Presto

November 10, 1923
PRESTO
GEORGE P. BENT IS
BACK IN BUSINESS
Energetic Former Maker of the "Crown"
Piano Has Returned from California and
Re-entered the House He Established
Long Ago.
Unified
Cooperation
The Factory
WILL RESIDE IN CHICAGO
Purchases All of the Stock Held by Associates of
Charles M. Bent in the "Music Shop."
George P. Bent is "coming back"—has come back
—and will once more be an active influence in the
things of music commercially. Mr. Bent is in Chi-
cago to stay, having returned from Los Angeles re-
invigorated, and in just the right condition to take
up the business with which he is so familiar and
which knows him so well. He has bought the stock
of the associates of C. M. Bent in the well-established
business of the Music Shop, Inc., located in the Bent
Durable, Satisfaction-Giv-
ing instruments mean real
profit after the sale. The
Seeburg is always recog-
nized as the standard coin
operated player.
Fourteen styles f r o m
which t o select. T h e
smallest to the largest.
T h e l a r g e s t to t h e
smallest.
The Sales
Organization
A trained force of travel-
ing representatives, en-
tirely experienced in de-
veloping automatic in-
strument sales.
GEORGE P. BENT.
Whether Mr. Bent grew tired of the restful inactivi-
ties of Los Angeles, or some other, and perhaps am-
bitious, promptings brought him back doesn't mat-
ter. The trade needs him, and it will be hoped that
his activities will be no less than in the days of old.
His home will again be in Chicago, with an occa-
sional trip to Dreamland in California.
It is only a coincidence that on the day before the
facts herein given to the trade were told to Presto
by Mr. Bent himself in Chicago, a request had come
from a prominent New York piano man for a brief
sketch of Mr. Bent's activities in the music industry.
And the answer to the correspondent's request, while
inadequate, is really a part of this news item and is of
sufficient interest to be presented here as follows:
A Thumb-Nail Sketch.
"Yours of the 24th is here about our mutual friend,
Geo. P. Bent. He was born at Dundee, 111., not so
many years ago; came to Chicago in 1870 and was
in the employ of David C. Cook until 1878 when he
bought the business of that gentleman, retailing sew-
ing machines and organs. In 1889 he started manu-
facturing pianos but he had been .making reed or-
gans before that and his factory was at 323 So. Canal
Street, Chicago. His activities as maker of the
'Crown' and foe of the cheap 'stencil' piano are no
doubt familiar to you."
WHAT INSTRUMENT WOULD
YOU CHOOSE TO PLAY?
Inquiring Reporter of Chicago Tribune Gets at Tastes
of Persons Picked at Random.
The Chicago Tribune stations an Inquiring Re-
porter on the highways of the big city to ask people
pertinent questions about themselves. One day this
week the question was: "If it were possible for you
to become thoroughly proficient on some musical in-
strument, which instrument would you choose?" That
question was put to unsuspecting citizens at Dearborn
and Washington streets, just five blocks north of
Presto offices, and following are the replies:
Miss Mabel Pries, 225 Wisconsin street, Chicago,
manicurist—The saxophone—yes, I mean it. I be-
lieve in jazzing up existence a little bit. I love the
tone of the saxophone—mellow, pensive. Then, too,
it is pretty for ballads, reminding me of the 'cello.
Edward H. Katcher, 1115 Broadway, New York
City, manufacturer—The violin. I am very fond of
the violin. It is surprising how with a bow and four
strings they can bring out such endless and intimate
combinations of melody and harmony.
Mrs. A. W. Trybula, 1507 West Madison street,
Chicago, housewife—The piano. I never had a
chance before, but I am now thinking of taking it up.
I like music, piano music the best of all, and I be-
lieve the piano would be easier for me to learn than
any other instrument.
Henry Schapiro, 1943 West Taylor street, Chicago,
salesman—I'd rather be a violinist than a salesman,
but to be a violinist you just have to be gifted, tal-
ented. The violin is ideal for simple melody, and I
like simple melody rather than the complex and the
symphonic.
Miss Betty Gleason, 56 West Schiller street, home
girl—The piano. I consider it more entertaining and
popular than the others. I particularly enjoy piano
recitals. A little study makes one appreciate them.
If I could play the piano half as well as Josef Hoff-
man I'd be very happy.
Building, 214 South Wabash Avenue, Chicago. The
house was established there by Mr. Bent when the
Crown piano factory was on Sangamon Street.
The Music Shop, Inc., is one of the largest dealers
in pianos and phonographs in the Mid-West. Its
operations extend into distant places and its local
trade has developed with substantial steps. The
Bent Building has been a familiar place in the trade
of Chicago for more than two decades.
Piano men who under-
An Important Item.
stand the dealer's prob-
The return to the trade of Mr. Bent is an item of
much more than average interest. His great per-
lems and capable and glad
sonal popularity and his broad enterprise made his
FRAUDULENT BANKRUPTCIES.
name a strong one many years ago. He has been a
to extend real co-opera-
For the purpose of taking more effective action in
conspicuous member of the trade for more than
forty years, and his voice has been one of influence bankruptcy cases where fraud is indicated, an amend-
tion and assistance.
in every movement of general trade interest during ment to the constitution of the National Wholesale
Men's Furnishings Association, of New York, has
all that time.
It seems almost incredible, but it is true, that Mr. been passed. Previously, the costs of an investiga-
Bent established the "Crown" in 1881. Before that tion into the affairs of a bankrupt who is believed to
time he had been in the retail organ business. He have defrauded a member were apportioned only
made a great success of the organ and then began among those who were directly interested. The
the manufacture of the Crown piano. That instru- amendment provides that "all expenses incidental to
ment was promoted with such vigor that it became such investigation and proceedings may be charged,
one of the leading factors in the trade. The incisive pro rata on a percentage basis of the amounts, to all
catch-lines which were employed by Mr. Bent for members of the association whether interested or
promoting the Crown gave to his advertising a pe- not in the debtor so involved, if the Board of Direc-
tors may so determine, but not until all such expendi-
culiar force.
Among them the "Cent Sent Bent" became a by- tures shall have been passed upon, approved and or-
word and was quoted everywhere. His "poems" in dered by the Board of Directors." It is believed that
praise of the Crown piano were printed in most of the amendment will emphasize co-operation in the
Factory
Offices
the newspapers and all of the trade papers, and as handling of the fraudulent cases at proportionately
1508-16 Dayton St.
1510 D&yton St.
an adveetiser the maker of the "Crown" easily took less cost.
the lead. It was tireless enterprise and seemingly
CHICAGO, ILL.
boundless enthusiasm that overrode all obstacles and HARDMAN IN POUGHKEEPSIE, N. Y.
forced new successes in whatever way Mr. Bent
The Hardman line of pianos, players and repro-
sought an outlet for his energies. A book could be ducing
is carried by B. M. Rose, Pough-
written on the methods, conflicts and radical prog- keepsie, pianos
Y., who for some time past has been con-
ress of the Crown maker, and then not half the story ducting N.
a piano and music store in that city. Mr.
would have been told.
Rose is now settled in new quarters at 39 Cannon
Will Be Welcome.
street, in a building which he purchased recently.
George P. Bent has come back to his own. The The main floor is divided into a number of separate
trade will be glad to know it. He will be welcomed show-rooms, each fitted up in a most homelike man-
ner, Arcade
and with
only (www.arcade-museum.com).
one instrument shown in a room.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI as
- The few
Musical
Box Society
International
(www.mbsi.org)
and the
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Museum
other
returning
favorites
have ever
been.
J. P. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
The Nationally
Known Line
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
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