13
P R E S T 0-T IMES
January 7, 1928
and have something other to say than just the ex-
pression of opinion as to the tone of the instrument.
The teacher should familiarize herself with the strong
selling points about the various pianos handled in
any store with which she is allied.
"There are others besides teachers who occasion-
Secretary of the National Association cf Music ally ask for commission. In some cases the com-
mission is justified. Occasionally we have a call
Merchants Cites Difficulties That Make
from some retail house in another line of business
Solution More Difficult.
saying that they could influence the sale of a piano
Herman H. Fleer, secretary of the National Asso- and asking what commission there will be in it for
ciation of Music Merchants, this week expressed the them. To such an inquiry, our answer is, 'Nothing.'
Other Means.
belief that one of the most difficult problems with
which the retail merchant is concerned at the pres-
"On the other hand, we work very closely with
ent time particularly because of the high'y competi- interior decorators. We feel that an interior decora-
tive character of selling at this time, is the question
tor is legitimately entitled to a commission because
of paying commissions to music teachers or others he has a great deal to do with the selection of a
who appear to look upon the retail piano dealer as particular style of instrument which will harmonize
easy prey.
; with the architectural design and furnishing of the
Mr. Fleer expressed the opinion that the simplest home. This is a subject which may profitably come
solution of this matter lies in each individual dealer up for discussion at one of our convention sessions."
establishing a list of teachers who would align them-
Trade-In Problem.
selves with his establishment and use their best
The
trade-in
problem
was a'so discussed by Mr.
efforts to bring customers to his store.
Fleer. He said that it is of course obvious to all
The Commission Quest'on.
dealers that the trade-ins cost the dealer altogether
"There is no objection whatever," said Mr. Fleer, too much money.
"to paying a music teacher a commission where the
"It seems," said Mr. Fleer, "that when business is
teacher really does give legitimate assistance to the bad, the average dealer has a tendency to make
dealer in making a sale to either a pupil or anyone
larger trade allowances than he ordinarily would,
who may rely upon the judgment of the teacher in with a result that there is a corresponding decrease
question.
This is work which should rightfully in profits. In about 75 per cent of the cases, the
be paid for.
customer with a piano to trade in, is smarter than
"What the music merchant olrcc's to, and justly the dealer.
: j H]
so, is where a teacher goes the rounds of various
"There are retail houses who mark up the price
stores and in some cases files the name of a prospect of new instruments with the direct purpose of making
with half a dozen dealers and rea'ly decs no actual apparently large allowances on trade-ins and to take
work whatever in the selection of a piano or influ- care of customer discoun's. but this is not the right
encing a sale. The teacher should be specific in way for a house to operate."
her recommendations, and if the customer buys else-
where, she should get nothing. The teacher should
be just as close to a retail piano store as a salesman
DETROIT CHILDREN WIN.
for that house.
More than 500 of the 900 school children of Detroit
who recently took part in the city-wide music mem-
What Teacher Doesn't Know.
"The average music teacher knows next to noth- ory test scored as perfect. The final test was the
ing about the construction of a piano. The teacher concluding feature of a concert course provided for
should receive instruction from a piano house so that public school pupils by the Detroit Symphony
she can talk intelligent'}' with a prospective customer Society.
H. H. FLEER DISCUSSES
COMMISSION PROBLEM
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
EDMUND JOHNSON BURNED
IN TRAIN CRASH SUNDAY
President of Schaff Piano String Company, Chi-
cago, Is Recovering at Hospital.
In the train crash at 130th street, Chicago, at 3 p. m.,
Sunday, January 1, there was one killed and 28 in-
jured. One of the severely injured was Edmund
Johnson, president of the Schafif Piano String Co.,
2011 Clybourn avenue, Chicago. He was badly
scalded on one hip and on both legs from a bursted
steam pipe. He had his overcoat on at the time, and
in the collision was pushed over the escaping steam
and held fast there for a time.
Mr. Johnson was on his way to Michigan City,
Ind., from Chicago, and was riding on a fast South
Shore limited train that was speeding at 60 miles an
hour, when it ran into a stalled train at 130th street.
The first coach of the limited train bore the full force
of the crash. As the front end of the coach was
splintered it burst into flames and the steam pipes of
the heating system gave way, spraying the occupants
with scalding vapors. Mr. Johnson was taken to the
Pullman Hospital, where his burns were dressed, and
late this week was reported to be doing weM. Ed-
ward Stafford, motorman, was the man killed.
PIANO SALESMAN MURDERED.
Two negro bandits are being sought by Chicago
police as the slayers of Morris Shames, a floor sales-
man for the Freeman Piano & Furniture Company,
who was shot en Wednesday night of this week at
47th street and Wabash avenue, Chicago, when he
resisted them. Before he died he said that the men
confronted him with revolvers and ordered him to
raise his hands, but one of them shot him before he
had a chance to do so, and both fled without rob-
bing him.
PUBLISHER BUYS KNABE.
Knabe New York Warerooms, 52nd street and
Fifth avenue, report the sale of a Knabe Ampico
grand, Louis XV to Bernard Ridder, publisher of the
New Yorker-Herald and the Staats-Zeitung.
MOVING TRUCKS
Manufacturer* of
for
PIANO ACTIONS
HIGHEST GRADE
ONE GRADE ONLY
PIANOS
The Wessell, Nickel & Gross action is a
guarantee of the grade of the instrument
in which it is found.
FACTORIES!
45thSt.,10»hATe. &W46lh.
Orthophonic Victrolas
Electric Refrigerators
OFFICEt
457 w. 45th Street
Write for catalog and prices for End Trucks, SiL
Trucks, Hoists, Covers and Special Straps.
JULIUS BRECKWOLDT & SON, INC
Manufactured by
DOLGEVILLE. N. Y.
Self-Lifting PianoTruck Co,
Manufacturers of
FINDLAY, OHIO
Piano Backs, Boards, Bridges, Bars,
Traplevers and Mouldings
J BRECKWOLDT, Prea.
W. A. BRECKWOLDT, Sec. & Treas.
THE O S. KELLY CO.
Manufacturers
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE
TELLS ALL ABOUT ALL PIANOS
of
Migri
Grade
PIANO PLATES
SPRINGFIELD
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MANUFACTURERS OF
Grand Keys, Actions and Hammers, Upright Keys
Actions and Hammer , Pipe Organ Keys
Piano Forte Ivory for the Trade
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