September 27, 1924.
PRESTO
ASSURING FUTURE
MUSIC GOODS BUYERS
That Is One Effect Not Considered by Pro-
moters of Music Memory Contests
Throughout the Country.
The good work of the Music Memory Contests
promoted by the National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music is highly appreciated by the men and
women throughout the country who are most keenly
interested in musical education. The Bureau has
compiled some opinions of representative music su-
pervisors and other school officials, from 100 cities
and towns, and also comments from individuals and
groups outside the schools, indicating the influence
of the contests upon the children particfpating and
the community at large.
The effects on the music business from the influ-
ences on the public would be another interesting
phase of the compilations were such gathered from
the dealers that the musical instrument buying desire
is stimulated by the contests is a belief dealers
everywhere share. When practically all the children
in a city are interested in attractive phases of music
study for several weeks at a time the event is potent
for the creation of prospects at the time and in the
future.
A booklet prepared by the Bureau prints the views
of supervision superintendents who also give the re-
sults from contests held in places within their juris-
diction. To September 1, 1924, there were contests in
1,083 cities, and in 106 counties and 4 states had
contests. The account of the competitions come
from all corners of the country but of course the
eastern portion shows the greatest number of con-
tests.
It is impossible to estimate the number of children
participating, but 400,000 is the number stated by Dr.
Davidson for New York City alone. In the majority
of the cities the contest is held annually. New
York's sixth contest was held in May, 1924.
Another booklet prepared by the National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music gives the purposes of
the contests, gives instruction how to organize them
and prescribes lists of compositions for the events.
The remarkable success of the Music Memory Con-
test since its inception eight years ago indicates that
it embodies an element of definite intrinsic value.
The fundamental idea is not new in principle, for the
contest is practically a course in music appreciation.
Neither is it new in its chief purpose of familiarizing
the children with the music they should know and
understand, for this has long been an objective of
musical educators. It is new, however, in the suc-
cessful combination by which it arouses the interest
and secures the co-operative response of the children.
WESTERN ELECTRIC PIANO
CO. IN AUTOMATIC FIELD
styles of automatics for the dealer's selection, and
that each one is carefully constructed, to the smallest
detail. The instrument contains exclusive features
that will make them readily acceptable to ambitious
dealers.
The Western Electric Co. is making every effort
to co-operate with dealers in extending the line and
representatives appreciate the service that has en-
abled them to carry on their work in the most vig-
orous manner.
FINE SPECIAL DISPLAYS
IN PORTLAND WINDOWS
Fall Trade Openings Celebrated by Attractive
Trimming of Store Windows Which Drew
Admiring Crowds to Piano Houses.
The Portland, Ore., retail merchants staged a
formal fall opening by a window display on the eve-
ning of September 6. All of the music dealers dec-
orated their windows and special mention should be
made of those of Sherman, Clay & Co., the Wiley
Ambitious New Mexico Piano Dealers Plan Campaign B. Allen Co. and the Seiberling, Lucas Music Co.
Sherman, Clay had an elaborate window, and it
for Big Sales this Fall.
The Steinway piano is now included in the piano was difficult to get to it on account of the jam. A
line of the New Mexico Piano Co., Albuquerque, large dark velvet curtain was used as a background
N. M., and the progressive firm plans to feature the and a beautiful little dancer, dancing gracefully, was
instrument in the manner suitable to its artistic the feature of the window display. The Wiley B.
merits and prominence in the piano trade. The ar- Allen Co. featured the Ludwig grand artistically in
rangements by which the Albuquerque piano house their show window, and they also placed a Milton
was made the Steinway representative in that city grand in the window at Broadway and Morrison,
and adjoining territory were concluded at the recent which used to be called the Wiley B. Allen corner.
Seiberling, Lucas Music Co. featured the Gulbran-
visit there of Ernest Urchs, wholesale manager for
sen player in their window and used the Sherman,
Steinway & Sons, New York.
