Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1967

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
rheir Makers.
PRESTO
. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Trade Lists
Three Uniform B o o k -
lets, the Only Complete
Directories of the Music
Industries.
to c. n t, t $M.OO « J W
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, APRIL 5, 1924
INNOVATION IN
THE PLAYER FIELD
Waltham Piano Co., of Milwaukee, Starts Na-
tional Advertising Campaign to Introduce
a New Style Instrument Possessing
Some Novel Features.
IT IS THE "HARPENOLA"
Beginning with Wisconsin, Indiana, Michigan and
Ohio, the Entire Country Will Receive Wide-
spread Printer's Ink Stimulation.
One of the western piano industries that is going
after trade in a large way is the Waltham Piano Co.,
of Milwaukee. Beginning with the third of this
month, the Waltham Piano Co. inaugurated a broad-
cast advertising campaign, in which some notable im-
provements and new features, in the already famous
instruments, are to be made known to the piano
buying public everywhere.
Of General Interest.
Of course all piano dealers are interested directly
in the campaign of an industry that has something
new to offer, in which there are opportunities for re-
newed stimulus and increased pos'sibilities of busi-
ness and profit. The Waltham publicity will feature
a new playerpiano presenting twelve points of special
interest and novelty. The instrument is known as
the "Harpenola," and the name at once suggests the
characteristic quality, or added attractiveness of the
instrument from Milwaukee.
There have been piano "attachments," designed to
imitate every instrument, from a zither to a bagpipe.
But in the new Waltham "Harpenola" there is a dis-
tinct departure from anything that has already been
introduced. Of course its basis is the Waltham itself,
which has attained to a place unchallenged in both
material and musical results. A complete detailed
description of the new instrument will shortly appear,
and there are hundreds of dealers who will be more
than ready to investigate the claims of the newest
thing in the piano line.
By Way of Introduction.
And, as an intellectual appetizer, the page opposite
will serve a good purpose. For it outlines some of
the "Harpenola" qualities, and tells of the innovation
and its possibilities in the home and in the stores.
The publicity campaign of the Waltham Piano
Company will at first be vigorously applied to the
states of Wisconsin, Indiana, Ohio and Michigan.
Later it will be extended until the entire country shall
have been thoroughly covered. Dealers will at once
see the possibilities of results to themselves, and the
forward movement already insured will be greatly
augmented by the power of printer's ink as an ad-
vance agent for sales at retail.
Will Stimulate Enthusiasm.
President Paul F. Netzow r , of the Waltham Piano
Co., is very enthusiastic about the new "Harpenola"
playerpiano. He believes that in the practicability of
the innovation there is a field for general advertising
which must exert the influence for dealers which is
needed to instill the new desire on the public's part to
buy pianos. And the publicity will not be confined to
the magazines, but will be extended also to the farm
and home papers, until the ease with which a harp
solo may be played upon the Waltham, with or with-
out accompaniment, will be understood in all music
loving communities.
The Waltham Piano Co. has a descriptive booklet
in press, in which the "Harpenola" is fully described.
It will be mailed to any address on application, and,
of course, all Waltham dealers will be supplied with
quantities of it for local distribution.
It is believed, furthermore, that the innovation will
prove a great help to the Waltham merchandizing
plan which many dealers are adopting, and find desir-
able and applicable to profitable business. It is cer-
tain that any new ideas which may stimulate the
piano trade must be welcome. The Waltham Piano
Co. is going after trade with the faith that in the new
instrument there is a basis of still greater success,
and the national advertising will help to that end.
Presto is concerned in anything and everything
that can be helpful to music and the music trade.
Therefore the Waltham enterprise is of special in-'
terest at this time, and will be followed further in
subsequent issues.
DR. GOODSPEED ADDRESSES
PIANO CLUB OF CHICAGO
And Miss Hunt, Famous Canadian Violinist, Con-
tributed to the Joy of Luncheon This Week.
Dr. Edgar J. Goodspeed, member of the faculty and
secretary to the president of the University of Chi-
cago, addressed the Piano Club of Chicago on a sub-
ject brimful of interest, information and wit at the
Monday luncheon this week.
Miss Helen Hunt, one of Canada's most famous
violinists, shared her talent with the members during
the enjoyable hour at the Illinois Athletic Club.
"Don't miss the Piano Club beefsteak dinner and
frolic, April 7, at the Belmont Hotel, 6:30 p. m. Stag
—positively informal," was the admonition of John
McKenna, president, and Harry D. Schoenwald, sec-
retary, at the close of the luncheon.
