Presto Buyers' Guide
Presto Trade Lists
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
Three Uniform B o o k -
lets, the Only Complete
Directories of the Music
Industries.
Established 1884.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
™ Cent.; *2.00 a Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 22, 1923
THE FIRST GREETINGS
SUGGEST HAPPY FLOOD
And the Friendly word is the next best thing;
A \:?w Year's hope when the old year ends—
The same old wish for the same old friends.
"—Arthur L. W T essell."
DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN
TRADE SHOWS INCREASE
Cheering Reminders of Gcod Will as They
Arrive This Week, Stir Again the Senti-
ments of the Season.
R. W. E. SPERRY'S WORK FOR
PACKARD PIANO COMPANY
All Lines of Industry, and Especially Such as
Felt War-Time Effects, Have Recovered
Almost to Normal.
Activities of Expert Piano Man Named in Interview
by President Bond.
The return to the Packard Piano Co., Fort Wayne,
ind., of R. W\ E. Sperry is printed in the news
columns of the Fort Wayne Gazette of recent date.
'Therewith is the opinion of Mr. Sperry voiced by
Albert S. Bond, president of the company:
"Mr. Sperry first came with us in 1909. He left us
in the summer of 1917 to go with Hallet & Davis and,
three years later, with Ivers & Pond.
"Mr. Spcrry's value as a factory man, his technical
knowledge of piano construction in both scale draw-
ing and case designing, coupled with his knowledge of
music—he being an accomplished pianist himself—
makes him one of the best balanced individuals in
the trade in his line.
"His work with us will not be entirely confined to
the factory. He will w r ork very closely with the sales
force and dealers in finding out the requirements of
the trade and developing a product that will be up-to-
date in every particular."'
Secretary Hoover's annual report gives a pleasing
account of trade conditions, says an editorial in the
New York Times. With the exception of agriculture
he finds "complete recovery from the great slump of
1921." Manufacturing production increased 25 per
cent over the preceding year, and 40 per cent from
the bottom. Similar gains were recorded in other
industries, particularly such as had suffered during
the war.
Railways hauled one-fifth more freight than in the
preceding year. All these indexes of economic activ-
ity were "materially higher than during the very pros-
perous year of 1919." Pig iron production was nearly
double the previous year, or three and a half times
greater than at the trough of the slump. Even agri-
culture showed "some improvement," although our
food exports declined in consequence of revival of
agricultural production abroad.
The Secretary remarks that exports of manufac-
tures and materials increase as food exports decline,
which suggests that Europe is taking all it can pay
for of either.
•
Our imports increased markedly in both volume
and value, reaching an excess of $57,000,000 over ex-
ports in March. That was the first of several monthly
excesses of imports, but with the coming of the new
fiscal year exports began to be in.excess again. Evi-
Great Success of John Cohan with Grands and Re- dently the temporary rush of imports reflected the
producing Pianos.
needs of our domestic manufacturing industries for
raw materials, such as silk, rubber, furs, skins, and
One of the active music firms of Worcester, Mass., so forth. Our foreign trade in general compares
is the Worcester Music Shop, of which John Cohan "very favorably" with that of other countries.
is the president and efficient manager. The company
The exports of ten other countries increased in gold
features the Krakauer Bros, pianos and players and
reproducing pianos and sells many of the fine instru- values only 20.6 per cent over 1913, while those of
ments by its energetic methods in. advertising and the United States were 59 per cent greater. Our
import trade was 109 per cent greater than in 1913,
field work.
compared with an increase of only 15 per cent for
The Cohan Music Shop presents the Krakauer
pianos, players and reproducing pianos on their the same ten countries.
Increases over 1913 are remarkable proofs of re-
merits, known and recognized by many prominent
covery
of normal international conditions. Decreases
families in Worcester. The Krakauer Bros, reproduc-
from abnormal war maximums are also encouraging
ing piano is a type of the highest development.
"Our recent success - with the Krakauer Bros, in the sense that it was impossible that they should
grand is only a continuation of our success with the be maintained.
"It is unquestionably for the best public interest,"
instrument since we began selling it," said Mr. Cohan
this week. Now, as always, our appeal for the in- says Mr. Hoover, "that the price level should be far
strument is on the basis of its artistic tone quality." lower" than during the war peak and the post-war
boom. The average of our wholesale prices was 56
per cent above 1913, but 37 per cent lower than the
H. C. BAY AND THE ARTISTS.
1920 peak. During the year there was a gain of 10
The H. C. Bay Company is desirous that nothing per cent, but it ranged only between 153 and 159.
shall appear in connection with the new Reproduc- That indicates a considerable approach toward stabili-
ing Grand that is not absolutely ethical and cor- zation. "This situation of a moderate increase in
rect. In last week's double page advertisement of
wholesale prices, accompanied by stationary retail
-t
*
*
the new H. C. Bay Company reproducing piano, a prices, gave stimulus to industry."
