Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
mental step toward happiness, which cannot be easily
ignored. Therefore, perhaps, all we need, after all,
is a better knowledge of harmony, or rather of music,
for all true harmony is musical.
Yes, to make a long story short, it's music we need.
For again we say that "music, after all, is the true
Letter from Art Gillham, "the Whispering source
of joy and happiness."
Pianist," Attributes His Improved Record-
So, dear reader, after your long day at the office,
ing to Merits of Baldwin Grand.
or perhaps it's right in the home, caring for children,
The following letter from Art Gillham, "The Whis- or it might be a thousand and one little worries.
pering Pianist," to A. C. Hoffer, manager of the After that is over for the day, and your dear ones
Baldwin Piano Company, Indianapolis, recites a few again gather at home, and the soft glow of the eve-
facts of interest to prospective piano buyers and inci- ning- somehow or other suggests that happiness should
dentally to buyers of talking machine records and prevail, you will know how to find that happiness.
You'll know music is what you need. Instrumental
listeners-in on radio:
in expressing and fulfilling this need of harmony, a
"Dear Mr. Hoffer: I don't know whether you have good piano is most important. Your children should
noticed any difference in my Columbia records for be taught to play, or even you may be able to spare
the past six months or not, but beginning with the the time, for the sake of happiness. For those who
have not the time to study, a playerpiano is most
practical. Even the kiddies will rush to the player-
piano to show you their skill, though Mother and
Dad do know how easy it really is. And if by
chance you don't realize that fact, come in and try
one of our reproducing players. You'll be surprised,
too, and furthermore, you'll find happiness. Do visit
us and come soon.
Yours truly,
CHRISTMAN BROS.,
H. Elliot C.
RADIO PIANIST IS
"SOLD ON BALDWIN"
WARNING THE PROSPECTIVE
AMERICAN EXPORTERS
ART GILLJJAM.
release of 'I'm Leaving You,' and 'I Wish I Had My
Old Gal Back Again,' the piano used in the records
is my Baldwin Grand.
"I have noticed an increase in sales of my records
since the above mentioned record was released about
six months ago. I do not attribute it to any better
work upon my part, but I do attribute it to the won-
derful recording of the Baldwin piano.
"I think by comparing any of my previous Colum-
bia records to those of the present time, any one who
knows nothing about music can see there is a differ-
ence in the tone of the piano on the records.
"As usual, again, and from here out, I am still sold
on the Baldwin Piano. I am going to continue to use
it for recording and I wish to have you place one for
me in each House where I am playing in the future.
Further information on this will be sent to you.
"With kindest regards and best wishes for the suc-
cess of yourself and the Baldwin Company, I am,
Sincerely yours,
"ART GILLHAM."
HARMONY AND HAPPINESS
AS RELATED TO MUSIC
Incentive of Piano in the Home as Set Forth
by Christman Bros., New York, in
Letter to Prospects.
Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Commerce Prints
Advice as to What Not to Do.
A proposal from a foreign dealer or agent to rep-
resent an American line of goods should be scruti-
nized with due care, warns Commerce Reports, pub-
lished by the Bureau of Foreign and Domestic Com-
merce. Before committing himself to any arrange-
ment and before sending samples or terms, the
exporter should check up on the reliability of the
foreign firm.
If the article is protected by patents in the United
States, or if it is sold under distinctive trade-marks,
counsel should be taken as to the manner in which
those rights may be protected in the country in which
it is expected the goods will be sold. If the exporter
intends to apply for foreign patents, he should re-
frain from sending abroad samples or descriptions of
the article prior to the filing of his application, be-
cause the introduction into the foreign country of
either the article itself or a description of it, prior to
the filing of the application for patent, may forfeit the
right to obtain such patent.
DEMAND NELSON-WIGGEN LINE.
Trade conditions in the automatic piano field are
improving, is 'the opinion of O. Nelson, president of
the Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co., 1731 Belmont avenue,
Chicago, manufacturers of automatic instruments.
"The demand for all sizes and models in our line
is far better this month than the month just past,
and we are anticipating a good volume of business
during the next few months. Trade conditions are
improving and our line covers everything in the auto-
matic field," said Mr. Nelson to a Presto-Times rep-
resentative this week.
BUYS BALTIMORE STORE.
The Rosenstein Piano Company, 402 North How-
ard street, Baltimore, Md. } has discontinued business,
following the death of Sol Rosenstein, head of the
company. The entire stock, consisting entirely of
pianos, was purchased by the Charles M. SteifT, Inc.
The stock is being offered at the main store of Stieff,
at 315 North Howard street, and at the new branch
store of Stieff at 2321 East Monument street.
Following- is a copy of a prospect-finding letter
which has been sent out by mail to prospective piano
buyers. It was written by a member of the sales
staff of the Christman Sons Piano Co. of New York
DEDICATE AEOLIAN BUILDING.
and should be effective in increasing local trade
The new Aeolian Building at Fifty-fourth street and
almost anywhere:
Fifth avenue, New York, which won the Fifth Avenue
•New York, February 16, 1927.
