Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1922 1898

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American Pianos
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Trade Lists
Three Uniform Book-
lets, the Only Complete
Directories of the Music
Industries.
/• c.nt., $*MH « Tea,
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1922
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
France" display more enthusiasm and enterprise than
those of any other nation.
Russia did at one time have some very distin-
guished piano industries, among which the foremost
was that of J. Becker. The pianos of that Petro-
grad manufacturer took prominent part in the Colum-
bian Exposition of 1893, and carried off one of the
awards. Today Russia is not making pianos.
* * *
PLAYER PARTS, TUNERS, ETC.
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
writer in order to receive attention. Answers thought
to be of general trade interest will be published. If an
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro-
vided stamp is inclosed.
SID SACHS'NOVELTIES.
Baltimore, Md., Nov. 25, 1922.
Editor Presto: Will you be kind enough to send
me address of Sid Sachs, Novelty Co., Chicago, or
forward them this letter. I want some information
concerning the small novelty piano they are turning
out, mentioned in Presto.
FRANK W. ROLLMAN.
The address of Sachs & Co. is 425 South Wabash
Avenue, Chicago. We understand Mr. Sachs has
had remarkable success with the novelty pianos,
of which he makes what may be termed a "full line."
No doubt he will be glad to serve you.
* * *
SACRED SONG WRITER.
Mansfield, Ohio, Nov. 30, 1922.
Editor Presto: Would like to know if you com-
pose sacred music? If so, please write terms, and
particulars.
MRS. ANNA R. ILES.
Composing music to verses is not in our line, but
there is a gentleman in Chicago who makes that his
business and whose efforts seem to have been giving
satisfaction. His name and address are Harry L.
Alford, State-Lake Bldg., Chicago.
Very often it is well to have some local amateur,
or friend, set melodies to words, but perhaps Mr.
Alford can do it for you.
* * *
A POLISH MUSICIAN.
Zlozov, Poland, Nov. 2, 1922.
Editor Presto: In a music room in our country I
become aware your address. I am a musician.
Please send me of your magazine a copy and I will
be your subscriber. Is there room for musicians
in your country?
Truly yours,
JACOB HOCHBERG.
The foreign subscription price to Presto is $4.00.
Should you want both of the papers you may have
them at a club price of $5.00. America is always
musical, and musicians are as welcome here as any-
where in the world. But it is folly for musicians to
come here expecting to win fame and fortune, for
the field is well cultivated and the harvesters are
already many.
* * *
MUSIC ROLL SUPPLIES.
Rushvillc, Ind., Nov. 26, 1922.
Editor Presto: I wish to have a list of all the
music roll manufacturers who are making standard
88 note as well as 65 note rolls. Also supplies of all
kinds for the music roll industries.
Can you supply me with such a list, giving the ad-
dresses of these manufacturers in any one of your
trade lists?
Also wish to know if you have a directory listing
all dealers, both large or small, who sell phonographs
and phonograph accessories, wholesale and retail
dealers. I presume that your Phonograph directory,
referred to in your trades paper, lists only the manu-
facturers of phonographs, and if so this w r ould not an-
swer my purpose, as I want a list of dealers, retail
and wholesale, who handle phonograph accessories!
FRED BOXLEY.
Among the most conspicuous and successful of the
industries about which you ask are:
The United States Music Co., 2934 Lake St., Chi-
cago; Q R S Music Co., Chicago; Clark Orchestra
Roll Co., De Kalb, 111.; Billings Player Roll Co.,
Milwaukee, Wis.; Vocalstyle Co., Cincinnati, Ohio;
De Lux Music Roll Co., New York, N. Y.; Melodee
Music Co., Inc., New York, and Ampico, New York.
Of course the are many more than those whose
names we have given you, and you will find a very
good list on pages 17 and 18 of" PRESTO TRADE
LISTS NO. 3, which is devoted to musical sup-
plies.
PRESTO TRADE LISTS No. 2 is a directory of
the phonograph dealers, accessories and manufactur-
ers. The list is a very large one and, while it is not
of recent compilation, it is still the best in existence.
* * *
EXCHANGE PIANO VALUES.
Dallas, Nov. 20, • 1922.
Editor Presto: Do you have a list of suggested al-
lowances on piano trade-ins?
L E S T E R GUNST CO.
The National Association of Piano Merchants of
America long ago compiled a schedule of allowances
for pianos and playerpianos taken in exchange or as
part payment on new instruments. The figures which
follow are made with the understanding that the in-
struments taken in exchange were in good "second-
hand" condition.
Under
Over
5 5-10 10-20 20
yr. yr. yr. yr.
Upright pianos . .
