Presto

January, 1932
P R E S T O - T I MES
THIS
CORRESPONDENT ESTIMATES
CONSERVATIVELY
A letter was recently received by Presto-Times
from a prominent member of the music manufac-
turing industry and a gentleman regarded as ultra
conservative rather than over optimistic. This gen-
tleman writes:
"Well, gentlemen, here we are at the beginning
of a new year. It goes without saying that 1931
will be remembered 'good and strong' by many
of us.
The piano business surely got a good shaking up.
I see Campbell prophesies we will make 100,000
pianos in 1932.
The piano men must have their re-possessed pianos
pretty well disposed of. If these are out of the way,
they can think of making some new ones.
We have been cutting all the corners we possibly
could but we do now look for improvement.
If we get the foreign matters straightened out, I
think it would stimulate business. What they are
trying to do now, they should have done two years
ago.
If I owe you $100 and can •qnly pay you 50 cents
on the dollar, you better take it than let the thing
drag along. Think that is the great mistake that
was made.
1 think our Government was too liberal in ex-
tending credit. The International banks got a big-
price for floating the bonds and another profit when
they sold them to the public; in other words, they
let us people carry the bag and bet they do not
have anything in their portfolio.
This matter, 1 think, has been thoroughly thrashed
out in the House, and they will handle the proposition
differently.
I do not believe we should mix up so much with
other countries.
We better look out for our own salvation and let
them fight their own battles.
Hope the times will soon change for the genera!
good.
This esteemed correspondent knows what he is
talking about and is not afraid to speak his mind.
FROM GORDON LAUGHEAD, SALES MANA-
GER WURLITZER GRAND PIANO
CO., DE KALB, ILL.
Traveling 100,000 miles this year, 1 find that the
piano business is exceptionally good.
Successful music dealers are alert. They keep in
touch with public institutions, schools and music
teachers. These men forge ahead under present con-
ditions.
A sure method of bringing in piano business is
classified advertising in the local daily newspapers.
Classified advertising is used to sell both used and
new pianos. Our style 100 grand and style 815 up-
right pianos, permit the dealer to advertise new
pianos in the classified columns. Why not try it out?
A dealer in a large Western city ran the following
advertisement, with good results:
"Brand New Baby Grand Piano, $335. Worth con-
siderably more. Made and guaranteed by World's
Largest Reliable Manufacturer.
Terms, $2.50
weekly."
Not only is there piano business, but the high
quality of sales made by many dealers is surprising.
Last week a prominent dealer showed the writer six
contracts made during the preceding two days. The
cash payments on two sales were $100 each, on two
more $50 each, and the remaining two instrument?
were uprights, sold with $25 cash payments. Two
of the contracts paid out in six months, one in twelve
months and the balance within twenty months.
I have often talked to dealers who complain about
the lack of piano business. In analyzing their situa-
tion, the dealer's floor is usually barren of values
that are selling in other stores. PLAINLY, IN
ORDER TO DO PIANO BUSINESS TODAY,
the merchant must have clean, brand new, up to date,
low priced outstanding values to offer the public. No
wide awake dealer should be without one or more of
our style 100 grand or our new style 815 upright
pianos. Sincerely yours,
Dec. 25, 1931. '
GORDON LAUGHEAD.
M. SCHULZ COMPANY TO REPLACE TWO
HANDSOME MODELS
Two styles of grand pianos of the M. Schulz Com-
pany, their re-constructed Donatello and Lombardi
models, which were shown in Presto-Times' list of
"Successful Piano Models" a year ago, are now off
the market, aU the product having been disposed of
several weeks ago. While these models were beau-
tiful instruments in design and construction, neverthe-
less they will be replaced by other somewhat later
styles of casework, design and finish. So moves the
world and so move piano styles and models today to
meet the demand for changes and novelty.
Rock Island has a new music store
Tri-City Piano Sales, which is located
avenue. The proprietor of this store is
Sollo, formerly the proprietor of Sollo's
store.
DO YOU KNOW
About the Selling Power,
Beauty of Case Design,
Special Features and
Exquisite Tone Quality
of The
STARCK
Pianos, Grands and Uprights
If you haven't seen, tried and Critically
Examined the Latest Creations from
factory, you are not posted concerning
the latest pronounced triumphs of the
Piano Manufacturing Industry.
And we are prepared to meet Trade
more than half way in Prices and Terms
P. A. STARCK PIANO CO.
Manufacturers
Chicago, Illinois, U» S. A*
Factory:
Ashland Ave. and 39th St.
Offices:
210-212 So. Wabash Avenue
Piano Keys Recovered
First Class Work and
Satisfaction Guaranteed
We are known in the trade
by the quality of our work
McMackin Piano Service
1719*21 Mondamin Ave.
Des Moines, Iowa
known as the
at 1413 Sixth
Mr. Frank W.
Baldwin piano
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