Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1920 1750

R E S T O
February 5, 1920.
tain the names, comments and suggestions of scores of alert piano
men, aggregating thousands of direct communications during the year-.
Of these features the "Where Doubts Are Dispelled" alone has pre-
sented several columns in a single week with as much more crowded
out. And, better still, is the evidence that comes in the results to
advertisers who have faith' in their trade press and use it accordingly.
It is the mind of the individual croaker who would depreciate the
trade paper that is "all rolled up." And any attempt to unroll such a
mind, straighten it out and set it going along the ways of progress,
would entail a task far exceeding the subscription price, or any prop-
aganda of publicity possible to an intellectuality of that kind.
MUSIC STORE CHANGES
It will not be very long before marked changes will take place
in the aspects of the general music stores where sheet music has been
a large feature. In time the familiar boxes containing the "wrappers,"
which separate and protect the countless publications, will give
place to orderly compartments, extending from floor to ceiling, and
reaching in long avenues, or tiers, the length of the store rooms. And,
in all probability, there will be no "counters" such as have been in
use from time immemorial. There will be free access to the aisles,
on either side of which will be the almost endless rows of classified
and plainly tabulated music rolls.
For the music store of the future will carry the kind of music
that "feeds" the playerpianos. They will continue to sell the sheet
music, as of old, but the room accorded to the printed sheets will be
small as compared with that given over to the more modern means of
musical expression. And the stores will carry the music rolls of all
manufacturers. They will possess modern means for wrapping up
the rolls by mechanical methods, and in every music store there will be
playerpianos with operators, for the sole purpose of "trying over" the
new music—-just as is already done in some of the progressive stores.
But before long those conveniences and helps to more business will
be the rule and not the advanced exceptions.
The playerpiano has forced a change in the entire business. It
has changed the demand and it has changed the systems of selling. It
has, to a large extent, revolutionized the sheet music department and
it has greatly broadened the possibilities of the trade, enlarging the
scope of the industry and bringing in a new department which is des-
tined to force the sheet music counters out and to take the leading
place in the retail stores.
Already the music roll industry has developed into a magnitude
never known to the sheet music publishing business in its best periods
It will not be long, furthermore, before the music roll will give to the
public its first hearing of compositions of importance. Today all of
the music rolls are cut from printed sheets, or arrangements specially
made from printed sheets. How long before the composers will bring
to the music roll manufacturers entirely new compositions, arranged
for the operation of cutting the paper, ready for the machines by
which supplies are produced as quickly as the presses were once wont
to reproduce the printed sheets from the hand-power presses? And
will that reversal of the birth of original music work good or evil
to the cause of art?
It will doubtless serve to greatly lessen the flood of utter inanity
that now issues from the top-story publishers. No music roll manu-
facturer would consider the production of one-third of the stuff that
now fairly jams the floodgates of Hit Alley. Without merit no com-
position could pass the machines of the makers of perforated music
for playerpianos. No master sheet would be produced that lacked
the kind of claim that promises permanency. And so the playerpiano
may serve as a filter for the long-prayed-for purification of popular
music.
Already the intimated changes have in some degree taken place
in the music stores. All of the larger ones now have well equipped
music roll departments. For most of them those departments are
still secondary to the old-fashioned sheet music counters, with their
cluttered up collections of prints and classified "folios." But, even
so, there is a marked change in the manner in which the printed sheet
music appears. The needlessly large pages, with lavish waste of
white margins, are disappearing. The size of the sheet is being re-
duced and there is a new grace about the title pages. Where, before,
it was deemed essential to spread the piece over from six to nine pages,
it is now considered better to condense into from three to five pages.
The result is good.
As has been said, the old-fashioned sheet music business is des-
tined to experience an entire revolution. And the change will bring
the music roll into prominence of which the already great industry of
THE STAY=AT=HOME'S IMPRESSION OF NEW YORK
today is scarcely more than a foretaste. It will pay music dealers to
consider this matter and to arrange fcr the changing conditions in
their business.
We have also received some criticism of the recent article by Mr.
C. G. Steger to which reference is made in another column this week.
But they come from piano travelers who seem to think that what the
piano manufacturer said may have a tendency to make the salesmen's
work harder. They think that if one powerful industry puts up the bars
to raising prices, the representatives of other industries may have an
almost impassable embargo to their own progress. But price is not
the chief argument in good piano salesmanship. The subject is an
interesting one. However, we feel sure that Mr. Steger had substan-
tial ground for his own stand, and doubtless others are no less for-
tified.
Suppose you had been born in the first half of the nineteenth
century, instead of well along in the last half. You would now be
selling a piano or two a month, and a sheet of music, a fiddle or ?.
fife and drum, at long intervals. Instead of clamoring for a carload
lot of pianos you would be sending drafts at long intervals for two
or three, at prices exceeding by double your best retail prices today.
A hundred years in the piano business covers about all of its history.
:|: :': *
"Musicians should talk, boost and sell music the same as other
things are sold," said Charles Berg of the Portland Chamber of
Commerce in his talk before the Musicians' club at its fortnightly
luncheon on Tuesday at the Multnomah Hotel. "More music," con-
tinued the speaker, "will mean more work for musicians and each
musician would get his share." That's what Mr. C. M. Tremaine says.
