Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1920 1764

PRESTO
May 15, 1920.
ufacturer, far distant from the buyer, is an asset. And the steady
improvement of the piano is an asset.
There are reasons why no foreign buyer who has sold Tonk
pianos for a long time will relinquish it. And the same condition
applies in the cases of. all other American pianos that have won trade
in distant lands.
We have made the Tonk the basis of this article because the
incident related last week came to us in an authoritative manner and
our correspondent who asked that the instrument be identified told
why he so requested in a way that seemed to make acquiescence de-
sirable. Our only concern further is lest Mr. William Tonk himself
take exception, though that we do not anticipate.
PERSONALITY IN PIANOS
In a communication to this paper, one of the brainiest men asso-
ciated with the piano industry and trade puts this somewhat startling
question: "What would W. W. Kimball say if he could know that his
picture, etc., were not turned into gold dollars?"
And the other day the manager of a great industry in another
line—the Goodrich Rubber Company, to be explicit—said that no
large manufacturer would any more "consider omitting the slogan
than he would think of eliminating the firm name that gives the adver-
tisement identity." The quotation suggests an interesting phase of the
piano business—or any business that depends largely upon the power
of a trade name.
Who that has any knowledge of the piano industry could estimate
the value of a name like that of W. W. Kimball, or of the influence of
the personality of the founder of a house that bears so familiar a
name? To the experienced piano man the question of the active
worker comes almost as a shock. It had perhaps not occurred to him
that during the years since Mr. Kimball died there has been gradually
forming a film of half-forgetfulness of the strength and power of his
personality in the trade.
In all piano history there have been very few characters of such
towering individuality as W. W. Kimball. His name was long a by-
word in piano circles, and his quaint humor supplied a fund of anec-
dote and shrewd illustration. The witticisms and pointed epigrams
attributed to him would fill a good-sized book. They did fill many
columns of the trade papers during his alert and active leadership in
the house of his building. Today the quips which once passed cur-
rency, and stimulated the salesmen who sold Kimball pianos, are fast
fading into forgetfulness.
Even the tale of the "Deacon's" famous hat is no more recited.
And the still more characteristic story of the chipped piano case, with
which to meet a competitor's cut price, "because of slight injury in
transportation," is lost to memory. So with scores of other "good
ones" which, whether true or not, served to keep the name and the
quaint figure of W. W. Kimball in the eye of the trade. It must strike
the experienced reader, therefore, that what the Presto correspondent
says has the nib of a large fact and is suggestive of a lost asset. And
if this applies to the Chicago industry, it may almost equally be said
to fit conditions which concern some other one-time intensely ambi-
tious concerns. The study, if carried far, would prove both instructive
and interesting.
There are American pianos whose histories run back almost to the
beginning of the nation as a republic—not many, to be sure, but a few.
More of them have the foundation of their fame in the first quarter of
the eighteenth century. And some of them are so well sustained, and
so wisely conducted, that the public is not conscious of any changes
in the destinies, or even the control, of the sources of their production.
The personality of the founders suggests a valuable asset, and the
present-day managements sustain the early traditions and keep alive
the distinctions which long ago made the pianos' names a power and
won the same influence by first ambitions that have been sustained
and strengthened through successive generations.
A fine example of the kind of perpetuation of personality—per-
haps the best in the American piano industry—is that of the Chicker-
ing. The "father of the American piano" is as familiar in musical
circles even in his refined and delicate features, as is the "father of his
country" to the people in general. It is common enough to see the
face of Jonas Chickering in the literature of the Boston industry which
his genius founded, and the retail houses that sell the Chickering use
the same features in their advertising. Not long ago this paper drew
attention to a piano store window, a thousand miles from Boston, the
central figure of which was a marble bust of the man who started the
famous piano away back in 1823. Other great pianos are sustained in
their publicity departments by the same loyalty to the power of per-
sonality.
No one in this age questions the influence of individuality. The
strong characters who have laid the foundations of the famous pianos
are almost as vital in the success of those instruments today as they
were when their heads and hands were active in the work of their
choice. The personalities of such men as Francis Bacon, Napoleon J.
