Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
September 1, 1928
Someone's curiosity started to work and wondered
what further could be done with that earth and water
beside making mud. It must be agreed that celluloid
and pyrolin ivory have as their basis the one and
the same thing, but their treatment in the making is
as far different as our above illustration.
Improved Processes.
In Perfecting This Wonderful Material Used
But when today, a critic may be blindfolded and
in Making Piano Keys, Science and Re-
the test for "feel" is made, that is the real test. And
when its appearance will show with equal beauty,
search Have Scored Another Great
what more could be desired? When Pyralin ivory
and Welcome Success.
has been worked with as much care and with the
same detail that an ivory key-board has been, with
By FRIELD MILLER.
the same desire to make it beautiful, to go as far
As progress in everything is made, new conditions
as possible in the same way, in other words, taking
arise. In each new condition, each new ultimate re-
pride in one's work, there must be admitted little
sult makes its new demand. If the piano industry
difference.
could only break away from that part which is holding
How many manufacturers, how many piano mer-
it back from progress, its unwholesome tradition of
chants, are confronted with the humiliating questions,
the past, separate itself from those things that are
criticisms and complaints of instruments placed under
holding its progress behind every other business,
circumstances of the modern heating system, where
ivories crack, peel off, warp or half come off after a
normal Summer season. He can not and does not
do anything but blush and stutter with excuses and
"pass the buck" to someone along the line.
After two hundred years of constant study at key-
board making, the use of ivory does not guarantee
very much further satisfaction and does not seem to
provide any better way can be solved so long as
ivory is used. Pyralin ivory will and does cover
every objection above mentioned.
Another remaining major point, is WEAR. It has
been used long enough to prove th : s one outstanding
feature. When users have been educated to its advan-
tages, instruments in constant use as in theaters, con-
servatories, and studios under constant use, will de-
mand pyrolin ivory key-boards for an economic rea-
son, if for no other, ft will not wear out.
Wearing Qualities.
Pyralin ivory does not discolor, it retains its first
and original color until the rest of the instrument has
been worn out and is of no use whatever. After it has
been used through a number of years it does not look
like a flowerbed with a riot of color.
Elephant ivory is brittle, hard, discolors, cracks, chips
and is not stable in anyway whatsoever. Pyralin is
tough, flexible, non-staining, never wears out, can be
finished with equal beauty when care is used with
modern methods, does not chip, crack or peel as it
is not prone to atmospheric changes, w T eather condi-
tions do not affect it.
Long ago ebony has been done away with for sharps
even to the extent that it has been forgotten by the
buying public and the question never arises, and the
public is just as well satisfied with stained pear-wood
FRIELD M1L.LKR.
and other materials.
We are living in a day of advancement, a day of
start out with a program with a clean slate of pro-
gressive ideas, then there would be new life, new in- practical things, a day when economy must play its
part. Tradition and vanity must be cast aside and
;erest.
view the future from past lessons.
The public must be taken into our confidence as
has been done in every other line of successful busi-
The Indianapolis Music Shop, 4172 College avenue,
ness. We must awaken in the public the fact that we
Indianapolis, Ind., has put on a new delivery truck
are not still living in the "Log-cabin age." We are
and now guarantees fine service.
living in modern homes with modern heating systems,
and the selling talks used forty years, yes, even ten
years ago, will not suffice today. We must sell our
"wares" from a standpoint of truth or stand the con-
sequences.
GREAT PROGRESS IN
USE OF PYRALIN
If one were to mention celluloid for keys, a great
long line of sneering faces would at once become
evident. And rightfully so, because there was little
known, and little attention paid to this new substance.
But thanks to the men of science and research who
take a basic material and dignify its use.
Elephant tusk ivory has reigned high in the past;
it has been the one and only measure of supremacy.
Why? Because it was plentiful, it was here, ready
to be used and was comparatively cheap. All that was
necessary to do was to gather it up, cut it and there
was nothing else necessary. But today good first
class ivory is rare and becoming more so every day.
Merits of Pyralin.
Pyralin ivory is better from every standpoint. There
is not one point against its use, when it has been
treated with modern methods, and by those who know
how. When care has been exercised in its use, noth-
ing is left to be desired. The only thing for the past
decade the trade and the public has been wa.'ting for,
has been for some one to perfect a method of using
it rightly, with care and discretion. It has been looked
upon as something cheap, and from that standpoint,
no care has ever been used to dignify its use. Careless-
ness and wrong methods of treatment are more re-
sponsible for misunderstanding about its use than any
pther one cause.
The Misunderstanding.
Pyralin ivory must not be confused w'th the old-
time celluloid. No more than one would associate a
team of oxen with the modern automobile. While an
adobe house is made of mud and a brick is also made
of mud, there is a decided difference between our
modern brick structure and that of the Aztec. Where
does the difference lie? Research is the answer.
