Presto

PRESTO
December 80, 1922.
CHRISTMAN
Electrically Operated
Reproducing
Grands and Uprights
"The First Touch Tells
f 9
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.
CHRISTMAN
STUDIO GRAND
Is admittedly the most Perfect
five-foot Grand. Its marvelous
tone-power and purity have
made it famous in the world of
music. See it—try it—and
you will sell it.
CHRISTMAN
REPRODUCING PIANOS
Are remarkable in their distinc-
tive qualities of master interpre-
tation, case designs and exclu-
sive features. Made in both
Grands and Uprights.
Enhance Your Future Prosper-
ity By Investigating
the
Irresistible Appeal of
CHRISTMAN
GRANDS, UPRIGHTS
PLAYERS
and
REPRODUCING PIANOS
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
CHEERY TRADE FACTS
BY WILLIAM L. BUSH
Some Personal Items of a Historical Nature
Recalled to Add to His Holiday Joys.
The following letter, dated Dec. 21, from J. S.
Caldwell, manager of the J. R. Reed Music Co.,
Austin, Tex., contributed to the Christmas joys of
the recipient, William L. Bush, president of the Bush
& Gerts Piano Co., Dallas, Tex.:
"My dear Mr. Bush—Twenty-four Christmases
ago I sold my first Bush & Gerts piano. Today I
want to express my enthusiasm for this grand old
pianoforte. It is still continuing to delight the mind,
the heart and the soul of its possessor. In sending
you this memoir as a gift, a measure of my un-
bounded faith in you, the piano and your sagacity
for the service you have rendered my firm and myself
personally during these years. As my friend and
superior, may God give me strength in the acknowl-
edgment of the spirit in which you have rendered it."
And in commenting on the letter Mr. Bush alluded
to some very interesting historical facts of a personal
nature: "Twenty-four years ago J. S. Caldwell and
John McLean, who is now manager of Mason &
Hamlin, New York City, were working for a branch
house of the Bush & Gerts Piano Company on a joint
salary of about $200 a month. Today I doubt
whether there are two better salesmen in the piano
business than these two gentlemen, who got their
early training and experince with our company."
Continuing, Mr. Bush said:
"One of them occupies a very responsible position
as the head of the Mason & Hamlin Company and
probably is one of the most successful and enthusi-
astic salesmen to be found. The other one has re-
mained continuously with the J. R. Reed Music
Company, owned by Bob Reed, another one of my
proteges, who bought out one of our branch houses
in 1912. He has also been an ardent admirer and
successful dealer through all these years and has
accumulated not only a considerable fortune, but
substantial credit and splendid standing in the trade.
"W. H. Wray, who was the general representative
of our company with headquarters at Dallas, is today
president and chief owner of one of the largest furni-
ture companies in the state—one-half million dollar
concern—and Mr. Horton of Houston, who has been
with us for 16 years, has just launched his own ven-
ture under the corporate name of Horton & Smith.
Another one of our most successful Texas dealers
has been constantly associated with us for over 25
years, and is also a director in our Texas company
and best known dealer in North Texas, located at
Paris, Henry P. Mayer, who began business with
the Bush & Gerts piano as his favorite instrument
and has continued throughout the years a faithful,
loyal and ardent admirer of the instrument.
"Mr. Wray has one of the Bush & Gerts instru-
ments in his beautiful home here, recently purchased
by him in one of the choice residence districts. In
his music room, as its principal and most attractive
feature, he has a Bush & Gerts Louis XV Grand,
and frequent sales during the year since he severed
his connection with our establishment have been
traced to his recommendation. These are the things
that make life well worth living and contribute sub-
stantially to our wonderful Thanksgiving and our
Merry Christmas and Happy New Year."
SOME OF THE LATE CHANGES
IN RETAIL PIANO TRADE
Changes, Renewals and New Enterprises in Different
Parts of the Country.
The Claxtonola Music Co. has opened a store in
Picher, Okla.
Harvey Morse, the Newburgh, N. Y., dealer, has
begun an extensive remodeling plan.
Peter Grosso recently opened a music store in Chis-
liolm, Minn.
The Ferris Music Shop, Geneva, N. Y., has in-
creased its stock of musical instruments.
Ralph N. Reynolds is proprietor of a new music
store in Glens Falls, N. Y.
Larger quarters have been secured by the Berry
Piano Co., Cottage Grove, Ore.
