Presto

PRESTO
April 19, 1924.
CLEVER PUBLICITY OF
AKRON MUSIC HOUSE
The Smith & Mitten Piano Company in Lively
Ohio City Puts Strength and Originality
Into Newspaper Displays.
The Smith & Mitten Piano Company, Akron, O.,
is a persistent advertiser in the newspapers, but
the publicity of the energetic firm has striking quali-
ties of composition and display that increases the
value of persistency. A recent display in the Akron
Sunday Times was strong, attractive and had a per-
sonal interest that forced readers of the newspapers
to master every word in the Smith & Mitten display.
The personal touch was added by the portraits of
Ernest E. Smith and Carr A'. Mitten who consti-
tute the company. Under the cut of Mr. Smith this
was printed:
"Mr. Smith has spent over 25 years in the study
of pianos and piano construction.
It is his recom-
mendation you consider quality before price. Mr.
Smith says: 'The recollection of quality remains
long after the price is forgotten.' "
Under the picture of Mr. Mitten this appeared:
"Mr. Mitten for the past 14 years has been at the
head of a large and successful piano business in
Akron. He believes in quality and sincerity of pur-
pose and a square deal for the customer. He believes
in pianos honestly made, honestly advertised, honestly
sold."
An excellent halftone cut showed the handsome
front of the Smith & Mitten Piano Co.'s store in the
Masonic Temple Building, 78 East Mill street.
"The Perfect Product of American Art in Pianos.
For Our Customers Only the Best Is Good Enough,"
is a statement of policy that assures the combined
success of the Akron firm. This was added:
"Buying a piano means a lifetime of satisfaction or
disappointment. Select your piano from those best
qualified to offer you quality and service. If you were
to employ a doctor or teacher for your children, your
first consideration would be their qualifications. If
you are looking for a piano that embodies in it a life-
time of musical pleasure—come in and let us demon-
strate the wonderfufl qualities of our incomparable
line. It presents the one absolutely sure way of
obtaining the instrument in every way pleasing to
you."
TONK PIANO CHOSEN FOR
MISSOURI HIGH SCHOOL
Officials in Overland, in Vigorous Competition, Select
Tuneful and Durable Piano From Wellston Dealer.
A Tonk piano made by William Tonk & Bro., Inc.,
New York, was recently purchased for the high
school at Overland, Mo., after a vigorous examination
of the merits of the instrument by the Parent-
Teacher Association of the progressive city.
The Tonk piano was installed in the high school,
where it provides the means of fine music for the
class function and school events generally, in which
music is always a big factor. The Tonk piano is
daily giving satisfactory service in the classrooms.
x The piano was sold to the Parent-Teacher Asso-
ciation by F. C. Homeyer Piano Company, 6426
Easton avenue, Wellston, Mo.
The selection of the Tonk piano by the school
officials of the Missouri city is another acknowledge-
ment of the suitability of the instruments bearing
that name to the trying uses of a school. Durability
is a marked characteristic of the Tonk pianos. One
of the distinct and thoroughly demonstrated improve-
ments in the pianos and playerpianos made by Wil-
liam Tonk & Bro., Inc., is the combination rolled steel
Geo. R. Burt Left This Week on Trip to
back construction, a feature that has been tried out
and proved of great merit.
Visit His Established Trade for Busy
NEWMAN BROS. PIANOS
HAVING A GOOD DEMAND
Chicago Industry.
ARTHUR TAYLOR GIVES
SALES TALK TO PIANO MEN
Popular Radio Announcer Demonstrates His Methods
at Piano Club Luncheon.
It is always a good sign when the fine and
thoroughly representative pianos have the call. That
is the condition with the Newman Bros. Co. instru-
ments. Geo. R. Burt, of that industry, left early
this week on a trip through Michigan, Ohio and
other states. The Newman Bros, pianos and player-
The speaker at the noonday luncheon this week of
the Piano Club of Chicago was Arthur G. Taylor,
vice-president, National Salesmen's Training Asso-
ciation. Mr. Taylor is the author of the sales manuals
used by The Hub, F. B. Stearns Automobile Com-
pany and others, and for two years conducted the
"Take It Up with Taylor" corner in the publication
"Salesology." Because of the big preliminary pro-
gram the previous week Mr. Taylor graciously post-
poned his talk until meeting this week.
A special feature was provided by Jack Nelson,
director of WDAP (Drake Hotel Station). The most
popular radio announcer in the U. S. A. did his stuff
for the piano club.
"If you couldn't attend our stag last Monday night
ask somebody who was present about it. Help the
membership drive—get those two new members,"
was the duty impressed on members by John
McKcnna, president.
FLOOR SPACE INCREASED
BY OALVESTON, TEX., FIRM
Galveston Piano Company Provides for Bigger Busi-
ness by Alterations and Improvements.
Extensive changes have been made in the store of
the Galveston Piano Company, Galveston, Tex., espe-
cially on the second floor. Alvin M. Cain is the man-
ager. The front show windows have been repainted
and handsome hardwood floors installed. A new
demonstration room has been put in for player rolls,
as the business has so increased that more demon-
stration rooms for the records were necessary.
The entire second floor has been renovated and a
large sales room for pianos has been installed. The
entire store has been refinished and decorated and has
taken on an appearance of being dressed up for the
summer tourist trade. Piano repairing is now one of
the specialties of the store.
FINAL F. G. SMITH DIVIDEND.
The second and final dividend out of the estate of
the F. G. Smith, Inc., piano industry, of New York,
was received by creditors late last week. It amounted
to 13 per cent, and closed one of the most remarkable
careers of any American piano industry. The late
F. G. Smith, who succeeded to the old house of Brad-
bury, was one of the most successful of piano manu-
facturers. He grew steadily and at one time con-
trolled several factories and a number of well-known
lines of instruments. When he died the industry fell
to the management of his son, F. G. Smith, Jr. The
Bradbury is now one of the instruments owned by
the W. P. Haines & Company, of New York, with
factories in Leominster, Mass.
GEO. R. BURT.
pianos have a loyal trade, with a fine class of dealers.
It long ago became a truism that "once a Newman
dealer always a Newman dealer." There are repre-
sentatives of the Chicago piano who have handled it
from the very first, and they are as enthusiastic now
as ever.
Mr. Burt is widely known in the trade. His long
association with the house of Newman Bros. Co.
has identified him with the instruments of that indus-
try so thoroughly that he is welcomed, and even
awaited, by many dealers. Mr. Burt will visit many
of the established representatives of his house, as
well as new prospects wherever he may pause in his
travels.
It is an almost remarkable fact that a very large
proportion of Newman Bros, instruments are of the
"straight" piano kind, and that, too, is a sign of the
kind of excellence and dependability of both the
instruments and the dealers that sell them.
CELEBRATES 50TH ANNIVERSARY.
Lyman Payne, music dealer at Main and College
streets, Middletown, Conn., last week celebrated his
fiftieth year in business in that city. But Mr. Payne
made a considerable number of removals before he
settled in his present handsome warerooms. His
early efforts were in the old Prussian House, from
which he moved to 438 Main. Two years later he
moved to 452 Main, and his next move was to the
Central National Bank Block, where he stayed thirty-
five years.
TAKE IT TO THE PROSPECT'S HOME AND SELL IT
With a BOWEN LOADER it's as easy as any other pleasure trip into the country, and a sale is almost sure to result—and it
will advertise your store while doing it.
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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