Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1927 2146

September 17, 1927
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
HAPPENINGS IN THE
TRADE AT LOS ANGELES
New Piano Department Planned for Depart-
ment Store—The Rice Family Reunion
and Other Interesting News.
THINGS SAID OR SUGGESTED
CURE AND
PREVENTATIVE.
"Please send me a copy of your Presto-Times jour-
nal, also giving me price of prescription," writes a
Missouri dealer, who, according to a Chicago piano
manufacturer, does not need any cure for a sick-
business.
He is now in receipt of the desired copy and has
been made aware that the price of the prescription is
$2 per year. It also has been pointed out to him
that "Presto-Times is of great potency as a preventa-
tive of as well as a cure for music business ills. Ab-
sorbing the contents regularly every week acts as a
stimulus to sales activity, refreshes advertising
thought, dissipates the noxious effects of pessimism
and prevents fatty degeneration of the piano sales
plans."
* * *
THE IMP GREW
UP.
r
The charming w ife of a certain piano man of the
middle west is an unfailing attendant at piano trade
conventions.
While pleasantly chatting with a
young and particularly successful Xew York piano
traveler at one of the social functions during the
trade gathering in Cleveland this week, she jocosely
claimed to be "as good a piano man as any of 'em."
The lady's father was a dealer who met reverses.
When he died, leaving nothing to speak of in money
or property, his daughter was bravely competent to
make a living for herself. After a course at a busi-
ness college to supplement her high school years, a
position was a necessity.
Naturally the piano business was the one she most
desired to become associated with. With that pur-
pose in view she journeyed from her New England
home to New York to apply for an office position in
a house, the owner of which she considered friendly.
"That was twelve years ago," she said to the young
traveler who was an interested listener. "So, reach-
ing New York, I put on my most becoming hat and
gown and proceeded to Mr.
's office.
" ' I s Mr.
in?' I inquired of the impish office
boy; they are always impish, but this one was more
so than usual.
"'Xo, he's out,' said the imp.
" 'Very well,' I replied, 'I will wait until he conies
back.'
" 'Suit yourself,' agreed the impish office boy.
"1 sat down. An hour passed. My eyes ached
from looking at the clock; another hour; people came
and went. But I never moved. The office imp
went out for his .lunch, and came back, but there I
sat firm in my purpose. Another hour. I was get-
ting hungry. The office boy gave me impish looks.
It only made me more determined to stick. Three
o'clock. I weakened.
"'Do you think Mr.
will be back today?' I
feebly inquired.
" 'Xot unless there's been a collision or the engine
blows up,' he blurted.
" 'What?' I snapped.
" ' H e sailed for Europe this morning.'"
"You certainly showed amazing grit that day for
a young woman," commented the piano traveler with
a quizzical laugh.
"Yes, I did," said the lady. "But 1 believe." she
added laughingly, "that you think I exaggerate the
circumstance of my firmness."
"Not a bit of it," replied the piano traveler. "1
know every word is true, for T was the impish office
boy."
* * *
A Cleveland piano man recently protested against
the average snapshot portrait and voiced a hope that
Presto-Times would "kill" a particular cut of him
made from a kodak snap at a piano man's gathering
some time ago. He was informed that the bit of
kodakery had been used by another trade paper.
"Most snapshot portraits are sufficient grounds for
a damage suit," commented the Cleveland man.
"Have you ever noticed," he asked, "that the mouths
of most snapshot victims are agape?" They are, and
as one cannot keep the mouth hermetically sealed
at a convention, the snapshotter should be sup-
pressed.
* * *
An egotist is a man who thinks the piano he sells is
better than yours.
* * *
"You need change," said the eminent medical ex-
pert. "You must rouse yourself and go out and
mix with your fellow man and talk with him."
"Why, doc, 'tis mixing and talking that's got me
to this point of nervous prostration."
"What is your work?" asked the E. M. E.
'Tm a piano salesman on the outside and a spie'er
for fair."
* * *
We have it on the word of a Wabash avenue piano
salesman that left handed people are usually geniuses.
