Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1975

PRESTO
WESTERN MUSIC
TRADES CONVENTION
Success of First Meeting of Far Western Deal-
ers July 22, 23 and 24 Now Assured
and Interesting Program
Promised.
TO BE PERMANENT
Efforts of Active Men Promoting Gathering in San
Francisco Directed Towards Making It an
Annual Event.
Plans are about completed for the first convention
of the music trade interests of the West. The first
Western Music Trades Convention will be held in
San Francisco July 22, 23 and 24, and an interesting
and comprehensive program assures a large attend-
ance of the trade of the states west of the Rockies.
Its comprehensiveness is in its appeal to people in
many states and in various phases of the music busi-
ness. The tentative program is a tribute to the com-
mittee ehaded by E. P. Tucker, manager in Los
Angeles for the Wiley B. Allen Co.
The others composing it are: Shirley Walker,
Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco: George Chase,
Kohler & Chase, San Francisco; A. D. Lamotte,
Thearle Music Co., San Diego; C. Hyatt, Hyatt
Talking Machine Co., Portland, and E. KeMy, Hopper-
Kelly Co., Seattle.
George R. Hughes, Chairman.
The convention chairman is George R. Hughes of
the Wiley B. Allen Co., San Francisco.
In addition to the committee on permanent or-
ganization there are separate committees for each
branch of the music business and radio. The sheet
music committee is headed by E. P. Little, of Sher-
man, Clay & Co., San Francisco. That on radio is
headed by John W. Boothe, manager of Barker Bros.,
Los Angeles; Daniel Miller of the Conn-San Fran-
cisco Co., is chairman of the committee on small
goods. There are also committees on attendance,
finance, publicity, hotels, transportation, entertain-
ment, local organizations, receptions and golf.
Stimulating Their Sections.
State commissioners will stimulate the interest in
the convention in their separate sections. Those ap-
pointed to the important office of state commissioner
are:
Montana, W. H. Orton, Orton Bros., Butte; Ore-
gon, George F. Johnson, of the George F. Johnson
Piano Co., Portland; Washington, W. H. Graham,
of the Hopper-Kelly Co., Seattle; Idaho, J. D. Samp-
son, of the Sampson Music Co., Boiae; Nevada, J. D.
Mariner, of the J. D. Mariner Music House, Reno;
Arizona, George Fisher, of the Fisher Music Co.,
Tucson; Utah, J. J. Daynes, of the Daynes-Beebe
Music Co., Salt Lake City.
The Executive Committee.
The composition of the executive committee is an
assurance of complete plans and their proper fulfill-
ment. It is representative of the wide field of the
Western Music Trades Convention and consists of:
THE
W. P. HAINES & COMPANY
P I A N O S
THE PIANOS OF QUALITY
Three Generations of Piano Makers
All Styles—Ready Sellers
Attractive Prices
GRANDS
REPRODUCING GRANDS
UPRIGHTS and PLAYERS
AVAILABLE TERRITORY OPEN
W. P. HAINES & CO., Inc.
138th St. and Walton AT*.
New York City
Philip T. Clay, president of Sherman, Clay & Co.,
San Francisco; Frank Anrys, of the Wiley B. Allen
Co., San Francisco; P. T. Carre, Los Angeles; S. S.
Hockett, Fresno; R. R. Schaefer, Santa Ana; and
R. M. Mattson, Long Beach.
. ,
Striving for Permanence.
The efforts and triumphs of the men active in pro-
moting the convention in July will result in a perma-
nent organization of the same name or something else
selected at the convention. To make the convention
a permanent one is the scheme of the special commit-
tee appointed for that ambitious purpose. This com-
mittee is composed as follows:
Gibson McConnell, of the Gibson-McConnell Co.,
San Francisco; H. C. Braden, of the Fitzgerald
Music Co., Los Angeles; S. S. Hockett, of the
Hockett, Cowawn Co., Fresno; W. H. Graham, of
the Hopper-Kelly Co., Seattle, and George F. John-
son, of the George F. Johnson Piano Co., Portland.
BALDWIN=MADE PIANOS
IN NUMEROUS SCHOOLS
All the Makes Represented in the Latest List of Sales
to Schools.
The Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati, has made pub-
lic a list of pianos of Baldwin, Hamilton, Howard and
Ellington make now placed in the following schools:
Minneapolis Public Schools, Minneapolis, Minn., 25
Hamilton pianos; Royal Oak High School, Royal
Oak, Mich., 2 Hamilton pianos; Longfellow School,
Royal Oak, Mich., 2 Hamilton pianos; Clawson
School, Clawson, Mich., 2 Hamilton pianos; St.