The drive for i\ve hundred new members now being
made by the Piano Club of Chicago is now well under
way and results even this early in the movement are
entirely satisfactory. Many applications from Chi-
cago have been received in response to the circular
letter and application blanks sent out and other cities
have created considerable interest in Chicago Piano
Club membership. For instance, New York city sent
a good quota and numerous excellent letters have been
received.
NOW WHOLESALE CORRESPONDENT.
TRADE PAPER TALKS
5—TRAVELING SALESMEN AS INVES-
TIGATORS OF TRADE PAPER
CIRCULATION.
At intervals there is talk of what some piano
manufacturer or other "organization" has been
doing to settle the question of trade paper
circulation. The result is certain to be as un-
convincing as the average research in problems
of the occult. And it must be a very dead trade
paper that does not proclaim itself the real-for-
sure Greatest Ever, especially in its circulation
department.
But, absurd as the situation may be, the
processes by which the fool's cap may be ad-
justed is of some trade interest.
It :s now about twenty-five years since the
first attempt by a piano manufacturer was
made to settle the question of comparative
trade paper circulation. The manufacturer
was the late Malcolm Love, at the time mak-
ing pianos at Waterloo, N. Y. As the result
of his "investigations," Mr. Love declared that
Presto seemed the most influential in bringing
sales. He did not say much about "circula-
tion," because he found that the dealers who
actually read the trade papers considered it a
waste of time to fill out blanks, and an imper-
tinence on the part of the questioner.
Later, a Chicago supply manufacturer tried
the same plan for discovering how many copies
of a trade paper could be profitably circulated.
His efforts met with no satisfactory results be-
cause he had employed a Boston music trade
directory from which he took names of such
dealers as he knew were "important," and he
added the names of his own customers. And
it occurred to him as strange that only a few
of his customers were rated in the directory
and that he had so few of the ones named in
the directory in his own list of "prospects."
Of recent years it has been considered a mat-
ter of education, with one or two piano manu-
facturers, to have their traveling salesmen re-
port as to which of the trade papers they found
in the stores at which they called. No one
who understands the ways of the piano man
will doubt the result. The traveler will visit
the large cities and towns. In the big stores
he will find trade papers. Some of the papers
will be found unrolled on the top of the mail
clerk's desk. Perhaps the trade paper that is
read will not be there. It may have been
taken home by "the boss." It may not be
there because "the boss" will not pay the little
price of subscription and the publishers are too
self-respecting to send the paper as free as any
common circular.
Is there any value in reports from the trav-
elers? They know nothing of the dealers in
the smaller places who take one or more of the
trade papers because they need them, and often
for the purpose of reading the advertisements
W. L. Stephenson, who for the past three years
represented Lyon & Healy in the South, and who is
well known to all the trade in Georgia, Florida, Ten-
nessee, North and South Carolina, Mississippi and
Virginia has been promoted to the position of cor-
respondence in the Lyon & Healy wholesale. Mr.
Stephenson has a host of friends who will be glad to
hear of his well-merited advancement.
ANNUAL MEETING ANNOUNCED.
The annual meeting of the New York Piano Mer-
chants' Association is set for April 21, at which time
the election of officers will take place. A special pro-
gram of entertainment is planned for the annual meet-
ing, according to C. T. Purdy, president.
no less than the suggestions and constructive
articles.
The traveler who attends to his own busi-
ness—his employer's business—cannot take
tally of any side issue. He has personal
friends in all the trade papers and he is not
a "knocker." Presto could name at least
twenty traveling salesmen who owe their posi-
tions to this paper, and there are others who
are its loyal friends and as good salesmen as
friends. Not a few of them have added many
subscribers to Presto's mailing list.
No reputable piano manufacturer would per-
mit his travelers to go nosing about the coun-
try in such a silly attempt at finding out what
they may know by applying at the offices of
the trade papers themselves. And don't you
believe any trade paper that says any piano
manufacturer has been doing it. Further
proofs of Presto circulation and influence will
appear next week.
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
PREMIER BABY GRAND
THEME OF BOOKLET
"Magic of Music" Issued by Premier Grand
Piano Corporation Gives Historical .Causes
Leading to Proud Result.
CONCENTRATES ON GRANDS
New Bit of Premier Publicity Admirably Describes
Manufacturing Efficiency That Makes Quantity
Production Possible.
