Presto

PRESTO
CONVENTION OF
ILLINOIS DEALERS
with no sound of street cars, elevated rumblings or
dulcet sounds from open piano store doors. It is
like paradise to me. But I'll get back to it all before
long if I keep on improving as I have been doing."
That is good news from a good salesman and cheer-
ful soldier of circumstances, who knows how to exer-
cise the spirit of courage in the face of misfortune.
For sickness is always a misfortune, and especially to
an active piano man with customers scattered all over.
(Continued from page 3.)
the warm invitation of the Illinois Musi; Merchants'
Association. It v?.s a pleasant social affair in which
the pleasures were augmented by the introduction of
a business topic: "Manufacturers Co-operation with
Dealers." This was assigned to George W. Allen
of the Milton Piano Co., New York, who was also
called upon to preside at the luncheon.
The Final Session.
The final session of the convention held in the aft- Illinois State Journal, of Springfield, Present-
ed a Fine and Comprehensive Tribute
ernoon of Tuesday was the most interesting in that
the election of officers and the naming of a conven-
to a Business That Uplifts.
tion city were scheduled for the period. No choice
The character and tastes of the people of any city
of a convention city for next year had been expressed
by- the officials but they made it understood that the may be judged by the newspapers they read, and
city chosen should have the necessary hotel accom- in which their interests are shadowed forth. Spring-
modation for guests and possible exhibits needed by field, 111., is one of the representative cities of the
mid-west, and, as the capital of a great state, it is
a growing association.
good place for the convention of Illinois music mer-
But the papers read and the discussions following a chants
which took place there early this week.
the Round Table Talks preserved the interest and
The
following
article appeared in the editorial col-
enthusiasm of the convention up to the minute of
umns of Tuesday's "Illinois States Journal." It is
adjournment.
for members of the trade to read with a
R. L. Berry of the House of Music, Springfield, something
of satisfaction. Other and larger cities have
Grayce Van Coutren, of Kewanee, who spoke on sense
music trade conventions, but the local newspa-
made the session a radio one by his timely and valu- had
pers
have not shown the same degree of appreciation
able talk on "The Real Experience of a Music Dealer and understanding
that is here evidenced.
Handling Radio." It was a talk bristling with does
The music dealers of the state are meeting in this
and don'ts, musts and mustn'ts of honest advice. Mr. city
today. Great changes have been taking place
Berry shared the honors of the occasion with Miss in their
business and the methods of conducting it.
Grayce Van Coutren, of Kewanee, who spoke on Twenty-five years ago, a music dealer handled cer-
"The Sale of Records and Rolls," and proved her tain classics in music, pianos, organs and now and
knowledge of the goods and her ability to sell them then a banjo, guitar or violin. It was an unstable
business and profits were exceedingly small.
in a convincing way.
Today it is quite another enterprise. To the old
At the election of officers James Lacey, of Peoria, stock
in trade have been added the new music that
was chosen president to succeed Fred Watson, of Mt. floods the markets and is eagerly absorbed, phono-
Vernon. J. E. Rice of Mt. Olive was elected vice- graphs, radio sets, phonograph records, in which there
president, and R. J. VanFossen, of Beardstown, and is tremendous turn-over, phonograph needles, no
Cloyd Parker, of Harrisburg, were re-elected secre- small item in the week's receipts. Pianos are as
staple goods as flannels or cottons on the shelves of
tary and treasurer, respectively.
An increase of seventy-five per cent in membership the dry goods merchant.
Those who used to be classed as poor are able
during the last year was reported at the meeting.
afford a piano or phonograph or radio. Music is
The convention was the third annual meeting of the to
in the schools. High schools have their or-
organization, which includes the music merchants of taught
chestras and bands. Community singing has taken
Illinois outside of Cook County. The 1925 conven- on many forms. Newspapers devote pages to music.
tion will be held in Rockford.
