P R E S T O-TI M E S
August 20. 19Z/.
PROVIDES PROGRAM FOR
VENEZUELAN MUSICIANS
Alfred A. Scholz & Co., Caracas, Presents
Ampico to Noted Group of Artists Who
Express Appreciation.
THINGS SAID O R SUGGESTED
NEVER
AGAIN!
"We sell direct," so the ad declared, "we pay no
middle man. Our price is low, our profits bared,
let them compete who can; we want your trade, our
money's made by dealing just direct with those who
buy the cheapest grade and get what they expect."
And when the buyer received the box and opened
up the thing, it had the sound of breaking rocks—
the real mail order ring; the buyer tore her hair and
vowed the jangling thing she'd can, and took an
oath she'd never more buy on the "direct" plan.
* * *
JUST SALE TALK
Kirke McKinney, of the McKinney & Hart Co.,
Oak Ridge, Mo., first came to that picturesque
Ozark Mountain town in answer to an advertise-
ment for a piano salesman in a St. Louis news-
paper. With characteristic astuteness, T. S. Hart
had added pianos to his wide line of general goods.
But pianos being something so different in nature
from the other commodities successfully handled
by the Oak Ridge storekeeper, a special salesman
was considered a necessity.
Mr. Hart was ably assisted by a lot of young fel-
lows competent to sell a bill of goods from sugar
to steam plows or to put a purchase or exchange
value on pelts, zinc ore, railroad ties, walnut logs
or any of the native commodities of the hills. But
each one modestly confessed inability to go about
selling a piano. There was something professorial
about the job; something highbrowed that made the
shrewd storekeeper and every one of his able aids
shy at the supposedly esthetic task of piano selling.
So it was that the want ad was sent to the St.
Louis newspaper, which in due course brought Mr.
McKinney to the mountain town.
His arrival at the store resulted in a surprise to
everybody there. Mr. McKinney's appearance didn't
come up to the expectations of the natives. There
was nothing of the artist about him; nothing tem-
ueramental. He even wore his hair clipped as dose
as a barber's shears could go.
"I'm real glad you got here today," said Mr. Hart
when the newly arrived piano salesman had shaken
hands all round. "The ladies' aid society is giving
a concert this evening and I promised you'd play a
few piano pieces for 'em."
"Whee-ee! I'm sorry you did that, because I
can't play the piano," was the surprising reply.
"What! Not play the piano!" exclaimed the store-
keeper.
"Not so's you could sit and listen without calling
for help," the frank piano salesman cheerfully an-
nounced.
"I thought you said you were a piano salesman?"
gasped the storekeeper.
"Sure. But I don't play the piano. I talk it.
Watch me!"
A comfortable looking farmer's wife and shy
daughter were moving about among the small piano
stock at the far end of the store. McKinney ap-
proached them and was soon "ta'king" with the
effective eloquence that creates desire for piano pos-
session. His voice was low but every sentence was
an appealing and convincing argument. Once in
a while his fingers would stretch over the keyboard.
But no burst of melody resulted. All the store-
keeper heard was a little left hand ripple and a few
right hand barbershop chords.
The wise storekeeper remained in the background.
He knew the result of good selling talk. And when
he saw the daughter sit down and proudly play her
best memorized school piece he dodged behind a
pile of calico to enlarge his smile into a laugh of
pleasure.
"That boy's a wonder and no mistake," he con-
fided to the group of salesmen. "He doesn't play the
piano because he doesn't have to. He makes his
customers show off the tone. But he sure can talk
the piano."
When the blushing daughter had finished her
piece everything was over but taking a $50 first pay-
ment and making out good sized- installment notes
for the first piano sale in the Hart establishment.
*
BRIGHT
*
*
'
.
<
*
•
-
DEFINITION
A teacher in the fifth grade class in a Chicago
school asked the pupils to tell what was the meaning
of advertising.
" 'Tis what the guy puts in the paper when he
wants a job," spoke up one little chap.
"Very good, James," encouraged dear teacher, with
an interrogative glance at the whole class -that in-
vited further solutions. She got them, but they
specified branches of advertising rather than a gen-
eral deposition, and did not satisfy her. All had
spoken but one little fellow, close to the foot of the
class.
"And you, Georgie?" she asked, invitingly.
"It's what tells you what you want and where to
get it," was Georgie's firm reply.
The answer was framed from a real thought. The
teacher is a bright woman and called Georgie to the
head of the class.
How many men who write advertisements fulfill
the requirements set forth by Georgie?
* * *
'Tis a wise man knows when to let go of an oppor-
tunity.
OLD-TIME MUSIC DEALER SAYS BET-
TER BUSINESS IS ON THE
WAY HERE.
Albert C. Barclay, head of the Warren Music Com-
pany at Evansville, and dean of the music dealers in
that city, says he believes the dealers in southern In-
diana will enjoy a good fall and winter trade.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER
The hearing of the Ampico before a group of prom-
inent musicians was arranged recently at the Ampico
Salons of Alfredo A. Scholtz & Co. at Caracas, Vene-
zuela. The program heard was made up largely of
request numbers, the recordings being selected by
the musicians themselves. Great interest was shown
in the playing of artists like Levitzki and d'Indy,
who have never visited Caracas, but who are well
known by name in that musical city.
A few days after the recital Scholtz & Co., was
the recipient of the following appreciative letter
signed jointly by four of the most noted resident mu-
sicians: J. A. Calcano Calcano, the distinguished pianist
director of "El Heraldo," a lover of art and particu-
larly music; Juan Bta. Plaza, professor of composi-
tion and harmony in the Venezuela National School
of Music; Vte. Emilio Sojo, an authority on music
technic in Venezuela, and professor of music and
theory in the school at Caracas; M. A. Calcano, A.,
professor of physics and mathematics, a great music
lover, organist of the Cathedral of Caracas;
"To the Directors of the Salon Ampico: We
highly appreciate the opportunity given us to hear
the wonderful Ampico reproducing piano and we
have been really enthused in hearing so well per-
formed such works as the Sonata Opus 22 in G
minor of Schumann recorded by Levitzki; Tableau
de Voyage played by d'Indy; and Variations of Men-
delssohn played by Cortot, etc., and would be de-
lighted if you would allow us to have the pleasure of
hearing the Ampico again, at which time we want
some friends to anticipate in this pleasure.
"Thanking you in anticipation, we are, sincerely,
"J. A. CALCANO CALCANO,
"JUAN BTA. PLAZA,
"VTE. E M I L I O SOJO,
"M. A. CALCANO A."
SNAP-SHOTS IN DENVER.
J. B. Dillon.
It looked like an accident, the crowd was so big,
all of them trying to crowd into the Darrow Music
Company, Fifteenth and Stout. It was no accident.
Darrow had advertised that Nick Lucas, the wizard
on the guitar, would autograph his records. Nuff ced.
Lucas was in Denver filling an engagement at the
Orpheum theater.
Maybe all of them do it. Maybe all do not; but
it is heard that one of the local broadcasters not only
mentions the name of the pianist, but he mentions
the make of piano. Not a bad idea.
Dr. J. Christopher Marks, organist and choirmas-
ter of the Heavenly Rest church, Fifth avenue, New
York, visited Denver during August, and says that
he is not discouraged at the present trend of the time
as concerns music; that syncopation will have its in-
nings and pass on, but music is life everlasting.
We notice that PRESTO-TIMES says: "An
optimist is a man who makes the best of the worst of
it." Gee, whiz, but aren't there a lot of optimists?
Just think of how many pianists get the best they can
from out-of-tune instruments!
:LPS 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.
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/