Haines, Jacob J. Estey, William B. Bradbury, Jonas Chickering, Wil-
liam Steinway, William Knabe, and—coming down nearer to our own
day—such names as Benjamin Starr, D. H. Baldwin, H. D. Cable,
Chas. Kohler, Jas. A. Vose—the list is a fairly long one—represent a
large asset in the piano trade. And they are valued accordingly. But
were they to be permitted to become silent, their power would in a
brief time pass away. The world is forgetful. Its changes come
quickly. To continue to be of strength and value the power of per-
sonality in the piano industry must be sustained as long as the piano
that bears the name of the initial influence remains.
F1TEERS DEFINED
At last the disease that afflicts profiteers has been defined. It is
called pleonexia—a polite name, for it sounds like an abbreviated
form of "I please to annex you and all your cash." In answer to the
question "What is pleonexia?" the Indianapolis Star of Wednesday
of last week says: "The increasing desire for gain, developed to the
point of mania, is termed pleonexia." Webster's International Dic-
tionary a fixture in Presto office, does not give thd word at all, but it
says that pleon is a crustacean's abdomen, or the telson of a king
crab.
Near enough for all practical purposes is this definition. The
stomach of a crab that devours anything and everything that comes
in its way, whether it can assimilate it or not. Did you ever know a
profiteer with a sweet disposition? They are all human crabs; they
pinch everything that approaches them; they generally take off a
little of the hide of any man that permits himself to have any business
relations with them.
Like the crab, also, they prefer going backward to forward; they
have claws extending in every direction. There is a crawfish variety
that burrows into the mud, and the chief evidence of their existence
on this planet is the mud they have piled around their entrance. They
are hard-shells to go against in buying or selling, and they are not
notable for having a high order of nerves.
Happily, there are no profiteers engaged in buying, selling or
manufacturing the better grades of pianos nor in the reliable grades
of commercial pianos either. This editorial is writen to call attention
to that fact. So far from being profiteers are the piano men that
many of them are hardly breaking even, with prices of everything
that goes into the cost of a piano rising steadily. Presto has said
from time to time that the prices of pianos must go still higher, and
hs predictions seem to be coming to pass.
In years long past the custom of naming military compositions
after men who had done things in a large way, was quite common.
Every old-time music dealer can recall "Gen. Percifer Smith's
March," "General U. S. Grant's March" and the countless other pop-
ular "hits" that made riches for their publishers. It is to be hoped
that the new "Colonel Conway's March" may prove so well worthy
of its title as to equally win success, and so help to perpetuate a name
that is honored wherever pianos are sold.
There is trade interest in the fact that the recent article by Mr.
Chas. E. Byrne, on "A Trade Paper Campaign," has attracted such
widespread attention that it has been reproduced in a number of busi-
ness journals outside the piano industry. The article originally ap-
peared in "Advertising and Selling," and extracts from it were
promptly reproduced in Presto some time back.
* * *
Soft pedal the financial panic talk. President Geo. M. Reynolds,
of the Continental & Commercial National Bank, Chicago, is recog-
nized as an expert in such matters. Mr. Reynolds says emphatically
that there is scarcely a possibility of such a condition. And he is sus-
tained by other men equally posted in affairs of the financial world.
What Mr. Reynolds says is epitomized in an item on another page.
* * *
We have been asked what the caption which headed an editorial
in last week's Presto meant. No wonder. As originally written the
head-line read: "About Some Shows." It appeared thus: "Out Some
Shows," robbing the line of whatever sense it had in the first place.
Blame the intelligent proofreader again, or charge it to the inspired
printer, as usual.
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PRESTO
May 15, 1920.
LYON & HEALY BASEBALL TEAM
PLAYS AN EXCITING GAME
THESE MEN NATIONALLY KNOWN
Four to Four Was the Score in Game with Strom-
berg Electric Co.
A delightful game of baseball was played last Sat-
urday afternoon in Humboldt Park, Chicago, be-
tween the Lyon & Healy team and the Stromberg
Electric Company's team, the score being 4 to 4.
The teams were evenly matched, and there were
many exciting moments, as was made evident by the
shouts of the onlookers.
At one time the Lyon & Healy team was three
points down, but soon recovered lost ground. Flint
and Drewke proved to be an excellent battery for
Lyon & Healy. This was the first time that many
of the boys from different sections of the factory
had seen one another, but they played together well.
Robert E. Agnew was the official scorer and Wil-
liam Soeft was scorer for the Strombergs.
