Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1954

Page 4 Text:

PRESTO
January 5, 1924.
take offense, but instead might be impelled to admit
that syncopated music has a charm all its own.
Modeste Altschuler, conductor of the Circle
Theatre's Symphony Orchestra, and a figure of na-
tional prominence in the field of music, is enthusi-
astic over the educational possibilities possessed by A. L. White Mfg. Co. Receives Order for $65,000
Worth of Instruments From Single Source.
Well Advertised Tour of Axel Christensen, the Christensen Act. Mr. Altschuler is of the belief
that the real value of this conception lies in the fact
Clever Recording Artist of the Company,
A. L. White, of the industry which bears his name,
that it shows the lovers of syncopation the impor-
at 215 Englewood avenue, Chicago, returned last week
tance
of
classical
music,
not
merely
in
the
abstract,
Stimulates U. S. Music Roll Sales.
but as a source of the basic material so essential in from the East where he has a number of representa-
On January 1, Axel W. Christensen, a clever pianist, composing the popular airs. And the way the proj- tive houses handling his product. When in New
who records exclusively for the United States Music ect is "put over" enlivens the interest of the spectator York City, Mr. White called upon an exporter who
Company, of Chicago, began a tour which calls for who before seeing this act probably had little or no had asked for quotations on a large number of port-
appearances at many of the best known motion- knowledge of classical pieces or what they stood for. able organs. The result of the interview was that an
On January 20 the act will appear at the Strand in order was placed with the Chicago manufacturer for
picture theaters in the country in an act which theatri-
cal men call "one of the most entertaining", unique Terre Haute, for one week, and on the 27th it arrives a shipment of A. L. White portable organs amount-
and snappiest piano skits ever attempted. The at the Palace in Fort Wayne, also for a week's stay. ing to $65,000.
The demand for the little folding reed-organs has
schedule of Mr. Christensen extends well into next The itinerary from then on, as already arranged, is
spring, and every performance is an opportunity for only tentative, but the completed schedule will appear been well sustained during the past year. In the ex-
port department the sales have steadily increased as
in a future issue of Presto.
music dealers.
the staunch and musical character of the A. L. White
The United States Music Company, with an estab-
instruments have become more and more widely
lished reputation for dealer co-operation, is prepared
known throughout the world. And the domestic
to the utmost to tie-up with its dealers in every city
sale has also been better than before in a good many
in which the Christensen act appears. The company
years.
has arranged to exploit the act a week in advance
There is no other folding organ that has attained to
with a "news" film in each theater, while colored
equal
popularity with the A. L. White. It has be-
From
Small
Beginning
Enterprising
Firm
Has
Grown
posters, big photos of Christensen and "shots" of
come
a
practical adjunct to traveling equipment and,
to Large Proportions.
his act, and large colored sign boards, featuring the
in small chapels and missionaries, there is no ques-
U. S. Rolls he plays in the sketch, are available to
One of the first shops to be opened in the new tion as to its durability or adaptability to the varied
United States Music Company dealers for window
Hotel
Indiana building in Hammond, Ind., is the purposes for which it is manufactured.
display.
Wyman Piano Co., which has leased one of the rooms
A week before Christensen's arrival each theater facing on State street. R. H. Reid, vice-president of
at which he is billed to appear will show, as part of the Wyman Piano Co., who is in charge of the Ham-
its regular weekly news film, shots of the artist in mond store, supervised the installation of fixtures, and
various action poses, as well as "close-ups" of his everything was done, the electric sign in place and the
dextrous digits as they tickle the ivories, and will stock on display by January 1.
announce that he will appear at that theater in a
A mezzanine floor provides additional space for the
unique act the following week. At the same time dis- display of stock. The first floor is finished in Wal-
Pianos and Players
play cards, signs and posters in the show windows of nut, while the second floor is a two-tone ivory and
local U. S. dealers will call attention to the Christen- white. It is one of the handsomest rooms in
sen act at that theater, as well as to the various Hammond.
