Presto

THE PRESTO BUYERS'
OUIDE CLASSIFIES ALL
PIANOS AND PLAYERS
AND THEIR MAKERS
PRESTO
E,tabiuhed 1884 THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
/• cw..- $2.00 a rear
TRADE PAPER SUBJECTS
OUT OF THE ORDINARY
Topics of Wide Range of Interest Discussed Briefly by Readers of Presto
from Iowa, U. S. A., to Calcutta, India.
THE SOURCES OF SUCCESS
Piano Man Who Is Himself Successful Sug-
gests Way for Others in Same Line of Work.
New York, May 28, 1920.
Editor Presto: I could not help indulging some-
what in retrospection when I read "Abe's Epigrams"
in Presto of May 15th. I believe that if many men
in the piano trade would give their undivided atten-
tion to the Old Reliable instead of allowing them-
selves to be drawn into other affairs, business on the
side, and other things, they would be a more suc-
cessful industry. That is the moral of Abe's sug-
gestion.
When all is said and done, it's the little helps that
our friends give us that enable us to "come back"
rather than the wonderful ability we poor fools
imagine we have! In our time we have seen more
than one of the "big" ones qualify in the has-been
class and, perhaps, later they have found greater
pleasure in doing small things well than trying to do
big things and making a failure of it.
Yours truly,
J. C. H.
A CALL FROM CALCUTTA
Proposition to Still Further Extend the Read-
ing of Good Trade Journals in Far off India.
Calcutta, India, May 5, 1920.
Editor Presto: If we introduce your paper into
India, Burmah and Ceylon, and procure subscribers,
what terms would you be willing to give us?
As the objects of our Association are "The Spread
of Commerce," and, to answer enquiries received
from our members regarding the latest inventions
and up-to-date methods of various trades, we have
to keep on our tables all the most interesting news-
papers and magazines dealing with various trades
and professions, could you please send us your pa-
per. With many thanks.
Very truly yours,
WYL. C. WOODS, Manager.
HELP STARVING MUSICIANS
Cry of Distress from Unhappy Austrian Comes
Direct to Members of Music Trade.
Vienna, Fiebensterngasse 27.
Editor Presto: A poor piano teacher begs for a
food parcel. She is very unhappy, having no money
to buy something to eat and is hungry all the day
long.
JULIANNE SCHAUPP.
That pitiful appeal comes to Presto from a music
teacher in Vienna who, according to her statement
was prosperous before the war. The message comes
on a postal card upon which is a message, in both
English and German, reading as follows:
For several weeks the American Relief Adminis-
tration warehouses in Austria have been delivering
food parcels to holders of food drafts. You can
buy them at any bank in the United States—Amer-
ican Relief Warehouse Food Drafts—and send them
to us in Vienna. On presentation of these Food
Drafts at the warehouse in Vienna, we can also
draw American food.
We are in great need of food in Austria. Indi-
vidual food parcels sent from America usually do
not reach us. Money does us no good when there
is no food to buy.
Help us in our distress by sending an American
Relief Warehouse Food Draft—Quickly!
For further information apply to American Relief
Administration, 115 Broadway, New York City, or to
your own or nearest bank.
The war is over; if not officially, certainly in fact.
THE PRESTO YEAR BOOK
IS THE ONLY ANNUAL
REVIEW OP
THE MUSIC TRADES
It has been rare that appeals have come from either
foes or allies, with special or direct reference to the
people who are devoted to music in any of its
branches. Now is the time to prove our love of the
art by succoring also those whose lives are devoted
to its cause.
CUSTOMARILY QUICK RETURNS
Piano Salesman Formerly of Nappanee, Ind.,
Goes to Shenandoah, Iowa.
Shenandoah, Iowa, June 6, 1920.
Editor Presto: Will you please remove ,my "posi-
tion wanted" ad from your columns, as I received
quick action from the first insertion and am still
getting numerous replies?
Thanking you for the good service, I remain,
Yours truly,
E. E. BROWN,
Formerly of Nappanee, Ind.
FUNNY MEN BUTTING IN
How Two of the Wits of the Daily Newspa-
pers Found Good Filling Matter for
Their "Columns."
Two of the funny men of the Chicago Tribune
cracked a few about pianos and piano men this
week. There is enough guessing in one of them to be
interesting. Here it is, from Harvey J. Woodruff's
"sporting" column, called "In the Wake of the
News":
THERE ARE DISADVANTAGES.
The Wake's piano having outlived its usefulness,
the missus, who is operating on an allowance and
not the cost plus system, sought to avoid financial
breakers by renting one for the summer, rather than
buying at present prices.
Inquiring at a Wabash avenue music store and
name and address being sought, the manager in-
quired, "Is that the chap who conducts The Wake?"
Receiving an affirmative, he replied: "Well, pianos
are scarce and I'm not very friendly to him, anyway.
I sent in something and he didn't use it. I thought
it was real good, too. B. L. T. frequently uses my
stuff."
We hope Brothers Dowling and Guylee of the
store across the street have not sent any contribu-
tions to The Wake which have not been published.
Piano men, even in the jungles of Florida, know
that Messrs. Dowling and Guylee are in The Cable
Company building, at Jackson and Wabash, Chicago.
