October, 1930
P R E S T 0-TI M E S
12
Dollars and Sense in Piano Business
How Leading Houses Attract Trade and Bring in
Business and Dollars
SOHMER.
The Avery Piano Store, 256 Weybosset street, Prov-
idence, R. I., says of the Sohmer pianos: "For more
than half a century the Sohmer piano has enjoyed
international fame for its extraordinary beauty of
tone. Sold exclusively in Rhode Island by Avery
Piano Store."
STEINWAY.
The Birkel Music Co., 446 South Broadway, Los
Angeles, Calif., have this to say of the Steinway
pianos: "The greatest musicians use the Steinway.
All over the world the Steinway is known and loved
by famous musicians. That has been so for more than
three-quarters of a century. And that universal ac-
ceptance is still another reason for the choice of the
Steinway as your piano. There are many models and
prices, each adapted to a special need. Uprights, $950
up; grands, $1,575 up."
Gewehr Piano Co., Inc., 216 Wast 9th street, Wil-
mington, Del., offers "the Steinway Grand pianos,
available in various periods that will harmonize with
every surrounding."
RADIO FOR WINTER CHEER
The accompanying cut shows the method employed
in a full-page advertisement of the Knight-Campbell
Co. of Denver, Colo., to call attention to the Victor,
Atwater Kent, and Stroinberg-Carlson radios. The
question and answer on the cut speak a volume.
IT WILL ee\
FOR ANYONE WITHOUT A ftADlO'f
CAMEL. DO
YOU THINK ,
IT WILL 8£ \
A LONG-, HARD/
BUT KNIGHT-CAMPBELL'S
CAM
PUBLIC IS SHOWING STRONG
PREFERENCE FOR PIANOS
Foster & Waldo, Minneapolis, Show by a Cut How
Music's Pendulum Is Swinging Pianoward.
There are three original, inspirational cuts in the
full pages of advertising of the big firm of Foster &
Waldo of Minneapolis, Minn., in the dailies of that
city. One picture shows a pair of hands at the key-
board and a great curving bridge in the distance, and
the reference in the printed text is to the same pair
of hands, saying: "These hands design great bridges
and they play the piano two hours every day."
The second cut is the one reproduced here in Presto-
Times, showing that the trade pendulum has swung
to the baby grand piano, having passed on the dial
the reed organ, the upright piano, the phonograph
and the radio. The third cut shows a dainty lady at
a keyboard, and this is the story
"No home is home without a piano. Meaning, of
STARR.
The Jenkins Music Co., Kansas City, Mo., and in
its numerous branch stores, is making a special run
on the Starr baby grand pianos, which instrument the
Jenkins company considers one of the outstanding bar-
gains in this special sale.
In offering the latest model Starr baby grand piano,
the Jenkins Music Co., 223' West Main street, Okla-
homa City, Okla., describes the instrument as "a new
Starr Grand of typical superior construction and tonal
qualities."
KNABE.
STftOMftEIUr-CAHLSON
aao.Oj.
MUSIC BOOST AT WICHITA
THROUGH PIANO SALE
Wm. Knabe & Co., Ampico Hall, 584 Fifth avenue
Unusual interest in music was created at Wichita,
at 47th street, New York, in announcing the Knabe
Kan., through a big sale of pianos by the J. W.
Ampico Baby Grand, in Heppelwhite design, have the Jenkins Sons Music Co. The sale which began on
following good words to say of the Ampico: "The
Sept. 5 and closed on September 27, under the man-
Ampico is guaranteed to replace depression with cheer,
agement of C. W. Kanaga, Wichita manager, was
boredom with scintillating good humor and interest—
successful in the number of instruments disposed of
giving you ideal performances of all your favorite
as well as in giving an impetus to the study of music.
music exactly as recorded especially for the Ampico
L T pright pianos and small grands went well.
by the greatest pianists and the finest players of pop-
Mr. Kanaga said he has noticed a growing desire
ular dance music, theme songs, musical comedies and
among many Wichita children for musical education.
revues. Let your children know beautiful music
Several reasons contribute to the increase in music
through the Ampico."
study, according to Mr. Kanaga. One is the radio
STARCK.
which has brought high-class music into many homes
for the first time. It has created a new desire in chil-
The P. A. Starck Piano Co., 1118 Olive street, St.,
dren to know more about music and to acquire a
Louis, Mo., is making a special run on their new little
musical education. The radio also has brought a
grand piano, which, as they say in their advertisements
new and large demand for music artists. These neces-
in the St. Louis papers, takes up very little more
space than an upright piano, 3 feet 9 inches long, 3 sarily must come for the future from the children of
feet 10 inches wide. These instruments are just the today. The field is large and the demand is growing
constantly.
size for small apartments and homes.