Sell readily—Stay sold
numbers he will play and will inform the public that
Great profit possibilities
The Wyman Piano Co. has been in Hammond
those pieces in music roll form can be procured four years and from humble beginnings has grown
inside.
to a business of large proportions. "We have a Chi-
Style E (shown below) our latest 4'6"
The act will open at the Circle Theater in Indian- cago store," said Mr. Reid, "but the Hammond trade
apolis for a two week's run on January 6, and one of has grown until it's a question which is the branch
the features of its stay in that city will be the in- store." Mr. Reid is a firm believer in advertising.
auguration of an intensively exploited prize contest in In fact, he credits the store's success to persistent
the Indianapolis Star, with an offer of cash prizes to hammering through the news columns.
those who, after seeing the Christensen Act, write in
"Of course, we handle only nationally advertised
to that newspaper the best name for it, to be used lines of pianos and talking machines," he said. "Na-
later as a permanent title.
tionally advertised goods must measure up to the
In his act Mr. Christensen explains the classic in standard claimed or all of the page ads in the world
music and gives interesting bits of history about would do no good after a brief session with the public.
some of the best known classical music. In a clever On top of this certain quality we aim to add actual
way he shows how the material for some of the big service to our customers."
One of the special features of the new display room
successes in popular songs was found in the classics
and explains why syncopated music derived from fine is a new type of soundproof booth in which pianos
old standard airs go straight to the heart of the and phonographs may be played without disturbing
American public because they reflect the national pep. patrons elsewhere. These booths are fitted with
Mr. Christensen plays several classics as originally built-in settees and other conveniences.
Order a sample to-day.
composed, with masterly technique. Then he con-
verts the same pieces into syncopated form. In his
Liberal advertising and
FARMER COMES BACK.
repertoire are "Teasing the Klassics," "Nobody's
cooperative arrangements
The
irrefutable
proofs
that
the
American
farmer
is
Business," "In My Racing Car" and other of his best
known hits, all of which either have been or will be regaining his old-time purchasing power are in the
Write for catalogue
put out in roli form by the United States Music line of good news for the music merchants. Thou-
Company. The entire conception is arranged with sands of dealers in the smaller towns in all sections
and price list
of
the
country
who
are
in
close
touch
with
the
farm
taste and an exquisite sense of delicacy, so that even
the most devout lover of the classic could not possibly folk have experienced the glad assurances of the
farmers' renewed ability and willingness to buy pianos
and other music goods. For more than a year the
farmer and stock raiser have been cowed by agricul-
tural circumstances into an unwillingness to consider
the purchase of anything not absolutely necessary
Manufacturer!
THE
to the operation of the farms and ranches. Individual
520 to 528 West 43rd St.
New York
dealers have discovered the farmers' return to the
ranks of the good prospects, and the country selling
promises to be better in 1924 than before in many
years.
U. S. MUSIC CO.'S HELP
FOR ALERT DEALERS
GOOD EXPORT DEMAND FOR
PORTABLE FOLDING ORGANS
WYMAN PIANO CO. MOVES TO
NEW STORE IN HAMMOND, IND.
WESER
Weser Bros., Inc.
W. P. HAINES & COMPANY
PIANOS
THE PIANOS OF QUALITY
Three Generations of Piano Makers
All Styles—Ready Sellers
Attractive Prices
GRANDS
REPRODUCING GRANDS
UPRIGHTS and PLAYERS
AVAILABLE TERRITORY OPEN
W. P. HAINES & CO., Inc.
138th St. and Walton Ave.
New York City
NEW COMMERCE COMMITTEE.
A new committee of the Music Division of the Chi-
cago Association of Commerce was appointed last
week, and the following were selected: E. F. Lap-
ham, of Grosvenor-Lapham & Co., chairman; R. J.
Cook, The Cable Company, vice-chairman; E. B.
Bartlett, of the W. W. Kimball Co.; J. T. Bristol, of
J. T. Bristol, Inc.; Percy Kimberly, of the Rudolph
Wurlitzer Co.; E. C. Hill, of the Baldwin Piano Co.,
and C. J. Mulvey, of Lyon & Healy.
SELLS THE CABLE CO.'S LINE.
The Francis Piano Company, Galesburg, 111., with
warerooms in the Weinberg Arcade has been given
the exclusive selling franchise in Galesburg and
vicinity of the entire line of The Cable Company,
Chicago, which includes pianos, players and repro-
ducing pianos. Conover, Cable, Kingsbury, Welling-
ton, Carola Inner Player and Euphona Reproducing
pianos are now represented in the warerooms of this
progressive company. The company also has the
agency of the Mason & Hamlin.
