Presto

PRESTO
8
Presto
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY.
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
Editors
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234.
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4.
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
application.
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if
rf ^ereral interest to the music trade will be paid for
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen
in the smaller cit'es are the best occasional corre-
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
close at noon every Thursday. News mat-
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the
same day Advertising copy should be in hand before
Tuesday five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full
page 6 splay copy should be in hand by Monday noon
o^redinp : publication day. Want advs. for current
rerk. to nsure classification, must not be later than
Wednesday noon.
Address all communications for the editorial or business
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
SATURDAY. MAY 17, 1924.
A SUBJECT FOR DISCUSSION
There will be a great deal of oratory, de-
bate and discussion at the Waldorf-Astoria
meetings during the June Convention. Much
of the talk will be worth while. It will be
instructive, illuminating and even useful to
the men who make and sell the things of
music. But most of it will mean little or
nothing to any but the ones who do the
talking.
It is always so at trade conventions, no mat-
ter what the line of industry or business con-
cerned. And it often happens that the pri-
vate debates and discussions are more fruitful
in results than the public or general eloquence.
This is, of course, because the really im-
portant matters to individuals are not of such
nature as can be openly discussed. They con-
cern the more intimate affairs of the men who
may be hemmed in by local conditions, and
whose problems, while of the utmost impor-
tance to themselves, have little of general sig-
nificance. To stand up in the convention and
introduce their very intimate, even local, needs
and worries would lay the speakers open to
ridicule or, at least, the charge of intruding
personal matters where time is too valuable
for anything but collective concerns.
And even in a broader sense, there are sub-
jects of vital importance to the music trade
which might with profit be considered at the
convention, but will not be viewed in that way.
One of them has to do with what may be re-
garded as the welfare, even the conservation,
of music itself as it is interpreted by means of
musical instruments. It may even be a con-
sideration of the very life and endurance of
the industry and trade.
One of the vital questions of the kind al-
luded to is that of external, or subsidiary
branches of the business. We mean the ar-
ticles which come to the front suddenly in
public interest and for a time almost mon-
opolize attention to the detriment of the sub-
stantials in the particular line of progress.
For a time, so far as directly concerns the
music trade, the phonograph was the chief
interloper. At present it is radio. And the
question is whether it pays the music trade
to neglect the essential things of the business
in the hope of greater gain in the new comer.
Does it pay to divert effort and enthusiasm
from the piano to the more novel instrument
of wireless entertainment?
We would like to see the problem settled,
once for all, as to whether selling the things
of music constitutes a complete business in
itself today, as it has been doing for a century
past. Or has it become necessary to reinforce
with whatever may seem in some way, how-
ever remote, to fit in and sustain the piano
and its lesser items of musical creation. Why
not try to settle the matter next month under
the head of: Shall the Piano Dealers Also Sell
Radio Supplies ? And, if so, what effect will
it have upon the music trade and upon music
itself?
But perhaps that's none of our business.
THE WATCH TOWER
In ancient times it was customary for ali
cities to be walled about, with watch towers
at the gates. And the watchers looked out,
day and night, reporting any unusual things
that might appear, near or far. So came the
cry of "Watchman, tell us of the night," upon
which the pulpiteers like to dwell—and with
reason. So, too, the forceful line in St. John
wherein is told of the man who came "run-
ning, alone."
The watch tower is no longer needed at the
city gates. It has crumbled, with the walls
of the ancient city. But its significance re-
mains and the lesson of it, and the "runner,
who runs alone," is as vital now as ever.
It is always the runner who runs alone that
looms large in the horizon. It is the single
man of vision and a message that is strong.
He is the real power, whether he comes as an
inventor, scientist, moral or political leader,
great manufacturer or merchant. It is the
towering figure of one man, running alone,
that stands out clearly in history. It is not
the crowd, nor the armed phalanx that im-
plies power—the power that sways the world.
Nor is it the great business convention that
continues in memory and achievement.
Think back over the series of music trade
conventions, such as the one which will begin
in New York two weeks from next Monday.
You do not think at once of any particular
thing that was said or done. What you do
recall instantly, is some figure of a man who
dominated the entire gathering with his pres-
ence, his eloquence, his earnestness and his
power. Perhaps as a piano man, you see the
stalwart form of Col. E. S. Conway, or the
bearded face of Henry F. Miller, or the giant
form of A. H. Fischer—or some other of the
pioneers in the movement for better piano
business and more of it.
