Presto
Issue: 1920 1783 - Page 6
Si If
SOUTHWEST IN VERY
PROMISING CONDITION
The Playerpianb Certain of a Big Call in the
Favored Section Centering in
Kansas City.
The playerpiano has a big season before it in the
favored section of the Southwest of which you
might call Kansas City the center. Of course the
Southwest is long and wide enough to have several
points wherein the character of the piano trade may
be accurately judged, but the cheerful evidence from
Kansas City is to hand.
A great many prospective playerpiano buyers in
the farming sections contributory to Kansas City
will become actual buyers this fall or winter and
in numerous instances all the selling operations are
over but signing the name on the dotted line of
the contracts. In a cheerfully large number of sales
there will be no necessity of the latter operation
because the sales will be for cash. The shrewd
dealers, aware of the financial conditions of their
clients, have sedulously preached the advantages of
the cash piano or playerpiano transaction and not
without results.
"The business for September will show satis-
factory results," said C. V. Bissell, manager of the
Starr Piano Co.'s Kansas City branch this week.
"In players and grands the sales were above the
ordinary in volume for September. It is an agree-
able indication of what is ahead of the trade this
fall. It looks as if the leaders had decided to take
no chances with possible transportation tie-ups and
had made a big effort to accumulate stocks of pianos
and players ahead. 'Let the deliveries be soon'
seems to have been the exhortation of dealers
generally."
Harry W. Wert and Crosby Hopps are two new
additions to the sales force of the Wunderlich Piano
Co., Kansas City. Mr. Wert has had an active ex-
perience in Joplin, Mo., where, up to recently he
was manager of the local branch of the J. W. Jen-
kins Sons' Music House. Mr. Hopps is well known
in musical circles in Kansas City.
The small goods business of Kansas City is par-
ticularly active and has been a lively feature of
trade all through the summer. It did not take much
featuring" or exploiting to stimulate the ukulele
business for instance. It has been very good and
shows no sign of abating, a condition noted in
cities farther west. The favor may be due to the
oddity of the instrument or the generally accepted
belief that it is easy to master, but anyway the
ukulele is a good number.
ADDRESSES PACKARD PROSPECTS.
Here is a bit of direct advice given by the Wittich
Store, Reading, Pa., to prospective piano buyers.
"Quality at the Right Price" is the motto of the
firm which says this about the Packard made by the
Packard Piano Co., Fort Wayne, Ind.: "There are
many advantages in selecting your Packard piano
at this season. Come to our store this week—see
and hear the several models. You will find here the
very piano you have always looked forward to own-
ing. Your home deserves a fine piano such as Pack-
ard. You may have it for monthly payments if you
prefer."
BUSY CHICKERING BROS. TRAVELER.
S. T. Betts, Jr., started about two weeks ago on
a trip for the Chickering Bros. Acoustigrande into
the Northwest. He has been very successful, al-
though Finding, as all travelers do, that dealers are
a little inclined to hold off orders waiting for farm-
ers to begin spending some of their money. But
Mr. Betts finds that dealers are not overstocked
with goods, evidently waiting to let the manufac-
turers carry the stock until later in the fall. It is
going to be nip and tuck then to get enough of
the goods.
HANDSOME MICHIGAN STORE
When Mr. and Mrs. James E. Sterling surveyed
their splendid new store at Benton Harbor, which
recently celebrated its opening day, they had every
reason for feeling proud of the result of their efforts.
Although their beginning in the music business
was on a very modest basis indeed, they believe they
now have the fine-st music store in southwestern
Michigan, which is not only of beautiful exterior
appearance and attractive windows, but it also has
a splendid mezzanine floor where customers may
lounge and visit, meanwhile enjoying the very finest
of music.
Indeed, no expense has been spared to make the
Sterling Music Store, as it is called, both attractive
and convenient. It has individual phonograph
booths, a piano conservatory and other means of
service for music lovers.
Naturally, many dealers throughout the country
are interested in knowing what was the secret of the
success of the Sterlings; yet the solution is a very
simple one, namely, their persistent efforts and
courteous service, and the selection of the Baldwin
line of pianos, which frieans that these people had
at their command the exceptional service of the
Baldwin business-producing dealer helps.
September 25, 1920.
CREDIT FACTS FOR
SUPPLY MEN
Directors of Musical Supply Association of
America at Meeting in New York Establish
Most Important Trade Bureau
for Information.
The establishment of a Credit Information Serv-
ice was decided upon by the directors of the
Musical Supply Association of America at their
meeting Tuesday afternoon, in New York, Septem-
ber 14. This decision was made after consideration
of a report from the Credit Committee of the Asso-
ciation, which consists of David A. Smith, Standard
Felt Co.; Julius Breckwoldt, Julius Breckwoldt &
Co.; George L. Cheney, The Comstock, Cheney &
Co.; A. W. Johnston, Standard Pneumatic Action
Co.; H. B. Moulton, The Parker-Young Co.; T. G.
Murphy, The Sherwin-Williams Co.; E. B. Richard-
son, Richardson Piano Case Co., and Arthur L.
Wessell, Wessell, Nickel & Gross.
