Presto

March 17, 1928
PREST 0-T I M E S
E. BENNETT FOX ON
MIDDLE-WEST TRIP
General Representative for the B. Settergren
Co., Bluffton, Ind., Gives Cheering
Report of Results.
E. Bennett Fox, general representative of the B.
Settergren Co., Bluffton, Ind., is at present making an
extended tour of the western and central states in the
interest of that industry. Mr. Fox left his head-
quarters at New York a week ago and during the
present week has visited several of the larger cities
from Buffalo to St. Louis, stopping at the factory a
day for conference with President B. K. Settergren,
and W. C. Hess, formerly of the American Piano
Supply Co., who is now an active factor in the Set-
tergren organization.
When interviewed at Detroit last Saturday by a
Presto-Times correspondent Mr. Fox was quite opti-
mistic concerning the piano business in general and
decidedly so as to his own trade which he said had
been excellent from the day he left New York. For
some months past Mr. Fox has made New York City
his headquarters and has established something like
a fixed demand for Settergren goods in and around
that territory.
Mr. Fox says that the new Settergren models
claim the attention of dealers with the result that it
is easy to book orders wherever he. goes. He is look-
ing forward with much interest to his anticipated visit
to Chicago and the pleasures of the Piano Club of
Chicago in the near future.
THINGS SAID OR SUGGESTED
RIDE 'EM, PIANO MAN!
Yes, we admire the mighty ships
That speed across the trackless foam
Vncrringly on countless trips
And bring the travelers safely home,
And we admire the flying trains
That roar across the continent,
Whose strength gigantic never wanes
And to man's use is ever lent.
Oh, we admire the motor cars
That-busily about us scoot
And send, us kiting to the stars
With a prolonged triumphant hoot.
The aeroplanes, with sullen roar,
Like captive dragons, we admire—
While we can walk the broad earth's floor.
To ride in them we don't aspire.
E'en to the buggy and the horse
We'll not deny a word of praise,
Though we give up without remorse
Those sturdy helps of other days.
But of the things that one may ride,
The hobby is the best of all,
And golf evokes the keenest pride
As hobby most admired of all.
* * *
The pessimist stays at hone and waits for it to rain
while his competitor goes to the picnic and meets
three good piano prospects.
HARDLY
HUMAN
Al. S. Veisler, traveler for Krakauer Bros, New
York, was chatting with a group of Indiana piano
men recently during a meeting of the Indiana Music
Merchants' Association at the Indianapolis Athletic
Club. The trade friend who had brought the road-
man to the club introduced him to everybody they
encountered, although with many Mr. Veisler ahead}'
was acquainted.
"1 didn't get the name? Who did you say he was?"
asked the Krakauer trave'er when one to whom he
had been introduced passed on.
"He's a guy without a single redeeming vice," an-
swered the friend. The others in the group seemed
to agree in the estimate.
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THE ACKERLY WAY
When Jerome W. Ackerly settled in Patchogue,
L. I., N. Y., and established his now prosperous
piano business, he envisioned certain definite prospec-
tive sales standing out from the indefinite ones. The
prospects that appeared with denniteness to his keen
salesman's eye were the schools. Later, the theaters
were viewed in the same way.
"Every school is a probable buyer of a piano," is
the Ackerlv belief that has a shade of difference
from ''every prospect is a possible piano buyer." See
it? That belief influenced his "pianos for schools"
campaign.
To prepare for this he studied the phenomena of
climatic effects on pianos. What the south shore of
Long Island in particular does to pianos not con-
structed according to principles of resistance he
made a major study in his course. So when he
talks to school boards his scientific certainties prejudice
them in favor of any piano be submits for their
approval.
Last week he was reminded of his early ambitions
and their realization when he placed seven pianos
of Kohler & Campbell and Hazelton makes in the
$500,000 high school at Sayville, L. I.
* * *
" 'Tis rather bad taste to object to a man's English
while you consider his Scotch is all right," said the
piano wareroom cynic this week.
* * *
NERVE, PLUS
A strange young man called on the Rev. Maurice
A. Dorney, pastor of a Catholic church in Chicago,
and requested a letter of introduction to Marquette A
Healy. It was his ambition to get a job in the Lyon
& Healy store, of which Mr. Healy was president at
the time.
Although his visitor was totally unknown to him,
and not even a member of his parish the kindhearted
priest could not refuse the request. But when he sat
down to write the letter, words were slow to flow
from the point of his pen. Not knowing the chap he
could not truthfully state the commendatory facts
in such cases. At last he wrote in desperation:
"Dear Mr. Healy: This will introduce Thomas Mc-
Ginnis. I don't know the young man from a crow,
but 1 admire his nerve."
This he signed, placed in an envelope and passed
to the young man unsea'ed.
"You read this letter?" Mr. Healy smilingly asked
the applicant for a job when Father Domey's intro-
duction was duly presented.
"Yes, sir. 'Twas open as you see," was the un-
abashed response.
"Father Dorney was right. You've certainly got
the nerve," commented Mr. Healy.
"It's about all I have, but I consider it a good
asset," was the comeback delivered without flippancy.
"I guess I'll let you cash it in," said Mr. Healy,
in his prompt, decisive way.
The boy with the nerve got his job. He made
good, too. You may know him but his name is not
McGinnis.
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Bad jvaiio advertising is the spirit of adventure
gone wrong.
* * *
Human nature sets a man up as a judge of his
neighbor.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER
IWANTOKNO, SELLS MANY
THINGS TO MUSIC DEALER
Clever Little Publication of the Schumann Piano
Company Highly Stimulating Reading.
"Quality construction sales talk, to be successful,
need not be either ancient, modern or futurist, but
should be perpetual—particularly when it is so visual
and reasonable," says Iwantokno, the little monthly
publication of the Schumann Piano Company, Rock-
ford, 111. It is a bit of the philosophy dispensed in
the current number of the little book.
The publication describes the new improvements
in the Style "AA" 4 foot 10 inch Schumann grand,
gives a list of available direct mail advertising sent
on request, gives details of a direct mail scheme and
prints a lot of interesting things that should stimulate
the man who sells pianos.
CHANGE IN OWNERSHIP.
The Fisher Music Store, 210 South 14th' street, New
Carlisle, Ind., has been sold to Walter K. French
and will be operated in the same location under the
name of the Rose City Music Company. The store
was founded by the late Lee Livezey, and will con-
tinue featuring Jesse French and Lagonda pianos,
players and grands, together with Conn band instru-
ments, Fada radios, Brunswick phonographs and
records. Mr. French has been in charge of the local
store for several weeks, as Mr. Fisher has been on
the road for some time, traveling in the interests of
the Jesse French & Sons Piano Co. Mr. Fisher will
open up a new store soon in Southern Illinois, han-
dling Jesse French & Sons pianos.
PS SALESMEN
Outside Salesmen must be equipped so as to "show the goods." The season for country piano selling is approaching. Help your sales-
men by furnishing them with the New Bowen Piano Loader, which serves as a wareroom far from the store. It is the only safe
delivery system for dealers, either in city or country. It costs little. Write for particulars.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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