September 3, 1927
PREST 0-T I M E S
H. A. STEWART JOINS
STRAUBE SALES FORCE
Experienced Man in Piano Distribution and
Merchandising Now Attached to Sales
Division of Straube Piano Co.
H. A. Stewart, formerly sales manager of the Gul-
bransen Company, Chicago, has now become asso-
ciated with the sales and advertising departments of
the Straube Piano Co., of Hammond, Ind., and he is
like an opening for an illustrative incident," remarked at this time acquainting himself with the activities
the man from Rochester.
of his new position.
"That's right. It illuminates my point, too," agreed
There is hardly a division of piano merchandising
the Omar from New York. " 'Twas in Chicago dur- with which II. A. Stewart has not had actual experi-
ing the music trade convention at the Stevens Hotel ence and hardly a section of the country which he
last June. There was a little stag party one of the has not visited. Beginning as'stenographer for the
nights. Amongst those who got the password was a
Price & Teeple Piano Co , with which concern he
dear friend of ours from an Ohio town. Don't was associated for a period of ten years, he was suc-
guess, please. His identity is not necessary to a story cessively retail salesman, wholesale travel'er, office
in proof of my proposition.
correspondent and executive. In 1919 he joined the
"His wife went with the theater party while he advertising department of the Gulbransen Co, Chi-
invented a committee meeting and escaped. When
cago, and during the past eight years in various
he returned to his room at an unconjugal hour he capacities with that concern he proceeded to the
was greeted with a silvery 'Is that you, dear?" from position of sales manager.
his wife.
The Straube Piano Co., as is \\>A\ known, is one
" 'It is,' he responded, succinctly, following a p r e -
of the most progressive in the piano industry. It is
meditated plan not to risk much conversation.
a large institution with an unusually complete fac-
" 'What time is it?'
"'Oh, not so late!' he answered evasively. Then tory and a product of exceptional merit. It is among
observing a large bunch of roses on the dresser he the large national advertisers in the piano trade, oper-
sought to switch the topic by remarking: 'What ates on a national price basis and its policies of
distribution correspond to the most modern methods
beautiful roses!'
" 'They are lovely,' assented wifey, sweetly, from of successful merchandising.
The addition of II. A. Stewart is another indi-
the bed.
" 'Bee-utiful,' continued the late arrival, talking cation of the strong organization which the Straube
P'.ano Co. is developing and those merchants who
himself to destruction. "Fresh, too. Their perfume
now handle the Straube or who will do so in the
is dee-lightful."
" "Can you smell them?' was the Sherlock Holmes future will find their association strengthened by a
man of wide experience and ability. Mr. Stewart
inquiry.
" 'Sure,' answered the blunderer, 'their perfume is enjoys a very extensive acquaintance in the piano
trade with which he has been associated for the past
actually intoxicating.'
""Huh! Don't blame it onto the roses. They are eighteen years His congenial personality combined
with practical business ability has won for him the
made of paper. Now go to bed and a'l committee
friendship of a host of dealers.
meetings are off for the balance of the week.' "
THINGS SAID O R SUGGESTED
WHY NOT?
All honor, of course, to whom honor is due, a
chaplet we'd place on each worthy one's brow. The
heroes are many and various, 'tis true, but worth
calls for tribute always, you'll allow. The soldier and
sailor with fame we endow, the statesman as well
jumps to grab off a slice. But why not discover and
honor somehow, the dealer so wise who invented
"one-price"?
The poet and painter, the plutocrat, too, wise boys
who hand out political manna, are honored by scores,
but the chaplets are few for men working hard to im-
prove the piano. But if we take part in a laurel
parade, heroes to find, clad in fanciful raiment, why
not seek the dealer whose wisdom 'twas made a rule
to demand a decent first payment?
* * *
JOSEPH REED, GOLFER.
"The ability to play sweetens the sauce of life. The
proportion of inner happiness in a person is in equal
ratio to his or her ability to forget the main job for
a period occasionally and begin to play enthusi-
astically."
This bit of philosophy was voiced by Jos. Reed,
president of the Paragon Piano Pla'e Foundries,
Oregon, 111., who has systematized his leisure time
in the same efficient manner he has developed an
admirable system in his big plant. Mr. Reed plays
golf with the joy of the enthusiastic devotee and
among piano men it is considered an acknowledg-
ment of golfing prowess when he invites anybody
to a contest.
