Presto

Issue: 1924 1971

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
Established 1884.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
iO Cent,; $3.00 a Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MAY 3, 1924
bay to give the visitors a "close up" of the Statue of
Liberty. Arrangements are under way, Mr. Behning
added, for a spectacular fire-fighting exhibition of
lire boats along the river front.
Concert and Ball.
William C. Hcaton, chairman of the Reception
Committee, reported progress on the program for the
Details of Gladsome Events for the Week An- concert in the grand ball room of the Waldorf-
Astoria hotel Monday night, June 2. In regard to
nounced by Publicity Committee Certain
the reception of delegates to the convention who
to Add to the Attendance from
come east by special train from Chicago Mr.
Every State.
Heaton said that in view of the fact that the train
arrives in New York from Atlantic City very early
Monday morning tentative plans made to meet the
train when it was understood that it was to arrive
direct from Chicago Sunday afternoon had been
Besides Plans for River Trip, Those for Concert, abandoned.
Interesting the Golfers.
Ball and Convention Golf Tournament Have
Arthur L. Wessell, chairman of the Golf Commit-
Been Perfected.
tee of the Convention, reported that two golf courses
near New York were being considered for the con-
The success of the conventions of the music trades vention tournament Thursday, June 5. He announced
in New York in the week beginning June 1 is as- that William H. Alfring. general manager of the
sured by the enthusiasm of the New York trade Aeolian Company, and R. O. Ainslie, secretary of
organizations, business firms and individual mem- the Hallet & Davis Piano Co., Boston, have been
bers of the music trades. The officials of the various added as members of his committee. The tourna-
national trade associations have already made plans ment, Mr. Wessell said, would be self-supporting,
to have the- business sessions particularly .interesting each entrant paying his own green fees, etc. Many
and instructive.
prizes already had been donated, he said, and others
The details of the various contests promoted to would be welcomed. Trophies should be sent to
create the interest of the dealers promise to attract Mr. Wessell at 457 West Forty-fifth street, New
merchants and salesmen in greater numbers to the York City.
convention than ever before. The topics to be dis-
Max J. deRochemont, chairman of the Convention
cussed by the National Piano Manufacturers' Asso-
Committee, presided, and the following members
ciation concern every industry in a vital way, so that
a big attendance at the business sessions ts "looked were present: R. W. Lawrence, William C. Heaton,
for. The meetings of the National Piano Travelers' J. W. Stevens, Arthur L- Wessell, Alfred L. Smith,
Association .and the other associations all have attrac- Milton Weil, Calvin T. Purdy, Albert Behning, Val-
entine J. Faeth, Allan B.- Lane, Glad Henderson, J.
tive programs guaranteed to fill the house.
S. McDonald, George Albig,. Frederic A. Steele; Ar-
The Social Schedule.
thur Bergh, representing Otto Heinemann; W. A.
The social end of the convention is not being neg- Man ft, representing P. A. Ware; F. F. Diehl, repre-
lected, and what is assured in. the line of pleasure is senting B. B. Wilson, and H. Knowles, representing
W. J. Dougherty.
certain to attract great numbers in every trade.
Welcome to Piano Club.
Music abroad the Hudson river steamer Robert
Fufton, already chartered to convey delegates to the
Albert Behning. president of the Piano Club of New
National Music Industries Convention to "West Point
York, announces that the courtesies of the club will
Friday, J u n e 6, as guests of the New York music be extended to all visitors to the National Music
trades, will be furnished by the 100-piece band-.-of the Industries Convention at the Waldorf-Astoria hotel,
New York Police Department, if a suggestion ap- New York, the week of June 1. The club is located
proved by the Convention Convmittee receives the en- at Third avenue and 137th street, easily accessible
dorsement of Commissioner Enrrght.''
from all Bronx piano factories and less than half an
The suggestion was made by Albert Behning, chair- hour by subway from the Grand Central Terminal.
man of the Committee on Social Arrangements, in
the course of his report, presented before the Conven-
tion Committee last Thursday afternoon'in the board
room of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce,
on the plans already made for the entertainment of
the delegates to the big convention in New York the
first week in June, and- it met with the unanimous E. W. Simpson, Clarence, Mo., Buys Business Estab-
approvai of the Convention Committee.
lished Thirty-eight Years Ago.
Another Pleasurable Event.
