Presto

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
TTieir Makers.
PRESTO
EtabiiMhed 1884. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
to Ce nt , t 92.00 « rear
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, JULY 26, 1924
itable in results as any music promotion the dealer
may undertake.
Self-Help.
The dealer who does the things outlined [s helping
himself—helping his pocketbook. Looking at it from
another angle, he is rendering a real service to his
community—a very important service.
Opportunities of Music Merchant to Be Fore-
That being true, he ought to realize his own im- New Organization of Far Western Music
most in Movements and Events of a Musi-
Trade Meets for First Time, Under Pleas-
portance, he ought to gain confidence—to realize that
he has been placing too low a valuation on his service.
cal Nature in Territory He Serves
ant Circumstances in Headquarters at
He should realize that his profits, taking his busi-
Are Exceptional.
the St. Francis Hotel.
ness all the way through, have been probably too
small, that he has been "giving away" too many
things in order to induce people to buy, that he has
not made the profit he is entitled to on his tuning
and service departments, that people have taken him
While Promoting Musical Activities, Dealer Effec- at his own low valuation.
Tuesday, Wednesday and Thursday Devoted to
Remember, Mr. Music Merchant, that yours is the
tively Helps the Music Trade and Incidentally
Business and Friday Set Aside for Golf Tourna-
opportunity and the right to be a leader and a pro-
Increases His Own Profits.
ment at Merced Club.
moter of things musical in your community.
The music merchant who serves the public in so
The Western Music Trades
many ways is a public benefactor, and should gain
By A. G. GULBRANSEN,
Convention opened its first an-
recognition as such. On the other hand, he cannot
President Gulbransen Company, Chicago.
nual meeting on Tuesday of this
The piano merchant should be a leader in matters expect the public to appraise him highly if he is a
week at the St. Francis Hotel,
musical in his community. His opportunity is a very tail-ender instead of a leader in matters that affect his
San Francisco.
There was a
own business.
exceptional one.
large and enthusiastic assemblage
It
would
be
a
wonderful
thing
for
the
music
trade
The piano store is the natural center of music
of the trade of the Far West, and
activity in the community. It is the place where if all dealers were active along these lines. The par-
the representative character of the
ticular interest of our company in the matter is that
gathering justified the expectations
about one in every six music dealers handles the Gul-
of the promoters of the conven-
bransen.
tion. Philip T. Clay, president of
Sherman, Clay & Co., presided in
his character of general conven-
tion chairman, and opened the
P. T. CLAY.
meeting at 9:30 on Tuesday with
an address of welcome.
Mr. Clay said there was little need to explain the
President McKenna Reminded Members of the' Big
reasons for the formation of the Western Music
Time Planned for Next Tuesday Night.
Trades Convention. By this time they were pretty
well understood by the trade of the region inter-
The attraction at the meeting of the Piano Club of
ested. Any outline of the purposes of the convention,
Chicago this week was Miss Dorothy Culkins of the
he said, would only be tentative. There was big
American Conservatory of Music, who charmed the
members with her excellent performance on the piano. work ahead of the organization and the interest ex-
Although a great number of members are away on tended to every man who sold music goods in the
vacation, the attendance at the luncheon this week western states included in its operations.
was large. No weather is too hot to put a crimp in
Purposes Well Known.
the enthusiasm of the members.
The
strength
of the music trade in the territory in-
The program for the Radio Party planned by the
Piano Club of Chicago at Rainbo Gardens, Tuesday cluded in the Western Music Trades Convention was
evening, July 29, is one of the most alluring ever apparent, even in the lobby of the convention hotel.
prepared by the committee of arrangements. Fea- The first day"*it was estimated that over 250 music
tures of the evening will be Fred Man's "Top o' the dealers were present. The keen interest in the pro-
Rainbo," a musical comedy and review, dancing ceedings evinced by the conventioners promises per-
io Ralph Williams' orchestra, broadcasting by radio inannce for the organization.
stars.
