October 21, 1922.
PRESTO
the assurances of good things. They say that merchants are buying
liberally—far more so than a year ago. And they are almost unani-
mous in saying that the business "pick-up" is general. So far as the
piano retailers are concerned, the advise is always the same. Get out
after the prospects. Things are never so active in this business but
that energy is needed and the quality of everlastingly sticking to it
essential. In saying what we have there is no thought of overlooking
the other side of trade opinion. We do not fail to observe that, in a
recent address, the head of a credit association gave "warning" that
the promised "business boom" is not real. He suggests that it is
largely a point of view, and "warns" against too much optimism.
Still we advise piano men not to give much heed to the trade joy-
killers.. Probably the credit association secretary has been finding
collections slow.
Mr. C. C. Chickering is right in his correction of an item which
appeared in last week's Presto. And his letter on another page of
this issue will be read with interest. We have had many comments
upon Mr. Chickering's recent address before the Chicago Piano Club,
usually complimentary. There is one point to which Mr. Chickering,
very naturally, did not refer. It is that he himself has furnished one
of the exceptions to his rule that no large piano industries have been
"organized and built up in a single generation of men who were prac-
tical in the piano line." For if the piano industry which Mr. Chicker-
ing has organized and built up is not yet one of the largest, in the ma-
terial sense, it has attained to a large place in the kind of instruments
produced. He has worked a miracle, in that he chose a piano name
wholly new to the industry, thus breaking a new path, and he has
succeeded in building an artistic piano and creating a demand for it.
In that the maker of the Acoustigrande has won a large success.
* * *
It is said that the Paint Manufacturers' Association places a val-
uation of "more than a million dollars a word" on the co-operative
slogan, "Save the surface." What does the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce consider the slogan, "Give a Little Thought to Music"
worth? And how much more would it be worth had it been made to
read "Give Some thought to Pianos"?
Are you reading Presto's "Where Doubts Are Dispelled"? If so
has it occurred to you that no other music trade journal could present
such indisputable proof of circulation and authoritative influence?
AMPICO FOR THE VANDERBILT
AND KNABE FOR THE ACTRESS
Another Large New York Hotel and Famous Actress
Select Distinguished Instruments.
Add to the list of hotels in New York City which
already have Ampicos the Vanderbilt Hotel. The
management of the Vanderbilt recently purchased
two Knabe Ampico Grands, style 61, one of which
will be used in the Delia Robbia Room for the enter-
tainment of guests.
Ethel Barrymore, the famous actress, has bought a
Knabe piano for her new home. She called at the
Knabe Warerooms, in New York, on September 26th
and chose a style 21 Knabe, Walnut Grand.
GREAT PIANO INDUSTRY
AS EDUCATIONAL INFLUENCE
Schools of Northern Indiana Visit Plant of Straube
Piano Co. at Hammond.
Pointing out that the concern has come to be an
integral part of the community, and that its activities
in northern Indiana have meant much in the way of
civic happiness and prosperity, the Lake County
Times, in a recent editorial on the Straube Piano
Company, congratulated that organization on its pros-
perity, in the name of the paper's subscribers. The
immediate inspiration for the editorial was the eigh-
teenth anniversary celebration being held throughout
October at the Straube retail store, Hammond, Ind.
Delegations of school children from northern In-
diana have been visiting the Straube factory at Ham-
mond for the purpose of getting some idea of mod-
ern manufacturing, as well as to foster their sym-
pathy for good music. The children are shown
through the factory in personal charge of W. G. Betz,
general superintendent of the plant. E. R. Jacobson,
president of the company, is offering cash prizes for
the best essay on the subject, "What I Saw in a Piano
We have published inquiries about pianos from as many as twenty
states in a single issue.
* * *
There are three "Weber" piano industries in Germany. One of
them antedates the American instrument of the same trade mark and
is advertising its establishment as of the year 1860. The German
piano industry displays a remarkable resurrection from the effects of
the war.
* * *
A few years ago the piano men of London were swearing by all
the gods, ancient and modern, that they would never look a German
piano in the ribs again! But already there are more pianos from
Berlin in the London stores than Britain can assemble in a winter's
work.
* * *
A little more energy, a little more perseverance, a little more de-
termination to do things, and the piano retailers will proceed as
seldom before in years. And when the retailers proceed, the manu-
facturers begin to advertise for more skilled workers.
* * *
The Dry Goods Association proposes to form a national code for
better business ethics and practices. Aren't you glad no such proce-
dure is necessary in the piano trade ? How badly conducted some
lines of business seem to be!
