Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
January 8. 1927.
NINETY JESSE FRENCH PIANOS FOR CUBAN SCHOOLS PIANO PLAYING CONTEST
The Georgiana, Ala., high school
HELD IN SALT LAKE CITY
has just purchased its second Jesse
French & Sons piano, making two
of these instruments in use. This is
just another instance of Jesse
French pianos proving popular in
public institutions.
A short time ago Presto-Times
published information about the
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.
having received an order for 40
pianos for the public school sys-
tem of the Republic of Cuba, and
they have since received a second
order for 50, making a total of 90
pianos bought through the Minis-
try of Public Instruction at Ha-
vana. This sale was negotiated
by the resident agent of the New
Castle Industry, who obtained it because
the satisfaction given by the large number
Glen Bros.-Roberts Co. Promotes and Carries
Out Event in Which a Chickering Grand
Was First Prize.
GEORGIANA, ALA., HIGH SCHOOL.
of
of
UPPERMOST TOPICS
OF THEJNEW YEAR
(Continued from page 6.)
GEO. H. BEASLRY, of H. V. Beasley Music Co.,
Texarkana, Ark.
Likes Piano-in-Classes.
1. I believe the grand piano is making an appeal
•to the middle class to a greater extent than it has
formerly to the rich. We are selling more grands
than uprights. I refer to straight pianos.
2. The foot-power player could be placed to
leadership to some extent if they can be made more
easy to pump. Two manufacturers have overcome
this and fortunately we represent both.
3. We are open to any and all promotion plans to
further piano sales.
4. We are very enthusiastic over piano-in-class
proposition, and while our schools have not yet
adopted this course, we have already taken it up with
a piano teacher to start free classes in piano. Just
received Starr silent practice keyboard.
5. It had not occurred to me that there could
possibly be any demand for reed organs, until I re-
ceived the statement from the Estey Organ Co. last
month which surprised. Cannot say it has hit our
town yet.
6. According to the reports in the west of the
activity in free piano lessons in groups, I cannot see
why the effect will not be favorable to the piano busi-
ness for 1927.
I consider we have the best line that can be pre-
sented to the public—Steinway both straight and with
Duo-Art—and the entire Aeolian product and the
popular priced Gulbransen Registering Piano. You
are not especially interested in other lines besides
pianos, but it is a pleasure to say that with our Vic-
trolas and Stromberg-Carlson radio, we consider our-
selves very complete.
THE W H I T E MUSIC SHOPS, INC., Danhury,
Conn., E. M. White, Secretary.
1.
Consistent Advertiser
It has already done so in our territory.
2. We believe the foot-power player is due for a
strong come-back, and with the propei propaganda
believe it will do so.
3. We have always done consistent promotion ad-
vertising twelve months in the year, and shall cer-
tainly continue to do so.
4. The piano-class-instruction is most satisfactory
as a sales medium. We have tried it in our store with
very good results and believe it should be taught in
every public school.
5. We believe the reed organ has gone for good,
at least in the North.
6. It is very hard to say what 1927 will bring.
With the proper promotion work and cooperation of
the various organizations, believe, if fairly normal
conditions prevail in the manufacturing field, that the
piano business will improve very greatly. Our busi-
ness for the past year has been very satisfactory and
we feel optimistic about the coming year.
ANONYMOUS, from Milwaukee.
Uprights to Beat Grands.
1. No, we don't think there is a chance that the
grand piano will ever crowd out the upright, since the
prices of uprights will make the sale of them, in
preference to the grand. Of course most of the pros-
pects would rather have grands, but then they can
not afford them because of the difference in price,
and they can not see it, as they both answer the same
purpose.
2. We think it's the best move the manufacturers
Jesse French-made pianos which
into that city in the past years.
have gone into
can do, as the piano game needs a little more efforts
behind the selling end of it, and if all the manufac-
turers will get behind and do more advertising it will
help all around.
3. As we are strong believers in advertising, we
will certainly do our share in advertising the pianos
in our vicinity.
4. We think it is a good idea, where ever it is
practical, although we have never tried it on account
of lack of proper teachers in our locality.
5. Not enough business in sight for reed organs,
to justify investing any money in stock, and carry-
ing same on the floor.
6. Prospects for business in 1927, for us, seems
very good, if we can go by the balance of the year
just ending, as we are finishing up this year way
ahead of last year.
GRIMES MUSIC SHOP, per W. V. Grimes,
Logan, W. Va.
The Glen Bros.-Roberts Piano Co. of Salt Lake
City and Ogden, Utah, recently held a piano playing
contest which was carefully planned and carried out.
