Presto
Issue: 1923 1928 - Page 7
PRESTO
July 7, 1923
The
Dominant
Line
J.P.SEEBURG PIANO CO.
A full and complete
line of better coin
operated pianos and
orchestrions.
14 Styles
from the smallest to the largest
14 Styles
from the largest to the smallest
FROM ICE TO PIANO WAS
ROUTE OF E. E. FORBES
And Birmingham, Ala., Is Now Proud of the
Big Music Business He Has Es-
tablished.
Down in Alabama, Gov. Brandon never tires of
telling that it is a long way from the humble cot of
a Methodist circuit rider to the governor's mansion.
But nobody ever hears E. E. Forbes, the Birmingham
music dealer and head of the E. E. Forbes Music
Co., brag that it is a longer cry from peddling ice
to head of a $500,000 music business. Yet that's
E. E.'s jump.
Mr. Forbes is proud to be numbered among the
''old timers" of Birmingham, having come there when
a boy of 20 from a farm. He received his education
in Oxford, Ala., where he was born, and attended
Oxford College, of which Prof. John L. Dodson was
president.
Getting a job in Birmingham 35 years ago was n o .
"birthday party," according to one who tried it, and
after searching diligently for some time,. Earnest
accepted one driving an ice-wagon. He stuck with
his wagon and mule for two weeks and then obtained
a position as piano salesman for Gilbert Carter. The
fact that after 35 years he is still selling pianos and is
now the head of his own company ought to convince
one that he made good at practically his first job
and liked the profession, which, one might say, was
thrust upon him.
After working for Mr. Carter for eighteen months
Ernest was located at Anniston, a partner with his
employer. Later this partnership was dissolved and
Mr. Forbes went into the piano business for himself,
locating in Anniston. After a time, Mr. Forbes
moved to Montgomery, where he opened a business
and where also occurred what he declares was the
most important event in his career. He was mar-
ried to Miss Mary V. Mallory. Later, he moved to
Birmingham where he has been in business under
the name of E. E. Forbes Piano Company. It is lo-
cated now at 1922 Third Avenue. He handles pianos,
playerpianos, reproducing pianos, phonographs, or-
gans, records and rolls.
Mr. Forbes started with very little capital, but has
worked up until he now heads one of the largest
music firms in the South. Both retail and wholesale
trade are handled. One year this company did more
than $1,000,000 of business. Mr. Forbes has associ-
ated with him in his business two sons, E. E. Forbes,
Jr., and James Mallory. They incorporated July 1
with a capital of $500,000.
Mr. and Mrs. Forbes have five children, Besides
the sons associated with him in business, there are
two other sons, Kenneth. and Herman, and one
daughter, Jeanette, all of whom are in school.
PROPOSES BOND ISSUE TO
SAVE BELL BROS. PIANO CO.
Sold on a protected
territory system that
will interest you.
Write for Details
speculative tendencies; only a small proportion of our
imports are not finished products—most of the im-
ports are raw materials or semi-finished products
needed for our own industries.
"As to the business situation as a whole," continues
Mr. Tregoe, "we have a very interesting exposition of
it from a canvass made at our convention in Atlanta
in the several trade groups. There were fourteen
groups in all, comprising the active commodities of
our domestic commerce, and as a unit the groups re-
ported improved sales and collections in May as com-
pared with April and excellent prospects for business
in the next three months.
"Some of the significant facts brought out in the
canvass were that the agricultural houses reported
better collections and larger sales as compared with
last year. This is an index of an increased buying of
the farmer. In construction industry lines, such as
iron and steel, hardware, electrical, etc., they reported
marked increases in collections and sales for May,
though the high and mounting prices made this group
a little less optimistic than other groups as to the
future."
THREE GULBRANSEN POINTS
MADE CLEAR TO READERS
Set Forth in Clever and Attractive Page Ad in Na-
tional Magazine.
These points are presented to prospective player-
piano buyers in a characteristically attractive page
advertisement for the Gulbransen in the Saturday
Evening Post: "First, the Gulbransen is easy to
play; second, you do the playing, you are in as close
contact with the music being produced as is the musi-
cian who plays any instrument; third, it is the only
playerpiano with Instruction Rolls.