To N. A. Fegen, head of the wholesale piano de-
partment, and Harry Clauss, who assisted him, much
credit is due for the successful organization of the
Lyon & Healy team. Mr. Clauss is an old semi-
professional ball player.
Next Saturday at 2 p. m. the same Lyon & Healy
team will play a game at Humboldt Park against the
Walworth Manufacturing Company's team. The
Walworth company makes valves.
MUSIC INDUSTRIES' CHAMBER OF COMMERCE OFFICERS AND DIRECTORS.
The accompanying pictures shows the directors of
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and
presidents of the Division, members of the Cham-
ber, taken in session in Atlantic City, N. J., Friday,
April 30, 1920.
From left to right, seated: John G. Corley, presi-
dent The Ccrley Co., Richmond, Va.; Wm. J. Kee-
ley, president Auto Pneumatic Action Co.; E. B.
Richardson, president Richardson Piano Case Co.,
Leominster, Mass.; Wm. G. Schaff, of John A. Schaff,
Chicago and New York; E. F. Bitner, treasurer and
general manager Leo Feist, Inc.; Edward H. Droop,
E. F. Droop & Sons Co., Washington, D. C ; R. W.
Lawrence, president Kohler & Campbell, Inc., New
York; Paul B. Klugh, president The Autopiano Co.,
New York; Arthur Conrow, president National Mu-
sic Roll Manufacturers' Association; E. Paul Ham-
ilton, president National Association of Music Mer-
chants; J. A. Coffin, Ernest Gabler & Bro., New
York; F. E. Edgar, The Aeolian Company, New
York, N. Y.; Frederick Sunderman, vice-president
and sales manager Bennett & White, Inc.; Ralph L.
Freeman, director of distribution, Victor Talking
Machine Co.; Otto Schulz, president M. Schulz Co.,
Chicago; R. B. Aldcroftt, president Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce.
Standing from left to right: Geo. W. Pound, gen-
eral counsel, Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce; C. M. Tremaine, director National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music, Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce; and Alfred L. Smith, gen-
eral manager, Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce.
INCIDENTS IN TRADE
OF PORTLAND, ORE.
branch of the Bush SE^l-ane Piano Co., is visiting
his old home in Seattle this week.
J. B. Keller of the Remick Publishing Co. of New-
York visited Portland during the week.
Batch of Items from Progressive City Indi-
cates the Activities in the Northern Sec-
tion of the Pacific Coast.
FAMOUS ARTIST PAYS FINE
TRIBUTE TO STEGER PIANO
Lipman, Wolfe & Co., Portland, Ore., is holding
its 70th Anniversary Sale and the music floor is
offering some good values in both pianos and pho-
nographs.
Miss
C. E. Wallick has sold out his extensive holdings
with the Denver Music Co., Denver, Colo., and with
his wife is traveling through the country. They
passed the winter in California, but prefer the Ore-
gon climate. They were in Portland last week and
visited S. J. McCormick of the McCormick Music
Company.
The Martin saxophone is carried by the G. F.
Johnson Piano Co., Portland, Ore., and they are
the exclusive distributors in Oregon and Wash-
ington of the saxophone, which they are specially
featuring. They have also been appointed agents
for the Gibson guitar and mandolin line. Charles
Dimond, the native Hawaiian, who is in charge of
the musical merchandise department, is an excep-
tionally good performer on the ukulele and steel
guitar and has a fine class of pupils, who are profit-
ing by his expert instruction.
Since Nora Bayes appeared at the Orpheum and
delighted Portland with her original songs, "Just
Like a Gipsy" and "I'll Tell the World" are the
popular songs of this town and are featured by the
Remick Song Shop. Mrs. May Shurr, in charge of
the sheet music department, says that "Hiawatha
Melody of Love" is another favorite and that
"Venetian Moon" has lost none of its popularity.
Upwards of $10,000 worth of back orders for
saxophones are on the books of the Seiberling-Lucas
Music Co., Portland, Ore., and more orders are
coming in all the time and no saxophones are com-
ing in to help things along. A shipment is expected
before long, but it will only be a "drop in the
bucket."
H. T. Campbell, manager of the Portland, Ore.,
Neida Humphrey Commends the
Excellence of the Instrument.
