Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American Pianos
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
&**few/«M
Presto Trade Lists
Three Uniform Book-
lets, the Only Complete
Directories of the Music
Industries.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY /• c.n*., UJH\ . r ~
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MARCH 31, 1923
IN BEAUTIFUL
ISLAND OF CUBA
Trade and Social Conditions in the Republic to
the South of Us Where a Music-Loving
and Happy People Laugh, Sing and
Buy Pianos.
By BEN H. JANSSEN.
(Special Correspondence of Presto.)
Havana, Cuba, March 25, 1923.
Cuba has passed the crisis in its economical and
commercial life. An optimistic spirit prevails and
confidence again manifests itself.
From the wreckage of failures from the abyss of
depression in which the Cuban Republic was thrown
because of the orgy of speculation in both sugar and
tobacco, mismanagement and graft in banking and
politics, prodigal extravagance in living and spending
and the Cuban propensity for all forms of gambling,
a new and better Cuba is arising to fulfill the hopes,
dreams and prophesy of those who believe in and
BEN H. JANSSEN.
realtee the splendid future of this wonderful and
beautiful Island Republic. And there cannot be the
least doubt of that future if the people of Cuba will
take, and are taught to take, a more personal inter-
est in its government, more care in the selection of
men to administer its government; if they will have
enacted safe and sane banking laws, which now do
not exist—laws similar to those in our country, that
protect those who entrust their money to these insti-
tutions; if they will go in for more diversified crops,
for they can grow anything, almost, in the rich soil
and splendid climate; if they will build, or have built,
by outside capital, a highway running the entire
length of the island; if they will provide good water,
sewerage and sanitary laws for every city and town;
if they will give to each province a larger measure of
home rule; if they will elect men to office whose love
for country and the welfare of all its people tran-
scends every selfish purpose, and, last but not least, if
the lesson taught by the disaster of the past two
years is not forgotten but rather kept before the pub-
lic by the press.
A Good Customer.
Tt was a grave and unfortunate blunder that has
cost Cuba dearly, when General Wood, who had ac-
complished so much during his short administration,
was recalled, and again after the intervention when
General Berry turned the Government back to the
Cubans. The United States should have retained
control for at least twenty years, for the benefit of
all Cubans. This is the almost unanimous opinion,
not alone of many Cubans but all classes of residents.
Tourists are surprised always to find that Ameri-
can ideals of living, of business, and of government
have made so little headway, although our own Flor-
ida shore is but ninety miles away, and many Amer-
icans reside in Havana. It is distinctly a Spanish
country, and Havana another Madrid. Very little
English is spoken; one never hears it on the streets,
unless spoken by tourists or in one of the larger
hotels where the tourist visitors make their head-
quarters.
And yet all Cubans are fond of people from the
United States, and anxious to trade with us and,
next to Canada, Cuba is our best customer, despite
the fact too, that they resent the increased duty im-
posed by the last tariff bill.
Ancient But Busy City.
Havana is both the capital and metropolis of Cuba
and its busiest and most interesting but not its oldest
city. It combines at once the old world and the
new—and in a very marked degree.
It is at once ancient and modern in its mode of
living, in its buildings and its social life. You see
here a city as it existed over 300 years ago with its
narrow streets, low, quaint and richly colored build-
ings, narrow sidewalks, old churches and convents,
old fortifications and crumbling city walls, built at
the time to protect the city from pirates and other
invaders. You find here the home of families of
wealth flanked on each side by some small mercantile
shop, and but a short street car ride away, a mod-
ern city with wide streets, palatial homes, beautiful,
wide, flower and shrub bedecked boulevards, and
every modern improvement and convenience.
Go a few miles outside of the city and you find
very primitive conditions, especially among those
who work on the plantations. You are told that in
Cuba there are just two classes, the rich and the
poor, and in the country thi« statement seems to be
based on fact to judge by the homes, habits and dress
of the people.
Lovers of Music.
But rich or poor, all Cubans are extremely fond
of music, and their native melodies affect them in a
pronounced and visible degree.
The piano is the popular instrument and is found
in a great many homes, where one would hardly be-
lieve the owner could afford to have one to judge by
the rest of the furnishings.
As you pass through the narrow streets in the eve-
ning you are sure to hear piano playing on all sides.
The American made piano has a firm hold in Cuba
and almost replaced the German and" French instru-
ment, although just at this time German manufactur-
ers, owing to price, are again selling their instruments
on the Island.
The playerpiano is more in demand than the regu-
lar or straight piano and the grand is gradually find-
ing its way—but not to any great degree.