H. A. Maisen and J. Lewis Clark, the energetic Clay number, "Rock-a-Bye My Baby Blues," for
owners of the New Mexico Piano Co., foresee a big their decoration, as the title page of blue and green
carried out their color scheme.
business in the famous instrument. "The city and
S. L. Wakefield has been appointed salesmanager
the country served are filled with well-to-do musical
of the Reed, French Piano Co., of Portland, Ore.,
people to whom such an instrument as the Stein-
way appeals," said Mr. Maisen last week. "The and reports excellent business, stating that the re-
cent sales in the piano department has largely been
Steinway piano is so well known to a large class of
possible fine piano buyers that arguments for the in- of grands.
strument may seem unnecessary. But we will talk
Steinway with spirit."
STEINWAY REPRESENTATIVE
FOR ALBUQUERQUE FIRM
FRED P. BASSETT RETURNS
FROM EASTERN MOTOR TOUR
Arrives in Cleveland in Time to See Old Friends
Among the Ohio Merchants.
Fred P. Bassett, secretary and treasurer of the
M. Schulz Co., 711 Milwaukee avenue, Chicago, re-
cently returned to the offices of that company, from
a month's tour of the east by motor. Mr. Bassett
left Chicago with his family the middle of August
and traveled as far east as Quebec, touching all the
points of interest en route and returning by the
way of Cleveland, Ohio, where he was welcomed to
the convention of the Piano Merchants' Association
of Ohio.
Although he had a very enjoyable trip Mr. Bas-
sett expressed himself glad to be back and settled
down to his duties at the Chicago office.
WOMAN'S SUCCESS AT SALES.
SCHAFF BROS. LINE IN
NEW YORK SHOW ROOM
A. B. Hart, Eastern Representative of Huntington,
Ind., Company to Become Its Manager.
A. B. Hart, eastern representative for the Schaff
Bros. Co., Huntington, Ind., has leased space at 753
Sixth avenue, New York City, for a display room for
the Schaff Bros. line. The pianos and players will
be installed when necessary remodeling of the space
is completed.
A display room in New York has been considered
a necessity by the company for-some time. The busi-
ness in the east has grown amazingly within the
past few years and every week brings a new dealer
to the long list of Mr. Hart. The introduction of
the two-tone finish case gave added impetus to the
favor for the Schaff Bros, line, according to Mr.
Hart. Many dealers who first "tried them out,"
stocked them for experiment, are now the biggest
consumers of the two-tone styles, the Schaff Bros,
traveler stated last week. Mr. Hart wilt be in charge
of the New York offices and warerooms.
Hardman pianos and playerpianos are ably han-
dled by Miss E. R. Mathews, Eureka, Cal., who is
manager of the Matthews Pioneer Piano House since
the death of her father, who established the business
CALIFORNIA DEALER DIES.
New Chicago Concern Busy Producing Instruments
in 1871. Miss Matthews has had excellent training
James E. Mathews, founder of the Mathews
in Five Styles, Accepted by Trade.
in piano sales under the tutelage of her father, and
Pioneer Piano House, Eureka, Cal., died recently.
The latest company to enter the field of automatic
shows her selling ability every day in the handsome
Mr. Mathews had been in failing health for several
instruments is the Western Electric Piano Co., 429 warerooms at 423 F street.
weeks during the early summer, when he finally suc-
West Superior street, Chicago, which at present finds
cumbed to the illness which resulted in his death.
a demand that is more than sufficient to keep the
H. E. Pearson, now with the Tri-City Piano Stores, The first Mathews establishment was known as the
production department actively engaged. The new at Moline, 111., was a Chicago visitor Tuesday this
''little store around the corner" and has since grown
Chicago industry is preparing to meet all require-
week. He came here to meet Mrs. Pearson, who
to larger proportions in the Gross Building, 423 F
ments in a very satisfactory manner.
had arrived here from Washington, D. C, where the street. The Mathews music business will be con-
The company announces that it now has five
Pearsons resided up to a few months ago.
tinued by his daughters.
NEW "23" MODEL BOWEN LOADER
We are now making shipments of our latest model, which is Foolproof and indestructible.
Price reduced to $95.00 including extra good moving cover.
Shipped to responsible dealers on approval.
Try one. If you don't like it send it back.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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/