Presto

Issue: 1925 2017

March 21, 1925.
17
PRESTO
CELEBRATING
CONN ANNIVERSARY
Special Exhibit by Dealers of C. G. Conn, Ltd.,
in Every Part of Country Commemo-
rates Event and Proclaims Extent
and Merit of Line.
THE CONN POLICY
Encouragement for Retailer by Advantageous Meth-
ods of Selling Him Product and Nationally
Advertising It.
The week from March 15 to 21 was celebrated as
50th Anniversary Week by C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elk-
hart, Ind., and every Conn dealer throughout the
country made a special exhibit of Conn instruments
to impress the historic event and the merit of the
Conn products on the minds of the public interested
in music.
The activities in the factory of C. G. Conn, Ltd.,
would indicate remarkably good business in band in-
struments. It is a true indication of conditions in the
band instrument phase of the music business. Every-
where the dealer handling the line of C. G. Conn
Ltd. has many advantages that result in sales and
continuous growth in his business.
Sold by Dealers.
The great output of band and orchestra instru-
ments of C. G. Conn, Ltd., which employs a vast
army of expert workmen, means activities in turn for
a host of dealers. For the thousands of instruments
turned out in the Elkhart plant reach the ultimate
buyers through the retail dealers. The connection
between the professional and the amateur and the
Conn Factory is made by some dealer enthusiastic
about the merits of the Conn products. The policy
of the company naturally begets loyalty in the retail
representatives.
And most potent for Conn instrument sales in the
retail music store is the admirable system of adver-
tising of the C. G. Conn Co. Generous national ad-
vertising tells the world that famous artists use Conn
instruments and world known bandmasters commend
them.
Busy Officials.
The success of the C. G. Conn Co. made plain in
the celebration of the fiftieth anniversary celebration,
The Best Yet
Graceful lines, rugged construc-
tion, moderately priced. It's the
very best commercial piano from
every standpoint.
is naturally a matter of pride to C. D. Greenleaf,
president, and J. F. Boyer, secretary. The opera-
tion of the policy which identifies the dealer with the
Conn products has depended on their energy and ini-
tiative. The results are seen in the conditions of the
Conn musical instrument business and its admirable
methods of reaching the ultimate consumer through
the satisfied dealer. The title of secretary does not
suggest all of Mr. Boyer's activities. He also is gen-
eral manager and the responsibilities of his job may
be seen by even the least observant visitor to the
great Conn factory.
A notable feature of the celebration was a page
in Sunday newspapers in the various districts into
which the country is divided for sales purposes. A
page in the Chicago newspapers said:
"See and hear for yourself. The Conn dealer near
you will gladly demonstrate the instrument which in-
terests you most. Remember, Conn is the only
maker of every instrument used in the band. You
can arrange to try a Conn in your home, without
obligation. Convenient terms can be arranged. Your
dealer is listed below; make it a point to see him
now."
The List of Dealers.
The following are Conn representatives in Chicago:
Barnett's Paradise of Music, 11128 South Michigan
avenue; Brunswick Music Shop, 3206 Lawrence ave-
nue; Brunswick Music Shop, 3228 West Madison
street; Conn Chicago Co., 62 East Van Buren street;
Jaros Palace of Music, 2813 West Twenty-second
street; Joseph Jiran, 1333 West Thirteenth street;
Miller's Drum Shop, 6230 South Halsted street;
Schultz Piano Company, Madison and Oakley Boule-
vard; Louis Solar Jr., 3940 West Twenty-sixth street.
Eighty-two dealers in Illinois were printed in the
list in the C. E. Conn display. Other states in the
district included in the lists were Indiana, fifty-two
dealers; Iowa, forty-eight; Michigan, forty, and Wis-
consin, sixty-two.
Conns and Great Bandmasters.
The portraits of such famous band leaders as Crea-
tore, Innes, Santelmann, Sousa, Conway, Kryl, and
Sweet, known as enthusiastic users of Conn instru-
ments in their organizations, are used in the embel-
lishment of the handsome border. This is said in the
text:
"For half a century Conn and the great names in
band and orchestra music have been inseparably
linked. Conns are the instruments upon which the
world's foremost artists and conductors have played
their way to fame.
"Medals of highest award at International Exposi-
tions have been the proof of Conn supremacy and a
spur to greater achievements. Improvements orig-
inating in Conn laboratories have brought wind in-
struments to their highest development.
How Conns Are Built.
"Most important of all to you who play, or aspire
to play, is this: Every Conn instrument is built to
that supreme standard of quality which has won the
endorsement of the greatest artists.
