Presto
Issue: 1929 2215 - Page 6
January 12, 1929
PRESTO-TIMES
Announcing a New Grand
Heppdwhite
The New Packard Grand —
Heppelwhite Model, Style R
4 it. 7 in. long. Mahogany-
jbCUWS
Bench, to match.
..Xacked by aTiealSalesVIanj
1929 is the year of opportunity for Packard dealers. The Packard organization, old
in reputation but youthful in spirit, has kept in contact with dealers' problems in a
way that is enabling Packard to produce new designs in Packard instruments that
will sell most readily and to supply the selling assistance dealers need.
1 he Heppelwhite Grand shown at the rife,ht is the newest Packard value—a splendid
instrument in an exquisite case at a surprisingly low price. It's true Packard quality
in every line with the rich full rounded tone Packard Grands are noted for. Get the
Packard plan behind you—get Packard values on your floors. Write us now!
THE PACKARD PIANO COMPANY
3335 Packard Avenue
Fort Wayne, Indiana
sorbing pictures of floating palaces, descriptions of
then, look at it so, and realize that if the automobile
historic scenes in faraway lands and with special rates dealer, the ticket agent for the steamship company,
may be set down as another active and successful the radio dealer, and even the bootlegger, are com-
competitor of the piano man.
petitors, so are the piano dealers competitors of all
the others. And the piano dealer will usually have all
No, No, This Can't Be True!
It may seem ; t reflection on the dignity of the the best of it, for his line represents every advantage
piano to say that another competitor of the piano and mine of the distractions or even sometimes de-
They Are Plenty Today and All About Him, dealer is the bootlegger, but one veteran salesman leterious elements of the others.
in Chicago attributes the falling off in the number
but the People Who Want Pianos Can-
(if his piano customers for the past few years to the
not Be Turned Aside by Any
misdirection of much good money for questionable
AMPICO IN FLOAT.
drinks.
Distractions.
There was a rodeo held in Baxter Springs, Kans.,
But don't let it worry you too much, for it is also receiuly, in which J. W. Grantham Music Shop, local
The piano prospects always exist, but the dealer reported that some of the most elaborate pianos have representative of the American Piano Company, par-
and his salesmen must be persistent in their discovery. recently been bought by "bootleggers," and if the ticipated. Mr. Grantham prepared a very elaborate
Conditions have changed considerably in the piano new millionaires are to come from that class new and ingenious float, representing a Knabe Ampico,
business within recent years, and a most remarkable possibilities again loom. But that is, of : course, not which was the feature of the entire parade. Mr.
phase of the change is that involving competition said quite seriously. It will always rema n that the Grantham reports that as a result there are many
in a broader sense than formerly. There is a thrill piano man's competition is "plenty," but it will also more people in Baxter Springs and vicinity who have
in the memories of the old days of piano trade always be that selling pianos is a man's business. It an idea of what the Ampico is and some of these are
belligerency when friendships among dealers waned will continue to be a good business for good busi- such live prospects that he hopes to close a few sales
and personalities took the place of piano argument. ness men, and good salesmen will never lack for good within the near future. Mr. Grantham is one of the
The piano dealer's competitors are more numerous results.
most successful representatives of the American
than ever, but they are outside of the trade. Today
If competition is the life of trade, then there is Piano Company's line and has a long record of fine
there is a greater range exerted by the word compe- little cause for complaint along that line. Why not. piano sales to his credit.
tition. It is the result of the vastly wider readies
of music and the means of its expression.
Every man who sells anything that conduces to
the comforts or luxuries of life is now a competitor
of the piano dealer. Most in evidence just now is
the automobile dealer and whether he sells a cheap
car or an expensive one, he irritates the piano man
to a very considerable extent. A lot of piano money
goes into automobiles, but there are other agencies to
exasperate piano men. One dealer, in a small mid-
west city, states that for the past two years the
furrier has intercepted much of t'.ie money that under
more fortunate circumstances should come into his
own cash drawer. The price of a fine fur coat equals
that of a fine grand piano, and the installment plan
of purchase, which is such a boon to the piano cus-
tomer, is equally avaMable to the customer of the
furriers.
New Living Conditions.
Tn former days when the living habits of people
were simpler the fine piano of the average family
was a matter of great pride. But with the average
family today the thought of the piano is secondary
to the desire to live in a showy apartment w r here
very often there is no room for the piano, or where
it is excluded because it does not harmonize with
the furnishing or decorative scheme. So the piano
dealer counts the house renting agent among his
competitors.
The credit and sales department in a Ciicago
reta'l music house, which depends considerably on
the activities of outside sale men, consider people
who are paying for a home a more desirable credit
class than the people who rent apartments. But
of course in both cases circumstances affect the view.
In the apartments are many fine p'ano customers,
and sure payers, and all the ambitious home buyers
are not prompt to fulfill their easy installment obli-
gations.
The Travel Bug
The Christmas window in the Wilking Music Co.'s store. 120 East Ohio street, Indianapolis, was as deco-
Today a great d : strac'.ion which takes millions of
rative as it was constructive of the piano buying thought. The central objects were the items making up a
dollars away from the music trade is the European Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.'s ensemble, consisting of a Jesse French & Son grand piano, bench, lamp,
trip. So the steamship agent who allures with ab- chair and music cabinet.
