Presto

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and - Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
PRESTO
Established 1884.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Trade Lists
Three Uniform B o o k -
lets, the Only Complete
Directories of the Music
Industries.
lO Cental S2.00 a Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1924
NO PIANO EXHIBIT AT
NATIONAL CONVENTION
Resolution to That Effect Passed by Executive
Committee of N. P. M. A. Prohibits All
Displays at Convention Headquarters.
The mid-winter meeting of the Executive Commit-
tee of the National Piano Manufacturers' Association
was held in New York, on January 25th, at which it
was decided to hold the next convention of the asso-
ciation at the Waldorf Astoria Hotel, New York City,
on June 3 and 4.
In connection with the convention, it was the unani-
mous opinion of this committee that all displays or
exhibitions of musical instruments at the Waldorf
Astoria, during the period of the convention sessions,
and those of the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce, should be absolutely prohibited and eliminated,
thus leaving the members of the association free to
attend the business meetings which are such an im-
portant part of the annual gatherings.
The resolution adopted by the Executive Commit-
tee covering this subject follows:
For many years the National Piano Manufacturers'
Association have been on record, objecting to the ex-
hibition of pianos and other musical instruments at
hotels used for their headquarters, during the period
of annual conventions, and
Whereas, Notwithstanding this expression of opin-
ion, numerous piano manufacturers have exhibited
their products at these times, and
Whereas, The Executive Committee of this asso-
ciation feels that this practice, or custom, is detri-
mental to the best interests of our industry, and has
a tendency to detract from the proper attention and
attendance at meetings which are held for the purpose
of discussing subjects scheduled, which are always of
vital importance, at the annual convention meetings,
therefore be it
Resolved, That, during the period of our 1924 con-
vention and that of the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce, which embraces all subsidiary bodies of
that Chamber, all exhibits of pianos and other musi-
cal instruments by the members of this association
shall be prohibited.
J. A. BRYAN, JR., KILLED
IN INDIANAPOLIS WRECK
Piano Salesman Had Been Steger Representative In
Indiana for Two Years Past.
J. A. Bryan, Jr., Steger & Son Piano Mfg. Co.'s
representative in Indiana and western Ohio, was
killed in an interurban crash in Indianapolis last
Friday night, February 1st. The car in which Mr.
Bryan met death was completely demolished, several
of the passengers being trapped in the debris and
burned to death.
The Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. Co. considered Mr.
Bryan as one of the most efficient salesmen on the
force, and he was loved by all those he came in con-
tact with for his many likable qualities. He had
been with the Chicago company for tw r o years.
SCHOOL FOR REPRODUCING
TUNERS AT MINNEAPOLIS
Opening on January 28th Marks Another Advance-
ment in Service Department of Piano Industry.
A school for reproducing tuners, which was pro-
moted by the American Piano Company, was offi-
cially opened at Minneapolis, Minn., on January 28.
The school w T ill give intensive training along that
line and will equip the tuner with the knowledge of
the mechanism of the reproducing instrument. The
sale of reproducing pianos during the past year was
phenomenal. Many people now have one of these
instruments in their home and the question of how to
take care of it properly has caused much discussion.
The ordinary tuner would not be exactly fitted for
the job of tuning a reproducing instrument, although
in the case of students of such institutions as Polk's
Sphpol pf Tuning his knowledge of the player and
grand piano may be excellent. And it is understood
that Mr. Powell, of the Valparaiso school, is adding
a department for the reproducing mechanism.
The Minneapolis school, which is not a permanent
enterprise, boasts of a class of thirty-six from the
start and many more are expected to attend. Every
member of the class is an experienced tuner.
A school of similar character was opened at De-
troit, Mich., recently which is known as the Ampico
Artecho reproducing school and has an attendance
of twenty-seven experienced tuners.
For a brief
period the same system of instruction was introduced
in Chicago by the American Piano Co. experts.
WINTER VACATION IN WEST
FOR A. G. GULBRANSEN
Accompanied by Mrs. Gulbransen, Chicago Piano
Man Will Remain Six Weeks on Coast.
A. G. Gulbransen, president of the Gulbransen
Company, Chicago, left that city Monday, February
4, for a western trip. This is Mr. Gulbransen's an-
nual winter vacation, and he will be absent from the
city for about six weeks. Mrs. Gulbransen accom-
panied him.
Mr. and Mrs. Gulbransen will go directly to Los
Angeles, making side trips to San Francisco, San
Diego, Sacramento and other cities. Most of their
time, however, will be spent at Catalina Islands.
CONVENTION DATE CHANGE
AND HOTEL RESERVATIONS
All Who Have Arranged for Accommodations in
New York Should Verify Bookings.
