Presto

Issue: 1920 1781

September 11, 1920.
at this time. It would be easy for any investors, with a leaning
toward piano manufacture, to secure going concerns, of modern
equipment and possessing established outlets for maximum produc-
tion, at comparatively small cost. Small cost, that is, as com-
pared with the original investments in time, experience and money.
And no one who knows much about the piano business will
question the future possibilities of the industry and trade. Within
the past decade there have been more evidences of the money-mak-
ing character of the piano industry than almost ever before since the
first instrument was made in this country. And yet during the
period indicated there have been obstacles and perplexities to solve
and overcome beyond all that had been presented theretofore. Better
still, the piano industry and trade have at last arrived at a stage of
progress only dreamed of in years gone by. The trade has stabilized
and the methods by which public suspicion had been aroused have
been swept away. The morning of a new day in the retail trade has
begun, and the fruits of high-class piano manufacture are ripening.
There is the order and dignity of systematic procedure in both the
producing and selling departments of the business, and when things
in the industrial world generally become normal again, there will be
little to complain of and very much for which to be glad.
And how does the condition to which reference has been made
bear in upon the retail end of the piano industry? Isn't it possible,
also, that in the readiness of well-known industries to "sell out,"
there may be seen a result of the short-sightedness of the dealers
who rebel at the necessarily increased prices of pianos? If the
dealers were willing to bear their share of the burden of higher
prices isn't it conceivable that the manufacturers, who have been
supplying them but are confronted with withdrawal of orders, would
reconsider and conclude to redouble their efforts? We know that,
in at least one case, this is the exact condition. Perhaps it illustrates
the folly of "carrying all the eggs in one basket." When the few
customers—one large and several small ones—think they have cause
for crying "profiteer," and shift allegiance to some cheap line of in-
struments at risk of near-ruin to themselves, the manufacturer by
whose pianos they have prospered is left to begin all over again.
Rather than do that, he decides that it is a good time in which to sell
out. And if he succeeds in selling he, perhaps, may live to regret it
and to see his old industry bounding forward under new and possibly
wiser management.
The retailer, too, in such a case is a large loser. He has followed
the example of the dog in iEsop's fable and dropped the meaty bone
into the stream where his own shadow misled him to snatch an imagi-
nary larger bone. There is no better asset to any piano dealer than
OHIO ASSOCIATION
COMPLETES PLANS
Convention of Piano Merchants' Association
of Ohio in Youngstown Next Week Will
Be a Notable Music Trade
Event.
Plans for the convention of the Piano Merchants'
Association of Ohio, now completed, promise a rous-
ing success next week in Youngstown. President
William R. Graul and Secretary Rexford C. Hyre
are confident the meeting will be the most important
ever held in the state. The membership of the Ohio
association now numbers 170 dealers. Among the
newest on the new membership list are: Sherman
Ralyeat, Van Wert: Harry Barry, Greenville; J. A.
Bauer, Celina; D. S. Cartnell, Wapakoneta; Branch
E. Crippen, Marietta: H. W. Davidson, Marietta;
William O. Franke, Akron; W. R. Hudson, Troy;
Loren M. Hussey, Greenville; W. S. Hyer, Green-
ville; Clem F. Imfield, Hamilton; Walter O. Loy,
New Bremen; Lon E. Needier, Van Wert; Rudd W.
Randolph, Cleveland; F. Earl Shaffer, Van Wert; C.
E. Shaw, Lodi; Joseph O. Voress, Wapakoneta;
Tony Zender, Lima.
Interesting Days.
The business sessions will be held in the Hotel
Ohio, Youngstown, September 14. All meetings will
be held in the Assembly Hall of the hotel. Presi-
dent W. R. Graul will preside and an address of wel-
come will be made by Fred J. Weruock, mayor of
Youngstown.
At the noon session September 14, C. M. Tre-
maine, director of the National Rurtdii tor the Ad-
vancement of Music, will deliver an address on "Mu-
sic. A Municipal Necessity.'" Other addresses will
follows:
At 3:30 p. m. all members attending the convention
will be taken on an auto ride to the Youngstown
the instrument in which he has invested his personal efforts and
for which he has made a local fame. To such a dealer no advance in
price can justify a rupture between himself and the factory. And at
this particular time any retail piano dealer who can not see the need
of the manufacturer's increase in prices must be lacking in the kind
of common sense by which compensation is had between cause and
effect.
