Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1986

PRESTO
August 16, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells"
The
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
is admittedly the most responsive and
satisfactory instrument in the repro-
duction of the performances of the
great pianists. In the words of a
prominent critic,
"IT IS PERFECT"
The Famous
Studio Grand
(only 5 ft. long)
has won its fame by its unique chal-
lenge of all larger Grands in tone vol-
ume, richness of quality and beauty
of case outline.
No Other Small Grand
has attained to equal distinction or
won better demand by dealers who
value permanency above temporary
profit.
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 it with whatever competitor
may be winning local trade.
"The First Touch
Tells"
Reg. U S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
OLD CUSTOMS AND
MODERN SLUMPS
How an Ancient Fetish May Put a Brake
Upon Progress in Industry and Trade and
Perpetuate a "Dull" Season Which
Should Be Bright.
lines of business. It is a system which some houses
have been employing for many years. But most
business houses still stick to the ancient calendar
year system, which makes the close of the calendar
year the only time for casting up accounts, no mat-
ter how much the interference affects the business.
The advantages of the fiscal year plan are, as Mr.
Friedstedt has said, almost beyond computation and
its adoption would have a "most salutatory effect
upon the traditional January slump."
THE WASTED WINTER TIME
E. H. STORY RETURNS TO
CHICAGO HEADQUARTERS
Magazine Writer Discusses Business Bugaboos and
Presents an Indorsement of Arthur Friestedt's
Fiscal Year Plan.
President of the Story & Clark Piano Co., on
Brief Visit, Expresses Satisfaction with
Progress of the Business.
E. H. Story, president of the Story & Clark Piano
A favorite topic with writers on business and the
economics of trade, is that of fetishes and stock Co., arrived in Chicago Tuesday and hopes to be able
scares designed to describe slumps in manufacture to remain several weeks.
"I'm always glad to get back to the Chicago office,"
and selling, but which really are so nearly senseless
that they should be relegated to the dumps. In said Mr. Story to a Presto representative on Thurs-
Printers' Ink Monthly, for July, there is a clever ar- day morning. And he looked it, as fresh from the
ticle on the subject by C. B. Larrabee, who sticks a
pin in the little watery tumors of trade depression,
and tells why they should not exist at all.
And, while Mr. Larrabee touches upon a good.
many of the mistakes of the misanthropes of trade,
there is one in particular which seems to have espe-
cial interest to Presto readers because it has had its
cure suggested by a member of the music industry.
It alludes to the plan suggested by Arthur A. Frie-
stedt for doing away with the nuisance of stock-
taking at the busiest season of the year—the plan of
changing from the antiquated calendar year to a
fiscal year, and thus making use of the only season
that need be dull in the business.
The Fiscal Year Plan.
Mr. Friestedt's plan has been fully explained in
Presto, and it has been commented upon and com-
mended by a large number of prominent , men of
affairs in industry, journalism and trade. In the
Printer's Ink Monthly article, after enumerating a
lot of the bugaboos of business, such as the "summer
slump," the "presidential year," "saturation," and
others, Mr. Larrabee gets down to "the old idol of
January inventories" as follows:
Right in the middle of the busiest season the re-
tailer just about closed up shop in order to take
inventory. Not only that, but he intentionally kept
his stock low, when he should have had them full, in
order not to show too much at inventory time. As
someone has said, "What's the use of special effort
to increase summer sales if you are going to drive
away business in winter by a foolish policy of inven-
tories?"
Tt is hard to realize just how serious this inven-
tory fetish has been to business unless you have gone
into the matter deeply. One manufacturer went on
the road right after Christmas and found that dealers
were letting their stocks drop to almost nothing on
E. H. STORY.
account of inventories.
outdoor
life
of
California
he greeted friends who
The Solution.
The solution, of course, is to shift inventory time came in to say that they were no less glad to see
to a dull season, whether that season is in May, him there.
Mr. Story is not one of the "idle rich" in the Golden
July or October. The only reason for not doing so
may be the impression that the Government insists State. He is as busy in Pasadena as when he is in
on January 1 inventories. Such is far from the truth. Chicago. He is interested in a bank in his western
The Government is only too glad to encourage off- home and he gives much attention to his father's
season inventories because such a policy means a affairs. Of late he has also been acting for a son-in-
spreading of the rush times in the Department of law, who was incapacitated for business, in practically
Internal Revenue.
This is a problem that affects manufacturers in a supervising business for him. These, with other mat-
great many lines. They will do well to go into it ters, have kept Mr. Story very active, and he says
deeply and show their retailers how dull season in- that it seems the past year has been above the busi-
est of his always active life.
ventories build rush season profits.
Mr. Story finds the Chicago business of his house
Fiscal Year Indorsed.
