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.i tJ.oo,« r«.,
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 16, 1922
SUDDEN DEATH OF
WALTER W. GRIGGS
Widely Known Piano Man Long Identified
With The Cable Company, Dropped Dead on
Chicago Street While on His Way to Polls
Last Tuesday.
W. W. Griggs, one of the most widely-known
piano men associated with the wholesale trade,
dropped dead on the street in Chicago on Tuesday
afternoon of this week. He was on his way to the
polls, to cast his vote on the new Illinois constitution,
when death overtook him. The cause was attributed
to weak heart due to the long strain incident to an
accident, by which he lost his left leg several years
back. He had never fully recovered his health, al-
though of late he had seemed stronger, and had ex-
pressed a desire to return to activity in the piano
\
deal, but uncomplainingly, and without losing his
pluck and energy,
Born in De Kalb, 111.
W. W. Griggs was born at De Kalb, 111., on No-
vember 28, 1851. On his last birthday, only two
weeks from the day of his death, he was tendered
a home celebration at his daughter's home in which
he took part with the delight of a boy. He leaves
his wife, who still resides in Seattle, his daughter,
Mrs. Wilson and his son Carl, who is engaged in
the motor business in Detroit. For several years p^st
Mr. Griggs had been living at the home of his son-
in-law, Chas. H. Wilson, the artist, in Ravenswood,
Chicago.
The burial services were a r r a n ^ d for Friday at
the Memorial Park Cemetery, Evanston, a suburb of
Chicago.
Air. Griggs had many warm personal friends
among the piano merchants throughout the country.
They will read this article with genuine sorrow at
the loss of a member who had been of service to
them in business, and who possessed the sterling
qualities of head and heart by which men are drawn
together.
URGENT DEMANDS FOR
POOLE PIANOS AND PLAYERS
Earnest Efforts to Keep Up With Orders Evident
in Every Department of Factory.
Overtime continues to be the rule at the factory of
the Poole Piano Co., Boston, in an earnest effort to
keep up with the orders for the grand, upright,
playerpianos and reproducing pianos of the company.
Ava W. Poolc, president of the Poole Piano Com-
pany, says most of the orders are urgent ones and
the result is a continuous condition of liveliness in
every department of the big plant at Sidney and Au-
burn streets, Cambridge. An evidence of the
earnestness of the company to respond to the in-
sistent demands of the dealers was witnessed on
Thanksgiving when sacred New England sentiment
was forgotten and the entire staff came to work. But
all hands agreed that the turkey and mince pie tasted
better after a busy full day in the factory.
Poole dealers in the state of New York and in
Pennsylvania are among the urgent ones who want
Poole pianos, players and reproducing pianos now
and right away at that, according to Dan Fabyan,
who has just returned from a trip through these
states. "Every dealer makes a sale of a Poole in-
strument with full dependance on the Poole merits
of tone, action, design and durability," said Mr.
Fabyan.
APPOINT NEW COMMITTEES
FOR CHICAGO P. & 0 . ASS'N
W. E. Guylee, President Chicago Piano and Organ
Association, Announces New Standing Committees.
The Chicago Piano and Organ Association has
now a new set of standing- committees, which will
work through the coming year. They were selected
during the few weeks after the annual meeting of
the association, and announced at the meeting last
Wednesday noon, by W. E. Guylee, president. The
members on the list have agreed to give the time
necessary, and a successful year ts predicted under
the new administration and the new committees.
The committees, as announced, are:
Ways and Means: E. B. Bartlett, Chairman, Otto
Schulz, C. S. Wi!iiams, W. H. Wade, Harry Schaaf.
Legislative: Jas. F. Bowers, Chairman, C. C. Chick-
ering, Adam Schneider, C. G. Steger, Dr. J. R.
Wolfenden.
Membership: Eugene Whelan, Chairman, W. A.
Stapleton, C. M. Reichardt, M. J. Kennedy, H. H.
Bradley.
Entertainment: W. S. Jenkins, Chairman, R. E.
Davis, E. F. Lapham, F. S. Spofford, T. J. Mercer.
Publicity: F. E. Morton, Chairman, E. H. Uhl, P.
E. Mason, T. B. Thompson, R. C. O'Connor.
PIANO AND ORGAN ASS'N
TO GIVE BANQUET JAN. 25
Chicago Organization Will Be Hosts to Committees
of National Associations, at Annual Banquet.