"For Conn also has developed those processes of
manufacture which insure uniform excellence. Among
these is the famous hydraulic expansion of all taper-
ing tubes. With their exceptional ease of playing,
beauty of tone, and reliability of action, Conn instru-
ments afford the quickest and surest means of suc-
cess, the greatest measure of musical satisfaction to
amateur and professional alike."
MUSIC WEEK IN CANTON, O.
Canton, O., music dealers will co-operate in the
observance of National Music Week, beginning May
3. Music dealers will put on concert programs and
piano demonstrations at their stores and will also
help with arrangements for the series of music events
scheduled for the city auditorium during the week.
KIESELHORST CAPITAL INCREASE.
Style 32—4 ft. 4 in.
WESER
The Kieselhorst Piano Co., St. Louis, Mo., an-
nounces that the capital of the firm will be changed
in June to $250,000 preferred stock and $50,000 no
par common, and that employes will be given an
opportunity to acquire the latter in proportion to
the length of their service.
Pianos and Players
W. P. Haines & Co.
Sell Readily—Stay Sold
Manufacturers of
BRADBURY, WEBSTER
and
W. P. HAINES & CO.
Grand, Upright and Reproducing
Pianos
138th Street and Walton Avenue
NEW YORK
Send to-day for catalogue, prices and
details of our liberal financing plan
Weser Bros., Inc.
520 to 528 W . 43rd St., New York
NEW FIRM OPENS WITH
LINE OF THE CABLE CO.
Williams & Kirsch, Begins Enthusiastic Campaign
for Sales in Vincennes, Ind.
The line of The Cable Company, Chicago, is car-
ried by Williams & Kirsch, which firm held a formal
opening last week at 310 Busseron street, Vincennes,
Ind. The popularity of the partners, Fred Williams
and Alvin Kirsch, was pleasantly shown on the occa-
sion. They are both experienced salesmen and have
proved their success in a way that assures big sales
for the new firm.
The store is in a fine location on Busseron street
and has been remodeled to suit the purposes of a
firm which intends to expand and has been fitted up
and decorated in a tasteful manner. A feature of
the store is a service department where first class
repairing will be done. A reliable tuning service is
also announced.
Both partners are enthusiasts for the pianos made
by The Cable Company and also for the various
Inner-Player models in the line. The firm plans a
strong campaign for sales in Vincennes and adjacent
territorv.
NAMES FEBRUARY 22 HOLIDAY.
In future, members of the New York Piano Mer-
chants' Association will observe Washington's birth-
day as a holiday. The decision was embodied in a
resolution introduced by John J. Glynn, secretary of
the James & Holmstrom Piano Co., which said:
"Resolved, that the New York Piano Merchants'
Association shall hereafter join with other patriotic
associations, merchants and citizens, in showing its
respect and reverence to the memory of the Father
of Our Country, George Washington, by observing
his birthday, February 22, as a business holiday."
The LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Qrand*. Uprights and Players
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that can be
made.
YORK P I A N O S
Uprights and Player Pianos
A high grade piano of great
vaiue and with charming tone quality.
Livingston Pianos— Uprights and Player Pianos
A popular piano at a popular price.
Over 70,000 instruments made by this company are sing-
ing their own praises in all parts of the civilised world.
Write for catalogues and state on what terms you would
like to deal, and we will make you a proposition if you are
located in open territory.
WEAVER PIANO CO., Inc.
Factor?: YORK, PA.
EstablUhad 1870
For a
Bigger and Better
Business
There is nothing to compare
with the complete line of
M. SCHULZ CO.
The Players are RIGHT in
everything t h a t means
money to the dealers and
satisfaction to the public
You will never do anything better
than when you get in touch with
M. SCHULZ CO.
711 Milwaukee Avenue
CHICAGO
OUTHfiW BRANCH: 730 GandW Hid*. ATLANTA, GA
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/
18
March 21, 1925.
P R E S TC
ADDITION TO S. E. OVERTON CO.'S PLANT
New Building Solely Devoted to Manufacture of Knock=Down Benches Among New Facilities
for Progressive Industry at South Haven, Mich.
The S. E. Overtoil Company, South Haven, Mich.,
has just added to its plant a large building to be used
solely for the piano bench business. The develop-
ment of the bench manufacture and of the K. D.
Bench idea, has been mainly responsible for this
growth.
The Knock Down Bench was originated in 1918
by S. E. Overtoil, head of the S. E. Overton Co.
