Presto
Issue: 1920 1749 - Page 9
PRESTO
January 29, 1920.
all concerned in the piano trade are no longer matters of details in
sales, settlements, terms or credits. Those are matters which just now
seem almost reminiscent. It is today more a question with the manu-
facturers of how to supply the demand, and with the dealers of how to
get the goods. With the increasing number of local association com-
mittees, it may still be a question of what has become known as "bet-
terment." But that is really not so important as the problem of in-
creasing taxation and soaring store rents and incidentals.
But things will work out to the advantage of the courageous and
consistent. And the Convention and Music Show will go far toward
giving the impetus and inspiration that are needed to make the way
of the future easier.
FIVE QUESTION POINTS
Why should there be exaggeration in putting forth the claims of
any* piano when the facts in the case are already sufficient for all pos-
sible purposes? And, in a time when the special pleading of business
is for "betterment" in all departments why should any piano house
set forth questionable points in the promotion of any popular or well-
known instrument?
The matter of accuracy in advertising has of late exercised the
attention of seme of the powerful men of the piano industry and trade.
But even yet there are occasional signs that the betterment has not
taken hold of the very men who should most have benefited by the
discussion and example of those by whose moral suasion trade evils
have been to a large degree exterminated.
During the late Col. E. S. Conway's life that influential piano man
insisted upon clean methods of retail advertising. He constantly ad-
monished the representatives of the house, in the upbuilding of which
he had so much to do, that they should not indulge in any statements
that could not be verified. And he specially decried misleading refer-
ences to the Kimball piano. And yet the following appeared only last
week in a newspaper published not far from Chicago:
Facts to your own interest: 1. Kimball pianos are used and endorsed by
more professional musicians and artists than any other make. 2. Kimball
pianos are used by more teachers and schools than any other make. 3. Kim-
ball pianos have more tone power and sweetness and will sustain longer than
any other make. 4. Kimball pianos contain more patented improvements
than any other make and will last a lifetime. 5. Kimball pianos are built
and fully warranted by more than twice the capital of any other piano concern
in the world.
If only cne of those five direct and very positive statements
created doubt there might be small cause for criticism. If only two of
the statements were questionable the lapses might be laid to misap-
prehension. If but three were untrue there might be no thought of
suggesting the need of the kind of "betterment" that is just now filling
large space in the arguments of the trade critics. But when all of the
five statements are, in a considerable sense, either in conflict with the
truth or so exaggerated as to be misleading, the call for the committee
on better advertising seems to be a fairly loud one.
We believe that no one in authority at Kimball Hall, in Chicago,
would indorse the Jansen & Joosten advertising. Whether the firm
named is really entitled to sign itself "factory distributers" or not, we
do not know. But the claim, in large type, seems to suggest an au-
thority in the five statements that the recklessness of the claims them-
selves does not justify.
We do not believe that Mr. C. N. Kimball would indorse the claim
that his pianos are "used and endorsed by more professional musicians
and artists than any other make." The statement seems to carry its
own contradiction in the minds of all who are informed as to which
of the great pianos are thus recognized in the art world.
Nor do we believe that Mr. Kimball would indorse the statement
that his pianos are "used by more teachers and schools than any other
make." There are so many pianos used in the schools that to deter-
mine that question conclusively would require a staff of census takers.
But we do not believe that the Jansen & Joosten claim would be veri-
fied.
As to the third claim of the Kimball factory distributors, it in-
volves several points impossible of authoritative settlement by any
individual. Of course the general opinion of the musical world could
not sustain the opinions of the advertisers, for there are really great
pianos that stand in conflict in the matter. And the "patented im-
provements" statement is almost grotesque in its assumption of in-
ventive preferment. No doubt the Kimball has some patented improve-
ments, but that is not a matter of imposing importance since the days
of the Columbian exposition.
Whether or not claim No. five is true or not does not affect piano
quality or durability at all. Whether the makers of the Chicago piano
can successfully sustain this statement of exceeding wealth, or not,
doesn't matter much. We believe that there are now other piano in-
dustries equally as wealthy, if not much "more so." In any event we
know that the Kimball piano is made by a house of wealth and backed
by a tradition of aggression and ambition.
The late W. W. Kimball was a shrewd business man and a suc-
cessful piano man. His assistant, Col. E. S. Conway, was equally a
great organizer and as fine a character as the piano trade has ever
known. They have both passed to their eternal peace, and the great
industry of their making is in other hands. Its place is established and
there need be no straying, by its representatives, from the pathway to
progress which was laid out and so long followed by the founders.
There must be no least temptation on the part of the Better Business
Bureau to discipline the sellers of the Kimballpiano. For the facts in
its case are good enough.