Consequently they know, also, that there are piano
stores ''across the street" in three directions. To
the west is the Kimball house; at the northwest, the
Steger Building, and at the northeast the Lyon &
Healy Building.
In all of the "stores" there are wits as well as ex-
pert piano salesmen. But there is testimony to sug-
gest that "the chap who conducts the Wake" is pok-
ing fun at B. H. J., the brilliant ad man of Lyon &
Healy. For B. H. J. has frequently tickled our ribs
in B. L. T.'s "Line 'o Type or Two," and he prob-
ably didn't see why the Wake wanted a piano any-
way. It's a dull Wake that turns down B. H. J.s
good stuff.
And in the "Line 'o Type" the following good ones
appeared, and the joke on the piano legs reads well,
just as well as when it appeared in Presto, with an
illustration, in the days of our youth. It shows, too,
how impossible it is to find anyone, even a profes-
sional funny man on a daily newspaper, who isn't
familiar with the fame of the New York piano.
NON SEQUITUR.
Sir: A shop in Jackson boulevard offers Steinway
Garters for sale. Does it follow that the wearer
must have piano legs?
E. W. S.
PIANO CLUB OUTING
IS SET FOR JUNE 16
Chicago Trade Looks Forward to the Biggest
Holiday It Has Ever Had in 700
Acres of Woods 26 Miles Out.
The members of The Piano Club of Chicago this
week received the following welcome letter:
Listen to the call of the woods and the rills, the
green sward, the wild flowers, good eats, music,
dancing and golf!
We are going to have our big annual all-day
frolic and evening dinner dance on Wednesday,
June 16th—and where, do you think? At the Olym-
pia Fields Country Club! Seven hundred acres of
wood and stream, hill and dale—two 18-hole golf
courses, play grounds for grown-ups, play grounds
for children, and a comfortable, roomy clubhouse
with indoor and outdoor dancing.
Program — Morning: Outdoor sports, including
golf. Noon: Luncheon served by the club's chef.
Afternoon: Bridge for the ladies; more sports and
golf. Evening: The big annual dinner and dance.
We are fortunate in being able to secure this
wonderful million dollar lay-out for our annual
outing. Please make reservations by return mail
on enclosed card. This outing will be the biggest
thing in the history of the club. You will have the
time of your life. Bring your wife and the children,
or your sweetheart.
Fifty-seven minutes from the loop. Illinois Central
suburban service. Over forty trains a day. Twenty-
six miles by auto. Concrete road to the club. See
abbreviated time table and auto route herewith.
General Committee—E. B. Bartlett, Adam Schneid-
er, Geo. J. Dowling, Jas. F. Bowers, E. H. Uhl, Tom
M. Pletcher, Jas. F. Broderick.
Committee on Arrangements—Matt J. Kennedy,
president; Walter Jenkins, secretary; Frank E. Mor-
ton, Kenneth W. Curtis, Eugene Whalen, Roy E.
Waite, N. A. Fegen, J. T. Bristol.
Fast trains—Illinois Central suburban service—
Leave Randolph Street (Van Buren Street, 2 minutes
later) 7:50 a. m., all express stops; 11:30 a. m., stops
at 43d, 53d and 63d sts.; 12:44 p. m., stops at 43d,
53d and 63d sts.; 4:10 p. m., all express stops; 5:09
p. m., stops at 63d st. only; 6:18 p. m., all express
stops.
Leave Olympia Fields Station: 5:45 p. m., 9:10
p. m., 9:42 p. m., 10:41 p. m., 11:51 p. m., 12:49 p. m.
Auto Route No. 1, 26 miles—Halsted street south
through West Pullman, Harvey and Homewood.
Concrete road south out of Harvey is beside and
west of Illinois Central tracks. Cross to east of
tracks under viaduct at Homewood. Continue south
on concrete road (Dixie Highway) to entrance of
Idlewild Country Club, about a mile south of Home-
wood. There turn east on concrete road for about
a quarter of a mile. Then south on concrete road
past Flossmoor Country Club, on to gravel road to
entrance of Olympia Fields marked by large sign.
Auto Route No. 2, 28 miles—West on Garfield
Boulevard (55th st.) to end of boulevard which is
Western ave. Then south through Morgan Park
and Blue Island until concrete road joins Route No.
1, just before going under Homewood viaduct.
WARNING!—Come to a full stop before cross-
ing railroad tracks at end of brick pavement beyond
Blue Island.
Those wishing reservations can get them from
Eugene Whelan of the W. W. Kimball Company.
The golfing is an all-day program. Reservations for
luncheon, ground privileges, dinner and dance are
$6.20 each. Reservations for dinner and dance only
are $3 each.
The following, also from B. L. T.'s column, was
evidently "sent in" by a piano man. Dealer Kloep-
fel has written even better advs for his local news-
paper. But isn't this one a good one—and we'll say
they'll wash:
THE COMPLETE CONTROL.
Sir: From the Menasha, Wis., Record:
"I have four second hand uprights and being in
need of room and the mazuma, will sell two of them
at a bargain. Knowing a few things about pianos
I will say that they are all wool and a yard wide
and you run no chance of being handed a lemon.
Otto C. Kloepfel, Piano Specialist."
Heading: "Yes, Yes, But Will They Wash?"
J. F. B.
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