Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1920 1776

August 7, 1920.
Better pianos are produced in a well-lighted factory. Better instru-
ments are produced by enlightened workmen; better instruments are
sold by enlightened salesmen. ,-•
The best farmers as well as the best manufacturers are paying
more and more attention to profits from light. Even hens lay more
eggs when their poultry houses are lighted with electricity. And
they lay more of them in winter when they are in greatest demand
and bring the highest prices. This has been proved by actual experi-
ment in the Pacific Northwest, and also was verified by experiments
at Cornell University. But the illumination must not be in the eyes
of the b^rds; the floors must be well lighted.
Caution must also be used in enlightening piano customers—do
not dazzle them with statements about the manufacturers' ability to
get goods made. Manufacturers all tell a different story about that;
they say it is still very hard to get all the parts of a piano together.
No dealer would want his piano minus its casters, or with its sound-
ing board missing. All the parts but one is just as bad as if the whole
instrument did not exist.
TALKING MACHINE TERMS
It is interesting to notice that the latest of the essentials asso-
ciated with music is following precisely in the footsteps of its elder
brethren. The phonograph dealers are already adopting the precise
methods which prevailed in the piano trade for a great many years.
We refer now to the methods of retail selling.
For a long time the phonograph demand was such that the
trade gave no thought to "terms" in making sales. It was a cash
business. The output was not equal to the call for the more favored
machines, and the manufacturers were firm in their exactions, mak-
ing rules, not only as to where and how orders would be filled, but
fixing the retail prices, with conditions as inflexible as the law of the
Medes and Persians. Today all that is being changed. Competition
has set in, and the trade is learning that people who buy phonographs
are not different from those who buy other things, and especially
those who buy and have already bought pianos.
As an indisputable evidence of this change in the selling customs
of phonograph dealers in the retail trade, are the countless advertise-
ments in the local newspapers urging people to buy on the old piano
plan.of "no money down," or, still easier, "machine delivered on pur-
chase of six records." That certainly is easy enough. But, after all,
it isn't any easier than the terms pianos were once sold on. When
the dealers advertised to deliver the piano on payment of the cost
of delivery, the limit was reached. Even the "dollar down and same
every week" was "faded," and a reform became absolutely necessary.
Of course the talking machine may be sold on easier terms than
the fine piano. The first cost is not so large, and the initial profit is
proportionately more. But it is still problematical as to how far the
retail selling terms can follow on down to the zero mark and still
be safe. People are not usually sure that they want the things which
seem so ready to come to them as to be offered, with a prize at-
tached on terms of "nothing down." If the phonograph trade starts
that kind of thing, there will be no bottom to it, and the only com-
pensation will be that the multiplication of cheap talking machine
industries will stop.
,
. ]
Our advice to the phonograph dealers in the smaller cities and
towns is to sustain both prices and terms as long as possible. In the
large cities the powerful retail houses may attract trade by offering
the nothing down term, and there is no way by which to stop them.
They, no doubt, will come to regard the phonograph as an article
most useful to draw trade to other departments. And eventually
they will kill the exclusive "talking machine shop." And, more than
all, they will in time bring a stop to the cheap talking machines, for
people will not buy that kind on long time installments and keep up
their payments.
But sustain the dignity and the value of the fine phonographs.
And try to maintain the kind of phonograph business that is worth
having just as long as possible. The way to do that it to represent
a really good line of machines, direct from the manufacturers and,
by building up a local name and fame for it, which in time must
possess an asset worth having and protecting.
Milwaukee holds her own as the possessor of more complete
music stores than any other city—isn't it so? Boston once had the
honor; so did Cincinnati, and Frisco. But today the Wisconsin
city can probably claim a larger number of exclusively retail all
'round music houses than any other. An addition is recorded this
week.
thority of the state and legally responsible to others
for their conduct and that of their agents.
5. To develop, with due regard for the health,
safety and well-being of the individual, the required
output of industry is the common social obligation
of all engaged therein. The restriction of produc-
Chamber of Commerce of U. S. Formulates tive effort or of output by either employer or em-
ploye for the purpose of creating an artificial scarc-
Platform and Principles Designed to Avoid
ity of the product or of labor is an injury to society.