"The Magic of Music" is the title of a new book-
let issued by the Premier Grand Piano Corporation,
510-523 West 23rd street, New York City, manufac-
turers of baby grands exclusively. The theme sug-
gested by the title is developed and in doing so
the historic facts, the influence of musical progress
on humanity as expressed in the growth of human
happiness, and the writer of the book naturally follows
the clear historic path from the making of the first
piano by Christofore to the presentation of perfection
in a small grand by the Premier Grand Piano Cor-
poration.
There is a clear connection between the "Magic
of Music" and the magical cause of fine piano music
made possible by the admirable little grand of the
New York manufacturers. From its earliest incep-
tion the grand piano has always been associated with
the artist. The professional pianist and the virtuoso
have favored this style of instrument generation after
generation. The grand piano, primarily due to the
horizontal scale, has been considered most worthy
to be played on by pianists of the first rank. Of
necessity the type of instrument was limited as to
general use. Apart from a high price, it was large
and rarely seen in a home of ordinary size. When
the Premier Baby Grand effected the situation is told
in the new Premier booklet:
"And now comes the period where size and price
considerations were swept aside by the development
of the small grand which would admirably fit in man-
sion, cottage or apartment and cost no more than the
quality upright piano of conventional design and ap-
pearance. The Baby Grand Piano, as exemplified
by the Premier, is an instrument which has success-
fully solved the problems which have for years re-
tarded the development of the small grand for gen-
eral, popular use in homes, studios and conserva-
tories.
"The Premier Baby Grand is first of all, a grand
piano of quality. A rich, mellow tone distinguishes
it. In appearance it possesses that charm and dig-
nity which characterize the grand piano only. Our
Grand Action is a most responsive action, and being
such an important feature, it is built in its entirety
in the Premier institution, thus insuring its highest
quality throughout.
"The Premier blends admirably with the room
furnishings. Whether the room be large or small,
elaborately ornate or chastely simple, the Premier
Baby Grand has a wonderful influence, for here are
beauty and utility combined. In the National Home
Beautiful movement, the Premier has taken an im-
portant part; the small grand, by virtue of its com-
bination of highly desirable qualities, occupies the
supreme place in the home, the studio and conserva-
tory."
Concentration on a small grand exclusively has
developed great facilities. The Premier Grand Piano
QUALITY
in Name and in Fact
TONE, MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION,
WORKMANSHIP, DESIGN—all in ac-
cord with the broadest experience—are
the elements which give character to
Bush & Lane Products.
BUSH&LANE PIANOS
BUSH & LANE CECILIAN PLAYER PIANOS
take high place, therefore, in any com-
parison of high grade pianos because of
the individuality of character which dis-
tinguishes them in all essentials of merit
and value.
BUSH ft LANE PIANO CO.
Holland, Mich.
Corporation is made up of grand piano specialists,
piano makers with the artistic sense coupled with
practical knowledge of quantity production.
The factory at 510-532 West 23rd street, New York,
is a revelation to the student of industrial processes
and to the piano dealer, a source of pride and de-
light. The interior view featured in the new booklet
vizualizes in a limited way, the magnitude and char-
acter of the equipment and facilities.
The following models are shown in exquisite half-
tones: Model R, the Queen Anne Art Period Model,
William and Mary Art Period Model, the Jacobean
Art Period Model and the Aristocrat Model. The
structural features of the Premier Baby Grands are
set forth in an instructive way free from technicali-
ties.
In addition to the foregoing the Electric Expres-
sion Player Grand Piano and Reproducing Grand
Piano (Welte Mignon Licensee) are shown in pic-
tures with added descriptions.
The interesting booklet closes with a partial list of
professional musicians and institutions using and en-
dorsing the Premier Baby Grand Pianos.
HOW A PUBLICITY EXPERT
GETS MUCH OUT OF LIFE
B. H. Jefferson, of Lyon & Healy Advertising De-
partment, Has Beautiful Home in Niles, Mich.
How literary men in general get a good deal out
of life is told in many books. Usually they find a
way to at intervals escape from the dirt and turmoil
of the great cities, even if they are obliged to devote
a good share of their working days hemmed in by
the brick and stone.
Perhaps the most widely known of the literary men
who make publicity work their chief aim, and purely
booky matter their recreation, is Ben H. Jefferson of
the house of Lyon & Healy. Mr. Jefferson, while a
life-long resident of Chicago, really does his "living"
in the beautiful little city of Niles, Michigan, about
60 miles eastward.
Niles is the city, on the Michigan Central road,
where it has been customary, in season, for uniformed
messengers to pass through the trains and present all
lady passengers with flowers. And the Niles sta-
tion, in the flowering season, is a bower of blossoms.
