Presto
Issue: 1925 2016 - Page 7
PRESTO
March 14, 1925.
Recognition
Precedes
Success
SEEBURG
DEALERS
HAVE DISCOVERED
THE KEY TO
POSITIVE
PROFITS
There are many styles
in the
COMPLETE
SEEBURG LINE
to interest you
RELIABLE REPRE-
SENTATION INVITED
WRITE
J. P. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
"Leaders in the
Automatic Field"
1508-1514 Dayton St.
CHICAGO
STRAIGHT PIANO
FAVOR CONTINUES
Grand Output Grows in Extent and Ratio of
Upright Sales in Totals Is Significant
of a Very Pleasant Trade
Fact.
gree. In fact truths similar to those shown in the
facts quoted from the report of the Vallejo store were
discovered by E. A. Kieselhorst, head of the Kiesel-
horst Piano Co , St. Louis, when he analyzed the 1924
sales figures of his house. The pleasant facts about
the continuance of the claims of the piano of good
character were made the basis of an instructive
address by him in a recent talk to salesmen.
Evidence from Omaha.
Faith in the continued demand for the fine piano is
felt by William Schmoller, president of the Schmoller
& Mueller Piano Co., Omaha, Neb., and the same
is expressed in the action of the company in almost
doubling the sales force in the piano department.
Mr. Schmoller sees the wonderful opportunities for
the grand piano but he also sees greater possibilities
Cheap Instrument Hurt by Radio but Sales Facts than ever for the upright of fine character.
Show Meritorious Ones Continue to Draw
The claims of the piano, upright and grand, to a
Big Money.
foremost place in the homes of the people of musical
taste are well acknowledged in all the new publicity
The attention of the public at times diverted to this planned for its dealers by the Jesse French & Sons
and that means to musical enjoyment, may affect
Piano Co., New Castle, Ind. In fact the new publi-
sales in particular lines but it is a satisfactory condi- cations in the booklet line may be called a home
tion pointed out by observant piano men that sales
series. In one, "The Homes of the Jesse French &
of upright pianos preserve a certain ratio of the com- Sons Grands," the association of the fine piano with
bined sales of straight and player pianos year in and
the refined home is clearly shown.
year out. The phonograph had the effect of divert-
ing money from piano purchases and it is now ad-
mitted that the phonograph in turn is hurt by radio.
But it is not strange that the straight upright piano
has gone on the even tenor of its way and kept, and
still keeps up, its old proportion in the number of
sales of all instruments by piano dealers.
The continuance of this happy condition has not
been due to any special efforts in the way of advertis- Head of Cable-Nelson Piano Co. Will Call on
Progressive Music Dealers and Friends
ing. The straight upright has been consistently feat-
ured in what you might call a tranquil manner, the
During Three Weeks' Stay.
distinctive methods being bestowed on the players
John Parnham, president of the Cable-Nelson
and the reproducing pianos. Nor has the preserva-
Piano Co., Chicago, with factories in South Haven,
tion of the ratio for the upright pianos been accom-
Mich., started on a journey to the Pacific Coast last
plished by stimulation of the alluring price kind. In
week, where friends in the music trade will be visited.
fact it is generally noted all over the country that
Mr. Parnham was enthusiastic as he left the Chi-
the price inducement is conspicuous by its absence
cago offices of the company at 306 South Wabash
from the scheme of sales in piano stores.
avenue, California-bound and with the satisfaction of
Uprights Win on Merit.
evading the chill March breezes of Chicago and
Michigan. He was also in high spirits at the pros-
Most dealers have discovered that price advertising
is the selling of a price; that the process contributes pects of again visiting the progressive music dealers
no asset to the goodwill considerations. For years of the Pacific Coast, many of whom are vigorous
dealers have been advertising numerals with the representatives of the Cable-Nelson line with the
dollar mark in front and the more or less expensive proof that a good line of instruments will attract a
good trade regardless of seasonal spurts and re-
custom had only an ephemeral effect on the minds of
the readers of the ads. When dealers advertised a lapses.
certain piano at a certain price using type figures of
The itinerary of Mr. Parnham includes the prin-
large size and blackness that hit the readers in the cipal trade centers of the coast states, with Los An-
eye, they were really advertising the figures and geles as headquarters. His plans call for a three
not the piano. When advertising is understood as weeks' trip with two weeks in the Southern California
the building up of a character asset for a piano and citv.
incidentally of the advertiser, the custom of advertis-
ing figures is seen to be all wrong.
