Presto

December 20, 1924.
PRESTO
TALES OF TRAVEL,
LIFE AND LOVE
And That Is the Exact Title of the New Book
for Which the Men of Music Have Waited
Impatiently for Many
Months.
GEO. P. BENTS MEMOIRS
From Grave to Gay, and from Dundee to the Azores
and Back to Chicago and Los Angeles,
the Story Goes.
It is certain that no one who reads "Tales of
Travel, Life and Love" will sympathize with the oft-
repeated cynicism about there being too much writ-
ing of books. In any event it will be agreed, within
the wide circles of the music industry and trade, as
well as, to a large degree, without, that George P.
Bent has proved himself as facile as historian, and
as agreeable as a teller of truthful tales, as he was
for many years a manufacturer and merchant.
GEORGE PAYNE BENT.
There have been several books on the subject of
pianos and the men who make them and the others
who sell them. And those books, of necessity, em-
brace to a degree the other people who buy the in-
struments of music. But among the books com-
prising history, biography, anecdote and pedantry,
this one of Mr. Bent's is the first that l.as covered
the "entire field," and given to the subject the warm
touch of intimate friendliness, and the glow of an
observing traveler blessed with the habit of "taking
notes" and remembering things. Further, Mr. Bent
has covered the field of his experiences with the im-
partiality which belongs to the biographer of vision,
blessed with the capacity of making friends and hold-
ing them.
Portrait Gallery, Also.
It is safe to say that the author's friends—the por-
traits of several hundreds of whom appear in the
book—will find a half-day lost to any less enjoyable
affairs when Mr. Bent's book arrives. It contains
362 pages of rare interest to all who have shared in
the industry and trade within the- space of the fifty
years since the author entered, and even back of that
to the year 1854 in which "G. P. B." was born. Even
to the reviewer, with a trade paper ready for the "last
form," and time crowding for the "make up" and
press, it is not easy to hurriedly review this book.
The temptation to make extracts, to touch upon the
records of a useful life, and to call attention to thj
gallery of portraits of workers in the music business
whose features are so familiar, is almost irresistible
Perhaps there may be a temptation on the part of
some to skip the first hundred pages of Mr. Bent's
book for the time, for they are reminiscent of the
boyhood days, not yet ready to enter the piano re-
view. But the tales just off of "Main Street" are
often witty and good, so that the "skipper" may miss
a lot of rich reading. It is, after all, the slow moving
day of youth that sticks in the memory when the
fleeter day of later time has passed.
It would consume a full column, or more, of Presto,
to merely present a list of the names of the portraits
which appear in the book. And if the reader has
had the good luck to know the author well, he need
not be surprised to find his own features there.
The men of music who are thus complimented cover
the living as well as many who have passed away.
The book is, in fact, a better portrait gallery of piano
men even than the comprehensive volumes by the
late Alfred Dolge which, until now, were the only
compilations of pictures of the men who have built
the American piano and made for it a world-wide
market.
Its Historic Value.
Nor are portraits the only pictures in Mr. Bent's
book. There are cartoons—two of them by Presto's
special artist—photographs of events of much inter-
est in a general way, and fac-similes of letters and
other data of permanent value.
Mr. Bent's book was originally to have been the
story of the author's tours abroad, especially his trip
around the world of a few years ago. But, once
started, the material opened so widely that it grew
into an autobiography so broad as to be in a good
sense a record of the music trade of nearly a half
century. The literary style of the book, too, is
characteristic. It is dedicated "to old friends and
new" and, beginning with a "foreword," in which
Buffalo Bill is quoted as having warned Mr. Bent
"not to write a book," opens with a poem by R. O.
Foster, of Minneapolis. The first chapter is devoted
to the Bent family and early friends, teachers and
locations of the author's youth. And these tributes
display a grace of diction and warmth of appreciation
which must awaken sympathy in even the hardened
book reviewer.
Burr Oaks and Big Cities.
Burr Oaks, Iowa, scene"'of boyhood and early
schooling, has a chapter, with another in which to
chronicle the virtues of its people, and many photo-
graphic views. And then "Wheaton and Chicago";
more school in the former and the first beginning of
the working days in the "six dollar job" at the
sewing machine shop of David Cook. And from there
on, into the world of things musical, until the
"Crown" organ appeared, in 1880. And from there
on—well, pictures of piano men, and stories about
them, good enough to keep the sourest of them—if
there are any of that kind—looking pleasant until the
last page.
Chapter sixteen—"Old Piano Friends and Stories,"
—seems to have overlooked few of the author's
friends, and there are stories about "Col." W. L.
