Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2050

November 7, 1925.
PRESTO
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells 9 '
And Every Touch Thereafter
Increases the Admiration for
Splendid Tone and Artistic
Qualities of the
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
(only 5 ft. long)
This little Grand has no superior and it
presents the very qualities that win the
prospect and makes the sale.
CHRISTMAN
Grands, Players and Uprights
command the admiration of
the best class of music lovers.
The latest tr umph is the
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
Equipped with
THI
M AS TE R'S
Fl N G E R <> I) N Y O U R
PIANO
A marvel of tone and expressive
interpretation of all classes of com-
position, reproducing perfectly the
performances of the world's great-
est pianists.
tt
The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
DEPARTMENT OF
PROMISES WINS
System Assures Quick and Careful Activity in
Finding for Customer Something Not in
Stock of Dealer, Thereby Enhanc-
ing Good Will of Store.
NO SALES LOST
"We Haven't Got It" Is Phrase Always Qualified in
Manner That Satisfies Customer of Progressive
Music House.
By ELMER E. EVANS.
A great many lost sales in music stores occur be-
cause the dealers do not carry merchandise which the
public expect the store to supply. In many music
stores it is a daily happening that a customer calls
for something that is not in stock. How do the mer-
chants respond to such calls? Too many of them
just say, "We haven't got it," and let it go at that.
This applies especially to the smaller things like a
sheet of music, a special make of mouth harp, a string
of a certain kind, any accessory, anything and every-
thing that professional and amateur musicians want.
It sometimes, perhaps you might say frequently, ap-
plies even to pianos and especially to piano tuning
and repairs.
To say "We haven't got it" and let it go at that is
a very poor plan. It is lessening the public's faith in
the store. The assurance in the minds of the people
who buy music goods, that a music store is a general
one in every sense of the term, is an asset the value
of which is obvious. "We haven't got it" is an ad-
mission of business inability, except of course it is
followed by the statement of willingness and ability
to procure quickly the article desired. Unfortunately
"We haven't got it" too often unsatisfactorily closes
the incident.
Found a Type.
While I talked with a music dealer last week in an
Indiana town a little south of Chicago, a customer
entered and asked for a particular make of fiddle
bridge. His salesman and saleswoman were taken up
with customers so the dealer stepped forward, and
when the lady told the name of the bridge, promptly
answered, "Sorry, but we haven't got it." He looked
and his voice sounded as if he were filled with re-
grets at his failure to supply the bridge. It might
have minimized her disappointment, but I'm sure the
incident lessened her faith in the store. The friend-
ship of years emboldened me to voice a protest at a
policy or rather want of policy shown in the occur-
rence.
Voices Protest.
"Say, Joe, why didn't you promise to get that bridge
for the lady?" I asked.
"Oh, what's the use," he replied. "She might pre-
tend to be pleased and then go up the street or go
in to Chicago tomorrow and buy the darn thing."
I said no more. Joe is a good fellow and sells quite
a few pianos, but his "general music store" is becom-
ing less general every day. He is a type; knows his
general music business is sick, but is indifferent about
taking the cure.
This Is Different.
A music store with a "promise department" I en-
countered later in the week is something altogether
different from that of Joe and his type. The policy
in the admirable store is not, if possible, to allow any
customer to be disappointed in his or her expectations
of the store or its service. In order to carry out the
self-imposed obligation, the firm has created the
promise department to function in such cases.
The service is working successfully and prevents
the loss of many sales. The scheme is applicable in
the little store as well as the big one. The little
store is more likely to be not equipped to supply
efficiently many things which regular and occasional
customers require.
Functions of Department.
The promise department really comprises two
classes of service—the wants and the promises.
Every music merchant is familiar with the meaning
of "wants," but "promises" as the store handles them
are more or less of a new departure. The principle
of the method is an organized and careful follow-up
system to secure for and deliver to the customer the
goods required but which are not in stock at the
moment of ordering.
The operation is like this: When a customer asks
for something not in stock, the salesman intimates
that the house will be very willing to get it. And
after impressing the ability of the store to make good
on the promise, the customer's name and address is
taken on a special form provided for the purpose. A
"promise book" is part of the regular sales book.
Two copies of the promise slip are made, one for the
customer and one for the house and each bears the
date on which delivery is promised.
The system has increased business considerably and
of course enhanced the good will of the house. It
strengthens the customers' assurances of the ability
of the house to serve—to make it unnecessary for
them to go elsewhere.
The house fills more than ninety per cent of the
promises eventually. It has found it impossible to
fill about forty per cent of them on the date of the
original promise. But the system provides for ex-
planations to the expectant customer and invariably
gets back instructions to "go ahead and get it for
me."