The enforced absence from New York of President P. E. Conroy,
of the N. A. of M. M. was a misfortune. Regrets that the "flu" should
have attacked the piano dealers' energetic president at the critical time
were heard everywhere. It was the cause of very general regret, and,
if the well wishes of many can have benevolent effect upon one, Mr.
Conroy's recovery was expedited.
The annual convention is an inspiration all through the year.
It isn't altogether what is said and done during the week. It's more
what the seeds then planted may bring forth when the dealers are at
home in their stores, or on the wagons and cars delivering the goods.
Nothing could be better at the convention than the crowds of dealers,
except bigger crowds.
In accordance with the custom of this paper, there is no "special"
convention number. But Presto gives all the news succinctly, avoid-
ing the "fat" issues and keeping within the bounds of the time and
patience of the busy piano trade.
:',:
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It is too early yet to say positively whether the Music Show paid
the exhibitors largely or just a little more than the investment. Br.t
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).
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PRESTO
8
in time the results will be realized, and when the returns are all in
Presto will present them. Then, too, the question of future exposi-
tions, in connection with the conventions, may also be finally de-
termined.
^
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It was the first convention held in the winter season. The
beauty of summer was lacking, and the customary boat rides, and
things by which delight was insured in years past, were missing. But
there was enough else to make amends, and there are other summer
times ahead. Sell more pianos—if you can get them!
Another usually prominent figure at the conventions was con-
spicuous by absence in New York this week. Mr. Will L. Bush, the
eloquent, could not attend because of pressing duties of public nature
in Houston. His place on the program was taken by Mr. B. W.
Gratigny of the Bush & Gerts Piano Co. of Texas.
Some members present complained that it seemed colder than
ever, because of the lack of inward warmth. It was not a really "dry"
convention, however, notwithstanding that there was nothing upon
which to rest the tired soles. For music trade conventions need not
be "wet" in order to escape being "dry."
If you went to the convention and music show, Presto will be
glad to have you send in your brief opinion of things as they struck
you in New York this week. Say what you saw, and who, and tell
how the week may influence your business at home.
The great gain of the annual meetings of piano men is in the
thoughtful talks by leaders in the trade and industry. And, in re-
THE SCOPE OF THE
WELTE PATENTS
Important Arrangement in New York Defines
an Attitude of Strong Interests and Assures
Wider Uses for the Welte Library and
Well Known Player Actions.
An arrangement of vast importance to the entire
piano industry was consummated this week in New
York between George W. Gittins, president of the
Estey Piano Company and of M. Welte & Sons,
Inc., Frank E. Wade, president of the Amphion
Piano Player Company of Syracuse, N. Y., and
Richard W. Lawrence of the Kohler Industries. It
was completed after several months of negotiations
and investigations and after many conferences at-
tended by representatives and attorneys of the con-
cerns involved.
The arrangement is based upon the Welte pat-
ents on Reproducer Player Actions, which are be-
lieved to cover broadly every type of reproducing
player action now in use. The interests named will
stand hereafter as the controlling licensees under
the patents.
Cut from Welte Library.
The music rolls for the reproducing player pianos
and actions made by these parties will be cut from
the great Welte Library which includes thousands
of records niade from the playing of the world's
famous artists, such as Paderewski, Hofmann, Ganz,
Lhevinne, Busoni, Debussy.
The Auto Pneumatic Action Company, William
J. Keeley, president, which makes the reproducing
player action known as the "Auto de Luxe Welte
Mignon,'' comes into the arrangement on behalf of
the Kohler Industries. This company will shortly
greatly enlarge its facilities for manufacturing re-
producing player actions.
The Kohler Industries have acquired from M.
Welte & Sons a Welte Mignon Recorder, upon
which many of the greatest pianists of the world
have recorded their playing, and in addition, a com-
plete music cutting plant for the manufacture of
rolls to be played upon the Auto de Luxe Welte
Mignon player action. The Kohler Industries,
with accustomed energy, have leased an entirely
new plant for this branch of music roll manufac-
ture, which is located at Broadway, 75th Street and
Amsterdam Avenue, a remarkably convenient loca-
tion.
Arrangement with Amphion.
The Amphion Piano Player Company, under the
new arrangement, has ready for the market a re-
producing player action developed by its inventor,
Lewis B. Doman.
The American Piano Company has adjusted its
differences with M. Welte & Sons with respect to
February 5, 1920.
peating some of these talks, Presto is doing the greatest good possible
to the greatest number. We shall publish them in the customary
installment plan.
* * *
Mr. H. S. Newman, of Presto's staff, who attended every move-
ment and motion of this week's events in New York, writes that he
became so imbued with things musical that he can't distinguish any
sound but music, nor see any people that are not piano buyers, sellers
or advertisers.
* * *
Forty-second street, in the vicinity of Pershing Square, looked
more like Wabash avenue than any other place in the world. And
nothing but Chicago's Coliseum ever seemed so much like New York's
Grand Central Palace, notwithstanding the market construction dif-
ferences.
