Music Trade Review
Issue: 1911 Vol. 53 N. 18 - Page 11
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THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Excerpts from
Bush & Gerts Publications
"STORY OF THE STENCIL"
"Last year there were over 200,000 pianos sold, and according
to prominent statisticians of the trade press 75 per cent, were sten-
cils. My estimate is just and safe, 45 per cent., but either way, I
say that 200,000 or more pianos can be sold under the additional
legitimacy and the banner of the manufacturer's name cast in the
plate. Give this creature of trade a father's name and origin and
place of birth attached, as a credential that would give it welcome
to any home in any city, county or state, foreign country, princi-
pality, empire or province, where it might stand unblushing through
&11 the years to come dispensing such sweet melody and such sweet
harmonies as might come within its legitimate compass. Some of
the other forms of stencilitus, no less dangerous, but possibly less
virulent and malignant, I hope to have the satisfaction of discuss-
ing in my next article."
"I LAUGH AT THE MAN WHO SAYS HIS PIANO IS
SO HIGH GRADE, STANDS UPON SUCH A PEDESTAL OF
IMMORTAL PRESTIGE AS TO BE IMMUNE FROM THE
WITHERING FIRE OF PESTILENCE OR THE SWEEPING
TEST OF DEROGATORY COMPARISON;—IF THE WHOLE
PUBLIC ONLY REGARDED HIS PIANO AS IMMUNE AND
IMMORTAL, AS HE DOES, GLORY BE TO GOD, WHAT A
SCEPTER HE COULD WIELD, BUT ALSO 'WHERE
IGNORANCE IS BLISS. 'TIS FOLLY TO BE NICE,' AND
THE STONE WALL OF SECURITY TO-DAY MAY BE THE
CRUMBLING RUIN OF TO-MORROW."
"HEART AND SOUL OF PIANO QUESTION"
MR. BLANK:
"Is there any way in which the inexperienced
can find out whether the piano which he has under consideration
possesses a good sounding board or not?"
MR. BUSH: "It would not be easy for him to find this out
by actual examination, since in order to do so he would be obliged
practically to take the piano apart. The effect, however, is so
readily perceptible in the tone of the piano itself that no further
examination is necessary."
MR. BLANK:
"A little while ago, Mr. Bush, you mentioned
the pin block. What is that? Does it have any importance in the
construction of a piano?"
MR. BUSH: "It most certainly has. The pin block forms
the support into which the pins are driven and screwed that form
the rigid fastening of the strings at their upper end. These pins,
which are slightly threaded and made from the very best of tuning
pin steel, are driven into the pin block, then turned by hand. The
pin block, if properly built, consists of four or five thicknesses of
carefully selected, quarter sawed rock maple. This particular wood
has always been the greatest favored and most generally employed
for this purpose. There is no part of the piano in which the selec-
tion of the lumber should be more carefully made than in the selec-
tion of this quarter-sawed, silver-grained rock maple for the pin
block."
"WHY YOU NEED A PIANO"
Not a luxury, but an actual necessity. A good piano is more
than a piece of furniture—it is an influence. Its value as a home
builder, in creating a perfect home atmosphere, and as a medium
for entertainment and pleasure of the finest and best kind—all these
things are priceless.
Existing is not living. Our duty to ourselves and to our family
is not by any means ended when we supply a place to sleep and
eat and enough food and clothing to keep alive. Civilization de-
mands much more of us than that. The refining and uplifting in-
fluence of music is so well known, so thoroughly recognized, that it
cannot be overlooked nor hastily passed over. It has been a power-
ful factor in the present development of every civilized people.
The piano is the universal musical instrument. Its possibilities are
unlimited. And it is one of the things which you have a right
to own.
"COMPLETE SELLING PLAN"
"Our plan is to follow up the prospective buyers in your local-
ity with a persistent series of educational selling talks on the famous
BUSH & GERTS PIANO—so that they will not only come inro
your store to look but with a feeling of confidence in you and your
instruments."
"OUR FOUR-YEAR RECORD"
The Bush & Gerts Piano Co. has been engaged in a vigorous
campaign for a number of years to clearly define the value of the
name and trade-mark on a piano, and there is no house in the
history of the trade that has ever devoted more conscientious or
consistent effort in this direction.
W. L. Bush, the president of the company, has always had end-
less ambition in regard to the establishment of a name and reputa-
tion for the Bush & Gerts piano second to none, and John Gerts,
his associate during the past twenty-five years, is a man who has
an intense interest and pride in the name of Bush & Gerts and
has been most ambitious preserving the high quality of construction
as represented in the workmanship and material that enters into the
Bush & Gerts piano.
"TRUTH IS MIGHTY AND MUST PREVAIL"
"The American Piano in the American Home is the one article
that is closer and nearer and dearer to the hearts and souls of the
members of the family than any other article in the entire house-
hold, and yet it is the one product about which there is practically
complete ignorance as to values, on the part of the purchaser, and
which ignorance has been taken advantage of by dishonest and
crooked piano dealers, to the lasting disgrace of the entire piano
industry of the United States."
"With fraud, misrepresentation, fakes and illegitimate schemes
being daily and constantly practised in every State in the Union,
and fear, absolute fear and cowardice on the part of those who
should, by the right of their positions, stand for A Square Deal,
thousands of men and women in every State in the Union have
been victimized in their purchase of pianos. The unscrupulous
dealers in the piano trade, willing and ready to take advantage of
the ignorance of the piano purchasers, through cupidity and their
sole aim to get the money, no matter how, misrepresenting the real
and actual value and merit of the instruments offered for sale, by
every means in their power, have perpetrated the meanest kinds of
frauds and deceits."
