Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1963

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
PRESTO
E.tablUhed 18S4.
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.; $l.00 a Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MARCH 8, 1924
WHO HAS STOCK IN
SMITH & NIXON CO.
Surprising Statement That Shares of the Old
Cincinnati Industry Are Being Offered
by Chicago Brokers With Talk of
New Values.
WHAT ARE THEY WORTH?
If It Isn't a Case of "Blue Sky," There Must Be
Some New Organization With Old
Name.
A story was abroad early this week that several
of the La Salle street brokers, in Chicago, had been
offering to sell stock of the Smith & Nixon Piano
Co.
Presto has been asked as to the advisability
of buying it. It reminds one of the O. Henry story
of his beautiful parlor and bedroom, both papered
with square decorative tablets bordered in pure
gold. The squares were shares of mining stock.
The law against dealing in worthless stocks is
now so stringent that great care is taken not to make
mistakes of the kind. But there remains all the more
mystery about the large blocks of Smith & Nixon
stock now being offered in Chicago.
As we understood it, two La Salle street broker-
age houses were especially concerned in the matter of
the piano stock. One is that of F. M. Zeiler, whose
representative had called upon a prospective cus-
tomer, either to buy or sell Smith & Nixon stock.
He also sought information, presumably to make sure
that the stock was valid. The second brokerage house
is that of Al. Stein & Co. Representatiyes of Presto
visited both of those offices and asked for enlighten-
ment.
No Price Quoted.
"Yes, we can supply you with some of the stock,"
said one of them. But he did not quote any price
and seemed more curious than eager to sell. The
other broker referred to another gentleman, in the
same office, and the latter declared that he knew
nothing about Smith & Nixon stock, and had never
had any of it to sell. But representatives of both
the brokers had been out calling upon piano men
on the subject of Smith & Nixon stock. They prob-
ably had some client who owns some of the Smith &
Nixon Piano Co. stock and is desirous of realizing
upon it. Whether it has any value, beyond its weight
in used paper, is a question which depends upon cir-
cumstances unknown to the present owner of the
Smith & Nixon piano, its good-will and trade mark
name.
It is fair to say that one of the brokers concerned
explained that there had been two incorporated com-
panies called "Smith & Nixon" and that it is the
"new one" in which he was interested as dealer in
stocks. In that event the "new company" must be
very new. The Smith & Nixon Piano Co., at the
time of its failure, was sold to A. Goldsmith, a well
known Chicago piano manufacturer.
Enter Mr. Simon.
The Smith & Nixon company had been incorpo-
rated in June, 1921, shortly after its control had been
acquired by a Mr. Simon. That gentleman had
come to Chicago, from New York, claiming that he
owned the Cheek player action and that it was his
purpose, with unlimited capital, to establish, in Chi-
cago, the largest player action industry in the coun-
try.
Eventually Mr. Simon went to Cincinnati and there
gained control of the Morrison & Waters Company,
which concern had been making Smith & Nixon
pianos, of which ownership had been acquired by pur-
chase of the Knabe Brothers Co., of Norwood, which
had succeeded to the old Smith & Nixon industry.
There is a retail piano store in Cincinnati which
also bears the Smith & Nixon name. It is conducted
by Henry Crawford, who was at one time president
of the old Smith & Nixon Company, before that con-
cern failed and passed to the Knabe Brothers. When
the name of Knabe Brothers, as applied to pianos, was
sold to the American Piano Co., for the purpose of
TRADE PAPER TALKS
1. Character of Circulation as Shown in Pub-
lication's Instructive Interest.
Presto is averse to bloviating, bull and bunk!
But when the other trade papers are devoting
those detestable influences in a way to prove
misleading, Presto has no escape from a resort
to something similar in style, but very differ-
ent in purpose.
Aside from the fact, easily proven, that no
other trade paper has a better circulation than
Presto, it remains true that no trade paper
can have a really large circulation. Any music
trade paper that lays claim to the printing of
such matter as it is of vital interest to the mer-
chants in this line of business must be in sense
a technical paper, and the publication of much
of its "news," that concerns the industry and
trade, if broadcasted to the public might do
more harm than good in the commercial sense.
A circulation of 6,000 copies of a weekly music
trade paper is about the, as far as the best in-
terests of the piano manufacturers can go at
this time. So large a regular circulation can-
not be honorably claimed by any of the music
trade papers.
