January 7, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
W. S. BOND'S CHOICE
IN PIANO SALES FIELD
President of Weaver Piano Co., Inc., York, Pa.,
Tells What He Would Do as
a Salesman.
W. S. Bond, president of the Weaver Piano Com-
pany, Inc., York, Pa., who is a keen student of piano
trade conditions with judgement guided by valuable
years of experience in the manufacturing and sales
fields, tells what he would do if he were a salesman
again:
I would sell the playerpiano not as a substitute for
the straight piano, but I would present it first of all
as a piano with a keyboard. I would speak of the
importance of quality in the piano itself, so that those
who play it manually will find that it will meet the
requirements of those who play with fine interpre-
tation and with a wide range of expression as the
musician plays.
I would not emphasize the brand of the player
action as the important item, but the quality and
brand of the piano. Then I would proceed to set
forth the many uses of the playerpiano as a piano for
the whole family.
First, those who study music can play their selec-
tions with the roll as a challenge to play with equal
perfection on the keyboard.
Second, 1 would set forth the playerpiano as the
most valuable article used by those who make of the
home a social center, as they gather around the
playerpiano and sing the popular songs of the day,
with anyone playing the songs with the rolls.
Third, 1 would show the value of the playerpiano
as an accompaniment to dancing for these who dance
in the home.
Fourth,- I would show how the daughters could use
the playerpiano as a means of enertaining their
friends in a refined way by singing with the player-
piano with their friends accompanying.
Fifth, I would show how the old folks would de-
rive pleasure for themselves by playing the old-time
melodies, hymn tunes and sentimental songs of the
old days on the playerpiano.
1 would sell the p'.ayerpiano as the universal instru-
ment and not as a substitute for the straight piano,
since a good playerpiano is just as good for manual
playing as the piano without the player action in it.
PIANO MAN GUILTY OF
USING MAILS TO DEFRAUD
Head of Pennsylvania Concern Convicted as Result
of Campaign by Finance Companies.
William F. Allen, proprietor of the William F.
Allen Piano Company, which until recently operated
stores in Pittsburgh, Duquesne and Donora, Pa., was
indicted in October last by the Federal Grand July
of the Southern District of New York on four sep-
arate counts for fraudulent use of the United States
mails, through the sale of fictitious piano installment
contracts to the Bankers-Commercial Security Co.,
Inc., and Commercial Investment Trust, Inc., both of
New York City.
Besides the ma'ling of spurious contracts the de-
fendant was indicted for the mailing of false financial
statements and for offering contracts to both com-
panies secured by the same pianos.
Allen's trial began December 20 and before Federal
Judge Frank A. Coleman of the Southern District of
New York, and was found guilty by a jury on De-
cember 23 on iill four counts.
The conviction of Allen is the result of a vigorous
campaign that is benig waged by the finance com-
panies and piano manufacturers to rid the music
industry cf unscrupulous dealers. An association has
been formed for the purpose of detecting frauds of
this nature.
CHILDREN EAGER FOR MUSIC,
SAYS ARTHUR WESSELL
Mr. Wessell's Enthusiasm for Ways to Interest Them
Condensed in Slogan.
Arthur Wessell, of Wessell, Nickel & Gross, New
York, has lom>- cherished a desideratum to put in
practical effect ways and means of inducing children
to love music and to play the piano for its own sake
and not merely as a developmental duty. His slo-
gan, "Make the children a friend of the piano," shows
his feelings in the matter and how comprehensive it
is, how much it means! It means giving the chil-
dren a chance to express themselves in the terms of
music. Self-action is behind all satisfaction in life.
Mark Twain understood that motive in every boy
when, in his "Huckleberry Finn," he had Huckle-
berry out by the roadside one morning throwing
stcnes at a mark inside his father's lot. Every boy
who came along en route to school wanted to throw
stones at the target, but Huckleberry made a charge
of a cent each and soon all the stones that his father
had asked him to move had been moved and Huckle-
berry's pockets jingled with the coins of his victims,
who in their eagerness for'self-expression had done
nine-tenths of Huckleberry's task.
RAUWORTH COMPANY NOT TO MOVE.
The Kauworth Grand Piano Company, Bellevue,
Iowa, contrary to rumors that it had intended to
move away from Bellevue, has no such intention nor
has it any intention of closing. It is permanently
located at Bellevue, and furthermore it is working
its p'ant very actively at the present time.
FIRE IN FORT WAYNE STORE.
Fire starting from a detective chimney resulted in
a $20,000 loss at the Jacobs Music House in the heart
of the downtown district of Fort Wayne, Ind., last
week. Traffic was tied up for nearly an hour. One
hundred pianos Mere damaged by fire and water.
PRESIDENT BUYS AMPICO.
Walter C. Teagle. president of the Standard Oil
Company of New Jersey, has purchased a Chickering
Ampico in the style of Louis XV for use in his home
at Pert Chester, N. Y. The sale was made at Chlck-
eriug Hall, New York.
Hardman, Peck & Co.
make
a Fine Piano
for every pocketbook
All exquisite instruments
offering unique tone beauty
and durability. All made
and g u a r a n t e e d by t h e
makers of the Hardman, the
world's most durable piano.
Your choice of models priced
to consumers from $375 to
$5000.
85 Years of Fine Piano Making
\ V 7 " ± _ for catalog and prices
W Til" of pianos
Made and guaranteed by
Hardman, Peck <8fr Co.
433 Fifth Avenue. New York
Fine Pianos
Makers oj the world s mo'.i
durable piano—the Hardman
Schumann
PIANOS and PLAYER PIANOS
GRANDS and UPRIGHTS
Have no superiors in appearance, tone
power or other essentials of strictly
leaders in the trade.
Warning to Infringers
BALDWIN FOR RADIO STATION
o -Piano. <7
This Trade Mark Is cait
In the plate and also ap-
pears upon t h e fall board
of all genuine Schumann
Pianos, and all Infringe™
will be prosecuted. Beware
of Imitations such as Schu-
mann & Company, Schu-
mann Sc Son, and also
Shuman, a s all stencil
shops, dealers and users of
pianos bearing a name in
Imitation of the name
Schumann with the Inten-
tion of deceiving the public
will be prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law
%rw uatauiBue on Request.
Schumann Piano Co.
W. N. VAN MATRE, President
Rockford, III.
W. P. Haines & Co.
Radio fans are familiar with the programs of Sta-
tion WXAX, Cincinnati, which uses a Baldwin piano
in broadcasting. The group left shows the Mikolas
Orchestra, regular entertainers of WNAX, and at
right the picture shows: Seated at the "mike" is
D. B. Gurney, president Gurney Seed & Nursery Co.,
owners of the station; J. G. Gurney, secretary-treas-
urer is standing by the Baldwin piano.
Manufacturers or
BRADBURY. WEBSTER
ana
W. P. HAINES & CO.
Grand, Upright and Reproducing
Pianos
138th Street and Walton Avenue
NEW YORK
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