Pretto Buyers' Guide
Analyses 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.
/• c«*», «i.» *r...
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1923
TWO PRESIDENTS
ISSUE MESSAGES
C. C. Chickering and J. Edwin Butler, Heads
Respectively of Piano Manufacturers' and
Music Merchants' Associations, Address
Fellow Members in Special Letters.
C. C. Chickering, president of the National Piano
Manufacturers' Association, points out the purposes
of the annual convention in the following:
Dear Mr. Editor: The Committee on Arrange-
ment for the "Prosperity Convention" has requested
me to send a message to be broadcasted through the
help and courtesy of our trade press to all who are
interested. Signs point to a very large, perhaps the
•largest, attendance in the history of music trade
conventions. The enormous interest aroused by one
big attraction, the Band Contest, is sure to attract a
large number in excess of any previous convention.
This year the manufacturers have abandoned their
annual dinner in order to concentrate the interest of
all on the great banquet which will be held Wednes-
day evening, June 6. The Committee on Arrange-
ments, composed of some of our most original minds,
have a program which includes plans for your com-
fort, care and entertainment while in our midst.
The Exhibits.
There will be the usual opportunity for attending
exhibits and posting yourselves on the latest ideas in
quality, values and styles. These displays will be
controlled this year, in order to allow a more gen-
eral attendance at the Executive Sessions. It is
earnestly requested that everyone help to make this
movement a real "gentleman's agreement." Your
Committee believes a general compliance will result
in increased effectiveness in Convention work.
Convention Topics.
A number of interesting subjects, old and new, are
on the program for discussion at the executive ses-
sions. Without consulting with anyone, I personally
would like to see the certain subjects taken up and
discussed at the proper time. I would like to have
the thoughtful members and good speakers of our
Association give these subjects some consideration
so that they will be prepared to express their opinions
with regard to them.
I have noticed by the papers recently that a very
strong and general movement is being agitated in the
direction of reforestation. This is a subject which
is of such vital importance directly to the manufac-
turer and indirectly to the merchant that both of our
Associations should place themselves absolutely on
record in favor of the Government taking some prac-
tical and positive steps looking toward national re-
forestation. This is one of the subjects I would like
particularly to have discussed.
Another is the question of skilled labor. This per-
haps will be of more particular interest in the Manu-
facturers' meeting. Another will be the question of
standardization, which is also a manufacturers' sub-
ject.
There is also a very important question which
might be discussed to advantage, namely increased
revenue for the Chamber and its various branches of
endeavor. This could be taken up in both the manu-
facturers' and merchants' meetings to advantage.
Cheerful Retrospection.
The music trade as a whole has had a good year.
The demand has been in excess of the supply; it was
easier to get orders than material. Had shipping
facilities been better and supply sources prompt in
deliveries a still larger volume of business would
have been done.
The management at the Drake Hotel is making
preparations to care for a very large attendance. The
program for the four Convention days, June 4 to 7,
inclusive, is receiving most painstaking care; it will
be put into printed form ready for distribution at
the proper time. We are preparing for an attendance
of 2,000.
The merchant and the manufacturer who makes it
his business to attend this convention and its busi-
ness session will not only have a wonderful week but
he will go back to his desk warmed by friendly in-
tercourse, strengthened in his respect and loyalty to
his business, and he will be a broader and better man
for his participation in the Prosperity Convention of
J. Edwin Butler, president of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants, has joined Mr. Chicker-
Special Page Display
Advertisements in
This Issue
Ampliphone Co., The
Brinkerhoff Piano Co
Julius Breckwoldt & Co
Baldwin Piano Co
Bowen Piano Loader Co
Cable Co., The
De Luxe Piano Co., Inc
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co
Fairbanks Co., The
Goldsmith Piano Co
W. P. Haines & Co
James & Holstrom Piano Co
C. Kurtzmann & Co
Miessner Piano Co
Mathushek Piano Mfg. Co
National Assn. of Music Dealers
Newman Bros. Co
Packard Piano Co.
Perfection Piano Bench Mfg. Co
Piano & Organ S. Co
Paragon Plate Co
Premier Grand Piano Corp
J. P. Seeburg Piano Co
Schiller Piano Co
Adam Schaaf, Inc
Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. Co
Straube Piano Co
Strauch Bros
M. Steinert & Sons
Steinway & Sons
Sterling Piano Corp., The
M. Schulz Co
Starr Piano Co
Otto Trefz
Weser Bros
Waltham Piano Co
Wilson Bros. Mfg. Co
Wessell, Nickel & Gross
31
51
24
44
25
34-35
36
39
45
19
47
26
53
13
48
8
37
41
54-55
64
57
49
17
14-15
29
27
2
63
11
Cover
22-23
21
43
40
41
33
. 62
58
Index to Convention Exhibitors on page 42.
ing in a similar message to music merchants. Mr.