Dear Reader: Have you ever watched a group of Association's medal for architectural beauty, was ded-
couples dancing? LIndoubtedly you have, and if so, icated on Wednesday of last week. Colonel Michael
even though you did not think of it at the time, you Friedsam, president of the Fifth Avenue Association,
were looking at happiness. Say, that does sound in- presented the award to Whitney Warren, represent-
teresting. If for no other reason than curiosity, let's ing the architects. E. L. Votey of the Aeolian Com-
try to analyze this word happiness.
pany delivered an address.
First we must ask ourselves, what brings happiness?
Or, perhaps, we should say, how can I obtain happi-
THE AMPICO IN MEXICO.
ness? In answer to these two questions, we might
The
Music
House of Velazquez, owned and con-
say that primarily, music is the source of all joy and
happiness. Why, we all know that to be happy, we ducted by Senors J. F. Velazquez & Brother at 5a.
must have music in our minds, our hearts, and our Balderas street, No. 74, Mexico City, Mexico, who
souls. In other words, we must be in harmony with specialize in the Ampico line of players and repro-
the world and each other. Yes, just the same as the ducing pianos. The Mexico City house has enjoyed
dancers we watched were in harmony with their an excellent Ampico business the past year and trade
music. They were in harmony, and so they were is looking up considerably of late, Presto-Times is
happy. Evidently this word harmony is a funda- informed.
February 26, 1927.
CHILDREN AS
PIANO PROSPECTS
Wee Folk of the Family Recognized as Big
Influence in Sales of Small Uprights and
Fact Is Impressed by Character of
Advertising for Little Models.
PLAYROOM WINDOWS
Exhibiting Particular Uses of Pianos of Small Dimen-
sions, a Successful Way of Associating Children
with the Little Instruments.
In featuring the small upright piano many dealers
are prompting owners of grands, and larger makes of
uprights, to add another piano to their homes. The
suggestion is being made by the means of specially
prepared printed inducements as well as by displays
in windows and the interiors of stores.
The plea to schools is an old one that continues to
prove successful. It is the most generally used form
of argument for the small uprights and one which
justifies itself in the great growth of upright pianos
of the "baby" variety.
The New Plea.
The newer plea for the small uprights involves the
suggestion to buy another piano for the use of the
youngsters of the family, and the publicity has been
effective in a highly satisfactory way where the meth-
ods of presentation have been novel. It is the crea-
tion of the thought of the little piano in the playroom
and the nursery, where its dimensions conform with
the general scheme of furniture and decorations.
The presentation of the little pianos in that setting
in show windows approaching the holidays last year
induced many a generous daddy to purchase one of
the little pianos for a beloved youngster. Christmas
gift advertising is largely for the influencing of
fathers and mothers, and featuring the little pianos
should be a prominent feature of the publicity and the
window displays.
What Windows Have Done.
Ingenious window display arrangers have extended
the idea and produced the nursery window, showing
the adaptability of the tiny upright pianos for the
child's nursery or playroom. Bright enameled fin-
ishes in the small models aided the suggestion of
appropriateness. Specially painted backgrounds, fur-
niture of small dimensions, toys and children's books,
completed the element of allurement in the displays.
At first the idea of devoting a whole show window
to a small upright, with accessories such as described,
was a novel departure from conventional methods,
but the very novelty was a help towards impressing
its purposes. Progressive piano houses which tried
it were so rewarded with the first impromptu trial
that they repeated the playroom display and called in
the aid of artists and first-class decorators in doing
so. Toy departments in the best department stores
were successfully appealed to for "properties," and
when the scenes were rendered more realistic by the
addition of little figures representing children at play,
the effects were potent suggestions to loving parents
with generous minds.
Active Piano Houses.
Some notable featuring for the little pianos has
been accomplished by the Cable Piano Co., Chicago,
and in several branches of the company. And while
the Cable Midget's claim to the distinction of suit-
ability to the playroom impressed, its possession of
the well known musical qualities of the standard size
Cable pianos was equally made clear.
In its show windows, at 433 Fifth avenue, New
York, Hardman, Peck & Co. was among the pioneers
in "character" displays, showing the Harrington
Junior uprights. These clever displays were creative
of a wonderful expression of interest on the famous
avenue. The idea in the window presention of chil-
dren as users of the little pianos impressed the little
folks themselves so that at every hour of the day
children were most numerous among the observers.
According to Calvin T. Purdy, manager of the Hard-
man warerooms, the first of the playroom scenes
resulted in the sale of the Harrington-Junior shown
in the window and four duplicate models.
In addition to presenting the little pianos as highly
suitable for schools and small apartments, other alert
dealers have directed the attention of parents to their
suitability for special use by children in rooms alloted
to their use in homes. The Knight-Campbell Music
Co., Denver; Rapp & Lennox, Indianapolis; the
Muehlhauser Bros. Co., Cleveland; Foster & Waldo,
Minneapolis, and others, have within the year made
striking window displays featuring the small uprights
as highly suitable to the equipment of rooms in the
home specially devoted to the children.
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