Every city and town has its music clubs. Civic or-
chestras are the asset of cities as small as Spring-
Special Board Appointed.
field. Grand opera in the large centers has been
The creation of an advisary board of music mer- brought
within the means of the masses. Picture
chants, which will aid individual dealers in the mat- shows must
accompany their entertainment with mu-
ter of selling, advertising, publicity and other phases sic. Concerts and recitals draw crowds of people
of successful merchandising, was the important piece who appear to be well informed on programs and
of business enacted by the Illinois Music Merchants' performers and are discriminative in their apprecia-
tion.
Convention.
Music dealers are an essential in the cultural and
The members of the board will be appointed by aesthetic
development of our life. They are playing
President James Lacey. The purpose of the conven- an indispensable
role in the affairs of nearly every
tion in creating the board was to give to the smaller family.
merchants the assistance of the larger ones.
The Convention's Close.
The convention came to a close on Tuesday eve-
ning following the banquet, which was attended by
ninety men and women, members of the association
officers and sales representatives of the music manu-
facturers and representatives of trades publications. Jacques Herrburger and L. Anthonis, of Old Paris
Mr. Lacey, the new president, presided at the ban-
Industry, Arrive from New York.
quet. A resolution of thanks was given to O. F.
Two distinguished visitors to the Chicago trade
Anderson, of this city, for his work in arranging the this week are Jacques Herrburger, son of Jos. Herr-
convention in Springfield.
burger, present owner of the Schwander action inter-
For the banquet Mrs. Wilson's studio quartet, com- ests of France and England, with factory in Paris,
posed of Miss Vadakin, Miss Alice Kimber, Charles and L. Anthonis, piano merchant of Brussels, Bel-
eFtzer and Lyman Troxell, furnished the music, with gium. The two gentlemen arrived in New York, Fri-
day, September 26, and after spending several days
Mrs. Wilson accompanying.
viewing and inspecting the large piano and piano
action factories in Gotham, they headed westward for
the next great center of the piano industry.
Upon arriving in Chicago this week, they were wel-
comed by the Baldwin Co., 323 South Wabash ave-
nue, at whose orifices they called. Plans have been
Chas. F. Thompson, Recovered from Illness, Grows made by Messrs. Herrburger and Anthonis to visit
several prominent piano industries while in Chicago.
Eager to Get Back into the Game.
Frequent requests for news concerning the progress
MUSIC DEALER FOR CORONER.
toward recovery of "Charlie" Thompson, who suf-
fered a sudden illness at Pittsburgh last winter, sug-
Michael Solar, of the Solar music stores on Twenty-
gests the popularity of that well-known piano man. sixth and Thirty-fifth streets, Chicago, is a candidate
His friends in the trade will be glad to know that Mr. on the Democratic ticket for coroner of Cook County.
Thompson is rapidly recuperating. His latest letter Mr. Solar is a member of the Board of Education of
is characteristic of the cheerful gentleman who played Cicero, a southwest suburb, on which board he is
so prominent a part in the Chicago trade until he serving a second term.
"took to the road" for the Smith, Barnes & Strohber
Company distributing instruments in carload lots and
N. Y. JOBBER IN CHICAGO.
more.
William M. Shailer, secretary Philip W. Oetting &
"I am feeling so well that it isn't easy to remain Son, jobbers of felts and piano material, New York,
quiet down here on the farm," said Mr. Thompson to has been a Chicago visitor this week. He was a
a Presto representative last week. "But it's so pleas- guest at the Piano Club festivities Wednesday night.
ant and I have been lazing so long that I think I'll
stand it a while longer. Ohio is beautiful all the
The J. W. Jenkins Sales Corp., Santa Rosa, Cal.,
time and the fall months are especially delightful, has taken new quarters at 529^ Fifth street.
APPRECIATIVE COMMENT
ON THE MUSIC TRADE
PROMINENT FRENCH ACTION
MEN ARE CHICAGO VISITORS
POPULAR PIANO TRAVELER
FRISKS GAILY ON FARM
October 11, 1924.
GREAT MEETING OF
CHICAGO PIANO CLUB
Banquet, Music, Snappy Talks and Election of
Officers Made Wednesday Night's Event
a Good One.
The regular annual meeting, for election of officers
and directors, and also for a general good time, of
the Chicago Piano Club was held at the Edgewater
Beach Hotel on Wednesday night. It was an occa-
sion of jollification and a fine array of vocal and in-
strumental musical selections, talks, stories and
numerous appropriate stunts made the evening a very
enjoyable one to the good-sized gathering present.
