Presto

fRESTO
December 26, 1925.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells
9 9
Studio Grand
(only 5 ft. long)
Will be your money-making in 1926. It is
recognized to be the most attractive small
Grand in the field and its fame is universal
FINE PIANOS SELL WELL
AT INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
Dealers Hurry Instruments from Factories by
Motor Trucks to Deliver for Holidays
and Save Disappointments.
The Christena-Teague Piano Company, according
to Dm. Christena, have noticed a decided change in
the sales of the year now closing. The higher grade
instruments are more in demand, and the majority
of the Christmas business has been along this line.
It is very noticeable that the public know and appre-
ciate the value of the high-grade piano. More of the
sales, also, are made on short-time paper, which is so
much more satisfactory than the long-drawn-out
payments.
Among the Christmas sales were some of the Chick-
ering & Sons' period models, Louis XVI and XV,
and the William and Mary models, while Haines
Bros.' grands and Ampicos shared a good portion of
the volume. Mr. Christena is very optimistic over
the outlook for 1926 and predicts a very good year for
the music trades in general.
Frank Wilking, of the Wilking Music Company,
was obliged to order six Jesse French & Sons pianos
brought to Indianapolis by truck, and requested de-
livery not later than Wednesday morning in order
not to disappoint his customers. The adverse weather
caused Mr. Wilking to fear that somebody will be
disappointed, or will be agreeably surprised if the
truck reaches Indianapolis on the appointed time. A
new style "44," in two-tone ebony, has been sold to
a very prominent music teacher of Indianapolis, and
this special style and finish promises to be in demand.
The French style "G" grand is being used at the
broadcasting station of the Carr Tire Company every
Monday evening, and the announcer emphasizes the
fact that an Indiana-made instrument is being used,
made by Indiana crafesmen.
Rapp & Lennox are well pleased with the arrival of
the new style J. & C. Fisher in the Period Model.
Both Knabe and Fisher Ampicos were expressed to
Indianapolis in order to meet the requirements of the
holiday rush. They arrived on Monday evening and
the force worked overtime unpacking them in order
to have them on the floor early Tuesday morning.
STEINWAY MERITS
PRESENTED TO BUYER
Tasteful Display of Steinway & Sons in Issue
of Saturday Evening Post of December 12
of Convincing Quality.
Reproducing Grand
Equipped with
T H I
MASTERS
FINGERS
ON
YOUR
PIANO
A marvel of tone and expressive
interpretation of all classes of com-
position, reproducing perfectly the
performances of the world's great-
est pianists.
CHRISTMAN
Grands, Players and Uprights
command the admiration of
the best class of music lovers.
"The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U. S. Pat. Oft.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
The character of tastefulness in its advertising was
again upheld by Steinway & Sons, New York, in its
admirable page display in the Saturday Evening Post
of December 12. The importance of the correct
choice in an instrument assured of a lifetime of use
was impressed in the ad, which said:
"To grace a home, yours or another's, with music
is an unforgettable gesture of regard. No act is so
considerate, so expressive of the sincerest wish for
happiness. Yet it is so easily and quickly accom-
plished that an hour with a Steinway dealer will in-
sure a lifetime of delight for yourself, your family or
your friends.
"You may live in a country house, a skylight studio
or a small apartment. Yet the Steinway series of
models and sizes is so complete that every acoustic
condition can be met and every limitation of space
can be overcome.
"You may have a limited income that requires care-
ful planning. Yet the terms upon which the Stein-
way is sold are so convenient that it is well within
the reach of every true lover of music.
"The chief concern of the Steinway family is the
Steinway piano. Four generations have maintained
and strengthened the unbreakable rule of excellence
formulated by Henry Steinway. And following the
Steinway piano in their regard comes the Steinway
public. To this public the Steinway has always been
sold, as a matter of principle, at the lowest possible
price. And with a realization that those who can best
appreciate the Steinway are often those who need
time to meet this price.
"For the Steinway was not intended primarily for
the concert pianist. It is true that the most notable
pianists since Liszt have chosen the Steinway for use
and ownership. But the greater majority have been
chosen by people of moderate means who have real-
ized the true economy that lies in buying the best.
Always the most satisfactory. Always an assurance
of the greatest advantage and return. Always the
cheapest in the end.