Without mentioning any names, there are several young-spirited
elderly men in the piano industry—we all know who they are. Gray
hair does not mean necessarily a gray spirit. Lew Fields, in the New
York Tribune of Sunday last, September 5, speaks up for youthful
elderly men as follows: "While you can't keep your hair young for-
ever, you can keep your mind in that state and that helps your
spirits and the soles of your feet wonderfully. Experience isn't to
be underestimated, but give me the man with youth in his two fists."
* * *
The snug little city of DeKalb, 111., is changing the character of
its distinction. It has been called the "Barb City" because barbed
wire was first produced there. Today it may more properly be called
the "Player City" because it claims two ambitious industries devoted
to as many departments of the Music industry. The Apollo Piano
Co. and the Clark Orchestra Roll Co. are making a new fame for
DeKalb, and the last-named industry occupies the identical factory
building wherein millions were made by the "barbed wire king."
•f
*
*
Like the flu and the hay fever, the long-time pianists break out
at irregular intervals. Just what gain there is to any one in the
banging of a key-pounder against time it strains the intelligence to
discover. But there must be champions in every ring, and the long-
distance piano pounders are as much entitled to their opportunities
as are the maulers with the mitts.
* * *
A strong belief in a gradual and natural readjustment of business
conditions without financial disorder or any sudden economic calam-
ity is expressed by the Committee on Statistics and Standards of the
Chamber of Commerce of the United States, in its semi-annual bulletin
on crop and general business conditions.
The fact that prices of clothing and other commodities have
declined greatly in the East, is no criterion by which to judge piano
prices, as pianos have never risen in price proportionate with these
commodities.
Country Club, where golf will be played and other
pastimes enjoyed.
Otto Schulz to Talk.
The "General Topic" for the morning session on
September 15 will be "Relations with Manufactur-
ers." Otto Schulz, president of the M. Schulz Co.,
Chicago, will talk on "The Piano and Playerpiano
Manufacturer."
Other Topics.
"Talking Machines and Their Records" will be the
topic of Charles K. Bennett, Eclipse Musical Co.,
Cleveland. Geo. H. Bliss will talk on "The Player
Roll Manufacturer," A. B. Smith, Akron, on ''Read-
justment of Wholesale Prices,"' and discussions gen-
erally will be led by Henry Dreher, M. V. De For-
eest, Sharon, Pa., and others.
The closing session on Wednesday afternoon will
be devoted to discussions and addresses which in-
clude one by Rexford C. Hyre and C. L. Dennis.
The election of officers will take place at this ses-
sion.
At 7 p. m. a dinner dance will be given at the Hotel
Ohio.
JAMES MUNN DIES.
Intelligence has been received from Sidney, N. Y.,
of the death of James Munn, of Walton, which oc-
curred at the hospital in Norwich, August 18. The
body was conveyed to Walton, where the funeral
services were held, with interment in the cemetery
there. Mr. Munn was an extensive dealer in musical
instruments and had established a factory in Walton.
He was a prominent business man with many warm
friends who sincerely mourn his death.
W. T. BRINKERHOFF TRAVELS.
Will T. Brinkerhoff, president of the Brinkerhoff
Piano Company, Chicago, left on Tuesday night of
this week for Detroit. He expects to travel about a
good deal in Michigan, and do some fishing in its
line streams during the next ten days which he will
devote to the double purpose of a vacation and busi-
ness.
EMERSON PIANO HOUSE
HAS CHANGED HANDS
Harry I. Spayd, W. Curtis Busher, John F. McDer-
mott and Rufus Peabody New Owners.
The Emerson Piano House, Decatur, 111., was sold
last week by the Emerson Piano Co., of Boston, to
Harry I. Spayd, who has been manager of the local
store since 1918. Associated with Mr. Spayd in the
purchase of the store are W. Curtis Busher, John F.
McDermott and Rufus Peabody, who have been
with Mr. Spayd in the business there. •
This is the only retail store that the Emerson com-
pany has operated. While the consideration is not
given, the store, fixtures and stock is known to
mount upwards into a pretty considerable figure.