Mary's Academy, Baltimore, Md., 2 Baldwin Grands;
City of Boston, Massachusetts, 2 Howard pianos, 1
Hamilton piano: Junior High School, Pittsburg,
Kans., 2 Howard pianos, 1 Howard Grand; Agricul-
ture High School, Raymond., Miss., 2 Howard pianos;
La Salle Township High School, La Salle, 111., 1
Howard Grand; Board of Education, Cedar Rapids,
Iowa, Hamilton piano; B. P. O. E., Bismarck, N. D.,
Howard piano; Consolidated Schools, Bisbee. N. D.,
Hamilton piano; Christian Reform Church, Platte,
S. D., Ellington piano; Cruft School, Terre Haute,
Ind., Hamilton piano; New Chesterton High School,
Chesterton, Ind., Hamilton piano; St. Matthew's Par-
ish, South Bend, Ind., Hamilton piano; New High
School, Goshen, Ind., Hamilton piano; West Side
Public School, Goshen, Ind., Hamilton piano; South
Washington High School, Washington, Ind., Elling-
ton piano; Sharpsville High School, Sharpsville, Ind.,
Hamilton piano.
HENRY F. MILLER & SONS
PIANO CO.'S NEW GRAND
Style 8 Considered Notable Addition to a Strong and
Varied Line.
The latest creation of the Henry F. Miller & Sons
Piano Co., Boston, is one of the most enjoyable topics
that Stanwood Miller, vice-president and general
manager of the company discourses about. This is
Style 8, a six feet, nine inch grand of artistic tone
character and admirable case design. It represents
the highest attainments in grand piano making and
the pleasure of Mr. Miller in talking about it is nat-
ural
Henry F. Miller, Style 8, is another addition to the
wide range of fine pianos which has gained the praise
of the world's great pianists. It is carried in all the
important cities by representative houses, who have
made grand pianos a special feature of the trade.
May 31, 1924.
ACTIVE EAST ST. LOUIS
MANAGERS' ANNOUNCEMENT
J. H. Langley, Experienced in Piano Selling, Ad-
dresses Friends and Public Generally.
J. H. Langley is the new manager of the Lehman
Piano Co., East St. Louis, 111., and last week an-
nounced the fact in a special display with his por-
trait in the East St. Louis newspapers. Mr. Langley
is a successful piano salesman and in his long experi-
ence at his profession in that city has made a wide
circle of friends. This is what he says in his an-
nouncement:
*'I am very much pleased to announce that I have
taken charge of the Lehman Piano Co. interests in
East St. Louis. In doing so I not only feel that I
have benefitted myself, but my friends and customers
as well. We have pianos that have been sold by the
Lehman Piano Co. for the past 25 years and are not
experiments. I am now in a position to give the
public quality pianos and will appreciate your busi-
ness.
"I am a native born East St. Louisan, having lived
in East St. Louis all my life. If you need anything
in my line I will be glad to serve you. A call to the
P. A. Lehman Piano Co., 1101 Olive street, St.
Louis, will reach me."
TWO-TONE FINISH SELLS.
Orders for two-tone finish pianos and players are
enlivening things in the factory of the Schaff Bros.
Piano Co., Huntingtpn, Ind. The activity in orders
for the two-tone effects includes both the player and
regular upright styles, particularly in Venetian wal-
nut and Monticello mahogany finishes. It does not
surprise officials of the SchafT Bros. Piano Co. that the
favor which the two-tone effects evoked at the intro-
duction should be continued. The style of finish is
essentially attractive and the appearance of the in-
struments provides an effective talking point for the
salesman.
BUYS BACK OLD STORE.
J. D. Harden has purchased the C. D. Hare
Music Store, Sterling, 111., and took possession last
week. Just two years ago, Mr. Hare purchased the
business from Mr. Harden. Since that time he has
continued to do a very good business and the store
has retained its popularity and business under the past
management. It has been known as the Harden
Music Store since it was established in 1861.
The Best Yet
Graceful lines, rugged construc-
tion, moderately priced. It's the
very best commercial piano from
every standpoint.
LEASES CHATTANOOGA BUILDING.
L. G. Dearing, proprietor of the Southern-Standard
Music Co., Chattanooga, Tenn., has leased the Hen-
derson Building at Nos. 724 and 726 Market street. A
part of the building will be used as the new home of
the music company. The new location will provide
about three times the present floor space. Another
big advantage in the new location is that the entire
business will be located on one floor. The new home
is to be made very attractive and modern show win-
dows will be put in. The music store will move into
the new location at 724 Market street very shortly.
