PRESTO
IN AND ABOUT THE
NEW YORK TRADE
Short Visits to Some of the Active Piano and
Supply Industry Offices in Manhattan at
the Busy Time of the Close of a
Worrisome Year.
FROM CITY HALL TO BRONX
Most Up-town Piano Industries Show Signs of Pros-
perity and None Expresses Pessimism.
At the side of the door leading to B. H. Janssen's
office, on Brown Place, Bronx, just under an old
style brass door hand knocker, is a small placard
on which is inscribed this legend: "The only 'knocker'
we stand for here."
\ e w b y & Evans, of whom the trade has not read
much about for some time is enjoying an excellent
trade. Business is keeping up steadily and growing.
Newby & Evans are shipping a considerable percent-
age of their output to foreign markets.
The business of William Tonk & Bro., Inc., show-
ing steady and satisfactory increase. Their trade is
considerably ahead of last year and the foreign busi-
ness continues excellent and takes a considerable
proportion of their output. The Tonk piano has
found great favor in various foreign markets, notably
in Australia and South Africa.
Julius H. Roos, head of the Danon Record Co.,
manufacturers of the new method Rekordo Rekords,
has gone west on a business trip, to take in Chicago,
Cleveland, Cincinnati and other points.
Although the big Gunn Furniture Company fire, in
West Thirty-Seventh St., nearly opposite the James
& Holmstrom retail warerooms, last week Monday,
may have caused a few waves of smoke to be wafted
through the building, it is very certain that no "smoke
sale" will be advertised at this establishment. Busi-
ness with James & Holmstrom is steadily satisfac-
tory.
E. B. Bogart of the Bogart Piano Co., Bronx, re-
cently made a trip covering a good portion of the
New England states. If the factories were all work-
ing at full time trade would be satisfactory. Many
factories are working on short time.
New Decker Style.
The Decker & Son small grand, style B, 5-ft. 1 in.,
is the latest creation of the famous old New York
industry. Proud of the instrument, Mr. Decker says
it is "small enough for most any apartment and not
too small to be a real musical instrument."
Max Rochemont, of Laffargue & Co., is building
a beautiful residence at New Rochelle. Jos. Oc-
tavec, the company president, also lives in the pretty
town.
Becker Bros., owned and controlled by Jacob Beck-
er, is one of New York's quiet successes. The busi-
ness has been built up from a small beginning, and
is one of the most substantial. Mr. Becker owns the
building at 53 Eleventh avenue, to which a large addi-
tion has recently been made. He has also other
investments and his snug fortune has been made by
straightforward industry.
A considerable number of workmen direct from
Europe, mostly Germans, are looking for work in
New York piano factories—and presumably others
also. They bring their tools with them when they
apply for work.
Good Krakauer Business. .
One of the fine old New York industries which it
is always interesting to visit is that of Krakauer
Bros. At this time the evidences of good business
there are apparent. Not many American pianos have
better sustained a "standard" place than the Krakauer.
While there is a great demand for small grands,
almost a "craze" in some ways, there are many manu-
facturers who hold tenaciously to the upright and
believe that the "straight upright is destined to ex-
perience such a comeback" as the industry has ever
known.
Rents have advanced two, three or even four times
the rates of a few years ago. Three-room apart-
ments are $100 to $200 a month. That makes even the
space required for a grand piano count. This item
in large cities seems to possess an argument favor-
able to the smaller uprights.
Discussing their phases of the piano subject, Wm.
J. Bjur expressed himself about as follows: "The
instinct in man is to make a home, and the piano
will always play its important part in the home.
Every new home means another piano, and nine out
of ten of the ordinary homes prefer an upright."
See Rare Leathers.
Have you ever seen leather? Of course; but leather
in such quantities, and often so rare, as to suggest
that all of it in the world must be before you? You'll
see it if you visit the wardrooms of T. L. Lutkins,
Inc., whose offices are at 40 Spruce street. The sup-
ply of specially tanned leather for players and or-
gans, and of special pneumatic and pouch skin leath-
ers, seems inexhaustible. It's a real leather supply
house, and T. L. Lutkins, Jr., the acting head of the
house, is an expert who knows just what you want
and how to advise you.
Julius Winter has resigned as president of Winter
& Co., New York, and at the same time has severed
all connection with the company. G. Heller, vice-
president of the company, will continue as general
supervisor of the manufacturing activities in the fac-
tory at 863 E. 141st street. W. G. Heller, secretary,
will take charge of the management of the office and
the department of sales.
