Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2032

July 4, 1925.
PRESTO
REPRO ART ACTION ON DISPLAY
Ability to Cover Long Distances and Load and
Unload with Ease Is Asset with Sales-
man Using Useful Device.
In the piano business there is greater need than
ever before for the conservation of time, something
which has to do with the building up of the pile of
profits. Conservation is a necessity; it means the
saving of energy in the pursuit of sales and the pre-
vention of waste in advertising, but the conservation
of time is the most important consideration because
time mast be utilized as it swiftly passes by.
To save time is to do the maximum work in a given
space. That is where modern devices for time-sav-
ing are necessities. Among the most admirable is
one well proved a friend of the piano dealer—the
Bowen One-Man Loader and Carrier. This device
is both a time and a labor saver. The device is ex-
actly what the name implies. One man can load and
unload or demonstrate an upright piano without as-
sistance. It is feasible to load or unload a piano in
about five minutes with the aid of the Bowen One-
man Loader and Carrier.
The carrier is designed to fit a Ford runabout and
is easily attached. A carpenter or anybody handy
with tools can accomplish the job. No changes have
to be made in the car except to remove the rear
deck. The load makes no appreciable difference in
the tires if kept properly inflated. It is an easy mat-
ter for a salesman with a Bowen carrier to run out
fifty or seventy-five miles, sell his piano and get
back the same day.
NEW OFFICERS FOR GOLF
ASSOCIATION OF TRADE
The accompanying cut is from a photograph taken
on an interesting occasion at the exhibit of the
Peerless Pneumatic Action Co., Inc., New York, at
the Drake Hotel, Chicago, during the recent conven-
tion of the music trades. Every member in the group
is known to piano men everywhere, so their approval
of the merits of the Repro-Art Artistic Action, shown
in the foreground, is commendation of the most valu-
able kind.
The incident was one which naturally elated Tol-
bert F. Cheek, president of« the Peerless Pneumatic
Action Co., who takes a great interest in the Na-
tional Association of Piano Tuners and their work
in improving the quality of tuner service and encour-
aging greater efficiency in individual tuners. The
officials of the tuners' national association thoroughly
enjoyed their visit to the exhibit and were enthu-
siastic over the great merits of the Repro Art Repro-
ducing Action in the Mehlin Grand on account of its
simplicity, compactness and assurances of durability.
L. C. Singer, president Chicago Division of the
N. A. P. T., the oldest active piano tuner in the
United States came in too late to be included in the
group.
Left to right, top row: (1) H. Kemper, past vice-
president, St. Louis Division; (2) J. G. B. Astenius,
past president, Chicago Division; (3) W. F. Bieritz,
Appleton, Wis ; (4) C. G. Seeger, Appleton, Wis.
Bottom row, left to right: (1) Chas. C. Ewart,
treasurer, Peerless Pneumatic Action Co.; (2) Tol-
bert F. Cheek, president Peerless Pneumatic Action
Co.; (3) W. Braid White, honorary member, N. A.
P. T.: (4) W. F. McClellan, secretary, N. A. P. T.;
(5) Chas. Deutschmann, national president, N. A. P.
T.; (6) T. J. O'Meara, editor, The Tuners Journal,
Kansas City, Mo.; (7) G. C. Johnston president
Division, Toulon, 111.; (8) J. B. Birdsong, sales man-
ager, Peerless Pneumatic Action Co.
L. C. Singer, president Chicago Division, and J. N.
Brown, the oldest active piano tuner in the U. S.,
came in just too late for the photograph.
NEW CIRCULAR FROM
TONK MANUFACTURING CO.
they also are artistic in design. There are no experi-
mental efforts in producing Tonk benches. Artistic
designers plan them; expert mechanics fashion them
with the aid of every machine and patented device
essential to the production of high class types of
cabinets and benches.
The Los Angeles branch, just opened, serves the
entire Pacific Coast and export business to Hawaii
and Mexico. The plant in charge of G. E. Patter-
son will operate as far as possible as an independent
unit. A complete selling organization has been formed
to serve western territory as far east as El Paso and
Salt Lake Citv.