The Parker Music Co. recently opened a new store
at 908 Capital avenue, Houston, Tex.
The Capital Music Co. has opened a store at 1181
North High street, Columbus, O.
L. H. Terry & Sons, Sayville, L. I., has prepared
plans for a new building to house its music, business.
Bradfield & Bradfield is the title of a new music
goods firm in Hobart, Okla.
New quarters have been acquired by the W. T.
Crane Co., in Syracuse, N. Y. The building, which
provides more space, is at 352 South Salina street.
The Hillbrand Music Co. was recently formed in
Colorado Springs, Colo. The proprietor is V. C.
Winnell.
New quarters for its music business have been ac-
quired by the G. B. Hall Music Co., Warren, O.
The A. E. Morse Music Co. was recently formed at
Storm Lake, la.
A new building to house its music business will be
erected in Norfolk, Va., by Levy-Page & Co., Inc.
LT. COL. LINDSAY RETURNS
TO THE PIANO BUSINESS
Well Known Canadian Appointed Manager of Winni-
peg Piano Co., Winnipeg, Man.
Lt. Col. Norman J. Lindsay has returned to the
piano business in Winnipeg, Man., and has been ap-
pointed sales manager for the Winnipeg Piano Co.
Previous to the great war he was head of the Lind-
say Piano Co., and one of the most active proponents
of piano sales in that growing section.
Lt. Col. Lindsay has had many years experience in
the piano business, but of recent years has been ac-
tivcly engaged in insurance. He has for many years
lived in Winnipeg and has a host of friends who.will
be interested in this, his latest, move.
A letter from Lt. Col. Lindsay last week said: "I
am in it up to the neck, owing to the Xmas trade,
and feel quite at home.
The principals are old
friends of mine and our associations are very
pleasant."
A lot of Lt. Col. Lindsay's friends on this side of
the border are highly pleased at his return to the
business he loves so well and has labored in so long.
"Lt. Col. Lindsay is a fine man in a great piano
center," said one of his closest friends this week.
MATT J. KENNEDY WRITES
"LAY SERMON" TO NEWSPAPER
Strong Supporting Words of Secretary of National
Association of Music Merchants Are Printed.
One of the most enthusiastic letters received by
the promoters of the Christmas Eve Choral Service
in Chicago was from Matt J. Kennedy, secretary of
the National Association of Music Merchants. Mr.
Kennedy's letter, which the Chicago American called
"a veritable lay sermon," was as follows:
"Dear Editor: What a wonderful thought to have
those possessed of the mightiest of voices to sing the
praises of the One responsible for the gift and what a
chosen time. Every person in the city should be on
hand with head bowed in reverence when these voices
are used in the greatest message the world has ever
known.
"You are entitled to greatest consideration for this
event, and it is an event that will become an annual
event. It will spread to other cities and in a few
short years the anniversary of the birth of Christ will
be sung throughout the civilized world.
"Oh! what a contrast to hear the strains of 'Gloria
in Excelsis Deo, et in Terra Pax Hominibus,' instead
of the terrible hymns of hate now coursing the
country."
TO PREVENT IMPORT DUTIES.
Abrogation of commercial treaties which prevent
the imposition of discriminating duties on imports
carried in American vessels is provided in amend-
ments to the ship subsidy introduced in the Senate
last week by Senator McKellar. Instead of directing
the President to abrogate the treaties, as was done
in the merchant marine act of 1920, the amendments
provide that notice shall be sent direct by the secre-
tary of the Senate and the clerk of the House to
twenty-two different nations. There is srong senti-
ment in Congress for the abrogation of the treaties,
many members believing that one of the most effec j
tive aids to the building up of the American merchant
marine would be the imposition of discriminating
duties.
F. S. SPOFFORD MADE TREASURER.
F. S. Spofford, piano and talking machine dealer,
seventh floor of the Republic Building, Chicago, was
elected treasurer of the Republic Merchants' Associa-
tion, at the recent annual meeting. The association,
which publishes a monthly magazine called The Re-
public Item, has as its motto, "Get Together, Stay
Together, Work Together, Grow Together."
TO MANAGE MOBERLY STORE.
J. B. Ralston, who has undertaken the management
of the Moberly, Mo., store of the Taylor Bros. Music
Co., is a brother to Lawrence Ralston, who manages
the store of the company at Columbia, and together
they own the largest amount of stock in the pro-
gressive Missouri music house. Other stores of the
company are at Fayette and Mexico.
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/