"As a gift the Steinway renews itself each season.
Year after year sees its tone unchanged, its beauty
unimpaired, its response ever quick and sure. And
no matter where it goes or to whom it is given, the
Steinw r ay carries the undying fire of the great and
subtle art of music. Through its miraculous singing
tone the most exquisite passages and the most pro-
found measures of the composers attain their fullest
meaning and significance. And throughout your life-
time you need never buy another piano."
WELL-EARNED TRIBUTE
TO RICHARD QRUNTHAL
A Type of Piano Man of the Kind to Which
Industry and Trade Owe Its Up-
ward Progress.
In Presto of November 28 there appeared a notice
of the death of Richard Grunthal, of Jacksonville,
Fla., who had won the esteem of prominent piano
manufacturers by reason of his personal character
and his energy as a salesman.
It is a rather singular fact that Mr. Grunthal was
one of three brothers all of whom have made records
in the retail piano business. It is said, furthermore,
that, while they all possessed ample resources and
could well have retired from business, they would not
do so because of their love of pianos and the enjoy-
ment that they found in selling them. Among the
several tributes to the Jacksonville piano man which
have come to Presto the following is of unusual inter-
est as well as being a deserved tribute to a high type
of piano salesman. It is a worthy "In Memoriam":
On November 18, 1925, Richard Grunthal, secretary
and treasurer of Maxey Grunthal & Bros., in the
prime of his career, was suddenly stricken down while
doing the one thing he loved best to do, selling a
grand piano. His passing has brought keen sorrow
to a very wide circle of friends who knew him as a
most lovable personality.
His was a wonderful personality. His ideals were
high. His thoughts were along constructive lines.
Never would be take wilful advantage of anyone.
His personality impressed one vividly because of the
many fine attributes of his exceptional character. It
has been a rare privilege to me to have been counted
a friend of this manly man.
In these days the term of super-salesman is fre-
quently applied, and often a little indiscriminately, to
piano salesmen. Richard was a super-salesman in
the fullest sense of the term. His was a driving
force combined with an inexhaustible energy. He
had a delightful enthusiasm and an engaging per-
sonality that always met with a friendly response.
He sold not merely a piano, but music in the home,
and deeply felt that this method of radiating joy and
sunshine in the home was his life's work. Every
person that Richard sold caught his enthusiasm and
appreciation for the music giving possibilities of the
instrument purchased, and also became a genuine
friend of Richard. This is a type of piano selling
not often met with in the trade, and because of that
fact the piano trade can ill afford to lose such a mem-
ber as Richard Grunthal.
He leaves behind him two brothers, Wallie and
Maxey, with whom, as with Richard, the placing of
pianos in homes is on such a high plane that the
piano business is almost a religion to them. Maxey
and Wallie Grunthal purpose to carry on the piano
business guided always by the splendid type of piano
endeavor that characterized their much esteemed
brother, Richard.
Much honor to the name of Richard Grunthal. He
always stood for the better things in life.
L. J. JOHNSON, Secretary,
Haddorff Piano Company.
PROGRESS IN OKLAHOMA.
The Chestnut Bros. Music Co., Guthrie, Okla., has
opened a branch store in Oklahoma City. O. G.,
G. C. and E. W. Chestnut are partners in the business
which was founded in Coyle, Okla., about twenty-five
years ago. The firm moved to Guthrie in 1911, where
success attended the efforts of the three energetic
brothers. In 1918 the firm bought out three com-
petitive stores, which were later consolidated with the
original Chestnut business. Pianos, talking machine
and musical merchandise are included in the stock of
the Oklahoma City branch. The agency of a pipe
organ company will be announced next week.
^ANNUAL ELECTION ANNOUNCED.
The annual meeting of the Association of Musical
Instruments Manufacturers of the Chicago Zone will
be held at the Hotel La Salle, Chicago, on the eve-
ning of January 7, when following a dinner the
annual election of officers will take place.
OPENS IN BINGHAMTON, N. Y.
Arthur P. Gardner, for several years connected
with the trade in Binghamton, N. Y., as salesman and
music store proprietor, and Cecil D. Mastin, who con-
ducts a music studio in that city, have opened up a
retail business in musical instruments and sheet music
at 80 Court street, Binghamton.
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