Ability to Serve Entire Music Trade of the
Country From Two Central Points,
Proved by List.
Every music dealer has a ready market for music
roll cabinets, but many are neglecting to supply it.
It was in response to an incessant demand that the
Tonk Manufacturing Co., Chicago, has placed at the
disposal of piano dealers the most practical line of
these cabinets that has ever been offered to the trade.
The company has prepared a circular with prices and
descriptive matter which will be sent on request to
dealers who may with profit consider this line right
now and get a full line of samples attractively dis-
played on their floors. People naturally look to a
The Tonk Manufacturing Co., 1910 Lewis street,
Chicago, with a new factory at 4627 East Fiftieth
street, Los Angeles, Calif., is equipped to serve the
music dealers with an admirable line of Tonk benches,
stools and cabinets. In support of the claim to sup-
ply the music trade today is the record of fifty years
of ambitious efforts to provide a good and profitable
line of benches, stools and cabinets. Now more than
ever before, the element of high quality in its prod-
ucts is considered the fundamental principle in pro-
duction by the house.
The features of reliable construction which have
always distinguished the products of the company
have likewise been accompanied by the artistic attri-
butes so essential in such articles of furniture. Tonk
benches are not only made from the best materials
and constructed by the most expert craftsmen, but
BRAZIL A PIANO MARKET.
The Wood Industry says that the German piano
industry enjoys a great reputation in Brazil, and with
the development of that great country the demand
grows from year to year. The small native industry
is incapable of supplying the demand, although it
might deliver valuable pianos in view of Brazil's
wealth in pine woods. The country encourages every
industry generously, and a regular sale is assured to
any German piano firm that would "build" in Brazil.
The greatest demand is for the upright piano; grands
are hardly inquired for. The instruments should be
packed in zinc sheet lined cases.
THE LATE W. J. DYER.
W. J. Dyer, president of W. J. Dyer & Bro., 21
West Fifth street, St. Paul, Minn., the oldest music
house in that city, who died at his home there last
week, was proud of his title, "Veteran piano man."
He had been in business in St. Paul for the past fifty-
four years. His death was preceded by that of his
three brothers, who had been associated with him in
the music business. Few men had a wider circle of
friends in the trade.
W. H. Alfring Elected President After Tournament
in Which R. O. Ainslee Wins Club Championship.
W. J. Alfring was elected president of the National
Golf Association of the Piano Trade at the meeting
following the dinner at the Westchester Biltmore
Club last week. Harry J. Sohmer was elected vice
president; Otto De Moll, secretary; Herbert W. Hill
treasurer, and George W. Allen, sergeant-at-arms.
W'illiam H. Alfring and Theodore Cassebeer com-
prise the new tournament committee and the new
handicap committee of Herbert W. Hill and Theo-
dore Cassebeer.
Excellent weather favored the games on Monday
and Tuesday in which the club championship was
won by R. O. Ainslee, whose score for seventy-two
holes of medal play totaled 319. His individual score
for each time around was 79, 82, 75 and 83.
SPRINGFIELD, MO., DEALER
LEADS BAND TO CHICAGO
Lester E. Cox, of Martin Bros. Piano Co., Found
Opportunity to Visit Gulbransen Factory.
Lester E. Cox, of Martin Bros. Piano Co., Spring-
field, Mo., was a visitor to Chicago last week, where
he attended the conclave of the Modern Woodmen
of America. With Mr. Cox came the Boy Scout
Band of Springfield, with 150 pieces, which has the
distinction of being the largest and best equipped
Boy Scout Band in the world.
Mr. Cox, while in Chicago, took advantage of the
opportunity to visit the Gulbransen factory at Chi-
cago and Kedzie avenues, and tell of the fine Gul-
bransen business in the Missouri city. The Gulbran-
sen line is a strong seller with the Martin Bros.
Piano Co.
Charles E. Wells, progressive music merchant of
Denver, Colo., was also a caller at the Gulbransen
headquarters in the week just passed. Mr. Wells was
en route to his home from Cleveland, Ohio.
EXHIBITS BRING BUSINESS.
