Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1976

PRESTO
June 7, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells"
CHAMBER MEMBERS
FIRST TO APPEAR
Lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria Enlivened
by the Presence of Well Known Officials
and Directors of Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce.
THE NEXT PRESIDENT?
Possibility of Western Man for Head of the Joint
Body Topic of Informal Talks in
Headquarters Hotel.
CHRISTMAN
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.
CHRISTMAN
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.
No ambitious Piano Merchant can
be sure that he has the best, most
profitable and satisfactory Line until
he has examined the Christman and
compared with whatever competitor
may be winning local trade.
INQUIRIES INVITED
te
The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
The convention business of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce was performed at various
times during the convention week, at the noonday
luncheons, in the new meeting rooms for Chamber
directors at the new home at 45 West 45th street.
In the latter place the formal presentation of com-
mittee and officers' reports were presented and other
business of Chamber character performed. The elec-
tion of officers took place on Friday on board the
boat carrying delegates up the Hudson to West
Point, and occurred too late to print in this issue. A
notice to the editors of trade papers dated May 27
said there would be no annual report for publication
from the president, Richard W. Lawrence. Instead
lie issued a brochure that fulfilled that purpose.
H. C. Dickinson Named.
Much informal Chamber talk gave animation to
Sunday in the lobby of the Waldorf-Astoria. In the
groups were many prominent members of the joint
body. The president, R. W. Lawrence; the vice-
president, Ralph L. Freeman; the treasurer, F. B. T.
Hollenberg, and the secretary, Alfred L. Smith, and
Geo. W. Pound were there and enough of directors
from the various associations to form numerous
quorums all over the lobby.
In case Mr. Lawrence resigned the presidency the
possible successor named was H. C. Dickinson, vice-
president of the Baldwin Co., Cincinnati. In the
informal gatherings previous to the first Chamber
meeting Mr. Dickinson was urged to take the office
of president. But Mr. Dickinson demurred and con-
tinued in that attitude, arguing that a New York
man should fill the office, inasmuch as the Chamber
offices are in New York. An important event on
Sunday was the dinner to his associates in the execu-
tive of the Chamber by Mr. Lawrence.
New York's Welcome.
Police Commissioner Enright welcomed the dele-
gates on behalf of the mayor, and Lewis E. Pierson,
president of the Merchants' Association of New York
City, extended the welcome of the business men at the
first noonday luncheon on Monday. Richard W.
Lawrence, president of the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce, presided at the luncheon and the
opening session.
In his remarks Mr. Lawrence spoke of the great
meeting at this luncheon which made memorable the
first session of Chamber business in the convention
of 1924 session. He pointed out the growth of the
Chamber and wondered what is to be done to meet
the new and urgent requirements, suggesting that two
meetings a year be held to accommodate new devel-
opments. Mr. Lawrence told what the Chamber had
accomplished under his leadership. For this report he
offered a brochure, as the best report he could make.
Secretary's Report.
The annual report of the secretary and general
manager, Albert L. Smith, of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce was a review of activities
since last convention. These he explained were car-
ried on through its various bureaus, in annual reports
making a part of Mr. Smith's report. Together
they constitute an almost complete record in detail
of the accomplishments for the year. In addition
there is the most important activity of all, namely,
the legislative work in connection with the pending
internal revenue bill. The report said:
''The exemption of musical instruments from the
jewelry tax is important not alone because of band
instruments, but also because of the danger of the
application of this tax to many other types of instru-
ments using gold, silver or ivory in their construc-
tion. Local collectors have repeatedly attempted to
impose this tax on phonographs with gold plated
tone arms. The Chamber has been in almost con-
stant communication and conference with the Internal
Revenue Bureau for the past six months on this mat-
ter. Pending a final decision the Bureau advised
collectors not to levy this tax on phonographs."
The Export Bureau.
"The activities of the Export Bureau during the
past year have been along the customary lines of
tlie issuing of regular bulletins to users of the service
transmitting export figures for pianos and phono-
graphs, also special bulletins from tiine to time on
any subject of interest or importance to members of
the Chamber who are engaged in export trade. The
Bureau's credit service on foreign dealers has been
extensively used and now has nearly 400 reports on
file," was the comprehensive sentence in the report
opening that shows the purposes of the Bureau.
Beach Barrett is manager and the Advisory Com-
mittee to the Bureau during the year has consisted
of J. B. Schwartz, chairman; F. P. Bassett, Alvaro
S. F. Chaves, Miss Lucy Goldsmith and Walter
Stevens.
Better Business Bureau.