The Mexico Music Company, Mexico, Mo., one of
Mr. Behning suggested that a tour of the New the oldest concerns in that section of the state, and
York Navy Yard in Brooklyn be arranged for the which recently has been owned and operated by B.
visitors. This suggestion also was heartily endorsed, K. Bunch and W. W. Boillot. has been sold to E. W.
and Mr. Behning will try to get the Navy Department
Simpson of Clarence, Mo. The change was officially
to convey a party of 350 of the music people from announced last week, although the deal was consum-
some convenient pier in Manhattan to the navy yard mated some time ago. Mr. Simpson has been in that
and back on Thursday, June 5th. Mr. Behning said city for some time.
that through the courtesy of Theodore Roosevelt,
The entire stock and fixtures have been purchased
Assistant Secretary of the Navy, who, as already an- and an opening day will be announced later. Due to
nounced, will address the National Association of
replenishing following the recent fire in the store of
Music Merchants at its annual banquet at the Wal- the Mexico Music Comp"any last November, the stock
dorf-Astoria Hotel Wednesday night, June 4th, navy is practically all new.
officers will be assigned to escort the party about the
While Mr. Bunch will move out of the city, Mr.
navy yard.
Boillot will remain there and will retain his connec-
At West Point.
tion with the company as piano tuner.
Lee S. Roberts, vice-president of the Q R S Music
The company was owned by Bunch and Boillot for
Company, is composing a snappy march to be played
four years. Prior to them, the Upham family owned
for the first time in public on the occasion of the it for thirty-eight years.
parade of the cadets of the United States Military
Academy at West Point for the special benefit of the
TRAINED FOR HIS WORK.
visiting music representatives who go to West Point
H. D. Wheeler, Waco, Tex., is using to good ad-
aboard the Robert "Fulton. Mr. Behning said this
was suggested by the band master at the academy. vantage the piano tuning and repairing ability he ac-
Mr. Roberts composed "I'll Be There," the official quired in the plant of the Baldwin Piano Co., Cin-
march of the music industries convention in New cinnati This mechanical ability added to his mer-
chandising sense has enabled him to carry on suc-
York two years ago.
Before starting up^.the Hudson to West Point, Mr. cessfully the H. D. Wheeler Piano Co. & Flower
: "
Behning said, the Robert Fulton will sail down the Shop, at 723 Austin avenue-
SOCIAL FEATURES
OF BIG CONVENTION
PLEASANT SURPRISES
OLD MEXICO, MO. STORE
HAS CHANGE OF OWNERS
STORY & CLARK IN
NEW YORK CITY
Special Musical Program Inaugurates Work
in Perfectly Appointed Office and Whole-
sale Warerooms in Commodious
Building on Fifty-Seventh Street.
PHASE IN PROGRESS
Special Facilities for Taking Care of Visiting Dealers
Who Will Find Lines Presented in
Separate Sections.
The opening of the new headquarters of the Story
& Clark Piano Company on 57th street, New York,
is a pleasant phase in the progress of this active piano
house. With the plans for the most approved means
of showing the Story & Clark piano, playerpiano and
the Repro-Phraso carried out and all the details con-
ducive to efficiency attended to, the Story & Clark
Piano Co. is ready to formally receive the visiting
dealers and its friends generally.
Nothing has been left undone to make the new
York headquarters of the Story & Clark Piano Co.
the last word in completeness. The conveniences are
perfect and the appointments are as tasteful as the
uses of the warerooms required.
Work of Steady Growth.
Due to the steady growth in the business of the
company in the eastern states, in both the wholesale
and retail departments, the paramount importance of
this change to the new location has been uppermost in
the minds of the management for many months. Now
that the removal has taken place the entire six-story
building is open for the inspection of dealers.
George H. Beverly, eastern wholesale manager, will
have added facilities in caring for dealers in the New
York offices, where special divisions will be devoted
to the various lines, including a special section en-
tirely devoted to their latest creation—the ReprO-
Phraso.
Location Is Ideal.
Located in the music center of the city, within one
block of Carnegie Hall and its studios and adjoining
the present home of Sohmer & Co. and the new head-
quarters of Chickering & Sons, the new building is in
an advantageous business location.
Louis Schoenewald, general manager of the New
York Division, has planned a series of invitation
musicales. To the opening one on May 1 20,000 in-
vitations were sent out.
An Opening Program.
The first, that of Thursday of this week, had ['we.
splendid numbers in a program given under the
direction of Frank C. Barber. The artists were:
Maude Doolittle, pianist; Julie Roche, soprano; and
the Mozart Trio—Wesley Sontag, violin; Charles
Krane, Violoncello, and Frank C. Barber, piano.
The second invitatidn musicale, to be given Wednes-
day afternoon, May 7, will also be under the direction
of Frank C. Barber and Maude Doolittle, pianist, and
Helen Taylor, soprano, will aid iti^the programs
LANARK, ILL., FIRM DISSOLVES.