Strikes and Other Industrial Troubles,
6. The wage of labor must come out of the prod-
No department of industry has had more recent uct of industry and must be earned and measured by
reason to desire relief from the worries of strikes its contribution thereto. In order that the worker,
than the piano industry. The troubles of the New in his own and the general interest, may develop, his
York piano manufacturers, last winter, served to up- full productive capacity, and may thereby earn at
set all schedules and cost the industry and trade mil- least a wage sufficient to sustain him upon a proper
lions of dollars. The strike in the piano factories standard of living, it is the duty of management to
has been known intermittently for nearly fifty years, co-operate with him to secure continuous employ-
and the annoyance and inconvenience to the dealers ment suited to his abilities, to furnish incentive and
has often been a serious affair. It will therefore be opportunity for improvement, to provide proper
good news that a systematic effort is to be made to safeguards for his health and safety and to encour-
age him in all practicable and reasonable ways to
obviate strikes in the future.
increase the value of his productive effort.
Overwhelming approval of a platform setting up
7. The number of hours in the work day or week in
twelve principles of. industrial relations has been which
the maximum output, consistent with the
given by the membership of the Chamber of Com- health
and
of the individual, can be main-
merce of the United States in a referendum vote, the tined in a well-being
given
industry
should be ascertained by
result of which was announced by the committee and careful study and never should
be exceeded except
the vote, in part, as follows:
in case of emergency, and one day of rest in seven,
1. Every person possesses the right to engage in or its equivalent, should be provided. The reduction
any lawful business or occupation and to enter, indi- In working hours below such economic limit, in or-
vidually or collectively, into any lawful contract of
der to secure greater leisure for the individual,
employment, either as employer or employe. These should be made only with full understanding and ac-
rights are subject to limitation only through a valid ceptance of the fact that it involves a commensurate
exercise of public authority.
loss in the earning power of the workers, a limita-
2. The right of open-shop operation, that is, the tion and a shortage of the output of the industry
right of employer and employe to enter into and de- rind an increase in the cost of the product, with all
termine the conditions of employment relations with the necessary effect of these things upon the inter
each other, is an essential part of the individual right ests of the community and the nation.
of contract possessed by each of the parties.
The referendum on public utilities employment
3. All. men possess the equal right to associate carried the recommendations of the Chamber's Com-
voluntarily for the accomplishment of lawful pur- mittee on Public Utilities. These were two in num-
poses by lawful means. The association of men, ber, and arc given as follows:
whether of employers, employes or others, for col-
"The committee recommends that strikes by em-,
lective action or dealing, confers no authority over, ployes of all public service corporations peforming
and must not deny any right of, those who do not public service essential to the lives, health, security,
desire to act or deal with them.
comfort and well being of the people should by law
4. The public welfare, the protection of the indi- be explicitly prohibited.
vidual, and sound employment relations require that
associations or combinations of employers or em-
Peristency is essential, but impudence is nonessen-
ployes, or both, must equally be subject to the au- tial and kills the virtue of persistency.
PLANS TO PREVENT
LABOR DISTURBANCES
C. B. BAKER OTTUMWA, IA.,
MADE INSTRUCTIONS CLEAR
And the Nature of Same Delighted the Husband of
an Intense Housekeeper.
C. B. Baker, head of the Baker Piano House, Ot-
tumwa, Iowa, recently sold a piano to an old friend.
At least the old friend paid for the instrument but
in the matter of choosing it or indeed deciding any-
thing of importance in the domestic menage he
humorously admitted he was a cipher minus the rim.
The good wife of Mr. Baker's customer is famed
far and near for the scrupulous cleanliness of her
house and her vigorous use of mop, soap and scrub-
bing brush is a habit well known to Mr. Baker as
well as to everybody else in the township. To
friend husband Monday is a fearsome day of sudsy
activities in the household. On that day he is gen-
erally reported a. w. 1. He is a good-natured Ger-
man, naturally neat in his habits, but the peace-up-
setting rule of the scrubbing event palls on him.