The merchandising work of the Better Business
Bureau has continued along the lines of previous
years and is believed to have retarded a tendency
toward dishonest and unwise methods under threat-
ening business conditions," said C. L. Derres, secre-
tary of the Better Business Bureau in his report.
The "bait" of low price advertising, unbelievable
reductions and comparative valuations, misleading
terms, and to some extent, "gyp" dealing, were espe-
cially noticeable in the cases handled. Mention may
also be made of the controversies in the reproducing
piano field which frequently threaten serious renewal;
an unfortunate sales effort mentioning a "Piano
Makers' Strike," and the misuse of the membership
list of the National Association of Music Merchants
by an Arkansas member in connection with an oil
scheme.
The Better Business Bureau gave attention during
the year to 136 new matters, of which 65 related to
the song swindle and 71 to music merchandising, as
against 170 last year when the listing of more than
100 names of song sharks swelled the total. The
attention given to old cases carried over from the
previous year and from month to month during the
past year made an average of 36 matters a month
given attention.
J. R. REED PRESIDENT
OF TEXAS ASSOCIATION
Austin Man Successfully Urges Claim of H's City
for Next Convention Location.
J. R. Reed, of Austin, was elected president of the
Texas Music Merchants' Association at the annual
convention in Galveston last week and Mr. Reed's
persuasive powers urged a majority of the members
to select Austin as the annual meeting place next
year. The following places were submitted to the
convention as desirable gathering places in 1925 by
members who had the best reason for considering
them so: San Antonio, Brownsville, Beaumont, Fort
Worth, Dallas, Texarkana, Paris, Pittsburgh, Hous-
ton, and Port Arthur. The debate showed what a
great number of available and desirable places for
convention purposes the Lone Star State possesses.
T. J. York of Texarkana, was elected vice-presi-
dent, Lester Burchfield, Dallas, second vice-president,
E. E. Hall, Abilene, third vice-president, and W. B.
Callaway, Houston, secretary-treasurer.
The new board of directors comprises J. O. Elliott,
San Antonio; W. W. Humphries, Dallas; A. T.
Byers, San Antonio; O. V. Ray, Amarillo, and
Geoi"ge H. Beasley, Texarkana.
The importance of radio in the commodities han-
dled by the music merchant was presented by several
speakers. Will L. Cary, representing the Radio Cor-
poration of America, said the logical handlers of radio
are the music dealers and that eventually they will
control the retailing of sets and accessories. At the
annual banquet at the Hotel Galvez, J. T. Fitzgerald
was the guest of honor.
THE BELLECLAIRE GOLF GAME.
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce Golf
Tournament was held at the Belleclaire Golf Club,
Bayside, Long Island, on Thursday. The follow-
ing committee had charge of the arrangements:
Arthur L. Wessell, chairman; Hary J. Sohmer, Her-
bert W. Hill, Theodore Cassabeer, R. O. Ainslee,
Kenneth W. Curtis and W. H. Alfring. In the morn-
ing a qualifying round of the first nine holes played
determined selection of foursomes for the afternoon
competition, the results of which were received by
Presto too late for this issue.
PREMIER IN BOSTON.
The line of grand pianos of the Premier Grand
Piano Corporation, 510-532 West 23rd street, New
York, manufacturers of baby grands exclusively, has
been added to the presentation of Charles S. Norris,
Tremont street, Boston, Mass. Judging by the im-
portance and magnitude of the selling activities of
Mr. Norris, his company will add an especially power-
ful sales stimulus to the popular Premier in Boston
and vicinity.
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
NEW YORK DOINGS
TOLD IN BRIEF
(Continued from page 3.)
acquainted with the appearance of the Baby-at-the-
Pedals. One or more of the following officials of
the company were present in the exhibit rooms at all
hours during the week: A. C. Gulbransen, presi-
dent; Walter Kiehn, advertising manager; John Mar-
tin, and B. E. Gossett, of the Martin Music Co., Los
Angeles, and Travelers H. C. Dinmore, C. W. Ruby,
A. W. Musser and W. E. Brown.
W. P. Haines & Co. Display.
W. P. Haines & Co., New York, had an exhibit of
the W. P. Haines, Bradbury and Webster grands,
uprights, players and reproducing pianos during con-
vention week at the warerooms of the New York
factory at 138th street and W r alton avenue. Dealers
attending the convention were quick to avail them-
selves of the opportunity to visit the factory when
the means to get there via the subway and an express
train at Grand Central station going direct to Mott
Haven station, were learned. Prominent in the con-
vention assemblage at the Waldorf-Astoria were T.
