March 10, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
MAKE PLANS FOR
TUNERS' CONVENTION
THINGS SAID O R SUGGESTED
REMINDER OF HOME
Last year George Scott, salesman for the Converse
Piano Co., Aurora, 111., was a joyous member of the
American Legion in the friendly invasion of France.
A large number of his steamer companions were for-
mer comrades in the 149th Field Artillery (Reilly's
Bucks) of the Rainbow Division and a boisterously
pleasant time was had by all. Of course he was accom-
panied by his handsome French wife, whom he had
wooed while her gentle and efficient nursing eased his
pains in a base hospital.
Seeing her relations again and proudly showing
them her handsome American husband were incidents
of extravagant delight for Mrs. Scott, but she soon
noted that his 'inlaws jangled the nerves of her tem-
peramental hubby. It made him wince when his
wife's male relatives with voluminous whiskers in-
sisted on kissing him on both cheeks at every meet-
ing. So Mrs. Scott commandeered her Uncle Ona-
zeim as a companion for George, with instructions to
keep him away all day.
Uncle Onazeim, who had once lived in the United
States, where he had discarded whiskers and the kiss-
ing habit, had a workable use of English. When
Scott rather extravagantly complimented him on his
ability in that respect, he rapturously exclaimed:
"Vous me flattez, monsieur. A vrai dire, j'ai parfois
beaucoup de mal a' me faire comprendre."
"You're right, whatever it is," said Scott, "but nix
on the detour into the French lingo."
"Ah, pardon. But I make slip when I get excite,"
said the apologetic uncle.
When they stopped to rest on a hilltop overlooking
the Rhone river and a wide expanse of the pictur-
esque Rhone valley, George Scott shouted: "Gee, but
that makes me homesick; just like a bit of the old
Fox River Valley."
"Vous avez raison, monsieur," exclaimed Uncle
Onezeim, rapturesquely gesticulating. "Moi aussi, je
l'ai trouvee exquise!"
"Off the conversational cement again, old top. Now
what makes you excited this time?" asked Scott.
"Zee resemblance. Eet is so, monsieur. I myself
haf leeved in St. Charles on zee Fox River and for
four year make zee piano fineesh at the factoree of
ze Cable Company."
"You don't say. Then shake old towney. That
makes you my favorite French uncle."
* * *
BILLY FOWLER'S
MOTTOS
Billy Fowler, owner of the Bungalow Busy Music
Shop, Taylorville, 111., says: "The physical health of
piano salesmen is conserved by pedestrian exercise
and their mentality energized by conversational con-
tacts with piano prospects in the community," which
is another and more academic way of saying: "Few
are the rewards of the piano salesmen on the inside
looking out."
Four years ago this week, circumstances made Mr.
Fowler jobless and moneyless. The combination was
caused by the failure of the Springfield, 111., music
firm for which he had worked and in which he had
invested his savings. So he collected $96 he had
loaned to a friend and, acting on a hunch, moved to
Taylorville. His other assets were a thorough knowl-
edge of the music business, a flock of untried ideas
about operating a music business, a euphonious name,
invaluable in Main Street advertising, and a convinc-
ing way that made wholesalers and bankers see
Billy Fowler possibilities as assurances. To justify
himself he made good.
He largely attributes his success to the apprecia-
tion of the motto: "You can't have too many sales-
men." In the early days in the Bungalow Busy Music
Shop, when the salesmen were present in full force,
they outnumbered the pianos they were employed to
sell. The circumstance added weight to the advice to
"go outside and hustle." Of the staff of eight in the
Taylorville store today, six preserve ruddy complex-
ions, strong leg muscles and mental alertness by
seeking Opportunity in its lair. All of the four in
the Charleston branch also are good walkers and con-
vincing talkers.
* * *
A certain Cincinnati piano man who is a confirmed
bachelor and whose name wild horses couldn't drag
from us, says there is no marrying or giving in mar-
riage in heaven, because the angels know better.
* * *
TRUTH
PREVAILS—BUT
The saying that "truth will prevail" is as true as
it is trite. The trouble is that it too often prevails
too late. Many a sad piano purchaser learns that
his purchase is a lie when he has thirteen monthly
installments paid on it.
The truth of the honest dealer whose piano he did
not buy, prevails, when a tuner explains to the pur-
chaser of the lie piano that the pins won't stay put
and that the fine tone claimed for it does not exist.
Yes, truth prevails, but if you have brass enough
you can convince some people that two and two
make five. Also you can persuade some people to
put money in a rat hole if you approach them with
the proper line of money talk.
* * *
You can't always tell by the noise they make what
your competitors think of your piano. Practice makes
the polite knocker perfect in uttering compliments
with unexpected reservations.
The triumph is
reached when the emconium is 99 per cent reservation
and you don't catch on until later.
* * *
It is reported that a piano salesman from St. Jo-
seph, Mo.,' married a Wichita, Kan., girl after a
courtship of two days. Two days! Why the delay
in closing the deal?
Local Committee From Cleveland Division
Promises Irresistible Attractions for Visit-
ing Tuners and Their Friends at
Statler Hotel.
The Cleveland Division of the National Association
of Piano Tuners, which has charge of plans for the
annual convention of the national organization at
Cleveland, August 13 to 16, promises to effect a suc-
cess that will minimize all previous gatherings of the
body. Arrangements to carry out the ambitious
plans started early this year are now practically com-
pleted by the committee headed by J. B. Wurstner.
The selection of the Hotel Statler was the first
action towards success and the management assured
the best facilities to take care of a large gathering of
tuners and with accommodations for guests apart
from the members. The Hotel Statler was selected
because it not only has a large ballroom, with a mez-
zanine that may be used for visitors, but has adequate
space on the floor directly above the meeting hall to
take care of exhibitors. Members may go from the
meeting hall to the exhibit room by two broad stair-
ways, and thus avoid the delay incident to waiting for
elevator service to various parts of the hotel.
The committee is now at work filling out program
features calculated to interest and entertain the visi-
tors, and it is expected that the tentative program will
be ready for announcement in a few weeks.
Charles Deutschmann, president of the National As~
sociation of Piano Tuners, commends the efforts of
the Cleveland Division and believes the hopes of the
committee will be realized. The members throughout
the country are much interested in the preparations
for the Cleveland meeting and, according to Mr.
Deutschmann, a particularly large number will attend.
MASSEY PIANO COMPANY
MOVES TO NEW STORE
Commodious Quarters Occupied Last Week Were
Specially Remodeled for Purposes of Company.
The Massey Piano Company, 811 Walnut street,
Des Moines, la., has taken a lease on a new location
at 807 Walnut street in the Davidson building, and
moved to the new quarters March 1.
Preparatory to the change, Davidsons remodeled
the store. This work included new show windows
especially adapted to the display of musical merchan-
dise, and the remodeling and redecoration of the
interior. Piano show rooms and audition rooms for
Victrolas will be added.
Walter J. Massey, secretary and treasurer of the
piano company, said both the wholesale and retail
business will be carried on from the new store.
NEW BALDWIN STORE.
The Baldwin Piano Company has opened sales and
display rooms at 1533 Halsted street, Chicago. The
new establishment is in the business section of Chi-
cago Heights and exclusively a piano store and it
replaces the salesrooms formerly located at the plant
on East Fourteenth street. Harry Me Adams of Chi-
cago is the manager of the new store.
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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