SUCCESSFUL CALIFORNIA FIRM.
An excellent business is reported by Sydney J.
Wilson, who recently opened a music store at 543
Main street, Hayward, Cal. Mr. Wilson is a man of
long and valuable experience in the music trade. He
carries a full line of high-grade pianos and players,
purposes expanding the scope of his business and
developing his store into a general music one. For
the past eight years Mr. Wilson has had charge of the
Sherman, Clay & Co.'s store in Bakersfield and has
also managed stores for the firm at Stockton and
Santa Rosa.
Style 32—4 ft. 4 in.
WESER
Pianos and Players
Sell Readily—Stay Sold
Send to-day for catalogue, prices and
details of our liberal financing plan
Weser Bros., Inc.
520 to 528 W. 43rd St., New York
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
May 31, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells
ON THE WAY TO
CONVENTION CITY
Presto Representative, Starting Early and
Stopping Off Here and There, Observes
as He Travels and Gives Results in
Interesting Letter.
FIRST TO ARRIVE
Takes Advantage of Opportunity and Seeks Out and
Meets Many Old Friends in New York
Industry.
Reproducing Grand
The very highest type of piano attainment
is exemplified in this remarkable instru-
ment. It is as perfect in operation, repro-
duction and in volume of tone, and as
reliable in every detail of construction, as
skill and flawless materials can create.
Studio Grand
Some of the Greatest Pianists have pro-
nounced this instrument the peer of any
produced. It is powerful and yet it is but
five feet long. It is a veritable "little giant"
among pianos, and its artistic qualities
command attention in any dealers' ware-
room.
If in New York
Dealers who visit the Factory may
see how these Famous Instruments
are made. And all comers will be
most welcome.
We Will bo equally pleased to answer
requests from Dealers by mail.
"The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U S. P»t. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
Templin's Music House, of Elkhart, Indiana, has
some bold and attractive billboard signs along the
New York Central road for several miles east and
west of the home town. These signs catch the eye
and attract attention largely by their brevity of words.
They read:
"TEMPLIN'S PIANO HOUSE
Elkhart — Mishawakee — Goshen."
* * *
Inquiries are made of persons who have recently
been in the vicinity of Monroeville, Ohio, as to "what
has become 1 of that piano manufacturing factory at
Monroeville. ' The answer has to be: "Gone the
way of many another." However, the factory was
kept busy for a long time after piano making ceased
in the production of piano benches and stools. It
may be remembered that great quantities of these
benches were sent into Chicago some months ago and
offered for sale at unusually low prices; at prices
which were considered as less than the cost of mak-
ing. It is presumed they were used as "bait" for
some kind of a catch, but the bait seems now to have
been exhausted and we may have heard the last of
Monroeville benches as we have about forgotten
that pianos were made there.
* * *
No, Warren Whitney does not give much, if any,
time to the Norwalk, Ohio, plant of the United Piano
Corporation's A. B. Chase factory at that place. Mr.
Whitney is more content with his interests in radio
equipment manufacturing just now than in giving
time to piano factories.
- * * *
Speaking of erstwhile piano making at Monroeville,
Ohio, several of the men who worked in the Mon-
roeville factory are now at the United Piano Corpora-
tion's factory, the old A. B. Chase plant at Norwalk,
five miles away. Some of these same men, by the
way, had worked at the A. B. Chase factory years ago,
long before the Monroeville affair was thought of, so,
in a way, it is like coming back to the old love to get
into the big A. B. Chase piano workshop again. Most
of these Monroeville workmen drive to Norwalk in
their automobiles. There's both pleasure and inde-
pendence for you.
* * *
Some two weeks ago a member of a New York
export commission house came to Chicago to attend
to some details in connection with shipments of a few
hundred pianos to Australia, about three hundred in-
struments to be more nearly accurate. This item of
news went the usual rounds in and about Chicago
with but little, if any, exaggeration.
When the information reached Cleveland a few days
later it was talked of in the trade there as a Chicago
piano manufacturer having just received an order for
immediate shipment of a thousand pianos. At Buffalo
the order had grown to fifteen hundred and in New
York they were trying to find out if it were really
true that a bona fide order had been placed for three
thousand pianos for the Australian market. When
assured that the shipment in question was for con-
siderably less than one-third the last augmented re-
port, New York felt relieved.
* * *
J. H. Williams, president of the United Piano Cor-
poration, is the proud father of a son who seems to
be following in the footsteps of his hustling parent.