PLATT P. GIBBS STRUCK
BY A SPEEDING CAR
Popular Member of the Trade Injured by
Automobile at Corner of Wabash Avenue
and Monroe Street, Chicago.
Platt P. Gibbs, who has been active in the Chi-
cago music trade for more than fifty years, was struck
by an automobile on Wednesday of this week and
badly injured. He was taken to St. Luke's Hospital,
where, at latest reports, Presto was told he "is doing
well." At the time of his injury Mr. Gibbs was at-
PLATT P. GIBBS.
tempting to cross Monroe street, on Wabash avenue,
and it is supposed that because of his defective left
eye he failed to see the speeding car.
There is no more popular member of the trade than
Platt Gibbs. He has taken part in most of the con-
ventions of the men of music, and as a speaker and
wit he has long stood unmatched. He entered the
Chicago trade back in the early days as messenger
for Root & Cady. At one time he was owner of the
Chicago Music Company, which grew to large pro-
portions. For many years past Mr. Gibbs has been
conducting a song book publishing business in Chi-
cago. His friends everywhere will hope for his
speedy recovery.
DAMAGE SUIT OPENS.
The $3,000 damage suit of the Claypool-Lacey
Music Company, Crawfordsville, Ind., vs. John N.
Taylor, opened in circuit court last week, before
Judge Jere West and a jury. The Claypool-Lacey
Company alleges that water leaking through the ceil-
ing from the office of Dr. Taylor in the Ben-Hur
building, into the Claypool music store, damaged
musical instruments to the extent of $3,000.
ANNOUNCES CHANGE OF NAME.
The name of the Hill Piano Co., Huntington, W.
Va., has been changed to The Miller Music Store, the
new name being adopted when the business Was
moved last week to new quarters in the Vinson
Building. C. V. Miller, the proprietor, has been in
control of the Hill Piano Co., for the past seven
years. Pianos, talking machines and musical mer-
chandise are carried.
A spacious recital hall will be a feature in the newly
remodeled store of the J. W. Jenkins Sons Music Co.,
Tulsa, Okla.
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/
PRESTO
November 7, 1925.
who has already produced the wonder piano to sell
at thirty cents, or even dollars, the story will be of
THEODORE PRESSER
more interest to ambitious piano salesmen who find
LEFT LARGE FORTUNE present prices a little beyond their capacity.
Philadelphia Music Publisher Bequeathed Two
Millions of Dollars to the Education
and Aid of Struggling Musicians.
HEAD OF SPECIAL OHIO
COMMITTEE AND A LAW SUIT
Theodore Presser, the Philadelphia music publisher,
died on October 28 at the age of seventy-eight. He
had been ill since May and his death took place at
the Samaritan Hospital. He had long and wide ex-
perience in the world of music and successively filled
the roles of teacher, author, editor and publisher. He
was born in Pittsburgh, and resided for a time in
Dayton, Ohio. From there he went to Philadelphia
and established the music business which is now the
Theodore Presser Co.
Forty-three years ago Mr. Presser founded "The
Etude," a monthly music magazine which has at-
tained to a wide reading. Nearly ten years ago he
also founded a Home for Aged Musicians in Phila-
delphia. At his death he left virtually all of his
$2,000,000 estate to the same fund to aid the cause of
musical education and to assist struggling musicians.
The will stipulated that the fortune, excepting a
few bequests to relatives and employes, should go to
the Theodore Presser foundation, which was created
by the music publisher in 1916 to establish scholar-
ships.
Items from Cleveland Tell of New Association Activi-
ties and of Radio Company's Troubles.
Fred N. Goosman, of Toledo, has been appointed
chairman of a committee, with Rex Hyre and Presi-
dent Otto Muehlhauser of the Music Merchants' Asso-
ciation of Ohio, to act as delegates to the mid-year
meeting of the National Association in January.
They will present suggestions and the problems con-
fronting the Ohio association.
Several suits have been filed against the Buel Dis-
tributing Co., jobbers of radio and phonographs and
records, and a receiver asked for. The suits were
filed by the Wolfe Manufacturing Industries Co., the
General Phonograph Co. and Everybody's Talking
Machine Co., the amounts being as follows: $4,499.50,
$4,023.84, $3,016.68. The case came up in Common
Pleas Court on October 30th and was continued until
November 6th.
CHICAGO'S PLACE IN
THE MUSIC INDUSTRY
NEWS ABOUT THE MEN
WHO RETAIL THE PIANOS
Brief Items of Trade News Gathered Here and
There in Music Field.
H. E. Dewsnup has returned to his old position in
the Consolidated Music Co., Salt Lake City, as head
New Book Tells of the Fine Showing Made in of the piano department.