He calls attention to the great—what's that? Why,
of course, he's left handed himself.
* * *
A piano salesman very much wanted by a Western
house was averse to all kinds of humor. On his
first day in the store he quarreled with the book-
keeper because the latter ventured a joke at the new-
man's expense. It may have been a very poor joke.
Anyway the salesman made it clear he would not
take a joke. Nine weeks later while in charge of a
branch store he took all the money he could collect
and skipped in a grave and serious manner.
* * *
"That boy of mine is a wonder at picking up tunes
and he remembers every tune he hears."
"Gee! He'll be invaluable as a composer of popular
songs sometime."
* * *
Personal magnetism is something with which you
can start things your way.
By GILBERT BRETOX.
The report that the well-known Walker Depart-
ment Store at Fifth and Broadway, Los Angeles,
had opened negotiations with several piano manu-
facturers to establish an extensive piano department,
was freely discussed in the trade this week. Although
it is not definitely settled what agencies will be
represented, it is known that two prominent manu-
facturers, one in Xew York and one in Boston, have
the matter under consideration.
The children and sisters, cousins and aunts of
the well-known piano veteran, I. X. Rice, surprised
him during his recent visit to Los Angeles by issu-
ing a call for a family reunion. About 27 relatives
and friends of the popular piano man responded, to-
gether with a number of Mr. Rice's personal friends.
Manager Jordan of the Heine Piano Co. was among
those present. The evening was spent in social in-
tercourse and music. Mr. Rice, who has been incor-
rectly quoted in these columns as approaching his
Hist birthday, announced that be was only fO and
good for many returns. Mr. and Mrs. Rice returned
to San Francisco last week and after a brief stay will
return to make Los Angeles their permanent home.
Geo. 11. Barnes, president of the Barnes Music
Co., 322 South Broadway, has been e'ected chief
manager of the new check protection association
which has been adopted lately by banks, and busi-
ness men, the object being to prevent loss from the
issuing of fraudulent checks.
Ben l'latt is taking a brief vacation at Arrow
Head Springs. During bis absence the affairs of the
Platt Music Co. are being piloted by Vice-President
Geo. Epstein.
J. T. Fitzgerald, who has been absent on an ex-
tended vacation in the northwest, is expected back
next week. Manager Yonkers feels justly proud
of the showing of the 24 Knabe pianos at the Holly-
wood Bowl. It was considered the greatest adver-
tisement ever offered in the city of Los Angeles, from
the fact that over 100,000 cultured people composed
the audience.
Representative llann is very enthusiastic over the
outlook of the new Glissando piano attachment and
several important sales of the Starr piano have been
made under his direction during the past week.
ENERGETIC PIANO TRAVELER
Marshall Breeden, the well-known representative of
the Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., New Castle,
Ind., has been very active in Los Angeles during the
past week and feels quite encouraged at the fall out-
look for the sale of his line. Mr. Breeden has had
many years' experience and is widely known both
in wholesale and retail fields.
NEW CHICAGO STORE.
Michael Grodsky and Frank Klinge, formerly of
The Lincoln Music Shops, Chicago, announce their
return to Lincoln Square with the North Town Radio
Shop at 4710 Lincoln avenue, corner Leland avenue,
carrying a complete line of phonographs, pianos,
radios, musical merchandise and records.
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.
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/
September 17, 1927
PRESTO-TIMES
broad view of your business. We cannot just go
along taking everything out of the music business
that we can possibly get out of it without putting
something into it. Let us put into it at least this
thought, this effort, to build up the personnel of the
men who are in the music business or who can be
attracted to it.
In Chicago a fund has just been raised that will
Most Desirable Are the Ones Who Play the
enable
the Chicago Symphony Orchestra players to
Piano or Some Musical Instrument and
receive a substantial increase in their salaries. This
in Addition Have a Natural
has been a point of contention for some time.
As salaries are measured at the present time, the
Ability for Business.
pay of these men is not unreasonably high. Then
if it is possible to pay them larger salaries and they
are entitled to them, why not help them get it?