The prize was a $1,750 Style Chickering Grand, and
the judging of the contestants was based on the
highest number of points awarded for musicianship,
rhythm, freedom of interpretation and tone' color,
the prime requisites of a fine pianist. The judges
were musicians of repute and of undoubted integrity.
Interest was maintained at a high pitch during the
preparatory months, by a series of letters to the
teachers and schools, and several controversies con-
cerning the conditions of the contest and the music
to be played.
The contest was begun by a letter over the signa-
ture of Geo. S. Glen, president of Glen Bros.-Roberts
Piano Company, announcing •the contest and its con-
ditions. As a further spur to the enthusiasm Mr.
Advertising Quality.
1. We believe the grand piano will be sold in place
of the upright to a noticeable degree. This depends
much on the dealer, and if the little grand is properly
presented it will sell to possibly one-third of the peo-
ple who would otherwise buy upright pianos.
2. The foot-power player will find its place to a
certain degree, but we do not believe it will be as
MISS HELEN BADGE.
popular as in the past, and to make it a leader would
require considerable expense in advertising that might
Glen sent out another letter announcing that Style
not show results in proportion.
I Chickering Grands, the same style as the prize
3. We believe in piano publicity. We believe
piano, were on exhibition at both their Salt Lake
strongly in advertising QUALITY and selling qual-
City and Ogden stores. Teachers and pupils were
ity. The public wants quality, and the thing to do is
invited to visit these stores where they could play
to sell them quality and tell them it's guaranteed
upon these pianos, and have the salesmen show their
quality.
fine points. In the meantime the company followed
up its letters with newspaper announcements of the
4. Piano-in-class proposition has never been tried
progress of the contest so that all of Utah knew what
in Waterloo, Iowa.
was going on.
5. We do not believe there is any reed organ trade
in sight nor do we believe there is any future to it.
The contest was held in the West Side High School
6. Trade for 1927 will be fairly good, we believe.
auditorium with a seating capacity of 1,500. The con-
People in smaller towns and country are in better
testants were eliminated until only 15 remained, and
financial condition than the city people.
then again until only three were left, two girls and
a boy. The final winner was Miss Helen Badge of
Salt Lake City.
PARSONS MUSIC HOUSE, Waterloo, Iowa.
After the contest the Glen Bros.-Roberts Company
Three Tabloid Reviews.
received many compliments for the good accom-
plished for music in Utah. People came from a
1. No.
radius of 300 miles from Salt Lake City. Of the 280
2. Favorably.
teachers on the list, not all had students far enough
3: Yes.
advanced to enter the contest, but nearly all com-
5. No.
municated their approval of the fine thing the com-
6. It will, I think, be generally accepted here, as a
pany was doing. Mr. Glenn plans to continue these
fact, that the piano has suffered in a business way.
Until the thoughts of the average piano man are con- contests for 1927 and 1928, and perhaps make them a
permanent feature.
centrated on pianos, it seems a vain attempt to revive
a glorious business. It is just possible the piano man
has been "taking orders" for radios and automobiles.
CHARLES D. POTTER APPOINTED.
RAMSDELL & SON, by J. C. Ramsdell, 127
Charles
D. Potter, Sound Beach, Conn., widely
South Twelfth street, Philadelphia.
known through his twenty-eight years in 'the piano
industry, who has been appointed eastern representa-
1. No.
tive of the Fairbanks Company, Springfield, Ohio,
2. Very good.
manufacturers of piano plates, was for six years
3. Yes.
superintendent of the Davenport & Treacy Com-
4. We use it and it is good.
pany's piano plate foundry at Stamford, Conn. Later
5. No.
he was in the piano hardware business.
6. Business prospects for pianos look fair. We
all have a great deal of work ahead in putting the
piano business back where it belongs. National ad-
vertising by manufacturers will help in this.
G. ARTHUR JAMISON, Logansport. Ind.
1. Ten per cent.
2. Good sales, yes; leadership, no.
3. Yes.
4. Good; not here yet.
5. Slight, but worth while.
Not good in South.
HOLLENBERG MUSIC CO., by F. B. Hollen-
berg, Little Rock, Ark.
COMPLETES FIFTEENTH YEAR.
The formal opening of the Hoffman Music Store,
Fulton, III., took place recently in the completely
remodeled three-story home. The opening of the
enlarged structure concludes the concern's first half
century of development under the direction of C. A-
Hoffman.
An orchestra has been organized among the sales
staff of Charles M. Zitzer, Mansfield, O., who .has
been active in promoting school and industrial bands
in that section.
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