The Minneapolis journal., 1904-05-21
PURCHASING
A PIANO
Interesting Talk on the
Subject by an Old
Salesman.

'It isn't any wonder" said the old
salesman, that most people are not
only willing but anxious to read up
on the subject Of pianos and piano
buying" ,,,oa -
cause the piano is most conspicuous
household article and remains SO for
many years-for a good piano will last
practically an ordinary lifetime-An
article, involving the expenditure of
anywhere from $500 to $1,000 that
must be pleasing to the eye, pleasing
able to sthe pocketbook of the pur-
chaserall these things and more,
might say, are involved in the pur-
chase Of a piano" s.@,-s-s -
'There is the question of finish, or
color of wood in the piano to match
the furnishing Of the home, the style
Of case too-may be a Colonial with
delicate tracing of marquetry work;
an art style in a grand, or cabinet
grand, a. semi-ca binet grand, upright,
or a pretty cottage upright with plain
or carved panels, etc: It Is the pur-
pose of the salesman to discuss all
these matters with each customer, but
while style of case, finish, ETC., are
matters Of considerable Importance,
yet the tone, the action, the wearing
qualities of the piano, the reputation
and financial ability of the house to
satisfy every customer, are OF far more
Importance than mere case design, for
no one should buy a piano wholly on
account of its case, any more than
they should buy a book on account OF
its pretty cover"
Certain pianos said the old sales
man, "shine out among their fellows
like the spark from the flint Of indiv-
idual genius, because Of their honest-
ly-earned reputation for genuine mu-
,;o o,&t, ToIy
as An example, recommended, as 1T
is, for public and private use by
grand array Of high class musicians,
its growth in public and private
esteem is the growth of years OF effort
and strict adherence to scientific pr1n-
ciples Of piano building.
"Piano buying to-day" said the old
salesman, "is an economic question a 8
we'll as one of senttment-the pur-
chaser of Kimball piano receives un-
usual value for his money, values that
can scarcely be obtained elsewhere,
because the Kimball is sold by the
makers in this, city-direct TO the
users, because Of ample capital to pur-
chase material in large quantities and
because Of highly efficient factory
equipment and improved methods In
piano building; then, too, in the Kim
ball you find a piano that appeals to
sentiment, as it appeals to the best
nluS1cal thought Ol CIlc Il1tioii'
'.The one-Price-System of piano
selling Is firmly established at the
Kimba1l store, and It Is great help
to piano purchasers. At this house
all pianos are marked In plain figures
based on one factory profit, there the
cottage upright is sold on the same
margin as the cabinet grand upright
or the concert grand, there the school
girl can depend on getting the same
fair treatment as the shrewdest buyer.
..Methods of piano pricing that ad-
nit of big discounts" said the old
salesman, "are unbusinesslike to say
the least, and not up to twentieth
century business ethics, and we are
| glad to note a tendency, especially by
| reliable houses, east and west, to. do
away with this antiquated and unfair
method.
"Many homes to-day" said the old
! salesman, would be silent in so far as
music is concerned, If it were not for
/ the easy payment plan of purchasing
t Instruments No other work of art
or merchandise is sold on such long
>tine and easy payments. W. w.
Kimball company, of 727 Nicollet ave-
nue., offer their patrons probably the
| very best inducements along this line,
!! and at their regularly marked and es-
tablished prices. Their 1904 case
styles are now arriving from their fac
/ tory, and they deem 1t a pleasure TO
show them to all who may be now, or
| later on contemplating the purchase
| of an instrument.