Musical
A very fine tribute for the Steger & Sons piano
was recently received by the Steger & Sons Piano
Mfg. Co., Chicago, from Miss Neida Humphrey, of
concert fame, in which she commended the artistic
and musical excellence of the beautiful instrument.
In voicing her appreciation of its many admirable
qualities, Miss Humphrey states:
It is a real joy to touch the keys of an exquisite
Steger piano and awaken the wondrous melody its
beautiful tone unfolds. How delightful is its quick
response, yielding in expression to the .mood of the
artist, inspiring and calling forth the dreams of am-
bition and encouraging the musician to greater
achievements. In its perfect sustaining qualities,
remarkable brilliancy and resonance of tone, the
Steger is unexcelled.
"Recognition of its artistic supremacy impels me
to add my name to the thousands and thousands of
music-lovers who praise it.
Miss Humphrey, who is a pupil of Caruson, was
discovered by Dr. J. Lewis Browne when the lat-
ter was musical director for John Wanamaker.
When Dr. Browne introduced his protege to the
musical world, at the Egyptian Hall concerts in
Philadelphia, she was received with acclaim and her
success thereafter was phenomenal. A wonderful
rich and appealing voice, coupled with a charming
personality, has won international fame and popu-
larity for this talented singer. She has appeared in
concerts at the Metropolitan Opera House, with
many leading orchestras, has made extensive tours
through France, Belgium and Holland and is now
singing in grand opera in Italy.
The endorsement of the Steger & Sons piano by
so famous an artist as Miss Humphrey is another
indication of the great and increasing prestige of the
powerful Steger institution.
EXPLAINS THE MEANING
OF NATIONALLY PRICED
Gulbransen-Dickinson Company Does This
Magazines of Large Circulaton.
in
At occasional intervals it is the purpose of the
Gulbransen-Dickinson Company to send to each of
the merchants handling Gulbransen playerpianos a
sample copy of each of the publications in which
Gulbransen National Advertising appears. Such an
instance is taking place at this time. The papers are
all being gathered together in the advertising de-
partment of the home office. They will then be as-
sorted into bundles and mailed direct to Gulbransen
merchants. In the assortment that is going out
now is included the following magazines:
Saturday Evening Post, Country Gentleman,
Breeder's Gazette, Dakota Farmer, Farm & Ranch,
The Farmer, Farmers Mail & Breeze, Hoard's
Dairyman, Indiana Farmers Guide, Journal of Agri-
culture, Michigan Farmer, Nebraska Farmer, Ohio
Farmer, Pennsylvania Farmer, Prairie Farmer,
Progressive Farmer, Rural New Yorker, Wallace's
Farmer, Wisconsin Agriculturist.
The idea in back of this is to let the merchant
know what is going on in Gulbransen national ad-
vertising. By acquainting him with it it puts him
in position where he can take advantage of it.
By the use of those magazines, it is not a difficult
matter for the dealer to impress upon any one jus*
what nationally priced means. In all of Gulbran-
sen advertising the three models which they manu-
facture, and also the price of each, is mentioned.
It is the same everywhere in the United States and
with a publication at hand from all parts of the
country, it enables a dealer to talk very compre-
hensively on the subject of nationally priced.
HIGH PRAISE FOR THE
CHASE BROS.' ELECTRIC
Muskegon Woman's Club Expresses Appreciation
of the Pianos with "Human Intelligence."
Praise of the instruments produced by the Chase-
Hackley Piano Co. of Muskegon, Mich., are not in-
frequent. Far from it. But Manager H. D. Brad-
ley is especially pleased with the following com-
munication which was recently received from the
secretary of one of the city's most progressive or-
ganizations:
Chase-Hackley Piano Co.: Pray accept the sin-
cere thanks of the Muskegon Woman's Club for the
loan of your electric piano. The beautiful selections
given by the piano seemed almost to endow it with
human intelligence, making it impossible of belief
that those wonderful sounds came from a mechani-
cal instrument.
Cordially yours,
ALICE M. WOOD,
Corresponding Secretary.
April 20, 1920.
FINE MEDFORD MUSIC STORE.
Drost Bros., Medford, Wis., are in their new store,
with a full line of everything musical. The store is,
they say, the largest in northern Wisconsin at pres-
ent. They have also increased their sales force and
road force. Business is fine with Drost Bros.
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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