Horse & Wagon

[Jim Coleman, Sr.]

Hi Sy:

My father used to sell pianos from a horse drawn wagon. In the evening, he
would stop at a farmer's house and inquire about a night's lodging (no 
motels in those days - early 1900s). After dinner he would ask if there were
any hired hands who could help him get that piano off of the wagon and into
the house (he had previously qualified the farmer and one of the sharp
children). He would teach the most precocious child how to play a simple 
tune with both hands. The farmer would be convinced that his daughter had
musical talent. That piano would never leave that house. That's the way my
dad sold pianos in Oklahoma, Arkansas and Kansas. He later of necessity 
learned to tune them also.

Jim Coleman, Sr.

On Fri, 19 Mar 1999, Sy Zabrocki wrote:

> From Sy Zabrocki--Billings, Montana
> 
> Imagine having to deliver your pianos by horse and wagon.
> 
> On a Montana ranch I was tuning a fine old 1913 Janssen upright. While I'm
> working the man came to me with his family photo album. He shows me a couple
> photos of this piano being delivered in the winter time by horse and wagon.
> It's a flat bed wagon and the lettering "Janssen Piano Co." are clearly
> visible on the piano crate. His grandfather ordered the piano and had it
> shipped by rail to the town train depot. Then the last 17 miles was by horse
> and wagon. It must have been one cold trip for the horses, the driver and
> the piano.
> 
> I then told him of the Charles Walter family who bought the last remnants of
> the Janssen factory. They might be interested in this photo so why don't
> make a copy and send it to them. Well he never got around to providing me
> the copy.
> 
> Even today delivering pianos is no fun. Just imagine having to hitch up the
> horses every time you made a sale.
> 
> Just once in my life I had to do some farm work with horses and I didn't
> like it. Horses stink! I was still a pure innocent young man until I met
> those horese. They made me so mad I learned to cuss.
> 
> Sy Zabrocki
> 
>