Presto

PRESTO
March 8, 1924.
ROLL SALES MEAN
MORE PLAYER SALES
Certain Effects for Good of Playerpiano Dealer
Assured by Effective Propaganda
of the Q R S Music
Company.
T. M. PLETCHER'S LETTER
President of Roll Manufacturing Company Discusses
Conditions and Procedures from Interesting
Psychological Standpoint.
competition in things that appeal to this age of case
and speed—the playerpiano, because the playerpiano
is the only musical instrument outside of the talking
machine and radio that provides immediate pleasure,
and most nearly meets the competition of the auto-
mobile and the many other things that make the
piano business a constant struggle.
Sincerely,
T H E Q R S MUSIC COMPANY.
T. M. Pletcher, President.
A. DALRYMPLE ENTERS RADIO
WITH WARREN C. WHITNEY
Well
Comparative Costs.
"The average man spends as much on golf in a
year as a playerpiano costs. Therefore I say that the
perpetuation of the music dealers' success depends
upon this: Putting effort behind the fundamental
musical instrument—the piano.
"But in the form that will most nearly meet the
Great French Pianist Selects Instrument from Cin-
cinnati Industry to Display Genius to America.
Edouard Risler, the great French pianist, has se-
lected a Baldwin grand for his first American tour.
His name is another famous one on the list of Bald-
win users recorded by the Baldwin Piano Co., Cin-
cinnati. Among the pianistic giants of this genera-
tion, the great French pianist, Edouard Risler, alone
had never before visited America. His coming was
awaited with pleasure by musical people everywhere.
Known Piano Men Will Distribute Ware
Neutrodyne, a Five-Bulb Receiving Set.
Warren C. Whitney, formerly vice-president of the
United Piano Corporation, Norwalk, O., and A.
Dalrymple, treasurer of the Estey Piano Co., New
"How many automobiles would have been sold if
York, have organized and incorporated the Dalrym-
it took from three to five years to learn to drive ple-Whitney Radio Corp., with offices in Suite 1005
around the block?" asks the Q R S Music Co., Chi- at 437 Fifth avenue, New York. The new corpora-
cago, in a letter to the trade this week. Accompany- tion will act as distributors of the Ware Neutrodyne,
ing the letter, signed by T. M. Fletcher, president is a five-bulb radio receiving set, made by the Ware
the proof of an ad of the company that will appear in
Radio Corp. of 160 Dunne street, New York. It is
ten of the leading national magazines in March and understood that Mr. Dalrymple will continue his in-
April.
terests in the Estey Piano Co.
"You will observe it is a general sales promotion
The music merchant who has extended his lines to
playerpiano ad as well as a Q R S roll ad," says the include radio will be catered to in a special way as
letter. The Q R S Music Company pays every cent an active beginning by the Dalrymple-Whitney Radio
of the cost of this campaign.
Corp., and it is reported that an encouraging number
of dealers have already booked orders with the com-
Suggests a Viewpoint.
"Suppose tor the moment you be good enough to pany for the five-bulb set. A feature of the business
forget any selfish motive we obviously have in ex- of the new corporation will be a service department
ploiting and suggesting to the dealer that he pushes for enabling music merchants in fitting up their stores
the sale of playerpianos. Let us discuss it from a for doing a radio business.
The retail music field is an inviting one for both
purely psychological viewpoint.
Mr. Dalrymple and Mr. Whitney in introducing a
"The great back pressure in the piano business has commendable
radio apparatus. Both are among the,
always been the fact that 80 per cent of all straight most widely known
men in the music trade. The
pianos sold are simply ornaments. Even if someone Ware Neutrodyne, which
works on either an inside
in the family learns to play, it usually takes years or an outside aerial, will be
in the offices of
before the purchaser gets any real music out of the the Dalrymple-Whitney Radio shown
Corp.
instrument.
What Happened.
"Is it any wonder that the player salesman is com-
pelled to get the pitch of every door bell in the terri-
tory to make a living? Is it any wonder that the
piano trade drifted into an installment business, when
even the instruments purchased on the longest terms
are paid for before they afford real musical enjoy-
ment? What do you think the volume of talking
machine business would have been if it took from
three to five years to learn to operate it? The fact
that a purchaser gets immediate enjoyment from his
investment, made the talking machine business
greater by millions than the entire piano business.
"In spite of these cold facts, some manufacturers
and some dealers are still trying to meet the com-
petition of talking machines, automobiles, moving pic-
tures, golf and radio, with a straight piano. If the
radio, as predicted by some, will affect the sales of
talking machines, then part of the volume of radio,
not sold by music dealers, will go to electric shops,
etc., and is lost forever to the music dealer.
EDOUARD RISLER PLAYS
BALDWIN ON FIRST TOUR
FIRE DAMAGES CLARK MUSIC CO.
The Clark Music Company's store, 416 South Sa-
lina street, Syracuse, N. Y., was threatened with de-
struction last week when fire of undetermined origin
broke out on the fifth floor. The damage, estimated
at $2,000, is reported fully covered by insurance.
When the fire apparatus arrived the floors and ceil-
ings on the fifth floor occupied by the Clark Music
Company, were partly enveloped in flames and the
blaze had spread to the floor below and injured a
part of the music company's stock.
CORPORATIONS FILE BY MARCH 15.
EDOUARD RISLER.
Risler's position among the premier pianists of the
world has been won not only through his historic
cycle of Beethoven recitals, but also by his profound
interpretations of all the classic masters and his
finely balanced illuminations of modern works for the
pianoforte.
The opening New York concert of his first Amer-
ican tour took place the end of December and was
an overwhelming success. The critics were universal
in their praise of his pianistic talent.
It is significant of the dominant position of the
Baldwin in the concert world that this great artist
selects it above all others for the display of his genius
to American audiences.
A bulletin has been issued by the Corporation Trust
Company, of New York, calling attention to a new
ruling of the Treasury Department, whereby all cor-
porations must make a return not later than March
SAN FRANCISCO MEN APPOINTED.
15 of all dividend payments during the calendar year
The
following members of the music trade have
1923, stating the name and address of each stock-
holder, the number of shares by each, and the amount been appointed on the committee named by Mayor
Rolph to arrange details of the National Music Week
of the dividends paid to each.
to be held in that city from May 4 to 10: Philip T.
Clay, president of Sherman, Clay & Co.; George Q.
THE KING'S TUNER.
Chase, president of Kohler & Chase; Shirley Walker,
A company of piano tuners in London has been with Sherman, Clay & Co.; Byron Mauzy and
given a warrant of appointment to the King, which George R. Hughes of the Wiley B. Allen Co., and
gives J. W. Roberts & Son the authority to display president of the Music Trades Association of North-
ern California.
the royal arms.
ENERGY, PLUS THE LOADER WILL PRODUCE RESULTS
The piano business will lag just as long as the retail salesman lags. A little pep, a little enthusiasm, a little old fashioned
hard work, with the aid of a BOWEN LOADER will produce results,—right now. Try it and see.
Shipped on approval to responsible dealers.
Price $110.00 for the Loader complete, including springs and cover.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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