Readers are asked to compare the .Gulbransen
"with hand-playing that you ordinarily hear." The
convincing text goes on to say:
"It is no exaggeration to say that Gulbransen play-
ing is infinitely superior, more expressive, more artis-
tic. Compare the best Gulbransen playing with the
best hand-playing. They are indistinguishable.
"These are broad statements, but facts. They are
important because they point the way for you to
play good music, with your own individuality and
expression, but without long study and tedious fin-
ger-work."
The page was embellished with a picture of an in-
terior with the Gulbransen as central object around
which happy family life proceeded.
SOUTH BEND, IND., FIRM
MOVES TO NEW QUARTERS
The Lang Bros., Active Piano Distributors, Hold
Formal Opening in Spacious Store.
Lang Bros., the South Bend, Ind., dealers, moved
last week from 114 East Wayne street to 439 South
Michigan street, where attractive warerooms have
been leased. The firm is one of the most progressive
Proposal to Issue 7 Per Cent Gold Bonds Made by in that section and one of the most successful dis-
tributors of pianos, playerpianos and talking ma-
Muncie, Ind., Company.
chines.
A letter sent' recently to creditors of the Bell
The new quarters have been remodeled to suit the
Brothers Piano Co., Muncie, Ind., mentions plans for purposes of this active company, and a businesslike
the reorganization of the company. The company is appearance is evident on every floor. The main dis-
manufacturer of pianos and playerpianos, with fac- play room is on the first floor, where the piano and
tory and offices in that city. The proposition is to playerpiano departments are located. The talking
issue 7 per cent ten-year gold bonds in $50 denomina- machine display is also on this floor and a suite of
tions provided a total of $50,000 can be subscribed well ventilated booths adds to the customers' pleas-
within a few days.
ure in shopping and the salesmen's ease in making
This sum is necessary to save the property from sales. Considerable taste has been displayed in the
being sold at auction by the People's Trust Co., of decorating and furnishing of all the departments.
Muncie, which is receiver for the company. The
letter explains that the bond issue carries with it a
PREMIER GRAND IN RECITAL.
bonus of fifty per cent its value in common stock of
the Bell Brothers Piano Co. to be given to sub-
At the piano recital 'held recently by the pupils of
scribers of the bonds.
Jascha G. Samoos, assisted by Mrs. A. Renikoff,
violinist, and G. Katilansky, baritone, at Mr. Samoos'
Studio, 357 West 118th street, New York City, the
Premier Baby Grand piano was used. Mr. Samoos
is a noted Russian pianist, is a graduate of the St.
Petersburg conservatory. A Russian night will be
featured in a W D T radio program in the near fu-
ture, at the W D T Broadcasting Station at the Pre-
J. H. Tregoe, in July Letter, Declares No Germ of
mier Grand Piano Corporation, 510-532 West 23d
Inflation Has Entered.
street, New York, operated by the Ship Owners'
"Credit continues to be sound. No germ of infla- Radio Service, Inc. Mr. Samoos is now arranging
tion has yet entered the credit system, and it is there- for the features of this Russian night program.
fore impossible to have disorders or depressions based
on anything but states of mind and unwarranted
SECURES FINE LINE.
fear."
These are the views of J. H. Tregoe, executive
W. W. Hinshaw, who recently bought the Univer-
manager of the National Association of Credit Men, sity Music Shop in Ann Arbor, Mich., has given the
expressed in his July letter. The recent failure of a agency for the entire line of the United Piano
number of brokerage houses and the excess of visible Corporation, New York, including the A. B. Chase,
imports over exports are facts that should be care- Lindeman & Sons and Emerson pianos and the Celco
fully considered, says this observer. The brokerage Reproducing Medium. Mr. Hinshaw is well known
failures represent nothing more than a reaction from as a vocalist in the concert field.
CREDIT CONTINUES SOUND
SAYS HEAD OF CREDIT MEN
J.P.SEEBURG PIANO CO
1510 Dayton Street
CHICAGO
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/
July 7, 1923
The
Dominant
Line
J.P.SEEBURG PIANO CO.
