August 13, 1927.
11
PRESTO-TIMES
PIANOS AT STATE
AND COUNTY FAIRS
Seme Manufacturers and Many Dealers Be-
lieve in the Efficacy of
Big Displays.
JESSE FRENCH &SONS
*'Make Homes Happy "
Cr
SONS
£Xffrs.of 'Pianos/PIaqers &Granc
Write for Catalog*
Castle, Indiana.
•THE HOUSE OF GRANDS'
Concert, Parlor and Small Grands
Period and Modern Designs
We are approaching the days when the piano be-
comes more of a mixer and is found competing for
honors at the state and county fairs. And wherever
shown it holds its own and presents a brave front
from the consciousness of its merits. Real dignity
is a democratic thing. There is nothing snobbish
in the piano when it competes l'or notice and favors
with fat porkers, with sleek beeves, long of loin and
tender in texture.
Toothsome cakes and pies, fragrant golden butter,
luscious preserves and other things and commodities
at the fairs dispute with the piano and the player-
piano for the visitors' interest but the instruments
are always among the winners. People who already
own a piano or player view them appraisingly; those
who have not yet bought look upon them as accom-
paniments to right living easily attainable.
What Piano Means.
To the comparatively newly arrived radio there
may be something fiauntingly insulting about the
way the fat lambs switch their beribboned tails but
the piano is unaffected thereat. It has the dignity
of an old institution. It is as such the fair visitor
views it. It is something desirable in the home; a
thing associated with peace and happiness.
So it is that the farmer and his wife turn from
the more familiar things and stop to listen to the
seductive arguments of the suave young men in
charge of the piano booths. And in the tone dem-
onstration by nimble-fingered young ladies, the grow-
ing-up daughters listen with frank delight. It is a
psychological moment the alert piano man in charge
of the piano display is keen to observe. It is a good
time to overwhelm the male parental opposition. In
a few T minutes everything is over but delivering the
instrument. The original producers of agricultural
products become ultimate consumers of a piano or
player-piano.
Job Often Tough One.
Manufacturers of the
Grand in Upriglit Form
Grand tone and quality in the Upright Piano
is exclusively Bush tsf Lane
(Patented)
Reproducing and Player Pianos—
Welte-Mignon (License*) and Cecilian
Write for our Art Catalog
But landing the farmer prospect is not as easy as
it sounds. For one thing a gabby chap from a motor
car exhibit may see him first and engage him with
buzz-wagon argument in a well-oiled ball-bearing
tongue that makes the farmer take a fresh grip on
his wallet. But he listens. Automobile talk is noth-
ing new to him, although this chap is a right smart
word slinger. But he remembers ma and the daugh-
tersw ho said they'd meet him in the piano section
and heb reaks away muttering decisively: "The gal's
gotter have one o' them thar pianners and this is a
good time to look at one, b'gosh." Thus it is that
he appears before the anxious family who are already
won over to thec harms of style X Y Z and under-
goes the painful operation of having several layers
skinned off his roll for a first payment.
Some years ago the state and county fairs invited
a more direct part by the piano manufacturers in
exhibiting than they do at the present time. Local
dealers are usually the ones who make the displays.
But there are several manufacturers who firmly be-
lieve in the efficacy of the fair displays.
SOME OF THE LATE CHANGEE
IN RETAIL PIANO TRAD
Changes, Renewals and New Enterprises in Different
Farts of the Country.
The Bell, Cal, branch of the Wurlitzer Co. has
moved from 864 to 522 Baker avenue. E. W. Sauer-
man is manager.
The phonograph and radio department of the Amer-
ican Furniture Store, Denver, Colo., has been en-
larged. O. P. Jones is manager of the department.
Brady & Chapman have opened a new music shop
in Granville, N. Y.
Wal'ace Jones, Guerneville, Cal., has opened a
branch store there to specialize in musical merchan-
dise.
The Redewill Music Co. is having its store at 222
West Washington street, Phoenix, Ariz., remodeled.
P. R. Lisenbee has opened a music shop in Cher-
okee, Kan.
The S. A. Phillips Music Co., Morgantown, W. Va.,
has moved to a new location at 235 Walnut street.
The Tom Bale Music Store has been opened re-
cently at 822 Edgtnont avenue, Chester, Pa.
Herbert L. Hoover has opened a music store in the
McDaniel Building, 318 St. Louis street, Springfield,
Mo., where he specializes in musical merchandise.
The Sprow Music Co. has opened a store in Green-
castle, Pa. The main store is in Carlisle, Pa.
The Avery Piano Store, 256 Weybosset street,
Providence, R. I., is being remodeled and enlarged in
all departments.
Frank Xanna and Thomas Weir have opened a new-
music store, The Song Shop, in Clinton avenue, South,
Rochester, N. Y.
Wood Bros., North Adams, Mass., will move this
week from the Richmond Hotel Building to the Rob-
inson Block, Bank street.
BALDWIN FOR BIG THEATER
Busk & Lane
Piano Co.
Holland. Michigan
i'
-II
II
lf^^=
SCHILLER
A GREAT NAME—A GREAT PIANO
THE SCHILLER
Makes Friends, Makes Customers, Makes
Money, for the Dealer
Super-Grands, Medium Grands, Small
Grands. Full Plate Uprights; Medium
Uprights ; Small (3:7) Uprights.
Reproducing Grands, Uprights and
Players
Grands with the Famous Bauer
Patented Construction
The SCHILLER PIANO challenges
superiority in tone quality as in construc-
tion, workmanship, finish and appearance.
For Agency Proposition and All
Particulars, address
SCHILLER PIANO COMPANY
Factory and General Offices:
OREGON, ILLINOIS
CHICAGO OFFICE:
State and Adams Sts.
922 Republic Bid?.
NEW YOKK OFFICE:
130 W. 42nd St.
Bush Terminal Bids.
SQL-
LKFT—INTERIOR OF NEW PICCADILLY THKATKK, RIGHT. KIUHT—BA LI >\V IN KKI'KO] H'CING I'lAM) ON
CHICAGO, SHOWING THE FOUR-MANUAL K1LGEN DISPLAY IN THE LOBBY OF LOKW'S STATE THEA-
WONDER ORGAN AND THE CONNECTED BALDWTN TER IN ST. LOUIS AND VIEWED BY THOUSANDS OF
GRAND PIANO IN THE BALCONY NICHE AT THE PEOPLE DAILY.
A Baldwin grand piano was selected as the best
instrument of its kind to form the piano feature of the
four-manual Kilgen Wonder Organ installed in the
new Picadilly Theater, Chicago. The organ, with the
piano built into it, covers a complete ensemble of a
full symphony orchestra and presents many innova-
tions that are out of the ordinary.
In a highly ornate niche on the left side of the
proscenium is a beautiful harp, and in a similar niche
on the right side is a magnificent Baldwin grand,
both playable from the organ keyboard. The Bald-
win program proved a sensation at the formal open-
ing when a special musical repertoire was rendered.
By a special action-transferring device, the touch
of the organist is directly imparted to the piano key-
board, with the result that the full, rich, unimpaired
beauty of the Baldwin tone is produced. The perfect
reproduction of the Baldwin's tonal richness under
these circumstances is further evidence of Baldwin
supreme quality and superior construction. Special
announcements are continually made about the Bald-
win grand pianos and Welte-Mignon (Licensee) re-
producing pianos used on their programs.
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