Presto

Issue: 1924 1994

PRESTO
PLAYER OWNERS
AS DEMONSTRATORS
Flayerpiano Users Who Have Been Suffi-
ciently Instructed in the Use of the In-
strument Develop Taste and Their
Enthusiasm Rarely Dies.
JOY IN UNDERSTANDING PLAYER
Continuous Recitals by Competent Player Owners
in the Home Are Conducive to Buying
Desires in Listeners.
The formal recitals designed by the dealers to
arouse the player desire in the minds of the straight
piano owners and the people who own neither man-
ual pianos nor players, are excellent aids to sales
and they show a systematized ambition that is highly
commendable. The custom is a big factor in the
methods of some of the successful firms throughout
the country and their continuance in a custom that
entails additional work on the piano department staff
and more or less expense is sufficient proof that the
formal demonstrations are productive of sales and
consequent profits. Firms which find the formal
demonstration effective in making sales of the foot
power player are also applying the same methods to
the reproducing piano.
But in the stores of the most active kind the formal
demonstration or recital as it is sometimes called, is
only an incident in the demonstration activities which
are continuous and may happen any hour of every
day. Many houses which have built up a playerpiano
business employ floor salesmen who are noted for an
ability to show the merits of the instruments. "No
player sells itself, but it may be made irresistible
to the listener who is a prospective buyer," is an
opinion of P. F. Conroy, head of the Conroy Piano
Co., St. Louis, a firm which has made itself known
throughout Missouri as a specialty playerpiano house.
The house has been selling the pianoplayers and
playerpianos from the earliest appearance of the for-
mer and today when the playerpiano has arrived at a
high degree of perfection Mr. Conroy believes the ne-
cessity continues to "show" Missourians the wonder-
ful musical possibilities of the instrument.
Stimulating Sales.
Showing the playerpiano prospects is a stimulation
to sales, but showing the buyer how to get the great-
est extent of pleasure and continuous pleasure from
his or her playerpiano is also a source of further
sales. A silent playerpiano in a home is a detriment
to the trade. It is the worst kind of advertisement
for the playerpiano and nullifies the efforts of the
energetic dealers who seek to stimulate sales by
showing the merits of the instruments.
On the other hand the playerpiano in constant in-
telligent use in a home is a species of demonstration
potent for more sales. To be of the highest effective-
ness for good on possible buyers who listen to a
playerpiano in the home of a friend, the members of
the family who use it should understand it and take
joy in producing the artistic effects the instrument
permits. It is a fact well known to observant dealers
THE
W. P. HAINES & COMPANY
PIANOS
THE PIANOS OF QUALITY
Three Generations of Piano Makers
All Styles—Ready Sellers
Attractive Prices
GRANDS
REPRODUCING GRANDS
UPRIGHTS and PLAYERS
AVAILABLE TERRITORY OPEN
W. P. HAINES & CO., Inc.
138th St. and Walton Ave.
New York City
and salesmen that the playerpiano user who does not
play intelligently, never begets the enthusiasm which
evokes the desire for the possession of a playerpiano
in a listener.
Placing the Blame.
Very often the blame for the playerpiano owner
who does not enthuse over his playing lies with the
dealer who sold him the instrument. The dealer or
his salesman failed in the necessary series of dem-
onstrations that would evoke the desire to get the
best out of the instrument. His processes in using
the instrument remain mechanical; me possibilities
of developing taste are neglected and his operation
of the playerpiano is unproductive of joy in himself
or of musical animation in others.
Demonstration Is Powerful.
The informal store demonstration gives a taste of
the pleasure in possessing a playerpiano. Of a neces-
sity the demonstrator should be efficient in the use
of the instrument. The home demonstrations by the
player owners, which are of the most frequent oc-
currence, are the most powerful aids for spreading
the knowledge of the meritorious qualities of the
playerpiano. For with the homelike background the
effectiveness of the playing by the intelligent user
with developed taste, is vastly increased. Unknow-
ingly many a listener to the playerpiano in a home is
being "sold" on the instrument. So, apart from pre-
serving the playerpiano customer as a continuous
buyer of playerpiano rolls, there is the opportunity
for making every buyer and every member of his
family enthusiastic demonstrators.
ILLINOIS DEALER CREATES
DESIRE FOR EUPHONA
Francis Piano Co., Galesburg, Prints Attractive Facts
in Daily Newspapers of Lively Town.
The Euphona Reproducing Piano, made by The
Cable Company, Chicago, is described in an interest-
ing way in the newspapers by the Francis Piano Co.,
Galesburg, 111. It is more than a bare description be-
cause the energetic dealer in the Weinberg Arcade
has put the buying incentive into every citation of
merit in the instrument. These are a few points
about the Euphona reproducing piano printed in the
Galesburg newspapers by the Francis Piano Co.:
First, there is something more than the element
of enjoyment in the Reproducing Piano. In itself the
Reproducing Piano is a teacher. It is surprising how
many people are unaware of the nature of the Re-
producing Piano that distinguishes it from the or-
dinary Player, about which they may be familiar.
