March 3, 1928
P R E S T O-T I M E S
0. K. HOUCK PIANO CO.'S
NEW NASHVILLE STORE
Officials of Company Present at Important
Formal Ceremonies in Opening of Hand-
some Quarters at 611 Church Street.
THINGS SAID O R SUGGESTED
G. P. BENT vs. R. 0. FOSTER.
There is a friendly rivalry between George P.
Bent of Los Angeles and Robert O. Foster, head of
Foster & Waldo, Minneapolis, as to which will be
first in publishing the books they are now engaged in
preparing for the printer. Mr. Bent is writing "Four
Score and More," which deals with events and indi-
viduals in the American music trade, and Mr. Foster
is planning a second book of verses of general human
and literary interest as well as music trade appeal.
Last week Mr. and Mrs. Foster, who are en route
to Honolulu, called at Mr. Bent's office, 2205 Gram-
ercy Place, Los Angeles, to say "howdy" to Mr. Bent.
The circumstance was described by Mr. Bent.
"Of course, all my friends in the trade know T am
writing the book, and they kid me considerably about
its delayed publication. 1 refuse to be hurried,
though, inasmuch as many of the most famous
authors are slow workers. Samuel Butler, for in-
stance, was twelve years in writing 'The Way of
All Flesh' and I therefore have about ten years more
to go, on 'Four Score and More.'
"In an endeavor to hasten work on this book, how-
ever, I have been known to deny myself to agents,
bond salesmen, and other insistent folk, therefore,
when Mr. Foster introduced himself over the tele-
phone as one 'Matthews' who had 'heard I was writ-
ing a book,' I not only did not recognize the name,
but was rather reluctant about making an engage-
ment with him. When we did fix upon an hour it
chanced that he was a little late and I remarked
when he was announced that he 'wouldn't take long.'
"Imagine my delight when 'Matthews' proved to
be Mr. Foster, and the joy was greater when I found
he was accompanied by Mrs. Foster.
"We had a pleasant visit, and I tried to pin him
down to when his second volume of poems is to be
published. He still declares it is all finished, but for
one word, and that until he can find that one word,
he cannot and will not finish his second book of
poems.
"In the meantime, as there are still several words
to be added to my book, 'Four Score and More,' it is
possible Mr. Foster's volume may beat mine into
print.
However, I think they will both be out in
time for the conventions in June. Several of Mr.
Foster's poems, by the way, will appear in my own
book."
* * *
BEWARE THE BORE
"Be careful how you give an opening to a bore,"
said the piano wareroom cynic.
"I always am," replied the Presto-Times man. "But
why the warning?"
"Yesterday at noon, when the piano trade host was
advancing in solid formation to storm the lunch
counters I encountered someone we both know,"
proceeded the piano wareroom cynic. "We also know
his piano selling methods are contrary to all rules of
decent and honest trading.
" ' H o w are tricks?' I asked lightly as I tried to
pass him by. The query in slang was unfortunate.
He took it literally and, grabbing me by the coat,
held me for fifteen minutes telling me about some
of his new tricks at fooling the piano buyers."
•-:=
*
*
Auto-suggestion is something you can use selling
pianos just as well as selling automobiles.
* * *
It is possible to make a big hit with the bummiest
piano. Pound hard.
* * *
THE CRITICS'
OPPORTUNITY.
The job of selecting musical compositions for its
group of rolls has always been considered a difficult
one by the Clark Orchestra Roll Co., De Kalb, 111.,
but some of its customers consider it easy. Some,
in fact, have expressed an opinion that they could
make better selections for the most popular group
of ten tunes than the editors of the Clark Orchestra
Rolls. The right of the newspaper and magazine
reader to criticize the editor is generally acknowl-
edged, although the editors usually concede the right
with fingers crossed. It may be the same way with
roll editors.
Anyway, the Clark Orchestra Roll Co., through the
Coin-Slot, its clever little house organ, invites all and
every buyer of Clark rolls to select ten numbers
which they believe to be the most popular melodies
all over the country. It is a chance for critics to
show the editors what real popularity discernment is.
Tn addition to the opportunity to show the real pick-
ing sense, E. G. Clark, president of the company,
offers a reward to the contestant who proves his famil-
iarity with popular music by picking ten hits of
proven national favor. It is conceded that Mr. Clark
is something of a popular music critic himself. He
has been making Clark rolls since 1889.
* * *
Courtesy grips the buyers better than bargain sales.
It sounds like one of the wise saws they sell in pic-
ture stores printed in red and black and framed in
oak. But it is original and all right. Courtesy is
something often overlooked by the young salesman.
The veteran knows its value and has it veneered all
over him even if he feels grouchy under the skin.
* * *
The boys of today have a chance to grow up with
the aeroplane business.
* * *
Sometimes the sheriff puts an automatic attachment
to a piano.
* * *
The happy dreamer always has a good piano in
his air castle.
* * *
Sound judgment is usually noiseless.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER
The new store of the O. K. Houck Piano Com-
pany, of Nashville, Tenn., was opened last week at
fill Church street. The reception to the public con-
tinued until 10 o'clock at night with the entire time
being given over to an inspection of the store and its
musical equipment.
When the doors opened there was already a large
crowd of representative Nashvillians on hand, wait-
ing to be the first to view the handsome new home
of the veteran piano and musical instruments firm.
Each guest, whether man, woman or child, was pre-
sented with a pink rose as a souvenir.
Prominent among the officials engaged in welcom-
ing the visitors were John F. Houck, president of the
company: W. T. Sutherland, vice-president and gen-
eral manager; Mrs. Sutherland, and O. E. Furner,
manager of the Nashville store.
The division heads and salesmen were busy all day
escorting the crowds through the two floors occu-
pied by the store, and no sales of any description
were made in accordance with the announcement of
the management that it was to be strictly visitors'
clay.
The main show window display, which included a
Steinway grand, a golden harp and furnishings of
oriental rugs and attractive floor lamps and runners,
probably drew the greatest amount of comment from
the public that attended the opening. The smaller
show window was also attractive, displaying a full
complement of gold-plated musical instruments.
The main floor of the store, done in ivory and white
finishings and paper, is reserved for the band instru-
ment, victrola and sheet music department, with the
second floor exclusively for the demonstration of
grand and upright models of the various makes of
pianos carried by the store, and for victrolas and
radios. The second floor also contains the manager's
and salesmen's office and a lounge for women.
HOUSE SALES BANNED.
A notice in a Paris musical paper refers to the prev-
alence in France of what we know in this country as
the private house dealer. A good deal of this goes
on in France, says the Parisian journal, and in many
countries, "but in Germany," it adds, "manufacturers
have banded together to stop it, and the V. D. K.
(Verein Deutscher Klavierhaendler) are often the
means of bringing these people before the law, when
they are severely dealt with."
THE ALUMINUM PIANO.
To overcome the element of great weight in pianos,
an enthusiastic metal worker and musical instrument
manufacturer of Munich, Herr Max Wumbach, has
hit upon the idea of making a pianoforte in alumi-
num! He calls his first aluminum piano, now on the
market, the "Alneon." It is so light that it can be
carried up and down stairs by a couple of girls.
George Richter has opened a new music store in
the remodeled building at King and Webster streets,
Madison, Wis., handling pianos and Columbia pho-
nographs.
:LPS 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. Tt 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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