11
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
Excerpts from
Bush & Gerts Publications
"STORY OF THE STENCIL"
"Last year there were over 200,000 pianos sold, and according
to prominent statisticians of the trade press 75 per cent, were sten-
cils. My estimate is just and safe, 45 per cent., but either way, I
say that 200,000 or more pianos can be sold under the additional
legitimacy and the banner of the manufacturer's name cast in the
plate. Give this creature of trade a father's name and origin and
place of birth attached, as a credential that would give it welcome
to any home in any city, county or state, foreign country, princi-
pality, empire or province, where it might stand unblushing through
&11 the years to come dispensing such sweet melody and such sweet
harmonies as might come within its legitimate compass. Some of
the other forms of stencilitus, no less dangerous, but possibly less
virulent and malignant, I hope to have the satisfaction of discuss-
ing in my next article."
"I LAUGH AT THE MAN WHO SAYS HIS PIANO IS
SO HIGH GRADE, STANDS UPON SUCH A PEDESTAL OF
IMMORTAL PRESTIGE AS TO BE IMMUNE FROM THE
WITHERING FIRE OF PESTILENCE OR THE SWEEPING
TEST OF DEROGATORY COMPARISON;—IF THE WHOLE
PUBLIC ONLY REGARDED HIS PIANO AS IMMUNE AND
IMMORTAL, AS HE DOES, GLORY BE TO GOD, WHAT A
SCEPTER HE COULD WIELD, BUT ALSO 'WHERE
IGNORANCE IS BLISS. 'TIS FOLLY TO BE NICE,' AND
THE STONE WALL OF SECURITY TO-DAY MAY BE THE
CRUMBLING RUIN OF TO-MORROW."
"HEART AND SOUL OF PIANO QUESTION"
MR. BLANK:
"Is there any way in which the inexperienced
can find out whether the piano which he has under consideration
possesses a good sounding board or not?"
MR. BUSH: "It would not be easy for him to find this out
by actual examination, since in order to do so he would be obliged
practically to take the piano apart. The effect, however, is so
readily perceptible in the tone of the piano itself that no further
examination is necessary."
MR. BLANK:
"A little while ago, Mr. Bush, you mentioned
the pin block. What is that? Does it have any importance in the
construction of a piano?"
MR. BUSH: "It most certainly has. The pin block forms
the support into which the pins are driven and screwed that form
the rigid fastening of the strings at their upper end. These pins,
which are slightly threaded and made from the very best of tuning
pin steel, are driven into the pin block, then turned by hand. The
pin block, if properly built, consists of four or five thicknesses of
carefully selected, quarter sawed rock maple. This particular wood
has always been the greatest favored and most generally employed
for this purpose. There is no part of the piano in which the selec-
tion of the lumber should be more carefully made than in the selec-
tion of this quarter-sawed, silver-grained rock maple for the pin
block."
"WHY YOU NEED A PIANO"
Not a luxury, but an actual necessity. A good piano is more
than a piece of furniture—it is an influence. Its value as a home
builder, in creating a perfect home atmosphere, and as a medium
for entertainment and pleasure of the finest and best kind—all these
things are priceless.
Existing is not living. Our duty to ourselves and to our family
is not by any means ended when we supply a place to sleep and
eat and enough food and clothing to keep alive. Civilization de-
mands much more of us than that. The refining and uplifting in-
fluence of music is so well known, so thoroughly recognized, that it
cannot be overlooked nor hastily passed over. It has been a power-
ful factor in the present development of every civilized people.
The piano is the universal musical instrument. Its possibilities are
unlimited. And it is one of the things which you have a right
to own.
"COMPLETE SELLING PLAN"
"Our plan is to follow up the prospective buyers in your local-
ity with a persistent series of educational selling talks on the famous
BUSH & GERTS PIANO—so that they will not only come inro
your store to look but with a feeling of confidence in you and your
instruments."
"OUR FOUR-YEAR RECORD"
The Bush & Gerts Piano Co. has been engaged in a vigorous
campaign for a number of years to clearly define the value of the
name and trade-mark on a piano, and there is no house in the
history of the trade that has ever devoted more conscientious or
consistent effort in this direction.
W. L. Bush, the president of the company, has always had end-
less ambition in regard to the establishment of a name and reputa-
tion for the Bush & Gerts piano second to none, and John Gerts,
his associate during the past twenty-five years, is a man who has
an intense interest and pride in the name of Bush & Gerts and
has been most ambitious preserving the high quality of construction
as represented in the workmanship and material that enters into the
Bush & Gerts piano.
"TRUTH IS MIGHTY AND MUST PREVAIL"
"The American Piano in the American Home is the one article
that is closer and nearer and dearer to the hearts and souls of the
members of the family than any other article in the entire house-
hold, and yet it is the one product about which there is practically
complete ignorance as to values, on the part of the purchaser, and
which ignorance has been taken advantage of by dishonest and
crooked piano dealers, to the lasting disgrace of the entire piano
industry of the United States."
"With fraud, misrepresentation, fakes and illegitimate schemes
being daily and constantly practised in every State in the Union,
and fear, absolute fear and cowardice on the part of those who
should, by the right of their positions, stand for A Square Deal,
thousands of men and women in every State in the Union have
been victimized in their purchase of pianos. The unscrupulous
dealers in the piano trade, willing and ready to take advantage of
the ignorance of the piano purchasers, through cupidity and their
sole aim to get the money, no matter how, misrepresenting the real
and actual value and merit of the instruments offered for sale, by
every means in their power, have perpetrated the meanest kinds of
frauds and deceits."
11
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