ESTABLISHING PIANO
CLASSES IN SCHOOLS
C. E. Moores of Packard Piano Company Gives
Details of His Operations and
Future Plans.
A notable example of what can be done by the
trade in the local development of the group piano
teaching movement, which promises so much for the
future of the piano, is furnished by C. R. Moores of
the Packard Music Company, Fort Wayne, and pres-
ident of the Indiana Music Merchants' Association.
Mr. Moores has been very active during the summer
in establishing beginners' classes in stores in Ohio and
in interesting school officials.
He has given a report of what he has accomplished
to C. M. Tremaine, director of the National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music, coupling it with a
request that the bureau send its new booklet, "Guide
for Conducting Piano Classes in the Schools," to-
gether with a letter to the school people with whom
he is in contact, and who are considering organiza-
tion or extension of these classes in the fall.
His list includes the superintendent of schools and
the music supervisor in Elyria, the superintendent of
schools in Lorain, and Prof. Frank H. Shaw, direc-
tor of the Oberlin Conservatory of Music.
Perhaps Mr. Moores' most important success was
in inducing Oberlin College to sponsor a demonstra-
tion piano class in its Conservatory of Music. The
ten first lessons will be given free, in the hope that
the class will be a feeder for the regular piano courses
at the conservatory and will also stimulate establish-
ment of the activity in the local schools. The Ober-
lin conservatory is one of the leading collegiate
music schools, with a fine reputation and wide influ-
ence throughout the Middle West.
By putting the bureau in touch with his contacts
among the schools and colleges Mr. Moores has se-
cured for his efforts the prestige of connection with
a disinterested national organization and with mate-
rial prepared by the leading supervisors of the coun-
try. Mr. Tremaine recommends a similar procedure
wherever a member of the trade takes up the matter
of establishing piano classes with local educators.
MRS. E. E. FORBES DIES.
Airs. E. E. Eorbes, Sr., wife of E. E. Eorbes, the
president of the E E. Forbes Piano Co., Birmingham,
Ala., died at the Clanton Hospital last week, follow-
ing an automobile accident near that city. Mrs.
Forbes' car was in collision with another vehicle on
the Montgomery Highway, which, in addition to the
death of Mrs. Forbes, caused serious injury to two
other passengers in the car. Mrs. Forbes, who was
fifty years old, has been a resident of Birmingham
for many years, and was widely known. She is sur-
vived by her husband, four sons, three of whom are
connected with the piano business, and a daughter,
Miss Jeanette Forbes, who was away at camp at the
time of the accident.
Amazing Profit in Gulbransen Radio
We Asked 1500 Dealers to Give Us the Facts
W
E ASKED 1500 Gulbransen dealers to study the Gulbransen Radio, from their own stand-
point, and to tell us what possibilities they saw in it. Hundreds of them, after inspecting
the Gulbransen Radio and analyzing its salability, set surprisingly large quotas for themselves.
One of the questions on our questionnaire was: "How many Gulbransen Radio Sets do you
estimate you can handle yearly?"
Another:
"Do you want us to authorize you as a franchised Gulbransen dealer?"
Many different angles of the Radio were covered by this questionnaire:
practices, separation of radio activities from other departments, etc.
Sales policy, price
We felt it wise to face the facts—to get the true picture of the Gulbransen Radio as dealers see it.
A full endorsement has been given the Gulbransen Radio by hundreds of merchants. Others
made valuable suggestions, the practical ones having already been put into effect.
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The Gulbransen Radio has back of it one of the most substantial and successful indus- _
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tries in the music business. We understand music merchants' problems. In the piano
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business, Gulbransen has attained leadership that all recognize. Gulbransen has name
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value on any musical instrument.
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Gulbransen stands for sound, sane methods. Gulbransen is now presenting to • % f (iuiimuiHen
the piano trade the most aggressive, most practical business-building program
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Company,
that the piano trade has ever known.
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" CUBO
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obliea-
These resources of a five million dollar company become yours when you hold a ^W, + tion, give us full
Gulbransen Radio franchise.
T*^ details of the Gul-
Gulbransen Radio in table and console models—A. C. sets only. Gulbransen
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Radio Speakers. Unsurpassed cabinet work—real piano finish. A highly pe- ^ . J* speaker.
lective set that radio experts and the lay public recognize as far ahead of the
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ordinary run. We understand tone. We understand eye-appeal. Popular prices.
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Gulbransen Radio franchise requests from desirable dealers are being
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filled in the order of their receipt. Use the handy coupon and get com- . > V
piete information on a radio proposition that will make money and
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build substantially for you.
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GULBRANSEN COMPANY
3232 W. Chicago Ave.
CHICAGO
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