In that extract, from a thinking writer's discussion going "good," and he was free in his expression of
of the folly of rock-ribbed habits in business, is one appreciation of his method of carrying on the rapidly
of the best indorsements of Mr. Friedstedt's plan of expanding affairs of the old house of Story & Clark.
a new period for the annual settlements and the He is especially interested in the manner in which the
tying together of the ragged ends which follow the influence of the house has spread eastward, with the
twelve month's energies. And in the piano industry New York store as its Atlantic Coast center, and the
and trade there may seem to be special purposes and remarkably rapid recognition of the "Repro-Phraso"
advantages in the June time closing of the year's player gives satisfaction to the company's president.
accounts. The selling of pianos requires more than
ordinary activity, and the employment of more time
A. B. CHASE CO. OUTING.
during the winter season, than most other lines of
Employes of the A. B. Chase division of the United
trade.
Piano Corporation held their annual frolic at Ruggles
The holiday season, which should be the harvest Grove, Norwalk, Ohio, last week Wednesday. Fea-
time for the music merchant, has never been that. tures were baseball, athletic contests, a big basket
It has been, often, the quietest season of the year. dinner and other diversions. More than 350 were in
But it should not be. The notion that pianos, and attendance and reports indicate that the affair was a
the other things of music, are not exactly "holiday big success.
gifts" is another of the fetishes, to which Mr. Larra-
bee did not revert because he is not a music trade
REMOVAL NOTICE.
expert. And anything that interferes with the special
After August 15, 1924, our sales and display rooms
effort of the piano salesman, in the season just pre- will
be located in the heart of Chicago's piano indus-
ceding the holidays, must tend to kill sales.
try, Suite 1623, Kimball Building, 306 South Wabash
Breaks Traditional Slump.
avenue, Chicago.—Cable-Nelson Piano Company,
Mr. Friestedt's plan of a fiscal year closing with factory and general offices, South Haven, Mich.;
June is a good one, and it is being adopted by many eastern headquarters, 426 Walker Building, Boston.
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
CONVENTION OF
OHIO ASSOCIATION
Organization of Music Merchants to Gather in
Hotel Statler, Cleveland, September 9 and
10 Plans Events to Attract Large
Attendance from Start.
OUTSIDERS INVITED
Presence of Music Trade Men from Adjoining States
Specially Requested and Satisfactory
Program Promised.
The Music Merchants' Association of Ohio will
hold its fifteenth annual convention at the Hotel
Statler, Cleveland, on September 9 and 10, and the
active organization invites the music merchants of
Ohio and adjoining states to attend the gathering
whether they are members or not. There will be
many features to attract the music merchant inter-
ested in his business. The keen interest of the Ohio
music merchants in the topic bearing on their trade
is a well-known fact. There are a few who are not
disposed to mingle with their fellows and these are
particularly invited to attend and get the argumenta-
tive treatment designed by A. B. Smith, Jr., chairman
of the membership committee, and his associates.
The Business Sessions.
President Chas. H. Yahrling is determined to make
the business sessions of the convention more than
usually attractive to the men who sell the instru-
ments. He wishes to make the business meetings an
opportunity for the exchange of views on the topics
of the greatest interest to the trade. He urges every-
one to consider himself a speaker on a program that
will shape itself as the meetings proceed.
The Chosen Topics,
The postal card poll of the membership of the
Music Merchants' Association of Ohio brought 41
replies. The members were asked to indicate what
six subjects out of twelve suggested, they would like
to discuss. The subjects were suggested by the
Council of the association at its mid-year meeting in
Columbus, Ohio, on March 31, 1924. The tabulation
follows:
Trade-in problem, 30; radio and its relation to the
general music business, 30; maximum selling terms,
22; advertising—best methods for immediate results
and prestige building, 22; are the talking machine
record manufacturers producing too many each
month? 19; credit risks, 19; retail price maintenance,
17; business systems: prospect—shop—collections,
etc., 16; budget—as applied to various departments
and fair net return on volume of business, 16; advan-
tages and disadvantages of handling only one line
of talking machines, 15; accounting and bookkeeping
systems—best for large and small stores, 10; state
legislation needed, 3.
The Order of Events.
There will be three business sessions at the conven-
tion and they will be held in the Lattice Room on
the mezzanine floor of Hotel Statler. The first busi-
August 16, 1924.
ness session will be from 2 to 4 p. m., on Tuesday,
September 9, the first day of the gathering. The
next day, sessions will be held from 9:30 a. m. to 12
noon and from 2 to 5 p. m. Two of the chosen sub-
jects will be discussed at each session.
The Social Side.
But the social side of the convention should not be
overlooked. Indeed, the entertainment committee,
composed of Ed. B. Lyons, chairman, T. R. Buell
and Eugene L. Hale, does not wish the events
planned to be minimized.
The noon-day luncheons promise to be most com-
plete from the social side. Bands, orchestras and
entertainers of the finest will regale the assembled
guests in the Statler ballroom on both days of the
gathering. The informal banquet and frolic on
Wednesday night will be the last word in joyousness.
