PRESTO-TIMES
April 30, 1927.
LETTERS TO PRESTO=TIMES
on Jtuic 6, when I strike Chicago again and take my
share at the big convention.
C. STANLEY.
MARK HEALY RESIGNS
TO HEAD DIRECTORS
A "LIVE" PROSPECT.
Dealer Down in Missouri Cries "Help," When He President of Lyon & Healy Becomes Chair-
Receives Call from Willing Trade-in Customer.
man of the Board of Directors of
Letter from a Veteran Who Believes That the Man-
Editor Presto-Times: Can't you find some one that
Old Chicago Company.
will trade with this prospect? It seem to be a
ufacturers Are Not Good Advertisers.
M. A. Healy has resigned the presidency of Lyon
"good" one,
& Healy to become chairman of the board of direc-
Editor Presto-Times: I have been greatly inter-
El Dorado, Mo.
T H E MUSIC EXCHANGE.
ested in Mr. Elmon Armstrong's articles on piano
Dear Sirs: As I picked up a copy of the El tors of the company, a newly created office. Mr.
salesmen and the methods of their employment. There
Dorado Springs Sun and see you have an ad in the Healy will continue to be the active head of the com-
pany, he said, but plans in the near future to travel
paper, as I would like to have a piano and have not
is one phase of this subject which has not yet been
extensively.
considered. It is the advertising force of the sales- got only $3.50 and some change for Sunday School
Other new officers of the old Chicago music house
men. The average manufacturer does not seem to 1 thought maby you might have a slightly used
of one of the following names: Starr, Rich-
which was established more than sixty ye?rs ago
realize it. He puts in his advertising in the trade piano
mond, Trayser, Remington, from the Starr Piano
paper in a begrudging manner. He thinks the trade
Co., Richmond, Ind., as 1 have played on one of
paper ought to be flooding his factory with orders.
the pianos from that firm and like the tone fine.
There isn't one out of ten that gives any study to the
Well, I have a good organ I will trade you even
great fundamental of vitalizing business—advertising
for a piano.. I can not pay the difference as I have
—which is accepted in all the rest of the commercial
not got $5 to my name. I would rather not have a
world as indispensable. The piano manufacturers are playerpiano as 1 am not able to get the rolls. My
trying to sell their goods today, as a rule, through the organ is all right only it needs cleaning. I got my
organ 10 years ago, new from the Sears & Roebuck
crudest methods used in commerce.
firm. 1 have taken good care of my organ, I always
The editors of Presto-Times know how such men
keep the lid down unless I am playing it.
as "Gov." "Kimball, H. D. Cable, Charlie Kohler,
Well, if you have a good slightly used piano to
C. A. Smith, and many others of that type, went
exchange for a good organ and we can make a
deal 1 can't give any difference as 1 have not got
after business with vigor and attained results. And
the money to pay. I belong to the Baptist church.
in that day advertising wasn't so essential be-
So if you think we can make a deal let me know
cause the times didn't require it.
by return mail. My address is
Many of the piano manufacturers and piano mer-
MISS MATT IE CAVEN.
chants are "asleep at the switch." That is the main
Nevada, Mo.
trouble with the piano business today. Of course
business is quiet, due to the agricultural situation.
We haven't the boom business that we had just after
•the war. Conditions have changed and the time has
come for the industry to change and meet the situa-
.M. A. HKALY.
tion. Mr. Armstrong's articles should do a great
Unique Conclusions of Howard B. Morenus on Piano
were announced following a directors' meeting. They
deal of good. 1 hope he'll keep them going.
Trade Conditions in Some Sections of the Country.
are as follows: R. E. Durham, president; C. H. De
New York City.
A VETERAN.
Howard B. Morenus, of the Hobart M. Cable Com-
Acres, formerly of Cleveland, O., vice-president and
pany, of La Porte, Ind., returned from the east this
general manager; H. H. Fleer, vice-president; B. R.
TRADE IN THE EAST.
week and, unlike some other piano men, he found
Jagor, comptroller; C. H. Anderson, secretary. Direc-
trade conditions everything that he could wish.
tors are: M. A. Healy, R. E. Durham, Laird Bell,
Chas. Stanley Is Enthusiastic Over Conditions and
"I believe," said Mr. Morenus, "that as a rule the
Columbus Healy, C. H. De Acres, Robert A. Gard-
the High Standing of Bush & Lane.
manufacturers do not see things just right. They
ner, H. H. Fleer. W. P. Roche, and R. E. Stanton.
seem to be obsessed with the notion that things are
Hartford, Conn., April 22, 1927.
Editor Presto-Times: Trade conditions have im- too dull to respond to opportunities. On the contrary
I found the retail piano dealers filled with energy
proved "down East" and I find that the "boys" who
go after trade manage to get along comfortably, no and perfectly satisfied that trade is not only good
right now, but in line for a good summer and winter
matter how the weather conditions are.
trade as the seasons roll around.
Great interest is manifested here in the approaching
Lem Kline, Who Has Had Charge, Returns to Chi-
"This w r as so noticeable in the places I visited that
convention and, unless I am greatly mistaken, the
cago to Make Special Sales.
Chicago convention will be well attended by a big I was surprised and sought the cause. 1 think it is
delegation from the East. Trade, I am glad to say, due to the fact that the manufacturers had anticipated
Operations at the factory of the Delaware Piano
stagnation and with many it came, while others kept
is quite active and piano men generally feel that we
Co., of Muncie, Ind., have again ceased and Lem
up
their
efforts
and
the
result
was
good.
It
seemed
are in for a record year, especially so in regards to
Kline, who has been in charge, has returned to Chi-
the grand and reproducing instruments. Our own especially strange that, while the producers were
cago. There are a few unfinished pianos and mate-
trade in grands is very satisfactory and the beautiful often in the dumps, the retailers seemed uncommonly
rials still in the factory which will be sold to the
active and busy. It's the old rule again; we get about
finish and striking qualities of the Bush & Lane are
best bidder, though there seems little demand at this
what
we
expect,
and
what
comes
to
us
is
about
what
appealing more and more to the dealers who appre-
time.
ciate the splendid qualities of our line, which is com- we make it."
Mr. Crowder, who purchased, the plant from the
manding more and more attention of many first-
receiver last winter, has invested something like $10,-
class merchants throughout the entire East, where
PIANOS IN THE FLOOD.
000 additional in the production of instruments which
the Bush & Lane is well and favorably known. 1
It is estimated that fully a thousand pianos have
were on hand when the plant came into his owner-
find half the battle won when one meets the dealer, been destroyed or carried away from homes in the ship, and his investment seems to be "frozen."
and it's not an unusual expression. "Oh, I know
devastated South which has been so terribly stricken
Mr. Crowder is a square-toed business man and
of the splendid and outstanding merits of tone and
by the raging floods of the Mississippi and tributary
whoever may have any dealings with him may be
finish of the Bush and Lane!" which makes it easy
streams. It is impossible to make anything like an
certain of fair and liberal treatment. The fine factory
for both the traveler and his line to go over and
approximate, estimate, but it is certain that scores of
building and machinery are also for sale. The Dela-
satisfy his trade.
music stores have suffered and almost couniless
ware piano has probably passed from the field for-
I hope to see Presto-Times and every one else
homes.
ever.
MR. ARMSTRONG'S ARTICLES.
SINGULAR CONTRASTS IN
THE EASTERN PIANO TRADE
PIANO FACTORY AT MUNCIE
IS FINALLY CLOSED
BOWEN PIANO LOADER
PS SALESMEN
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