Presto

PRESTO
CABLE=NELSON COORDINATION
September 6, 1924.
SEEBURG ORDERS GROW
AS BUSINESS IMPROVES
Lee S. Jones, Sales Manager, Says Business Is
Increasing Admirably and Predicts More
Activity Among Dealers.
The J. P. Seeburg Piano Co., 1510 Dayton street,
Chicago, manufacturer of automatic instruments, is
preparing for the fall season, which from present in-
dication promises to be a good one for the Seeburg
line. The company therefore is busy in all depart-
ments and particularly the production department,
which is working with a full force to satisfy the de-
mand of the many active Seeburg dealers.
The production of instruments was not curtailed
during the general business slump of the early sum-
mer. Indeed the production department was as ac-
tive as at any other time. So were the Seeburg deal-
ers, who through the excellent service rendered them
by the factory representatives of the J. P. Seeburg
Piano Company experienced little change in con-
ditions.
The Seeburg instruments are attractive investments
for amusement centers, and Seeburg dealers with this
thought in mind find the opposition reduced to a
minimum. One thought with the Seeburg represen-
tatives is that whether an amusement establishment
is on a paying basis or not, a Seeburg instrument
through its pleasing performance will attract crowds,
and crowds mean money to the owner. The proposi-
tion thus presented with the personal co-operation of
the Seeburg Company has insured success for the
Seeburg dealer.
One of the pleasing facts connected with the auto-
matic field, which is extensive, is that many dealers
who heretofore carried the automatic as a side line
have now brought it to the front as their main line
and in many cases handle it exclusively. The profit-
making possibilities of the automatic instrument,
which is now being realized by music merchants, has
accorded the J. P. Seeburg Piano Company a sum-
mer of steady activity and which explains the opti-
mism of the officials of the Chicago industry.
PORTLAND MUSIC HOUSES
SHOW GOODS AT FAIR
Reed-French Piano Company Awarded First Prize
for Most Attractive Exhibit.
At the Multnomah County Fair held in Gresham,
Ore., recently the Reed-French Piano Co., Portland,
won the first prize for the best music goods exhibit
at the fair. The exhibit of the company has been a
feature of the fair for the past six years. The blue
ribbon was accorded to the company for not only
having the most attractive booth at the fair, but also
for having one appreciated by the greatest number of
visitors.
The G. F. Johnson Piano Co. was another Portland
house which made a striking exhibit of music goods.
The exhibit was surrounded by interested crowds at
all times and many piano and phonograph prospects
were secured.
JOHN H. PARNHAM.
The general offices of the Cable-Nelson Piano Com-
pany, formerly in the Republic Building, Chicago, are
now at the factory at South Haven, Mich., an ar-
rangement accomplishing the co-ordination of factory
and main offices, which is particularly advantageous
in the case of a- piano manufacturing industry. The
advantages of co-ordination are in production and
marketing and in bringing closer together the offi-
cials, managers and factory forces.
Here, then, at South Haven, is the headquarters of
John H. Parnham, head of the Cable-Nelson indus-
tries, bringing him into immediate touch with all
divisions of the business. It enables him to work
along with the production and keeps him in closest
touch with all that concerns the welfare of the Cable-
Nelson Piano Co.'s manufacturing enterprise, which,
as need not be said here, is a large one.
Less than a year ago Mr. Parnham took over the
Cable-Nelson plant and all its business. Some indi-
cation of what has been accomplished there within
this time under his direction is manifest in the com-
pany's present thriving condition and in the activity
throughout the great factories at South Haven.
Many piano factories these days are not normally
active, and only a few are at what may be termed
"full-up." The Cable-Nelson factories are not only
"going strong," but it is plainly visible to one pass-
ing through the plant that here is a live industry of
large productiveness.
The trade press, and individuals in the trade ac-
quainted with Mr. Parnham's abilities anticipated
ambitious performances for him at the time he ac-
quired the business. Presto now speaks of what he
has accomplished and the constructive work in prog-
ress by him and his associates.
The Cable-Nelson factories, the big group of build-
ings at South Haven, are attractive to the eye and
wonderful to note in the working hours. Beauty of
construction is associated with usefulness. The plant
is magnificent as a center of piano production; as a
place where clean, dependable work is done at a mini-
mum of cost of production.
Any piano merchant who visits Chicago, or who
comes anywhere within range of South Haven should
accept the privilege offered by the Cable-Nelson
Piano Co. to visit its plant and go through the fac-
tory to see pianos in the making. Such a visit will
repay any dealer.
As one passes through the factories he sees a great
array of uprights, grands and players ready for
shipment and the array is constantly replenished as
fast as the instruments ordered go out.
Evidently the new Style Z upright is a special
favorite. At any rate many shipments of that par-
ticular model were in process of loading the day of
the Presto man's visit. Certainly a great trade is at
hand in the horizontal grand, for the grand section
in the workshops was crowded with grands in the
tinishing-up stage, and these grands were being made
for shipment while the show rooms were empty of
stock.
The Cable-Nelson line of pianos, including the
Cable-Nelson and Lakeside pianos and players is a
good one for dealers to get in touch with and to tie
up with.
MILEAGE BOOK SUIT.
Plearings on the question of interchangeable mile-
age books for the use of commercial travelers will
be held by the Interstate Commerce Commission on
September 24. Following investigations in 1922 and
early last year the larger roads of the country were
ordered to issue interchangeable mileage books to
be sold at 20 per cent below regular rates of fare.
Some railroads secured an injunction against the en-
forcement of the order and the case was carried to
the U. S. Supreme Court, where the order was de-
clared invalid.
EDWARD BATES DIES.
Edward Bates, president of the Bates Piano Co.,
Worcester, Mass., who died recently was associated
with the piano business practically all his life. He
started with the Lucius Merrifield Piano Co., in 1880
when he was fourteen years of age and in 1895
started his own business at 4 Walnut street. His
store was burned out a few years later but he made
a fresh start which resulted in a degree of suc-
cess which made his business one of the most im-
portant in the music trade of the state.
OPENS IN PROVIDENCE, R. I.
The Goodings Music Shop was recently opened at
93 Washington street, Providence, R. I., which is
admirably located in the heart of the shopping dis-
trict. C. H. Gooding is president and treasurer;
William Hanna, vice president and secretary, and H.
J. Gardner assistant treasurer.
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