Presto

December, 1930
PRESTO-TIMES
12
Dollars and Sense in Piano Business
How Leading Houses Attract Trade and Bring in
Business and Dollars
BRAMBACH
STEINWAY.
"There are many homes today in which the Stein-
way piano has a definite part in the family tradition,"
says Grunewald's, 123 Carondelet street, New Or-
leans, La. "Purchased years ago, it early won the
regard and affection of both the parents and the chil-
dren. The unusual length of life of the Steinway is
BALDWIN.
Benedict Music Co., 64 South Cherry street, Gales- simply the result of the care which has been taken in
Representatives of Presto-Times have found in
burg, 111., in a pre-Christmas advertisement, says: its manufacture."
"The gift supreme—Baldwin grand."
Mellor's, 1420 Market street, Wheeling, W. Va., has their movements hither and yon in the last ten days
ever so much more activity in the piano business than
"For sixty-eight years Baldwin (the oldest musical this to say about the Steinway: "There is a certain
the trade is given credit for.
house in Kentucky) has been serving your musical satisfaction that goes with the purchase of a Stein-
At one trade group where a Presto-Times man sat
needs," says the Baldwin Piano Co.'s Louisville house, way piano that you will find in no other make. For
in for awhile, a well-known piano salesman told of
years it has been recognized by music lovers and
located at 300 West Broadway, that city. "You can
musicians as the 'best,' and you know there can be taking an order for ten player-pianos. The house
best appreciate Baldwin superiority when you play
only one 'best.' If you are thinking of a new piano that gave this order has been featuring the player-
the instruments yourself."
piano business for many years, and has continued to
this fall, come in and hear the Steinway."
GULBRANSEN.
have a very successful trade in players.
And
this
is
from
Shackleton's,
324
West
Chestnut
"The Gulbransen home study piano is built to a
Another salesman gave out that he had taken an
full size scale which insures reproduction of every street, Louisville, Ky.: "Your present piano and a
order for a car-load of pianos the week before.
degree of tone power from the rich, resonant bass small cash deposit will put a Steinway in your home.
Another man, the head of a piano manufacturing
Balance in three years."
tones to those of the brilliant, bell-like tone quality
company whose plant is located not much over 100
The
Griffith
Piano
Co.,
605-607
Broad
street,
New-
of the treble," is the way a prominent midwestern
miles from Chicago, told the caller of a recent ship-
ark, N. J., says of the Steinway piano: "Pure and
dealer advertises that instrument.
ment from his factory of a car-load of pianos.
glorious of tone, a source of constant pleasure and
KNABE.
A member of the party gave his views on how to
satisfaction,
an
instrument
such
as
the
Steinway
is
The Lehman Piano Co., 1101 Olive street, St. Louis,
sell pianos—how good, new, fresh stock helps to make
an
investment
that
pays
for
itself
many
times
in
Mo., has this to say of the Knabe: "You who con-
any store attractive. He said a modern piano in a
template purchasing a new piano—one that is in ac- enjoyment and cultural inspiration. Yet the Steinway
store window had much more drawing power to get
cord with the finer things of life—have but to play is no more difficult to buy than a good automobile or
the customer inside than any advertising card that
a
worthy
piece
of
furniture.
It
may
be
paid
for
in
and hear the Knabe. Its fame has spread to every
might be stuck up there.
civilized corner of the world where culture prevails. a manner that will not put a strain on even the
The entire party, in the consensus of its outlook,
modest income. Ten per cent down—three years to
It is a mark of distinction to own a Knabe."
is hoping the day will come—and is not far off—when
pay the balance!"
MASON & HAMLIN.
Schmoller & Mueller Piano Co., 1220 O street, the bulk of old pianos will be off the floors of stores
The Corley Co., 214 East Grace street, Richmond,
and that they will be replaced by new. fresh goods,
Lincoln,
Neb., says: "There is a Steinway model
Va., says of the Mason & Hamlin: "Long noted as
at which time dealers will note a wonderful improve-
and price for every home. The terms are remarkably
'the finest piano the world has ever known.' "
ment, for they will find it not only easier to sell
convenient. Any Steinway may be purchased with a
LESTER.
The F. A. North Co., 1306 Chestnut street, Phila- cash deposit of ten per cent of the total cost, and pianos, but will sell a great many more of them.
delphia, Pa., says: "Only through proper co-operation the balance will be extended over a period of three
ONE LINE OF EACH.
between men and management can fine pianos such years. Used pianos are accepted in partial exchange."
VOGUE.
as the Lester be produced."
The Mann-Foster Music Co. of Green Bay, Wis.,
Mickel's, corner of 15th and Harney streets, Omaha, succeeding to the old-established Vandenburg Music
STARCK.
Neb., says of the Vogue baby grand: "Best buy in Co., go in for one line of pianos and one line of
In advertising the Starck new upright piano the
P. A. Starck Piano Co.'s St. Louis store at 1018 Olive the piano world. It contains exclusive features sel- radios. Their letter heads say in bold type' "Schulz
street, St. Louis, Mo., says: "Just the size for small dom found in pianos even in the $1,000 class. What pianos; Victor radios," to which is added, "Every-
apartments. Has full keyboard, 7^3 octaves. The an ideal gift it would make!"
thing musical."
very latest in piano construction, 5 ft. ]/ 2 in. wide, 4 WURLITZER.
The Wurlitzer store at 1006 Olive street, St. Louis,
ft. high, 2 ft. deep, built especially for small apart-
GREAT LINE OF WAGNER & LEVIEN.
ments, yet with all the quality and tone volume of a Mo., says of its new model small size grand piano:
In the list of pianos handled by the great music
large piano. This wonderful instrument is the piano "Absolutely the finest grand piano value we have ever house of A. Wagner & Levien, Sues., of the Republic
offered.