No special intelligence is required to dis-
prove the possibility of buying paper and pay-
ing printers' bills for a larger weekly issue at
the highest published advertising rate of any
music trade paper of greater bulk than is repre-
sented in Presto. The others could not put
forth larger volume and exist.
That is a statement easy of verification by
any one with paper, pencil and intelligence.
But quantity circulation is not to be com-
pared with quality circulation. There is one
feature of Presto which alone proves that it
has a quality circulation. The "Where Doubts
Are Dispelled" columns disclose a trade inter-
est exceeding everything that appears in the
rival trade papers. The questions from active
piano dealers prove an instructive influence on
this paper's part, such as no other trade paper
could present. It is not subject to question.
The names and addresses of the questioners are
usually given. Not half of the inquiries are
printed because very many of them have to do
with criticisms of various pianos or with
wholesale prices not designed for publication.
But every one of the Doubts Dispelled
proves a dependence upon Presto for informa-
tion of special value to the questioner, and of
general interest to the manufacturers and
dealers alike.
No other trade paper can offer such proof of
quality circulation. Other proof, equally con-
vincing, will be presented for several weeks to
come.
avoiding the continuous lawsuit performances, Mor-
rison & Waters confined their product to the Smith
& Nixon.
Matter of Conjecture.
After Mr. Simon had conducted the business, un-
successfully, for a time, he brought the remains to
Chicago, where it went into bankruptcy and the
good will, and material assets were bought at auction
by Mr. Goldsmith, who now controls the Smith &
Nixon name and other equipment.
Of course it is not clear as to what is the purpose
of offering the old Smith & Nixon stock. One can
only conjecture. Nor it is easy to understand why a
new Smith & Nixon company should be organized
and stock in it offered for sale, if such is the case.
B. C. Waters, of the former Morrison & Waters
Company, which concern owned the Smith & Nixon,
says that he has no knowledge of any new company,
nor does he know who it is that is trying to sell stock
in the old company.
CHANGES WROUGHT BY
THE QUARTER CENTURY
Items Recalling Death of Herman D. Cable Suggests
Influence of Name in Piano Industry.
The Chicago Tribune has an editorial page feature
in which leading events of many years past are re-
called. In last Monday's issue the following item
appeared, which is of special interest to the piano
trade. It was in the "25 Years Ago" column:
"Chicago.—Herman D. Cable of Evanston is dead.
He had been interested in developing the piano and
organ industry since the Chicago fire."
To veterans in the trade it will seem almost impos-
sible that a quarter century has passed since the
founder of The Cable Company passed away. Since
then his two brothers have also gone—Hobart M.,
the eldest of the three, after having established the
piano industry which still bears his name, at Laporte,
Ind., and then the "little brother," Fayette S., who
survived his older brothers for many years, and
whose great industry recently passed into new hands.
The records of twenty-five years display great and
countless changes in the world's affairs, and, in recall-
ing the death of Herman D. Cable there comes a
vision of one of the most constructive minds and
piano builders the world has known.
CONDUCTS PIANO SCHOOL AND
STORE CONNECTED WITH IT
Students at St. Louis Institution Thus Have Advan-
tage of Studying Different Makes.
The St. Louis Piano Tuning and Player Repair
School. 1514 Franklin street, St. Louis, Mo., has
opened a good-sized used piano store and it is run
with the school, so the students realize on seeing dif-
ferent instruments every day of the week as they
come and go.
M. Freed, of the school and store says: "We are
the only school that has a piano store in connection
with it. The real experience is here."
KIMBALL CO. HEADQUARTERS MOVE,
The general offices of the W. W. Kimball Com-
pany, which have been located on the seventh floor
of the Kimball Hall Building, Chicago, ever since
that structure was erected, have been moved this
week to the third floor of the building. The number
of the entrance now is 301. The change is advan-
tageous in giving the offices daylight on both the
east and north sides of the building.
REACHING OUT AFTER BUSINESS.
One of the features of the Industrial news of the
past few days has been the recurring announcement
by prominent corporations of the establishment of
selling agencies or branches in European countries.
In the case of many of these corporations, goods are
sold under a standardized and copyrighted trade-
mark and it is the program of some of them, at least,
to conduct extensive advertising campaigns abroad.
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/
PRESTO
March 8, 1924.
a so-called "traveling school," fathered by the Ameri-
can Piano Co., which is holding sessions of a few
weeks in the Western cities at this time with the
design of teaching how to repair reproducing pianos.
There has been some talk in Chicago about estab-
lishing some such school as they have in London,
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, or but it has never been very near to materialization.