Previously all Overtoil Benches had been shipped set
up. This meant a great waste of storage and ship-
ping space. Freights were high, and it was difficult
for the dealer to store matching shades for all pianos
because of the room required.
The K. D. Construction.
The Overton K. D. construction, patented by Mr.
ton plant is the largest of its kind in the country and
continues to grow.
Interesting History.
The success of the S. E. Overton Company is due
to the energy, enterprise and originality of the head
of the company. S. E. Overton, left an orphan in the
early eighties, sold newspapers on the streets of
Chicago. The lessons he learned in this youthful
enterprise have doubtless contributed much to his
practical and energetic handling of business affairs
since.
By 1903 Mr. Overton was sole manager and carver
of a small woodworking shop located on a single floor
on Lincoln street, Chicago. Besides Mr. Overton, the
force consisted of a band-sawer and a sander. But
manufacturers; but in 1914 Mr. Overton decided to
produce and market high grade benches under his
own name. Valuable patents were acquired and much
original research work was done.
The Satisfactory Results.
The results of this ambitious effort are seen in the
busy plant at South Haven and in the opinion of the
trade in its products. The Overton benches are
NEW BUILDING.
The large building
just added to the Over-
ton plant solely for the
manufacture of piano
benches. The Overton
plant is the largest of
its kind in the country,
and occupies 130,000
square feet of floor
space.
Overton, saves the retailer sixty per cent of his
freight and three-fourths of his storage space; and
it results in a much stronger bench. More than a
dozen glue joints were eliminated. As the modern
bench receives a racking, twisting motion when in use
with the player piano, this added strength is exceed-
ingly important. Besides, the simple construction
makes it possible to manufacture a strictly high-
grade bench out of selected materials at the price
of a "seconds" bench.
The K. D. construction is also popular with dealers
all over the country because of the convenience of
the Overton shipping package, which files neatly
away like books on shelves. With the finish labelled
on end, the salesmen can quickly locate the required
shade. The fibre carton perfectly protects the bench
from dust and mars. "Two Minutes and a Screw
Driver" are all that are necessary to set up the bench
for display.
Distinctive Overton Features.
These Overton K. D. features have come to be so
much in demand that more room has become neces-
sary to handle the increasing business. The new
building just taken over by the Overton Company
makes 35,000 square feet of floor space devoted en-
tirely to benches. This added space will greatly facili-
tate rapid and efficient handling of orders. The Over-
his ability and industry were soon rewarded by a
steady increase of business which necessitated hiring
the floor above.
Moves to South Haven.
As the business continued to grow,
Mr. Overton looked for a location
where he could obtain steady, skilled
labor, shipping facilities, and room for
expansion. South Haven was finally
decided upon as the most desirable and
the plant was moved there. Here the
business has prospered and grown un-
til it occupies 130,000 square feet of
floor space and employs nearly three
hundred men. Fine carvings of every
description, bench legs, phonograph
legs, ornamental lamps, builders' mill-
work, brush handles, closed car mold-
ings, and many other specialties are
produced in large quantities. Much of
the machinery has been specially de-
signed and built for the work at great
expense; until perhaps no other plant in the country
is so well-equipped for quantity production of high
grade w r ood specialties.
For some time in the early days the plant made
parts of piano benches in large quantities for other
THE BENCHES IN STOCK.
With tlic finish marked on
pnd, the salesmen fan quick-
ly find the matching shade,
if it's in stock.
BENCH IN CARTON.
Showing how easily it
Klips from the carton. Over-
ton benches ship across the
continent without a scratch.
characterized by the qualities that appeal to the dealer
keen for real values and to his customer appreciative
of artistic design and durable construction. The
modern methods in the manufacturing processes as-
sure to the trade the desirable prices which guaran-
tee fair profit to the retailer. Selling Overton benches
is advantageous in every way. The handling of the
desirable line means a reward in profits and in a
reputation for the sale of benches of real worth.
The Overton factory reports excellent orders for
all the styles in tis varied line, and the activity in
oak, walnut, and mahopany. Shipped K.
I), at a saving of 60 per cent in freight.
turning out the knockdown styles is a marked tribute
to their value to the trade. Spring and summer
promise to be busy periods for the South Haven
industry.
THE OLD FACTORY BUILDING.
A birdseye view of part of the Overton plant at South Haven. The factory now uses over a quarter of million feet of lumber monthly;
piano hammer moldings are produced at the rate of 800 sets a day; and over a million and a half phonograph legs are made yearly.
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/

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