Just
to
see
it
and
play
upon
it
will
convince
sensation of St. Louis. Nothing like it ever offered
of Mexico, with headquarters at Mexico City, the
before."
] you that here is an instrumenet of far more than Steinway is placed as the leader. Then, of other
average
quality.
To
compare
it
point
by
point
will
STECK.
American pianos, comes the Estey, the Aeolian, the
substantiate your convictions."
Of the Steck grand pianos, Schmoller & Mueller
Gulbransen, the Welte-Mignon; and, radios, the
Piano Co., 1514-1518 Dodge street, Omaha, Neb., has
Brunswick and the Gulbransen. This concern deals
this to say: "From its first inception the Steck grand
very extensively in German-made pianos.
piano has won the approval and admiration of the
public because of its great durability and beautiful
DOING WELL SELLING GULBRANSENS
tone quality."
Frank Weiser, who recently joined the Gulbransen
STARR.
Both W. N. Van Matre, Jr., and J. D. Hurst of the Co. selling department, as was recently mentioned in
Kops Music House, Great Falls, Mont., speaks of
Schumann Piano Co., Rockford, 111., are greatly
Presto-Times, has been very active since joining the
the Starr grand piano as follows: "This grand piano encouraged over the present outlook and recent sales
Gulbransen Co. and is pleased with the results of his
has been made by the oldest builders of small grands of Schumann pianos. The company's plan, strictly work. For the orders he has secured and the outlook
in the country. The materials are of the highest
adhered to, is and always has been to tie up with
are much more encouraging than he had anticipated
quality and the tone is full and resonant. Fully reliable dealers.
with so much "poor-mouthing" throughout the nation.
guaranteed—hand rubbed, lacquer finish—small in
In a chat with a Presto-Times representative a few
In fact, he has done an excellent business.
size, only 4 feet 8 inches—just the thing for your
days ago in the factory office in Rockford W. N.
home."
Van Matre, Jr., accounted for this cheerful aspect of
LEISURELY TRIP SOUTHWARD.
STROUD.
trade by speaking of recent good sales of grands;
E. A. Francis, proprietor of the Francis Piano Co.,
The Aeolian Co. of Missouri, 1004 Olive street, St. so the company finds itself much busier than it had
Galesburg, 111., is preparing to again spend the winter
Louis, Mo., says of the Stroud small grand piano: "In been recently.
somewhere
in the South. Mr. and Mrs. Francis pro-
form and style the Stroud is the perfect living-room
Mr. Van Matre expressed a belief that before the
appointment; in musical quality it will bring com- middle of the new year piano trade will assume a pose to start on this trip by motor car heading for
Florida. They will take along the trailer, the same
plete satisfaction even to the most accomplished. livelier pace. He is in touch with the pulse of busi-
There are many attractive designs, all of one quality, ness in a broader sense than mere piano fields could as they did on the Pacific coast trip last winter, and
the best to be had at the price."
post him, for he is associated with the management will travel leisurely to Florida, through Nashville,
Birmingham, Mobile, and on the old Spanish trail
M. SCHULZ
of a number of theaters of the best talking-picture
The Sampson Music House, 905 Main street, Boise, sort, playing in a chain of 36 cities in northwestern
from Mobile to Jacksonville. They intend to camp
Idaho, in speaking of the M. Schulz piano in connec-
Illinois—a region known as one of the richest farm- along the beaches under the "shade of some shelter-
tion with public school piano teaching, says that "the ing and manufacturing sections of the United States. ing palm," and let the surf sing a song to sleep. As
future of your children means everything to you
Mr. Francis puts it, "Life is too short at the best, and
parents, and the piano is the basic instrument of all
one is dead a long, long time, so why worry and fret?"
musical educations, so give your children the advan-
Many friends of Mr. and Mrs. Francis will wish them
PAY ENOUGH; GET GOOD PIANO.
tages of a piano education."
Walter D. Moses & Co., 103 East Broad street. a pleasant journey and safe return. By the way, the
SCHILLER
Francis Piano Co. is carrying an "Off to the South
Richmond, Va., which claims to be the oldest music
Schiller dealers throughout the country are using house in Virginia and North Carolina, says: "It is for Winter" advertisement, offering their stock of
the following paragraph as part of their local adver- good judgment to consider economy in buying a
pianos at reduced prices.
tising: "Musicians and all classes of prospective piano piano, but there is a danger line in price. It costs
purchasers fall in love with the musical superiority something to build a worthwhile piano and buying on
The D. C. Lint Music Shop, Kankakee. 111., has
of the Schiller piano the moment they hear it, for, as price alone is sure to lead to disappointment. The purchased the entire stock of band and orchestra
one expert pianist put it, 'the Schiller Super Grand
Moses store has specialized for fifty years in reliable instruments of the Kankakee Piano & Music Store, as
has a tone strikingly individual in character, with such pianos from the lowest priced that it is safe to buy the latter is discontinuing this line and will hereafter
beautiful singing quality that it enables musicians to up to the matchless Steinway."
handle only radio, pianos and refrigerators.
materialize new heights of musical imagination.'"
The Kapps Piano House, Great Falls, Montana,
makes this reference to one of its leading pianos:
"We have many makes to choose from—we recom-
mend the Brambach studio model (illustrated) at
$675."
CAR=LOAD LOTS, PLAYER=
PIANOS, STRAIGHT NEW MODEL
PIANOS ARE ALL GOING WELL
SCHUMANN HEADS
FORESEE BIGGER TRADE
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