All of the details of the plans of operation of the
Credit Service have not yet been decided upon, but
it is hoped that full announcement can be made to
the supply trade within two or three weeks, and
that the service will be in operation soon after
October 1.
Experienced Advice.
The Credit Committee in making its recommenda-
tions had at its disposal the experience of most of
the successful information services operated by the
national trade associations, and the service which
will be developed by the Supply Association will
conform in every respect to the principles which
experience in other associations has shown to be
essential to effective work.
Rules and Regulations.
The report of the Credit Committee contained
the following rules and regulations which were
recommended as essential to a proper credit report-
ing service in the musical supply industry:
1. Each member shall furnish the secretary (for
confidential use in the office only) with a com-
ri'e*e list of his active accounts.
2. Each member shall send to the secretary
promptly the names of customers opening new
accounts.
3. Each member shall promptly inform the secre-
tary whenever an account is closed.
4. Each member shall supply the secretary
promptly with any or all of the following in-
formation regarding any customer upon re-
quest and give full, frank and honest state-
ments to the best of his knowledge and ability
as to: Date account was opened; da + e of last
transaction; unpaid balance of account; cus-
. torrers' habits of paying; trade abuses such as
taking discounts unfairly, making unjust claims,
etc.
5. All credit reports are for the confidential use
of members and must not be revealed either
directly or indirectly to non-members.
6. No credit reports shall in any way indicate,
either directly or indirectly, the names cf firm:;
supplying the information.
7. No information shtill be given out which will
either directly or indirectly reveal names of a
member's customers.
Free to Members.
The Credit Service will be available to all mem-
bers of the Supply Association without charge.
The expenses of the service will be paid from the
treasury of the association. The operation of the
service will be undertaken by the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce under the direct supervision
of Mr. Smith, the general manager, as a part of its
service to one of its division association members.
While the Credit Service will be available to all
members of the association and all members will be
nrped in every way to avail themselves of these
facilities, it is not incumbent upon any member to
use them unless he so desires. The credit reports
frmished are for information only, and in no way
oblige a member to expand or curtail credits.
C. C. CHICKERING'S TARPON.
A reporter for Presto was surprised to see mount-
ed on the wall of Chickering Bros, office in Chicago
an enormous tarpon. W. W. Chicker'ng explained
that the fish was caught off the Florida coast a few
months ago by his brother, C. C. Chickering, found-
er of the house. At the time of the catch the fish
weighed 165 pounds, the biggest tarpon ever brought
in to Tarpon Inn, where he was making his fish-
ing headquarters. It was caught just off Uiseppa
Island, which is near the southwest coast of Florida.
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/
SOUTHWEST IN VERY
PROMISING CONDITION
The Playerpianb Certain of a Big Call in the
Favored Section Centering in
Kansas City.
The playerpiano has a big season before it in the
favored section of the Southwest of which you
might call Kansas City the center. Of course the
Southwest is long and wide enough to have several
points wherein the character of the piano trade may
be accurately judged, but the cheerful evidence from
Kansas City is to hand.
A great many prospective playerpiano buyers in
the farming sections contributory to Kansas City
will become actual buyers this fall or winter and
in numerous instances all the selling operations are
over but signing the name on the dotted line of
the contracts. In a cheerfully large number of sales
there will be no necessity of the latter operation
because the sales will be for cash. The shrewd
dealers, aware of the financial conditions of their
clients, have sedulously preached the advantages of
the cash piano or playerpiano transaction and not
without results.
"The business for September will show satis-
factory results," said C. V. Bissell, manager of the
Starr Piano Co.'s Kansas City branch this week.
"In players and grands the sales were above the
ordinary in volume for September. It is an agree-
able indication of what is ahead of the trade this
fall. It looks as if the leaders had decided to take
no chances with possible transportation tie-ups and
had made a big effort to accumulate stocks of pianos
and players ahead. 'Let the deliveries be soon'
seems to have been the exhortation of dealers
generally."
Harry W. Wert and Crosby Hopps are two new
additions to the sales force of the Wunderlich Piano
Co., Kansas City. Mr. Wert has had an active ex-
perience in Joplin, Mo., where, up to recently he
was manager of the local branch of the J. W. Jen-
kins Sons' Music House. Mr. Hopps is well known
in musical circles in Kansas City.
The small goods business of Kansas City is par-
ticularly active and has been a lively feature of
trade all through the summer. It did not take much
featuring" or exploiting to stimulate the ukulele
business for instance. It has been very good and
shows no sign of abating, a condition noted in
cities farther west. The favor may be due to the
oddity of the instrument or the generally accepted
belief that it is easy to master, but anyway the
ukulele is a good number.
ADDRESSES PACKARD PROSPECTS.
Here is a bit of direct advice given by the Wittich
Store, Reading, Pa., to prospective piano buyers.
"Quality at the Right Price" is the motto of the
firm which says this about the Packard made by the
Packard Piano Co., Fort Wayne, Ind.: "There are
many advantages in selecting your Packard piano
at this season. Come to our store this week—see
and hear the several models. You will find here the
very piano you have always looked forward to own-
ing. Your home deserves a fine piano such as Pack-
ard. You may have it for monthly payments if you
prefer."
