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.
to < w . ; $2.00 a r*ar
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, JUNE 7, 1924
NEW YORK DOINGS
TOLD IN BRIEF
What Some of the Men of Music Said, Did or
Thought, at the Twenty-seventh Annual
Convention at the Waldorf-
Astoria.
PERSONAL AND GENERAL
While Very Much of a Business Gathering, the As-
sociation Interests Were Kept to the Front and
Progress Was Made.
T. N. Rice, of the W. P. Haines & Co., was popu-
larly greeted. It is more than whispered that he
helped Mr. Linton Floyd-Jones and Mr. Carter to
land a number of good-sized orders, without working
very hard.
A. M. Sweetland and General Wholesale Manager
Nolder, of the Starr Piano Co., were active. They
had a fine display at the company's New York store,
on West Thirty-seventh street.
After Business.
The exhibitors seemed to be more tenacious this
year than last. They "collared" the dealers and held
to them so that little "butting in" was permitted.
The business end of things was more noticeable this
year than ever before at the conventions.
Will Brinkerhoff was in evidence and, as always,
popular. He received everywhere condolences on the
death of his father, which was a hard blow to him.
Much sympathy was expressed for Henry G. John-
son. Room 416, at the McAlpin, which had been
reserved for a display of the instruments from Belle-
vue, Iowa, remained locked. There was disappoint-
ment that Dan Pagenta did not arrive as was ex-
pected.
While the Goldsmith Piano Co., of Chicago, had
no exhibit, and Mr. Goldsmith himself was not about
the Waldorf, a dealer present was heard to say that
he had "just placed an order" for a lot of "Gold-
smith" and "Hartford" pianos. The ubiquitous sales-
man again.
Matt Kennedy's talk on Tuesday evening was a
good one. He spoke of the various state and local
music trade organizations that had affiliated with the
national organization.
Treasurer Carl A. Droop, of the Merchants' Asso-
ciation, on Tuesday's meeting, presented his report,
which showed that there is something like $13,000 in
the strong box. •
A Cheering Talk.
At Tuesday's Noonday lunch, R. W. Lawrence pre-
siding, Ray Vance gave a fine talk on the alleged
business depression and told how to help to over-
come it. Summed up, there will be an upturn this
fall. All that is needed is stamina, courage, and less
timidity. The young man Tessler, the Chicago
Piano Club helped to go to Italy and pursue his
studies, had just returned, and sang an operatic selec-
tion in Italian followed by Victor Herbert's song,
"The Kiss in the Dark." He made a fine record and
was enthusiastically received. Earl Billings played
the accompaniment.
R. N. Watkins, retiring president of the Merchants'
Association in his address Tuesday drew attention to
a circular which was freely circulated and which
bore the headline, "Are You Here for Business?"
Evidently they were as the crush at the McAlpin
amply testified. One of the subjects discussed was:
"Do You Think Membership Should Be Evidence
of Policies of Fair Business Dealings?" Pat Con-
roy reported on "Membership Pledges or Certificates
of Business Character for Individual Membership,"
conclusively in the affirmative.
The Peerless player actions made a good show-
ing at the McAlpin. The Messrs. Cheek are enthusi-
astic and their work is fine. The Peerless Action
possesses the winning qualities, as many in New
York this week agreed.
Memorial Day in Harlem: Called at Estey Piano
Co.'s—closed; across to Benning's—closed; took a
car to Doll's—closed. In fact all the factories shut
down over the week-end Decoration Day to Monday.
Good idea!
A great week of entertainment: Steinway, Aeolian,
Cable and other dinners; the Piano Travelers' dinner,
the Hudson trip, and still more, to make any good
piano man happy for a year to come.
The exhibitors were early in getting in shape, and
when ready the men who bring them are more in-
terested in selling and meeting dealers than in
attending the meetings of the associations. Some of
the exhibitors will not, perhaps, attend a single meet-
ing.
"Development of Standard Courses in Piano Sales-
manship Throughout the Country," was discussed by
Royal W. Daynes, chairman of Educational Commit-
tee, and E. Paul Hamilton, chairman of Special Com-
mittee, Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
Does any one believe that salesmanship is a matter of
fixed rules or formula?
Paging Mr. Gulbransen.
Early Monday morning, before the clan had begun
to gather, about, the first cry through the lobby of
the Waldorf-Astoria was "Mr. Gulbransen! Mr. Gul-
bransen!"
Presto regrets that its appeal for a portrait of sec-
cetary-elect Ava W. Poole did not arrive, so that the
gentleman's picture cannot appear with the rest in
this week's supplement.
William C. Hamilton, who was in line for presi-
dent of the Merchants' Association, could not accept
the nomination this year. Mr. Hughes, of 'Frisco,
was named for the responsible position, and they
couldn't have done better.
A good deal of disappointment was expressed at
the absence of Will L. Bush, who because of impor-
tant business in Chicago could not attend.
