February 25, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
OREGON MUSIC TRADE
ASSN. COMES TO LIFE
After About a Year of Inaction Organization
Holds Meeting and Formulates Plans for
Weekly Luncheon—Other News.
The Oregon Music Trades Association showed life
recently, after about a year of inaction, and held a
meeting, when it was decided to hold weekly lunch-
eon meetings. The president, G. F. Johnson, of the
motives are good. Knock? Why, no such thing. G. F. Johnson Piano Co. of Portland, announced
Ask this good-natured man about the piano sold by that a meeting would be called in the near future
a competitor and he will hand out his little frank for the annual election of officers. Mr. Johnson when
encomium. Sometimes he will even give an unde- asked if lie would stand for re-election announced in
served and ridiculous recommendation to some rotten Coolidge words, "T do not choose to run."
old thumpbox, he is so very, very kind.
W. Caven E. Wright, has been appointed manager
"Opposed to the benevolent liar is the negatively of the piano department of the Portland, Ore., branch
slanderous chap. Ask him what he thinks of a first- of Sherman, Clay & Co. Mr. Wright has been with
class piano or a worthy one of commercial grade the Portland branch for the past ten years and has
sold by a competitor and he won't open his mouth made an enviable record in selling" pianos, winning a
to say a straight out unkind word. But he will number of piano sales contests, the last one being
knock by insinuation, inference, a lift of the eye- the first prize in the Pacific coast division of the
brows or a shrug of the shoulders that is meaner and contest put on by the Aeolian Company of New
York. Mr. Wright in addition has won a number of
more villainously effective."
prizes in window decoration contests, among them
* * *
being the decoration of the windows of Sherman,
Tt may be well to remember that the perils of
Clay & Co. for the Rose Festival and another the
getting rich quick by the bait piano route are just as Home Beautiful contest.
great as ever.
The music department of Olds, Wortman & King
* * *
is featuring the Lyon & Healy harp for which it is
'"It's no trouble at all." says a piano installment the exclusive Portland, Ore., agent. Herbert Grof.
collector, "to find people out."
well known on the Pacific coast as a harp soloist and
* * *
teacher of note held an informal reception at the de-
partment and was introduced to those who visited the
() BJ P. CTI ON S USTAI NED
She was young, beautiful and obviously ingenuous, department to hear him play and inspect his $20,000
so the employment bureau manager smiled pleasantly Lyon & Healy harp, which he used. Ed Borgum,
and naturally when he asked what he could do for in charge of the department, announces that he will
give a number of unusual musical surprises during the
her.
"I can sing pretty well, dance, play the piano very spring and summer months.
well and am told I have temperament," she admitted
with a ravishing shy smile.
"Um, let me see," said the employment agency
manager, as he skimmed through the ''situations
vacant" book. "The singing and dancing are negligi-
ble qualities, but if you can play the piano and have
R. G. Summers Celebrates Birth Anniversary by
temperament I guess I can place you."
Selling Grand and Two Other Instruments.
"O goody! goody!" she cried, clapping her hands
joyously. "But," she added with a firm tilt to her
R. (i. Summers, an enthusiastic merchant in Straube
dimpled chin, "I may as well tell you, if you get me a pianos at 1192 Fulton street, Brooklyn, N. Y., fur-
p'ace on the stage I won't wear tights."
nished an inspiring example of salesmanship recently
"Won't wear tights!" gasped the e. a. m. "Why, when on the 85th anniversary of his birth he person-
the place 1 had in mind for you was popular music ally sold one grand piano for cash, also one roll-
demonstrator at the piano in a ten-cent store."
played piano and one upright piano on terms.
* * *
Mr. Summers is a very fine musician and was for-
Poor pianos cost money, but there are people who merly a teacher of music. He has been in business
seem to think them worth the price.
since 1872, the last 35 years at his present address.
Through the Civil War he served with the L'nion
* * *
Army, with distinction. Mr. Summers enjoys fine
A good many piano salesmen would say more if
they didn't talk so much. Knowing when to stop is active health. He is a gentleman of charming per-
sonality and a forceful salesman. Me is a great
as important as how to begin.
admirer of the unusual construction and tonal achieve-
ment which the Straube piano possesses.
THINGS SAID O R SUGGESTED
ROYAL
PROSPECTS
Sing a song of player,
Grand and tine upright,
Shipped out by the carload.
See the heart'ning sight!
When the season opens,
Salesmen full of glee
11 ike out where the grass is tall,
Royal prospects free.
The queen in the parlor
Playing the radio.
The king in his chamber
Counting up his dough,
Salesman in the kitchen
Waiting patiently;
Merely wants a chance to talk
With her majesty.
Salesman grows impatient,
Makes the meek request,
Asks her majesty to give
. Static box a rest.
King thereon abetted.
"Can the howls," said he,
"Hear the proposition
This man spouts so free."
Salesman thereupon unloosed,
Smooth and oily spiel;
Ehtrancingly descriptive,
Hot direct appeal.
Queen it was who, weak'ning,
Voiced the glad desire;
Pay fifty down—so become
Proud installment buyer.
King rose up in anger,
Veins swelled in his neck.
Lustily he royally roared:
"No credit deal, by heck!
In yon county bank I have
Crinkly stacks of kale.
For the reproducing grand
I pay on the nail."
Salesman quick unloaded
Walnut, style O. G.
Queen deftly set the lunch,
Happy as could be.
King's check was presented,
Full price as he said.
Radio discarded;
Dumped within the shed.
*
*
*
C X// SSI F YIN G LI A RS
"Possibly the least blameworthy liar in the piano
trade is the benevolent one," said the piano w T are-
room cynic. "He escapes condemnation because his
BROOKLYN, N. Y., DEALER
ACTIVE AT EIGHTY=FIVE
OPENS IN ENID, OKLA.
The Clayton-Jones Music Comany, Enid, Okla.,
last week opened business in the location at 212 West
Broadway. The new business firm is owned by R. J.
Clayton and Professor R. E. Jones, well known in
musical circles of the city. Part of an up-to-date
stock to be handled by the Clayton-Jones company
is on hand and additions have been ordered.
NEW WURLITZER MANAGER.
An announcement is made by the Rudolph Wnr-
litzer Company, of the appointment of George A.
Levy as district manager of the Organ Division. His
home office will be located at 329 South Wabash ave-
nue, Chicago.
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.
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