Presto

PRESTO
LATE NOTES IN THE
TRADE OF NEW YORK
How Things Are Moving in Factories Where
Famed Instruments Are Produced in the
Country's Biggest City, With a Few
Items About Men Who Make Them.
The blizzardy weather has kept New York shut
in the past week. But there are activities in most of
the piano factories and the outlook for the year is
surprisingly good. Surprisingly so, because it had
become a habit to expect something else.
Nearly all the larger industries, and especially the
ones whose reputation is of a kind to draw trade
under almost any circumstances, are very busy. It is
so with the Stcinway, Aeolian, American Piano Co.,
Hardman, and others, with several up in the Bronx
either pushing hard or getting ready to do so.
In The Bronx.
At J. Doll & Sons the improvement is noticeable.
Under the recent readjustment there, things are mov-
ing along smoothly and the outlook is wholly satis-
factory. A line lot of orders booked ahead, and
everywhere customers of the old house are feeling
sure that the future is filled with prosperity for the
great industry founded by Jacob Doll. The big fac-
tory on Southern Boulevard is one of the bright
spots in the piano Bronx just now.
Frank C. Decker is about again, after quite a siege
of "Flu." Mr. Decker is as earnest as ever, and just
as uncompromising in his determination that the
Decker & Sons instruments shall be as good as can
be made. And the customers of the old house agree
with Mr. Decker that he is doing all that he pro-
fesses to do.
The old Winter &. Co. factory is to be occupied by
the Schenke Co. for a branch industry called the
"Herbert." The same name has been made popular
by one of the enterprising western industries.
Gratifying Increases.
The growth of William Bogart's ambitions is noted
again in the fact that Bogart & Co. now occupy all
of the space on Willow avenue formerly used by the
late De Rivas & Harris, which is now wholly extinct.
It seems but a short time ago that Mr. Bogart
began in a little place at the top of a building near
Third avenue.
He now has three floors and sublets the remainder
of the great building, which stretches along an en-
tire block.
Christman & Sons' factory is busy, and the instru-
ments of that house are in great favor with a good
class of trade throughout the country. The little
"Studio" grand has made a genuine "hit," and it is
being prodWed in quantities not often equalled by
high class industrials of the Christman kind.
United Piano Corporation.
It is notable that the comparatively new United
Piano Corporation is as fixed and substantial in its
progress as any of the old-timers. The happy aggre-
gation of instruments controlled by this company
gave to it a standing at once. J. H. Shale is a very
hard worker, and he has the trade well established.
J. 11. Williams, president of the corporation, has
been putting in his time at the factory in Norwalk,
Ohio. He has invested many thousands of dollars in
factory rearrangements and improvements, and the
A. B. Chase instruments are coming through better
and in larger numbers than ever before.
It is the Reproducing Piano that most interests
Mr. Shale and his associates just now. The A. B.
Chase reproducing piano is an instrument of such
artistic attainment that it is winning much attention
in higher musical circles. And the Lindeman and
Emerson pianos are keeping up a good following. It
is interesting to consider the United Piano Corpora-
tion line. There isn't a thing in it that doesn't sug-
gest the finer grade of pianos, and the reproducing
instruments really are marvels. Platt, of Los An-
geles, head of one of the great retail houses of the
West, was in New York recently and displayed his
enthusiasm in the U. P. Corp. instruments by leav-
ing a large order for them.
American Piano Company.
The recent report of the American Piano Co. is
talked of a good deal in the piano wareroom and
offices. It shows such progress and prosperity as to
lift the piano industry into prominence as a stable
factor in American business. Last year's statement
developed large results—the greatest in the history
of the company. And the promise is for even bet-
ter things this year, for the Chickering centennial,
and the steady progress of the Knabe and other lead-
ers in the powerful line, continue to interest the
trade and public.
President George G. Foster is in the South for a
brief recreation. Managing Director William B.
Armstrong is actively in charge, and he is one of
the hardest men to see because of his many engage-
ments and steady hard working habits.
Active Piano Men.
A number of other prominent piano men of New
York have been getting a little southern sunshine
while the blizzard raged at home. One of them is
Wm. J. Bjur. Another is J. W. Stevens, of the
Mathushek Piano Company.
The acquisition of F. Smith, Jr., to the forces of
W. P. Haines & Co. insures a continuation of the
relations of the old Bradbury dealers with the new
owners of that fine instrument. Mr. Smith has
charge of the wholesale selling of the Bradbury and
Webster instruments. He will put in much of his
time at the factory in Leominster, Mass.
Mehlin Pianos in Chicago.
The announcement that the artistic line of Mehlin
& Sons instruments will have a suitable representa-
tion in Chicago is certain to stir trade interest.
The Chicago representation will be with the fine
old house of Grosvenor, Lapham & Co. There could
not possibly be a better, for the establishment in the
Fine Arts Building, on Michigan Boulevard, has long
been a sort of trading place for lovers of fine pianos.
Both Mehlin & Sons and Grosvenor, Lapham & Co.
are to be congratulated.
NEW GEO. B. NORRIS PLAYER
STYLE 400 ANNOUNCED
Special Folder About Instrument Mailed to Dealer
by Holland Piano Mfg. Co.
