Presto

November 4, 1922.
PRESTO
long to bring- their squares to a place of approximate perfection that
the upright was not a welcome innovation. A few of the foremost
piano makers held out against the upright with a tenacity which
threatened to close their factories. But eventually the square died,
and the work of developing the upright absorbed all of the skilled
piano makers' energies.
Another quarter-century passed before the next vital advance in
the piano industry. For twenty years, or more, a few enthusiasts and
dreamers had been at work upon a "self-playing" piano. It finally
took shape, and the world listened, at first incredulously, to pianos that
performed accurately by mechanical means. And for a long time
they were, literally, mechanical pianos.
And then came the more perfect mechanism and the better music
rolls. Today the reproducing or "reenacting" piano, and the music
roll that records the color and the refinement of interpretative
pianism, are no longer rare, in the original sense.
But since the player-piano came, the evidence of creative power,
and the inventiveness of genius have been invested in the realms of
improvement rather than discovery. As Mr. Story said, there has
been nothing essentially new. The piano itself has not changed ma-
terially in "two or three decades." It is still the piano and it does not,
as a rule, surpass, as a piano, the instruments of "two or three
decades" ago. There are some exceptions, of course. It is possible
to name a few great pianos which, in beauty of tone and power
of exquisite expression, surpass anything to be had thirty years
ago, or less. There are pianos today, of great fame, which were lit-
tle known thirty years back. And there were pianos thirty years
ago, which commanded the highest praise, which are now no longer
in existence.
But what are the vital changes in the piano, as a piano? What
are the newcomers in the family of which Christofori is the accredited
first father? And what are the changes, the vital improvements, since
the days of Jonas Chickering? Pianos have vastly improved, of
course. But are there any basic changes which entitle any new in-
strument to be called the piano's rival or competitor?
We can name one invention of recent date, in which there seemed
to be the germ, at least, of a piano revolution. It was the "tunerless"
device of a scientific worker in a small New York town. But no one
seemed to want it. The piano was perhaps good enough already.
And, certainly, so far as concerns the qualities of some of them they
could scarcely be better—as pianos. And certainly there is no abso-
lutely new instrument in sight.
What Mr. C. E. Byrne says about the wisdom of "providing work
for the organization in dull times as insurance against shortage of
supplies in better times," seems to us to apply equally to the matter
of advertising. There are manufacturers who will not promote their
business when times are dull, because times are dull; and they do not
feel the need of promotion-investment when times are good, because
times are good. That sort of outlook and argument is of the ostrich
order of intelligence. That the other way is the correct one, is shown
by what Mr. Byrne says on another page this week illuminated by a
mighty good story.
In a short interview with Mr. L. M. Newman, of the Newman
Bros. Co., Chicago, which appears in this issue of Presto, that gentle-
NEW MACHINES HELP FILL
NEWMAN BROS. PIANO ORDERS
Improved Machinery in Several Departments of Fac-
tory to Increase Production at Once.
New machinery and equipment which has been
added to the plant of the Newman Bros. Co., Chi-
cago, is bringing a much needed increase in the pro-
duction of the pianos of that fine industry, to meet
the growing demand.
New machines have been installed in the player, re-
producing, and grand piano departments of the New-
man factory, and are now in operation. Their effect
on the production will be noticeable immediately.
The machines put in are all of modern type, some
being made especially to the order of the Newman
Bros. Co., which is always on the lookout for im-
provements in its manufacturing methods, especially
such changes as will improve the quality of the prod-
uct, and enable the factory to turn out more instru-
ments.
The reports from dealers to the Newman company
are encouraging and point to a very promising fall
man says something peculiarly timely and useful to the retailers.
"To play too conservatively just now," says Mr. Newman, "places
the merchant in danger that he will soon find himself short of goods."
That is absolutely true. This is a good time to let the manufacturers
know what you want, or are going to want in the near future. Co-
operate with the sources of your supplies and you will profit by it.
