September 5, 1925.
PRESTO
HOW GREAT HOUSE
BOOSTS THE BAY
more, it places the stamp of a strong approval upon
the H. C. Bay grand piano. It adds a new line
to the characterization of pianos, as well, for it
tells about "a low priced grand piano of a quality we
would care to add to our celebrated list of nationally
famous pianos."
Little Baby Grand from Bluffton Set Forth in
Fine Style by the Philadelphia Ware-
rooms of the Greatest of All
Department Stores.
Very High Praise.
There is enough commendation in that sentence to
lift any piano above the level. And it is certain that
the H. C. Bay grand has made great headway until
today, to again quote the Wanamaker advertisement,
it is pronounced as being exceptionally well con-
structed, handsome in finish and detail, perfect in
scale, admirable in tone, and yet purchaseable for no
more than the usual cost of a good upright."
It would be difficult to think of anything more that
could be said, and the H. C. Bay Company has rea-
son to feel a sense of satisfaction in having the little
Grand prominent in such a house and so warmly
commended.
A Busy Factory.
A recent visit to the factory at Bluffton, Indiana,
gave evidence of unusual midsummer activities. One
of the reasons for that activity may be plainly seen
in the Wanamaker advertisement, and in the enthu-
siasm which it suggests in the piano department at
the Philadelphia establishment. The advertisement
which is here reproduced, in fac-simile, will do more
to still further enhance the demand for H. C. Bay
baby grands than any other style of literature that
could be written. And Presto is glad of the oppor-
tunity to say this.
A WANAMAKER ADVERTISEMENT
A Fac-Simile Reproduction of One of the Most En-
thusiastic Announcements in the History of
the Piano Trade.
When the Wanamaker Store takes on a line, in any
of its departments, there must be a reason. And the
standing of the house that John Wanamaker built
is such that the world doesn't dispute what its adver-
tising department says.
The facts just stated make the announcement
which follows, in fac-simile, from the Philadelphia
Record of last Wednesday, of more than ordinary in-
terest to the piano trade and to the piano buying
public. This advertisement is reproduced precisely
as it appeared in the Philadelphia newspaper—it is,
in fact, a photographic copy:
STORY OF AN EVERY DAY
OFFICE EXPERIENCE
Salesmen, and Perhaps Some of the Gentlemanly
Advertising Solicitors, Will Recognize This One.
The following, which appeared in Monday's syndi-
cated letter by O. O. Mclntyre, reads very much
as if it might be a recital of the every-day experience
of an advertising solicitor:
"Jay Kaufman tells of a visit Arnold Bennett made
to the office of an American publisher. He was
greeted in the usual 'whatta you wantta see 'im
about?' way. He replied, passing on inside:
" 'I don't know what he wants you to know, but
when I see him I'll ask him, and if he says 1 may
tell you, I'll tell you when I come out.' " .
An Innovation in
Piano Selling
To Its Famous Family of Grand pianos
the Wanamaker Store Now Adds
a New Member—
The H. C. Bay
Baby Grand Piano
at $475
For many months the Piano Store has been seeking
a small grand piano of genuine quality that could be sold
at a price low enough to come within reach of any one.
Plenty of cheap-enough "grand" pianos were to be
had—pianos "grand" in name only.
But a low-priced grand piano of a quality we would
care to add to ^-Uncelebrated list of nationally famous
pianos was not so easily found.
In the H. C. Bay piano, as made expressly
for John Wanamaker, we have found it.
Here is a really beautiful little "baby" grand instru-
ment, exceptionally well constructed, handsome in finish
and detail, perfect in scale, admirable in tone, and yet
purchasable for BO little aa $475—no more than the usual
cost of a good upright piano 1
At $475 it is truly a remarkable instrument, and we
can and do unhesitatingly recommend it to any who want
a thoroughly satisfactory small grand piano at an excep-
tionally low cost.
A great deal could be said about the construction ot
the H. C. Bay grand piano—the points that make it
superior to any other instrument of its price, and "equal
to some pianos of much greater price.
But the first shipment of these new instruments is
now on our floors, and we invite you to come see them
for yourself, hear them, try them.
The length is four feet eight inches; width, four feet
10 inches. The case is eatin-fmish brown mahogany.
BRIEF RECORDS OF PIANO
DEALERS ACTIVITIES
Incidents in the Energetic Pursuit of the Prospec-
tive Buyer Told in Short Sentences.
The Ritten Music Co. recently opened for business
in handsome warerootns at 231 North Illinois street,
Indianapolis, Ind.
DeVries & Dornbos, Holland, Mich., has moved to
its new five-story building, and utilizes the second
floor as a music department.
The Pordan-Holmes Co. is a new enterprise in
Greenwood, Miss. The house specializes in pianos.
Kice-Watters Co., Inc., Seattle, Wash., has acquired
the agency for Baldwin pianos.