$ 70 $ 55 ; 40 $ 25
Upright pianos, $200 grade
75
50
45
35
Upright pianos, 300 grade. . . . . . 100
80
60
45
Upright pianos, 400 grade
150 130 100
75
Upright pianos, 550 grade and up 180 150 125
80
Grand pianos, $450 grade
165 125 100
80
Grand pianos, 550 grade
200 170 130 100
Grand pianos, 650 grade
275 225 175 125
Grand pianos, 750 grade and up 300 275 225 150
Player pianos, Stencils (88 note) 145 120 100
Player pianos, $395 grade
160 125 100
Playerpianos, 500 grade
200 165 110
Player pianos, 650 grade
275 225 150
Player pianos, 850 grade
300 260 160
A 65-note Player Piano is worth no more than its
piano value.
* * *
GREAT FOREIGN PIANOS.
Boston, Mass., November 25, 1922.
Editor Presto: I find pleasure in remitting my
subscription for 1923 to Presto. I find Presto a very
reliable music journal. It is on time with all news
of the music trade world.
I have run across a G. A. Miller. Not the Milwau-
kee Miller, nor Boston's famous H. F. Miller, but a
stencil "G. A. Miller." The lady thought it the orig-
inal H. F., but I told her "No.' 18736 is number on
pin block. Painted on front fall-board was "G. A.
Miller." Xote the number. Now, no firm anywhere
in L T . S., has made so many "G. A. Millers." This is
what one bumps into, even in Boston, where many
of our finest and oldest firms have been for 100 years.
The Wm. Bourne Co., of Boston, has moved to
Amesbury, Mass.
What German pianos compare with America's
concert pianos? Name, say, three of Germany's best
makes or of England's, France and Russia—if any
manufactured in Russia at present. What is Canada's
leading piano, also Canada's leading pipe organ.
Tremont Temple has just put in a Canadian pipe
organ, 88 stops, 4 manuals.
OBERA W I L L MORAN.
There are stencil pianos everywhere, and Boston
has produced its full share of them. Miller is a
name which has played a large part in the American
industry, though we do not recall any "G. A." in the
business.
There have been a number of very famous German
pianos. Among them are: Bechstein, Schiedmayer,
Ronisch and Bluthner, which have been used in the
concert work of great pianists. The Bechstein con-
templated establishing a branch factory in this coun-
try, but finally abandoned the project.
England also has some distinguished pianos, among
them the Broadwood, Challen and Brinsmead. The
last-named, however, ceased operations a year or
two ago.
In France the great pianos, often used by artists,
are Erard, Pleyel and Gaveau. A good share of the
fine character of the French instruments is credited
to the great action industry of J. Herrburger, Paris.
It is a somewhat remarkable condition that at this
time the musical instrument industries of "bleeding
Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 2, 1922.
Editor Presto: We are just starting a business
here and want to get in touch with the small-town
piano stores; also the piano tuners, especially in
Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, to start.
Also names of houses that specialize in playerpiano
parts and materials of every kind.
INDIANA PLAYER ACTION CO..
While there are a number of industries which
make a specialty of player parts and materials, we
believe that the largest are;
Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co., New York; Piano
& Organ Sup. Co., Chicago, 111.; C. F. Goepel & Co.,
New York; Cornwall & Patterson, Bridgeport,
Conn.; Motor Player Corpn., Chicago, and American
Piano Supply Co., New York.
We suggest that on pages 19 and 21 of PRESTO
TRADE LISTS No. 3 you will find a very complete
list of the industries about which you ask. A list of.
piano dealers throughout the country may be found
in PRESTO TRADE LISTS No. 1. For a good
list of Piano Tuners we suggest that you apply to
Mr. McClellan, secretary of the National Association
of Piano Tuners, Chicago.
* * *
GRAND PIANO CO.
Syracuse, N. Y., Dec. 1, 1922.
Editor Presto: In a recent issue of Presto I saw
notice where the Grand Piano Co. had been incorpo-
rated for $100,000. I wrote them a letter which has
been returned. What information can you give the
writer in reference to same?
H. C. POLHAMUS.
We have no further information about the Grand
Piano Co. than appeared in the item to which you
draw our attention. One of our correspondents sent
in the paragraph just as we published it to the effect
that the Grand Piano Co. of Wilmington, 111., had
been organized. We have since tried to secure some
particulars but without success.
FIRST PIANOLA PRESENTED
TO NATIONAL MUSEUM
Edwin S. Votey, Distinguished Inventor and
Vice-President of the Aeolian Company,
Is the Donator.
Edwin S.Votey, vice-president of the Aeolian Com-
pany, of New York, pioneer in the manufacture of
playerpianos, and one of the inventors of the pilot-
less aeroplane, last week Friday presented the orig-
inal Pianola to the National Museum at Washington.
The instrument was accepted for the Museum by
Dr. Walter Hough, chief of the Musical Instruments
Section of the Institute.