While in Florida this year he heard much of a
man who was in the habit of walking away with the
honors of the links and when a mutual friend volun-
teered an introduction to be followed by a game, Mr.
Reed warmly appreciated the opportunity.
It was with keen joy he waited at the c'ubhouse,
determined to take a little of the starch out of his
prospective adversary's golfing fame. There's noth-
ing he likes better than showing a reputed adept a
few samples of Reed strategy. It was while he was
thus musing his friend arrived and presented his
adversary—a one-armed man.
"Can the consternation, Joe," said the mutual
friend, noting the amazement of the Oregon man.
"There's nothing diabolical in his methods, but if
he trims you it will feel like hell."
Mr. Reed, however, won in his usual form, but
he was so filled with admiration at the sty'e of his
one-armed ad- ersary that he invi'ed him to come
to Oregon to play a few games on Mr. Reed's course.
The enjoyable events came off a few weeks ago when
the one-armed golfer arrived in I is car in which H-
had driven from Florida to Chicago in two days. It
was that feat that won the heart of Geor.ee D.
Turner, special representative of the Paragon Piano
Plate Company, who is himself an automobile driver
with a reputation for speed and endurance.
* * *
TELL TUNERS ABOUT AMPICO
HOW GEORGE DOES IT.
The same degree of thrill that Joseph Reed, presi-
dent of the Paragon Piano Plate Foundries, Oregon,
111., gets out of go'fing is experienced by Geo. D.
Turner, the company's general sales representative
when he grips the wheel of his big automobile. Mr.
Turner likes the long way to go and the quick way
to do it.
Covering long routes by motor car today is not
unusual, but a recent trip of Mr. Turner's was extra-
ordinary in that he had not a single mishap. To
Quebec by way of Detroit; thence through Maine
TH10 A.MI'ICO AT T1II0 Tl x K : : S ' C O . W K X T I O X . -
to Boston, New York, Baltimore, Atlantic City.
Upper right:
Registration office.
Upper left: Kxhibit s, A n i p i e o a c t i o n a n d d c t l i l s c t m o h a n i s n . l . o . v e r c n -
ter: Grand Action Regulating Classroom.
In oval: Reeep : : o n R o o m ;:n
Washington and Richmond, Va., and then home over
the Cumberland mountains where sMff grades gave
The activities of the Ampico Corporation. New accommodate all who wished to avail themselves of
him the desired opportunity to exhibit the climbing York, under the direction of F. S. Werolin of the the instruction Ircely offere:!, not only regarding the
abilities of his car.
Ampico Service Department at the recent tuners' Ampico mechanism, but grand actirn regulating also.
On all sides expressiens of appreciation of the
convention, held in New York, met with a response
* * *
Ampico
Corporation's achievements were heard, the
highly
gratifying
to
those
in
charge
of
the
exhibits
CAN'T BE DONE!
unusual character of the instruction offere:1, its thor-
"Lincoln was right. You can fool some of the and sessions of the Ampico school.
A suite of rooms at the Hotel Commodore were oughness, and the bread'.h of its scope, coming in for
people part of the time, but if you think you have
the blinders of credulity on your better-half at any tastefully arranged to show to the best advantage the special mention from the men gathered at the conven-
old hour of the time, you've got another guess corn- exhibits which included everything this efficient de- tion with a view to promoting service in the piano
partment has to offer tuners and repairmen. Expert industry.
in?." said a New York piano traveler to a group of
As a useful souvenir oi the assembling in New
fellow travelers celebrating the laxitv of the Vol- Ampico service men were constantly in attendance
stead law in a room in the Book-Cadillac Hotel, De- to answer questions and explain special points. The York of repairmen, a special set of grand regulating
Ampico classes met with especially enthusiastic re- tools, including a touch block, touch pla!e, a hammer
troit, during the recent convention there.
sponse, crowded to capacity, it soon became evident blow measurer, were handed to repairmen requesting
"That's no lie," was the chorus of agreement.
"You voice a great truth, old man, but it sounds that supplementary sessions would be necessary to them.
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