* * *
The belated assurance now appears in the New York newspapers
that there is an export demand for American pianos. We have been
repeating it for many years, but few of the industries have seemed to
care to hear.
* * *
It has been necessary to nearly double Presto's advertising rates.
The contracts or arrangements already existing will not be disturbed,
but new accounts will be subject to a substantial increase.
* * *
Is it necessary to sell cheap pianos to Mexico, or none ? The
answer is that the most famous piano in the world is being shipped
into the neighbor republic in carload lots, and many of them.
* * *
The immediate future promises to be a poor season for pessimists
in the piano trade. They'll be too busy dodging prosperity to do
much kicking.
Factory," written by any boy or girl going through
the plant.
With additional orders coming in daily, the
Straube factory is being operated overtime in an ef-
fort to supply the needs of Straube dealers. In ex-
plaining to the employees why it is necessary to work
overtime, Mr. Jacobson has pointed out that the rush
in getting orders must not be allowed to interfere
with Straube quality.
ONE LESS'PIANO INDUSTRY
IN CHICAGO'S ACTIVITIES
Fuehr & Stemmer to Cease Operations and Its Owner
Will Take Life Easy.
CHANGE IN MANKATO, MINN.
The fine industry of Fuehr & Stemmer will soon
retire from piano manufacturing. Chas. Stemmer,
who has long been the sole proprietor, has accumu-
lated a snug fortune during the twenty years of his
enterprise, and he proposes to get what he can out
of life while he is still young enough to enjoy it.
The firm of Fuehr & Stemmer was formed about
twenty years ago, with offices in the Auditorium
building, Chicago, and factory at Belvidere, 111. It
was successful from the very first, its management
being of the conservative, yet progressive, order.
All the trade paper advertising ever done by Feuhr &
Stemmer was in Presto and its auxiliary publications.
The class of trade attracted was of the kind that sus-
tains fine instruments. And that is the kind Fuehr
& Stemmer have produced.
Mr. Fuehr died within a few years after the start
of the industry, and Charles Stemmer took sole con-
trol. He has proved a straightforward, earnest piano
manufacturer, and his decision to withdraw will be
learned with regret by many dealers who have sold
the Fuehr & Stemmer pianos. The factory at Wells
and 27th streets is an unusually well located and
equipped plant. Mr. Stemmer will divide his time be-
tween Florida, where he has a fruit farm, and his
summer home in Wisconsin.
But the name of Fuehr & Stemmer will not become
extinct. A retail house will succeed to the title and
will open a well-stocked store shortly after the fac-
tory closes.
Gomer H. Jones, Mankato, Minn., has sold his in-
terests in the store at 312 South Front street, to the
Sandon-Anderson Music Co. R. C. and W. A. An-
derson, partners in the new company, are local busi-
ness men and O. N. Anderson, the third partner, is
leader of the Sandon Orchestra, and a clarinet solo-
ist of national fame.
The Ferraro Piano Co., Brooklyn, capitalized for
$20,000, is the latest in the music trade of Manhattan.
It was incorporated last week by T. Ferraro, S.
Cavalieri, G. Nifosi. (Attorneys. Raimo, Grugnoli,
Russo & Dicrocco, 299 Broadway.)
NEW KNABE AGENCIES.
Several Knabe agencies have been placed within
the last few weeks covering additional territory in
the south and middle west. F. A. Leatherman le-
ceived the agency for Atlanta and surrounding terri-
tory. Carl Latenser will now feature the Knabe at
Atchison, Kans., and in Alexandria, La., Pincus &
Murphey Music House will carry the Knabe as
leader, W. L. Eshelman at St. Joseph, Mo., and
Frank S. Botefuhr at Pittsburg, Kans. In all these
instances the Knabe with the Ampico in both grands
and uprights will be carried in stock and exploited to
the full capacity of the activities of the various
houses.
PACKARD IN KANSAS CITY.
The Edison Shop, Kansas City, Mo., one of the
liveliest firms carrying an exclusive line of talking
machines, has added another incentive to activity in
the line of pianos and playerpianos of the Packard
Co., Fort Wayne, Ind. The enthusiasm which dis-
tinguished the house in its presentation of the Edison
phonograph will be extended to the fine line of pianos
and players from the Fort Wayne industry. All ar-
rangements of the deal were made by Al. Buenning.
LATEST NEW YORK PIANO CO.
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