Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
EttablUhcd 1884. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Trade Lists
Three Uniform B o o k -
lets, the Only Complete
Directories of the Music
Industries.
10 Cent.; $2.00 a Yea,
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1924
UNAUTHORIZED LETTER
HITS AEOLIAN COMPANY
Tempest in a Teapot Caused by Circular Sent
by W. V. Swords to Employes of Big
New York Industry.
PRESIDENT TREMAINE EXPLAINS
Newspapers Were Misled Into Unfair Comment Be-
cause of Publication in the American Legion
Weekly.
The trade paper is not the place for the discussion
of politics, in the ordinary meaning of the word.
But when politics becomes so mixed up with the
affairs of trade in its special line, the trade paper is
obligated to give place to whatever may seem neces-
sary to correct any impressions, or to set right un-
fair judgments, w 7 hich might seem to affect directly
the interests it conserves. This week the newspapers
have had a great deal to say about the affairs of the
American Legion, and efforts of the ex-Service Men's
Anti-Bonus League which is alleged to have tried to
''besmirch" the former organization so far as to
become a matter of public concern. And, as collateral
to that "fight," some of the newspapers have given
place to very caustic criticism of the Aeolian Com-
pany of New York, based upon a misunderstanding
due to the unwise and wholly unauthorized zeal of
a member of the staff of that house.
From all that can be gathered the charge against
the Aeolian Company was due to a letter written by
W. V. Swords without the knowledge of its presi-
dent, H. B. Tremaine, or any other in Aeolian Com-
pany authority. And the climax of the matter, so
far as concerns the Aeolian Company, is told in the
following telegrams which are presented here to fore-
stall any judgments which might arise from read-
ing of the incident in the daily newspapers:
New York, Feb. 19, p. m. 7:33.
Presto, the American Music Trade Weekly,
Chicago, 111.
Letter referred to was written by William V.
Swords, general manager, without knowledge of the
other officials of the Company. Letter does not rep-
resent attitude or principles of the Aeolian Company.
Matter has been acted upon by our Board of Direc-
tors and Mr. Swords is no longer connected with the
Company. Will call your office on the 'phone tomor-
row morning at 11 o'clock and explain fully.
President H. B. Tremaine, The Aeolian Company.
New York, Feb. 20, 1924.
Presto, The American Music Trade Weekly,
417 South Dearborn St., Chicago, 111.
Impossible to get you on telephone as arranged
in Mr. Tremaine's wire to you last night because of
storm. On February 16 following letter signed H.
B. Tremaine, President, was sent to all employes:
"You were recently the recipient of a letter written
by Mr. Swords requesting you to write to your sena-
tors and representatives at Washington urging them
to support the
Mellon tax bill and oppose the soldiers'
bonus bill w r hen it should come before Congress for
consideration.
"This letter was written by Mr. Swords without
consultation with the other company officials, and
without my consent or approval. I had no knowl-
edge of it until it appeared in the papers.
'"The action by Mr. Swords in this matter is with-
out precedent in the history of the Aeolian Company,
covering a period of nearly half a century, and it is
entirely contrary to the ideals and policies of the
company directors and officials.
"I do not know that any one has been influenced
by this letter to act in any way contrary to their
convictions. If such is the case, it is my earnest re-
quest that they take the necessary steps to correct
this regrettable occurrence."
Do not think retraction or additional publicity ad-
visable unless further editorial comment appears.
Thank you.
W. H. ALFRING.
There is little to add to those telegrams. The cir-
cular letter sent to Aeolian Company employes by
Mr. Swords was unauthorized. In that is the whole
story so far as concerns the statements set forth by
the Chicago Tribune, a great newspaper which cir-
culates more largely over the territory throughout
which Presto is the only music trade paper that is
largely read by the music dealers. But for this fact
it would be considered better to let the matter drop
without mention here. For, to the man of the piano
trade who understands his business and knows
what the Aeolian Company is and does, no hot flash
of the political newspapers derogatory to the great
New York industry can be credited. But not all the
music dealers are thus informed.
The Chicago Tribune's leading editorial was writ-
ten without the understanding of the case, in its
bearing upon the Aeolian Company, which should
have been consulted before the publication of so
scathing and unfair an arraignment. It is believed
that, so far as concerns the piano business, what has
here been said, even counter to the implied request
of the Aeolian Company, may serve a good purpose.
GETS MASON & HAMLIN
AGENCY FOR CORSICANA
Southwestern Music Co. Now Selling Grands of
Boston Manufacturing Concern.
The Southwestern Music Company, Corsicana,
Texas, has just secured the exclusive agency for the
celebrated Mason & Hamlin line of Grand Pianos.
The Mason & Hamlin line, declares Mr. Newsom
of the Southwestern Music Company, "is one of the
outstanding lines of the world," and he is glad to be
able to secure the agency.
A Mason & Hamlin Grand, $1700 style, has just
been installed in the C. A. Tripp home at 208 North
Twelfth street, Corsicana.
TUNERS ARE NEEDED.
A recent report made by the National Association
of Piano Tuners states that there are only five tuners
in Chattanooga, Tenn., to take care of the pianos
of a population of approximately 60,000 people. There
are nine houses that sell pianos in the city.
NEW YORK HAS ONE MORE
ACTIVE PIANO INDUSTRY
Mayer Bros. Piano Co. Incorporated for Purpose of
Making Instrument of Special Construction.
Among the new incorporations noted in this issue'
of Presto is that of the Mayer Bros. Piano Co., of
New York. The Messrs. Mayer have been engaged
in the piano business for many years, having been
associated with the J. & C. Fischer Piano Co. at the
factory on West 28th street. About a year ago one
of the Mayers devoted months to the display of an
upright piano presenting some rather novel ideas in
which he had great faith.
In Chicago the instrument was displayed at the
Auditorium Hotel, where a number of experts ex-
amined it and pronounced it possessed of promising
qualities. It was lighter in construction than is cus-
tomary, and the claim was made that it could be
manufactured at a considerable saving in labor.
The item of incorporation affords little information
as to probable strength of the new concern. The
J. & C. Fischer piano has long since become one of
the subsidiary industries of the American Piano Com-
pany.
PIANO TUNERS' NEW POLICY.
At the last of the year the Chicago division of the
National Piano Tuners' Association adopted a new
policy. Instead of the former gabfest, the division
decided to take up technical instruction. At the
meeting on Feb. 8, an action was furnished by the
Thayer Action Company, of Rockford, 111., and at
the meeting on Tuesday night of this week about 25
tuners assembled at the Thompson-U'Nette plant in
Chicago, and listened to Mr. Simpson's talk. Mr.
Thompson furnished coffee, sandwiches and cigars,
and the men declared that they had a very interes't-
ing evening.
The Hillsboro Music Shop, Hillsboro, O., Frank
H. Head, proprietor, was recently sold to J. E. Zim-
merman.
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The J. O. Adams Co., of Wichita, Kansas, has a
large and successful force of "live" salesmen who are
selling their share of pianos to that part of the world.
At their annual get-together meeting Earl Billings
and F. G. Wells of The Cable Co. demonstrated
Cable-made instruments before them.
The motto of this organization, "A Green Salesman
Is Better Than a Blue One," is no doubt a good one,
but we question whether there are any "green" sales-
men in this organization and we know there are no
"blue" ones.
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