Satisfactory results from exhibits at the Northwest
Industrial Exhibition, held in St. Paul, Minn., in con-
nection with the Norse-American Centennial, have
been reported by music firms taking part therein. The
Howard-Farwell Co.. Raudenbush Piano Co. and
the Gulbransen Co., Chicago, had attractive displays,
which were rewarded with sales and prospective
business.
ITALIAN PIANO ABUSE.
At a recent meeting of piano industrialists at Turin,
says a Milan journal, amongst the questions dealt
with was the use of foreign names on Italian pianos,
to prevent which abuse a formal resolution was
adopted.
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/
10
July 4, 1925.
PRESTO
PROPAGANDA HELPS
GERMAN PIANO SALES
William Thomson of Glasgow Shows British
Dealers at Convention the Necessity for
Decisive Action.
The McKenna duties on pianos are supposed to
help the British piano manufacturers when they are
on, but the German piano seemingly is benefited in
sales whether the duties are on or off, according to
William Thomson, head of the progressive firm of
William Thomson & Son, Glasgow, who described
the situation in a speech at the recent annual Music
Trade Convention held at Llandudno, Wales. Mr.
Thomson said:
"This is a matter of importance. The McKenna
Duties are just shuffled on or off according to what-
ever party happens to be in power. But there is just
one little point in regard to these duties, and this is
that every time the re-shuffling takes place it acts as
propaganda for German pianos. When the tax was
taken off our papers were flooded with paragraphs
telling the public that beautiful German pianos could
be had for £20. When the tax was put back again,
we were told that people would prefer the better tone
of the German piano even if they were a little dearer.
"I do not believe that the German manufacturers
have anything to do with it. You are fighting the
German Empire. I am against the re-imposition of
the McKenna Duties, as they do not allow the British
manufacturer the chance of fair honest trading.
"During the war Germany made a very much bet-
ter piano than she does today. But Germany uses
a carefully planned propaganda, which is aided by the
solid fact that the dealer nets a bigger profit from the
German than he does from the much better British
piano, which has to depend solely on its merits for
recognition. This is where I think the Federated
Board should come in with a safe, truthful, straight-
forward propaganda for the British piano."
In supporting Mr. Thomson's resolution, M. E.
Ricket of London said: "You have to realize how
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CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS
LOUISVILLE
INCORPORATED
CHICAGO
DALLAS
ST. LOCIS
DENVEK
NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO
this German propaganda started. It started very
many years ago from the Court of this country,
where everything had to be German, if it was good.
Everybody had to speak German, otherwise they
were not well received. All that work has to be
undone, and it is part of the Federation's duty to
undo it. The dealer should come behind the Federa-
tion, back them up and tell the truth. But if the
dealer is going to tell his customer that the German
piano is.a better one, for the sake of a little extra
profit, then the Federation can do nothing for you."
• Colonel Tatton said: "I should like to inform Mr.
Thomson that the manufacture of British pianos has
now reached over 90 per cent of the pre-war scale,
whereas the importation of German pianos is now,
without anything to do with the McKenna Duties,
less than 50 per cent of the pre-war scale. There are
two factors which account for this. One is the un-
doubted superiority of the British article, and the
other is the propaganda which the Federation has
done and is doing for the British piano."
QULBRANSEN CO.DECLARES
COMMON STOCK DIVIDEND
WITH THE MEN OF MUSIC
IN DENVER, COLORADO
C. E. Campbell has purchased the controlling in-
terest in the Niagara Falls, N. Y., store of Goold
Bros., Inc., Buffalo, and has changed the name to
the C. E. Campbell Music Co. The new owner has
been manager of the store for many years and is
widely known in that section.
Increase in Current Sales Showing June Best Month
of Year So Far Also Reported.
The Gulbransen Company, Chicago, has declared
a dividend of 2 per cent on outstanding common
stock, payable July 1 to stockholders of record June
29. This action was taken at a meeting of directors
held at the offices of the Company, Monday, June 29.