Among the invited guests were Mark P. Campbell,
president ex-officio of the National Piano Manufac-
turers' Association; Fred P. Watson, former presi-
dent Illinois Music Merchants' Association; Rex
Hyre, secretary of the Music Merchants' Associa-
tion of Ohio; George P. Bent, former president of
the National Piano Manufacturers' Association; Chas.
Deutschmann, president Piano Tuners' Association,
and Mr, Cheney, the inventor of the Cheney talking
machine. Mr. Cheney made the regular "set speech"
of the evening, but there were numerous other enter-
tainers. In fact, the Chicago Piano Club seems blessed
with a fine array of talent available and ready for
such occasions as the one of this week.
The valedictory of John McKenna, outgoing presi-
dent, and the "introductory" of the new president,
Harry Schoenwald, were good and snappy. Mr.
Schoenwald briefly outlined his policies and made a
hit by unexpectedly calling "this meeting adjourned
until next Monday at the Illinois Athletic Club," an
announcement that struck the right chord, as it was
getting late.
Mr. McKenna's compliments and praises for his
fellow workers the past year were an appropriate
testimonial to those gentlemen. The various stunts
were all right and the "How Do You Do" song, a la
radio station "WLS," Chicago, for the noted piano
club workers and new officers, made a hit. Here
are some of them:
1. "How do you, John McKenna, how do you do, .
We are sad to see you go,
For you gave a dam good show—
How do you doodle doodle doodle doodle do."
2. "Ho wdo you do, Harry Schoenwald, how do you
do, we are glad to welcome 'yous' into John
McKenna's shoes."
3. Henry Hewitt: "As a golfer you are there, and
you'll fit the president's chair, if the chair is
big enough, how do you do."
4. Gordon Laughead: "Handling money you were
fine, now go to the Deep Stuff line."
5. Harry Bibb: "We will christen you bad news
if you urge us for our dues."
6. Adam Schneider: "Tell us what the by-laws say,
what we may not do or may."
7. Matt Kennedy: "If it wasn't for you, Matt,
where would this old club be at?"
8. Rex Hyre: "If your job should e'er expire you
can be our sec—Rex Hyre."
9. Ken Curtis: "I'll make you a little bet, we'll
get you in office yet."
10. Walter Jenkins: "Tell us, you old son-of-a-gun,
how you made that hole in one."
11. Jim Bristol: "If we want a little loan can we get
it on our own."
12. 'Gene Whelan: "We can hardly understand, why
you joined the Ku Klux Klan."
13-. Erv Galloway: "When we have to plan some
fun let Gal do it and it's done."
14. Ed Davis:
"You're a dandy little gent,
Could have been our president,
Hope your golf game will improve,
How do you do."
Beside these, several other impromptu lines, for
Messrs. Campbell, Deutschman and Watson, were
sung by anyone who wanted to introduce his own
limerick. The following officers were unanimously
elected for the ensuing year, 1924-25:
Harry D. Schoenwald, of Consolidated Talking
Machine Co., president; Henry D. Hewitt, of M.
Schulz Co., vice-president; Gordon Laughead, of the
Apollo Co., secretary; Harry Bibb, of the Bruns-
wick-Balke Co., treasurer. The new directors are as
follows:
Kenneth W. Curtis, Eug. Whalen, John McKenna,
R. E. Davis, Jos. Childs and Ray Reilly. There are
fifteen directors, five holding over from the past year,
the four officers-elect and the six new ones elected
last night as named above.
LATEST INCORPORATIONS.
H. A. Becker, music house; manufacturing instru-
ments; $200,000; H. E. Becker, E. S. Becker, Chas.
E. Jacobs, Pittsburgh, Pa.
Vincent Publishing Co., Manhattan; music; 1,000
shares preferred stock, $25 each; 5,000 common, $5
each; active capital, $50,000; V. Decrescenzo, V. A.
Vitolo, E. Galdieri. Attorney, M. M. Simon, 305
Broadway, New York.
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