Presto

Ju'y 16, 1927.
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
STEINWAY IS THE
CHOICE OF CHAMPION
Saul Dorfman, Winner in the Recent Piano
Playing Contest in Chicago, Gives Opin-
ion of Great Instrument.
THINGS SAID OR SUGGESTED
LOCATING FRANK M. HOOD
Many piano men have distinguishing traits that
aid in describing them. Some have a voice that helps
locate them in a crowd, but there is one whose hearty
laugh is an unerring guide to finding him no matter
how big or noisy the assemblage may be.
During the dinner of the National Piano Travelers'
Association at the Drake Hotel during the recent
trade convention, a man timidly tiptoed into the
dining room while Al Behning, the secretary, was
giving the annual account of his secretarial activities.
The visitor approached the table at which Matt Ken-
nedy had parked the representatives of the trade
press, and whisperingly inquired if Frank M. Hood
of the Schiller Piano Co. was among those present.
"He is, but he's not visible from here. He's at a
table behind that big square pillar. Do you know
him by sight?" was the query from a trade paper
man.
"Oh, very well."
"Well, stand there for a minute. Axel Christensen
is coming down from the speakers' table to give a
talk by the piano. At the first funny crack you will
hear the well-known Hood laugh."
At the first funniosity that laugh led all the rest
and the visitor jumped unerringly tow r ards his man.
He apologized for interrupting the Schiller traveler,
but he had to get away on a train about due to leave.
Would Mr. Hood book an order for six pianos of a
model admired at the Stevens Hotel exhibit that day.
Mr. Hood would and did and gravely so with the
large smile reserved for such occasions.
* * *
A SUPER OPTIMIST
The weather, baseball, the price of new cars, the
gall of Mussolini and piano trade conditions were in
turn subjects of conversation in the office of a Chi-
cago manufacturer one day last week. Touching
the last named subject, the optimism of the dealers
generally was commented upon.
"That's right," agreed John Hart of Barnett, Mo.,
who was present and an eloquent commentator, "the
piano dealers are optimistic. But to me only in a
relative way."
"As to which?" was the query.
"I allow that the dealers as a rule are optimistic
in the best possible way. But they fall short of
Dendy Marsh, whose optimism was the best con-
ceivable," he said.
"Dendy was a salesman on the outside and a worker
for fair. His eloquence was floral, his persuasiveness
irresistible and hope sprung eternal within the Dendy
breast. Doubt had no place in his mind. Dendy can-
vassed through Miller, Maxwell and Camden coun-
ties for an easy-selling Chicago-made piano. He
was a native of the section and well known. Popular,
too, with many. But a few there hated him with
the hate bred in hot politics. Of course Dendy was
in politics and his optimism was a great factor in
the success of his party.
"One day after an election in which his party car-
ried everything in that section of Missouri, Dendy
was blithely and hopefully canvassing right in a
township sprinkled with candidates he helped by his
eloquence to defeat. He met coldness and con-
tumely, but it didn't feaze him. After leaving a house
he smilingly made an entry on his tablet.
"This tablet was part of the store system. On it
the canvasser entered data concerning those he inter-
viewed. The name, address, occupation, circum-
stances (if known) and the possibilities for a piano
sale; were the chances good, bad or doubtful?
"Dendy walked bravely through the gate of old
Irving Hendricks' place. Up the steps he gaily
tripped and gave a merry tap-tap on the door. Hen-
dricks was a barnacle that Dendy had pried off a
fat county office.
"Hendricks opened the door himself, listened to
about four words of Dendy's spiel and then kicked
the optimistic one down the steps, up the walk, with
a final lift that sent the little piano man over the
fence. Hendricks was a whale of a man.
"'Buy a piano from you! Why, dodgast your
measly hide. I wouldn't buy one of the things from
yo', ef yo' all was the only man on y'earth what had
'em,' frothed Hendricks.
" 'In that case,' said Denby, hauling out his tablet,
'I'll put you down as doubtful.' "
* * *
In an advertising display of Lyon & Healy, in
newspapers of Sunday, July 10, the fact that Saul
Dorfman, the champion of the recent piano playing
contest with finals, in connection with the music
trades convention at the Stevens Hotel, has selected
a Steinway piano was prominently featured. The
following letter gives the young pianist's opinion of
the great instrument:
r
Jttn» 18th, 1927
1.70a & Healy,
"abash ITanus,
Chicago
Gentlemen:
In aeleotisg the Stelnway Piano for my personal ues and In
accepting the oontraot for the Duo-Art reoorda, I have been
influenoed by the following considerations:
1.
5ot only the prestige of a Stelnway Piano, which
i s BO preeminent, but the faot that i t seena to
ma not only the most beautiful piano but the eaelsBt
piano to play.
t.
The astonishing fidelity and realism of the Duo-Art
record has fired my ambition to join modestly the
company of famous artists represented in the Duo•Art
catalogue.
faithfully your*.
A MILD FIEND
"Don't you know," said the voracious reader to a
group of salesmen in the piano wareroom, "that few-
novels are written without some reference somewhere
in some fashion to the piano?"
"That so?" politely asked the veteran whose liter-
ary craving is satisfied with the headlines of the
morning paper.
"Yes, indeed. The piano has been so closely asso-
ciated with life that it is a natural thing to find it so
frequently mentioned in books. No reader escapes
this, and it is pleasing.
"For instance, these two books which I have just
read, the piano is mentioned. In Emmet F. Harte's
'Honk and Horace,' page 90, appears this sentence:
'The forest just across the creek was full of piano
timber and Looey the Umteenth furniture in the
rough.'
"And in this great novel of Henry Sienkiewitz,
'Children of the Soil,' page 237, Biegel says to Pan
Stanislaw, 'Once I played on the piano as well as on
the violin, but now ray fingers are clumsy. Thy
Maryana plays, probably; such music in the house is
* * *
This week the Western Music Trade Association
meets in San Francisco. Even without a music
trade convention it is possible to have a good time
in that city.
"Saul Dorfman appeared last week at the Granada
Theater. Starting July 11 he was at the new Marbro
and during the week of July 18 he will be heard at
the Capitol.
"Mothers and fathers of Chicago—start your boy
or your girl on the road to musical happiness now!
In later years they will bless the day you purchased
a piano. It is well worth it to give them the best.
Very convenient terms make it easy for you to buy
now!" was the advice presented by Lyon & Healy.
R. A. BURKE IN WISCONSIN.
K. A. Burke, wholesale manager of the Story &
Clark Piano Co., 174 North Michigan avenue, Chi-
cago, left the company's office this week for a two
weeks' trip to Wisconsin, where he will drop busi-
ness and enjoy a vacation. Mr. Burke, who is ac-
companied by his wife, will spend the time at Nip-
persink Lodge and Country Club, Genoa City, Wis.
Golfing and other outdoor sports are planned.
The Woolley Radio Co., Seattle, Wash., has been
taken over by the University Music Store, 4511 Uni-
versity Way, and musical instruments added to the
stock.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER HELPS SALESMEN
Outside Salesmen must be equipped so as to "show the goods." The season for country piano selling is approaching. Help your sales-
men by furnishing them with the New Bowen Piano Loader, which serves as a wareroom far from the store. It is the only safe
delivery system for dealers, either in city or country. It costs little. Write for particulars.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.
Winston-Salem, N. C,
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