Parents with daughters taking lessons can easily
realize how widely the ideas of teachers and com-
posers though may differ on the interpretation of the
piece being studied. You can hear it and as many
times as you desire, played by the world's best
artists, on the Reproducing Piano.
One studying to be a painter looks at the painting
of the great masters. One studying the piano should
hear the great masters play. This is why Mr. Bent-
ley of Knox Conservatory invested in a Reproducing
Piano.
It costs nothing to hear our daily recital on the
Euphona Reproducing and it costs less than you may
think to own one.
TELL IT NOW.
If it's human life you're viewing,
That a man at work is doing,
If it pleases and you like him,
Tell him now;
Don't wait for an invitation,
Till he leaves his earthly station,
And you place the water lilies
On his brow.
For no matter how you view it,
Nor how tenderly you do it,
He will never know you ever
Shed a tear.
He cannot enjoy your token
Till the final word is spoken—
When his life has gone away
He cannot hear.
If your words are kind and sunny
He will prize them more than money,
And a smile may win and cheer him
More than gain;
Just to know that you approve him
When naught else can stir or move him
May sustain him and inspire him
To attain.
If you like him let him know it.
He's your brother and you owe it.
If you say it he'll repay it—
Never fear;
Do not wait tiil he is sleeping,
In the sexton's charge and keeping,
For the words you then may utter
He won't hear.
VICK LINDSTROM.
October 11, 1924.
RECORD SEPTEMBER
FOR PREMIER GRANDS
During Month Just Closed More Than 500
Premier Baby Grand Pianos Were
Shipped to the Trade.
More than 500 Premier Baby Grand Pianos, manu-
factured by the Premier Grand Piano Corporation,
New York, were shipped last month to Premier piano
merchants in large and small cities throughout the
country. All the various types of Premier Baby
grands were represented in this big activity: Manu-
ally played small grands, period models, electric ex-
pression player grands and reproducing grands
(Welte-Mignon Licensee). Especially heavy ship-
ments were made in electric expression player grands
and reproducing grands.
A marked increase in sales was noted from dis-
tributing points in the Central West. These tremen-
dous small grand shipments again reflect the national
popularity of the Premier Baby Grand and the in-
tensive selling and advertising activities of the na-
tional chain of Premier merchants. Literally thou-
sands of lines of newspaper advertising space have
already been utilized this fall by Premier dealers
in featuring the latest attractive series of Premier
newspaper advertisements.
Live Premier dealers started right in the early fall
to capitalize on the Premier powerful appeal, and the
result is evidenced by the magnitude of September
shipments. This impressive record is a tribute to the
Premier production facilities, the preparedness of this
big institution in maintaining production at peak for
absorption by the trade, and in the consistent service
and co-operation that always typifies the Premier.
These 500 Baby Grands were shipped very prompt-
ly in each instance. The ease with which this tre-
mendous production was distributed betokens the
thorough preparedness for a large business which has
always characterized the Premier. Outside of these
big shipping activities during the month of Septem-
ber, there were received by mail at the office of the
Premier Grand Piano Corporation more than a score
of applications for agency representation from promi-
nent merchants the country over.
tiring*
iflardman
The Shfardman £ine
is a complete line
It comprises a range of artisti-
cally worthy instruments to
please practically every purse:
The Hardman, official piano of
the Metropolitan Opera House;
the Harrington and the Hensel
Pianos in which is found that in-
builtdurabilitythatcharacterizes
all Hardman-made instruments;
the wonderful Hardman Repro-
ducing Piano; the Hardman
Autotone (the perfect player-
piano); and the popular Playo-
tone.
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
October 11, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells"
THE IMPORTANCE
OF PIANO TUNING
Manufacturers and Dealers as Well as Cus-
tomers of Retailers Should Feel and Show
Proper Appreciation for this Essential
Towards Harmony.
THE MERCHANT'S PART
Above All Others Men Who Sell the Instruments to
Ultimate Consumers Should Favor Proper
Tuning.
(only 5 ft. long)
In All the List of Fine ; Small Grands
There Is None That Stands
Higher Than
The Famous
Studio Grand
This dainty little instrument is pre-
ferred by many of the foremost piano
houses and by its remarkable beauty
cf design and tone quality it remains
the favorite w i t h discriminating
customers.
The
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
has attained to a place preeminent be-
cause cf its absolute dependability,
precise reproduction of the playing of
the world's artists and beauty of con-
struction.
GRANDS, UPRIGHTS
PLAYERS
"The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U S. P»t Off
Christ man Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
partment. Mr. Wi'kes says it has been one of the
biggest factors in the growth of the business and that
there is no other branch of it that he considers of
greater importance.
This comes from a man who has built up an insti-
tution that imports into Australia each year a tre-
mendous volume of American pianos, comparable
with the sales of the very largest dealers in this
country.
Public Interested.