"What about our children?'' is a question in every
Of the new model Starck upright the P. A. Starck
home where there are boys and girls, says Mr.
Co. makes this announcement "The very latest in piano
Kanaga. Music is the answer, he says, which Wichita
construction, 3 feet 4 inches wide, 3 feet 5 inches
parents and others are giving to this question. Popu-
high, 1 foot 11 inches deep, built especially for small
lar people of today are the cultured people. Musical
apartments, yet with all the quality and tone volume
of a large piano. This wonderful instrument is the knowledge is real culture.
piano sensation of St. Louis. Nothing like it ever
offered before."
SCHLOSSER EXPRESSES OPTIMISM.
Jacques Bach Schlosser, president of Kranich &
In announcing its new small size grand piano, the
P. A. Starck Piano Co., 228 South Wabash avenue, Bach, New York, says: "The house of Kranich &
Chicago, says: "The very latest in grand piano con- Bach is optimistic and confident of the early resump-
struction—3 feet 10 inches long, 3 feet 8 inches wide, tion of a normal demand for fine pianos."
built especially for small apartments, yet with all the
capacity and tone volume of a large piano."
GETS MASON & HAMLIN AGENCY.
The J. B. Bradford Co., 411 Broadway, Milwaukee,
BALDWIN.
The Southern California Music Co., celebrating its congratulates itself over having secured the repre-
50th anniversary, is proud of its Baldwin representa- sentation in the Wisconsin metropolis of the Mason
& Hamlin pianos of Boston. A fine showing of
tion. Of the Baldwin piano it says "Sylvain Noack,
Mason & Hamlins in period designs is being made
eminent violinist and concert master of the Hollywood
Bowl Orchestra, uses the Baldwin. The fact that at the store.
Sylvain Noack and an impressive array of other great
COMBINED UNDER NEW NAME.
artists use the Baldwin exclusively, is convincing evi-
The Aeolian Co., New York, recently purchased
dence of its supremacy!" And Prof. Noack adds:
"Hearing the Baldwin so often at the Bowl and other and has combined three well known companies into
great musical events, I have grown to love its tone one to be known as the Standard Pneumatic Action
Corporation. They are the Standard Pneumatic
above all others. It is a truly great piano in every
Action Co., the Auto Pneumatic Action Co. and the
respect!"
De Luxe Reproducing Roll Corporation, by means
VOSE.
of which purchases they not only get control of the
The O. K. Houck Piano Co., exclusive Vose repre- player actions mentioned but also secure the Welte
sentatives, Little Rock, Ark., challenge comparison Mignon (Licensee) reproducing action and the Welte
and declare: "If all piano buyers were musicians, the Mignon (Licensee) reproducing roll. The headquar-
qualities of the Vose would greatly increase the sale ters go to Aeolian Hall, New York, and W. A. Men-
for Vose pianos. The exquisite sweetness of tone nie is president of the new corporation, Mr. Mennie
and beauty of design and moderate prices are con- was for several years past the president of the Stand-
tributing factors which would create that demand."
ard Pneumatic Action Co.
divines:, tiht/te
HO) w
Today music lessons are "fun"
They entertain while they instruct.
Children learn pretty melodies al-
most from the beginning. It isn't
work/ it's play. They learn rapidly.
NOTE THIS riCNDULlWl'S POSITION.
course, a baby grand piano. First, because there is
probably nothing else built by man that makes a living
room so 'comfy,' cozy, inviting, livable.
"Always the first thing to catch the feminine eye,
causing a hush of admiration, whispered 'ahs' and
'ohs' of feminine delight. Second, because of the low,
vibrant, ocean-deep tones in the bass register; the
flowing, flute-like middle register; the silvery tinkle
of the upper register—tone not possible with any type
of piano.
"Today, music lessons are 'fun.' They entertain
while they instruct. It isn't work, it's play. Children
learn pretty melodies almost from the beginning.
They learn rapidly.
"Foster & Waldo always provide for the public
what it wants—when it wants it—in musical instru-
ments. The public is showing a strong preference for
pianos. So be it!"
FRANCIS CO. HAS GOOD TRADE.
Despite a spell of not the most rugged health, E.
A. Francis of Galesburg is carrying on in the piano
trade at Galesburg, 111., and has just closed quite a
sale of the instruments. The company recently sold
the fifth piano to the managers of the Weinberg Ar-
cade Roof Garden, as well as at Champaign and
Macomb; a player piano to a school teacher in Mon-
mouth, a piano to the Bethel church, North Cedar
street, and later delivered one for the new pavilion
at Lake Storey.
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