The day the piano was delivered Mr. Baker rode
out to the customer's house to see that the instru-
ment was properly installed and to give a few items
of instruction. He made them "dont's" in view of
the better half's character for soapy strenuosity.
"Now, you've got to be careful in the care of this
piano," said Mr. Baker. "Remember, you are to put
no wet cloths, sponges or scrubbing brushes on it
Don't attempt to scrub it with water.
"You hear that mother?'' spoke up the delighted
husband. "You gotta haf that biano dry-gleaned."
THE LADY AUDITOR TRAVELS.
A strenuous trip through the wild and almost in-
accessible parts of eastern Oregon has just been
made by Mrs. Eva Poynter, of the Wiley B. Allen
Co., Portland, Oregon, who spent two weeks visit-
ing the various agencies of the company in these
out-of-the-way districts, taking stock and doing
auditing work.
STORE HAS NEW NAME.
The Music Shop Co. is the new name of the firm
in Augusta, Me., of which C. A. Brown is owner. M.
S. Workman is the new manager.
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/
FRESTO
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, or
Other Subjects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
August 7, 1920.
Agency, Albert G. Hancock, manager. The concern
named was affiliated with the Columbia Insurance
Co., of Jersey City, N. J.
It might possibly be well to write to the latter ad-
dress, though we believe that any local insurance
agency would place a risk upon your instrument.
*
•
*
WANTS COMMERCIAL PIANOS.
Boulder, Colo., July 31, 1920.
Editor Presto: I am in the market for a few
records, as do several other of the large concerns.
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
writer in order to receive attention. Answers thought The Columbia is distributed in your state by the low priced pianos and I will appreciate any refer-
to be of general trade interest will be published. If an Columbia Graphophone Co., 911 Western Ave., Seat- ences that you are able to give me regarding the
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro- tle, and the Columbia Stores Co., 161 South St., Spo- same.
vided stamp is inclosed.
I am looking for a piano that I can sell for around
kane. In all probability you can get your supplies
$350 or $375 and one that I can depend on and be
at either, or both, of these agencies.
PIANO INSURANCE.
There are, of course, also general distributing able to get a pair profit I prefer to buy of same-
Charlotte, Mich., July 23, 1920.
companies which make a practice of handling rce- one in the Middle West.
I am very anxious to get a deal started for these
Editor Presto: The Baldwin Company referred ords from various industries.
pianos and I will thank you for an early reply.
us to you as to a Baltimore insurance com-
* * *
Very truly yours,
pany. We will appreciate very much if you will
ACCOUNTING SYSTEM.
send us the address of this company. It is a com-
RAY E. MCALLISTER.
Cincinnati, O., July 28, 1920.
pany that issues insurance on pianos for any loca-
Pianos
to
retail
at
prices
mentioned are not plen-
Editor Presto: In the interest of one of our
tion that they may be taken to. Thanking you, we
tiful at this time. We assume that you refer to
clients,
a
manufacturer
of
mechanical
accounting
de-
are,
vices, we are desirous of securing information re- straight pianos, and not playerpianos and, as no
Yours truly,
garding uniform systems of accounting adopted or doubt you know, at the present time the production
THE CHARLOTTE MUSIC CO.
of these instruments, at any price, is not far in ex-
recommended in the various fields of business.
While we are net certain that the enterprise to
Will you kindly advise whether any of the na- cess of the demand.