This son is now conducting the piano store purchased
by his father at Baltimore when that gentleman came
back into the retail business after a few years of res-
pite from piano trade activities and just before join-
ing Mr. Shale in the present United Piano Corpora-
tion.
Mr. Williams is now getting under headway a great
piano manufacturing plant at Norwalk, combining, as
we all know, the A. B. Chase, the Emerson and the
Lindeman & Sons factories.
It is said that Mr. Williams wants his son to give
up his Baltimore business and join him in the manu-
facturing end of the game. This is natural and per-
fectly correct. Since the A. B. Chase factory was
taken over by Mr. Williams and his associates that
gentleman has given nearly all of his time to the work
of rehabilitating it and making of it a modern medium
for producing pianos. In truth he has accomplished
a great task, to say the least. Mr. Williams sees a
great future for the Norwalk institution and likewise
a wonderful opportunity for his son should he decide
to join him at the factory.
* * *
Coming down in an elevator in a building on Forty-
second street, New York, in which are located several
radio supply houses as well as a piano agency, a
young man employed in one of the radio shops
slipped in and was immediately hailed by a passen-
ger with the salutation: "So the radio business is on
this floor, eh?" To which the young man addressed
replied: "Yes, this is the radio floor all right but the
radio business isn't here any more; it's vamoosed,
somewhere."
And the red caps at the railway stations are com-
plaining that there are so many boys on the job
and travel so uncertain that they cannot make enough
to pay expenses. And the chauffeurs of New York
say too much competition is ruining their business.
All of which reminds one that the piano selling busi-
ness is a good one to be engaged in.
* * *
A look inside the three well-equipped factories of
the C. Kurtzmann Co. at 526 to 536 Niagara street,
Buffalo, is in the nature of a revelation to the man
unacquainted with the position of that city in the
piano manufacturing field. Three factories are the
result of development, a pleasant consequence of the
continuous call for the pianos and players of the line.
The Kurtzmann piano has a background of
achievement to make the Kurtzmann officials proud.
Not only is the C. Kurtzmann Co. one of the oldest
in continuous operation, but also one whose products
(Continued on page 6.)
WEAVER REPRODUCING GRAND
IS READY FOR THE DEALERS
New Instrument Equipped with Welte-Mignon Pat-
ents, a Leader of Line.
The Weaver Reproducing Grand Piano, made by
the Weaver Piano Co., York, Pa., is now ready for
shipment in prompt response to the calls of dealers.
The new reproducing grand piano of the Weaver
Piano Co., Inc., is equipped with the Welte-Mignon
action, licensed under original Welte patents. From
its generally meritorious character the instrument is
rightfully entitled to the foremost place in the "Lead-
ing Line."
The Weaver Grand Piano has made a host of
friends among pianists and musicians because of the
wonderful way in which it responds to every demand
of the pianist. Now these qualities are available to
every music lover. The Welte-Mignon Library con-
tains the greatest selection in the world of recordings
by the leading pianists of the past and present. These
recordings bring out all the delightful tone qualities
of the Weaver Grand.
In a letter to the trade this week the Weaver Piano
Co., Inc., says: "When properly presented to the
music lovers in your territory it will increase your
sales volume. Let us co-operate. Send us your pros-
pects' names and addresses. We will write them.
Let us arrange for a demonstration. A music lover
cannot hear the Weaver Welte-Mignon Grand without
wanting it. The price is reasonable and the profit
for vou attractive."
IMPROVES GALVESTON STORE.
Extensive changes have been made in the store of
the Galveston Piano Company, Galveston, Tex., espe-
cially on the second floor. Alvin M. Cain is the man-
ager. The front show windows have been repainted
and handsome hardwood floors installed. A new
demonstration room has been put in for player rolls,
as the business has no increased that more demon-
stration rooms for the records were necessary. The
entire second floor has been renovated and a large
sales room for pianos has been installed. The entire
store has been refinished and decorated and has taken
on an appearance of being dressed up for the summer
tourist trade. Piano repairing is now one of the
specialties of the store.
FINE LINE IN AKRON, O.
The Kratz Piano Co., 29 S. Howard street, Akron,
O., was established over thirty-five years ago and the
company, in a consistent presentation of pianos of
quality, has built up a splendid clientele. In the piano
warerooms is a fine array of Steinway, Hardman,
Krakauer and other high-class pianos in grand and
upright models. The house is a representative of the
Duo-Art Pianola. In addition to its fine line of pianos
the Kratz Piano Company carries two lines of phono-
graphs and records.
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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