And the natural thought may be to look for
the powers of personality by which the present
and future of the music industry and trade
may be protected and pushed onward. There
is no longer any lack of organization, and the
wisdom is no less than ever. But the com-
plications are greater, and the problems to be
solved are certainly no fewer.
There may be no need of the tower at the
gate, nor of the watchman in it. But the "run-
ner, running alone," who "brings tidings in his
mouth," is no less essential and the wisdom of
his message is needed if the business of music
is to continue to bring prosperity to the work-
ers in it.
May 17, 1924.
THREE ITEMS OF INTEREST
CONCERN THE STRAUBE
Fame Becoming World-Wide, President Jacob-
son Elected to New Responsibilities, and
J. N. England Visits Hammond.
The Straube Piano Company, of Hammond,
Indiana, is being congratulated on the excellent pro-
gram which Straube officials provided for the May 8
meeting of the Hammond Chamber of Commerce.
In keeping with the spirit of National Music Week,
the Straube Company was invited to provide the
weekly luncheon program by Chamber of Commerce
officials. President E. R. Jacobson, of the Straube
Company, presided at the luncheon and was given a
tremendous ovation by his fellow townsmen. Mr.
Jacobson was recently elected a member of the
board of directors of the Hammond Chamber of
Commerce.
J. N. England, of Atlanta, Ga., southern represen-
tative of the Straube Piano Company, visited the
offices of his company last week and talked over con-
ditions in his section of the country with officials of
the Company. Mr. England is one of the most popu-
lar travellers in the south and has an unusually large
number of staunch friends in the industry. He is
very optimistic about conditions in general.
As evidence of the wide circulation of Straube ad-
vertising, the Straube Piano Company last week re-
ceived a letter from a gentleman in Russia asking for
a Straube catalog. The writer stated that he expected
to be over here within another year, and wanted
to get some advance information about Straube in-
struments.
STROHBER DIMINUTIVE IN
CORPUS CHRISTI, TEX.
Gunst Music Co. Plans Further Successes in Featur-
ing the Little Instrument.
The Gunst Music Co., Corpus Christi, Tex., is
prominently featuring the Strohber Diminutive, made
by the Smith, Barnes & Strohber Co., Chicago, and
the company sees an excellent business in and around
Corpus Christi for the little instrument.
R. H. Penick, manager of the company, is organ-
izing a thorough canvass of the schools, churches,
fraternal organizations and clubs in his territory, and
plans a systematic pursuit of sales. Many sales have
already been made by the company.
Mr. Penick sees an excellent argument in the small
dimensions of the Strohber Diminutive, and that fea-
ture has had a forcible appeal so far with school heads
and teachers. The wonderful tonal qualities of the
little piano are deciding factors in persuading
prospects.
JOHN BROWN NEW HEAD
OF COLUMBIAN FACTORY
Expert Grand Action Man Formerly with Thompson
U'Nette Co. Well Equipped for Position.
The appointment of John Brown as superintendent
of the Columbian Grand Piano Mfg. Co., 400 W. Erie
street, Chicago, is a wise step taken by that company,
in view of the fact that Mr. Brown thoroughly under-
stands the production of fine grand pianos, which is
the paramount thought with the company whose
prime object is to produce an instrument appealing
alike to the dealer and his customer.
Mr. Brown has had valuable experience in the art
of grand piano construction, being an expert along
all lines. He was latterly with the Thompson U'Nette
Piano Mfg. Co., W. Lake street, Chicago, where he
made a special study of grand action construction.
EIGHT YEARS' GOOD WORK.
The Danquard Player Action School, of New York,
claims to have turned out 3,110 men during the eight
years it has been in operation. This is a very good
average for that length of time. The institution
known as American School of Vibration is not run-
ning any more, as it closed out some four years ago.
This school was for tuning purposes; the Danquard
Player Action School is for player actions and re-
producing pianos only.
RETIRING FROM BUSINESS.
The Eastwood Music Store, Henderson, Ky., is
holding a "Closing Out" sale preparatory to retiring
from the musical instrument field. Mr. Eastwood has
surrendered his lease on his building and is leaving
Henderson. Prices on musical instruments have been
reduced to effect a quick clearance.
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