CONVENTION INCIDENT
SUGGESTS GOOD AD
Winning Qualities of the Gulbransen Register-
ing Piano Presented with Usual Force
to National Magazine Readers.
The accompanying illustration is a reduced repro-
duction of one used in connection with the Gulbran-
sen ad in the Saturday Evening Post of August IS.
In this ad is related an incident of extraordinary
interest, which actually occurred during the music
trades convention at the Drake Hotel.
A visitor to the Gulbransen display accompanied a
talented singer upon the Registering Piano. Al-
though unable to read a note on a piece of sheet
music, his accompaniment on the versatile Gulbran-
sen was so convincing that convention visitors stroll-
ing through the halls did not know he was playing
without touching the keys.
Offered to the public in the same ad was a booklet
titled "Your Unsuspected Talent," sent to anyone on
request.
FAKE ADVERTISING IN
LONDON PIANO TRADE
Same Schemes Receive Association Attention
and Correction Over There as on
This Side of the Sea.
A particularly flagrant case of misrepresentation of
facts in the British trade is reported by "Music" of
London. In a full page display advertisement it was
suggested that, as the outcome of the re-imposition
of the McKenna duties, notification had been given
of an increase in price by leading manufacturers. The
suggestion that the prices of British pianos would be
advanced is incorrect. The second complaint regard-
ing this particular advertisement was that a number,
if not all, the instruments referred to were second-
hand, but were not so described. The offense was
aggravated by the fact that a few of the instruments
were described as being "in excellent condition," etc.,
which would give one to believe that the instruments,
regarding which no such reference was made, were
new instruments. Very strong protests were imme-
diately made by the Federation of Music Industries,
as well as individual protests by manufacturers whose
instruments were referred to in another part of the
advertisement.
The incident, however, ended satisfactorily, assur-
ances having been made by the advertisers that this
type of advertising will not be resorted to again. A
newspaper paragraph was at once issued by the Fed-
eration denying the suggestion of an increase in the
price of British instruments, and was very widely
published. This is one of many ways in which the
prompt action of the London Federation is proving of
value to the interests and the prosperity of the in-
dustry.
Similar cases of "bad" advertising continually ap-
pear in the trade of the U. S., and there seems to be
small check of it. But the "count the faces" and
"find the calf" enterprises, at least, have subsided.
PIANO MAN DREW NOTICE
AT CANADIAN HOME COMING
E. A. Francis, of Galesburg, 111., Disguised as Chip-
pewa Chief, Enlivened Events at Sarnia*
E. A. Francis, of the Francis Piano Co., Gales-
burg, 111., recently drove his car to his old home
town of Sarnia, Canada, and, with Mrs. Francis, at-
tended the old home week there. They returned to
Galesburg from Canada in twenty-one hours' driv-
ing time. In a report of events in Sarnia the Cana-
dian Observer says:
Edmund A. Francis, of Galesburg, 111., an old
Sarnia boy, promised the home reunion committee
he would come for the celebration and he did come.
In fact, Mr. Francis was about half the celebration.
Sarnia was no shady bower, but in the heat of the
day this live old timer went his round of the streets
in full Indian chief regalia. He was observed by
hundreds and here and there some one who knew him
well in earlier days penetrated the disguise.
Mr. Francis is no Lilliputian and with the headgear
of a chief of the Chippewa tribe, a relic of the Riel
rebellion, he set folks wondering, however. He is
said to have fooled the chief of police when he ap-
peared at the police station and mildly intimated
that he wanted to procure a marriage license.
Mr. Francis wore his Indian costume at the home
coming at Gilson, 111., on the twenty-first and at the
Knox County fair this week where he had a display
of the various lines of players, piano reproducers and
radios handled by his company.
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
Places.
The Karl King Music Publishing Co., Fort Dodge,
la., $25,000; to do a general music publishing busi-
ness; Karl A. King, president; H. B. Sellers, secre-
tary-treasurer, and J. W. Reinheldt.
The J. Harry Link Music Co., Philadelphia; to
publish and sell music in Philadelphia and elsewhere.
The Story & Clark Piano Co. of Indianapolis, has
filed an amendment to its charter to change its name
to Hampton Piano Co.
The Hunter Music Co., Dayton, O., $50,000; G. W.
Hunter, August Schauder, Bernard Schauder, Katie
Hunter and Emil Hosken.
Frank Steadman, Yonkers, N. Y , $60,000. F. and
F. and F. Steadman are given as incorporators.
The Vibro Piano & Instrument Co., Liberty, N. Y.,
$250,000. H. Beck, I. Sherage and A. Vredenburgh.
The Newman Piano Co., Lockport, N. Y., to do a
retail business in music goods. Alfred J. Newman
and Jesse L. Colby.
NEW HOUSE AT RAPID CITY, S. D.
