Presto

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
tO Cent,,' $2.00 a Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, AUGUST 23, 1924
NEW FEATURES FOR
OHIO STATE MEET
Since acquiring ownership the partners have con-
siderably expanded the business. A constantly grow-
ing business is transacted in the main store and
the thriving branches at Brewster, N. Y., and Ridge-
field, Conn.
Executive Committee and Advisory Board of
National Association of Music Merchants
to Hold Session at Hotel Statler
September 9.
NEW WASHINGTON MUSIC
STORE HANDLES STARR PIANO
CHAMBER OF COMMERCE ACTS
Important Body in Convention City Promises Par-
ticipation in Events of Music Trade
Week.
The annual convention of the Music Merchants
Association of Ohio, is assuming all the aspects of a
national event of the kind. In addition to events of
nation-wide interest, already made known, Matt J.
Kennedy, secretary of the National Association of
Music Merchants announces a meeting of the execu-
tive committee and advisory board of the national
organization at the Hotel Statler, Cleveland, on
Tuesday morning, Sept. 9, the first day of the meet-
ing of the Ohio trade association.
Ohio Invites.
The invitation to hold the meeting of the executive
committee and advisory board of the national body
Js a courtesy extended by the officers of the Music
Merchants' Association of Ohio who believes the
presence of outsiders will further increase the enthu-
siasm which characterizes the preparations for the
gathering in Cleveland.
In Cleveland itself there is much lively anticipation
of the state music trade convention. The Chamber
of Commerce of Cleveland is evincing considerable
interest in the event and has taken upon itself the
planning for several entertainment features.
The Special Committee.
In addition to the efforts of the Chamber of Com-
merce a special entertainment committee of the
Cleveland trade association promises to assure pleas-
ures of the social kind for the visitors. This is made
up of Ed. B. Lyons, chairman; T. R. Buel and
Eugene L. Hale. This is a special committee within
the Cleveland General Entertainment Committee
which is composed as follows:
Geo. M. Ott, chairman and treasurer; Rexford C.
Hyre, secretary; C. H. Randolph, Harry B. Valen-
tine, Otto C. Muehlhauser, F. L. Stelker, T. R. Buel,
Louis Meier, A. B. Smith, M. O. Mattlin, Henry
Dreher, Ed. B. Lyons, Chas. Kennedy, William G.
Bowie and Dan F. Baumbaugh.
To Care for Ladies.
A feature of the preparations characteristic of the
gallantry of the Cleveland hosts is a Ladies' Recep-
tion Committee to be appointed this week to look
after all the needs and desires of the ladies attending
the convention, to make them acquainted with one
another and see to it generally that they have a
good time.
DANBURY, CONN., MUSIC
DEALERS BUY NEW BUILDING
Three-Story Modern Structure on Main Street Ac-
quired by Heim's Music Store.
New quarters for Heim's Music Store, Danbury,
Conn., were secured last week when the proprietors,
LeRoy A. Jackson and Frank W. Hanson, bought
the three-story building at 221 Main street, for
$50,000. The store at 270 Main street has been
occupied by the business for a great many years.
When the remodeling plans on the new building of
the company will be completed in about a month
the most up-to-date facilities will be provided, for
which extensive remodeling plans have been drawn.
Mr. Jackson and Mr. Hanson were old employes
of Heim's Music Store when they succeeded to the
business at the death of William C. Heim in 1919.
Small Goods and Sheet Music Also Well Presented
by Leonberger's Music Store.
Frank J. Leonberger is president of Leonberger's
Music Store, recently opened at 926 New York ave-
nue, N. W., Washington, D. C, which represents
the line of pianos and phonographs of the Starr
Piano Co., Richmond, Ind. The Vocalion phono-
graph will also be handled. Mr. Leonberger is
widely known in the music trade of the national capi-
tal and is an enthusiast on the salable qualities of the
Starr products. He will feature the line in a forceful
way there.
The musical merchandise department is under the
management of Jesse Heitmuller, a veteran in that
line. Mr. Heitmuller will also give his attention to
the sheet music department for which the firm has
big plans. The music publications of G. Schirmer are
handled. One of the lively departments is that de-
voted to Q R S music rolls, for the presentation of
which the latest methods are employed.
ORDER LOOKS VERY MUCH
LIKE DISPATCH BY WIRE
Letterhead Bears Resemblance to Telegraph Blank,
and Is Equally as Business-like.
Don C. Preston, of Bakersfield, Cal., has a letter-
head which is suggestive of the hustling piano trade.
It resembles a telegraph blank and carries, in large
letters, the word "Prestogram," with a trade-mark of
a grand piano arranged much as the Western Union
monogram appears. The lines "The following mes-
sage sent in accordance with terms agreed to" help
on the similarity.