A special folder mailed to the trade by the Holland
Piano Mfg. Co., Minneapolis, Minn., with factory at
Menominie, Wis., is devoted to an illustrated descrip-
tion of the new Geo. B. Norris Style 400.
This
playerpiano is 4 feet 4 inches high, with equal tension
scale and sliding fall board, and is made in mahogany,
oak and walnut.
The Holland Piano Mfg. Co. has this to say "right
from the heart" in the folder:
"First we want to emphasize the fine quality of
this player. Every dealer who has seen it is enthu-
siastic over its sales possibilities. Then we want to
say frankly that we, like many other manufacturers,
had our own troubles getting the right materials and
labor during the war and for a couple of years after-
ward. Something over a year ago conditions changed.
We have been able to improve our product in a re-
markable manner. Every new Geo. B. Norris is built
carefully of the finest materials throughout. Every
detail is as nearly perfect as we can make it. You
will enthuse over this player. It will make more
sales for you this fall. Write for prices and infor-
mation as to territory."
D. E. SWAN'S SOUTHERN TRIP.
S. N. Swan & Sons, of Freeport, 111., are moving
right along, increasing the factory output steadily.
The reed organ trade shows signs of a revival, espe-
cially in the South. D. E. Swan, of the Freeport in-
dustry, starts this week on a trip through the South-
west, and will make many stops in the Southern
states. His purpose is to secure a personal esti-
mate of reed organ conditions with a view to further
increasing the output if justified in doing so. Wher-
ever sold the Swan organs give the best of
satisfaction.
FRENCH MANUFACTURER DIES.
M. Lucien Burgasser, president of the French na-
tional association of piano and organ makers in 1920
and honorary president since the completion of his
term of office, died recently at Enghein-Les Bains.
His appointment as honorary president was a recog-
nition by the members of his enthusiasm in the affairs
of the association and his excellent judgment in the
solution of problems which had confronted the trade.
February 17, 1923
WAREROOM WARBLES
(A New One Every Week.)
By The Presto Poick.
A CONVENTION SHOW.
There'll be no show, they tell us
When glad June days come 'round,
And so the boys will sell us
By sight, without a sound;
But cheer up, and be happy,
For things won't be so bad,
And just to make it snappy,
This tip will make you glad.
The old lake winds are giddy,
And, when they start to blow,
Stand fast and don't get skiddy
And you will have a show!
So, knocker-knights and rappers,
Keep blinders off your eye,
And watch some show when flappers
Go sailing gaily by!
We'll meet to talk things over,
And sing a song or two,
To greet each fellow rover,
From old-time scenes or new;
We'll settle every worry,
And let our language flow,
Till we adjourn and hurry
Outside to see the show.
NORTHERN OHIO MUSIC
MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION
New Organization Launched at Cleveland Meeting
Drafts Broad Constitution.
A membership of 300 is aimed at by the Music
Merchants' Association of Northern Ohio, recently
formed at a meeting in Cleveland. The territory
covered by the association will be within a radius of
fifty miles of Cleveland.
The new officers of the association are William G.
Bowie, B. Dreher & Sons Co., president; Grant
Smith, Euclid Music Co., vice-president; Rexford C.
Hyre, secretary; and L. Meier, of L. Meier & Sons
Co., treasurer.
The piano, talking machine, musical merchandise
and sheet music trades will be represented in the
association.
The object of the new organization is the better-
ment of business, improvement of methods, advance-
ment of good music and the creation of practical
means for interesting the public therein.
PLAYERPIANOS POPULAR.
Straight pianos are being sold in greater numbers
than playerpianos in Fairbury, Neb., according to
George A. White, president of the G. A. White Piano
Co., of that city, who was in Chicago this week. "If
Iowa gets a little more snow to wet up the subsoil,
there will be good crops and prosperous times, even
though we should have a hot summer," he said.
REPORTS IMPROVEMENT.
L. J. Spurgin, president of the Spurgin Piano Co.,
Oskaloosa, Iowa, reports a good improvement of
conditions in the state of Iowa, and told manufac-
turers in Chicago, while on a purchasing trip there
this week, that business is much better than might
have been expected for January or February. While
things are not back to normal, he said, they are get-
ting some better all the time.
RECOVERED FROM ILLNESS.
L. M. Newman, president of the Newman Bros.
Co., Chicago, is almost completely recovered from
the illness which kept him away from the office for
several weeks following the holidays. For several
weeks he has been spending part of the day at the
office, and now has decided to spend the entire day
at his work.
SELLS IN ST. CLOUD, MINN.
The stock of instruments, fixtures and furniture of
the Schwartz Music House, St. Cloud, Minn., have
been purchased by the S. E. Murphy Music Co., in
that city. R. N. Schwartz, who has been owner and
manager of the business at 1403 St. Germain street,
will be connected with the sales department of the
S. E. Murphy Music Co.
"BUT THEN AGAIN—"
"On the quiet, is Bilkheimer a man to be trusted?"
asked the new manager of the Easy Instalment Piano
Company.
"In some respects you can trust him thoroughly,"
sagely replied the old-time piano dealer. "If he owes
the price of a piano and says he can't pay you, you
can place absolute reliance on his word."
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