* * *
Other Subjects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
NO TUNERS' GUIDE.
Burlington, Iowa, February 28, 1924.
for the same money in the Central West, Wisconsin,
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
Editor Presto: Would you send me a copy of
writer in order to receive attention. Answers thought
for instance—that is. as compared with the Atlantic
to be of general trade interest will be published. If an Coast? Should you publish this, please omit my your Presto Tuners' Guide, C. O. D.?
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro- name.
EDWIN HAMILTON.
vided stamp is inclosed.
O. J.
We know of no tuners' guide. The only publi-
About piano actions: There is no question what- cation of the kind pertaining to pianos is Presto
PIANO TRADE "PEAK."
ever about the Wessel, Nickel & Gross, which is dis- Buyers' Guide, which gives complete data concern-
Chicago, February 9, 1924.
tinctly a high-grade action. The same may be said ing all pianos manufactured in this country. A new
Editor Presto: Can you supply us with any data of Strauch Bros.., the factory and office of which is at tuners' directory will appear next fall.
* * *
showing the average sales curve of the piano and 327-347 Walnut avenue, New York. The other
actions about which you ask are considered in the
LIST OF MANUFACTURERS.
playerpiano dealer?
The Seaverns is a fine action which
Whitney Point, N. Y., February 26, 1924.
We should like to obtain some information showing popular grade.
came into the control of Hallet & Davis of
Editor
Presto: Kindly advise if you furnish a list
exactly when the peak seasons appear and what recently
Boston. The Standard Action, of Cambridge, Mass.,
months show the greatest slump in the retail sales is another very good one. There was a Wasle action of piano manufacturers for eastern part of U. S.;
of pianos and piano players. We are in search of industry in New York many years ago.
also list for the entire U. S., quoting price.
this material for a manufacturer of a nationally ad-
The Ampliphone phonograph is, without doubt,
W. S. ALLAN MFG. CO.
vertised line.
one of the best. The office is in Chicago, 209 S.
Presto
Buyers'
Guide
contains the names of every
We are also anxious to learn the total number of State street, and the factory is at Brazil, Ind. It piano manufactured in this
country, as well as data
is
owned
by
Frank
Knight,
a
gentleman
well
posted
pianos and playerpianos that were sold in 1923. If
concerning their manufacturers.
in
that
line
of
industry.
We
would
recommend
the
you haven't data on the volume of 1923 we shall be
We also publish Presto Trade Lists No. 3, a book-
Ampliphone at any time to any dealer.
glad to get that on 1922.
let which contains the names of manufacturers in
About
the
Geo.
B.
Norris
and
the
Fuehr
&
Stem-
CARROLL DEAN MURPHY, INC.
mer pianos; it is our judgment the latter is the more all departments of the music industry. Part 1 of
It is pretty well established that the sales curve salable instrument; it is made by a gentleman with
in the piano business starts at its lowest point with ambition and not as a "second" of any industry. The
January, rising until April, descending steadily until Norris would be classified as medium grade.
Answering your last question about the compar-
June and August, rising rapidly until December,
ative prices of industries of the East and West, there
which is the best month of the year.
The approximate output of pianos during 1923 has is nothing to that. You can find high-grade pianos
been considerably exaggerated in some statistical in both sections of the country and so you can
publications. The figures given are 323,659 uprights; medium grade and commercial instruments.
Pianos and Players
68,726 grands, making a total of 382,385. These fig-
* * *
ures are based upon reports from the foundries from
LIST OF PIPE ORGANS.
which piano plates come, as well as from the piano
Sell readily—Stay sold
Upper Sandusky, Ohio, March 1, 1924.
manufacturers who make their own plates. However,
Great profit possibilities
Editor
Presto.
You
will
confer
a
great
favor
if"
and nevertheless, we have also our own system of
estimating the output and it is our conviction that you can inform me where I can obtain a guide of the
the output of pianos, of all kinds, during 1923 did pipe organs of this country, or at least the addresses
Style E (shown below) our latest 4'6"
not exceed 310,000, and that is a liberal estimate.
of the leading manufacturers of pipe organs.
In 1922 the output was considerably smaller, but
FOSTER SHUMAKER.
the present year promises to be the best since 1904,
Presto Trade Lists contains quite a complete list
which was the most prolific this industry has known.
of pipe organ manufacturers in this country. The
* * *
booklet will be forwarded to you on receipt of 25
DIMINUTIVE PIANO.
cents.
* * *
Stillwater, Okla., February 29, 1924.