But, better still, in the case of the sample "Presto-
gram" which came to Presto's notice are the contents
of the "dispatch" itself. It reads:
"If you have a Symphonola four foot four on hand
for immediate shipment, you may rush it on. How
do you like the new telegraph company?
"DON C. PRESTON."
SUMMER SALES ABOVE NORMAL
IS LYON & HEALY REPORT
August Starts in Lively Fashion and a Phenomenal
Season in Sales Expected.
June was a banner month in the retail departments
of Lyon & Healy, Chicago. Sales were surprisingly
above normal. This is exceptional considering the
bad weather which Chicago suffered.
July, too, was reported very satisfactory for the
Chicago firm. The sales were healthy. In fact, both
June and July sales exceeded the same period in 1923.
August has started out with a boom and there is
every expectation of a phenomenal summer, even in
the face of continual rain and excessive heat.
PLANS OF ILLINOIS MUSIC
MERCHANTS' ASSOCIATION
President Fred P. Watson Mails List of Trade
Topics for Discussion at Springfield
Convention.
Plans for a successful convention of the Illinois
Music Merchants' Association to be held at Spring-
field October 6 and 7 have been formulated and noth-
ing remains but the active work to realize them. And
if the enthusiasm which made the meeting last year
something for the officials to be proud of, will help,
the gathering at Springfield in October will be a new
example of association loyalty.
Fred P. Watson, president of the association, is
forehanded in making preparations for an interesting
business session and in this he is aided by the other
officials. The business problems of the trade at large
and those peculiar to Illinois dealers will be discussed.
At the convention last year, which was also held at
Springfield some highly interesting informal talks
on subjects of trade interest were delivered. All
who attended these business sessions where open
discussion was held admitted they had obtained many
valuable ideas which might be applied in conducting
their businesses. As the first and most important
function of the association is to aid its members in
conducting successful retail music establishments, Mr.
Watson and his associates are making similar fea-
tures of interest assurances for the forthcoming an-
nual convention.
The announcement by the president of some highly
interesting topics suggested for discussion has been
sent out. The activity in general on the part of the
officers and members of the association which prom-
ise an interesting schedule of meetings next October.
Here is what Mr. Watson says in a letter mailed
out to members:
"Our annual convention, as you know, will be held
October 6 and 7 at Springfield.
"We are very much interested in having a busi-
nesslike, constructive convention.
'"We are submitting a list of topics and want you
to immediately mark off at least six, numbering them
as to their importance—that is, No. 1, the most im-
portant; No. 2, the second in interest and importance
to you, and so on down the list.
"If you have any other subjects you would like to
have discussed, or suggestions, to offer, please add
them to the list.
"Plan to come to the convention and help make it
a very beneficial one not only to the members of our
association, but to the music dealers throughout Illi-
nois.
"Bring along your competitor. We will all get bet-
ter acquainted.
"Please use the enclosed stamped addressed enve-
lope for the return of the questionnaire and get it
back to us by immediate mail."
Following are the suggested topics for discussion:
Ethics, Trade-ins, Nationally Priced Goods, Local
Associations, Mark-up Percentage of Profit, Over-
head in Retail Store, Credits, Collections, Selling
Terms, Legislation, Turnover, Advertising, Interest
on Time Sales, Talking Machine Records, Player
Rolls, Should We Handle Coin-operated Instru-
ments, Advantage of Handling Two or More Lines
of Talking Machines, Advantage of Handling Two
or More Lines of Pianos and Playerpianos, and Co-
operative Insurance.
CONTINENTAL ABSENTEES.
Stanford Miller, vice-president of The Continental
Piano Co., of Boston and Chicago, is now taking his
summer vacation at his customary fishing and hunt-
ing grounds in Maine. Mr. Plummer, of the Smith,
Barnes & Strohber division offices, leaves Chicago
this week Friday for Boston, to be gone about ten
days.
SPECIAL SALES AT MERKEL, TEXAS.
J. R. Wagner, sales pusher aid dealer
gelo, Texas, has gone to Merkel, Texas,
weeks' special sale. Mr. Wagner, being
and expert salesman, orders a supply
Buyers' Guides to aid in his business at
it San An-
for a three
i. wise man
of Presto
Merkel.
ELECTED AS DIRECTORS.
Laurence S. Lindsay and R. B. Miller, both em-
ployed for many years by the Wiley B. Allen Co.,
San Francisco, were elected directors of the com-
pany at a recent meeting of the stockholders. At the
same meeting Mr. Lindsay was elected secretary.
FEATURES REPRODUCING PIANOS.
New parlors for featuring reproducing pianos have
been provided by the G. W. P. Jones Co., 56 North
Main street, Washington, Pa., in the remodeling of
its store. Two new warerooms are devoted solely
to the reproducing pianos and one to grands.
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