The Vocalstyle Music Co.'s New York offices are
now located at 34 W. Fifteenth street, and the recent
fire which burned out the old location will not inter-
fere with the supplying of the dealers' holiday de-
mands for Vocalstyle rolls. Over 5,000 square feet
of floor space is available in the new quarters.
BUSINESS GROWS BIGGER IN
PIANO TOWN OF BELLEVUE
Little City Which Is Home of the Henry G. Johnson
Piano Co., Is Prospering.
In a recent letter by Z. C. Houck, mayor of
Bellevue, Iowa, that gentleman briefly pictures the
condition of business in the snug little city of which
he is the acting head. Bellevue is the home of the
flourishing Henry G. Johnson Piano Co., and that
fact gives special interest to what Mayor Houck says.
Here is part of his letter:
"As proof that business in Bellevue is progressing,
we are pleased to hand you copTes of recent published
statements of the First National bank, which bank
has been in operation only seven months and has
deposits of $248,394.27, and the Bellevue State Bank,
which has been in business eight years and has de-
posits of $1,076,312.80, or a total of $1,324,707.07.
"Business in Bellevue is better, safer and saner
than ever. Bellevue's industries are in a flourishing
condition. Bellevue pianos are known from coast
to coast. Bellevue clay products are shipped to many
states in the Union. We welcome all good people to
come to beautiful, busy Bellevue."
OPTIMISM ON TRADE TREND
IS REPORTED IN THE EAST
December 8, 1923.
Cincinnati Factories of The Baldwin Piano Company
SUCCESS
is assured the dealer who takes advantage of
THE BALDWIN CO-OPERATION P U N
which offers every opportunity to represent
under the most favorable conditions a com-
plete line of high grade pianos, players and
reproducers.
Ft
Information writ*
iano Company
CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS
LOUIS VIUJI
Incorporated
CHICAGO
ST. LOOTS
DALLAS
NEW YORK
DXNTIB
SAN FBANCUCO
The Heppe, Marcellus and Edouard Jules Piano
manufactured by the
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
are the only pianos In the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented In the United States, Great BritalOi
France, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only*
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PHILADELPHIA. PA.
New York Credit Men's Secretary Sees Much Cause
for Confidence in Business.
Although pessimism is encountered here and there,
a careful review of credit facilities and of the produc-
tion and distribution of commodities give no occasion
for fear, and throughout the country there should be
a feeling of quiet confidence, according to the Decem-
ber monthly letter of Secretary-Treasurer J. H. Tre-
goe, to the wholesale, manufacturing and banking
houses that make up the membership of the National
Association of Credit Men.
In support of his belief Mr. Tregoe calls attention
to the narrowing spread between the price of farm
products and the price of other commodities, the de-
crease of unemployment, the fact that construction
is reaching high totals, the apparent upward swing of
buying in the railroad equipment field, the continued
high car loadings, the high level of bank clearings and
the satisfactory totals reported by mail order houses,
department stores and chain stores.
UP TO OHIO ASSOCIATION.
Mrs. Nellie I. Sharpe, Ohio state music supervisor,
has provided the Music Trade Association of Ohio
with a topic to discuss and a problem to help solve.
Not more than 6 per cent of Ohio's one-room schools
are teaching music, according to Mrs. Sharpe. In a
report made from forty-nine representative counties
of the eighty-eight, music is taught in only 304
schools out of a total of 3,315. Using average enroll-
ment figures as a basis, 3,000 pupils are getting a
musical education and 40,000 none at all. Mrs.
Sharpe wants the associations of all kinds to help
formulate a dependable program to improve the con-
dition.
Small
Grand
Five foot case full
grand tone, beautiful
design and finish.
Lester Piano Co.
1306 Chestnut St
Philadelphia
BERT KLINE IN OKLAHOMA.
Friends of Bert D. Kline, formerly engaged in the
piano business in Chicago, will be interested to know
that he is now in Tulsa, Oklahoma. He is with the
Edgar Music Shoppe, an all-'round music store con-
ducted by Thos. J. Edgar. And, by the way, Mr.
Edgar has been asked to serve as chairman of the
Oklahoma State Music Dealers Association.
When in doubt refer to
PRESTO BUYERS GUIDE
Roy B. Graves has bought the store of the Bach
Piano Co., Faribault, Minn.
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