Presto

October 30, 1920.
ACTIVITIES OF PIANO
CLUB OF CHICAGO
Discussions at Each Meeting to Be Led by
an Address by a Member Appointed by
the President.
The Piano Club of Chicago is entering on a new-
career—its leaders hope a greater career. Anyway,
it has raised the dues, as reported in a recent issue
of Presto, to $10 annually for resident members and
$5 for non-residents, and it has sent out a letter to
each member stating that fact and asking for a
check for the amount so that the membership of
the club can be determined. Accompanying the
letter, on a printed slip, were the following "recom-
mendations," involving, as some may fancy, a need-
less "slam" at as fine a body of business men as
exists anywhere. There is no member of the Chi-
cago trade who is lacking in the small sum of
"seriousness" demanded by the writer of the "rec-
ommendations":
No. 1: That the dues be raised from $2 per year to
$10 per year. The reason for that is, if this club is
going to represent and stand for the high ideals for
which it is going to be reorganized, then it is desired
it attract to its membership, only that class of men
in the music business who take their business se-
riously and want to assist in eliminating the evils,
if any, and raise the standards of the trade. Those
who have not $10 worth of seriousness in them
would not, in our opinion, make desirable members.
It is hoped that by the end of the season each
member will say that he would be glad to give $10
just to say he is a member of the Piano Club of
Chicago.
No. 2: That the club maintain a daily table for
lunch at the Stratford Hotel, and also have a weekly
luncheon on Thursday, or some other day, if found
desirable, at the City Club, where a private dining
room can be obtained. Also, once each month, on
Thursday, instead of the lunch have a dinner at the
City Club at 6:30. Cost—Lunch, $1. Dinner, $1.50.
No" tips.
No. 3: Program for the first seven monthly eve-
ning dinner meetings: (
1. New ways to get business; 2. One price system;
3. Construction of piano; 4. Construction of player-
piano; 5. Quality or price; 6. Trade-ins; 7. Exhibi-
tion of the possibilities of the playerpiano.
Each meeting to be led by a member appointed
by the president with open discussion.
No. 4: Maintain a block of seats at the Sym-
phony Orchestra Saturday evening concerts for the
use of members. Possibly the opera.
No. 5: Keep the members posted as to musical
attractions going on from time to time with an idea
of creating an interest in them and encouraging
Piano Club ^representation at same. ^Concerts, re-
citals, etc.
No. 6: Work in conjunction with Chicago Piano
fk Organ Association in the matter of music in in-
dustry. Appointment of several groups to visit com-
munity centers, industries, etc., and see music in in-
dustry in actual operation and practice, in order
that the members may become more saturated with
i-i, -,i,, n n r r i ;t s possibilities. Also, work out a con-
structive programme along those lines whereby all
members will, be participants.
No. 7: Make preparations for a musical pro-
gramme to be held during the convention in May.
Not at the music.show, should there be one held.
NEW VENTURES SHARE
FAVOR OF BUYERS
Late Additions to Forces of Piano Distribution
Show Liveliness of Trade.
Walther & Mynore have opened a piano depart-
ment in their store in Jefferson City, Mo.
Elber Lumbard, manager of J. Greener estate of
Elmira, N. Y., has established an agency in Horse-
heads, N. Y., with the William L. Hessup store on
Main street.
J. L. Phillips of the Winchester Music Company,
Winchester, Ky., has opened the store on Court
street.
Several changes in the interior of the Cheshire
Music Store, 214 Seventh street, Rockford, 111., are
planned by the management.
John F. Kneisel, proporietor of a music shop on
St. Clair street, Toledo, O., has taken a ten-year
lease on the old Rialto Hotel building which he
will convert into a music shop.
Roy R. Haas has purchased an interest in the
Crystal Lake Music Store, North Crystal Lake,
111., and it will be known as the Crystal Lake Music
Company, Inc.
Muehlauser Bros., at 1613 Euclid avenue, Cleve-
land, O., is holding a removal sale of the stock
of pianos, players and phonographs.
Fithchthorn Bros,, Reading, Pa., music d-ealers,
have removed from 81A South Fourth street to the
PRESTO
basement of the bank annex, where a full line of
musical merchandise will be carried.
John F. Kneisel, proprietor of a music
shop on St. Clair street, Toledo, O., has taken a
ten-year lease on the old Rialto Hotel building
which he will convert into a music shop.
Victor Redewell expects to open a store in Tulare,
Calif., this fall.
The Thompson Piano Co., New Haven, Conn.,
will open a branch in a few weeks at 302 Main
street, Derby, Conn. #
Samuel Minkin and H. Horvitz are interested in
the Minkin Music Store, 122 Cherry avenue, Can-
ton, O.
Lyman W. Emmons has moved from Evansville,
Ind., to Lawrenceville, 111.
When the McDougall Music Co., Portland, Ore.,
moves to its new store on Tenth street about the
end of the year it will add pianos, talking machines
and sheet music to its regular band and orchestra
lines.
Tegtmeier Bros., Inc., Englewood, 111., have
opened a new store at 6335 South Halsted street.
The second floor is devoted to a show room, recital
hall and a series of booths devoted to phonographs.
The Worley Furniture Company, Smithfield, N.
C, has moved the stock of furniture, talking ma-
chines, organs, etc., into its new store.