The Lyon & Healy
Reproducing Piano
A moderate priced reproducing piano,
beautiful in design and rich in tone.
Write for our new explanatory Chart,
the most complete and simple treat-
ment of the reproducing action.
Wabash at Jackson - - - Chicago
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

Page 5 Text:

PRESTO
January 5, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch
Tells"
The Christman
Electrically Operated
Reproducing
Grands and Uprights
Meet the Most Exacting Require-
ments of the Most' Critical. To be
Satisfactory the Reproducing Piano
must be the best representation of the
Piano Maker's Skill.
The Christman is recognized as the
very highest type of the most ad-
vanced development of the Reproduc-
ing Piano. It has no superior and it
is representative of the
Entire Christman Line
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
Only 5 Feet Long
It was the CHRISTMAN GRAND that
first demonstrated the truth that size has
nothing to do with the depth and resonance
of a Grand Piano's tone.
Built with a careful eye to the exacting
requirements of the space at the command
of city dwellers and owners of small houses,
the CHRISTMAN GRAND combines every
essential that wins for the grand piano first
consideration in the mind of the artist.
Every day you are
without the CHRISTMAN
agency you overlook
a good source of profit.
The First Touch Tells "
Reg. U S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
REDUCTION OF EXCESS
VARIETIES DESIRABLE
Government Bureau Points Out That Such
Action by Manufacturers Facilitates Stan-
dardization of Products in All Lines.
of prospects the dealer or salesman can see in a day.
With the aid of a Bowen Loader the salesroom is
transferred to the customer's home. The loader en-
ables the customer to hear and see the instrument
without visiting the store. No dealer with country
trade should be without the Bowen One-Man Loader
and Carrier and the best New Year resolution a dealer
can make is one expressing the intention to buy one
right away.
TO CENTRALIZE EFFORT
BUSH & QERTS SMALL
GRAND PIANO WINS FAVOR
Authorities Believe That Shut-Down of Plants Might
Be Obviated by the Simplified Practice Treat-
ment—Piano Men Doubt It.
No Lack in Orders as Dealers Steadily Call for the
Artistic Instrument.
The fact that no orders for the Bush & Gerts Mid-
The reduction of excess varieties in manufactured gette Grand were cancelled during the busy period
products during 1924 is the advice by the Fabricated
preceding the holidays and that new orders are being
Production Department of the Chamber of Com- received daily, speaks plainly for the standing of the
merce of the United States directed to all industries little instrument manufactured by the Bush & Gerts
including those devoted to the production of music
Piano Co., Chicago.
goods. The elimination of excess varieties is held by
That the Midgette Grand is a consistent seller may
Secretary Hoover to be an important action in the be seen from the number of new representatives it
standardization of manufacturing processes.
has recently acquired throughout the country, and
The department suggests that manufacturers who also the repeated orders sent in by older dealers who
have not already done so undertake to simplify and
have found it to be a profit-making instrument.
standardize their products at the next inventory
"We are still receiving a large quantity of orders
period.
for our grands; and particularly our Midgette Grand,"
"Wouldn't it be very much worthwhile," the pam- said W. S. Miller, vice-president, to a Presto repre-
phlet asks, "if the amount of physical, clerical and
sentative this week.
other effort of inventory could be cut in half, or prob-
ably even more; the period of plant shut-down
greatly reduced; and all the figures available quickly
without undue burden on the force? Have you
thought of the possibilities along these lines afforded
by the elimination of excess varieties and duplica-
tions which you may be producing and carrying in Look Good to Prominent New Yorker for the First
stock? But increased facility of inventory taking is
Half of 1924.
only one of the manifold benefits and savings that are
Franklin Simon, president of a large New York
certain to accrue from a simplification and standard-
ization project, all of which point to that all impor- industry, last week expressed entire confidence in
business prospects for next Spring. He sees no cloud
tant goal—the elimination of avoidable industrial
on the horizon for the first half of 1924, at least,
waste.
"Certain applications and possibilities become evi- and asserts that the probabilities are that this period
dent on first thought. For instance, such items as will be even better than 1923, which is conceded to
raw materials, purchased parts, component parts, fin- have been particularly good.