Naturally, Mr. Jefferson picked out that pretty place
for his home and he has a handsome residence there
to which he goes every week end, returning to the
corner of Wabash avenue and Jackson boulevard,
Chicago, on Mondays.
It must seem, to any other hard worked member
of the music business, an ideal life—and so it is, not-
withstanding that Mr. Jefferson often works as hard
in Niles as in Chicago. For there he does a good
deal of his writing, including the feature articles
which frequently appear in Printer's Ink, and other
publications. Mr. Jefferson has been identified with
the house of Lyon & Healy for forty-five years and
there isn't a younger man in the big music house
today.
GOLDSMITH PIANOS AND
PLAYERS INTEREST TRADE
Smith & Nixon, Made by Division of Goldsmith
Piano Co., Also Favored by Dealers.
The lively interest in the reproducing piano and
playerpianos of the Goldsmith Piano Co., is expressed
in the activities in important departments of the fac-
tory at 1229-1233 Miller street, Chicago. "New
orders and reorders from the dealers are the best in-
dications of favor for the instruments," said A. Gold-
smith, president of the Goldsmith Piano Co., this
week. .-.
The Goldsmith uprights and grands are also in-
teresting to the shrewd dealers who appreciate in-
struments of proved profit possibilities. Many repre-
sentative dealers are prominently featuring the Gold-
smith grands which are remarkably handsome, of fine
tone quality and of great durability.
The Smith & Nixon pianos, uprights, grands and
players, manufactured
by a division of the Goldsmith
Piano Co : . are maintaining an undisputed place in
the esteem of discriminating musical people under the
best manufacturing conditions. The Smith & Nixon
pianos, instruments distinguished by one of the old-
est piano names in the American piano world, arc
1 eing presented with the characteristic vigor which
has made Mr. Goldsmith one of the most active fac-
tors in the continued liveliness of the piano industry.
MOVES IN DENVER.
The Columbia Stores Co. is the name of a wholesale
jobber of music goods in several western states, now
in new quarters at 1612 Glenarm street, Denver. The
store has been remodeled and made more attractive.
C. A. Delzell is manager.
April 5, 1924.
GREAT DEMAND FOR
MUSIC WEEK STICKERS
Manufacturers, Jobbers and Dealers Show
Eagerness to Get and Distribute Strik-
ing Little Reminders of Event.
The National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music has announced that it has already disposed of
one million National Music Week stickers, and ex-
pects to distribute half a million more through the
music industry. The sticker is 2^4 in. by 1 in., and
the wording is shown in the accompanying cut.
The widespread demand for these stickers among
the trade has been very gratifying to the committee,
as it shows the great interest which has been aroused
in the eventful week. One phonograph manufacturer
ordered 100,000 and a number of large jobbers have
used from 25,000 to 50,000.
The price of the stickers is only 25 cents per thou-
sand. Automobile windshield stickers may be ob-
tained from the National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music for one cent each, and window display
cards at ten cents each. All of these are a great help
in the promotion of National Music Week and should
be used to the best advantage by members of the
industry in all parts of the country.
CALIFORNIA FIRM ADDS PIANO.
Valencia & Percy, a firm of Victor dealers at Peta-
luma, Cal., has just added pianos to its line of musical
goods. The firm has installed the Sherman, Clay &
Co. lines.
Schumann
PIANOS and PLAYER PIANOS
GRANDS and UPRIGHTS
Have no superiors in appearance, tone
power or other essentials of strictly
leaders in the trade.
Warning to Infringers
This Trade Mark la cast
in the plate and also ap-
pears upon the fall board
of all genuine Schumann
Planoa, and all lnfringera
will be prosecuted. Beware
of lmitationa auch as Schu-
mann & Company, Schu-
mann & Son, and also
Shuman, aa all stencil
shops, dealers and usera of
pianos bearing a name in
Imitation of the name
Schumann with the inten-
tion of deceiving the public
will be prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law.
New Catalogue on Bequest.
Schumann Piano Co.
W. N. VAN MATRE, President
Rockford, 111.
ESTABLISHED 1S54
THE
BRADBURY PIANO
FOR ITS
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
FOR ITS
INESTIMABLE AGENCY VALUE
THE CHOICE OF
Representative Dealers the World Over
Now Produced in Several
New Models
WRITE FOR TERRITORY
Factory
Leominster,
Mass.
Executive Offices
138th St. and Walton Ave.
New York
Division W. P. HAINES & CO., 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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