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.
/• &*«, S*M . r.
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 10, 1923
MINNESOTA CITIES
EXPECT BIO SALES
Minneapolis and St. Paul Music Dealers Get
Increased Faith in Spring Business From In-
terest Aroused by Local Newspaper Ad-
vertisements of Trade.
The interest in pianos and playerpianos in Minne-
apolis and St. Paul is clearly shown by the great
amount of inquiries following display ads in the local
newspapers. In most cases the personal calls arc
soon followed by the closed sale, and that fact means
a big average of sales to the parties interested enough
to make inquiries. The inquiries by mail are largely
from the country, so the sales machinery in every
house is now actively working.
Straube in Evidence.
The pianos and playerpianos of the Straube Piano
Co., of Hammond, Ind., have been added to the lines
of the Peyer Music Co., and the first window dis-
plays of the instruments attracted great attention.
The interest of prospective playcrpiano buyers is par-
ticularly aroused by the merits of the Artronome
player action installed in the Straube piano. The
character of dependability in the Straube playerpiano
is stated in a forceful way by the Peyer Music Co.
J. L. Pofahl, manager of the piano department, talks
enthusiastically about the Straube piano merits.
Favor for Grands Increases.
A more staple business for 1923 is expected by Rob-
ert O. Foster, president of the Foster & Waldo Co.
In fact, Mr. Foster says the staple condition is as-
sured and one of its most admirable phases will be
call for the finer grands and for the reproducing
pianos. The favor for the grands including the small
models is a natural result of the growth of taste in
the furnishing of homes. Mr. Foster does not decry
the claim of the grand piano's tone, but other features
in the grand pianos are influencing the piano custom-
ers.
"The grand of the period type is a decorative part
in schemes of furnishing. The grands have dignity,
grace and simplicity," says Mr. Foster.
The Cable Piano Co.
The Cable Piano Co. stores in the twin cities and
elsewhere in the northwest are in agreement in re-
ports concerning the outlook for spring business. If
the stores are preparing for what they «xpect, the
preparations must be extensive. The warerooms of
the Cable Piano Co., in Minneapolis and St. Paul,
present the evidences of faith in the big piano trade
for the spring. The reserve stocks too are further
evidences of the managers' feelings.
A Local Piano.
George Redel is manager of the retail store of the
Holland Piano Co., recently opened on Eighth street,
near Marquette avenue, Minneapolis. It is really a
return to the retail field of this city where the com-
pany was an active participant in retailing up to a
few years ago.
The office of the Holland piano is still in Minne-
apolis, though the factory is in Wisconsin. The local
business of that piano will now be pushed. The
owner of the Holland is a Minneapolis banker, a gen-
tleman of genial characteristics. It has been reported
that he likes the piano business but is so occupied
with other, and possibly larger interests, that the in-
struments of music are not taking up the lion's share
of his attention.
But dealers who have handled the Hollands like
them, and it is said that Mr. Norris will put greater
energy into his "side line" in the near future.
The Starck Store.
The Minneapolis store of the P. A. Starck Piano
Co. is one of the most active ones—a live advertiser
and popular with the public. Starck pianos and
players are as well known in this section of the
country as any. The customary sharp and decisive
local advertising keeps the store prominent in Min-
neapoiis, just as in Chicago and other cities where
Starck stores may be found.
The outlook for business is good throughout the
northwest, and the demand for high priced players,
and the small grands, is a feature of the trade.
WESER BROS., INC., SALESMEN.
After having concluded a very successful trip
through New England, M. Levian, eastern representa-
tive for Weser Bros., Inc., New York, has started on
a trip through the mining region of Pennsylvania.
S. T. Betts, Jr., who recently joined the sales force
of this good old organization, visited the company's
office to arrange conclusive details for a number or"
important negotiations which he has been conducting
during the past two weeks, and he reports that condi-
tions in his field are constantly improving and he
anticipates a splendid volume of business during the
spring months.
IMPORTANT EXPORT CONNECTION.
