PUBLi: LIBRARY
SOOTHfA
...AP-rrr T.t-vox AND
TH.Di.iN i ;:..OAT1ONS
Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
E.tablUheJ 1884.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
IO Centsi tl.OO a Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, JULY 5, 1924
PERFECTING PLANS
FOR COAST MEET
Preparations for Western Music Trades Con-
vention, Interrupted by Death of
George R. Hughes, Have Been
Resumed.
SMALL DEALERS' COMPLAINT
according to Harold Pracht, who has charge of the
event.
Mr. Pracht says the event will by no means be
limited to contestants from the Pacific Coast terri-
tory but that many doughty golfers from yonder
side of the Rockies will pit their proficiency against
the native players. He looks for a golf tournament
of a very exciting kind.
HENRY 0 . JOHNSON PIANO CO.
GETS $168,500 AND SALVAGE
Fire Insurance Adjusters Announce Settlement for
Damages in Recent Bellevue Fire.
Unfair Difference Between Rates for Carloads and
Less Than Carload Lots Provides Grievance
for Some.
Fire insurance adjusters effected a settlement with
the Henry G. Johnson Piano Mfg. Co., of Bellevue,
la., for the loss sustained through the recent confla-
gration which wrought havoc with the Bellevue piano
plant.
The company will receive $168,500 and salvage.
The death of George R. Hughes of the Wiley B.
Allen Co., San Francisco, caused an interruption to The salvage will amount to about $12,000. Mr. John-
perfecting the plans for the Western Music Trades son says the company will have about $80,000 worth
Convention of which Mr. Hughes was chairman. In of bonds to sell, and as soon as these are disposed
fact it was considered a blow to the plans, as the of, will start operations.
The fire has thrown a small army temporarily out
popular piano man was a source of stimulation all
along the line. But his fellow workers for the suc- of employment, and its effects are being felt in Belle-
cess of the meeting of the Pacific Coast trade in San vue. Should the plant be rebuilt it is expected to
Francisco July 22 and 23, while regretting his effi- have it going by October 1st, with a force of two
cient aid, have redoubled their efforts to make the hundred or more employes.
Mr. Johnson has been in the East making plans
first convention in that territory a precedent to be
followed in future years. It is possible a new com- for the future of his industry and he is as determined
mittee chairman will be named this week and the as ever to build up a piano industry to compare with
necessary work to complete the preparations will the largest.
go on.
Transportation Question.
The discussion of the transportation question will
be the most absorbing of dealers' interest. In fact
the transportation question is an old one and the
grievances involved have been distressing to the trade
for many years.. That question itself should make Lyon & Healy Gives Pleasant Comparative State-
ment About Great Instrument.
necessary the holding of a Pacific Coast trade con-
vention so that large and small dealers from every
This month has been a notable one for sales of
corner of the western states may have an opportu- Steinway pianos by Lyon & Healy, Chicago. Every
nity to air their grievances and formulate a means day has seen the selection and delivery of Steinways
to overcome the difficulties.
of various types. Probably it is safe to say that
The answers to the questionnaire sent out by the never in its sixty odd years career has the Steinway
transportation committee about a month ago give piano been in as high favor in Chicago as at the pres-
an indication of the deep feeling of some dealers on ent time.
the transportation question. The replies seem to be
Lyon & Healy's retail piano department now com-
unanimous in the complaint that the railroads prac- prises three floors as follows: New pianos, third
tically discriminate against smaller dealers who re- floor; playerpianos, fourth floor, and the bargain
ceive shipments of pianos from points east of the bazaar of used pianos, sixth floor.
Rockies in less than carload lots.
STEINWAY SALES IN CHICAGO
ARE GREATER THAN EVER
Difference Pointed Out.
The marked difference in the rates for pianos in
carload lots and 1 less than carload lots will be a phase
of the transportation discussion that will evoke the
most denunciatory eloquence and the most urgent
pleas for relief addressed to the convention. It is
cited by some of . the dealers in their replies that
when the carload rate from Chicago, for instance, is
$2.50 per hundred pounds, the less than carload lots
figure as high as $5.25 per hundred pounds.
W. THOMSON, JR., MARRIED.
The current number of the London Music Trades
Review prints "heartiest congratulations to Mr. Wil-
liam Thomson, Jr., son of ex-Bailie William Thom-
son, Glasgow, Scotland, past president of the Scot-
tish Music Merchants' Association, on his recent mar-
riage to Miss Jennie Morgan Alexander. This wed-
ding took place in the popular Burlington House,
Bath street, Glasgow, when the music trade was rep-
resented by Mr. and Mrs. Alexander Biggar, Sauchie-
hall street, and others—with, by the way—a tele-
Hard on Small Firm.
gram of congratulation also being read from Mr.
