Presto

October 18, 1924.
PRESTO
NO SPACE FOR
PIANOS IN HOMES
Modern Dwellings, Bungalows and Apartment
Houses Make Purchases of the Instru-
ments Impossible for
Many.
DEALER ACTION URGED
Disturbing Fact Preventing More Piano Sales in
Large Cities Also Noticeable in Small;r
Places.
It is surprising and distressing to consider the
number of things which arise to prevent piano sales.
Not merely to discourage or temporarily postpone
sales, but actually make them impossible. Among
the most harmful things that militate against the
sales of pianos and players are the architects' plans
for the modern homes and apartments.
Now before the young fo!ks setting up housekeep-
ing can buy a piano they must be sure of a place in
the home where it can be set down to remain for the
pleasant ensuing years as a treasured household god.
But unfortunately many designs of so-called artistic
bungalows and houses have no provision for the
piano. What the real estate dealer's description calls
"cosy" is merely cramped. The hopeful young mar-
ried pair, enamored with the general appearance of
the tiny bungalow, blithely sign on the dotted line
and pay the required first payment, to discover later
that the living room is too small for the coveted
iiaby grand or even for the upright of small dimen-
sions.
Apartments Are Worst.
The new apartment houses are even more eco-
nomical of space and the architects do not seem to
consider that music, piano music, has any place in
the pleasures of home. The "ln-a-door" bed settles
cne problem of the waking house—where to find a
place to sit or stand—by touching a button to make
the bed recede behind its door. But no in-a-door
piano can be made to come forth at the magic touch
of a button. Great numbers of unfortunate cliff-
dwellers have no place for a piano. The wall spaces
of the living rooms and dining rooms are filled with
windows or doors, behind which lurk the in-a-door
beds.
Dealers' Field Narrowed.
Of course there are a great many prospects to be
found in the homes and apartments of the old style
where space for the largest grand is available. But
it is disappointing to consider that so many sales to
good people are missed because of the architectural
freakishncss of the new style bungalows and apart-
ments. The fact has led to action on the part of
music dealers in certain parts of the country where
rooms of cramped character prevail in the new houses
and apartments. In Southern California cities the
piano dealers have co-operated with chambers of
commerce and other bodies to bring pressure on
architects to provide space for pianos in the apart-
ments and small houses and bungalows. It is said
THE
W. P. HAINES & COMPANY
P I A N O S
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 Cily
their efforts have been successful and that future
plans will be designed with consideration for the
musical occupants.
Trade Takes Action.
A line of advertising for the grand piano has cal!ed
the attention of architects and contractors to the in-
adequacy of space in the living rooms of the new
structures. That is the printing of the floor plan of
a room with the space occupied by a grand piano
shown thereon. That there should be any question
about the placing of a grand piano in the living-room
of a modern home impressed a condition on the
builders and architects. Intelligent builders who ob-
serve the requirements for cultural enjoyment in the
home, are now sacrificing showy extras and making
the living rooms places in which to enjoy the restful-
ness of piano music.
Energetic music dealers in many places have
directed their advertising towards the builders and
possible owners of homes in the future. They have
been shown the wisdom of providing space for
pianos. It was good advertising in that it pointed
out a condition that many had noticed but had not
commented upon. It was a line of piano talk that
directed attention to the desirability of the piano in
the home and to the shortcomings of the home or
apartment where space for it is not provided.
In Smaller Towns.
The problem of the big cities and their suburbs is
reproduced in the smaller towns where the standard-
ized house and. apartment house plans have been util-
ized. So it is the duty of the small town dealer to
keep alert to prevent a condition that narrows his
piano sales possibilities. The action of the dealers in
the Pacific Coast cities in creating a movement to
prevent the future building of homes and apartments
without sufficient space for installing a piano can be
repeated by dealers elsewhere when a similar grave
situation presents itself.
CHAMPION JACK DEMPSEY
BUYS MIESSNER PIANO
Fighter with Hefty Funch Says Little Instrument
"Absorbs Punishment Without Missing a Note."