Mr. Spayd was with the S. M. Lutz Company in
Decatur for twelve years and then manager of the
present store for the last two years. Mr. Busher
has been with the store six years and is manager of
the piano department. Mr. McDermott has been
employed three years as head of the talking machine
department, and Mr. Peabody has been in charge of
the office work for two years.
The new firm will still be known as The Emerson
Piano House and will handle the same line of goods
as at present. The store has shown a steady growth
and Mr. Spayd has been successful in his manage-
ment.
FACTORY BURGLARIZED.
A report was made to the Perth Amboy, N. J.,
police last week that the Kimberley Phonograph
Company's -factory at 228 Fayette street had been
entered and eight unfinished phonographs taken.
Later Mr. Isenberg of the firm was called and he
reported that three finished boxes had been taken.
It is said that a horse and wagon were seen in the
vicinity of the factory some time at night and it
possible that the loot was carried away in the
wagon.
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/
O
the lovingly conceived plan of the owner. Mr. Cor-
win in early life worked with his father, who was a
contractor, and so he was competent to create a
workman-like plan for the dreamed-of store. For
economy of space, ease in doing business, proper dis-
posal of the different lines of music goods and con-
Pleasing Personality of Albert T. Strauch, Jr., venience generally the store of the Covington dealer,
designed by himself, is well worth the observation
Makes the Right Impression at the Head-
of piano men. He has recently built a new front
quarters of Mid-West Piano Industries.
and added several new booths for demonstrations on
There was a caller of unusual interest in the Chi- the first floor. From the garage adjoining the store
cago piano factory offices this week. He is Albert an elevator reaching to the upper floors adds to ease
pianos.
T. Strauch, Jr., who has been making the acquaint- in handling
W r hen Mr. Corwin visited Chicago this week he
ance of as many of the piano manufacturers through-
out the middle west as possible. And the impression was on his way home from a visit to the factory of
he has made is of a kind to insure him a warm wel- the Hobart M. Cable Co., in La Porte, Ind. He was
accompanied by his cousin, Miss Orr, who is one of
come on the occasion of future visits.
ablest aids in selling pianos and players. Mr.
The distinguished piano action house of Strauch his
regretted missing a meeting with Hobart M.
Bros., New York, is one of the supply industries with Corwin
Cable,
president,
and Edwin M. Schurz, treasurer,
a history crowded with the kind of attainment that both visiting in the
but Howard B. Morenus,
sheds credit upon the American piano. From the vice-president, made East,
it pleasant for the visitors to
day of its establishment, more than a half century La Porte in his characteristically
hospitable and
ago, to the present time, there has never been a agreeable way. The relations between
Ohio
word of derogation, and the products of the house dealer and the La Porte piano industry the
are ideal.
have steadily strengthened the character of their The
Hobart M. Cable Co. appreciates a dealer of am-
makers. Naturally when the younger representative
and the energy to realize it, and Mr. Corwin is
of the house appears for the first time, the busiest bition
sensible
of the worth of association with a fine, re-
piano manufacturer is not too busy to give him atten- liable line
of pianos and players and a company
tion. Albert T. Strauch, Jr., is in many respects a whose policy
is a generous consideration of the
true son of his father. In appearance the resem- dealer.
blance is striking, and in his manner of giving ex-
pression to trade impressions and views born of
experience in the New York factory, he is almost, if
not quite, as precise and accurate as the elder Albert
T. Strauch, who, veteran in the industry, still seems
a youngster. And of course the junior member of
the famous action industry is enthusiastic over the
progress of things at the new Strauch Bros, factory. Several Cases of Swelled Hip Find Remarkable
Cures at Winter Garden Show.
"We are getting settled rapidly," he said, "and
while we are not yet attempting to fill all demands,
The active ones of the Kohler Industries, New
as we would like to do, the time is not far distant York, relaxed one evening last week and dined to-
when our output will justify the promise that the gether at Keene's Chop House. Later they took
desirable end has been reached. Just now, as a mat- their minds more completely off business and in a
ter of fact, I am instructed not to take orders at body attended the show with a thousand kicks at the
all, my mission being to meet the gentlemen of the Winter Garden.
industry, so that on future trips I may not be ex-
Perhaps the greatest degree of interest evinced
actly "a stranger in a strange land.' "
by the party was aroused by William H. Bowles,
Mr. Strauch has been, for several weeks, in at- the eminent surgeon, when he performed a success-
tendance at the Forest Reserve school, in connec- ful operation for enlargement of the hip joint. The
tion with the University of Wisconsin, at Madison, patient was E. C. Schwarcz, whose fearfully dis-
and he has there acquired valuable information which torted hip was reduced to its original symmetry by a
pertains, indirectly but surely, to the industry to simple laying on of Mr. Bowles' hands. Minor op-
which his life is to be devoted.
erations for similar cases were performed on others
Of course the Presto representative asked Mr. during the evening.
