Presto

PRESTO
August 16, 1924.
'
CREATING
A
SENSATION
IN
THE PIANO
WORLD
Never has there been cre-
ated a line of automatic
pianos so e s p e c i a l l y
adapted for handling by
the regular piano trade
as the
SEEBURG
Pianos of genuine musical
merit, a pneumatic mech-
anism of exceptional reli-
ability and durability and
art case designs which
mark a new departure in
this class of instruments.
Style "K T" with its
many musical combina-
tions is meeting with
remarkable favor.
Let us give you par-
ticulars.
J. P. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
CHICAGO
General Offices: 1510 Dayton St.
Factory 1508-16 Dayton St.
EXPERT REVIEW OF
REMARKABLE EVENT
Publicity Man Who Has Done Much to Pro-
mote the National Music Merchants' Asso-
ciation Writes Graphic Story of San
Francisco Convention.
CAUSES OF SUCCESS
Unusual Enthusiasm as Evidenced by Patient De-
termination of Members . and Guests to Hear
Papers and Discussions in Formal Sessions.
By ALEX McDONALD.
Viewed in perspective, the first West Coast Con-
vention at San Francisco stamps itself as one of the
most remarkable demonstrations of the co-operative
spirit in the history of the music industry.
As a member of the Executive. Board of the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants and special
commissioner to represent that body at this conven-
tion, the writer was privileged not only to participate
in its public functions but to meet in an advisory
way with the committee on organization.
From the first rap of the gavel, by Philip T. Clay,
calling the convention to order, it was apparent that
here was gathered a group of serious-minded men
who had come together in the fullest spirit of co-
operation. Every man in attendance was animated
with the desire and purpose to give of his best for
the benefit of all.
Enthusiastic Leadership.
The admirable manner in which Mr. Clay handled
the chairmanship of the convention, his insistence
that the dealers of the smaller cities and towns should
voice their sentiments and the unanimity with which
the convention followed his modest but far-seeing
leadership, contributed in a large degree to its suc-
cess.
The enthusiasm of Ed Uhl, of the Southern Cali-
fornia Music Co., and his manifest sincerity of pur-
pose in leading the discussion preceding the deter-
mination to effect a permanent organization was in-
fectious. The enthusiasm of the first noon-day lunch-
con and the marked interest in the message of the
special commissioner from the National Association
was further exhibited by the earnestness with which
the entire body attended the sessions lasting three
days.
This enthusiasm rose in constant crescendo until
the convention closed with the wonderful banquet
on Thursday night.
Evidence of Interest.
When it is stated that many of those in attendance
stood during the entire sessions to listen to the vari-
ous papers because sufficient seating space could
not be provided for the unexpectedly large attend-
dauce, there can be no doubt that these men came to
learn. It must be said that the papers read were
worthy of this attention.
The frank way in which the speakers handled the
subject and the facts and figures they gave were of
a most intimate and direct character.
The acid test of the real interest of those in at-
tendance at the convention was shown by the fact
that everyone attending the meetings registered with
the secretary and obtained a card of admission to the
convention hall for which a fee of $3.00 was charged.
It was a new and sure method of determining the
real interest of those in attendance.
The social features which included a dinner-dance
by the Victor Company and the banquet of the con-
vention itself were of a character that might well be
envied by the National Association itself.
The Exhibits.
With characteristic western spirit the matter of
manufacturers' exhibits was handled in a manner that
contributed rather than detracted from the conven-
tion. Those in charge of these exhibits, with a fine
spirit of co-operation, attended the sessions of the
convention personally, leaving the exhibits absolutely
unattended during the meeting hours. They won
praise for themselves and a better standing with their
trade as a result of this exhibition of interest in the
convention itself.
The convention was representative in every sense
of the word, geographically and by small dealers as
well as those from the larger houses.
The San Francisco trade did themselves proud as
hosts to the convention. The splendid work of Shir-
ley Walker and Fred Sherman of Sherman, Clay &
Co., and Harold Pracht of Wiley B. Allen, George
Chase, and others, made everyone feel perfectly at
home and perfectly at ease to take part in every
phase of the activities.
A Permanent Organization.
The permanent organization, under the leadership
of E. A. Geissler, as its first president, gives every
evidence of a strong and effective organization. Mr.
Geissler's experience as an active member of the
Southern California Music Merchants' Assn. and one
of its presidents, brings to the new association an
experience and knowledge that will be invaluable in
putting the organization on a fine footing.
While the papers and discussions covered a wide
field, the keynote of the convention was to make
America musical. The great West is now enlisted
under that banner. It is marching on with undaunted
courage, energy, and boundless enthusiasm. There
can be no doubt that this association will function
and function effectively, and in many ways the East
will now have to look to the West for inspiration in
doing the worthwhile co-operative things to advance
music and the music industry.
INDIANA MUSIC TRADE
FOLK ENJOY PICNIC
Active Staff of South Bend and Logansport Stores
Hold Annual Frolic.
Employees of the Dependable Music Store, of
South Bend, Ind., and of the Frank H. Brown &
Company's store of Logansport, Ind., held their an-
nual picnic on August 3rd at Adams Grove on the
Tippecanoe River, near Rochester, Ind. The em-
ployes of both stores with their families and friends
motored to the grove in the morning and spent the
day at outdoor sports and bathing and a wonderful
picnic dinner was enjoyed at noon. Employees and
guests attending numbered nineteen. Everyone de-
clared that the outing was one of the most enjoyable
of the kind they had ever participated in.
In the picture, reading from left to right, are:
F. G. Harlington, tuner and repair man, South Bend;
Oscar Kreig, tuner and salesman, Logansport; Esther
Hanna, record saleslady and bookkeeper, Logansport;
Frank H. Brown, South Bend, president of the De-
pendable Music Stores, Inc., and partner in the Frank
H. Brown & Company; Mildred Murphy, record
saleslady, South Bend; W. A. Sandberg, sales man-
ager, South Bend; Gladys Lee, saleslady, South
Bend; C. E. Harmon, credit manager, South Bend;
J. Arthur Jamison, partner and manager, Logansport.
SHIPPING PIANOS BY SEA
TO HOUSTON, TEX., DEALERS
Steamship Company Found Very Effective Trans-
portation Means by Lester Piano Company.
When the Southern Steamship company steamer
City of Dallas arrived in Houston, Texas, last week,
it had on board a shipment of pianos for the Carter
Music company, the first that this company has
shipped via the ship channel to Houston.
The steamship line, which transports thousands
of phonographs every year for Texas distribution,
is seeking to increase its music service to Houston by
encouraging general use of its service for shipment
of pianos.
The Lester Piano Co., Philadelphia, has a growing
business in Texas and the services of the Southern
Steamship company are found very effective in bring-
ing the Lester uprights, grands and reproducing
pianos to the Texas dealers.
IMPROVES AKRON STORE.
The George S. Dales Co., Akron, Ohio, one of the
largest of Akron music houses, announces that con-
struction work on enlarging his store in South Main
street has been started and will be rushed to com-
pletion. Plans call for acquisition of the adjacent
building, removal of the partition and merging of the
two .main floors into one large room which will be
devoted to talking machines and records and the third
floor will serve as the piano studio and general offices.
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/
J