G. B. Kemmish has entered the piano business a^
distributor and dealer in the western South Dakota
territory, with headquarters at Ranid City, handling
exclusively the Gulbransen line of pianos. Mr. Kem-
mish has been an independent tuner and repair man
for twenty-one years. He has played and practiced
music all his life, and there is now no other life for
him than selling good pianos and tuning.
The True Test
Compare the new Jesse French & Sons Piano
•
Jesse French & Sona Style BB
13
PRESTO
August 29, 1925.
with any other strictly high grade piano in tone,
touch and general construction, and you will be
convinced at once that t h e y offer the most
exceptional v a l u e s to be found anywhere.
Write today fct catalog and prices
"They are ftie one best buy on the market"
JESSE FRENCH & SONS PIANO CO.
NEWCASTLE,
INDIAJVA
BOOSTING THE SELLING
POINT IN DENVER, COLO.
Good Example of Advertisement That Creates
the Buying Desire Is Shown and Other
Activities in Music Trade Noted.
By J. B. DILLON.
The Denver Music Company in advertising the
Mason & Hamlin piano with the Ampico, used a half
page length, full page width, a photograph of Vincent
Lopez seated at the instrument and the undercaption:
"If It Was Known That Vincent Lopez Was to Play
for Your Dance Tonight
, your house would be
the most popular place in town. Yet, not only Lo-
pez, but a host of other great artists, famous wher-
ever dance music is enjoyed, come into your home
with T H E AMPICO, waiting your command to play
the very music they produce nightly in the exclusive
dancing circles of New York. The Ampico makes
every gathering in your home a gathering of famous
pianists. Chopin waltzes, Hungarian rhapsodies, noc-
turnes, barcaroles and every new dance measure
await your pleasure—all played without effort on the
part of anyone, without taking from the dance any
member of the party.
"And such music! Alive with the fire of genius,
the force of power of many personalities in one in-
strument."
Now that's what we call a real advertisement and
will bring home the mazunia.
R. W. Joyce, formerly with the H. R. Brown Bat-
tery & Electric Company, has opened up a business
of his own and specializes in radio batteries. An ad-
vertisement by any music house that it supplies radio
batteries will bring in some sales of these necessary
attachments and perhaps the sheet music of the
songs and music that float on the air.
The General Music Company of Denver has been
incorporated; capitalization $100,000.
Leonard S.
Zall, E. J. Maydeck and W. S. Hirsch are the incor-
porators.
Clark Music Company of Rockyford, Colo., has
also been incorporated, capitalization $15,000. C. O.
Clark, A. M. Clark and O. B. Fisher.
Radio Sales and Supply Company of Denver, care
of Clay & Benton, 1130 First National Bank build-
ing, is another incorporation; capitalization $50,000.
C. E. Wallick, I. M. Wallick and J. G. Nelson.
The Boot Music Company is entering its forty-
fifth year in the business in Denver. Business for
the first half of this year is ahead of the correspond-
ing period of 1924. The company has a complete
repair shop and it is a solace to all instruments users
because repairs can be made right at home and very
little delay. And—it's a solace to Boot.
PIANO TRADE AS IT IS
IN CLEVELAND, OHIO
Presto Representative Sees Evidences of Fine
Fall Business in Some of the Handsome
Well Stocked Warerooms.
The Mintz Piano Company, 1846 Euclid avenue,
Cleveland, Ohio, is preparing for an active trade this
fall. Among the pianos noticed on Mr. Mintz's floor
this week, by a Presto caller, were the Wegman, the
Chase, the Kirchner, the Channing, the "Schuman &
Sons," New York, and the Capen, New York. Also
the Lester and the Maver Bros., the latter of New
York.
A call was made at 1721 Euclid avenue where the
Mason & Hamlin store is under the management of
M. A. Rosen, who said: "We have had a fair!y good
season. We sell the Mason & Hamlin and the
Mason & Hanlin with the Ampico in it, and the
Haines Bros, and Ampico." He then showed the
beaatiful salesrooms, including sound-proof walled
rooms, and one very pretty display with nothing
but grands in the room.
The Schulz Piano Co., Cleveland, where the M.
Schulz Co.'s products are exclusively handled, at
1906 Euclid avenue, is under the management of Mr.
Andrew, who two years ago was located at Louis-
ville, Ky. Mr. Andrew is getting into action for fall
trade.
A TOLEDO SHOW WINDOW.
In the Jefferson street show window of the J. W.
Greene Co. music house, Toledo, Ohio, is displayed
a handsome upright piano in plain mahogany finish
with this legend on a printed card: "Worthy of the
Name." The name on the piano is that of the firm,
and, the J. W. Greene Music House being one of
the foremost concerns of the Buckeye State, the
guarantee is a sound one.
,*
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