A rise in prices in most lines may be looked for, ac-
ished product, cartons, packing cases, terminology,
performance, brands and finishes are all amenable cording to Mr. Simon, due to the increase in raw
to the simplified practice treatment. Consider also materials. He cautioned manufacturers, however,
the extent to which centralized effort is reflected in against undue advances which may prevent the pub-
the functioning and operation of not alone the fabri- lic from buying.
In pointing out why consumer demand for Spring
cating, but of the purchasing, the accounting, the en-
gineering, the stock-keeping and all the other de- should continue to be healthy, Mr. Simon said there
is practically no unemployment, other than that occa-
partments.
"It should be observed, however," quoting the sioned by such things as seasonal shutdowns in the
pamphlet, "that such an undertaking is not single automobile and a few other trades. Generally speak-
purpose. Its direct results ramify widely. Then, too, ing, he said, labor is satisfied with current wages.
this carrying out of individual plant simplification The European situation will not affect this country
and standardization in no way precludes or hampers to any greater extent in 1924 than it has in the past.
Mr. Simon warned buyers against speculation. He
the co-operative movement within an entire industry.
In fact, it facilitates the broader project. The individ- believes, however, that they should not be too con-
ual program may, in many instances, be the proper servative, but should purchase very carefully.
The main factor at present that tends to affect
initial procedure in that the potentialities of the work
have been appreciated and the increased effectiveness the outlook for the latter part of 1924 is action by
of operation demonstrated. Interest ordinarily would Congress on the tax reduction bills now before it.
be stimulated to the extent that subsequently all the Should it in this session, levy increased taxes in place
manufacturers through joint efforts could determine of the alleviating measures of the Mellon plan, busi-
upon a plan for the adoption of a simplified schedule ness, according to Mr. Simon, would suffer propor-
to which the entire industry and trade would gladly tionately. He expressed confidence, however, that
influences governing business conditions would re-
subscribe."
main unchanged and the entire year would be a good
one as far as the condition of the country was con-
cerned.
PROSPECTS FOR BUSINESS
DURING NEXT SIX MONTHS
NEW YEAR AND THE
BOWEN ONE=MAN LOADER
Good Resolution Is to Buy One or More of the Sales
Stimulators.
The new and improved roads plans for 1924 an-
nounced by the various states and counties within the
states have a significance for the music dealer that
only the most indifferent can overlook. Before the
middle of the new year is reached the number of
miles of paved and graded and improved highways in
the United States will be vastly increased. It means
that the opportunities of the piano salesman on the
outside will be proportionately increased.
Of course the opportunities may be better realized
if the dealer and salesman provide themselves with
the equipment the occasion calls for. One can do a
better business with the means to travel farther and
faster in a day's working hours. With the Bowen
One-Alan Loader and Carrier made by the Bowen
Piano Loader Co., Winston-Salcm, N. C, all dis-
tances are minimized for the energetic dealer or his
salesman. W r ith the admirable device attached to his
automobile the dealer's one-time far-away prospects
become nearby ones.
The Bowen Loader is the salesman's helper and
the safe means of delivery. It is the best of ail sales
stimulators, too. It adds materially to the number
MOVES TO MODERN BUILDING.
The Morgan Music Company, which occupied the
Kahn building at the corner of Sixteenth and West
Cherry streets, Herrin, 111., for months, is now in its
permanent home on Fourteenth street in the Raddle
building. The Raddle building was practically all
burned a year ago and is now rebuilt into a modern
building. The Morgan Music Company will occupy
the North half of the building. This is about twenty
feet deeper than the South half, having a large stor-
age room at the rear.
NEW ASSOCIATION INCORPORATED.
Papers of incorporation have recently been filed for
the Allied Phonograph and Musical Manufacturers'
Association, New York City. This new organization
will have 150 shares of preferred stock, $100 each,
and 100 shares of common stock, no par value. The
officers are J. D. Neppert, M. Kahn and F. W.
Conrad.
IOWA DEALER MOVES.
Win. Duven, Orange City, la., has moved his music
store from the old Betten Hotel building into the
rooms recently vacated by the Orange City Motor Co.
The new building has been redecorated and changed
in many ways so that it will make an ideal room in
which to display his musical instruments.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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