Presto

P R E S T O
Presto
February 16, 1924.
"the finest instrument of music in the world"
at the price, for "samples," of ten cents. The
credulous lovers of music who sent the dimes
received a three-cent jewsharp.
Later:—The "pocket piano" is described
elsewhere in this issue. It isn't a "pocket
piano" at all. It is a small upright, but not as
small as some American-made pianos; not as
small, for instance, as the "Miessner"—and we
take little risk in adding, not as good.
only 72 minutes of the eight-hour day are de-
voted to selling.
But if that amount of time were put into
actual selling and sales were always made,
there wouldn't be enough pianos produced ev-
ery year to keep the salesmen busy one month
out of the twelve. It is in the effort to sell,
and in the preliminaries, and in the discussion
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY.
of the "other fellow's" pianos and business in
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
general, that the day is consumed, or the small
fraction of it in which the salesman has the
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT -
Editors
dealer's ear.
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234.
AT NORMAL PITCH
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), " P R E S T O , " Chicago.
The best piano salesmen, in the piano busi-
The conductor of a prominent radio broad-
ness,
are not of the quick-fire kind. The bus-
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the cast station says that two-thirds of the pianos
iness
demands a good deal of the persuasive,
Post Office, Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
in American homes are at normal pitch. That
instructive
quality of salesmanship-eloquence.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4. is encouraging, but it would have been more
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
The
intelligent
piano dealer wants to know
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
satisfactory had the announcement been that
application.
all
about
what
is
being done at headquarters,
the large majority of pianos indicated are not
and
he
is
always
open to conviction if the
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if
only at normal pitch, but also in fairly good
of general interest to the music trade will be paid for
traveler
has
anything
of special interest, or
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen tune.
any
advanced
suggestion
by which more pianos
in the smaller cit'es are the best occasional corre-
At least the statement of Manager Morgan
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
may be sold, or with better results.
L. Eastman of the KYW in Chicago, presents
Time may be money to the successful piano
Forms close at noon every Thursday. News mat- some instructive suggestions. If it is so easy
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the
traveler,
and he usually expends it to the best
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before to ascertain by radio that two-thirds of the
possible
advantage.
Hurry seldom helps, and
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full pianos are at normal pitch, it might be almost
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon
often
proves
destructive.
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current equally easy to ascertain what proportion of
week, to insure classification, must not be later than the same instruments are in such condition
Wednesday noon.
as not to drive the possessor of an acute
Address all communications for the editorial or business
musical ear to distraction. And, in the in-
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
terest of American musical understanding and
Mother, in kitchen, calls to daughter, in parlor:
security, radio research might go even fur- "What are you doing, Sue?"
"Oh, just singing that new song Bill brought me."
ther and segregate the instruments by name,
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 16, 1924.
"Well, stop singing and give us a little music!"
classifying the "makes" that are in tune from
those which are in a state of discord.
Soon Spring old Winter's chill will chase,
POCKET PIANOS
And beautify the land;
This suggestion may not please all of the
And won't it be a splendid case
The story of a "pocket piano" which ap-
piano manufacturers. Some of them may have
Of Reproducing Grand!
peared in Presto several weeks ago, is being-
a suspicion that their products arc not easily
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repeated by the newspapers all over the coun-
kept in tune, while, others may have reason
Quick Action.
try. And, as the story goes the rounds, it is
A new musician from California is now attacking
to believe that their customers are not of the
the piano by methods known as "dynamic motion"
amplified and made the more fantastic. Here
kind to know, or care, whether the instru- and "exultation." He uses the closed fist and even
is the latest version as told by a daily space
jumps inside the piano and pounds the strings them-
ments they sell are in tune or not.
selves. If he runs out of engagements in town, he
filler of New York :
But
the
result
of
such
a
radio
research
as
will doubtless be employed by suburbanites in lieu
A pocket piano has been invented for song pluggers
of spite fences.—N. Y. Times.
in Tin Pan alley. The instruments are five octaves in has been intimated might do a great deal of
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good
for
the
auricular
refinement
of
the
rising
length and may be folded up like umbrellas. The pocket
A kitchenette home, one room and a half,
piano comes from England.
generation.