PIANO DEALER AND
HIS COMPETITORS
JESSE FRENCH IN SHOW WINDOW
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/
PRESTO-TIMES
Announcing a New Grand
Heppdwhite
The New Packard Grand —
Heppelwhite Model, Style R
4 it. 7 in. long. Mahogany-
jbCUWS
Bench, to match.
..Xacked by aTiealSalesVIanj
1929 is the year of opportunity for Packard dealers. The Packard organization, old
in reputation but youthful in spirit, has kept in contact with dealers' problems in a
way that is enabling Packard to produce new designs in Packard instruments that
will sell most readily and to supply the selling assistance dealers need.
1 he Heppelwhite Grand shown at the rife,ht is the newest Packard value—a splendid
instrument in an exquisite case at a surprisingly low price. It's true Packard quality
in every line with the rich full rounded tone Packard Grands are noted for. Get the
Packard plan behind you—get Packard values on your floors. Write us now!
THE PACKARD PIANO COMPANY
3335 Packard Avenue
Fort Wayne, Indiana
sorbing pictures of floating palaces, descriptions of
then, look at it so, and realize that if the automobile
historic scenes in faraway lands and with special rates dealer, the ticket agent for the steamship company,
may be set down as another active and successful the radio dealer, and even the bootlegger, are com-
competitor of the piano man.
petitors, so are the piano dealers competitors of all
the others. And the piano dealer will usually have all
No, No, This Can't Be True!
It may seem ; t reflection on the dignity of the the best of it, for his line represents every advantage
piano to say that another competitor of the piano and mine of the distractions or even sometimes de-
They Are Plenty Today and All About Him, dealer is the bootlegger, but one veteran salesman leterious elements of the others.
in Chicago attributes the falling off in the number
but the People Who Want Pianos Can-
(if his piano customers for the past few years to the
not Be Turned Aside by Any
misdirection of much good money for questionable
AMPICO IN FLOAT.
drinks.
Distractions.
There was a rodeo held in Baxter Springs, Kans.,
But don't let it worry you too much, for it is also receiuly, in which J. W. Grantham Music Shop, local
The piano prospects always exist, but the dealer reported that some of the most elaborate pianos have representative of the American Piano Company, par-
and his salesmen must be persistent in their discovery. recently been bought by "bootleggers," and if the ticipated. Mr. Grantham prepared a very elaborate
Conditions have changed considerably in the piano new millionaires are to come from that class new and ingenious float, representing a Knabe Ampico,
business within recent years, and a most remarkable possibilities again loom. But that is, of : course, not which was the feature of the entire parade. Mr.
phase of the change is that involving competition said quite seriously. It will always rema n that the Grantham reports that as a result there are many
in a broader sense than formerly. There is a thrill piano man's competition is "plenty," but it will also more people in Baxter Springs and vicinity who have
in the memories of the old days of piano trade always be that selling pianos is a man's business. It an idea of what the Ampico is and some of these are
belligerency when friendships among dealers waned will continue to be a good business for good busi- such live prospects that he hopes to close a few sales
and personalities took the place of piano argument. ness men, and good salesmen will never lack for good within the near future. Mr. Grantham is one of the
The piano dealer's competitors are more numerous results.
most successful representatives of the American
than ever, but they are outside of the trade. Today
If competition is the life of trade, then there is Piano Company's line and has a long record of fine
there is a greater range exerted by the word compe- little cause for complaint along that line. Why not. piano sales to his credit.
tition. It is the result of the vastly wider readies
of music and the means of its expression.
Every man who sells anything that conduces to
the comforts or luxuries of life is now a competitor
of the piano dealer. Most in evidence just now is
the automobile dealer and whether he sells a cheap
car or an expensive one, he irritates the piano man
to a very considerable extent. A lot of piano money
goes into automobiles, but there are other agencies to
exasperate piano men. One dealer, in a small mid-
west city, states that for the past two years the
furrier has intercepted much of t'.ie money that under
more fortunate circumstances should come into his
own cash drawer. The price of a fine fur coat equals
that of a fine grand piano, and the installment plan
of purchase, which is such a boon to the piano cus-
tomer, is equally avaMable to the customer of the
furriers.
New Living Conditions.
Tn former days when the living habits of people
were simpler the fine piano of the average family
was a matter of great pride. But with the average
family today the thought of the piano is secondary
to the desire to live in a showy apartment w r here
very often there is no room for the piano, or where
it is excluded because it does not harmonize with
the furnishing or decorative scheme. So the piano
dealer counts the house renting agent among his
competitors.
The credit and sales department in a Ciicago
reta'l music house, which depends considerably on
the activities of outside sale men, consider people
who are paying for a home a more desirable credit
class than the people who rent apartments. But
of course in both cases circumstances affect the view.
In the apartments are many fine p'ano customers,
and sure payers, and all the ambitious home buyers
are not prompt to fulfill their easy installment obli-
gations.
The Travel Bug
The Christmas window in the Wilking Music Co.'s store. 120 East Ohio street, Indianapolis, was as deco-
Today a great d : strac'.ion which takes millions of
rative as it was constructive of the piano buying thought. The central objects were the items making up a
dollars away from the music trade is the European Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.'s ensemble, consisting of a Jesse French & Son grand piano, bench, lamp,
trip. So the steamship agent who allures with ab- chair and music cabinet.
PIANO DEALER AND
HIS COMPETITORS
JESSE FRENCH IN SHOW WINDOW
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).