PRESTO
..„ 12, 1924.
THE SEEBURG
DEALER
Does Not Know
Dull Times
WHY?
fglECAUSE the See-
S i burg coin-operated
line of pianos and or-
chestrions is always
working—always bring-
ing in money. No ex-
cuses about the head of
the family being out of
work, mother sick, boys
being laid off, etc., etc.
You know the old story.
Develop the sales that
are in your territory for
the one line that runs
and keeps on running,
brings in the money
and produces a nice
profit.
Write for our sales
plan. Get the advice of
hundreds of the most
successful dealers who
a r e h a n d l i n g the
SEEBURG.
Ask for booklet: "Don't
take our word for it."
J. P. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
"Leaders in the Automatic
Field"
1508-1516 Dayton Street
CHICAGO, ILL.
THE PIANO TRADE
AND THE SOUTH
Remarkable Progress in Agriculture and Tex-
tile Industries and Increased Transporta-
tion Facilities Bring That Important
Section Into Prominence.
A GREAT TRADE CENTER
Piano Manufacturers Are Realizing More and More
the Importance of the Southern Trade, and Con-
sidering Its Increasing Importance.
The center of piano trade activity has made a no-
ticeable shift in the past four years and the change,
which is southward, is important to piano manufac-
turers and is welcome as an improved outlet for their
products.
This new condition may be a result of the recent
great war, but the direct cause is attributed to the
progressiveness of the sixteen states south of the
Mason and Dixon line. The Mason and Dixon line
is no longer a commercial boundary to the northern
industries, and particularly the piano industry, for
Southern enterprises, backed by Southern capital,
have brought that section of the country rapidly to
the front, and has eliminated the old imaginary line,
from a commercial standpoint.
The great turnover in thie Southern states be-
came apparent shortly after the termination of the
World War, and is undoubtedly a result of the close
relations existing between the different sections of
the country and the elimination of sectionalism to a
large extent during that period.
Making Music Prospects.
The first inclination by the South towards manu-
facturing was noticed in the large textile industries
in Virginia, North and South Carolina and Georgia.
The cotton factories are taking all the raw material
from their own states, which had gone to the mills in
New England, and are turning out the finished prod-
ucts, as did the New England mills.
It is a big saving for the cotton growers, as trans-
portation is reduced to a minimum, compared to what
it was formerly, and consequently they are offered a
higher price for the raw material. The condition re-
sulting therefrom naturally affects the buying power
of music goods prospects.
Opportunity for Child.
The textile industries have aided the educational
possibilities of the South in a material way, inasmuch
as they have drawn people out of the mountains and
other remote places for employment. In many cases
whole families have migrated to industrial centers,
the father working in the mills and children going to
school to obtain an education that could not be had
in their former surroundings.
This condition leads to other things, mainly an in-
creased demand for pianos, and other music goods,
as in the opinion of ambitious parents in the new
South, a child's education is not complete without
music and especially that supplied by the piano.
Marketing Facilities.
The raising of cotton, however, is not the chief
occupation of the more prosperous farmers, who are
now diversifying their crops. Increased transporta-
tion facilities has made this possible and profitable.
Good roads are instrumental in the success of the
farmers, in this respect, and at the present time the
southern roads and highways are in better condition,
and are given more attention, than they have been
in many years back. What good roads mean to
music goods sales is well understood by the music
dealers of the South.
The good roads have accorded the farmers with
quick transportation and insures them against delay
which has so often proved disastrous in the market-
ing of green vegetable* This accommodation has
added to the general prosperity of the farmers and
has reflected on the piano trade. Piano dealers in
the smaller towns are practically dependent on the
rural trade and good crops for the farmer have
always meant good sales for the piano dealer.
Bowen Loader Serves.
Better roads have also increased the advantages of
the piano salesman who loads his instrument on a
Bowen piano loader and sets out to demonstrate to
the country folks. In past years the roads in some
parts of the South were almost inaccessible and the
piano salesman had a tough job in reaching his pros-
pects. This was one of the conditions that kept the
South, in the background in the purchasing of musical
instruments. But the roads of the South today are
not of the inaccessible kind and the worries of the
small town dealer are settled in that respect.
Demand for Pianos.
The same prosperous farmers who brought about
the better roads are the farmers who have stabilized
the piano trade. They are up-to-date in their farm-
ing methods and are continually seeking to better
themselves in a social way. They are also eager to
give their children a better education in a musical
way. Music in the home means more to them than
it does to a city dweller who is accorded the chance
of selecting his entertainment, which often is not
associated with music.
The ,fine music establishments of Memphis, New
Orleans, Dallas, Atlanta, Birmingham and other
live trade centers, have done much to stimulate the
farmers' interest in pianos. They are invited to the
stores so they may acquaint themselves with the fine
pianos that are sold. Special advertising by active
Southern dealers has made the piano the favorite
musical instrument and the best entertaining medium
in practically every home in the South.
KANSAS HIGH SCHOOL
HAS BALDWIN GRAND
Institution of Learning at Pittsburg Is Latest to
Install Fine Instrument.
The Baldwin piano for use in schools is a feature
of the business of the Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati,
the advertising value of which is realized by every
Baldwin dealer.
And when the representatives of the Baldwin point
out to school boards its various merits they can at
the same time present a long list of schools in all
parts of the country where the tonal excellences and
durability under trying circumstances have been
proved.
The accompanying cut shows the new High School,
Pittsburg, Kans., where a Baldwin grand piano has
just been placed.
HIGHER PRICES FOR
GERMAN PIANOS IN ITALY
Figures for Instruments Now Beyond Buying Power
of Italian Customers.
Italy, says the Deutsche Instrumentenbau Zeitung,
is a good market for German pianos, the prices for
which, however, since the beginning of the year 1924
have risen beyond the buying power of the inhabi-
tants. Therefore the Italian dealers have given up,
though unwillingly, German pianos, and only apply to
Germany when the customer insists on the German
article, and will pay the high price. If it must be a
German piano, then only a good one is accepted.
The medium German piano will soon disappear if
the prices in Germany are not considerably lowered.
Unfortunately German makers have been supplying
inferior instruments during the past two years, to the
serious detriment of the reputation of the German
piano.
Meantime the Italian industry becomes stronger
and stronger. It is delivering good C class instru-
ments with ivory keys for 3,000 lire; and B class,
likewise with ivory keys, for 3,800 lire. The Italian
piano makers are spared freight and duty, amounting
to 1,500 lire per piano. On the other hand, their cost
price is higher than in Germany. French player in-
struments are to be had on the Italian market for
4,800 and 5,500 francs.
DEATH OF A. E. NEALY.
Elton J. Nealy, father of A. E. Nealy, western man-
ager for the Music Trade Review, died at his resi-
dence, 1742 East End avenue, Chicago, last Saturday
afternoon, the 5th inst. Mr. Arthur Nealy has the
sympathy of his many friends in the trade. The Chi-
cago Piano Club has expressed condolences in proper
resolutions.
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