A bed and a table and stand;
"Now hubby, a piano!" she said, and the calf
..For years there has been a form of instru-
One fact the report of Mr. Eastman empha-
Launched forth for a Vest Pocket Grand.
ment which has assumed the dignity of being sizes. It is that the piano tuners of" this coun-
called a "piano accordion." The "pocket piano" try are, as a class, the best in the world. They
A Difference.
is something of that kind and no one who do their work conscientiously, and well. They
"Who's the distinguished looking gentleman?"
"He's a great piano man."
knows anything about the principles of piano place their "bearings" correctly, and they keep
'"So, a great piano salesman?"
construction will believe that anv "five oc- the pianos at proper pitch. They are real
"Oh, no, but he represents a great piano house."
tave" instrument with kevs can be "folded up "harmonizers," and the tuners' association of
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like an umbrella."
which Mr. Chas. Deutschmann is the official
No Exhibits Permitted.
We have been asked a hundred times wherj head, serves as a guarantee of the kind of at-
When the June convention time arrives it is con-
the "pocket piano" is made and where it can tention to the piano that makes it possible for fidently expected that every house within a mile of
the Waldorf in New York will have signs hanging
be bought. • That shows how eager the trade the broadcast director to issue the report that out reading, "Piano Rooms For Rent."
is to discover novelties. The dealers are never two-thirds of the instruments are at concert
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quite satisfied to sell only instruments of real pitch.
Little and Big.
"What's that great splendid instrument over here?"
merit and of standard quality. If some in-
"That's a Reproducing Grand."
ventive genius were to proclaim that he \yu\
"And that wee instrument over there?"
TRAVELING SALESMEN
discovered the secret of producing a infriiature
"That's our new Diminutive Upright."
There hvs heen an -unusual demand for piano
"Ah. an offspring of the Reproducing Grand. I
player of portable character, and to be sold at
$10 a dozen, he would have a carload of or : travelers of late. Several of the larger piano suppose."
ders with money or stamps enclosed. ' You industries have added to their forces and
EMIL W. WOLFF SAILS.
can't tell people that there is fake abroad and smaller ones have put good men 'upon the
Emil
W.
.Wolff, vice-president of the M. Sehulz Co.,
road also. It is interesting to note what a
make them realize what it is you mean.
Chicago,
has
sailed lor a tour of the world. Mr.
A good many years ago a reckless advertiser prominent advertising concern says about the Wolf will visit the Mediterranean countries, Suez
in Michigan announced that he had devised an men on the road, and the manner in which Canal, Singapore, China, India. Japan and other in-
places before returning to Chicago via San
upright piano to be sold and delivered any- their time is divided. According tp the ex- teresting
Francisco.
During his trip abroad Mr. Wolf will
where for just $15. He did a great business, perts alluded to, here is the way-the average study trade conditions, but will not let it interfere
with the pleasures of such an extensive and complete
and might have become a millionaire within a traveling salesman spends his time:
"Ten per cent, in clerical work; seventy- tour.
year, but that some doubter drew the atten-
tion of the post office inspectors to the ad- five per cent, in traveling and' waiting, and
NAMES BANQUET COMMITTEE.
vertising and size of the mail which was only fifteen per cent, in actual selling."
The
members of the banquet committee
clogging the local post office. The result was
At first thought it may seem -that the pro- of the following
National Association of Music Merchants,
an arrest and a sudden cessation of the de- portion of time given to "actual selling" is too formed to prepare for the big social event during the
mand.
small. But, upon further consideration, it is annual convention in New York in June, have been
by Albert Behning, chairman of the commit-
plain
enough that 15 per cent, is possibly even named
But the "pocket piano" may be different.
tee:
Valentine J. Faerth, Jerome W. Ackerly, Mil-
There once was a man who largely advertised too large a share. That doesn't mean that ton Weil, C. T. Purdy and Berthold B. Neuer.
PRESTOLAFS AND PARAGRAFS
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