The new store of A. F. Tanner & Co., Monrovia,
Calif., recently ouened in Covinar, is under the man-
agement of H. E. Klein.
EDGAR SMITH'S FORTIETH
YEAR AT KIMBALL'S
Retail Department of W. W. Kimball Co.
House in Chicago Gathers to Honor Its
Chief in Gala Event.
W'hen Edgar C. Smith, head of the retail depart-
ment of the W. W. Kimball Company's main store
in Chicago and branch stores in the city, arrived
at his office on Saturday morning of last week he
found the place crowded with his salesmen, sales-
women and office forces. And on his desk and
PROGRESS OF AN ACTIVE
ILLINOIS PIANO FIRM
New Location in Peoria of Chas. C. Adams & Co.
Will Provide Suitable Floor Space.
The Chas. C. Adams & Co., Peoria, 111., is hold-
ing a "Special $100,000.00 moving sale," preparatory
to moving from the old location in the Central
National Bank Building to 114 S. Adams street.
The company has obtained a long-time lease on
the property and will occupy it about November 1.
The Adams Music House came to Peoria in 1904,
moving their headquarters here from Dwight, 111.
The business of the Baldwin Piano Company at
324 South Adams street was purchased by the
Adams company in 1905 which continued at that
address until .1911, when the business of the Brown,
Page & Hillman Co. was purchased. The Adams
company since has become one of the best known
music houses in Central Illinois.
The new location at 114 South Adams street gives
the company 14,000 feet of floor space. Extensive
alterations are being made which will give facilities
for the conduct of a modern music business. Im-
provements will include a large number of sound-
proof demonstration rooms for the display of talk-
ing machines, pianos and playerpianos. The new
Ampico Reproducing pianos will be displayed in a
special room.
DEALER PROVIDED FEAST.
The Farmers' and Merchants" Fall Festival in
Louisiana, Mo., last week gave the Parks Music
House Co. the welcome chance to do the hospitable
to visitors. The progressive dealers provided a
feast of music that was continuous in the serving.
This invitation in all the newspapers in the territory
covered by the Louisiana firm was freely responded
to: "You are going to get something that's coming
to you if you attend the Farmers' r and Merchants'
Fall Festival at Louisiana, and w hile here, we ex-
tend you a cordial invitation to make our store your
headquarters and feel perfectly at home. Our store
will be right in the center of the crowds and we will
have a place for you to rest and besides we have
something that you never heard."
HANDSOME WISCONSIN STORE.
The convenience of the salesman and the pleasure
of the customer was the foremost consideration in
the arrangement of the store of the Badger Music
Shop, Fond du Lac, Wis., which was formally
opened a few weeks ago. The wisdom of the plans
is seen in the smooth manner in which business is
done. The piano department is on the second
floor, on which floor the player music roll depart-
ment is also located. E. R. Sweeney, vice-president
of the Badger Music Shop, is manager.
TALKS FOR THE PACKARD.
Schario & Frame is a firm of jewelers in Danville,
111., which has made a success of a piano depart-
ment, handles the Packard Piano Co.'s line of pianos
and playerpianos. The Danville firm is a persistent
advertiser. This is an advertising statement printed
this week: "A Packard piano gives definite charm
to any home. Its exquisite beauty of design and
the rare charm of its tone, make you proud to pos-
sess such a marvelous- instrument. Come to our
store and see the Packard—hear it played, too."
EDGAR C. SMITH.
secretary's desk were great vases full of the
choicest flowers, both native and exotic. *
Mr. Smith was reminded by the spokesmen of the
occasion that these men and women had assembled
to do him honor on his birthday and particularly
to commemorate the completion of his fortieth year
at Kimball's. He had just remarked that he must
go out and buy himself a few golf balls, when he
was advised to open a box on the table. To his
surprise, the employes had anticipated his wish,
and there was a box of golf balls of the right as-
sortment. It was a happy occasion, and felicitious
addresses were given.
In the box with the balls, in the Spencerian
handwriting of George Schleiffarth, was the follow-
ing:
"When you get to the hazard
Drive straight through;
If you can't put it over
WV11 help you."
The Retail,
Oct. 23, 1920."
Mr. Smith has seen the house grow from its small
beginnings in the days of W. W. Kimball until to-
day it occupies more than one complete floor of
the new Kimball Hall building at Wabash avenue
and Jackson boulevard. He has encouraged many
a beginner at selling pianos at retail in Chicago.
Many a tongue have his salesmen spoken when they
went forth to solicit business in the great polyglot
city, and the Kimball instruments have been used
as one of the methods to help the melting pot to boil.
REMINGTON PROGRESS.
A fine illustration of what may be done quickly
in the phonograph industry is afforded by the
Remington Phonograph Corporation, of New
York. The Remington already has as good a list
of loyal and enthusiastic representatives through-
out the country as any talking machine save, per-
haps, three of the older ones. And it won't take
long for the Remington to catch up with the old-
est of them if things move along in future as in
the past. General Manager and Vice-President
Jas. S. Holmes had an advantage in the start be-
cause of his wide experience in the piano industry.
He had so many friends selling musical instru-
ments that it was comparatively easy to interest a
good proportion of them in the phonograph. And
the merits of the Remington are-al4 that was- needed
to "do the rest."
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