During the past week Mr. Obiglio, of the Argentine
firm of Obiglio & Hijos, was a visitor at the factory
of Weser Bros., Inc., New York, and concluded ar-
rangements whereby his house will take on the Weser
line for the Argentine Republic. An introductory
order of substantial proportions was negotiated and
both parties to the transaction are enthusiastic over
the connection and look forward to an active business
over a long period.
WINDOW DISPLAY FOR BALDWIN DEALERS
The Baldwin Piano Company
recently displayed in one of the
show windows at 142 West
Fourth street, Cincinnati, a large
framed bulletin board with
mounted photographs of the
artists of the Chicago Grand
Opera, who use and endorse the
Baldwin piano.
As shown in the illustration,
this was a very effective and ar-
tistic window display and at-
tracted much favorable attention.
It is now available for a spe-
cial window display for Baldwin
dealers.
NO SHOW AT THE
JUNE CONVENTION
Both Commerce Chamber and Executive Com-
mittee Vote Against an Exhibit, for Reasons
Made Clear by Presidents Chickering and
Butler of the Two Associations.
The question of permitting commercial exhibits in
connection with the conventions to be held in Chi-
cago during the week of June 4th was discussed at
the meeting of the Executive Committee. Some
members of the industry have expressed the opinion
that the presence of exhibits acts as a sort of counter-
attraction to the main purpose of the conventions,
and tends to draw delegates away from the important
business sessions.
Others feel that the exhibits offer an opportunity
for manufacturers and their customers to get to-
gether, which could not be provided in any other
way, and that this results in increased attendance
at the conventions themselves, whatever may be its
effect upon the business sessions.
Committee Votes "No Show."
After careful consideration of the question from all
its angles, a vote was passed by the Chamber of Com-
merce directors and the several executive committees,
which reflects the sentiment of a majority of the in-
dustry. It permits exhibits to be held in the Drake
hotel, which will be the convention headquarters, but
restricts them to members of the several associations
which constitute the Chamber.
It was also decided to urge all exhibitors not to
allow their exhibits to interfere with the business
meetings of the convention. Space will be reserved
by the Hotel Drake for exhibition purposes, in addi-
tion to the rooms alloted to the use of delegates.
Mr. Chickering's Viewpoint.
C. C. Chickering, president of the National Piano
Manufacturers Association, in commenting upon the
decision of the Chamber Directors, said:
"The trade is strongly urged to bear in mind that
the primary purpose of the conventions is the trans-
action of association business, and that the exhibits,
while of undoubted usefulness and value to the in-
dividual members, should be held second in impor-
tance and should not be allowed to detract from the
attendance at the various business sessions. Manu-
facturers are urgently requested to instruct their rep-
resentatives, in the interest of the convention as a
whole, to discourage attendance at the exhibits while
the business sessions are in progress."
Mr. Butler Says, "Business First."
J. Edwin Butler, president of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants, in considering the question
from the point of view of the retail dealers, said:
"Naturally our delegates are interested in seeing
the exhibits of the manufacturers, which are so much
more effective than catalogs or descriptions in show-
ing exactly what is offered for them to sell, but they
will have ample time to do this at hours other than
those devoted to the business sessions of the conven-
tion.
"All of Monday morning, except the few minutes
necessary for registration, every evening and an
hour or two in the late afternoon, as well as the
whole of Thursday, will be available for visiting the
exhibits. It is to be hoped that exhibitors and dele-
gates alike will view the matter in a public-spirited
light, and will subordinate their personal interests to
those of the industry as a whole. The business ses-
sions should come first."
ADMITS THEFTS OF $6,000.
Paul E. Hoster, an employe of Chickering Brothers,
piano manufacturers, at 2250 South Park avenue, Chi-
cago, confessed to taking money from his employers
for the purposes of a gay life. He was employed as
a bookkeeper, and he is said to have implicated the
company's auditor, Martin I. Mather. Hoster said
he raised checks to get money to spend in cabarets,
and Mather smoothed over the shortages. Hoster is
said to have gone to the State's Attorney's office and
confessed of his own will. The shortage was reck-
oned at $6,000.
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