The Peters Bros. Music Co. of Lanark, 111., has
dissolved partnership. Frank G. Peters, the senior
member of the firm, taking over the Lanark store,
and John W. Peters, his brother, will take over the
Freeport, 111., store. These brothers are well known
in this section, having been doing business there for
many years. FVank G. has be^n ill for many months,
but now feels, able to again buckle down to work.
BEAUTIFYING VOSE FACTORY.
The Vose & Sons Piano Co., Boston, has begun
the spring work of beautifying the factory grounds
and the extensive landscape plans will soon be car-
ried out in the grounds of the new plant. The scheme
of beauty will be carried out as effectively as that of
utility within the walls.
.
.
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
MUSIC WEEK A
DEALERS' AFFAIR
What Apparently Is a Non-Commercial Event,
Offers to Music Merchants An Excep-
tional Opportunity for Strengthen-
ing Their Hold on Business.
MERCHANTS' ACTIVITY URGED
The Alert Man Who Sells Music Goods Realizes
How Development of Music in His Community
Should React Profitably for Him.
The members of the National Association of Music
Merchants are urged by its officials and by the offi-
cials of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
to take an active part in the events of National Music
Week to be observed next week from May 4 to 10.
Although it is apparently non-commercial in its
broader aspects, it offers to the music merchant an
exceptional opportunity for strengthening his hold
upon the 1 business he has built. "Give more thought
to music' is the slogan for Music Week and no one
can obey that belief without giving consideration to
the music of producing and reproducing music which
contribute the music merchants' stock in trade.
His Action Plain.
"With thousands of people recognizing the value
of music and working for its advancement, whether
selfishly or unselfishly, the music merchant cannot
fail to take his part in a movement which commands
public attention, nationally and locally, through civic,
religious, patriotic, industrial, fraternal, welfare and
educational channels," says the bulletin mailed to
dealers by the Music Industrial Chamber of Com-
merce.
"Music Week takes its initiative from public-spir-
ited enterprise, without which it would lose its char-
acter. The Music Merchant should encourage its
development in musical circles, in clubs, churches,
schools and everywhere his social and community
life may offer the opportunity, as well as in a busi-
ness way. He should give his cordial assistance in
the executive work of Music Week, give his time and
support to the general work, and, because he has a
business reason for doing so, he should help the
finance and program committees to the full extent
of his ability, loan instruments, distribute announce-
ments and literature, supply song leaflets, etc., and
contribute prizes for competitive Music Week events.
It is best to do these things through co-operative
effort in a Music Trade Association wherever pos-
sible."
How .Merchant May Help.
What the music merchant can do to promote inter-
est in the observance of the special week is suggested
in the bulletin:
Hold lectures, recitals and concerts in your own
hall or store if room is available, otherwise in public
meeting place. Noonday store concerts may be made
particularly attractive. Make halls and rooms avail-
able to committees or performers for programs of
music students, local speakers or artists who may
contribute their services to the success of Music
Week. Encourage demonstrations of every kind pos-
sible. Invite special groups of school children, club
members, church societies, etc., to attend store con-
certs and hear special programs arranged for them.
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 CECIUAN 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.
Special store recitals may be by invitation or adver-
tised to the public. The usual opportunities for dem-
onstrations of music rolls and records may be in-
creased by "Open House" announcements and pro-
viding special entertainment for Music Week visitors.
Enlist speakers on music before such clubs as
Rotary, Kiwanis, Opimist, Lion, etc., and encourage
sermons and speeches for showing the value of music.
Help arrange for broadcasting of programs. The
special arrangement by which the American Society
of Composers, Authors and Publishers has given
permission for the National Music Week Committee
to authorize broadcasting of copyrighted music of
its members on Music Week programs has increased
the interest of hundreds of thousands of radio fans.
Window Displays Are Helpful.
Many forms of window and store display will sug-
gest themselves under the broad range of possibili-
ties offered by Music Week. Exhibits of the oldest
pianos or phonographs owned in your territory or
sold by you, or unique, ancient or foreign instru-
ments, are always attention catchers. A good his-
torical display could be made for Music Week, show-
ing how musical instruments have been developed
to their present perfection—how everybody can have
music. The Music Merchant's store should be in
gala dress for Music Week, so that everyone may
know that something out of the ordinary is going on.
The Window Display Contest for active members
of the National Association of Music Merchants offers
a special inducement to them, and as the purpose of
the Trade Service Exhibit at the convention is to give
window display ideas as well as encourage Music
Week activity, it will be appreciated if non-mem-
bers will also submit photographs of their window
displays.
Advertising Opportunities.
