Presto

PRESTO
February 3, 1923
Hugo. And "all life needs for life is possibility to will," says Tenny-
son. It is the will to find "prospects" that creates the demand for
pianos. Without the will there would be comparatively few pianos
sold. That is why the pianos that sell easily are the products of
manufacturers possessed of the wisdom to advertise. That is why
the pianos that possess name-value are the ones the dealers want.
For pianos of that kind are easily made to stimulate the desire of
possession.
All intelligent people, and most of the other kind, as well, realize
that they want music. But even that realization is not, in itself,
enough. They must be told that the kind of music they want is that
which they can make for themselves. They must have a hand in it.
And the piano, or the player-piano, is the instrument that affords the
greatest range of possibilities, at the least expenditure of effort, for
the best results.
There was never a better year in which to stimulate the piano
demand than the one now entering upon its second month. Piano
dealers and salesmen have their opportunity, and if they will get after
the possibilities of business they will produce results. The piano
manufacturers know this. They are stirring up their factories, and
the piano shortage is fast disappearing. The prices are low enough.
The foolish reluctance to pay $10, or so, more for the piano the
dealers most want is not serious. The dealers who thus put the
brakes upon their own business will be the losers. The other kind
will create the demand and do the delivering with no least hindrance
to sales in the slight increase of first cost.
MUSIC AND MOVIES
There are few towns too small to have a piano dealer. And no
town that has a piano dealer is without at least one movie theater.
No movie theater is complete without a good instrument of music.
And it is a question whether or not the small town piano dealers real-
ize that every picture show is a potential prospect for an automatic
piano.
When the movies first broke forth, the automatic piano was a
crude affair. Its monotonous banging and droning had a tendency
rather to drive people away than to draw them into the little theaters.
Today some of the theater pianos and organs are as good as a full
orchestra for the purposes of accompanying the thrill of the eye with
a thrill of the ear. They are perfectly fitted for the movie shows. But
do the local dealers consider this source of profit? Or do they per-
mit the shows to suffer the banging of indifferent piano players with
no variety of effects, and no special adaptability of music to the
pictures ?
This is something well worth the piano dealers' attention, es-
pecially in the smaller communities. W r e have, known instances in
which movie shows have been within a block of good piano stores
and yet not a word said to the film-man, by the piano man, about a
suitable instrument. This condition is inexcusable, when such per-
fect music-makers as are produced by the J. P. Seeburg Piano Co.,
the Operators' Piano Co., the Nelson-Wiggin Co., and others, may be
had promptly and economically.
Selling theater pianos is largely a matter of studying the field of
opportunity. It is suggestion that often does the business. And no
MORE ADVERTISING AID
FOR GULBRANSEN DEALERS
Four Appliances for Modern Publicity Meth-
ods Announced by Gulbransen-
Dickinson Co.
Four new advertising features announced by the
Gulbransen-Dickinson Co., Chicago, for use by deal-
ers in the Gulbranseu playerpiano are an electric
flasher, a horizontal electric sign, a vertical electric
sign and Movie Film No. 3.
The electric flasher registers the name of the dealer
and the Gulbransen in a way that attracts every
passerby. Total height of the display, \6yi inches;
width, IOV2 inches. Frame and base very attractively
finished in dull gold.
The light in back of the highly colored slide flashes
on and off. Nothing to get out of order; nothing to
adjust. Simply place it in your window and connect
with an electric light socket. Uses ordinary bulbs.
Movie Film No. 3 is a new photographic film, short
enough to be run in practically any theater. Extra
long trailer for dealer's name. Film, with dealer's
trailer, measures only 65 to 70 feet long, but in short,
snappy fashion, gives an impressive message to the-
live piano salesman should find it possible to pass a movie theater
without buying admission, if only to see how the music goes, so as to
help out the management with a suggestion. And the time to offer
the suggestion is about the time the opening announcement is made.
The movie industry and music go hand in hand. Music is half the
show. And it is essential that the instrument be adequate, (let after
the picture shows just as soon as the film begins to flash.
However careful the most careful may be, still error will creep
in. And so a reportorial slip in last week's Presto elected Mr. Chas.