Strauch about his grandfather, Peter Strauch, to
When the festivities were over it was discovered
whose industry and skill a good share of the Ameri- that Mr. Schwarcz had lost his brand-new flivver
can piano's perfection is due. It is a pleasure to sedan, which, however, a scouting party discovered
know that the veteran is still hale and enjoying life next morning on a side street near the theater.
as much as ever, his 83 years resting as lightly as he
The following took part in the events: E. A.
could wish. The Strauch brothers, Albert and Wil- Cardinal, H. Simpson, W. L. Knegel, J. T. Gibson,
liam, are, of course, filled with the same enthusiasm G. Campbell, B. P. Sibley, W. H. Bowles, G. L.
as was expressed by the junior representative—that Mclntyre, W. P. H. Bacon, W. J. Barton, E. Vidaud,
of the change from the old factory to the new. And H. J. Lajoie, E. C. Schwarcz, W. C. Heaton.
they are as active as ever—as they should be, in the
prime of life and the attainment of the end to which
their energies have long been directed. And this
REX PIANO CO. IS BUSY.
means that the Strauch piano actions will, if pos-
Lem Kline, who heads the selling end of the Rex
sible, be better than ever and, of course, there will be Piano Company, third floor of the Republic building,
many more of them coming from the new and great- Chicago, is so busy these days that he has been
ly enlarged factory.
obliged to actually turn some orders down, or parts
of good orders. When a Presto representative called
on him at his office on Wednesday of this week he
has just closed a deal for 200 machines as an initial
order to the phonograph department of a large de-
partment store in Chicago. The instruments are be-
ing produced so far in the factory at Genoa, 111., but
Piano Man Guessed True About Possibilities of Cov- Mr. Kline says the company will be in its new fac-
tory at 2048-52 Larrabee street, Chicago, this month.
ingtbn, O., Farmers for Weed.
When J. S. Corwin, the Covington, O., piano
RECALLS THE "LITTLE GIANT."
dealer, holds the formal opening of his remodeled
There is an active piano dealer at Appleton City,
store in a few weeks he will have realized in part
the ambitions born ten years ago. It was at that Mo., who bears a name which holds a place high in
comparatively recent time he opened in one small American history. The gentleman is Stephen A.
room, but his hopes were high because his experi- Douglas, who deals in "high grade pianos, stringed
ence was wide, his energy great and his courage instruments and musical instruments of all kinds."
dauntless. He chose Covington because he consid- W*hen the original Stephen A. Douglas ran for the
ered it an ideal location for a permanent piano busi- presidency against Abraham Lincoln, he set an ex-
ample of courage in defeat that has left an indelible
ness.
Covington is picturesque enough to thrill the artist, mark in the life of higher politics. Mr. Douglas of
but it would give Lucy Page Gaston a pain in the Appleton City, Mo., has a good name and he is doing
olfactories. It is one of the famous tobacco towns a crood business.
of that section, and is redolent of the weed. To-
bacco warehouses, diffusing their fragrance tower
NO MORE "KRAFT" PIANOS.
high on the landscape, and at the selling season
After
an extended experiment and the expenditure
the streets are cluttered with the bales and hogs-
heads of filler and wrapper and mixture leaf. It is of a good deal of money in the effort to establish a
then that Mr. Corwin reaps the reward of previous piano industry in Boston, the Kraft, Bates & Spen-
months of advertising and personal appeals to pros- cer Company, of that city, has given it up. In re-
pective piano and playerpiano buyers among the to- ply to the information blank request for purposes
bacco growers. Ten energetic years are represented of the 1921 edition of Presto Buyers' Guide, the Bos-
in his store, which is generally admitted to contain ton firm writes thus: "Please be advised that we
the handsomest set of warerooms in Miami county have discontinued manufacturing pianos."
and a stock of music goods to interest the most in-
different prospect.