What better way could there be to attract men to the
Instances Are Numerous in Piano Trade Where an music profession than to pay them adequate wages?
If men are expected to work for less than normal
Orchestra in House Is a Sure Aid
standard of pay, there is no incentive for them to get
to Success.
into a particular line of activity. This is true of the
music profession, the piano business, or any other
By A. G. GULBRANSEN,
line of endeavor. If a man has musical ability, en-
President Gulbransen Company.
courage him to take up a line of work that fits in
Everywhere in the country are young men who with his ability, namely, the piano business. Pay him
through aptitude or training are peculiarly fitted for in accordance with the- work that he is capable of
the piano business. These are the men who play a doing and with the results that he is able to show.
The personnel of the piano business needs build-
musical instrument of some sort and who will tit
into an orchestra, band or similar organization. These ing up. As a matter of fact, the personnel of every
young men should be encouraged by every manu- business needs attention all of the time if it is to be
facturer and dealer to get into piano selling. I kept at its highest point of proficiency.
realize that many of them are lacking in business
ability; but that is true of any group of young men.
They must be worked with and culled out. The
ones who cannot produce will naturally fall out of
the race.
1 feel that not enough importance is attached to
the advantage that musi^il ability gives the young
Progressive Firm Will Carry Line at Retail
man in the piano business. There are men in the
Capacity, While Knsbe Ampico Studio
retail end right now and who have been for years,
who are not making proper use of their training in
in Chicago Will Be Closed.
music, as a help to business success.
A news item of interest to the trade, and especially
The Dealer's Advantages.
the Chicago trade, is that the fine Knabe line will
The dealer with a small organization able to fur- hereafter be found on Chicago's Piano Row. The
nish music whenever the occasion requires, has an Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. Co.. Wabash and Jackson
undoubted publicity and sales advantage over com- boulevard, has added the popular Knabc instruments
petitors. There are piano dealers who conduct or to its retail department.
play in municipal bands, who supply music for dances,
The Knabe Ampico Studio, located at 300 North
who play on special occasions in local theaters, who Michigan boulevard, will be closed after the first of
furnish music for openings of new stores, festivals, October and the stock taken over by the Steger com-
etc., and who are always ready to put on a concert pany. It has been one of the two retail establish-
on short notice. Tn many cases, these men have ments located on upper Michigan boulevard and was
become leaders in their communities, not onlv from the first to make the move from Chicago's Piano
the music standpoint but as outstanding figures of
Row, and the line instruments that were always an
local prominence. Music is in a large measure the attraction to these familiar to Wabash avenue, will
stepping stone to success. Men who are musicians now be back, more beautiful than ever.
are in demand many many times during the course of
The Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. Co. is fortunate in
the year. Music gives an entry possible to obtain in securing the Knabe agency. The Knabe instruments
no other way.
with the wide Steger line will meet the requirements
A Commendable Instance.
of the most discriminating purchasers.
In our house publication for August we have the
pictures and details of an orchestra which one of
our dealers has within his own establishment. The
drums are p'ayed by a salesman; the first banjo by
the manager of a branch store; the second banjo by
a salesman; the first violin by a tuner; the guitar by
a salesman; the piano by the salesmanager of the A Few Interesting Items of Events of Recent Occur-
main store. Tt goes without saying that that little
rence Are Printed—Late News from Denver.
organization is putting the name of the dealer on the
By J. B. DILLON.
map and will continue to keep it there. The house,
incidentally, is a sound, substantial business institu-
The Melody Way Club, composed of piano siu-
tion doing a very fair volume of business. Its credit dents enrolled in the free piano lessons, as fostered
is excellent.
by the Scripps-Howard Newspapers of Denver, Colo ,
1 came in contact a few days ago with another gave a recital at the Morey Junior High School in
one of our dealers who is the conductor of a little that city last week and the progress made in such
a short time, both by the young and old, was realty
orchestra, not, however, composed of employees of
his store. A big department store was to have an amazing.