Bush, Col. Edward S. Payson, "Plattie" Gibbs and
the captain of the lake boat—scores of them about
piano men well known. To quote the author, "These
autograph albums and scrap-books; one might draw
upon them endlessly without exhausting their funds
of memories and data."
Lesson in Advertising.
Among the fac-similes of documents concerning the
piano industry, is one of special interest to the trade
paper men, and suggestive also to beginners in the
piano manufacture. For it touches the endless sub-
ject of advertising as the life of business and key to
success. It is a postcard of date Sept. 7, 1882, ad-
dressed to a trade paper and asking for "sample,
and give me rates (bottom) on yearly advertising..
Give me price for half and fulL column space." That
particular illustration bears the caption, "The Above
is Self-explanatory," and every perspiring solicitor
for any live trade paper knows that from the pen
of Geo. P. Bent it really means something and it
gives one of the secrets of one of the notable suc-
cesses of the piano industry.
The chapters in which are described the author's
experiences in far countries are filled with interest
and no little historic value as well. But a hurried
review of the really imposing volume can not be
hurriedly made—should not be when the influence of
its writer in this special line of industry is consid-
ered.
An Entertaining Book.
Mr. Bent's book will be found entertaining, from
first to last. In it will be found history, and wit
enough, and a sufficient seasoning of the sentiment,
even pathos, to suggest the heart of its writer and
to still further endear him to all who know him
well and have benefited by his association and com-
radeship.
It is understood that the book is not on sale and
unlucky the member of the trade or industry who
finds the edition depleted when he makes his appeal.
Times-Mirror Press, publishers, Los Angeles, Cal.
KANSAS CITY OPENING A SUCCESS.
The Trudell Music Company's formal opening last
week was a decided success. The firm in its new
location, on Troost avenue, in the Wirthman Build-
ing, was crowded all day Saturday. A rose was pre-
sented to each lady visitor.
WHY JANUARY IS
BIG PIANO MONTH
In Period Preceding Christmas a Great Many
Prospects Distracted by Gift-Shopping
Excitements Adjourn Piano Pur-
chases Until After Jan. 1.
By A. G. GULBRANSEN,
President Gulbransen Company, Chicago.
The Christmas checks, bonus checks, dividends and
interest on investments provide the basis for an un-
usually large retail piana business in the month of
January. Christmas-time, with its hustle and bustle
of shopping excitement, is not the ideal time for the
choosing of a piano. People have their minds on
many small items; the purchasing, wrapping and de-
livering of scores of gifts occupy their time and
attention. The dealer who does not "clean up" on
pianos at Christmas-time need not feel discouraged.
One of his biggest months, January, is right ahead
of him.
Why It Is So.
January is the time when people can purchase a
piano deliberately—thoughtfully. It is the time when
the interest and dividends on savings and investments
swell the bank account, and when possibly good-
sized Christmas and bonus checks further augment
the financial resources of the household.
It is a psychological time for the purchase of a
piano. Of course, the dealer must make a bid for
the business, and we are advising Gulbransen dealers
to initiate a strong drive for sales next month. Direct-
mail advertising and personal solicitation would seem
to be particularly in place, after the Christmas bom-
bardment of newspaper advertising. Next month
people will figure out their investments for the year,
to a large extent. What better investment than a
fine musical instrument? What investment is more
lasting, more pleasure-giving?
Dealer Should Note Fact.
These are thoughts which the music dealer should
keep before the public as soon as advertising^ with the
Christmas atmosphere is out of date. In out; own
national advertising in the Saturday Evening Post of
January 15th we are featuring the thought that the
Gulbransen is a "gilt-edged investment in music."
This gives a theme for Gulbransen dealers to tie up
with.
The idea seems to exist in some quarters that Jan-
pary is a dull month. There is no reason why this
should be so, eihter retail or wholesale. Possibly the
idea originates from the old practice of closing down
piano factories for two weeks or longer "for the tak-
ing of inventory." As far as we are concerned, our
inventory is taken in one day between Christmas and
New Year.
A retail man told us the other day that his house
always does twice as much business in January as in
December. This does not mean that December is
a below-normal month (it is generally considerably
above normal), but the experience of this. and. other
merchants indicates that the conclusion of the- holi-
day season is not a reason for lessened effort or the
expectation of a decrease in business.
ESTABLISHED 1854
THE
BRADBURY PIANO
FOR ITS
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
FOR ITS
INESTIMABLE AGENCY VALUE
THE CHOICE OF
Representative Dealers the World Over
Now Produced in Several
New Models
WRITE FOR TERRITORY
Factory
Leominster,
Mats.
Executive Offices
138th St. and Walton Ave.
New York
Division W. P. HA1NES * CO., Inc.
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