OUR DUTY IN THE NEW ERA
The contributor to whom allusion was made last week, as having
sent to Presto a powerful article on subjects so broad that doubt
arose as to its fitness for a trade paper, has sent in the following very
interesting communication:
Anent the editorial "A Trade Paper and Its Limitations" on page 7 of
Presto, January 22nd:
There was once a very religious man, and he went unto the secret place
to pray. And he prayed—
"O Lord, bless me and my wife,
My son John and his wife,
Us four and no more!"
Now, to a scribbler who imagines that he has things pent up in his skull
that should be uttered and who has uttered them in various forms, it really
does seem that the prayer above uttered did not go very far into christian-
izing the world.
Business and the world in general can not go back to the times before
the war. We are in a new era. In this era any thinker will realize that indi-
vidual duties that were have broadened, and now each individual's duty is to
view the present and the future from three perspectives—himself, his business
and his Government.
Individuals make America. Individual Americans were the deciding factor
in the world's war.
Individuals go into business. Practically all lines of business fraternize,
and all business is constantly touching elbows through the trade press. To
this condition was the winning of the war achieved more than by any other.
All business arose as one man and got behind the individual. If it had not
been for the individual American the war would not have been won. Had
business not backed the individual the individual would have been powerless.
Is it too much to say that America won the war because business went outside
its narrow function of making money and assumed and executed govern-
mental power, and backed the individual American?
Here the precedent was established that will rule from now on. Business
will demand business methods in governmental matters. Not the Big Business
idea of domination of the past, but the little business, the fraternized business,
the amalgamated business, the total business, the business that standardized,
conserved, donated, financed, operated bureaus at $1.00 per year salary, and as
the power behind the individual—the supreme power—will, and should, kill,
stamp out and do away with, the political trickery and jugglery of later years.
Are you serious in saying that the piano trade is not to be represented
in the great reconstruction—and that Business must proceed hap-hazardly,
without the assistance of the trade press?
The columns of Presto during the war, and since the armistice was signed,
would not lead to this conclusion. Yours very truly,
T. ROGERS LYONS.
We can not disagree with what Mr. Lyons says about the duties
of a trade paper in its relation to business in general and the influence
of individuals in the affairs of the nation. The greatest good of the
whole must be the special concern of the individual and, as that great
democrat Grover Cleveland said of politicians "he serves his party best
who serves his country best." But it is not a question of duty to the
world at large, or even to the nation, that creates trade paper limita-
MECHANICAL PlAWO
IM ACTIOH
Chicago Tribune,
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
January 29, 1920.
all concerned in the piano trade are no longer matters of details in
sales, settlements, terms or credits. Those are matters which just now
seem almost reminiscent. It is today more a question with the manu-
facturers of how to supply the demand, and with the dealers of how to
get the goods. With the increasing number of local association com-
mittees, it may still be a question of what has become known as "bet-
terment." But that is really not so important as the problem of in-
creasing taxation and soaring store rents and incidentals.
But things will work out to the advantage of the courageous and
consistent. And the Convention and Music Show will go far toward
giving the impetus and inspiration that are needed to make the way
of the future easier.
FIVE QUESTION POINTS
Why should there be exaggeration in putting forth the claims of
any* piano when the facts in the case are already sufficient for all pos-
sible purposes? And, in a time when the special pleading of business
is for "betterment" in all departments why should any piano house
set forth questionable points in the promotion of any popular or well-
known instrument?
The matter of accuracy in advertising has of late exercised the
attention of seme of the powerful men of the piano industry and trade.
But even yet there are occasional signs that the betterment has not
taken hold of the very men who should most have benefited by the
discussion and example of those by whose moral suasion trade evils
have been to a large degree exterminated.
During the late Col. E. S. Conway's life that influential piano man
insisted upon clean methods of retail advertising. He constantly ad-
monished the representatives of the house, in the upbuilding of which
he had so much to do, that they should not indulge in any statements
that could not be verified. And he specially decried misleading refer-
ences to the Kimball piano. And yet the following appeared only last
week in a newspaper published not far from Chicago:
Facts to your own interest: 1. Kimball pianos are used and endorsed by
more professional musicians and artists than any other make. 2. Kimball
pianos are used by more teachers and schools than any other make. 3. Kim-
ball pianos have more tone power and sweetness and will sustain longer than
any other make. 4. Kimball pianos contain more patented improvements
than any other make and will last a lifetime. 5. Kimball pianos are built
and fully warranted by more than twice the capital of any other piano concern
in the world.
If only cne of those five direct and very positive statements
created doubt there might be small cause for criticism. If only two of
the statements were questionable the lapses might be laid to misap-
prehension. If but three were untrue there might be no thought of
suggesting the need of the kind of "betterment" that is just now filling
large space in the arguments of the trade critics. But when all of the
five statements are, in a considerable sense, either in conflict with the
truth or so exaggerated as to be misleading, the call for the committee
on better advertising seems to be a fairly loud one.