*
*
*
Does it ever seem that there can be too much music for the good
of the music business—we mean of the musical instrument selling
end of it? Is it possible that too much "thought of music" may result
in a surfeit of the best thing in the world, and draw the people who
should make music at home and need pianos with which to make it.
Hearing music in concert halls is not all that the music business re-
quires. "Give a Little More Thought to Buying Pianos," might be
a better slogan. •
* * *
What Mr. Chas. E. Byrne says, this issue of Presto, on the sub-
ject of labor shortage, must interest every piano manufacturer and
most of the dealers, also. It is not the view taken by some other
manufacturers, but Mr. Byrne, as an executive in one of the largest
industries- engaged in making pianos, must know what he is talking
about. And certainly he has the ability to give expression to clearly
defined opinions, based upon unchallengable observation.
*
*
*
The Princetons were not the only winners at the recent great
football game in Chicago, stories of which have filled the newspa-
pers. The biggest bass drum in the world was there, also. And the
Chicago University Band was radiant and splendid with its full equip-
ment of instruments of the C. G. Conn, Inc., manufacture. And when
the band played it was a splendid sight and sound. See item in Week's
Odds and Ends.
* * *
If there is a piano shortage at this time, when the demand is
rapidly rising, what is to blame for such a condition? The dealers
want pianos. Several have said, in Presto's office, that they had been
"turned down" by large and representative industries. Why? Make
more pianos, and in that fulfill the injunction to "make hay while the
sun shines."
•
* * *
The holiday outlook is good. New York authorities say that a
better class of buying will be done this season than before; that the
larger and higher priced gifts will be more frequent. That must
mean that pianos will go as Christmas gifts. Which must interest the
piano salesmen.
* * *
Persistency is essential in the successful piano salesman. This
quality may seem to force business but, to win, the piano business
often needs forcing. People who want pianos are often the very
ones who do not seem to know it.
* * *
It is time to begin to talk about the holiday trade. There will
be many pianos sold for Christmas gifts this year. Trade experts
say that better gifts will prevail this season. And pianos are of the
better gifts kind.
and winter business, L. M. Newman, president of the
company, stated this week.
"Our pianos are going fast, and we are getting
away from the depression of bad times," Mr. New-
man said. "The thing for music merchants to do
now is to forget that there has ever been any bad
times. If not he will lose many orders he should
have. To play too conservative now places the mer-
chant in danger that he will soon find himself short
of goods."
The different types of pianos made in the Newman
Bros. Co.'s factory are all enjoying good sales, es-
pecially the reproducing player piano on which much
emphasis is now being given. The company has also
developed a reproducing grand, and finds that orders
for it are coming so fast that they are hard to meet.
REVIEWS CHICAGO TRADE,
Dun's review of Chicago trade last week said: Re-
tail distribution of merchandise has been on a some-
what larger scale this week. Wholesale business also
shows improvement, although still a little behind that
of the corresponding time last year. An increased
number of country merchants are in the city markets.
Collections are satisfactory.
BIG ROLL STOCK LOST
WHEN BUILDING BURNS
In Recent Disastrous Fire the Premier Music Roll
Co., San Francisco, Suffers.
The loss of the Premier Music Roll Co., San Fran-
cisco, in the recent fire which destroyed the Inde-
pendent Film Exchange Building, is more serious
than at first reported. Now it is estimated that up-
wards of 15,000 rolls were consumed in the fire as
well as the books of the company, playerpianos used
in demonstration and office fixtures.
Since the day following the fire the company has
been in temporary quarters at 191 Golden Gate Av-
enue and doing business along the old lines. A big
part of its rental business is with moving picture
theaters and the 3,000 rolls in circulation are about
the only rolls remaining from the original big stock.
The stock has been renewed and business is said to
be proceeding as usual. Next week it is said new
permanent quarters will be occupied at 177 Golden
Gate avenue.
All the leading piano houses in Seattle are mem-
bers of the Seattle Better Business Bureau.
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