;J-
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New York responded nobly. The metropolitan newspapers pub-
lished liberal stories about Music Week, the Music Show and the con-
ventions. Reports to Presto from other cities and towns also proved
that the efforts of the National Bureau for Advancement of Music
equally produced results far and wide.
* * *
For the first time since the piano men's conventions were estab-
lished, neither of Presto's editors put in an appearance in New York
this week. But the paper was well represented and if we were only a
little bit missed we will be satisfied.
* * *
It isn't often that a piano dealer deserts the trade for some other
business. Ask a piano man what he'd rather do than sell pianos and
he'll answer, "sell more pianos."
the Ampico structure and admits the validity of the
Welte Bockisch patents.
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Mfg. Company of New
York has acknowledged the validity of the Welte
patents and has taken a license to use these im-
portant inventions in the particular combination
instruments made by it.
Backed by the millions of capital invested in the
companies going into this arrangement, it is be-
lieved that the Reproducing Player Piano will be
shortly placed on such a basis as will make the
same the standard of the industry. No effort will
be spared to make the reproducing player piano as
popular in homes as the phonograph is today.
Not only will this enterprise be backed by the
present great Welte Library of upwards of four
thousand master records of the playing of great
European and American pianists, but arrangements
have been and will be entered into with the great
artists of the day to produce further records.
Louis W. Southgate, patent counsel for the Kohler
Industries, has been retained to conserve and de-
fend the important patent rights involved in the ar-
rangement, which runs until 1938.
A MILWAUKEE CONSOLIDATION.
The Music Shop, which was established at 312
Grand avenue, Milwaukee, about four years ago as
a retail store of the Hoeffler Piano Mfg. Co., 304
West Water street, a large wholesale musical instru-
ment house, has been consolidated with the parent
house at the latter location. The Grand avenue store
building was leased recently for a long term by a
Milwaukee retail shoe concern, which took posses-
sion Feb. 1. The Music Shop devoted its activities
mainly to retailing phonographs and records, fea-
turing the Starr and the Columbia and the Gennett
and Columbia records. It also carried a stock of
Starr pianos, which the Hoeffler company handles
in a wholesale way in the Wisconsin territory.
IN SEARCH OF GRANDS.
D. J. Massey, piano merchant of Des Moines,
Iowa, arrived in Chicago on Friday of last week-
en route home from a buying trip to New York.
He had been away over two weeks and was hurry-
ing home because he had received word that three
of the employes of his store were down with in-
fluenza. "There is a shortage of high grade goods
at Des Moines, particularly grands." said Mr. Mas-
sey to a Presto representative. "Our line consists
of the Steinway, the A. B. Chase, the Lyon & Healy,
the Ivers & Pond, the Schaff Bros., and we also
carry the Mehlin." Mr. Massey went also to Boston
on this trip. At the factories he sought grands, but
with indifferent success at some of the places.
Erwin Bros., Hope, Ark., recently received 100
pianos from a single manufactory to meet the de-
mand for pianos there. The firm is a big distributor.
Q R S COMPANY TO
HAVE THIRD P U N T
President Pletcher on Present Trip Completes Ar-
rangements for Another Big Factory in
San Francisco.
The Q R S Company has decided to establish a
factory at San Francisco, for the manufacture of
music rolls
The plant will be thoroughly up to date, and will
be equipped with an eye to the future by allowing
for any expansion the constantly growing demand
for Q R S rolls necessitates.
This will make three factories the Q R S Company
has established within one year. With this latest
addition any point in the United States will be
within 24 hours of direct Q R S factory shipments.
When completed it will also mean a great deal to
export shipments to all parts of the world that can
be best served from Pacific ports.
The Pacific coast trade is expressing much satis-
faction over this recognition of their requirements
by the Q R S Company.
President T. M. Pletcher made all necessary ar-
rangements on his present Pacific Coast trip.
BALDWIN PIANO COMPANY
RE=ELECTS ALL OFFICERS
Following Election Over Thirty Representatives
Are Entertained at Dinner at Queen City Club.
All officers of the' Baldwin Piano Co. were re-
elected at the annual meeting of the stockholders
held last week in Cincinnati. The following are the
officers of the Baldwin Piano Company: G. W.
Armstrong, Jr., president; H. C. Dickinson, vice-
president; C. M. Robertson, treasurer and Lucien
Wilson, secretary.
Following the election a dinner was given at the
Queen City Club, at which more than thirty repre-
sentatives from various sections of the country were
present. Each guest was presented with a miniature
clay model of the new $1,000,000 factory which the
Baldwin Company is to build on Gilbert avenue,
Cincinnati. George W. Armstrong, Jr., president of
the company, presided at the meeting.
E. E. FORBES' DIVIDENDS.
The first dividends of the E. E. Forbes Piano
Company, bankrupt, Birmingham, Ala., were paid
the creditors on January 20 by J. H. Holcombe, trus-
tee, according to the information secured at the of-
fice of Judge E. H. Dryer, referee in bankruptcy
recently. The dividends approximated 10 per cent.
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/

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