M. O. Beckham, manager of the Edison and Am-
pico Music Store at 192 Peachtree street. Atlanta, Ga.,
has resigned to accept a position with the Turner
Music Co., Tampa, Fla.
The Olson Drug Co., Cascade, Iowa, is remodeling
a portion of its store to handle the Baldwin Piano
Co.'s line.
The Hollenberg Music Co., Little Rock, Ark., has
launched a "Save for Music Club," one dollar mak-
ing one a member. The plan is to assist customers in
buying a piano, phonograph or radiola.
The Stapleton Music Co., 214 Losoya street, San
Antonio, has moved to Travis street and Broadway.
W. M. McNulty is the new manager of the Bens-
berg Music Shop in El Dorado, Ark.
Isaac Bledsoe, of the San Antonio Music Co., San
Antonio, with Mrs. Bledsoe, is making an extended
trip to Chicago, New York and other points. He will
be gone about six weeks.
The Hannibal Music Co., Hannibal, Mo., has moved
from 321 Broadway to more spacious quarters at
108 S. Main street.
BANKRUPT PIANO SALES.
Public sale of stock and fixtures of the Alfred
And the price but $475, on easy terms
Wiley Piano House in Huntingdon, W. Va., took
if desired.
(Second Tloor)
From the caption to the last word, that Wana-
maker advertisement is one of power. It is, further-
more, one that will attract a large number of people
to the Wanamaker piano department. And, still
place on Friday, September 4. The sale was conducted
by Cyrus B. Van Bibber, receiver of the estate. The
stock and fixtures of the Logan store of the Alfred
Wiley Piano House were sold at public sale Thurs-
day morning, September 3. Both sales were for
cash.
PERFECTLY APPOINTED
PIANO TUNING SCHOOL
Polk's College of Piano Tuning at LaPorte,
Indiana, the First in History to Have
Its Own Building.
Piano tuning
—and the fur-
ther skill that
makes it easily
possible that the
instruments of
music be kept in
proper condition
—has become a
systematic
branch of vocational education. At LaPorte, Indiana,
an hour's ride from Chicago, there is a college of
piano tuning so completely equipped that, from build-
ing to the last and latest device in the player action,
and reproducing action, everything has been supplied
for the better advancement of pupils. The institution
marks a new step forward in the department of piano
preservation and correct ear training.
Polk's School of Tuning was established nearly a
half-century ago, at Valparaiso, Ind. Several years
ago its founder died, shortly after having sold his in-
stitution to Willard R. Powell, a recognized expert in
his profession, who has since developed the school
with remarkable results. From a comparatively
small class of students, the college is now conducting
large numbers of students through the mysteries
of tone perfection and action regulation. Within a
year an entirely new building has been erected, at
LaPorte, and every possible equipment and con-,
venience introduced for the assistance of pupils and
teachers. Pianos and playerpianos, completed and in
every separate part and detail, are provided.
The new building of Polk's College of Piano Tun-
ing was designed expressly for the purpose of the
school, and has only recently been completed and the
school settled in it. The matter of keeping pianos in
order has slowly but steadily grown in upon the
music dealers throughout the country. Tn proportion
the demand for competent tuners has extended, until
today there is little trouble on the part of young
men who have graduated from the Polk institution to
find remunerative employment in whatever section of
the country they may deem most desirable. President
Powell, of the La Porte institution, has also made it
a part of his interests to locate suitable places for
the students, and in that way the college presents
double assurance for graduates of the school. The
small picture of the new building at LaPorte was
made from a photograph.
STORY & CLARK PIANO
CO. TO MOVE IN DETROIT
New Wareroom Is in the Fine Chancery
Building, Just Five Doors East of
Present Location.
The Story & Clark Piano Company announces that
they have leased the store located at 1230 Washing-
ton boulevard, Detroit, in the beautiful new Chancery
Building. This store is five doors east of their pres-
ent location.
The store is considerably larger than the present
one, and after alterations are completed will have a
large mezzanine floor, on which will be the office,
salesmen's quarters and the manager's office. Ar-
rangements are being made to install three special
demonstrating booths on the main floor, and also a
booth in the mezzanine basement for the used piano
department.
The new store, when completed, will be in keeping
with the Story & Clark Piano Company's other beau-
tiful sales warerooms, in New York City, Chicago
and Philadelphia. Paul H. Cagle is manager of the
Detroit division.
SOUTH AMERICAN COMPETITION.
In the South American states strenuous North
American competition was begun in the years 1921
and 1922, which resulted in a slight decline in the
import figures for German pianos there; but in the
year 1923 this decline was already wiped out. In
Brazil, which has been very difficult for Germany
to operate in, 4,000 German cottage pianos and
grands were imported in the three years preceding
1924.
A Steinway concert grand was
tahe courtesy of Sherman, Clay &
the delegates to the eighth annual
North Pacific Singing Union held
recently.
furnished through
Co. for the use of
saengerfest of the
in Portland, Ore,
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