Invitations will be sent out to members of the
executive committees of the national music organiza-
tions which will meet in Chicago late in January, to
be guests at the annual banquet of the Chicago Piano
& Organ Association, to be held at the Palmer
House on the night of January 25.
At the meeting of the Chicago organization last
Wednesday noon, it was decided that the night of
January 25, Thursday, would be the most fitting,
since the custom of the club is to hold this function
late in January each year. Further preparations as
to entertainment and the like will be announced later.
Through members of the Piano and Organ Asso-
ciation who are also connected with national organ-
izations, arrangements will be made to have members
of those executive committees as guests at the ban-
quet. The executive committee of the National As-
W. W. GRIGGS.
sociation of Music Merchants, of which Matt Ken-
nedy, of Chicago, is secretary, and the National As-
business. His last call at Presto offices was about
sociation of Piano Manufacturers, of which C. C.
two weeks ago, at which time he had partly ar-
NEW CLUB COMMITTEES.
Chickering, of Chicago, is president, will each have
ranged to that end.
The regular monthly meeting and luncheon of the a meeting in Chicago late in the month. These meet-
Mr. Griggs began in the piano business in early Chicago Piano & Organ Association was held ings have not yet been definitely set, and can be
life. He established a retail business in Sioux City, Wednesday, December 13, at 12:30 p. m., at the arranged so that the members can be in Chicago
Iowa, and it was while there that he was discovered
Palmer House, at which time the luncheon was com- for this banquet, it is thought. Formal invitations
by Herman D. Cable and given an opportunity to plimentary. The new officers had charge of the will be sent out as soon as they are ready.
enter the old Chicago Cottage Organ Co. As a meeting, at which plans for the activities of the
Correspondence with Alfred L. Smith, president
wholesale traveling salesman for the industry named association during the ensuing year were discussed. of the national music Chamber of Commerce, indi-
he made a good record and remained with the Com- The new Ways and Means, Legislative, Membership, cates that a fair contingent from the east will be in
pany after it had become The Cable Company.
Entertainment and Publicity committees were Chicago for the affair, and indications are that most
of the members of the executive committees men-
named.
Activities Were Wide.
tioned will be present.
With that great industry he served in several im-
The meeting of the Piano and Organ Association
OUR MANUFACTURERS ABROAD.
portant capacities, both "on the road," as salesman,
on Wednesday followed a gratifying lunch, given
and in the home office as general sales-manager. The
The growing importance abroad of American
latter service was during the presidency of the late products manufactured ready for consumption is complimentarily by the club as a holiday celebration.
Fayette S. Cable between whom. and. Mr. Griggs shown in an analysis of the country's exports for • W. E. Guylee, new president, made a short talk
congratulating the club on the large number present
there long existed a warm personal friendship, and October, completed this week by the Department of
in spite of the nearness of the holidays, and spoke
continued with that gentleman's successor, Frank
Commerce, which discloses that nearly one-third of
Shaw. After leaving that department' of the Chi- total exports for that month went through the entire briefly for the incoming administration.
cago industry, Mr. Griggs entered the retail piano manufacturing process before shipment from the
business in Seattle, where he was manager of one of country.
SECRETARY HOOVER'S VIEW.
the largest houses of that city in which The Cable
As to the general business situation. Secretary of
Company was also interested.
TONK PIANO IN CONCERT.
Commerce Hoover declared this week that the out-
On leaving Seattle, Mr. Griggs returned to Chi-
A Tonk piano was used December 8th, at a con- look was "so improved over a year ago as to be in-
cago and, for several years, operated for himself in cert in the High School Auditorium at Sparrows comparable, "despite the inequalities still existing in
the retail piano business with success. He had also
Point, Md. The pianist was Selma Tiefenbrun, who the price levels between various commodities and
other interests, and was prospering, when by a slip acquitted herself with distinction. The vocalist was between wage earners and farmers. Discussing the
he was caught under the wheels of a North Clark
Mary Huber, and the violinist Israel Dorman. Many effects of the new tariff law, Mr. Hoover asserted
street car in Chicago, and was so badly injured that enthusiastic comments were made upon the tone and that generally the volume of the country's exports
it was necessary to amputate his left leg. From that beauty of the Tonk piano, which was loaned for the is likely to be increased by the increasing prosperity
time to his death Mr. Griggs had suffered a great
occasion by C. H. Hildebrandt & Son, of Baltimore. at home.
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