The Miessner Piano Co., Milwaukee, announces
that its Utah representatives, Glen Bros. Roberts
Piano Co., has sold a Miessner to Jack Dempsey,
the heavyweight champion, who has been using it
in his California training camp. Jack's home is in
Salt Lake City and he a regular customer of the
Glen Bros. Roberts Piano Co., which has stores
there and at Ogden.
The punch that won a world's championship has
no effect on the little Miessner Piano, according to
reports from California. "The Little Piano with the
Big Tone" has a daily workout with the hard-hitting
pugilist and so far the champ hasn't even dented an
ivory.
"I have to hand it to the Miessner," said Jack last
week. "It isn't much on foot-work, but it stands
right up- and absorbs punishment without missing a
note. It's a great little piano."
LESTER LINE FOR
ACTIVE SAN DIEGO FIRM
Holzwasser, Inc., Large Department Store in
Southern California City, Allots Entire
Floor to New Music Section.
Holzwasser, Inc., Broadway and Fifth streets, San
Diego, Calif, has made arrangements tn •a_Yvu~^7. Viic
line of pianos and player^.-^tios of the Lester Piano
Company, Philadelphia-
Roy T. Davis recently was made manager of the
music department of Holzwasser, Inc., which is a large
department store a< l^Ol^v.a;- nnd Fifth street, San
Diego, and on the eighth floor in the m.,-. II ._>;«. ..asser
Building Mr. Davis has a commodious piano section,
with several separate demonstrating and display
rooms for the convenience of customers in selecting
purchases. The company features the Sonora phono-
graph. The Lester line will be a big feature of the
business. It is the intention of Mr. Davis to add
more salesmen to his staff as fast as desirable men
can be selected.
The Lester Piano Co. just made the first shipment
consisting of an assortment of Lester uprights,
grands, players and Leonard & Company uprights
and players, by boat via the Panama Canai and have
the assurance of Mr. Davis, who is a warm admirer
of the Lester piano, that the featuring of the Lester
Piano Co. instruments will be a big factor in the busi-
ness.
The decision of Holzwasser, Inc., to take on the
Lester line is an added testimonial of the value the
trade generally places on the Lester agency. The
Lester piano is used in over 100,000 homes and in
Southern California are many eastern people who
took west with them Lester pianos purchased in
the east, or at least a knowledge of the instrument's
artistic merits. Holzwasser, Inc., will find a cheer-
ful result in the pursuit of Lester sales. Among the
artists and teachers everywhere the piano is appre-
ciated.
The Lester playcrpiano is also considered a product
of merit with many special features of recognized
superiority. The latest addition to the Lester line is
the reproducing piano, upright and grand, which has
won the favor of the trade
1
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HARDMAN IN CLUB RECITAL.
At an informal musicale held at the Pomonok
Country Club, Flushing, L. I., Sunday evening, Oc-
tober 5, a Hardman Welte-Mignon (Licensee) was
furnished by Hardman, Peek & Co., New York, for
the recital, in which Mme. Augustine Jaquillard,
dramatic soprano, and Miss Margaret Baihle, Welte-
Mignon (Licensee) recording artist, were featured.
Recorded selections were also played as part of the
program,
using
the
Hardman
Welte-Mignon
(Licensee).
ADDS WALTHAM LINE.
C. H. Byrn & Son, Murfrcesboro, Tenn., is now
conducting a special sale of pianos and piano players,
which lines were recently added to the general stock
of the company. W. F. Lamb, district sales man-
ager of the Waltham Piano Manufacturing Company,
of Milwaukee, Wis., is in Murfreesboro to assist the
firm to open the new piano department. Mr. Lamb
will give particular attention to the introduction of
the line of Waltham pianos and the new player of the
company.
MOVES IN WILLIAMSON, W. VA.
The Manley Piano Co., Williamson, W. Va., of
which W. T. Manley is the proprietor, moved this
week to new quarters in the M. Z. White Building in
the central business district, which was remodeled to
meet the special requirements of the company. The
business was founded about fifteen years ago. Chick-
ering, Starr, Mehlin & Sons and Gulbransen pianos
and players are featured, as are Seeburg automatic
instruments, Victor and Brunswick phonographs and
records and a full line of small instruments.
The 3htardman Jzine
is a complete line
It-com prises a range of artisti-
cally w o r t h y 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.
cjiardmanjpeck &Co.
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