L. Floyd Jones, president, and Charles T. Carter,
vice-president and treasurer, both of whom are
widely known in the trade.
M. Schulz Co. Early.
At the McAlpin Saturday and Sunday the third and
fourth floors were made active with the preparation
of the early ones. The M. Schulz Co.'s beautiful
suite, at the southwest corner of the McAlpin
b u i l d i n g , corner of Thirty-fourth street, at
B r o a d w a y , was practically made ready. The
array of pianos, players, reproducing uprights and
grand pianos, and the M. Schulz reproducing grands
(Welte-Mignon Licensee) was an impressive one.
The M. Schulz Co.'s display was in charge of Otto
M. Heinzman, the eastern representative of the Chi-
cago company, and the honors were performed by
that gentleman and Fred P. Bassett, secretary; Otto
Schulz, Jr., vice-president of the company; A. P.
Gustafsen, technical expert, and Henry D. Hewitt,
traveler. It was a force of genial piano men who
made things pleasant and instructive for the dealers
in Rooms 361 and 363.
Bush & Lane Display.
The Bush & Lane Piano Co.'s quarters were di-
rectly across the hall from the M. Schulz Co.
Three large rooms, light and looking out to the north
and west, provided a splendid display place for the
Holland, Mich., industry. One of the rooms was de-
voted to the fine . array of grands made by the
company, and the character of the instruments was
shown to inquiring dealers. It was a labor of love
for Walter Lane, president, to explain to successive
groups the structural reasons for the power and
sweetness of tone of Bush & Lane grands.
The Bush & Lane uprights were shown by them-
selves. The Duo-Vox phonographs occupied a space
that also showed the importance of this feature of
Bush & Lane activities.
With Mr. Lane were F. J. Congleton, eastern rep-
resentative of the company, who enjoyed meeting his
western friends; C. L. Beach, secretary; William F.
Clevey, sales manager, and Charles H. Kennedy and
W. D. Montgomery travelers, the latter more closely
associated with the exploiting of the Bush & Lane
Duo-Vox Phonograph in the eastern field.
Unette Surprises Visitors.
A little further along is Thompson Unette Piano
Co., Chicago, with two or three pianos; "The Unette"
on fallboard. In Room 368 Mr. Thompson showed
old friends and new acquaintances his novelty in
grand pianos. Mr. Thompson has the enthusiasm of
the man who makes a project succeed, and the quiet
eloquence to point out to visiting dealers the good
looking, easy playing and closely priced allurements
of the Unette. The footpower model and the latest
product of the company—the drawer type, tone-shad-
ing model of the Unette.
Admire Schaff Bros.' Two-Tone.
The line of pianos, players and Solotone Reproduc-
ing Pianos of the Schaff Bros. Co. provided dealers
with attractions that account for the rapid develop-
ment of the ambitious industry at Huntington, In-
diana. The two-tone finish, which the company has
recently associated with its products, was a special
attraction for the dealers.
The Schaff Bros. Co. was one of the first to intro-
duce the two-tone finish for pianos and players, and
the spirit with which the trade received the novelty
urged the company to produce a distinctive and
artistic effect. In the exhibit at the McAlpin the two-
tone Venetian walnut case, and the two-tone Monti-
cello mahogany case in pianos and players were
shown. Manager C. S. Miller had his greatest con-
June 7, 1924.
CABLE MIDGET UPRIGHTS
R. Ritchie Robertson, director of music in the city schools of
Springfield, Missouri, has just written most enthusiastically of the
Cable Midget uprights sold to him by the Martin Bros. Piano Co.,
Cable representatives at Springfield, Mo.:
"We use the Cable Midget Upright in two of our high school
buildings and I find it gives ample support to my chorus of one
hundred and fifty voices. We also use it for piano solo work with
excellent results. The tone is clear and true; the action sensitive.
To my mind the Cable Midget upright fulfills with absolute satis-
faction every requirement of a school piano."
Since the coming of Mr. Robertson in 1916 Springfield has rapidly
developed a remarkable leadership in music. Mr. Robertson per-
sonally directs six of Springfield's most important musical organiza-
tions and is the inspiration of a great part of this recently developed
interest in better music.
Last year Mr. Robertson made a trip to California witp. his Boy
Scout Band of 275 pieces, the largest Boy Scout band in the world.
Everywhere his scores of khaki-clad boy musicians were greeted with
the greatest enthusiasm.
Mr. Robertson has given, with remarkable artistic success, works
A
seldom attempted before with high school boys and
girls. In only a few years' time, he had built up a
high school symphony orchestra, of over one hun-
dred pieces, that gives performances equal in quality
and technique to the work of the best professional
orchestras. His high school chorus of 150 voices re-
cently gave the "Creation" in a most pleasing manner.
vention pleasure in showing the types to the visitors.