Editor Presto: We are unable to find a diminutive
F. J. WALSH & CO.
piano except the Miessner of Milwaukee, and we
Franklin, Ind., March 1, 1924.
cannot get the agency for this because the territory
Editor Presto: Enclosed letter is the second we
is taken.
sent to you to forward to the F. F. or F. J.
Can you give us the name of some firm in Chicago, have
Walsh
& Co. They are people that have attachments
or elsewhere, who makes such pianos?
for playing lateral-cut records on Edisons, etc.
HOLMES MUSIC HOUSE.
Please forward this to this company and also send
Diminutive upright pianos are also manufactured us the address of the company.
by the Smith, Barnes & Strohber Co. The Cable
J. E. NASH & SON.
Company's Midget is another very beautiful little
Order a sample to-day.
We have no record of the location of the concern
upright which it may pay you to investigate. The
Liberal advertising and
Packard Piano Co., of Fort Wayne, Ind., makes a you ask about. It is our understanding such a con-
very fine little upright. In fact, a good many of the cern did exist, with headquarters at Cleveland, but
cooperative arrangements
large piano manufacturers are now producing small that it discontinued sometime ago. We may be wrong
instruments and if any further information is desired about this, but what we have said is in accordance
with our records.
we will try to let you have it.
Write for catalogue
* * *
* * *
and price list
JIGS AND HORNPIPES.
THE "MARSHALL" PIANO.
LaGrange, Mo., February 28, 1924.
Fort Wayne, Ind., March 1, 1924.
Editor Presto: I have one of your "Presto Buyer's
Editor Presto: Have you any old-fashioned Irish
jigs, hornpipes, reels, etc.? If you have haven't, Guide," 1913 edition. I fail to find the Marshall
piano listed in it. Will you please give me the com-
could you inform me where I could find them?
parative qualities of the Werner player and the Mar-
CLYDE MOWERY.
Manufacturer*
Any music dealer can supply you with the kind of shall player. Can I secure an up-to-date Presto
music for which you ask. Certainly, if you care to Buyer's Guide?
520 to 528 West 43rd St.
New York
D. W. RIGG.
address Lyon & Healy, Chicago, or Willis & Co.,
The Marshall piano did not exist in 1913. It was
Cincinnati, Ohio, you can get all the Irish jigs or
hornpipes now in print. We are not engaged in established, by J. P. Seeburg, president of the J. P.
Seeburg Company, Chicago, in the summer of 1919,
the handling of sheet music.
and in 1920 it was consolidated with the big industry
* * *
named. The Marshall piano was a well made and
SEVERAL INTERESTING QUERIES
very attractive popular instrument.
California, February 28, 1924.
We do not make comparisons between well known
Editor Presto: Can you give me information re- instruments, but will say that both the pianos you
garding the Wasle piano action? I am altogether un- name are reliable and well worth what is asked for
familiar with it but know the Seaverns and the Wessel, them. The price of Presto Buyers' Guide for 1924
Nickel and Gross? Will you kindly compare this is 50 cents. It has been out since last December
action with these two and give me your opinion of it? and is very complete.
* * *
I would also like information concerning the Piano
PIANO MAKING SCHOOLS.
& Organ Supply Company action and the Theyer
action. How do the latter two compare with the
New York, February 25, 1924.
Seaverns?
Editor Presto: Will you kindly inform me whether
The Lyon & Healy
Do you consider that the Ampliphone phonograph there is a piano makers' industrial school in Chi-
actually has a superior tone to other phonographs or cago? If so, please give me the name and other
Reproducing Piano
is the extra tone chamber just a talking point? Would particulars as are conveniently at your command.
also like your opinion of the Geo. B. Norris piano
If trjere is any other such school, that you know
A moderate priced reproducing piano,
as compared with the Fuehr & Stemmer. From your of, in the Middle West, I should also be glad to be
beautiful in design and rich in tone.
description and their literature I would classify the informed.
Write for our new explanatory Chart,
. Norris in the medium grade. Is this correct? Can
MANUFACTURER.
the most complete and simple treat-
you give me the name of a piano made somewhere
ment of the reproducing action.
There is no well-equipped piano makers' school in
in the Central West that would wholesale for about Chicago,
though there are several small institutions
Wabash at Jackson - - - Chicago
the same price as the W. P. Haines and be of similar teaching tuning. Nor is there any such industrial
quality? Is it true that one can get a better piano school in the United States. There is, as you know,
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED
WESER
Weser Bros., Inc.
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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