October 3, 1925.
PRESTO
James Hurst, secretary and superintendent of the
Schumann Piano Co. of Rockford, who made good
use of both his Lincoln touring and his Rickenbacker
coupe this week, can give some experts a few lines of
advice. When asked why he drove a Lincon car, Mr.
Hurst explained by a brief dissertation on economy
that costs much but means more. "My Lincoln eats
up less in gas, oil and repairs than my Rickenbacker.
It will outwear two or three other busses, and it
looks its value. Ask me why we put so much into
the Schumann piano! It's a case of economy by
quality—saving at the bung instead of at the spigot,
as we used to say before Mr. Volstead spoke. Or,
perhaps it's easier to say that the 'best is the cheap-
est.' And that's my view of both motors and pianos."
As a lecturer on quality Mr. Hurst is worth the
notice.
Harry Schoenwald Sends Regrets.
Harry Schoenwald, president of the Chicago Piano
Club, who was booked as one of the speakers at the
Tuesday night dinner, was obliged to send "regrets."
He had an important business call to Detroit which
a good friend of Mr. Schoenwald said he could not
turn down as it had "much to do with his salary
check."
Gordon Laughead, the Apollo traveler, was another
one who was called elsewhere and had to cancel his
reservation at the Nelson.
Now Loves Golf.
"And he took up golf and in a little over two years
of more or less intense playing now makes eighteen
holes in under a hundred." This is the story of how
W. N. Van Matre, the founder of the Schumann
Piano Company, Rockford, has succeeded in the game
he has last fallen in love with.
J. F. Reed, of the Paragon Piano Plate Foundries,
Oregon, 111., was a visitor at the convention on Tues-
day. Mr. Reed says that his company is now doing
the best and turning out more plates than ever before.
Eugene Whalen, of the W. W. Kimball Co., is on
a motor trip to Starved Rock, and surroundings, in
celebration of his wedding anniversary—a vacation
he calls his second honeymoon.
In a small parlor of the Nelson Hotel, at Rockford,
111., is a small grand piano used for various occa-
sions, on which no name appears either on the name-
board or the fall-board of the instrument. Just a
piano, no name and no mark of its origin. Some
good advertising lost, for the instrument seems a
good one.
Arthur Wessell, with his cherished clubs and new
case, was the guest of Charles Burtzloff, Michigan
Kohler-Campbell representative, from Rockford to
Chicago, in Mr. Burtzloff's car Wednesday morning.
O, Henry—Three of Them.
"Yes, our names are a little confusing, sometimes,
and especially when the three of us are at the same
gathering at the same time." This was remarked by
Henry Behren, one of the Tonk Manufacturing Com-
pany travelers, at the Rockford convention.
There are three Behrens in the Chicago music
trade, all holding similar positions with as many
houses. All are in the service and marketing depart-
ments and two of them were christened Henry. One
is Henry G., of the Tonk Manufacturing Company;
the other Henry, of the Baldwin Piano Company.
The third Behren is with the Williams Piano and
Organ Company.
On one occasion it is said that when Mr. Barron,
the vice-president of the Cable-Nelson Piano Com-
pany, was being paged at a music trade convention
the message went to one of the Chicago Behrens
through the phonetical similarity of the two names.
LETTER FROM COPIZ,P. I.,
SHOWS LONGING FOR PIANO
But the Writer Unfortunately Lacks the
Wherewith to Create a Really First-
Class "Prospect" Just Now.
The advertisements of the Miessner Piano Com-
pany, of Milwaukee, as published in some of the
school journals, bring some very interesting replies
from prospective customers in the Philippine Islands.
Recently a student in the High School at Copiz
wrote for information, and the Milwaukee industry
sent the customary sales letter. This week the
Miessner Piano Co. received the very interesting
letter from one of our fellow citizens, which will
prove interesting, particularly to piano salesmen
nearer home who sometimes feel that their "pros-
pects" are not sufficiently responsive or ready to
"close." Further, the letter shows how fluently the
U. S. language is now employed by our annexed
fellow compatriots in the far-off Philippines:
"Copiz, P. I., August 31, 1925.
"Miessner Piano Company,
"110-120 Reed Street,
"Milwaukee, Wisconsin, U. S. A.
"Dear Sirs: Perhaps you wonder why so long a
time had elapsed ever since you drop to me a note. I
was not able to answer right away, for I w T as ashamed
to miss your offer. I had tried all means to have
one, but all my efforts were all in desperate. I re-
ceive two letters.
"You say I even asked the school pupils and stu-
dents in the Copiz High, but they say, we got one
already. Some say, we got no money even to pay my
laundry. The Copiz High School got one already
and it is good yet. I even induced them but still,
they don't.
"I misunderstand when you say, a hundred ways to
earn money I thought you will send to me anything
which will enable me to earn money, besides piano.
