PRESTO
February 17, 1923
OREGON MUSIC DEALERS'
ASSOCIATION ACTIVE
Get In Line
With The
Known
Line
of
AUTOMATIC
PIANOS
Organization's Vigilance in Watching Pro-
posed Legislation Saves Music Trade
Possible Hurtful Consequences.
E. B. Hiatt, president of the Oregon Music
Dealers Trades Association, Portland, Ore., says that
in every legislature there are always bills presented
that are vicious in their application. The Oregon
association, keeping tab on the bills presented to the
Oregon legislature this year, were able to point out
the defects and dispose of several bills of this
nature.
One especially bad bill was house bill 51, which
the association was successful in killing before it
left committee. It was an act concerning condi-
tional sales contracts and made it necessary for
dealers to file with the county clerk the original copy
of every contract entered into within ten days after
execution, and if the security was moved to another
county a sworn certified copy of the contract must
be riled there. The bill also provided for filing fees,
etc., with each separate filing.
The most unsatisfactory feature of the bill was
that it would have compelled the vendors to file all
of their time contracts and thus make public the
private affairs of their customers. The association
brought sufficient pressure to bear and killed it in
committee.
May Peterson appeared in concert in Portland,
January 31, before a large audience. A Stein way
piano was used at the concert and Miss Peterson,
being an exclusive Vocalion artist, sang as her ex-
tras a number of her popular recordings for the
Aeolion-Vocalion.
Jack Mulligan, former piano salesman of the Sher-
man, Clay & Co., covering Eastern Oregon, has pur-
chased the Warren Music Company of Pendleton,
Ore., and is making extensive improvements of the
establishments and will have the most up-to-date and
complete music store in Eastern Oregon when his
alterations and improvements are completed.
FIFTEEN=STORY BUILDING
FOR CUNNINGHAM PIANO CO.
New Structure for Philadelphia Firm to Be Erected
at 1312-14 Chestnut Street.
The Cunningham Piano Co., Philadelphia, has ac-
cepted the architect's plans for the proposed fifteen-
story building to be erected at 1312-14 Chestnut
street, according to the announcement of Andrew J.
Sauer & Co., architects.
According to plans, the building will cover an area
of 3,800 square feet and will represent the last word
in construction. One of the features will be a large
arched entrance, approximately forty feet high, giving
to the front a spaciousness of appearance usually
found only in much wider buildings.
In this vaulted archway, fifteen feet deep, will be
erected a double tier of show windows for pianos and
talking machines. .The ceiling of the vault will be il-
luminated by high-power lamps.
The cost of the structure, including the ground, will
be more than $2,000,000. The Cunningham Piano
Company will occupy the entire building.
FOSTER PIANO CO. MOVES
TO NEW STORE IN TROY
Old Premises of Progressive Firm Had Been Occu-
pied for Nineteen Years.
I.P.SEEBURG PIANO CO
Leaders in the Automatic Field
1510-1516 Dayton Street
CHICAGO
The Foster Piano Company, Troy, N. V., is now
located at its new home, 283 River Street, few doors
south of old store. The firm occupied the old prem-
ises at 263 River Street for nineteen years.
The new building presents a handsome and attract-
ive appearance. On the ground floor are located
sound proof demonstration rooms. In the rear is ;)
reception room. Rugs and carpets are being placed
on the floors in the various rooms.
The electric lighting fixtures form an important
part of the decoration, and in addition there are large
floor lamps with beautiful shades. The decoration
scheme has been planned to produce an artistic effect
and to harmonize with the general plan of interior
furnishing. Fred Foster, president and general man-
ager, said:
"We have tried to make the new home of The Fos-
ter Piano Company as complete as possible."
The store staff was enterta"'ned recently at a ban-
quet at the Troy Club, at which Fred Foster presided.
Addresses were made by employes and a general
good time was enjoyed. It is planned to have more
get-together meetings in the future to promote the
best co-operation possible between the store manage-
ment and employes. Leslie C. Hathaway is sales
manager.