Mr. Votey, who is widely known in the music in-
dustry, and is the author of many war-time inven-
tions. The principle of flying by automatic control
without the aid of a pilot was worked out by Mr.
Votey and Mr. Kettering, chief engineer of the Gen-
eral Motors Company, during the war. Pilotless
aeroplanes, carrying huge loads of explosives, would
have been used against the German army if the war
had continued.
The great organ used for concerts at the Colum-
bian Exposition in Chicago, in 1893, was built under
Mr. Votey's direction. At that time the distinguished
inventor was a member of the Farrand & Votey Or-
gan Company, of Detroit, Michigan.
A CHRISTMAS WINDOW SIGN.
The Chase-Hackley Piano Co., Muskegon, Mich.,
has prepared and distributed a handsome window
sign suggestive of the desire to buy pianos. The
"Make This a Musical Christmas" sign is intended
for use in windows.
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).
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PRESTO
December 9, 1922.
papers. And it suggests that a very high order of literary ability,
and a very enthusiastic kind of verbal facility, have been enlisted
in the difficult work of piano advertising.
There are very few things more difficult to advertise fairly,
intelligently and forcefully, than pianos. After all the years, it is still
true that the average "prospect" has little understanding of pianos.
Not many who enter the piano stores know what they want, beyond
The American Music Trade Weekly
the vague conviction that they want pianos! They do not often call
for any particular piano. "We called to look at a piano," is the
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT 407 SOUTH DEAR-
BORN STREET, OLD COLONY BUILDING, CHICAGO, ILL. customary opening statement. There are exceptional pianos and
exceptional people, of course. But, as a whole, people only know
Editors
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT
they want pianos—any pianos the dealer most warmly represents and
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234. Private Phones to all D».
tments. Cable Address (Commercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
partments
can sell at "the right price."
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the Post Office, Chicago. Illinois.
Some of the new advertising is calculated to afford piano educa-
under Act of March 3, 1879.
tion.
It is literature in a fine sense. Who makes it is seldom known.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4. Payable In advance. No extra
charge in United States possessions, Cuba and Mexico.
We see it in the newspapers, and we find it in some of the handsome
Address all communications for the editorial or business departments to PRESTO
page "displays" in the trade papers. It has, of late, been notable in
PUBLISHING CO., 407 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
the "Ampico" publicity—the advertising of the instrument that "re-
Advertising Rates:—Five dollars per Inch (13 ems pica) for single insertions.
enacts." It is seen in much of the Steinway advertising. It has made
Complete schedule of rates for standing' cards
and special displays win
will be
furnished
laras ana
oe lurnwnea
on request. The Presto does not sell Its editorlaf
iitorlal space. Payment Is not accepted for
the
Steger piano a marked instrument in higher circles. It keeps the
articles of descriptive character or other matter
latter appearing In the news columns, BusJ-
ness notices will be Indicated by the word "advertlsement" In accordance with the
artistic
Knabe and the Chickering in leading places. It has helped
Act of August 24, 1912.
Photographs of general trade interest are always welcome, and when used, if of
to make the Duo-Art. And it has done marvelous work in bringing
special concern, a charge will be made to cover cost of the engravings.
the Mason & Hamlin to the place that instrument occupies among- the
Rates for advertising in Presto Year Book Issue and Export Supplements of
Presto will be maqe known upon application. Presto Year Book and Export issues
interpreters of pianistic genius.
have the most extensive circulation of any periodicals devoted to the musical in-
strument trades and industries in all parts of the world, and reach completely and
As a matter of fact, this discussion of a new order of piano
effectually all the houses handling musical instruments of both the Eastern and west-
ern hemispheres.
literature
might not have been suggested but for a Mason & Hamlin
Presto Buyers' Guide Is the only reliable index to the American Pianos and
Player-Pianos, it anafyzes all Instruments, classifies them, gives accurate estimates
advertisement
which appeared last Sunday. No better illustration of
of their value and contains a directory of their manufacturers.
Items of news and other matter of general interest to the music trades are in-
what
has
here
been said were possible than the advertisement re-
vited and when accepted will be paid for. All communications should be addressed to
Presto Publishing Co., 407 So. Dearborn Street. Chicago, III.
ferred to. And so it follows, nearly in full, and it is from a Cable
Company display:
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1922.
You should know the surpassingly lovely tone qualities of the
Mason
& Hamlin. Words are far less eloquent than the instrument
PRESTO CORRESPONDENCE
itself. To say that the Piano is made as well as possible and priced
afterward does not tell the story. No description of the Tension
IT IS NOT CUSTOMARY WITH THIS PAPER TO PUBLISH REGU-
Resonator can adequately explain its importance in terms of tonal
LAR CORRESPONDENCE FROM ANY POINTS. WE, HOWEVER,
results. Even the marshalled names of artists who have chosen the
HAVE RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVES IN NEW YORK, BOSTON,
Mason & Hamlin Piano for their public and private use, can only in-
SAN FRANCISCO, PORTLAND, CINCINNATI, INDIANAPOLIS, MIL-
WAUKEE AND OTHER LEADING MUSIC TRADE CENTERS, WHO
directly prove its excellence.