Miss Edna Bushnell, 44, connected with the Den-
opening and what was more natural than for them
to come to the music dealer and ask him where an ver Music Company, died September 2. Before join-
orchestra might be obtained. He offered his own ing the Denver, Miss Bushnell had been with Knight-
and then the representative of the department store Campbell Music Company for fifteen years.
asked, "How about a piano? We have none." The
J. Kenneth Long of Denver has accepted the musi-
dealer said. "Never mind about that. We will take cal directorship of Culver Military Academy and left
care of the piano."
for the Indian school September 1.
In its newspaper advertisement in Denver papers
An arrangement was made and the little orchestra
played, getting $75 for its services. The piano was the Baldwin Piano Company draws attention to some
one of our small sized instruments, easily handled, worthwhile baby grands, but no price is stated. Read-
and on the upper panel appeared the name of the ers are asked to "investigate." That brings the pros-
instrument and the dealer by whom it was sold, so pects quicker, and brings more of then], according
that all who saw might read and thereby get .the to the sales manager.
advertising message. •
This appearance paid the dealer in two ways—in a
PADEREWSKI COMING.
monetary way and in a publicity way. This dealer
According to advices from Geneva. Switzerland,
and a number of others in this particular state use injuries which at first were reported would keep
instruments in that way at dances, in theater appear- Paderewski from giving his American tour this fall
ances, county fairs, etc , but their musical ability is are not serious and the famous pianist will be able
the key to the whole thing.
to p roceed to the United States as planned.
Encourage Young Men.
PROGRESSIVE MICHIGAN DEALER.
The music business, when viewed from this angle,
might be said to be a business where the work is par-
The largest shipment of pianos that ever came to
ticularly pleasant and where initiative pays good
Manistee, Mich., was unloaded at Thor's Music Shop
returns. I would say to dealers: Encourage young on River street a few days ago and the sidewalks in
men who have musical ability, to fit themselves for front of that popular and musical place of business
the music business. Encourage Boy Scout bands. presented a busy scene as the carload and a half ship-
Encourage music competition of all sorts. Take a ment of instruments was unloaded.
YOUNG MEN SUITED
TO PIANO SELLING
MUSIC AND SUCCESS
STEQER & SONS TO
REPRESENT KNABE
SOME LATE NEWS OF THE
DENVER, COLO., TRADE
KREITER
The Leading and Most Popular
Pianos and Players
Grands, Players, Uprights and
Reproducing Pianos
The Results of Over Forty Years'
of Experience.
Kreiter Pianos Cover the Entire Line
and no Piano Dealer who tries these in-
struments would supplant them by any
others. A trial will convince.
Kreiter Mfg. Co., Inc.
310-312 W« Water St., Milwaukee, Wis.
Factory: Marinette, Wis.
E. Leins Piano Co.
Makers of Pianos and
Player Pianos That Are
Established L e a d e r s
Correspondence from Reliable
Dealers Invited
Factory and Offices, 304 W. 42nd St
NEW YORK
The Heppe, Marcellus and Edouard Jules Piano
manufactured by the
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
are the only pianos In the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented in the United States, Gj-eat Britain,
France, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only.
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
The LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Orandu, Upright* and Players
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that can be
made.
YORK PIANOS
Uprights ard Player Pianos
A high grade piano of great
value and with charming tone quality.
Livingston Pianos— Uprights and Player Pianos
A popular piano at a popular price.
Ovor 70,000 instruments made by thit company are sing-
Ing their own praises in all parts of the civilised world.
Write for catalogues and state on what terms you would
like to deal, and we will make you a proposition i> yon are
located in open territory.
WEAVER PIANO CO., Inc.
Factory: TORK. PA.
Established 1870
CHRISTMAN
UPRIGHTS, GRANDS, PLAYERS
AND REPRODUCING PIANOS
THE FAMOUS "STUDIO GRAND"
"The First Touch Tells"
(Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.)
CHRISTMAN PIANO CO.. Inc.
597 East I37th Street,
NEW YORK
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/

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