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce de-
sires to call the attention of all members of the indus-
try to the change in the convention date from the
week of May 11th to the week of June 1st, with the
suggestion that all persons who have made reserva-
tions at the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel for the former
period have them transferred to the latter.
It is expected that the hotel will automatically
change such reservations as have already been made
for the week of May 11th, but the Chamber believes
it would be advisable. for members to write to the
hotel confirming their reservations for the week of
June 1st.
MORE SPACE FOR MUSIC.
A five-story annex recently added to the store of
the John Breuner Furniture Co., Fifteenth and Clay
streets, Oakland, Cal., gives the much desired facili-
ties for the growth of the firm. The architect's plans
have been almost completed, and it is expected the
building will be completed early this spring. In the
arrangements of the new addition to the big furniture
store more space than heretofore has been allotted to
the music goods department. The house carries a
large stock of musical instruments.
FEATURING RECORDO ROLLS.
The Recordo Player Rolls made and distributed by
the Q R S Music Co., Chicago, are high favorites
with electric player owners. The Q R S Music Co.
gives prompt attention to all orders for Recordo
player rolls and uses its enormous facilities and re-
sources for the advancement of the Recordo player
roll. The activities of the Q R S Music Co. are of
great advantage to the extension of the business now
being done in the manufacture and sale of the player
pianos for which the Recordo player roll is specially
made.
J. C. HENDERSON'S PLANS.
J. C. Henderson, widely known piano salesman, for
the past five years eastern representative of Lyon &
Healy. has two propositions which he is consider-
ing. One is a similar position with another prom-
inent western piano industry; the other to establish
a sales and service business of his own, with head-
quarters in New York City. Mr, Henderson's long
experience will insure his success whichever enter-
prise he may decide to enter in|o.
UNUSUAL RECORD OF
REPRODUCING PIANO
The Latest Achievement of the H. C. Bay
Company, from the Factory at Bluffton,
Sets a New Mark In Demand and
Results to the Trade.
ATTRACTIVE PROPOSITION
Unique Attainment In Style of Instrument Which
Has by Many Dealers Been Regarded As
Prohibitive from Popular Point of View.
One of the outstanding successes of the piano in-
dustry and trade is the H. C. Bay Reproducing Piano.
In some respects the instrument is unique not only in
its beaut}- of design, and its compact construction, but
also in the demand which seemed to almost leap up
to meet it on its first appearance. Such successes do
not often occur in any industry, and very rarely in
the piano business.
But it is not difficult to find the basic causes of
the success of the H. C. Bay Reproducing Piano.
Tn the first place, there was a need of such an instru-
ment to fill a very conspicuous real or seeming void
in the retail trade. There had been no "moderately
priced" Reproducing Grand. It seemed to have re-
mained for the foresight and skill of H. C. Bay to
supply what was an*obvious "want." And he did it
promptly and well.
A Ceaseless Demand.
Today there is no other instrument that is having
such a seemingly insatiable demand as the H. C.
Bay Reproducing Grand. The little instrument has
been so thoroughly tried out, and so generally com-
mended, that no word of opposition is heard.
Among the "distributors" are some of the most
powerful retail houses in the land. In some large
cities the warerooms of great piano manufacturers
are displaying the H. C. Bay Reproducing Grand and
indorsing it as a reliable instrument.
Isn't that
enough to insure success?
A Resourceful Manufacturer.
If there is any man in the piano industry who is
always ready to meet an emergency, and to respond
to a demand, of whatever magnitude, that man is
H. C. Bay. When he had about completed his small
Reproducing Grand, Mr. Bay laid plans for its pro-
duction in such quantities as would insure every pos-
sible advantage to his customers, the retailers. He
arranged the great plant at Bluffton, Indiana, with
special reference to the production of the new Repro-
ducing Grand, having already erected a perfectly
equipped special Grand factory, as an addition to
the spreading group of buildings which has been
established for many years.
It is certain that the H. C. Bay Reproducing Grand
is one of the "sensations" of the piano trade. And
it will be exploited in a manner to afford the dealers
throughout the entire country an opportunity to
profit by it. Having already been indorsed by some
of the foremost piano houses in the country—that
means also in the world—there can be no question as
to the instrument's merit.
Vigorously Promoted.
It presents an instance where, with a single crea-
tion, the H. C. Bay Company has produced so at-
tractive a proposition that it will demand the atten-
tion of a small army of piano men to look after its
interests. Mr. Bay has arranged to that end by
placing on the road a corps of expert piano men w r ho
will not only look after further extension of sales
but see that the dealers have all the assistance neces-
sary to insure the satisfactory operation of the instru-
ments from Bluffton after they have been sold.
It is almost a new development in the piano in-
dustry, and it reflects unusual credit upon H. C. Bay
and the product of his skill and industry,
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