KEEP THIS PAPER INFORMED OF TRADE EVENTS AS THEY HAP-
And yet, that which is difficult to put into words, is a very real
PEN. AND PRESTO IS ALWAYS GLAD TO RECEIVE REAL NEWS
thing. If you should play the Mason & Hamlin Piano you would
OF THE TRADE FROM WHATEVER SOURCES ANYWHERE AND
know. Listening to it would tell more than a thousand words, just as
MATTER FROM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS, IF USED, WILL BE
a glance at the "Woman Weighing Pearls" tells more of Vermeer-
PAID FOR AT SPACE RATES. USUALLY PIANO MERCHANTS OR
artistry than page after page of description.
SALESMEN IN THE SMALLER CITIES, ARE THE BEST OCCA-
SIONAL CORRESPONDENTS, AND THEIR ASSISTANCE IS INVITED.
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
Forms close promptly at noon every Thursday. News matter for
publication should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the same
day. Advertising copy should be in hand before Tuesday, five p. m.,
to insure preferred position. Full page display copy should be in
hand by Monday noon preceding publication day. Want advs. for cur-
rent week, to insure classification, must be at office of publication not
later than Wednesday noon.
PIANO LITERATURE
We are not going to write about books. There are plenty of them
in the piano world. From the ancient Pepy's Diary to Polko's Musical
Sketches, and on to Dannreuther's "Wagner" and Jim Hunaker's
vivid word-pictures, the literature of music is rich and colorful. But
there has come of late a new piano literature, and it is surprisingly
good.
At first you will think that the piano catalogues are in mind. Or
perhaps the.succinct treatises on the playerpiano, such as the Kohler
Industries, the M. Schulz Co., the Gulbransen, Dickinson Co., the Bald-
win Co., and some others, have put forth for the mutual assistance of
dealers and public. But it isn't any of that. It's something even more
difficult and more remarkable. It's the literature of piano advertising.
From almost the dawn of piano manufacture to recent times
piano advertising has run in narrow grooves. It has depended upon
a set of stereotyped phrases, of which "the best in the world" has
seemed to be the keynote. It has presented little that is either novel
or, to the uninformed mind, anything that is convincing. The use of
superlatives has been profuse and the. real character of the piano ad-
vertised has had little to do with the incisive meaning of the adjec-
tives employed. To this condition has been due much of the stigma
which some think has attached to the piano trade in some localities.
But of late a new kind of piano advertising has come. And it is
often of a kind to deserve the name of literature. We see it, now
and then in the newspapers, and it is reflected in the trade papers. Or
it as often starts in the trade papers and is reproduced in the news-
Do you recall anything better—anything more fitting its pur-
pose ? The appeal to the musical susceptibilities of the higher musical
intelligencies is unmistakable. In the newspaper there were the
added effects of "display" and illustration—good commercial art by
which to increase the power of good piano literature.
MUSIC ROLL SLAUGHTER
In times past it was customary with many piano merchants to
give things away with every instrument sold, to such a degree that
often it seemed that the treasures "thrown in" outweighed the article
actually sold. It began with the piano scarf, then followed the stool
and, finally, the term of lessons. It didn't take long for some clever
piano dealer to establish his own special music school, at which all
piano buyers could secure the coveted instruction, or something that
seemed like it. And then came other things "free" with the piano.
From the throwing in of the stool and scarf it was an easy step
to the handing out of gold watches. Even that was not enough.
Near-bank-checks came along, and railroad fares were donated to
buyers from distant places. At last it became a stock joke that before
long a house and lot would be presented with every first piano in-
stallment.
Perhaps the coming of the playerpiano brought an end to the
term of music lessons. At any event, the throwing-in of the house
and lot did not develop, and a good deal of the treasure-trove-for-
nothing has been dispensed with in the piano trade.
But there is still too much of it. And the custom of throwing in
player rolls is a sore spot in the business. It has a tendency to
cheapen a very important branch of the industry. It served to largely
kill the sale of music rolls. Isn't this so? If not, what is the reason
that, with all of the energy and enterprise of the music roll industry,
sales of the essentials to playerpiano performance are not at all com-
parable to the sales of either sheet music or phonograph records? We
are now speaking of numbers, not the amount of sales values.
It has been estimated that, of late years, omitting 1921, the pro-
duction of playerpianos has exceeded that of straight pianos. But
there has been no decimation of the number of sheet music publishers,
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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