There are a good many industries manufacturing
which you allude is still in existence, it was known tional or local associations in the musical field have
as the Piano Underwriters Agency, Albert G. Han- devoted any attention to this subject? If possible, good commercial instruments and we suggest that
cock, manager, Baltimore, Md. As we understand we should like to have the names and addresses of if you are a reader of Presto you will find their ad-
it. the agency named was affiliated with the Colum- the secretaries of such associations. If you can also dresses readily. If you have Presto Buyers' Guide
bia Insurance Co., Jersey City, N. J., therefore, we furnish a list of the articles appearing in Presto, that you will find all the pianos listed and analyzed. We
believe that if you write to the lattei address you would likewise be of considerable advantage.
have given some in a special letter and all of the in-
may get quicker action.
dustries named are producing good pianos, though
Very truly yours,
not so high priced as some others. Perhaps other
We have the impression, however, that the enter-
THE RALPH H. JONES COMPANY.
prise was not especially successful and it is quite
Systems of accounting as adopted by the musical manufacturers who will read this may care to cor-
possible it may have abandoned operations, in which instrument manufacturers and dealers is a subject respond with Mr. McAllister.
• • *
event we do not know of any similar enterprise.
which has been many times discussed in this paper,
GOOD STANDARD NAMES.
and to this time we have not been able to find any
* * *
systematic plan especially applicable to the musical
Garnett, Kans., Aug. 3, 1920.
MANDOLIN ATTACHMENTS.
trades.
Editor Presto: We are in an argument at this
Lawrence, Kans., July 28, 1920.
The general headquarters of the Musical Indus- place of business about a "Stencil" piano. The writer
Editor Presto: Some time ago I noticed an item
Chamber of Commerce, the national organiza- of course thinks he is right in maintaining that the
in your paper of a mandolin attachment for piano, tries
tion with which are affiliated all of the departmental Kingsbury and Bond are both "Standard" pianos,
for something like $1.89 or $1.98.
associations of the musical industries and trades, is while the other fellow is equally as confident that
I would thank you if you could give me the name 105 W. 40th St., New York. The secretary of the they
are "stencil."
of the company advertising this attachment.
organization is A. M. Wright, of the Mason & Ham-
We
are referring to The Cable Co.'s "Kingsbury,"
Yours very truly,
lin Piano Co., Boston.
and
the
Packard Co.'s "Bond" Would also like
B. EDWIN LANG.
* * *
something on the P. C. Weaver piano, of Ottawa,
While there are several companies of the kind re-
111.—or Elgin, we should say.
BOOKS ON TUNING.
ferred to, as well as some that make completed at-
Please give us a good, concise report on this mat-
San Francisco, July 28, 1920.
tachments which are used by well established piano
ter, and it will help to clear up the mystery which
Editor Presto: Kindly let me know the title of enshrouds us at present.
industries, we assume that what you refer to is the
series of metal-tipped strips, or pendants, produced the books, as well as the publishers, on a "Piano
Sincerely yours,
by R. H. Schroeder, 382 E. 197th St., Bronx, New Tuning" and "Constructive Piano."
GARNETT PIANO CO.
Yours faithfully,
York City.
By F. ANDERSON.
HISAKAKAMURA.
The strips referred to are designed to be glued
There
can
be
no
question
whatsoever about the
to the muffler rail, allowing the hammers to strike
There are a number of good books on piano tun- legitimacy, or standard character, of the piano
above the brass tubes.
ing, and perhaps the most convenient is the "True names mentioned. In a few words, we may analyze
The price of the strips is $1.75 per set of 88 pieces, Piano Tuner," published by the John Church Co., those three names and you will at once realize that
and the dealer or tuner is supposed to attach them Cincinnati. Ohio. Oliver Ditson Co., Boston, also if there are any names associated with musical in-
himself.
has an inexpensive book on the subject. One of the struments which deserve to be characterized as
most comprehensive books along this line is put "standard," then the ones which you name belong
* * *
forth by the E. Lyman Bill Estate, New York City. to that class.
CONVERTIBLE PLAYER ACTIONS.
There is another intelligent book called "From
Champaign, 111., July 27, 1920.
"Kingsbury" is the name of a line of pianos and
Editor Presto: Will you please tell me who is Piano Tuner to Player Expert," by Harry E. Drake, playerpianos prodticed by The Cable Co., Chicago.
making player actions to be put in used pianos or which is produced by J. & J. Goddard, London, Eng- The late Mr. Kingsbury was internationally known
land.