To the dealer who is not in a position to buy his Wharton Collard, of London. At the moment of
pianos in carload lots, the more than double rate for writing ex-Bailie Thomson is in the land of the
less than carload lots is an injustice. They frankly Maple Leaf, looking after his business interests in
call it discrimination against the small dealer, and Vancouver."
the forthcoming convention is looked forward to as
an occasion to seek relief.
MUSCATINE BUSINESS EXPANDS.
Alex McDonald, of Sohmer & Co., New York, and
George R. Chase of the Chase Music Studios, Mus-
a member of the executive board of the National catine, la., has purchased a half interest in the Lohr
Association of Music Merchants, will leave for San Music Store, 102 East Second street. Mr. Chase
Francisco next week to serve as special representative will, however, continue his studio work the same as
to the national association. Mr. McDonald was ap- before, Mr. Lohr retaining charge of the store.
Under the new partnership the store will carry a
pointed by President Watkin during his term of
complete line of all kinds of musical instruments in-
office.
stead of specializing in phonographs, as heretofore.
The Golf Tournament.
The dealers who will flock to San Francisco on
FORMAL OPENING IN NORWALK, O.
July 22 and 23 will have many opportunities to vary
The new music store opened for business in the
the work of the convention with play in various
forms. Apart from the social attractions there will Pulley block on N. Hester street, just north of Main
be one athletic one that promises to be participated street, Norwalk, O., last week, by Fisher & Zoll. An
in by a great many. That is the golf tournament orchestra furnished music and souvenirs were given
the entries for which are pouring in at a great rate, to those who visited the establishment.
THINGS MUSICAL
DOWN IN TEXAS
Mayor of Dallas Can't Find Funds for Support
of Local Music Commission, Which
Will Be Probably Forced
to Disband.
PAGING MR. BUSH
Active Leader in All Musical Movement in Texas
City Still Lingers in the North, But Is
Expected "Home" Soon.
Radio jobbers of the Southwest formed an organ-
ization for their mutual benefit at their meeting in
Dallas on June 24. Staging a radio show in Dallas
in October or November and a co-operative advertis-
ing campaign through the newspapers, was decided
upon at the first meeting.
L. F. Philo, of Houston, was elected president,
J. C. Cummings, of San Antonio, vice-president, and
Al I. Folsom, of Dallas, secretary-treasurer. The
organization enrolled an active membership of thirty
and honorary membership of manufacturers and
agents maintaining stocks in the Southwest and
newspapers operating radiocasting stations was pro-
vided for.
Lambert Friedl, of the Adler Manufacturing Com-
pany, New York, was a guest.
No Music Commission.
There will be no music commission in Dallas dur-
ing the remainder of the present administration un-
less music lovers ask for the appointment of a com-
mission and agree to subscribe funds for its support,
Mayor Blaylock announced June 25, shortly after the
resignation of the seven members of the old commis-
sion because of lack of funds.
The city declined to pay to L. O. Gordon the $500
once voted him for his services as a publicity agent
during music week, it being established that he was
a member of the music commission when he signed
the contract.
Texas Band Magazine.
Fort Worth was chosen as the next meeting place
of the Texas Bandmasters' Association. A bill to
empower cities of- Texas to vote and levy a tax for
the purpose of maintaining municipal bands was pre-
pared and E. A. Lightfoot was appointed a commit-
tee of one to present the bill before the Texas legis-
lature at its next session.
The proposed publication of a musical magazine by
Billy Leeman, Texas musician, was endorsed and
support pledged.
Melba Orchestra Disbands.
With the introduction of Pantage's vaudeville at
the Melba Theater in Dallas, the week beginning
July 1, the Melba Symphony Orchestra, under the
direction of Paul Harris, passed out of existence as
an organization.
Some of the members of the orchestra will remain
in Dallas and some will seek other fields. Upon the
conclusion of his farewell overture, Mr. Harris sur-
rendered his baton to Carl Lambertz, who has been
concert master at the Melba for the past year.
Frank Renard, teacher and music composer, of
Dallas, has received notice from Roy R. Repass,
director of the Westmoreland College of Music, at
San Antonio, that his composition "Three Sketches
for String Quartet" has been awarded the $100 prize
offered by the San Antonio Music Club.
Paging Mr. Bush.
William L. Bush, whose energies have done more
to stimulate matters musical in Dallas than any other
single influence, has been in the North for several
weeks. He is badly missed, and people interested in
the artistic welfare of the community are asking
when he expects to return.
The Bush & Gerts Piano Co. of Texas is doing a
great business and is by far the most comprehensive
business house in its line that the state has ever
known.
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