Presto

PRESTO
ADVERTISING CONTEST
ENTRIES ON SHOW
Private Advance Exhibit for Committee Mem-
bers Arranged in New York to Determine
Winners.
A private exhibit of entries in the Retail Advertis-
ing Contest for members of the National Association
of Music Merchants, was arranged this week at the
offices of the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce, 105 W. 40th stret, New York City, for the
eastern members of the special committees which
will determine the winners. Both the committees of
the Chamber and the Associated Advertising Clubs
were called upon by Chairman Thos. H. Fletcher to
meet and decide on the plan of procedure for mark-
ing the advertising and to make their percentage
markings on the individual entries.
The advertising in the contest was run in news-
papers during the year ending March 31st, by mem-
bers of the National Association of Music Merchants.
It is understood that a large number of entries has
been received, making a very representative showing
of the highest type of advertising in the music trade.
The Chamber committee having the contest in
charge includes T. E. Fletcher, of the Aeolian Co.,
chairman, and C. E. Byrne, Steger & Sons Mfg. Co.,
Chicago. The special committee of the Associated
Advertising Clubs includes Jesse H. Neal, executive
secretary of Associated Business Papers, Inc.; John
Clyde Oswald, publisher of the American Printer,
and Earle Pearson, Advertising Development Depart-
ment, A. A. C. of W. These committees will deter-
mine what weight they will give each of the standards
set for the contest—Sales appeal, prestige value, at-
tractiveness, truthfulness and individuality. The in-
dividual members of the committee will then mark
the percentages given to each entry on the foregoing
points, and a final net average will be computed from
the weighted percentages of the standards.
After the eastern members of the committees have
taken vote of their percentage markings the exhibit
will be moved to Chicago, where the western commit-
tee members will function in like manner. Both the
Chamber and Advertising Clubs committee members
will take part in the marking.
After the honor awards in the two classes of ad-
vertisers are determined by the markings of the com-
bined committees, then the Associated Advertising
Club committee will be asked to designate the win-
ners of the silver trophies in each class—one for an
advertiser in a city having more than 20,000 popula-
tion, and one in a city having less than 20,000.
The awards will be announced and the prize-win-
ning advertising will be on exhibit at the Prosperity
Convention at the Drake Hotel in Chicago, June 4-7.
PIANO CLUB OF CHICAGO
ASKED FOR TEN VOLUNTEERS
The talk was considered of great help to every club
member who listened to Mr. McClure.
The new treasurer to succeed T. Hindley, who
moved to St. Louis, Harry Schoenwald, was formally
given possession of the figurative key to the strong
box.
In the membership drive which opened last week
with a rush, twenty teams have started out after
the 'first prize. The first score was put on the black-
board at the luncheon last Monday.
Among the guests in the club at the luncheon this
week was E. S. Rauworth, president of the Apollo
Piano Co., De Kalb, 111.
DEATH TAKES R. H. DAY,
VETERAN PIANO SALESMAN
Retired Few Years Ago After a Lifetime Devoted to
Piano Trade.
R. H. Day, veteran piano man, of Chicago, died at
the King Old Men's Home, in that city, on April
11th, after a week's illness with bronchial trouble.
Very few piano men can show as long a period of
continuous service in the piano trade as Mr. Day.
He had been prominent in the retail trade for so long
that the younger members knew him as a veteran
when they began, and he was credited with being one
of the best retailers in the business.
For many years Mr. Day was with the Chicago
house of the Vose & Sons Piano Co. Some fifteen
years ago he left that house to start in business for
himself, but soon returned to the familiar place,
where he remained until he retired about six years
ago.
Suice retiring from the piano business Mr. Day has
lived at the King Old Men's Home in Chicago, where
he enjoyed all the comfort of a first-class hotel. His
sister came from Florida about three days before
the veteran piano man passed away, and was present
at the funeral service which was held at the Daylight
Church. Burial was at Mount Hope cemetery.
EQUIPS OLD SQUARES
WITH PLAYER ACTIONS
Chas. E. Bard Is Making a Success of Giving Voice
to Silent Old Pianos.
An unusual success of a special line of industry
is being made by Chas. E. Bard, of the Expression
Piano Player Co., of Columbus, Ohio. Mr. Bard
organized the industry named a few years ago, with
the purpose of making player actions to apply. to
pianos. He began in the parlor of his home; then
he took the "middle room," and then added a large
room to the house. Today he has quite a large fac-
tory and is making a specialty of equipping old pianos
with the "Expression" player actions.
The singular part of it is that Mr. Bard's business
has gradually developed a large number of customers
who own old square pianos. His actions have given
such satisfaction that the number of old squares
seems to be illimitable, and the Expression Piano
Player Co. has work for months ahead. And so we
have again the answer to the mystery-question:
"What becomes of all the old squares?"
And at Luncheon This Week the Eager Line Formed
at Foot of Stairs.
Prior to the weekly luncheon of the Piano Club
of Chicago this week the following notice was mailed
to every member:
"We want ten volunteers. The band tournament to
be held at the National Music Trade Convention is
the biggest music promotion task we have ever un-
dertaken and its success depends upon our personal Mew and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
support. We want ten members of our club to
Places.
volunteer their services to the Band Tournament
The Main & Market Music Shop, 244 Main street,
Committee to assist them in handling the bands dur-
ing convention week. This is your time to help boost Paterson, N. J., Passaic Co., musical instruments.
the music business. Phone or write Pat Henry, Incorporators: George E. Govan and others.