The piano trade generally has discarded the old
bad habit of advertising prices and when this is con-
sidered the preservation of the ratio of sales for the
straight upright seems particularly complimentary
Traveler Sees Good Business for Automatic Instru-
to that type of instrument.
ments in This Territory.
Enlightening Figures.
Lee S. Jones, sales manager of the Nelson-Wiggen
Very interesting figures on piano and player sales
have been compiled by the manager of the branch Co., 1731 Belmont avenue, Chicago, recently departed
store at Vallejo, Cal , of Sherman, Clay & Co., San for the sunny Carolinas and neighboring states, where
he will visit regular Nelson-Wiggen dealers and in-
Francisco. In 1924, which had a disturbing period
of drought and other drawbacks, the sales of all in- troduce the line and its profit-making possibilities to
struments were only a few in number less than in the those who have not yet availed themselves of this
admittedly good year of 1923. In the total of sales class of merchandise.
The Nelson-Wiggen Co.. manufacturers of coin-
by the Vallejo store fifty-eight and a half per cent
were upright pianos, thirty per cent were players and operated electric and automatic instruments, has an
seven per cent were grands. Organs maintained their extensive line for the trade. A new model distinctive
in case design and features is now ready for dealers
old percentage of four and a half per cent.
But the gratifying thing for the enthusiastic pro- and its possibilities for the summer trade is unlimited.
Dance halls, ice cream parlors and amusement cen-
ponents of the upright was that the upright gained
over the playerpianos and in that way the showing ters of all kinds are possible places for a sale of an
in the Vallejo store is significant. No campaigns automatic or coin-operated instrument.
Mr. Jones, who recently returned from a success-
on the price basis were made for either pianos or
ful trip in the East, wisely chose the southern tour,
players. The results are presented by the manager
as the evidence of an opportunity that exists every- as dealers are now giving thought to their summer
trade and the line best adapted to their class of
where.
customers.
Cheap Piano Sales Hurt.
The opportunity that radio or any other distrac-
A NEW YORK FAILURE.
tion cannot minimize is in the sale of standard up-
The University Music Shop, Inc., at 66 East Burn-
rights of merit and of price in accordance with worth.
The cheap piano has been injured in sales by radio. side avenue, New York, assigned this week. Liabili-
ties, $7,838; assets, $6,494, main items being accounts,
That is an admitted fact. Ernest Urchs, of Steinway
& Sons, pointed out the condition in an interview $3,244; stock, $3,000. Elizabeth Read was appointed
receiver, under $1,000 bond by Judge Knox. The
in Memphis last week when he said the sale of cheap
New York Talking Machine Co. is the principal
pianos was being damaged by radio for the reason
creditor on a claim for $1,348.
that people who would buy a cheap piano if there
was no radio, now had a choice. But as they can't
buy both, said Mr. Urchs, they buy the latest thing
LESTER FOR CONCERT.
that everybody is talking about.
A Lester grand piano was used at the High School
Other Dealer Facts.
Auditorium, Wichita, Kans., recently when the
The fine piano, whether upright or grand, will con-
Petrone Male Singers and the De La Mora Saxo-
tinue a standard requirement as long as musical
phone Orchestra were attractions at the Three Arts
taste exists in American families. The playerpiano
Ensemble Concert. The Lester piano was furnished
has encouraged the love of piano music in a great de- by J. W. Jenkins Sons' Music Co.
GOOD PIANO A WINNER
JOHN PARNHAM VISITS
PACIFIC COAST TRADE
LEE S. JONES GOES SOUTH
FOR NELSON-WIGGEN CO.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
March 14, 1925.
