Intimating That Its
"One-Name" Pianos Are Made by Others.
THE LYON & HEALY FACTORY
Contributor to the "Zeitschiift fur Instrumentenbau,"
of Leipsic, Displays Sad Lack of Understanding.
Writing from Mexico to a contributor to the "Zeit-
schiift fiir Instrumentenbau,'-' of Leipsic, a correspond-
ent tells of the excessive prices of German pianos ex-
ported to that country. He explains that the depre-
ciated paper money of his Vaterland is the principal
cause of it, and intimates that the piano industries of
the United States are embracing the opportunity to
become immovable favorites in Latin America.
The article in the Leipsic trade paper is very long-
drawn-out, evidently with the purpose of entertaining
rather than proving instructive. It is written in a
humorous vein, discusses the greatly increased cost of
pianos and the great expense of packing cases for
exporting instruments. But the part of the German
trade paper writer's article which displays a lack of
respect for the truth, or at least a small desire to pre-
sent his arguments with accuracy, has to do with the
comment which follows his Mexican correspondent's
reference to a famous American industry, which was
as follows:
"I recently sent to Germany to a well established
export firm. There were three packages, two in
paper packing and one in wood, and though the
articles were small, the firm charged two dollars,
which cost us here four pesos and SO centavos.
"I sent to the United States and not a cent for
packing was charged. So it is, too, with pianos. I
applied, for instance, to Lyon & Healy in Chicago.
There I bought a first-class playerpiano for $345, in-
cluding packing case. A like instrument in Ger-
many costs me $400 exclusive of the case. The Ger-
man industries make a giant business of the packing
cases alone."
Following that innocent statement, designed to il-
lustrate the difference in German and American prices,
particularly with respect to the packing cases, the
German trade paper writer indulges in error in the
following comment with which he concludes his
article:
"What, then, lies behind the Mexican friend with
the one-name piano from Lyon & Healy?," he greatly
exaggerates. "I believe that he could buy a first
class German one-name piano at a much lower price
than the Lyon & Healy piano, and that including the
wood and zinc packing case—yes, far under the Amer-
ican price.
"Above all, Lyon & Healy themselves manufacture
no pianos, therefore they do not give them away."
Inasmuch as the wise writer in Paul de Wit's Zeit-
schiift fiir Instrumentenbau demands that his friend in
Mexico proceed to get the German manufacturers
right in the matter, it may seem that Editor de Wit,
famed for his courtesy and fair-play should make
conspicuous the mistakes of his contributor who,
under the pseudonym of "Robli," slanders, by insinu-
ation, one of the oldest and most distinguished Amer-
ican music houses.
For the inference is that Lyon & Healy's one-name
piano is a "stencil," whereas the instruments which
bear the name are made in Chicago, in the perfectly
equipped factory of the house. The Lyon & Healy
piano factory, under the expert management of E. J.
Fishbaugh, is one of the show places for our foreign
visitors, and should Mr. De Wit and his contributor,
"Robli," come to Chicago, they would be warmly
welcomed at Healy Station and shown through a
piano factory of a kind to create surprise in even
their experienced minds. Meantime "Robli" should
be more certain of his facts before he advises his
friends in Mexico or elsewhere on the subject of
American piano industries.
NEWMAN BROS. CO.'S PLAYERS
ATTRACTIVE TO DEALERS
Music Trade Everywhere Interested in Line and
Find Instrument Good Seller.
A good piano deserves a good trade, and that ap-
plies especially to the instruments of the Newman
Bros. Co., Chicago, which have had more than the
usual run of fall success. Many new dealers have
seen exceptional quality in the Newman Bros, instru-
ments and the factory, at 815 Dix street, has
suc-
ceeded in its efforts to maintain that quality w r hich has
characterized its industry.
"The player trade has been above the ordinary
this season," said L. M. Newman, president of the
company, this week. "The excellent workmanship
and tone quality possessed by our player has at-
tracted many particular dealers who would refrain
from carrying a mediocre instrument.