65-note players—to replace with 88-note I mean.
by his connection with the house referred to. He
Presumably Kohler & Chase or Sherman, Clay & was a stockholder in The Cable Co., and even in the
Respectfully yours,
Co., of your city, could advise you on the subject up- predecessor of that company, the Chicago Cottage
WM. BRYAN.
on which you write.
Organ Co., of old. Mr. Kingsbury was an officer
Player actions designed to be applied to used
* * *
in those companies and his name was, very natur-
pianos are now made by the Chicago Player Action
ally, applied to one of the lines of the industry with
TUNER'S ASSOCIATION.
Co., Rockford, 111. (a division of the Schumann
which he was so closely associated.
Akron, O., Aug. 1, 1920.
Piano Co.) and the Lindeuberg Piano Co., Colum-
''Bond" is, as you no doubt know, the name of the
Editor Presto: I know there is an association of
bus, Ohio.
While there are a number of other industries en- tuners of which mention is occasionally made in my president of the Packard Piano Co. Originally the
gaged in the same specialty, we believe that the two Presto. And I think I would like to become a mem- Bond piano was the product of a separate industry
known as the Bond Piano Co., which was affiliated
ber of it.
named will give you perfect satisfaction.
How can I arrange to do that? I think there are with the famous old Packard Piano Co., of Ft.
* * *
members in Cleveland but none here that I know Wayne, Ind. Later the Bond was taken into the
VICTOR AND COLUMBIA RECORDS.
fold of the Packard Piano Co. and is now produced
about.
and marketed by that industry. Of course, there is
Yours truly,
Raymond, Wash., July 28, 1920.
no way by which it might be possible to distort the
H. L. LOBDELL.
Editor Presto: Will you please put me in touch
with some reliable firm that can furnish me with
The office of the National Association of Piano name "Bond" into that of the so-called "stencils."
"P. C. Weaver" is the name of an expert piano
Victor and Columbia records? We are selling Tuners is at 26 East Oak St.. Chicago. The secre-
phonographs md find it very difficult to get Victor tary is W. F. McClellan, and he may be addressed at maker who died some 20 years ago, after he had es-
tablished the industry under his own name at Ot-
and Columbia records to sell. Please give me the the number just given.
address of any firm that you know that I could ob-
Without doubt, should there be a branch of the tawa, 111. The P. C. Weaver Piano Co. was later
tain them from.
National Association nearer your home city, Mr. purchased by E. P. Johnson, who converted the old
Yours very truly,
McClellan will so advise you and give you full in- company into the newer industry which bears his
name.
McCOLEMAN MUSIC CO.
formation concerning membership requirements.
Presumably you have a copy of Presto Buyers'
It is our understanding that the regular distribu-
* * *
Guide,
and if so you will find the distinction clearly
tors of the phonographs you name also handle, in a
PIANO INSURANCE.
drawn as between "stencil" instruments and those
wholesale way, the records of the same industries.
bearing standard names.
Brooklyn, N. Y., Aug. 2, 1920.
Presto Trade List No. 2, which is the Phonograph
We cannot understand how any one who has any
Editor Presto: Could you advise me address of
Directory, contains lists of the distributors of the piano
knowledge
at all of the piano trade could classify
underwriters
insurance
companies
and
what
is
various talking machine industries, including both rate for a single player, to be insured by owner?
any of the three names, to which you draw our at-
the Victor and Columbia. In your own state the
tention, as other than legitimate and standard.
Yours truly,
Victor is distributed by Sherman, Clay & Co., Third
GEORGE MESSIG.
Avc. and Pine St., Seattle, and the same house has
A. H. Howes, manager of the piano department of
a distributing branch at 427 W. First Ave., Spokane.
We have no knowledge of any special under-
The general headquarters of the Columbia Phono- writing agency such as you inquire about. A few Grinnell Bros., Detroit, Mich., has been appointed
graph Co. is in New York City. Lyon & Healy, of years ago there was such an enterprise in Baltimore State Commissioner for the Retail Piano Merchants'
Chicago, make a business of distributing the Victor which was known as the Piano Underwriters Association.
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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