PIANO CLUB OF CHICAGO
MEETS LINCOLN DAY
Three Notable Guests at Weekly Luncheon Add to
Pleasures of the Function.
The Piano Club of Chicago had as guests at the
Lincoln's Birthday luncheon, on Monday of this
week, Miss Ethel Wilson and Edward H. Robbins.
members of the fascinating attraction at the Black-
stone, "The Last Warning," also Mrs. Phil Ewald,
of Louisville, a composer whose songs are achieving
great success.
Mr. Robbins has the reputation of being one of the
most entertaining speakers on or off the stage, and
his talk on the subject of the day was as interest'ng
and enjoyable as any the members had the pleasure
of hearing in many a day.
Mrs. Ewald played the piano, among other selec-
tions, her latest hit, "Can't You Hear the Whistle,"
the popular number which was broadcasted by Clyde
Doerr over the Daily News radio recently.
It was another star meeting. "Every day in every
way the programs are getting better and better, like-
wise the meals, ditto business. And maybe we all
are too. Anyway you could not find a better bunch
of fellows than those who meet together each Mon-
day noon at the 1. A. C," said the weekly luncheon
notice to members. Sixty-live of them were there
last Monday.
DAYTON BURGLARS OBSERVE
LOOTING ANNIVERSARY
Soward Piano Company's Store Scene of Ceremony
Disappointing to Thieves.
The Soward Piano Company, Dayton, O., last
week reported an anniversary celebration which had
the characteristic of novelty even if it didn't have the
charm of characteristics. On January 28, a year ago
the* store of the company at 19 East Fourth street
was deftly burglarized. The store was similarly en-
tered on January 28 this year.
The thieves entered through an open window in
the stockroom and kicked out one of the lower panels
in the door leading to the salesrooms. But there was
this difference in the operations. A year ago the
burglars got a rich haul: in the recent entry they
had disappointment for their w r ork. The robbers
opened the cash register, but scorned to take the $8
or $9 they found. A cornet was carried down from
the second floor, but was left in the salesroom.
REMEMBER J. B. FURBER?
The day i;f the mnydr who does nothing but make
speeches and shake hands is over. So says Mayor
J. 15. Furlur, of Railway. N. J.. who has put this
theory into practice. Mr. Furber was formerly man-
ager of the old Regina Music Co, Rahway. If a
citizen thinks of any civic improvement or necessity
for reform, all he has to do is to mention it to his
Honor. Every month the city officials publish a
little magazine. In it every cent expended or re-
ceived by the city is recorded. The other pages are
lilled with plans for Railway's future. It has punch
and enthusiasm. Members of the police department
distribute the little books at every door in town
while on their beats.
FIANOS IN NEW ZEALAND.
Xew Zealand is assuming a role of greater impor-
tance in the musical world, and the fact naturally has
its effect in the music goods situation. According to
American Consul K. de G. McVitty at Auck'and.
trade in pianos is quite brisk. British piano:, seem to
be preferred, with those from the United States sec-
ond. Figures for 1921 indicate that 381 pianos, valued
at £35,520, were imported into New Zealand, of
which 151, valued at £9.464, came from the United
States. Thus, in spite of the preponderance of Brit-
ish pianos, the United States has an excellent chance
of greatly developing the business which it has al
reach- secured.
FAILURES IN JANUARY.
Commercial failures in the United States dur ; nt
January crossed the 2,000 mark for the first time since
last April, a total of 2,120. being reported to R. ('•.
Hun & Co. While aiL upward tendency usually is
witnessed at the beginning of a year, last month's
increase of 17.2 per cent "compares with a rise of 11.4
per cent in January, 1922. The 2,723 defaults of a
year ago, however, were the second largest on record,
being exceeded only by the 2.848 failures of January,
1915
Last month's liabilities of $49,219,497 are
smaller than those of many previous months.
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