The company reports an increase in current sales,
and that June has proved to be the best month of the
year thus far. There is every prospect of increasing
volume of business during the balance of the year,
particularly in view of the many dealers' helps and
sales plans, some of which are in operation and others
of which will shortly be announced.
CHANGE IN NIAGARA FALLS.
An Employee in the Trade Who Gained Musi-
cal Education from Playerpiano, and
a Folding Violin.
Darrow Music Company announce that a young
man who is now working his way through college,
playing piano with an orchestra, obtained his musi-
cal education exclusively from a Laffargue player-
piano. He has never had a lesson from any teacher.
"To people who think a good playerpiano in the home
will keep a child from learning music, we will be glad
to give the name and address of the young man men-
tioned. We always recommend having a good music
teacher, but any boy or girl can obtain a knowledge
of time and expression and develop a love for an
appreciation of good music with a Laffargue Natural
Expression playerpiano."
George Nicodemus, W. W. Bradford, Bert Wells
and Charles O. Bohon, of the Knight-Campbell Music
Company met the members of the Artist Colony on
their arrival in Denver. There were eighty-seven in
the party, and after seeing Denver the artists pro-
ceeded to Estes Park, where they will attend the five
weeks' session of the Rocky Mountain School of
Expression and Dramatic Art, and the Rocky Moun-
tain School of Musical Art. The visitors are from
Dallas, Texas.
Presto's correspondent just read that some fellow
has invented a violin which may be folded up and
used for a walking stick. Am wondering if it
wouldn't go good when a cake walk is asked?
BRIEF RECORDS OF PIANO
DEALERS ACTIVITIES
Incidents in the Energetic Pursuit of the Prospec-
tive Buyer Told in Short Sentences.
Quarters in the new building at Depot Square, New
Keniston Block, Gardiner, Me., have been obtained by
James A. Morang, music merchant of Randolph, Me.
George C. Wille, president of the George C. Wille
Co., Canton, Ohio, has been elected president of the
Canton Lions Club, in the affairs of which he has
been active for several years.
The Woodford & Bill Piano Co., Menominee,
Mich., is holding a clearance sale in all departments
of its establishment preparatory to retiring from
business after forty years of musical instrument mer-
chandising.
Johnson Bros. Piano Co., Boston, has moved from
343 to 388 Tremont street.
Ben Duvall, of Aledo, a graduate of the Aledo, 111.,
high school and the University of Illinois, goes to
Japan on a three-year contract to take charge of the
piano department of a large music house's branch in
that country, according to the Warsaw, 111., Bulletin.
PROHIBITIVE OCEAN FREIGHTS.
J. W. Alexander, of Bowmanville, Ontario, presi-
dent of the Dominion Organ & Piano Co., also presi-
dent of the Canadian Piano & Organ Manufacturers'
Association, when called as a witness before the
Ocean Rates Committee at Ottawa, Ontario, on May
15, asserted that ocean rates had increased 400 per
cent over 1913 and 700 per cent over 1910. The wit-
ness declared that his company was doing practically
nothing in the United Kingdom export trade now.
"The ocean rate is not only restrictive but practically
prohibitive to our business," he said. Canada and the
United States had practically controlled the export
organ market to the United Kingdom, but "now the
United States seems to be able to get their organs
across at a lower rate than we can."
SPENCER
The Intrinsic Qualities of This
Piano Command Attention
A High Grade Instrument at a
Moderate Price
Class Factory and Equipment
Ample Production and Service
SPENCER PIANO COMPANY, Inc.
FACTORY: Thirty-First St. and First Ave.
OFFICES: 338 Etat 31st Street, New York N. Y.
E. Leins Piano Co.
Makers of Pianos and
Player Pianos That Are
Established L e a d e r s .
Correspondence from Reliable
Dealers Invited
Factory and Offices, 304 W. 42nd S(
NEW YORK
"Built on Family Pride"
Doll & Sons
Represent the Artistic
in Piano and Player Piano
Construction
JACOB DOLL & SONS
STODART
WELLSMORE
Jacob Doll & Sons, Inc.
Southern Boulevard, E. 138rd St.
E. 134th St. and Cyprea* Ave.
NEW YORK
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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