Recognition
Precedes
Success
SEEBURG
DEALERS
HAVE DISCOVERED
THE KEY TO
POSITIVE
PROFITS
There are many styles
in the
COMPLETE
SEEBURG LINE
to interest you
RELIABLE REPRE-
SENTATION INVITED
WRITE
J. P. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
"Leaders in the
Automatic Field"
1508-1514 Dayton St.
CHICAGO
STRAIGHT PIANO
FAVOR CONTINUES
Grand Output Grows in Extent and Ratio of
Upright Sales in Totals Is Significant
of a Very Pleasant Trade
Fact.
gree. In fact truths similar to those shown in the
facts quoted from the report of the Vallejo store were
discovered by E. A. Kieselhorst, head of the Kiesel-
horst Piano Co , St. Louis, when he analyzed the 1924
sales figures of his house. The pleasant facts about
the continuance of the claims of the piano of good
character were made the basis of an instructive
address by him in a recent talk to salesmen.
Evidence from Omaha.
Faith in the continued demand for the fine piano is
felt by William Schmoller, president of the Schmoller
& Mueller Piano Co., Omaha, Neb., and the same
is expressed in the action of the company in almost
doubling the sales force in the piano department.
Mr. Schmoller sees the wonderful opportunities for
the grand piano but he also sees greater possibilities
Cheap Instrument Hurt by Radio but Sales Facts than ever for the upright of fine character.
Show Meritorious Ones Continue to Draw
The claims of the piano, upright and grand, to a
Big Money.
foremost place in the homes of the people of musical
taste are well acknowledged in all the new publicity
The attention of the public at times diverted to this planned for its dealers by the Jesse French & Sons
and that means to musical enjoyment, may affect
Piano Co., New Castle, Ind. In fact the new publi-
sales in particular lines but it is a satisfactory condi- cations in the booklet line may be called a home
tion pointed out by observant piano men that sales
series. In one, "The Homes of the Jesse French &
of upright pianos preserve a certain ratio of the com- Sons Grands," the association of the fine piano with
bined sales of straight and player pianos year in and
the refined home is clearly shown.
year out. The phonograph had the effect of divert-
ing money from piano purchases and it is now ad-
mitted that the phonograph in turn is hurt by radio.
But it is not strange that the straight upright piano
has gone on the even tenor of its way and kept, and
still keeps up, its old proportion in the number of
sales of all instruments by piano dealers.
The continuance of this happy condition has not
been due to any special efforts in the way of advertis- Head of Cable-Nelson Piano Co. Will Call on
Progressive Music Dealers and Friends
ing. The straight upright has been consistently feat-
ured in what you might call a tranquil manner, the
During Three Weeks' Stay.
distinctive methods being bestowed on the players
John Parnham, president of the Cable-Nelson
and the reproducing pianos. Nor has the preserva-
Piano Co., Chicago, with factories in South Haven,
tion of the ratio for the upright pianos been accom-
Mich., started on a journey to the Pacific Coast last
plished by stimulation of the alluring price kind. In
week, where friends in the music trade will be visited.
fact it is generally noted all over the country that
Mr. Parnham was enthusiastic as he left the Chi-
the price inducement is conspicuous by its absence
cago offices of the company at 306 South Wabash
from the scheme of sales in piano stores.
avenue, California-bound and with the satisfaction of
Uprights Win on Merit.
evading the chill March breezes of Chicago and
Michigan. He was also in high spirits at the pros-
Most dealers have discovered that price advertising
is the selling of a price; that the process contributes pects of again visiting the progressive music dealers
no asset to the goodwill considerations. For years of the Pacific Coast, many of whom are vigorous
dealers have been advertising numerals with the representatives of the Cable-Nelson line with the
dollar mark in front and the more or less expensive proof that a good line of instruments will attract a
good trade regardless of seasonal spurts and re-
custom had only an ephemeral effect on the minds of
the readers of the ads. When dealers advertised a lapses.
certain piano at a certain price using type figures of
The itinerary of Mr. Parnham includes the prin-
large size and blackness that hit the readers in the cipal trade centers of the coast states, with Los An-
eye, they were really advertising the figures and geles as headquarters. His plans call for a three
not the piano. When advertising is understood as weeks' trip with two weeks in the Southern California
the building up of a character asset for a piano and citv.
incidentally of the advertiser, the custom of advertis-
ing figures is seen to be all wrong.