W. Schild, secretary and assistant-treasurer of The Cable Company.
But the directors of the great Chicago industry elected Mr. Geo. W.
Eddy to the responsibilities named. Mr. Schild is the assistant sec-
retary and assistant treasurer. And so it's a case, on Presto's part,
of "beg your pardon."
* * *
Boston will have two notable celebrations this year. The
Chickering piano will attain to its centenary in April, and the Vose
piano will reach its seventy-fifth birthday. Both industries have
added luster to the Hub, and both have added to the opportunities and
progress of the piano trade and the whole piano world.
* * *
It is always interesting to read the wise statements of the pro-
found politicians and official leaders. But usually the daily news-
papers have a monopoly on that kind of intellectual fodder, and the
trade papers are better when they treat of the things of trade—the
piano trade. Such a paper is Presto.
* * *
There will be no music show in connection with the annual con-
vention in Chicago next June. But there will be the customary num-
ber of special exhibits in the rooms of the Drake Hotel, and other
convenient places. There will be plenty to interest every piano man
present.
* * *
The automobile business boasts of 63,000 dealers in this country.
There are about 13,000 piano dealers. About 60,000 people are killed
by motor cars every year. We heard of but two being killed by
pianos last year, and they were piano movers.
* * *
Good salesmanship is not shown by quantities in the selling. In
the piano business salesmanship is evidenced by the quality of the
instruments sold, and the other considerations by which the sales-
man becomes profitable to his employer.
* * *
Pianos are somewhat scarce, and there is no excuse for slashing
prices anywhere, of any grade, at any time. Value your property
proportionate to your effort, and get your profit or keep your goods.
* * *
The man who thinks he can sell pianos is on the way to pro-
ficiency as a salesman. The man who thinks he can, and can, is a
post-graduate piano salesman.
* * *
There are more than 11,000,000 automobiles in use in this country.
How many pianos are there?
ater audiences. It tells about the "3 tests" of the
(iulbransen, demonstrating "one-finger pedaling,"
"your touch," and the "Instruction Rolls."
The two electric signs are made by the wonderful
"Flexlume" process. All letters and the reproduction
of the Baby are of highly raised Oplex glass. The
signs can be seen for a much greater distance than
the ordinary bulb sign, are much more economical as
to number of bulbs required and current used, easier
to keep clean and neater in appearance.
BLIND TUNER NOW LAWYER.
E. A. Lindblom, a blind piano tuner whose abilities
have long been appreciated by Salina, Kans., dealers
and piano owners, has been admitted to the Kansas
bar. Mr. Lindblom is now engaged in formulating
legislation for the benefit of the blind and has or-
ganized a Salina unit of the Kansas State Association
for the Improvement of the Blind.
OPENS IN PETALUMA, CAL.
F. La Violette is in charge of the Piano Shoppe,
which has been opened in the McNear building oppo-
site the City Hall, Petaluma, Cal. The line of instru-
ments carried by the Wiley B. Allen Co., San Fran-
cisco, is represented in the new store in this famous
center of the chicken and egg producing industry.
PIANO CLUB OF CHICAGO
HEARS FAMOUS AUTHOR
Edwin Balmer, Concisely and Cleverly Told How He
Wrote His Delightful Books.
The Piano Club of Chicago, at the weekly luncheon
this week had Edwin Balmer, author, Evanston, 111.,
as guest and speaker. Those who had read Mr.
Balmer's delightful books knew what a treat was in
store for them on Monday, so the big attendance at
the luncheon was explained. The fine sense of humor
that is shown in his writings and the humanness of
his characters make his readers want to know him
personally, and this opportunity of so doing was one
that members of the Piano Club of Chicago could not
miss. As a speaker Mr. Balmer combined wit and
wisdom with the Piano Club's motto, "Make it short
and snappy." He talked on the ways in which books
are written, published and sold. It was a most in-
teresting sidelight on story-writing.
And a headliner number for the music of the day
was Harold Leonard and his Red Jacket Orchestra,
the latest music sensation of the day.
The store of the Duesler Music Co., Fort Wayne,
Ind., was recently remodeled.
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/