Entertainers, dancers, recording dance orchestras will
entertain the members directly and the community at
large over the radio. The entertainment will be of
the best and highest quality.
A Ladies' Reception Committee is to be appointed,
which will look after all the needs and desires of the
ladies attending, and will make them acquainted and
see to it generally that they all have a good time.
The Committees.
The committees appointed to make the convention
in Cleveland a success are as follows:
Cleveland General Entertainment Committee—
Geo. M. Ott, chairman and treasurer; Rexford C.
Hyre, secretary; C. H. Randolph, Harry R. Valen-
tine, Otto C. Muehlhauser, F. L. Steiker, T. R. Buel,
Louis Meier, A. B. Smith, M. O. Mattlin, Henry
Dreher, Ed. B. Lyons, Chas. H. Kennedy, Wm. G.
Bowie, Dan E. Baumbaugh.
Executive Finance Committee—Geo. M. Ott, Dan
E. Baumbaugh, Otto C. Muehlhauser.
Outing Committee—Wm. G. Bowie, chairman; Ed.
B. Lyons, Rexford C. Hyre.
Reception Committee—C. H. Randolph, chairman
(and all Cleveland dealers, jobbers and manufac-
turers).
Entertainment Committee—Ed. B. Lyons, chair-
man; T. R. Buel, Eugene L. Hale.
Transportation Committee—John T. Shipplett,
chairman; Dan J. Nolan.
SEES BETTER BUSINESS BY FALL.
J. Philip Bird, president of the Manufacturers'
Association of New Jersey, in the current issue of
the official bulletin of the organization, says "signs
and portents" indicate that the business depression,
if not now at an end, will have given way to a pro-
nounced upward swing by fall or early winter.
FEATURES GULBRANSEN
The Central Gulbransen Store, 2322 West Madi-
son street, Chicago, is featuring in elaborate style
this week a Gulbransen Registering piano in its show
window. The display is noticed by the many who
throng this busy street and the world famous "Baby
at the Pedals," which is electrically operated, has
helped in making the display a fine one.
BRINKERHOFF
Doll & Sons
The Line That Sells Easily
and Satisfies Always
Represent the Artistic
in Piano and Player Piano
Construction
BRINKERHOFF PIANO CO.
OFFICES, REPUBLIC BLDG.
209 State Street
CHICAGO
Becker Bros.
Manufacturers
Southern Boulevard, E. 133rd St.
E. 134th St. and Cypress Ave.
NEW YORK
Arrangements are now being made to inform piano
owners, through the air, of the necessity of keeping
the piano in proper condition.
Charles Deutschmann, president of the National
Association of Piano Tuners, Inc., with headquarters
at 22 Quincy street, Chicago, is firm in his belief
that broadcasting the care of the piano will be a
good form of instruction to piano owners, many of
whom are careless in keeping in condition the great-
est musical instrument in the world.
Mr. Deutschmann is'also of the opinion that the
urging of better care of the piano through the air
will be a trade stimulant and will benefit in a general
way, inasmuch as it will create interest on the part
of those who have no piano as well as those who
have instruments in the homes.
The broadcasting will be done over the new radio
station, WQJ, recently installed at the Rainbo Gar-
dens, Clark and Lawrence street, Chicago, and oper-
ated by the Calumet Baking Powder Company.
The present plans include a talk of^en minutes
and, if possible, an illustration will be made giving
the difference of a piano in tune and one that is out
of tune.
There is no doubt as to the effect this information
will have on the radio public, as the majority are
piano owners and many have never been enlightened
on the subject of keeping the piano well tuned, which
is the most essential factor in preserving the instru-
ment and assuring good enjoyable music.
NEW KENTUCKY BRANCH.
" Built on Family Pride"
Jacob Doll & Sons, Inc
Charles Deutschmann, President N. A. P. T.
Inc., Believes the Public Should Be In-
formed About Keeping Pianos Tuned.
The Lyric Piano Co., Cincinnati, has opened a
branch store in Maysville, Ky. The new store is at
213 Court street and is handsomely equipped for the
showing of a fine line of pianos and other music
goods.
Player-Pianos
and Pianos
JACOB DOLL & SONS
STODART
WELLSMORE
TUNERS TO BROADCAST
FROM STATION WQJ
of
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
The 3hfardman dZine
is a complete line
It comprises a range of artisti-
cally w o r t h y instruments to
please practically every purse:
T h e Hardman, official piano of
the Metropolitan Opera House;
the Harrington and the Hensel
Pianos in which is found that in-
builtdurabilitythatcharacterizes
all Hardman-made instruments;
the wonderful Hardman Repro-
ducing Piano; the Hardman
Autotone (the perfect player-
piano); and the popular Playo-
tone.
Factory and Warerooms
767-769 Tenth Avenue, 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/

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