Beach Barrett, of the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce, declared, in his convention speech that
"radio is a good thing for the industry," because it
"stimulates the sale of phonograph records." But
what does it do for the piano, Mr. Barrett? Is the
Chamber sustained by radio or by the music in-
dustries?
What Board Promised.
The contents of the bulletin board in the lobby of
the McAlpin hotel, New York, this week contained
thirty names of exhibitors and promised a variety to
satisfy every phase of music goods interest. In the
number the exhibit of music goods at the McAlpin
compares well with the big show at the Drake hotel
in Chicago last year, although the show in New
York this week was the result of spontaneous action
on the part of exhibitors instead of formal plans.
Most of the thirty exhibitors are on the third and
fourth floors and of these sixteen are exhibits of
pianos, players, and reproducing pianos and sixteen
are displays of miscellaneous m u s i c
goods
and supplies, musical merchandise, music rolls, rec-
ords, benches, actions, veneer and radio. Possibly
the display of the Commercial Investment Co. might
be listed among the music accessories.
Columbia Cabinets.
A notable showing of phonograph cabinets by the
Excel Phonograph Mfg. Co., is one of the very inter-
esting ones in the miscellaneous list, and the more so
because the Columbia cabinets are made by a company
controlled by the owners of the Columbia Grand
Piano Co., Chicago.
Shows Gulbransen Grand.
A new model among the Registering pianos of the
Gulbransen Co., Chicago, exhibited in Rooms 306
and 308 at the McAlpin Hotel this week was the new
Registering Grand, publicly shown for the first time.
The high position of the Gulbransen Registering
piano line in the trade naturally drew the dealers to
the exhibition rooms at all hours to see the new
number on the list. The latest achievement of the
Chicago company is the result of many month's
work by the company's experts. The new instru-
ment is five feet four inches long and the representa-
tives at the McAlpin exhibit said it would be manu-
factured as a straight grand, a registering grand and
a combination registering and reproducing grand.
Of course, the older numbers in the line provided
attraction for many who profitably sell them and it
would lie hard to find a man of the music trade un-
(Continued on page 6.)
BIG BANQUET OF MERCHANTS'
ASSOCIATION, WEDNESDAY
Generally Agreed that It Was the Most Notable in
the History of the Association.
The banquet of the National Piano Merchants' As-
sociation, on Wednesday night, was the most notable
in the history of the annual conventions. That is
the opinion of men who have attended most of the
great events of the trade, from the first inception of
the gatherings, of which the social climax has been
the gastronomic and oratorical feastings.
The banquet was announced for 6:30, and the re-
ception at 7 o'clock, Wednesday evening. And there
was no procrastination in the gathering of the large
party. In numbers it was declared the largest of the
series, and in brilliancy it surpassed all that had
gone before. One who knows said that more than
eleven hundred sat down to the tables, filling the main
floor of the great hall and overflowing into two tiers
of boxes.
At least a third in attendance were ladies. And
they made a splendid appearance in evening gowns,
and the men arrayed in their conventionals—for the
most part. Speeches were delivered by Theodore
Roosevelt, Senator Rotal S. Copeland and others.
The address of the son of the great president and
soldier was inspiring, and gave satisfaction to the
men whose business it is to disseminate music and
the things that produce it. Col. Roosevelt discussed
the power of music through all the ages, and seemed
to possess a good deal of the eloquence of his dis-
tinguished father.
Col. F. B. T. Hollenberg made the presentation
speech in offering a gift to retiring President Watkin,
of the Merchants' Association. In return, Mr. Wat-
kin told of the wonderful growth of the organization.
STANDARD PNEUMATIC'S
CONVENTION SOUVENIR
Dainty Remembrance and Greeting Presented by
York Industry to All Visitors.
The Standard Pneumatic Action Company pleased
many hundreds of convention visitors on June 3rd
and 4th by the gift of a dainty rose fastened to a card
bearing the company's greetings. The words on the
card were as follows:
"Greetings: This boutonniere for you, in token of
our good will, and with the hope that your happiness
and prosperity will be fixed at a high rate—and per-
haps Standardized!"
The gifts were received with many pleasing com-
ments.
VISIT TO STEINWAY FACTORY.
One of the instructive entertainments of the week
was the trip to the Long Island factories of Stein-
way & Sons. A large number of dealers made up
the part on Wednesday morning, and it is probable
that many of them would vote the day one of the best
of the convention. Courteous attention was given to
the visitors, who were given opportunity of seeing
the actual work of manufacturing one of the most
famous instruments the world has produced. The
officers of the Steinway & Sons company who at-
tended the visitors made everyone feel at home, and
Wednesday will be a memorable one in the events of
convention week in New York.
THE CABLE BREAKFAST.
- As is always the case, this week's Cable Company
breakfast was one of the convention events. It added
to the pleasures of the second day of the meetings,
and everyone present declared that it gave zest to
the week's events. President George J. Dowling was
at his best and his associates-did their share in enter-
taining a gathering prepared for the best to be af-
forded. And they got it.
Leonard B. Smith, music dealer of Conshohocken,
Pa., will move his business to new store when altera-
tions are made there.
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