Butler points to the advantages of attending the
convention in the following:
MR. BUTLER'S MESSAGE.
Come to our convention, your convention, fellow
piano merchant.
These are prosperous times. All of you have had
good trade for some months. Business is in better
shape today, in every line of industry, than it ever
was. Prospects were never brighter for a return of
what might be called normal times.
You cannot afford to miss the many advantages to
be gained by attending your convention, this year.
The business sessions, the social functions, the band
tournament—everything points to the biggest attend-
ance this year, and the greatest convention the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants has ever
held.
Subjects All Interesting.
There will be many subjects, of real interest and
benefit to you, discussed at the meetings. The sched-
ule of allowances for trade-in instruments, the radio
as it affects your business, salesmanship, retail ad-
vertising and other subjects will come up for thor-
ough discussion and definite action. In addition to.
this, the band tournament, which is growing to such
great proportions, is going to help your business.
Taking it all in all and looking at it from every
angle there is not one music merchant in the country
who cannot afford the few days' time, and the small
expense, to come to the convention.
Whether or not you are a member of our associa-
tion you are welcome. We want you with us. We
want to show you the advantages to be gained by
coming to the 1923 Presperity Convention.
PROGRAM OF ALL
CONVENTION EVENTS
Details of Plans for All National Association
Meetings and Schedule of Social Events
for Annual Gathering of Men of the
Music Trade.
The following is a detailed list of events sched-
uled for the week of the Prosperity Convention at
the Drake Hotel, Chicago, from June 3 to 7. In this
consolidated convention program of the Music In-
dustries Chamber of Commerce the location and time
of every business session and social function of an
association character are set down. It provides a
valuable aid to association members when planning
ahead for convention week:
SUNDAY, J U N E 3.
7:30 p. m., Chamber Finance Committee, Room
H. 8:00 p. m , Chamber Directors, Room H.
MONDAY, JUNE 4.
9 to 12 a. m. Registration, validation of railroad
certificates, distribution of tickets for entertainment
functions, etc. Registration Headquarters, Recep-
tion Court.
9:30 a. m. Musical Supply Association Directors,
Room II.
10:30 a. m. Executive Committee, National Pidno
Manufacturers' Association, Room G,
12:15 p. m. Get-together luncheon, to he followed
by Opening Session of Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce. Speakers, Richard W. Lawrence, presi-
dent Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, and
George K. Roberts, vice president National City Bank
of New York.
TUESDAY, JUNE 5.
9:30 a. m. Convention Sessions: National Asso-
ciation Music Merchants, Ball Room; National Piano
Manufacturers' Association, Room C; Musical Sup-
ply Association of America, Room D; Organ Build-
ers' Association of America, Room G.
12:15 p. m. Get-together Luncheon.
2:00 p. m. Convention Sessions: National Associa-
tion Music Merchants, Ball Room; National Piano
Manufacturers' Association, Room C; Musical Sup-
ply Association of America. Room D; Organ Build-
ers' Association of America, Room G.
WEDNESDAY, JUNE 6.
9:30 a. m. Convention Sessions: National Asso-
ciation Music Merchants, Ball Room; Organ Build-
ers' Association of America, Room G; National Mu-
sical Merchandise Association, Room B; Band In-
strument Manufacturers' Association, Room F; Na-
tional Association Sheet Music Dealers, Room D.
12:15 p. m. Get-together Luncheon.
2:00 p. m. Convention Sessions: National Asso-
ciation Music Merchants, Ball Room: Organ Build-
ers' Association of America, Room G; Band Instru-
ment Manufacturers Association, Room F; National
Musical Merchandise Association, Room B; National
Association Sheet Music Dealers, Room D.
6:30 p. m. Annual Banquet, National Association
Music Merchants, to which the entire trade is in-
vited.
THURSDAY, JUNE 7.
9:30 a. m. Convention Sessions: National Asso-
ciation of Sheet Music Dealers, Room D.
10:00 a. m. Annual meeting of Delegates and
Election of Directors, Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce,
10:30 a. m. Meeting of new Board of Directors,
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
2:00 p. m. Final Contest and Award of Prizes,
Band Tournament.
6:30 p. m. Annual Dinner and Meeting. National
Piano Travelers Association.
9:00 p. m. Piano Club Frolic.
Leslie Love has been made manager of the Wash-
ington store of Cohen & Hughes, Baltimore, Md., suc-
ceeding Frank Harris, who has entered business for
himself.
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