PRESTO
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Published Every Saturday at 407 South Dearborn
Street, Old Colony Building, Chicago, 111.
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT -
- Editors
Telephones. Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234.
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4.
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
application.
of the pianos whose faded fall-boards bear oth-
er names than their own. For it is not cus-
tomary with many manufacturers to have a
consecutive system of numbering their "legiti-
mate" offspring and a special series for the
other kind.
So that the plan of discovering the serial
numbers, for purposes of fixing a basis upon
which to judge the approximate values of
trade-ins, doesn't seem to be a very safe one
for either the manufacturer, the trader, the
tradee or even the poor old piano itself.
RADIO AND MUSIC
July 28, 1923
cost of labor is equalized. And if this applies
to countries where import taxes favor the
foreign industries, it must suggest still greater
opportunities for American manufacturers in
the independent republics to the south of us.
There is an immense field for the sale of
American musical instruments in the Spanish-
speaking countries of Brazil, Peru, Argen-
tina and neighboring states. They have never
been well solicited. The most primitive meth-
ods of promotion have usually been adopted
by our piano industries.
It has been repeatedly said that even the
descriptive literature, as catalogues, form let-
ters, etc., have been in English. More often
acknowledgments of trial orders and requests
for prices and other details, are answered in
the regulation Americanese, which is often
even offensive to South American business
men. Exaggeration, and the incisive flippancy
of the average "correspondent" have been
permitted, and the suave, sugar-coated phrase-
ology of the Castillians does not seem to be
understood by many of our export managers.
But the few American piano industries
which have made serious effort to reach out
for business to the south of us know that it
is to be had. And as the facilities of produc-
tion increase, and the need of a still broader
market becomes more keenly felt, the in-
dustries which began in time to pave the way
for it will have an immense advantage over
their competitors.
Mr. Fegen's interesting article in this issue
is presented with no respect to the customary
advertising charges. The gentleman writes
so well, and is so thoroughly posted in piano
matters, that he could not write without say-
Forms clcse at noon every Thursday. News mat- ing something. But if he really thinks that
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before the dealers must sell radio devic&s, has it
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full never occurred to him that the dealers should
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current be given the opportunity to know where to
week, to insure classification, must not be later than get the best devices, the finest cabinets and
Wednesday noon.
the most profitable equipment ?
Address all communications for the editorial or business
And where does Mr. Fegen think the radio
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 407 So.
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
industries can best reach the attention of the
music dealer? He is doing it successfully in
SATURDAY, JULY 28, 1923.
his communications to the trade press. Seem-
ing to grow red in the face over what Mr.
THE SERIAL NUMBERS
Schaad said isn't a poor plan, if the trade
The latest enterprise of the energetic man- papers will print the verbal explosions—as
agement of the Music Industries Chamber of Presto does, and will. But to announce the
Commerce materializes in a research of the radio in a class of publications that do not
past productiveness of the piano manufactur- reach the music trade, and still permit the
ers, with a view to fixing the present values music dealers to remain in darkness is hardly
of old instruments. We do not see how the the best possible plan.
The American music trade papers have In Anticipation of Entertaining Number Club Mem-
effort is going to help much. If the manufac-
bers Flocked to I. A. C.
been
in the field for from about forty to about
turers accede to the request for statistics in
Captain Patrick Henry was program chairman of
the form of serial numbers—as no doubt most ten years. So they are old, as some lives are
the day at the Monday luncheon this week at the
aged,
in
wisdom
and
experience.
Presto
is
of them will—the numbers indicating approxi-
Piano Club of Chicago. It was "Piano Day" at the
mately the time which has elapsed since the 49 years old this summer. Could any publi- club and the fiat from the president, J. T. Bristol,
pianos were finished can not be a dependable cation, coming out every week for so long, be was: "Every piano man in the club must show up
under penalty of being fired from both his job 2nd
criterion of values. This is plain to anyone without what is termed "circulation" and in- the club for lack of interest in the thing that he takes
fluence? No more than a man could live half money for selling. We have talked a lot during our
familiar with the piano industry and trade.
lifetime about pianos. Next Monday we are going
The condition of an old piano doesn't de- as long without circulation of the blood.
to have the piano talk back to us.''