The public's interest in piano tuning is warranted
by reason of the facts that frequent tuning preserves
the instrument itself, makes it a pleasure for one to
play it and gives greater enjoyment to all listeners.
It is also important that children hear pianos in
tune, so that they may form a correct idea of good
music.
Concert pianists have their pianos tuned and regu-
lated before each performance; music teachers four
to six times a year. Great pianists do not pay tuners
big salaries and expenses to travel around with them
and tune and keep in adjustment their pianos every
day, without very good reason. That reason is that
the daily-tuned piano sounds better. So our insist-
ence that every piano should be tuned and regulated
every six months to get the most out of it is cer-
tainly a most moderate and reasonable one. We are
emphasizing that point in every
Gulbransen
national ad.
By A. G. GULBRANSEN,
President, Gulbransen Company.
Manufacturers, dealers and the public should have
a very vital interest in piano tuning. If all three
could be aroused to even a normal and proper inter-
est, there would be no "tuning problem."
It would help the entire music industry if pianos
were tuned as often as they should be. It would help
the music appreciation of the nation.
One of the first things to be encouraged by all of
us is the charging of prices for tuning that will enable
the men engaged in the profession to make a re-
spectable income and make it an object for them to
stay in it. The competent piano tuner must neces- Head of Parkinson Music House, with Friend, Makes
sarily apply himself conscientiously to his work, and
a Call Upon Gulbransen Company.
he should have reason to be proud of his ability and
Motoring all the way from Providence, R. I., R. W r .
the profession in which he is engaged. He should
be assured of a permanent and attractive opportunity Parkinson, Jr., of the Parkinson Piano House, of that
city, was a Chicago visitor Thursday of last week.
in his chosen field.
Air. Parkinson was accompanied by a .friend, W. O.
Competent Tuners Necessary.
M. Frazier.
Merchants should realize that the employment of
The trip westward was made via Buffalo and De-
a competent service man is one of the best things for
their business. In the first place, piano tunings and troit, and Mr. Parkinson plans on returning via
repairs by such a man will be handled in a way that Cleveland and Pittsburgh. While in Chicago Messrs.
Parkinson and Frazier went through the big Gul-
will reflect credit on the house sending him out.
In the second place, it will help sell more pianos, bransen factory.
The Parkinson Piano House is one of the loyal
for this reason: What the tuner says about a piano
Gulbransen
dealers in the New England territory.
T
has a great deal of w eight. People respect his judg-
ment. He is a practical man, they feel, and unbiased,
not being engaged in the selling of pianos.
REORGANIZING HOLLAND FIRM.
When there is a proper appreciation of tuning on
The Evert J. Pruim Music House, Holland, Mich.,
the part of the trade and public, more competent, in- has gone into the hands of a receiver with J. H. De
telligent men will be attracted to the profess'on. Pree, of Zeeland, the receiver. Mr. Pruim, who has
And there is no doubt in my mind but that this con- a store in Holland and also in Zeeland, Grand Rapids
dition will prove to be a distinct and noticeable fac- and Grand Haven, wlil be assisted in the reorganiza-
tor in the sale of more pianos.
tion of the business, and an endeavor will be made to
Australian Cited.
put the Pruim stores on a solid financial basis. He
I was very interested in what Mr. E. E. Wilkes, will spend most of his time in the development of
from far-off Australia, had to say along this line. The the Holland and Grand Haven stores, since the Grand
Wilkes piano business is one of the most substantial Rapids and the Zeeland stores have been disposed of
that 1 know of. and it has been built up, under what as the first step in the plan of reorganization. The
we would consider adverse conditions, by hard work, business in the two stores in the two largest cities in
the country will be carried on as before.
and the sound policies of the house.
One of the fundamental policies of the Wilkes busi-
ness is to at all times have a service department that
L. E. Webb has opened a music store in Morgan-
will not be surpassed in efficiency by any other de- ton, N. C.
FROM PROVIDENCE TO
CHICAGO BY AUTOMOBILE
U. S. ROLLS IN WINDOW SHOW
During the convention
of the Ohio Music Mer-
chants' Association, held
at Cleveland, September
9 and 10, the Miltner
Piano Co., that city, ar-
ranged a very attractive
window display of rolls
of the United States
Music Co., Chicago. The
accompanying cut shows
the forceful appeal made
to playerpiano owner?
and conveys the fact that
U. S. rolls are reduced
in price, although the
same high standards of
production are still main-
tained.
The window proved an
interesting one to the
visiting merchants and
the credit of the arrange-
ment goes to S. Graetz,
salesman for the United
States Music Co.
The United States Music Co. has announced its
readiness to dress windows for any of its dealers free
of cost, and has offered to supply the necessary mate-
rial direct from headquarters for the work, which is
done by its traveling representatives who have proved
themselves artists in window decorating.
Attention is called to the sign in front of the win-
dow which is a flash sign and is used after the win-
dow is darkened.
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/

Download Page 4: PDF File | Image

Download Page 5 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.