The piano trade generally has discarded the old
bad habit of advertising prices and when this is con-
sidered the preservation of the ratio of sales for the
straight upright seems particularly complimentary
Traveler Sees Good Business for Automatic Instru-
to that type of instrument.
ments in This Territory.
Enlightening Figures.
Lee S. Jones, sales manager of the Nelson-Wiggen
Very interesting figures on piano and player sales
have been compiled by the manager of the branch Co., 1731 Belmont avenue, Chicago, recently departed
store at Vallejo, Cal , of Sherman, Clay & Co., San for the sunny Carolinas and neighboring states, where
he will visit regular Nelson-Wiggen dealers and in-
Francisco. In 1924, which had a disturbing period
of drought and other drawbacks, the sales of all in- troduce the line and its profit-making possibilities to
struments were only a few in number less than in the those who have not yet availed themselves of this
admittedly good year of 1923. In the total of sales class of merchandise.
The Nelson-Wiggen Co.. manufacturers of coin-
by the Vallejo store fifty-eight and a half per cent
were upright pianos, thirty per cent were players and operated electric and automatic instruments, has an
seven per cent were grands. Organs maintained their extensive line for the trade. A new model distinctive
in case design and features is now ready for dealers
old percentage of four and a half per cent.
But the gratifying thing for the enthusiastic pro- and its possibilities for the summer trade is unlimited.
Dance halls, ice cream parlors and amusement cen-
ponents of the upright was that the upright gained
over the playerpianos and in that way the showing ters of all kinds are possible places for a sale of an
in the Vallejo store is significant. No campaigns automatic or coin-operated instrument.
Mr. Jones, who recently returned from a success-
on the price basis were made for either pianos or
ful trip in the East, wisely chose the southern tour,
players. The results are presented by the manager
as the evidence of an opportunity that exists every- as dealers are now giving thought to their summer
trade and the line best adapted to their class of
where.
customers.
Cheap Piano Sales Hurt.
The opportunity that radio or any other distrac-
A NEW YORK FAILURE.
tion cannot minimize is in the sale of standard up-
The University Music Shop, Inc., at 66 East Burn-
rights of merit and of price in accordance with worth.
The cheap piano has been injured in sales by radio. side avenue, New York, assigned this week. Liabili-
ties, $7,838; assets, $6,494, main items being accounts,
That is an admitted fact. Ernest Urchs, of Steinway
& Sons, pointed out the condition in an interview $3,244; stock, $3,000. Elizabeth Read was appointed
receiver, under $1,000 bond by Judge Knox. The
in Memphis last week when he said the sale of cheap
New York Talking Machine Co. is the principal
pianos was being damaged by radio for the reason
creditor on a claim for $1,348.
that people who would buy a cheap piano if there
was no radio, now had a choice. But as they can't
buy both, said Mr. Urchs, they buy the latest thing
LESTER FOR CONCERT.
that everybody is talking about.
A Lester grand piano was used at the High School
Other Dealer Facts.
Auditorium, Wichita, Kans., recently when the
The fine piano, whether upright or grand, will con-
Petrone Male Singers and the De La Mora Saxo-
tinue a standard requirement as long as musical
phone Orchestra were attractions at the Three Arts
taste exists in American families. The playerpiano
Ensemble Concert. The Lester piano was furnished
has encouraged the love of piano music in a great de- by J. W. Jenkins Sons' Music Co.
GOOD PIANO A WINNER
JOHN PARNHAM VISITS
PACIFIC COAST TRADE
LEE S. JONES GOES SOUTH
FOR NELSON-WIGGEN CO.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).