"This has resulted in our obtaining many satisfied
representatives throughout the country. We are very
careful in our selection of material for our instru-
ments and close attention is given every part and if
the slightest defect is discovered it is discarded. Good
leather is absolutely essential to a good playerpiano
and our selection is the highest grade obtainable. We
have emphasized this fact to our dealers and have
urged them to impress it on their customers.
SUCCESS
is assured the dealer who takes advantage of
THE BALDWIN
CO-OPERATION
PLAN
which offers every opportunity to represent
under the most favorable conditions a com-
plete line of high grade pianos, players and
reproducers.
Far Information terllt
Itano Company
CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS
L0UI8VIU.S
Incorporated
CHICAGO
ST. LOUIS
DALLAS
NEW YORK
DENVER
8AM FRANCISCO
CHICAGO PIANO & ORGAN
ASSOCIATION ELECTION
James T. Bristol Named President at Annual Meet-
ing at Hotel La Salle Last Week.
The new officers of the Chicago Piano & Organ As-
sociation elected at the meeting last week in the
La Salle Hotel are: Jas. T. Bristol, president; E. F.
Lapham, first vice-president; W. B. Miller, second
vice-president; Clarence Richards, secretary, and
Adam Schneider, treasurer.
Frank E. Morton, acoustic engineer, was the prin-
cipal speaker of the evening. His subject was the
proper introduction of music in the home, especially
in the small towns and rural districts, and how to
create a desire in the heart of the growing child for
music. He pointed out the possibilities of this
through the operations of the Chicago Piano and
Organ Association.
It was suggested that the association should make
plans to entertain the 1,200 boys and girls from the
rural districts of Iowa who are scheduled to visit
Chicago next month. One of the details proposed
was a concert by the Chicago Symphony Orchestra
in Orchestra Hall on December 6. It was moved and
seconded that the funds of the Association be used to
defray the expenses.
The Heppe, Marcellus and Edouard Jules Plaao
manufactured by the
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
SOME VERY LATE OPENINGS
IN THE RETAIL MUSIC TRADE
A Few of the New Ventures in the Best Business in
the World.
Arch C. Stallard, representing the E. C. Christian
Music Co., Lexington, Ky., has rented a store in
New Castle, Ky., and will display a line of pianos
and phonographs there.
E. W. Bragenton is proprietor of the Chocolate
Shop, Ligonier, Ind., which last week opened a music
goods department.
The Lippert Jewelry and Music Store, Dyersville,
la., has been remodeled and the music department
enlarged.
Mr. and Mrs. L. L. Hutton of Saybrook, 111., have
opened their music store in the Sweeney Bldg., North
Center street, Clinton, 111.
The Morgan Music Co., of Murphysboro, has
bought the Southern Illinois Music Co. store at Du
Quoin and will operate it as a branch of the Mur--
physboro house, with Conway Durham, former owner,
as manager at Du Quoin.
HARDMAN SMALL GRANDS.
Cincinnati Factories of The Baldwin Piano Company
November 17, 1923
The new publicity for the Hardman and Harring-
ton small model grands is proving very effective. A
new folder showing cuts of the instrument was mailed
to dealers and prompt requests for electros of the
grands poured in on Hardman, Peck & Co., New
York. The folder showing cuts of the instruments
made clear the point that the small grands occupy
space scarcely more than an ordinary upright. The
advertising department of Hardman, Peck & Co. has
a standing offer to its representatives to supply them
with electros of any cut appearing in the various fold-
ers and advertising suggestions put out by the
company.
are the only pianos In the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented In the United States, Great Britattli
Prance, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only*
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
Xesfer
Grand Piano
One of the old, reli-
able m a k e s . For
terms and territory
write.
Lester Piano Co.
1306 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia
SELLING THE USED PIANOS.
The J. L. Hudson Co., Detroit, is very successful
in disposing of its used pianos. The method is simple.
The company takes about ten inches single-column
in the daily newspapers and states the fact that it
has four or five or six used pianos or players for
sale. The instruments are described and the price
is given. This is done probably once a month and
each time that the announcement is made the instru-
ments are sold a few days later. The belief of the
company is that the prospect looking for a piano or
player at a low price is more apt to be attracted to
this sort of an ad rather than one displayed.
When in doubt refer to
PRESTO BUYERS GUIDE
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