The convention had all the marks of the big state
conventions east, and it was considered a tribute to
the far-western trade that exhibits of pianos and other
HOUSE HAS NEW TITLE.
music goods were made features of the meeting.
The Heine Piano Co., San Francisco, is now
The Western Music Trades Convention is a recog-
located in its new home in the Strand Theater build- nition of the existence of peculiar conditions in the
A. G. GULBRANSEN.
ing on upper Market street. The remodeling work music trade of the Far Western states. While the
on the entrance will be completed this week. A huge
people go for information of all kinds as to music sign has been placed in position and the store is now Western dealers are among the most loyal adherents
affairs and musical instruments, to buy tickets for being featured as "The Music Emporium," instead of the National Association of Music Merchants, they
have for quite a while seen the inability of the na-
concerts, etc.
of as "The House of Grands," as was the case in the tional organization to attend to their particular prob-
These are the things that bring people voluntarily old home on Stockton street.
lems. Every section has conditions in a way differ-
into the store. The merchant has the opportunity,
ent from conditions elsewhere and music merchants
right in his own store, to show the latest in musical
AEOLIAN MEN IN DALLAS.
in the Far Western part of the country were free to
instruments, getting people interested in buying the
things that he sells at a profit.
Charles H. Tracey, wholesale representative of the express their views on them and to plan remedies
To get these people in costs the dealer practically Aeolian Co. of New York west of the Mississippi, where the conditions were hurtful to business. There
nothing. The service involved is expected of him. was a recent visitor to Dallas, Texas. He reported is nothing spontaneous in the formation of the West-
And yet many neglect the opportunity, seeming to that business conditions in the West are improving ern Music Trades Convention. It had been discussed
think that theirs is a place to sell the merchandise rapidly and that he has booked many orders for fall for a long time before the plan to organize it was
that is on the floor—and nothing else.
delivery. W. H. Schrade, Jr., of the Aeolion Co., broached at a meeting of northern California music
New York, representing the wholesale service de- merchants.
The Active Part.
partment, was a recent visitor to Dallas, Texas.
The Noonday Luncheons.
Many merchants go farther than merely making
The first session was adjourned for luncheon when
their stores music headquarters. Some who have the
A. F. PRICE COMPLETES TOUR.
Mr. Clay had appointed a nominating committee. The
ability conduct or play in local band organizations.
Others lend prominent support to such organizations.
A. E. Price, vice-president of the Price & Teeple first of the noonday luncheons at the St. Francis
Many take the initiative in getting prominent artists Piano Co., 218 South Wabash avenue, Chicago, re- celebrated California Day. Ed. H. Uhl was chair-
to come to their cities. This gives them double turned early this week from a trip through the east, man, and the speaker of the occasion was Alex
prestige.
where the conditions of the trade were noted. Mr. McDonald, representing the National Association of
Another angle of music activity that is too often Price, who extended his trip for a month, included Music Merchants. Mr. McDonald took a subject on
which he was qualified to talk: "Association, Na-
neglected by the merchant is the giving of recitals on the most important trade centers in his itinerary.
tional and Sectional."
instruments he handles, not only in the store, but in
Mr. Uhl was in his happiest vein of eloquence
churches, before groups of business men, lodge audi-
Harry M. Merz, of Columbus, O., recently pur-
ences, etc. This sort of work creates not only gen- chased the music business of O. J. Penhorwood on when he delightfully filled the post of chairman at
eral interest in music, but a definite desire for the West Fifth street, Marysville, O., and has taken the California Day noonday luncheon. His talk was
(Continued on Page 4.)
particular instruments featured. It is about as prof- charge of the store.
DEALER'S SERVICE
TO COMMUNITY
THE CONVENTION
IN SAN FRANCISCO
DUAL BENEFITS
CONTINUES FOUR DAYS
MISS DOROTHY CULKINS
ENTERTAINS PIANO CLUB
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