With the vice-president at the McAlpin exhibit were
Julius M. Martin, secretary and treasurer; A. B.
Hart, eastern representative, and H. A. Griffin, trav-
eler.
Perfection Benches.
The Perfection benches and cabinets made by the
Perfection Piano Bench Mfg. Co., Chicago, are shown
in the line of goods exhibited by Frank A. Meter
on the fourth floor of the McAlpin. Mr. Meter
is now associated with A. S. Seville, Room 900,
Republic Building, Chicago. His exhibit at the
McAlpin includes many handsome types of Perfec-
tion benches with Smith's Patented Interlocking
Mitre Joint. Another display of the cabinets and
benches of the Perfection Piano Bench Mfg. Co. was
at the wareroom of C. H. Ditson & Co., 8-12 East
Thirty-fourth street.
FOUR BUESCHER=EQU1PPED
ORCHESTRAS AT CONVENTION
Peerless Pneumatic Action Co.
The Peerless Pneumatic Action Co., New York,
has an interesting exhibit of its two grades of actions
which vary in price but are both characterized by
special qualities that appeal to the buyers of pneu-
matic actions. A considerable amount of the value of
the exhibit is due to the ability of T. F. Gheek and
M. C. Lorini to explain the merits of the actions
which are shown in an Estey grand and two up-
rights.
Mr. Cheek, president of the company, has had long
and valuable experience in the action phase of the
piano industry and Mr. Lorini has benefited by equal
experience. Both being experts in the production of
pneumatic actions their demonstrations to visiting
dealers and manufacturers were particularly effective
in impressing the meritorious facts about the prod-
ucts of the Peerless Pneumatic Action Co.
Good Speakers.
The noonday luncheons at the Waldorf-Astoria
during convention week were made additionally en-
joyable by the selection of special speakers.
Frank W. Murphy, of the Minnesota Farm Bureau
Federation, was the principal speaker at the noonday
luncheon Wednesday. His topic was "Outlook for
the Farmer and Its Effect on Business."
Musical Features Augmented by Instruments from
the Industry at Elkhart, Indiana.
Chairman Heaton of the Musical Features Com-
mittee secured very substantial co-operation from
the Buescher Band Instrument Company in his ef-
forts to provide for the convention the best that New
York had to offer. The Buescher Company was
largely instrumental in getting on to the program:
Waring's Pennsylvanians—down for the noon-day
luncheon on Wednesday and for the Frolic on Thurs-
day night.
George Olsen and His Orchestra (starring in the
Dillingham show, "Kid Boots")—down for the
Thursday night Frolic.
S. S. Flotilla Orchestra—down for the Thursday
night Frolic.
Little Sousa—the Boy Saxophone Prodigy—down
for a speech at one of the luncheons and to play
several solos and direct one of the orchestras at the
Frolic Thursday night. Little Sousa is the youngest
member of the Music Merchants' Association, and is
an accomplished speaker, though but seven years of
age.
Two Hoosiers Blues Artists from the Buescher fac-
tory—a saxophonist and pianist of the Steimrich
Orchestra—down for a vaudeville turn at the Thurs-
day night Frolic.
A TRIP ABROAD.
Linton Floyd-Jones, president of the W. P.
Haines & Co., New York, has a son who is now in
his second year at Dartmouth. He is in his eight-
eenth year and displays characteristically brilliant
promise intellectually and as a student. This month
the young man will go on a special Cunard Steam-
ship Co.'s trip to Europe with some 120 other stu-
dents, to be gone three months. He will make quite
a tour of the continent of Europe, educational and
recreational.
HANDSOME TACOMA STORE.
AIR IN DRY KILN.
The beautiful new store of the Silvers Piano Com-
pany, Tacoma, Wash., was formally opened recently
at the handsome new quarters at Broadway and 13th.
The store, which includes two large rooms, presents
a most attractive appearance with its new stock of
piano's, phonographs and band instruments.
The large show window, 12x30 feet, is said to be
the largest single window on Broadway, and the main
floor is well arranged for pianos and players. The
balcony is devoted to the phonographs.
Never before in the history of the sheet music busi-
ness have there been so many artistic and elaborate
window displays as have been shown the past season.
During the winter months there seemed to be no let-
up in the number of window displays, and many of
these have been arranged at an unusual expense.
Seemingly, the retailer realizes that window displays
bring business, and this being so any additional sales
that are created during the winter months through
effective windows are a good investment.
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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