February 14, 1925.
P R E S T O
SMALL GOODS AND SUPPLIES
DEALER AS TEACHER
How Close Association with Band and Or-
chestra Organizations Materially Helps Sales
in Musical Merchandise Departments.
The musical merchandise dealer should become as-
sociated with hands and orchestras in his town and
where he can actually participate in the playing of
the organizations he all the better serves his own
interests. It is a fact that some of the most pros-
perous musical merchandise stores in the country
are operated or at least managed by men with the
ability to play one or more of the instruments han-
dled in the store. The success of the various Conn
stores throughout the country is admittedly due to
the standing of the managers in the art of playing.
Many of the men are soloists of distinction and
formerly were connected with bands or orchestras
of national fame.
Many of the musical merchandise stores or musical
merchandise departments in music stores are con-
ducted by ex-professionals. And where the men are
not claimants to that degree of musical standing,
they are competent to play instruments, take solo
parts and even to lead the organizations. The ability
adds materially to the prestige of the concerns which
they serve.
The possession of a musical family proves a great
advantage to several dealers who have brought their
businesses into prominence. Many towns throughout
the country have been made good music towns be-
cause the local music dealer started with the ambi-
tion to make his store the musical center of the town
in the art as well as the merchandise way. In fos-
tering the taste for music the dealer's family orches-
tra has naturally been potent for the increase in the
demand for music goods. The orchestras are always
available for functions of a social or civic character
and thus the musical character can be imparted to
every event.
.Free concerts in the musical merchandise store
are weekly or periodic events that splendidly adver-
tise the business. The desire to emulate is a great
prompting to sales. The ukulele furor was started
by special recitals where the ease of playing this
comparatively low-priced instrument was shown.
Much of the saxophone's popularity is traced to
the demonstrations of saxophone experts in the music
stores.
And of course this suggests that effectual means
to sales stimulation—the store school. Here again
the advantages of the ability to play are impressed.
The saxophone classes and groups of friends or mem-
bers of some social or fraternal organization, taught
by one of the store staff, admirably associate the
business with the cause of music to the advantage
of both.
COURSES FOR WOOD USERS
New Series of Instruction for Users of Wood in In-
dustry Announced by Government.
The dates of tlie- spring courses of instruction for
wood users have been announced by the United
States Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis.,
to which representatives of piano factories have been
invited. The subjects are: "Glueing of Wood,"
April 20 to 25; "Kiln Drying of Lumber," April 27
to May 8; "Boxing and Crating," May 4 to 9.
These interesting courses for the piano factory
worker have been given every year for several years
and have proved popular with representatives of wood
using industries. This year a class of over 700 is ex-
pected. The interesting courses have been made very
attractive, and every year sees an increase in the size
of the classes. The instruction is not confined to the
theory of the work, but is made more valuable by
the practical working out of every problem. For in-
formation about courses write to the laboratory
director.
BIGGEST BASS HORN.
The largest bass horn in the world, the product of
the C. G. Conn, Ltd., Klkhart, Ind., factory, was on
display recently in, Elkhart. The bell measures nine
and one half feet in circumference. It is a $3,000 in-
strument. The engravings on the horn depict the
history of the Conn factory from its founding in 1874
until the present.
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
OPENS NEW CONN SCHOOL
Brilliant Faculty Selected from Group of
Nationally Known Symphony Orchestra
Players in Cleveland.
T h e broadcasting of the dedicatory p r o g r a m fit-
tingly signalized the official opening of the Conn
School of Music at the Cleveland branch of C. G.
Conn, Ltd., Klkhart, Ind., at 1224 H u r o n Road re-
cently. T h e faculty ol the new school has been
selected from the Cleveland S y m p h o n y Orchestra
and many of the men are nationally known as solo-
ists and teachers. A. E. Clarke, the famous t r o m b o n -
ist and tuba player, is director of the faculty and
R. R. Story, a widely known band man, is con-
ductor.
O t h e r m e m b e r s of the brilliant staff a r e :
Leo
Fleitman, Salvato Fiore and William T r a u p e , violin;
Maurice Dufrasne and Marie Winfield, 'cello; W y e r t
A. Moore and August Caputa, flute; Gerald Fiore,
bass; Louis Green, clarinet; C. L. Strahl, saxophone;
Leland S. Barton and B. Schwartz, t r u m p e t ; Phillip
Kirchncr, oboe; Morris Kirchner, bassoon; L. Du-
frasne, French h o r n ; C. O m e r s , drums and tympani;
Marie Newell Veissi, harp and William T r u p e ,
counterpoint.
•»
MANAGER VOCALION RECORDS.
Edward K. Strauss has been appointed general man-
ager of the company's Vocation record division with
headquarters in New York City. Mr. Strauss has
been associated with the Brunswick-Balke-Collender
Company for the past twenty years and is popular
with the organizations in both Chicago and New
York.
EVANSVILLE MARKET A SUCCESS.
Phonographs and radio were prominent exhibits at
the semi-annual furniture market, held recently under
the auspices of the Evansville Furniture Manufactur-
ers' Association at Evansville. Ind. The market
brought buyers from various states of the Union and
the sales volume was reported quite satisfactory.
The (new) Buckeye Sill Piano Truck
Manufacturers of
The New Buckeye Sill
PIANO ACTIONS
For Grands and Uprights and best for
stair work.
ONE GRADE ONLY
HIGHEST GRADE
The Wessell, Nickel & Gross action is a
guarantee of the grade of the instrument
in which it is found.
YORK
OFFICE:
457 W. 45th Stmt
Comstock, Cheney & Co.
Better your SERVICE with a new Buckeye Sill. We have re-
built and greatly improved, for longer service, the handles, center
rock shaft and the uprights of both ends.
Send for circular.
Eight styles of End Trucks, Piano Hoists, Covers and special
made straps.
Ivory Cutters and Manufacturers
Manufactured by
Piano Keys, Actions and Hammers
Self Lifting Piano Truck Co.
FINDLAY, OHIO
IVORY AND COMPOSITION-COVERED ORGAN KEYS
Th. .nly Cmpawy Furnishing t h . Itoys, Actions, H m m m *nd Brackets Complete
Telegraph and R. R. Station: Essex, Conn.
\
Office and Factories: Ivory ton, Conn.
THE: O S. KELLY CO.
Manufacturers
of
High
Grade
PIANO 1 PLATE :s
-
OHIO
SPRINGFIELD
DOLGEVILLE, N.Y
JULIUS BREGKWOLDT & SON, ING. Fulton Chain
Manufacturers of
and
Tupper Lake
Piano Backs, Boards, Bridges, Bars,
Traplevers and Mouldings
SOLE AGENTS FOR RUDOLF GIESE WIRE
WESTERN REPRESENTATIVE:
CENTRAL STEEL & WIRE CO.,
119-127 N. Peoria Street,
J. BRECKWOLDT. Pres.
Chicago, III.
W. A. BRECKWOLDT, S»c. & Tre.s
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/