Naturally the business depression had a decided
effect on the piano trade and many repossessions had
to be made but as a whole the piano merchant while
hard hit has come through in much better shape than
the merchants in other lines of business. Those who
weathered the storm are in consequence assured of
a better, larger business an conditions improve. Pres-
tige in Cuba counts for more than it does in the
States, and is a big factor in business. The leading
piano merchant in Havana, from all accounts, is J. L.
Stovvers. He is also the largest distributor of pianos
in Cuba, having established agencies in all the prin-
cipal cities and towns.
Leading Piano Houses.
Mr. Stowers has a beautiful, modern establishment,
devoted entirely to pianos. It would be a credit to
any city in the States.
Another very successful and respected house is
the Excelsior Music Co., Obispo st., No. 89. This
company handles a complete line of pianos, talking
machines, records and rolls, and music merchandise.
They have a most attractive and well arranged ware-
room.
In Camaguey the leading dealer is M. H. Ca-
bana, who in addition to furniture also carries a com-
plete stock of pianos, talking machines, etc. He is
about to open a handsome wareroom for the exclu-
sive use of pianos and talking machines on one of
the principal streets in the city.
In Santiago, the old house of Gramatges & Roca,
one of the finest and best furniture houses in East-
ern Cuba, is again opening a piano department which,
owing to the business depression they had almost dis-
LYON & HEALY FEATURE
RETURN OF PADEREWSKI
Forceful Newspaper Display Gives Emphasis to
Master Pianist's Use of the Steinway.
An unusually effective advertisement appeared in
the Chicago Tribune, of which the return of Paderew-
ski was the center.
The advertisement reads as
follows:
Paderewski plays today at the Auditorium. Again
the master returns to delight Chicago with his genius.
And, as ever, he will use the Steinway piano.
Whenever the time and whoever the masters, the
Steinway remains their choice. It was Wagner and
Liszt then—Paderewski now.
They know the
shower of gorgeous sound and the beauty that fills
the air when they touch the keys. Such exquisite
tcne is obtainable only in "the instrument of the im-
mortals."
There was a fine portrait of the great artist and
the bit of historic information which the Lyon &
Healy advertising department worked into the asso-
ciation of Paderewski and the Steinway piano gave a
touch of special interest for all musical people.
LATEST INCORPORATIONS.
Whitney Musical Foundation, Manhatton; make
musical instruments; $10,000; E. F. Strong, F. D.
Richardson. Attorney, C. R. Freeman, 489 Fifth
avenue.
Williamsburg Radio Supply Co., Brooklyn; $10,000;
I. B. Suchar, B. Firstenberg. Attorney, A. J. Suchar,
801 Flushing avenue, Brooklyn.
Kimberlin Piano Co., Manhattan; increased capi-
tal from $50,000 to $75,000.
EASTER DISPLAY THEME.
The Easter season was the theme of many of the
window displays in Chicago this week, especially in
progressive music houses where a message of music
for Easter was formulated. A piano or phonograph
in the home contributes to the proper celebration of
the day, and a number of window displays brought
forth this splendid idea.
NEW BAUER AGENCY.
Arrangements have been made for an agency of
the J. Bauer & Co., Chicago, pianos, at Grand
Rapids, Mich. Zeph Fitz-Gerald, a man of experi-
ence in piano selling and formerly connected with
piano agencies and departments, before starting for
himself, has taken over the Bauer pianos, and will
represent that company in Grand Rapids.
Lou H. Dockstader, pianist-composer, has been
added to the sales force of the Wiley B. Allen Co.,
Portland, Ore. Mr. Dockstader was formerly with
the Simon Music Co., of Spokane, Wash., and prior
to that with the Aeolian Co., of St. Louis.
continued. In all the foregoing houses the proprie-
tors cater to Americans, speaking English fluently.
One of the oldest piano merchants on the Island
is Luis Gallart of Santiago, a most charming and
courteous gentleman, who is ably supported in his
business by his sons. He, too, carries a complete
stock of musical instruments and does, or did, quite
a business in automatic electric pianos.
Loyal Business Friends.
American manufacturers should pay strict atten-
tion to every detail of construction and shipment as
requested by Cuban merchants—something they have
neglected to do. There are no more loyal business
friends than Cuban merchants if you treat them fair
and square.
A wonderful island is Cuba—a land of promise—a
land of plenty—of fine men and most beautiful wo-
men. The days are filled with sunshine, the nights
are glorious with a canopy of stars, that seem so near
to earth and blaze so brightly. Everywhere the
stately palm sways in the gentle, balmy breeze that
the trade winds blow over the land. Its people seem
contented and happy, for we hear song, music and
laughter. It is a land of plenty and some day will
be a world's playground and the refuge in winter for
those who prefer flowers, trees and sunshine to win-
ter's snow and ice.
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