The Emerson Piano House, Decatur, III., features
The Cofwin store has developed and grown after the Chickering pianos this week.
THIRD GENERATION OF
STRAUCH IS CALLING
NEW YORK PIANO MEN
ENJOY GREAT EVENING
J. S. CORWIN ACHIEVES
SUCCESS IN TOBACCO BELT
September 11, 1920.
PRICE & TEEPLE PIANO CO.
WIN PATENT RIGHT VICTORY
Commissioner of Patents Decides in Their Favor
Against Phonograph Men.
The following statement by the Price & Teeple
Piano Co., of an important court ruling with refer-
ence to the name "Symphonola" must interest the
entire trade. The name is one that has been made
familiar, and even famous, by its consistent use on
instruments of unchallenged merits.
The application of the Symphonola Manufactur-
ing Co., of Minneapolis, Minn., for a trade-mark and
the privilege of using the name "Symphonola" on
phonographs, as well as the application of Paul Rud-
ert, of Tarentum, Penn., to use the name "Sym-
phone" on sound boxes for phonographs, have just
been denied by Commissioner of Patents, Washing-
ton, D. C, the Commissioner ruling that the use of
the name "Symphonola" or a similar name, such as
"Symphone," on phonographs, was interfering with
the rights of the Price & Teeple Piano Co., of Chi-
cago, who clearly established the fact that they had
used the name "Symphonola" since the year 1911,
thus antedating the others, and were therefore en-
titled to the exclusive rights to the name "Sympho-
nola" or any name of similar character.
This decision affirms the prior favorable decision
of the Examiner of Interferences, in the above men-
tioned Case, No. 43386.
The Price & Teeple Piano Co. are to be congratu-
lated upon having these sweeping decisions rendered
in their favor, as it establishes beyond all question
their prior and exclusive rights to the name "Sym-
phonola" or any similar name, not only upon pianos
and playerpianos, but upon talking machines, rec-
ords, appliances and any type of musical instrument.
The decision simply confirms the right of a piano
name to be used on phonographs and parts and ac-
cessories by the owner, and the manufacturer of
other musical instruments has no right to the use
of an established piano name. In previous cases
Steinway & Sons, the Wilcox & White Co., manu-
facturers of the Angelus; and The Cable Company,
manufacturers of the Carola, each won their cases
against the phonograph manufacturers; the piano
men stopped them.
MISS. BEEBE VISITS
REPUBLIC ROLL PLANO
In the Company's Recording Rooms Clever Pianist
Plays Several Selections.
Miss Florence Beebe, who conducts the player
roll activites of the May Co., Cleveland, Ohio, dur-
ing her recent visit to New York was a visitor to
the Republic Player Roll Corporation's new factory.
Miss Beebe was particularly interested in the re-
cording room which this corporation has equipped
in its new building and played several selections on
the instruments.
Miss Beebe . besides being one of the foremost
figures in player roll sales in the United States is
a pianist of remarkable talent, having recorded many
selections from time to time for the modern player
roll. After her visit to New York Miss Beebe
returned to Cleveland to start an active campaign
on Republic player rolls which will run iuto the
rush holiday business.
NEW VENTURES SHARE
FAVOR OF BUYERS
Late Additions to Forces of Piano Distribution
Show Liveliness of Trade.
T. J. Smith, manager of Schroeder's piano store,
after three months of success in selling pianos, is
closing the store in Woodlawn, Pa., for the winter,
on account of poor heating system in the building.
Thomas F. Moore has closed a deal for the lease
of his concrete building which he is constructing on
Wall street, Winchester, Ky., to T. F. Phillips of the
Phillips Music Company. The building will be open
for business about September 15.
Muncy Bros., Richmond, Ky., will open a new fur-
niture and music store in Berea, Ky., within a very
short time.
T. A. Kling has purchased the E. Smith Music
Store on North Poplar street, Centralia, 111.
EUPHONA AT COUNTY FAIR.
B. S. Porter & Son, Lima, O., had a piano and
player exhibit at the Allen County Fair recently,
where they showed a complete line of instruments
and particularly featured the Euphona Inner-player,
made by The Cable Company, Chicago. The com-
pany was established in 1877.
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/

Download Page 5: PDF File | Image

Download Page 6 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.