"It is again the time of the year when happy number of internationally famous pianists were men-
felicitations are exchanged. We extend our heartiest tioned. W r ith two exceptions the lists of artists was
and sincerest wishes for a Merry Christmas and accurate but those of Hofmann and Rachmaninoff
PIANOS IN DEPARTMENT STORE.
should have been omitted because they are making
Happy New Year.—Wessell, Nickel & Gross."
The piano department at the Shepard Stores, Tre-
special records for one of the New York industries. mont and Winter streets and Temple place, Boston,
* * *
"Operators Piano Company extends the compli- The H. C. Bay Co. is careful in such matters and under the management of J. J. Moran, has been con-
siderably expanded. Instead of being on the second
ments of the season, with the wish that yours may be the two names slipped in unawares.
a Christmas of happiness and contentment and a New
floor, this department now occupies considerable
S. W. MILLER PIANOS PROSPER.
Year which will bring to you a satisfying measure of
space on the third floor and a portion of the mezza-
prosperity."
Good reports come from the S. W. Miller Piano nine floor. On the Temple place front there is a re-
producing room finished in Colonial style and most
* * *
Co., of Sheboygan, Wisconsin. The playerpianos of
attractive. Manager Moran has added several men
''It's a jolly old time—Christmas day—
that industry are having a good sale in the stores of
That comes each year in the same old way,
many dealers, and wherever sold they give absolute to his staff, which has been successful in closing a
And now that it's here I venture anew
satisfaction and leave the right results to the dealers. large number of Christmas sales.
To wish all blessings this Christmas for you.
The case designs are very beautiful and the charac-
teristic Miller tone wins wherever it is heard. The
—"F. C. Billings."
THE YEAR'S END CHANGES.
new year promises to open well for the S. W. Miller
* * *
There will be the customary number of changes in
Piano
Company.
"The spirit of Christmas calls us to a better appre-
the piano industry and trade with the close of this
ciation of old associations and the value of old friend-
Already the resignations of very prominent
GULBRANSEN-DICKINSON VISITORS. month.
ships. May the New Year bring you a full share of
members of two of Chicago's big houses is reported
pleasure and prosperity.—Christman Piano Company,
Among the callers to the Gulbransen-Dickinson and others are "in the air." But premature discus-
Inc., New York."
Company, Chicago and Kedzie avenues, Chicago, this sion of the inside workings of the piano offices is
* * *
week were J. J. Healy, piano department of Boston something Presto does not indulge in. Changes must
"Merry Christmas—the same old greeting;
Store, Milwaukee, and H. Meyer, of the Meyer come, and, whether going out or coming in, Presto
Would that the day could find us meeting;
Music Co., Kalamazoo, Mich. Both dealers report a wishes all the best of success and steady increase of
But to remembrance we ever cling,
live business for the Gulbransen player.
prosperity.
Forerunners of the messages of good will which
characterize the coming of the holidays began to
drop into Presto offices this week. By Monday noon
there will be a welcome avalanche of them—the as-
surances of a good-will which, to the workers upon
this trade paper, are more welcome even than "copy"
ior "page ads."
The very first greeting this year came from Gen-
eral Manager H. Edgar French, of the Jesse French
& Sons Piano Co., of New Castle, Indiana. Why is
it, by the way, that the first, like the dew of the early
morning on the clinging bud, has a special sentiment
and carries a subtle impression? Don't know? Well,
it does.
Other first comers of the holiday messages follow,
and all are appreciated and reciprocated, as will be the
entire flood of them which will arrive before the New
Year dawns. And all of these reminders are beau-
tifully decorative:
"The spirit of the season brings renewed apprecia-
tion of old associates and the value of new friends.
The opportunity afforded is taken to express to you
this feeling of friendship and to acknowledge the
pleasure derived from our business relations during
the year about to close.
* * *
"May your Christmas be merry and the New Year
bring you abundance of happiness and prosperity.—•
Waltham Piano Co.. Milwaukee, Wis."
* * *
"There arc days for sending merchandise,
And days to send a bill;
But this one day of all the year
We send you just 'Good Will.'
"Perfection Piano Bench Mfg. Co., 1514-18 Blue
Island avenue, Chicago."
* * *
"Your good will and friendship is one of our most
valued assets; and the greatest thing we can wish for
you during the coming year is that your dealings
with your customers be as pleasant as ours have been
with you.—J. P. Seeburg Piano Company."'
* * *
"May Christmas bring Prosperity and Happiness to
you.
To make your house their dwelling place the live-
long New Year through;
And may the times that are to come, wherever you
may roam,
Be as sunny-sweet and pleasant as olden days at
home.
—W. W. Kimball Co."
KRAKAUER BROS. LINE
SELLS IN WORCESTER, MASS
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