Lee Outten, formerly manager of the piano depart-
1925 and Tells Why Big Town
ment
at the Hopper-Kelly Music House, Seattle, has
Is Proud.
joined the Meyer Toner Piano Co., of the same city,
In a booklet entitled "The Plan of Chicago in 1925," as assistant to the manager.
which is the fifteenth annual report of the Chicago
Clifford Prentice will open a music and furniture
Plan Commission, the city's musical instrument trade
store in Pottsville, Pa., this week.
receives this compliment:
William James, for thirteen years associated with
"Wherever a musical note is struck, either m the
world of jazz or symphony, Chicago is well known, the Heer Stores Co., has resigned to become asso-
for it is the greatest producer of band instruments, ciated with the Martin Brothers Piano Co., Spring-
moaning saxophones, whining clarinets, sweet-toned field, Mo.
The first of the 1925 Christmas Clubs in Denver has
harps, clanking banjos and high-grade pianos of any
been launched by the Darrow Music Co. The com-
city in this country or Europe."
That is a statement which may be disputed in pany urges early selection of pianos, both players and
some of its bearings. For, while there are many band grands.
instruments made in Chicago, little Elkhart, Ind.,
seems to be producing even more, and, while high-
STARR IN NASHVILLE.
grade pianos issue in large numbers from Chicago
Alterations and improvements on the four-story
factories, little old New York is still on the map as a building of the Starr Piano Co., 240 Fifth avenue,
high-grade piano producer. Still, the Chicago Plan North, Nashville, Tenn., will include the addition of
Commission and its book are justified in pointing with two more stories, which will be utilized as studios for
pride at the city's musical instrument industries.
music teachers. Part of the ground floor will be
leased to another concern, and improvements will be
made on the retail store. R. K. Woodruff, manager
of the Starr Piano Co. Sales Corp., has announced
that in the future the wholesale business will be han-
dled directly from the factory.
AN INVENTION PROBABLY OF
ANANIAS & MUNDCHAUSEN
Story of Piano No Larger Than Typewriter; Is to
Be Sold for $30.
RADIO CONFERENCE CALLED.
Secretary of Commerce Hoover has called the
The rural newspapers, and some of those in the Fourth National Radio Conference to meet in Wash-
big cities, have been telling the world about a piano ington on Monday, November 9. This conference is
no bigger than a typewriter that possesses a tone as expected to be the most important one of the series,
large as a concert grand. The radio was a miracle for its report will undoubtedly direct or influence
until it became partly understood. But this very little legislation affecting broadcasting, particularly copy-
large grand piano is a stunner. The piano is said right.
to be the latest invention of a Russian. Experts of
ACTIVE ALABAMA FIRM.
the Government Institute of Music have examined
The C. W. Lewis Furniture Co., Tuscaloosa, Ala.,
it and pronounced it the equal of a first-class grand
piano. It weighs about thirty pounds, has a key has the Victor and Columbia records and machines.
board of four banks, and may be mastered for A recent window display of machines by the Lewis
company created much favorable comment, and con-
simple playing in three months.
If produced in wholesale quantities the price siderable new trade has been added to the firm
would be about $30, according to estimates of the through the firm's activity in featuring the new
records.
Institute of Music.
That's the story. If the space writers will go
ahead and tell of some enterprising manufacturer
NEW DALLAS QUARTERS.
The Baldwin Piano Co., Dallas, Tex., recently
opened its new local home at 1017 Elm street, com-
bining its retail and wholesale quarters. The former
department is practically an innovation, but the
wholesale offices of the Baldwin concern have been
maintained here for several years.
WILLIAMS
PIANOS
The policy off the Williams House it and always
has been to depend upon excellence of product
instead of alluring price. Such a policy does not
attraot bargain hunters. It does, however, win the
hearty approval and support of a very desirable
and substantial patronage.
M/IIIIAI/K M.ken of William* Pianoi.
WILLIAMS
Epworth PUno ,
. nd
Org . o ;
BAND GOOD ADVERTISEMENT.
As a means of boosting and advertising the village
the Maumee, O., Chamber of Commerce recently
made an appeal to all who play a band instrument to
meet at Legion Hall for the purpose of organizing a
band.
T. B. Johnson has been named manager of the
grand piano section of the A. B. Smith Piano Co.,
Akron, O.
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 and simple treat-
ment of the reproducing action.
Wabash at Jackson - - - Chicago
Builders or Incomparable
[PIANOS. PLAYERSSREPRODUCING PIANOS
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
DBNVKB
NEW TORS
SAN FRANCISCO
The Best Yet
Graceful lines, rugged construc-
tion, moderately priced. It's the
very best commercial piano from
every standpoint.
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/

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