I am indeed very sorry not to have one but what can
I do. I am penniless. Besides, money is hard to
earn. In the first place they say that by having a
piano you need to have a teacher. I am speaking in
this manner for the persons to whom I asked to buy.
"I will tell you frankly that I am not able to fur-
nish one for I am merely student who could hardly
study. My parents even scolded me for writing such
an advertisement. As you say that their is no obliga-
tion if you don't have the essential things. I even
say, without cost or obligation on my part. This
matter of having a piano will impoverish me, for it
cost money, of course.
"Hoping that you will never be disgusted of my
short explanation for regreting your offer. I greatly
say this words of mine so as to imagined my poor
situation, I am,
"Truly yours,
"LORENZO FLORESCA."
CLEVELAND TRADE SHOWS
INTERESTING ACTIVITY
The Lyon & Healy
Reproducing Piano
A moderate priced reproducing piano,
beautiful in design and rich in tone.
Write for our new explanatory Chart,
the most complete an3 simple treat-
ment of the reproducing action.
Wabash at Jackson - - - Chicago
Builders or Incomparable
[[PIANOS, PIAYERS^REPRODUCING KANOS
THE BALDWIN
CO-OPERATIVE
PLAN
will increase your sales and
solve your financing problems.
Write to the nearest office
for prices.
CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS
LOUISVILLE
INCORPORATED
CHICAGO
DALLAS
ST. LOUIS
DENVEB
NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO
The Best Yet
Graceful lines, rugged construc-
tion, moderately priced. It's the
very best commercial piano from
every standpoint.
Fine Exhibits of Famous Pianos; Dealers Use
Tuners' Signs; Bruck Quits the Business;
Schools Buy Starrs.
Indian Plays "Handcraft."
Robert Bruce, a full-blooded Chippewa Indian,
who played several cornet solos at the Monday night's
dinner of the Illinois Music Merchants' Convention
and who also was on the bill of entertainment at sev-
eral other functions in Rockford, uses the Martin
band instruments and always takes occasion to say
that he prefers the "Handcraft" instruments.
By A. E. DIHM.
The Knabe Warerooms, Geo. M. Ott Piano Co.
and the May Co. are exhibiting pianos at the Home
Beautiful Exposition at Public Hall this week. The
Retail Furniture Dealers' Association and the Cleve-
land News are sponsoring the show, which is attract-
ing large crowds.
The largest exhibit is that of the Knabe Ware-
rooms, who have two booths and also have instru-
Special Representatives.
ments displayed in connection with several furniture
Some of the special representatives of manufac- firms. In one booth Knabe grands and Fischer Am-
turers present are as follows: H. W. Hewitt, of M. picos are shown, and in the other the Gulbransen line
Schulz Company, Chicago; Fred J. Base, of Fred of uprights. Mr. Corrivenau is in charge of the ex-
Gretch, Chicago; A. A. Burke and S. R. Harcourt, of hibits and is being assisted by E. A. Forte.
Story & Clark Piano Company, Chicago; Frank M.
The Mason & Hamlin grand is also being shown.
Hood, of Schiller Piano Company's Chicago offices; During intermission of the orchestra the piano's tone
Alexander McDonald, of Sohmer & Company, New is demonstrated and does not fail to attract a crowd,
York; Arthur L. Wessell, Wessell, Nickel & Gross, out of which a fine number of prospects have been
New York; C. R. Gulbransen, Chase-Hackley Piano obtained.
Company, of Muskegon, Michigan; G. G. Buttell, of
The Independence Village Schools purchased two
Des Moines, Iowa, representative of Packard Piano pianos from the local Starr branch the past week. A
Company, Fort Wayne, Ind.; M. V. O'Keefe and W. committee of three visited Cleveland and finally de-
Otto Miessner, Milwaukee; Mark Mayer, of the M. cided on the Starr.
Schulz Company; B. M. Strub, of Standard Pneu-
matic Action Company, New York; Dan Pagenta, of
Chicago, representative of George P. Bent Co.; 328 North Wabash avenue, Chicago; M. Lindeman in
P. L. Hanson and Mrs. Hanson in charge of Hobart
charge of the United States Music Company's roll
M. Cable Company's exhibit; W. S. Wallace in exhibit; C. G. Steger and C. E. Byrne, of Steger
charge of Q R S Music Company's exhibit; Percy
Piano Manufacturing Company, Chicago; C. L.
Kimberly, president Music Trade Radio Corporation, Dennis, of Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
Style 32—4 ft. 4 in.
WESER
Pianos and Players
Sell Readily—Stay Sold
Send to-day for catalogue, prices and
details of our liberal financing plan
Weser Bros., Inc.
520 to 528 W. 43rd St., 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/