A full and complete
line of better coin
operated pianos and
orchestrions.
14 Styles
from the smallest to the largest
14 Styles
from the largest to the smallest
FROM ICE TO PIANO WAS
ROUTE OF E. E. FORBES
And Birmingham, Ala., Is Now Proud of the
Big Music Business He Has Es-
tablished.
Down in Alabama, Gov. Brandon never tires of
telling that it is a long way from the humble cot of
a Methodist circuit rider to the governor's mansion.
But nobody ever hears E. E. Forbes, the Birmingham
music dealer and head of the E. E. Forbes Music
Co., brag that it is a longer cry from peddling ice
to head of a $500,000 music business. Yet that's
E. E.'s jump.
Mr. Forbes is proud to be numbered among the
''old timers" of Birmingham, having come there when
a boy of 20 from a farm. He received his education
in Oxford, Ala., where he was born, and attended
Oxford College, of which Prof. John L. Dodson was
president.
Getting a job in Birmingham 35 years ago was n o .
"birthday party," according to one who tried it, and
after searching diligently for some time,. Earnest
accepted one driving an ice-wagon. He stuck with
his wagon and mule for two weeks and then obtained
a position as piano salesman for Gilbert Carter. The
fact that after 35 years he is still selling pianos and is
now the head of his own company ought to convince
one that he made good at practically his first job
and liked the profession, which, one might say, was
thrust upon him.
After working for Mr. Carter for eighteen months
Ernest was located at Anniston, a partner with his
employer. Later this partnership was dissolved and
Mr. Forbes went into the piano business for himself,
locating in Anniston. After a time, Mr. Forbes
moved to Montgomery, where he opened a business
and where also occurred what he declares was the
most important event in his career. He was mar-
ried to Miss Mary V. Mallory. Later, he moved to
Birmingham where he has been in business under
the name of E. E. Forbes Piano Company. It is lo-
cated now at 1922 Third Avenue. He handles pianos,
playerpianos, reproducing pianos, phonographs, or-
gans, records and rolls.
Mr. Forbes started with very little capital, but has
worked up until he now heads one of the largest
music firms in the South. Both retail and wholesale
trade are handled. One year this company did more
than $1,000,000 of business. Mr. Forbes has associ-
ated with him in his business two sons, E. E. Forbes,
Jr., and James Mallory. They incorporated July 1
with a capital of $500,000.
Mr. and Mrs. Forbes have five children, Besides
the sons associated with him in business, there are
two other sons, Kenneth. and Herman, and one
daughter, Jeanette, all of whom are in school.
PROPOSES BOND ISSUE TO
SAVE BELL BROS. PIANO CO.
Sold on a protected
territory system that
will interest you.
Write for Details
speculative tendencies; only a small proportion of our
imports are not finished products—most of the im-
ports are raw materials or semi-finished products
needed for our own industries.
"As to the business situation as a whole," continues
Mr. Tregoe, "we have a very interesting exposition of
it from a canvass made at our convention in Atlanta
in the several trade groups. There were fourteen
groups in all, comprising the active commodities of
our domestic commerce, and as a unit the groups re-
ported improved sales and collections in May as com-
pared with April and excellent prospects for business
in the next three months.
"Some of the significant facts brought out in the
canvass were that the agricultural houses reported
better collections and larger sales as compared with
last year. This is an index of an increased buying of
the farmer. In construction industry lines, such as
iron and steel, hardware, electrical, etc., they reported
marked increases in collections and sales for May,
though the high and mounting prices made this group
a little less optimistic than other groups as to the
future."
THREE GULBRANSEN POINTS
MADE CLEAR TO READERS
Set Forth in Clever and Attractive Page Ad in Na-
tional Magazine.
These points are presented to prospective player-
piano buyers in a characteristically attractive page
advertisement for the Gulbransen in the Saturday
Evening Post: "First, the Gulbransen is easy to
play; second, you do the playing, you are in as close
contact with the music being produced as is the musi-
cian who plays any instrument; third, it is the only
playerpiano with Instruction Rolls.