BUSY CHICKERING BROS. TRAVELER.
S. T. Betts, Jr., started about two weeks ago on
a trip for the Chickering Bros. Acoustigrande into
the Northwest. He has been very successful, al-
though Finding, as all travelers do, that dealers are
a little inclined to hold off orders waiting for farm-
ers to begin spending some of their money. But
Mr. Betts finds that dealers are not overstocked
with goods, evidently waiting to let the manufac-
turers carry the stock until later in the fall. It is
going to be nip and tuck then to get enough of
the goods.
HANDSOME MICHIGAN STORE
When Mr. and Mrs. James E. Sterling surveyed
their splendid new store at Benton Harbor, which
recently celebrated its opening day, they had every
reason for feeling proud of the result of their efforts.
Although their beginning in the music business
was on a very modest basis indeed, they believe they
now have the fine-st music store in southwestern
Michigan, which is not only of beautiful exterior
appearance and attractive windows, but it also has
a splendid mezzanine floor where customers may
lounge and visit, meanwhile enjoying the very finest
of music.
Indeed, no expense has been spared to make the
Sterling Music Store, as it is called, both attractive
and convenient. It has individual phonograph
booths, a piano conservatory and other means of
service for music lovers.
Naturally, many dealers throughout the country
are interested in knowing what was the secret of the
success of the Sterlings; yet the solution is a very
simple one, namely, their persistent efforts and
courteous service, and the selection of the Baldwin
line of pianos, which frieans that these people had
at their command the exceptional service of the
Baldwin business-producing dealer helps.
September 25, 1920.
CREDIT FACTS FOR
SUPPLY MEN
Directors of Musical Supply Association of
America at Meeting in New York Establish
Most Important Trade Bureau
for Information.
The establishment of a Credit Information Serv-
ice was decided upon by the directors of the
Musical Supply Association of America at their
meeting Tuesday afternoon, in New York, Septem-
ber 14. This decision was made after consideration
of a report from the Credit Committee of the Asso-
ciation, which consists of David A. Smith, Standard
Felt Co.; Julius Breckwoldt, Julius Breckwoldt &
Co.; George L. Cheney, The Comstock, Cheney &
Co.; A. W. Johnston, Standard Pneumatic Action
Co.; H. B. Moulton, The Parker-Young Co.; T. G.
Murphy, The Sherwin-Williams Co.; E. B. Richard-
son, Richardson Piano Case Co., and Arthur L.
Wessell, Wessell, Nickel & Gross.
All of the details of the plans of operation of the
Credit Service have not yet been decided upon, but
it is hoped that full announcement can be made to
the supply trade within two or three weeks, and
that the service will be in operation soon after
October 1.
Experienced Advice.
The Credit Committee in making its recommenda-
tions had at its disposal the experience of most of
the successful information services operated by the
national trade associations, and the service which
will be developed by the Supply Association will
conform in every respect to the principles which
experience in other associations has shown to be
essential to effective work.
Rules and Regulations.
The report of the Credit Committee contained
the following rules and regulations which were
recommended as essential to a proper credit report-
ing service in the musical supply industry:
1. Each member shall furnish the secretary (for
confidential use in the office only) with a com-
ri'e*e list of his active accounts.
2. Each member shall send to the secretary
promptly the names of customers opening new
accounts.
3. Each member shall promptly inform the secre-
tary whenever an account is closed.
4. Each member shall supply the secretary
promptly with any or all of the following in-
formation regarding any customer upon re-
quest and give full, frank and honest state-
ments to the best of his knowledge and ability
as to: Date account was opened; da + e of last
transaction; unpaid balance of account; cus-
. torrers' habits of paying; trade abuses such as
taking discounts unfairly, making unjust claims,
etc.
5. All credit reports are for the confidential use
of members and must not be revealed either
directly or indirectly to non-members.
6. No credit reports shall in any way indicate,
either directly or indirectly, the names cf firm:;
supplying the information.
7. No information shtill be given out which will
either directly or indirectly reveal names of a
member's customers.
Free to Members.
The Credit Service will be available to all mem-
bers of the Supply Association without charge.
The expenses of the service will be paid from the
treasury of the association. The operation of the
service will be undertaken by the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce under the direct supervision
of Mr. Smith, the general manager, as a part of its
service to one of its division association members.
While the Credit Service will be available to all
members of the association and all members will be
nrped in every way to avail themselves of these
facilities, it is not incumbent upon any member to
use them unless he so desires. The credit reports
frmished are for information only, and in no way
oblige a member to expand or curtail credits.
C. C. CHICKERING'S TARPON.
A reporter for Presto was surprised to see mount-
ed on the wall of Chickering Bros, office in Chicago
an enormous tarpon. W. W. Chicker'ng explained
that the fish was caught off the Florida coast a few
months ago by his brother, C. C. Chickering, found-
er of the house. At the time of the catch the fish
weighed 165 pounds, the biggest tarpon ever brought
in to Tarpon Inn, where he was making his fish-
ing headquarters. It was caught just off Uiseppa
Island, which is near the southwest coast of Florida.
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).