Every advertisement before and during Music
Week should contain some reference to it, including
the date, the slogan "Give More Thought to Music,"
as well as other slogans and quotations which will
carry the spirit of the week. Some copy suggestions
are submitted herewith, on the following page.
Music Week offers an excellent opportunity for
co-operative advertising in newspapers, and in local
Music Weeks throughout the country in past years,
local associations and groups of dealers have worked
together for special music pages to help make Music
Week a success.
Music Week stickers should be used on all cor-
respondence and direct mail advertising before and
during Music Week. The fullest use should be made
of song leaflets, dodgers, announcements of store
concert programs, etc.
List of Slogans.
The bulletin suggests the use by dealers of appro-
priate slogans for use in advertising and window
signs. The following is an excellent list used by
Boston's First Music Week Committee:
Music knows no race nor creed; nothing unites men
like music; music for the People, by the People; not
more music listening but music participation; not
more music for the ten per cent who make up our
concert listeners, but music for and by ninety per
cent who now depend on phonograph, the radio and
the movie; music for the sick in hospitals; music
for those shut in by prison walls; music for those
who now have none; A Correlation of all Musical
Forces of Greater Boston; more music in the schools
and churches; more music in the studios and clubs;
more music in the theatres and movies; more music
in the department stores; music in the public insti-
tutions; music in the factories and industrial plants;
music in every home; music hi the air; music every-
where; music by every chorus and singing group,
big and little; music by every band and orchestra,
great or small; music by every choir, of every creed,
in every tongue; music by every group of every race,
in native costume; music for the Joy in Making it;
music as part of life and real living; music as the
rightful heritage of every individual; music as a civic
asset; music as a social stabilizer; music as a peace
maker; music as a channel of self-expression; musit.
as a bond of union; music as a community service;
music as wings to rise above the sordid and earthly;
music as a message beyond words.
LEASES IN TERRE HAUTE.
A lease of the store room at 642 Wabash avenue,
Terre Haute, Ind., from the Elizabeth Ludowici estate
to Fred L. and Warner H. Paige and Joseph A. Kern
for a period of five years from Sept. 1, 1923, was
received for record by County Recorder L. B. Fer-
guson last week. The store room is now occupied
by the W. H. Paige Co's. music store. According
to the lease, a rental of $4,800 per year for the first
two years and $5,400 per year for the remaining three
years is charged.
TRIP PLEASES B. H. JEFFERSON.
Benj. H. Jefferson of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, just
returned from a short trip during which he studied
new plans of advertising in connection with several
of the firm's leading representatives. Mr. Jefferson
was especially pleased with the spirit of the music
trade in Detroit. That city, he says, seems to be
going ahead without any abatement of effort and
such houses as Grinnell Bros, and the J. L. Hud-
son Company are doing a very large volume of busi-
May 3, 1924.
CHAIN OF MUSIC CO. STORES
SELLS MANY LESTER PIANOS
Owners of United Music Co. Show Personal Appre-
ciation by Buying Lesters for Homes.
The enthusiasm of the United Music Company,
with headquarters at Brockton, Mass, for the line
of pianos and players of the Lester Piano Company,
Philadelphia, is resulting in many sales. The United
Music Co., which has a prosperous chain of stores
in Massachusetts and Connecticut, only recently took
on the Lester line, but the sales results to date have
been highly satisfactory to the United Music Co.,
and the Lester Piano Co.
Very satisfactory reports of interest in the Lester
instruments and actual sales have been received from
the branches in Brockton, Webster, and Plymouth,
Massachusetts, and from those at New London, Wil-
limantic, and Stafford Springs, Connecticut. Charles
Feldman and Charles Popkin, owners of the United
Music Co., have both bought Lester grands for their
homes. The action of the owners reflects the warm
appreciation for the Lester piano of the managers
and salesmen in the various branches.
A CHEERFUL INAUGURATION.
Cheerful incidents in the opening recently of a
branch of the Hoffman Piano Co., Buffalo, N. Y.,
at Tonawanda, N. Y., were the sale of two pianos
within the first hour and the sale of a playerpiano
before the close of the day's business. William J.
Rielly is manager.
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 ia caat
In the plats and also ap-
pears upon the fall board
of all genuine Schumann
Pianos, and all tnfringers
will be prosecuted. Beware
of Imitations such as Schu-
mann & Company, Schu-
mann & Son, and alao
Shuman, as all stencil
shops, dealers and users 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 Request.
Schumann Piano Co.
W. N. VAN MATRE, President
Rockford, 111.
ESTABLISHED 1*54
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.
Executire Offices
138th St. and Walton AT«.
New York
DWi.ion 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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