Readers are asked to compare the .Gulbransen
"with hand-playing that you ordinarily hear." The
convincing text goes on to say:
"It is no exaggeration to say that Gulbransen play-
ing is infinitely superior, more expressive, more artis-
tic. Compare the best Gulbransen playing with the
best hand-playing. They are indistinguishable.
"These are broad statements, but facts. They are
important because they point the way for you to
play good music, with your own individuality and
expression, but without long study and tedious fin-
ger-work."
The page was embellished with a picture of an in-
terior with the Gulbransen as central object around
which happy family life proceeded.
SOUTH BEND, IND., FIRM
MOVES TO NEW QUARTERS
The Lang Bros., Active Piano Distributors, Hold
Formal Opening in Spacious Store.
Lang Bros., the South Bend, Ind., dealers, moved
last week from 114 East Wayne street to 439 South
Michigan street, where attractive warerooms have
been leased. The firm is one of the most progressive
Proposal to Issue 7 Per Cent Gold Bonds Made by in that section and one of the most successful dis-
tributors of pianos, playerpianos and talking ma-
Muncie, Ind., Company.
chines.
A letter sent' recently to creditors of the Bell
The new quarters have been remodeled to suit the
Brothers Piano Co., Muncie, Ind., mentions plans for purposes of this active company, and a businesslike
the reorganization of the company. The company is appearance is evident on every floor. The main dis-
manufacturer of pianos and playerpianos, with fac- play room is on the first floor, where the piano and
tory and offices in that city. The proposition is to playerpiano departments are located. The talking
issue 7 per cent ten-year gold bonds in $50 denomina- machine display is also on this floor and a suite of
tions provided a total of $50,000 can be subscribed well ventilated booths adds to the customers' pleas-
within a few days.
ure in shopping and the salesmen's ease in making
This sum is necessary to save the property from sales. Considerable taste has been displayed in the
being sold at auction by the People's Trust Co., of decorating and furnishing of all the departments.
Muncie, which is receiver for the company. The
letter explains that the bond issue carries with it a
PREMIER GRAND IN RECITAL.
bonus of fifty per cent its value in common stock of
the Bell Brothers Piano Co. to be given to sub-
At the piano recital 'held recently by the pupils of
scribers of the bonds.
Jascha G. Samoos, assisted by Mrs. A. Renikoff,
violinist, and G. Katilansky, baritone, at Mr. Samoos'
Studio, 357 West 118th street, New York City, the
Premier Baby Grand piano was used. Mr. Samoos
is a noted Russian pianist, is a graduate of the St.
Petersburg conservatory. A Russian night will be
featured in a W D T radio program in the near fu-
ture, at the W D T Broadcasting Station at the Pre-
J. H. Tregoe, in July Letter, Declares No Germ of
mier Grand Piano Corporation, 510-532 West 23d
Inflation Has Entered.
street, New York, operated by the Ship Owners'
"Credit continues to be sound. No germ of infla- Radio Service, Inc. Mr. Samoos is now arranging
tion has yet entered the credit system, and it is there- for the features of this Russian night program.
fore impossible to have disorders or depressions based
on anything but states of mind and unwarranted
SECURES FINE LINE.
fear."
These are the views of J. H. Tregoe, executive
W. W. Hinshaw, who recently bought the Univer-
manager of the National Association of Credit Men, sity Music Shop in Ann Arbor, Mich., has given the
expressed in his July letter. The recent failure of a agency for the entire line of the United Piano
number of brokerage houses and the excess of visible Corporation, New York, including the A. B. Chase,
imports over exports are facts that should be care- Lindeman & Sons and Emerson pianos and the Celco
fully considered, says this observer. The brokerage Reproducing Medium. Mr. Hinshaw is well known
failures represent nothing more than a reaction from as a vocalist in the concert field.
CREDIT CONTINUES SOUND
SAYS HEAD OF CREDIT MEN
J.P.SEEBURG PIANO CO
1510 Dayton Street
CHICAGO
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).