Shea Music Co., 5914 West Madison street, Chicago.
chairman, 8846, 64 West Randolph street, that he
can count on to do what you can to assist in this Capital, $10,000. Musical instruments, attachments,
parts, records, sheet music, etc. Incorporators:
work. Don't let 'George' do all the work."
From the unofficial proceedings at the luncheon Frederick L. Davies, W. M. Gloor and Martin W.
r
meeting it was clear that the office of volunteer is Grotke.
Henry Welsh & Co., San Francisco, Cal., to deal
not going begging. It only remains for the officials
in musical instruments in Oakland, Cal.; $15,000. H.
to pick ten or let all the applicants serve.
Gen. Leroy T. Steward, former chief of police of R. Welsh, W. A. Little, H. R. Aldrich and A. M.
Chicago, gave an interesting talk and offered his Moore.
Luskin & Levine, Bronx, phonographs and mu-
influence in making thf Band Contest a success.
It was announced at the meeting that all mail sical instruments, $20,000; B. Luskin, H. Zuckerman,
matter out of Chicago from last week in May to I. J. Levine. (Attorneys, Kirk & Diamond, 305
date of convention opening will be stamped "National Broadway.)
Music Show, Chicago, Week of June 4th."
CORTOT AND STEINWAY.
Many members came specially to the luncheon to
hear M. Frank McClure, vice-president, Albert Frank
A Steinway piano was used at the joint recital of
& Co., chairman, National Advertising Council and Albert Cortot and Jacques Thibaud, who appeared in
president, Advertising Council Chicago Association Portland, Oregon, April 4. Sherman, Clay & Co.
of Commerce, talk on 'The Advertising Man's Labo- advertised Cortot's appearance extensively in connec-
ratory or the Interpretation of the Underlying Prin- tion with the Steinway and the Duo-Art and his long
ciples of Advertising," in which he described the list of Victor records. All of the Victor dealers say
relation of color, style of type, arrangement, position, that the sales of his records were very much increased
in advertising as appealing to sense, motive, action. as a result of his visit.
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
April 21, 1923
THE MUSIC TRADE
AND BETTER HOMES
Manufacturers in Various Lines of Music
Goods Invited to Join National Movement
by Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce Bureau.
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce has
sent out letters to members among the piano and
phonograph manufacturers, musical merchandise
makers and distributors and also publishers, to find
out who will give prices to winners in a nation-wide
Home Music Contest, which will be conducted by the
Advisory Council for Better Homes in America,
from its national headquarters in Butterick building,
223 Spring street, New York City.
The first prize will be a $500 piano or a $500
allowance on any piano or playerpiano to- be selected
by the winner from a list of makes whose manufac-
turers authorize the use of their names; second prize,
a $200 phonograph or allowance of that amount on a
higher-priced machine, in a similar manner, and ten
prizes of $25 each in musical merchandise, such as
small goods, sheet music, playerpiano rolls and talk-
ing machine records.
Information about the contest will be conveyed to
possible contestants by means of circulars distrib-
uted through the national organization of the music
trade and the Better Homes movement. Supplies will
be placed in the hands of local committees who wish
to make the Home Music Contest a feature of their
local observance of Demonstration Week in June.
The likelihood of 2,000 communities observing Bet-
ter Homes Week this year is suggested in the fol-
lowing letter, which has been sent, under date of April
14, to piano manufacturers. Similar letters have been
sent to the talking machine manufacturers, music roll
manufacturers, and members of the musical mer-
chandise, music publishers and band instrument
associations:
Letter to Manufacturers.
To Piano Manufacturers: We have established a
mutually beneficial tie-up with the Better Homes
movement. Probably 2,000 communities throughout
the country will observe Demonstration Week, June
4-10. Most of the local committees will arrange for
model homes to be fully equipped and demonstrated
through lectures, programs and publicity—not com-
mercially, but as a public welfare movement, ap-
proved by President Harding and actively sponsored
by Secretary Hoover.
Last year's plans did not include music—this year's
make it a big feature. We have been asked to pro-
vide prizes for a national contest in which the Amer-
ican public will choose the ten best home music
numbers.
The Prizes.
The first prize will be a $500 allowance on any
piano or playerpiano to be chosen by the winner from
a list as indicated on the enclosed circular—the list
to include the names of those who agree to contribute
the wholesale price portion of a $500 retail allowance.
Thus if your piano is chosen from the list by the
contest winner, you will be out the wholesale part
of a $500 retail allowance by your dealer in the home
town of the winner, or by your nearest authorized
agency. In other words, if you win you lose—but
you gain national attention and a lot of local interest
wherever the contest winner happens to be. Think
what this means in terms of the music trade alone,
not to mention the public. In any event, you will
have received widespread publicity through the cir-
culation of the contest prize list showing your name.
Advertising Scheme.
Thousands of circulars containing the prize offers
must be printed for early distribution to get the full
benefit of publicity and widespread interest; there-
fore we must have all names for listing by April 25.
Please let us know by return mail if you are will-
ing to enter the name of your piano in the prize list,
so that we can advise the officers of the Better Homes
movement whether we can make a creditable show-
ing in the offer of prizes to boost home music.
Sincerely yours,
C. L. DENNIS, Manager,
Trade Service Bureau.
The Circulars.
Circulars for use by music dealers during Demon-
stration Week for Better Homes in America to be
held from June 4 to 10, will be distributed by the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce in response
to requests by the trade.
"What do you consider the ten best numbers of
home music?" is the query on a voting blank in-
cluded in the printed matter in preparation. "What
music does America like for the home?" is another
query on a voting blank. The person who names in
his or her list the most of the ten selections receiv-
ing the highest number of votes and in most nearly
the same order as the ten best numbers will win first
prize, the next nearest second price, etc.
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