If
the
radio
people
want
the
music
trade
pend altogether upon its age, any more than
Under the guidance of Edythe Baker of the
does the probable longevity of men's lives, they must let the trade papers in this line "Dancing Girl," now playing at the Colonial, the
if as much. It is a matter of record that many know it. And we know of one American Mu- members were enabled to have a little intimate con-
versation with the piano. Miss Baker did more than
pianos, from reputable cheap manufacturers, sic Trade Weekly which can, alone, awaken make the piano talk. She made it converse. She
have outlived the products of high-class in- so much interest among piano dealers, and proved a wonder at it. No wonder she is the hit of
dustries. Still more, is it common observation small goods merchants in this line, as to prove the piece at the Colonial.
Mr. Henry picked a big number and a big attend-
that instruments from the same factories dif- all that Mr. Fegen says on the subject. Any- ance showed appreciation to Miss Baker not only for
fer in the matter of endurance, or at least in thing that fits the music store at all, will s'ell coming to entertain, but also for what she is doing for
in a music store. We knew a music dealer the good of the business in her entertaining piano act.
the depreciation of time.
Deep Stuff: "The man who follows another is al-
The reasons are obvious enough. The new once who put in a line of Japanese china and ways behind."—Harry Schoenwald.
piano leaves the factory in fine condition. Its made it win right alongside the sheet music
AMERICAN EXPORTERS CAUTIONED.
future depends upon the kind of people who and the bass drums.
Many American exporters to Colombia are still
may adopt the piano after it leaves the par-
selling to firms of doubtful financial standing and ex-
ental home, or if not the kind of people,
tending credit where it is not warranted, says .Com-
GOOD FISHING GROUNDS
then the purposes to which it may be put. Or
merce Reports. Extreme caution and carcful^credit
A significant cartoon recently appeared in a investigation are advisable, particularly pending a
there may be, as is often the case, some hid-
general improvement in the market. It should be
den or unknown defect somewhere, just as daily newspaper, designed to inspire Ameri- remembered
that a consular invoice is proof of own-
with the human family. The backbone, or can manufacturers to seek export trade south- ership in Colombia and that, consequently, a con-
iron plate, may somewhere have a weak spot; ward instead of over the water eastward. The signee with a consular invoice showing him to be
may be able to obtain shipments without the
the lungs, or soundboard, may somewhere de- picture showed American Business fishing in such
inclosed bill of lading. Although consignment to
velop a defect; the more delicate nervous sys- European waters without a haul while big banks is not popular in Colombia, it is the safest
tem, or action mechanism, may prove inade- fish were leaping from the industrial streams method of shipping and is a wise precaution when
there is any doubt as to the reliability of the
quate or receive shell shock—any of the pos- of South American trade.
customer.
The old-world industries are having a hard
sibilities are there to offset the probabilities
of durability and resistance to time and wear. time to find an outlet for what they can make.
BRAMBACH USED IN CONCERT.
There are old pianos whose value can not The surprising statement is made that certain
The Paul Whiteman S. S. Leviathan Orchestra
be disputed. There are comparatively new American musical instruments are being sold gave a concert on July 13th in the warerooms of
Sedgwick & Casey, Inc., of Hartford, Conn., using
ones whose worth is problematical. It isn't in British dependencies for less than similar a Brambach Baby Grand. An enthusiastic audience
a question of the serial numbers. The manu- articles of London production. It is perhaps of 500 music lovers attended the concert and were
facturers whose stencil output has been liberal one of the results of the improved methods surprised and pleased by the quality and volume of
the Brambach tone, "a revelation," as many of them
must have lapses in the serial numbers which of manufacture in this country, coupled with told Geo. K. Morehouse, the manager of the piano
may create much uncertainty as to the age the greater productiveness, by which higher department of Sedgwick & Casey, Inc.
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if
of general interest to the music trade will be paid for
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen
in the smaller cit.es are the best occasional corre-
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
EDYTHE BAKER MAKES
PIANO CONVERSE AT LUNCHEON
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