We believe that no one in authority at Kimball Hall, in Chicago,
would indorse the Jansen & Joosten advertising. Whether the firm
named is really entitled to sign itself "factory distributers" or not, we
do not know. But the claim, in large type, seems to suggest an au-
thority in the five statements that the recklessness of the claims them-
selves does not justify.
We do not believe that Mr. C. N. Kimball would indorse the claim
that his pianos are "used and endorsed by more professional musicians
and artists than any other make." The statement seems to carry its
own contradiction in the minds of all who are informed as to which
of the great pianos are thus recognized in the art world.
Nor do we believe that Mr. Kimball would indorse the statement
that his pianos are "used by more teachers and schools than any other
make." There are so many pianos used in the schools that to deter-
mine that question conclusively would require a staff of census takers.
But we do not believe that the Jansen & Joosten claim would be veri-
fied.
As to the third claim of the Kimball factory distributors, it in-
volves several points impossible of authoritative settlement by any
individual. Of course the general opinion of the musical world could
not sustain the opinions of the advertisers, for there are really great
pianos that stand in conflict in the matter. And the "patented im-
provements" statement is almost grotesque in its assumption of in-
ventive preferment. No doubt the Kimball has some patented improve-
ments, but that is not a matter of imposing importance since the days
of the Columbian exposition.
Whether or not claim No. five is true or not does not affect piano
quality or durability at all. Whether the makers of the Chicago piano
can successfully sustain this statement of exceeding wealth, or not,
doesn't matter much. We believe that there are now other piano in-
dustries equally as wealthy, if not much "more so." In any event we
know that the Kimball piano is made by a house of wealth and backed
by a tradition of aggression and ambition.
The late W. W. Kimball was a shrewd business man and a suc-
cessful piano man. His assistant, Col. E. S. Conway, was equally a
great organizer and as fine a character as the piano trade has ever
known. They have both passed to their eternal peace, and the great
industry of their making is in other hands. Its place is established and
there need be no straying, by its representatives, from the pathway to
progress which was laid out and so long followed by the founders.
There must be no least temptation on the part of the Better Business
Bureau to discipline the sellers of the Kimballpiano. For the facts in
its case are good enough.
OUR DUTY IN THE NEW ERA
The contributor to whom allusion was made last week, as having
sent to Presto a powerful article on subjects so broad that doubt
arose as to its fitness for a trade paper, has sent in the following very
interesting communication:
Anent the editorial "A Trade Paper and Its Limitations" on page 7 of
Presto, January 22nd:
There was once a very religious man, and he went unto the secret place
to pray. And he prayed—
"O Lord, bless me and my wife,
My son John and his wife,
Us four and no more!"
Now, to a scribbler who imagines that he has things pent up in his skull
that should be uttered and who has uttered them in various forms, it really
does seem that the prayer above uttered did not go very far into christian-
izing the world.
Business and the world in general can not go back to the times before
the war. We are in a new era. In this era any thinker will realize that indi-
vidual duties that were have broadened, and now each individual's duty is to
view the present and the future from three perspectives—himself, his business
and his Government.
Individuals make America. Individual Americans were the deciding factor
in the world's war.
Individuals go into business. Practically all lines of business fraternize,
and all business is constantly touching elbows through the trade press. To
this condition was the winning of the war achieved more than by any other.
All business arose as one man and got behind the individual. If it had not
been for the individual American the war would not have been won. Had
business not backed the individual the individual would have been powerless.
Is it too much to say that America won the war because business went outside
its narrow function of making money and assumed and executed govern-
mental power, and backed the individual American?
Here the precedent was established that will rule from now on. Business
will demand business methods in governmental matters. Not the Big Business
idea of domination of the past, but the little business, the fraternized business,
the amalgamated business, the total business, the business that standardized,
conserved, donated, financed, operated bureaus at $1.00 per year salary, and as
the power behind the individual—the supreme power—will, and should, kill,
stamp out and do away with, the political trickery and jugglery of later years.
Are you serious in saying that the piano trade is not to be represented
in the great reconstruction—and that Business must proceed hap-hazardly,
without the assistance of the trade press?
The columns of Presto during the war, and since the armistice was signed,
would not lead to this conclusion. Yours very truly,
T. ROGERS LYONS.
We can not disagree with what Mr. Lyons says about the duties
of a trade paper in its relation to business in general and the influence
of individuals in the affairs of the nation. The greatest good of the
whole must be the special concern of the individual and, as that great
democrat Grover Cleveland said of politicians "he serves his party best
who serves his country best." But it is not a question of duty to the
world at large, or even to the nation, that creates trade paper limita-
MECHANICAL PlAWO
IM ACTIOH
Chicago Tribune,
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).