Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1996

PRESTO
October 25, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, or
Other Subjects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
writer in order to receive attention. Answers thought
to be of general trade interest will be Published. If an
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro-
vided stamp is inclosed.
The
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
has attained to a place preeminent be-
cause of its absolute dependability,
precise reproduction of the playing of
the world's artists and beauty of con-
struction.
(only 5 ft. long)
In All the List of Fine, Small Grands
There Is None That Stands
Higher Than
The Famous
Studio Grand
This dainty little instrument is pre-
ferred by many of the foremost piano
houses and by its remarkable beauty
of design and tone quality it remains
the favorite w i t h discriminating
customers.
GRANDS, UPRIGHTS
PLAYERS
"The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U S. P»t. OS.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
ELECTRIC ORGAN REPAIRS.
Danville, 111., Oct. 11, 1924.
Editor Presto: We are about to repair a pipe
organ furnished with electrical action, parts of which
have to be renewed.
Kindly help us by giving the address, or addresses,
of firms making, or dealers in, all such furnishings,
as we do not know the make of said organ, as it has
no name or make of builder upon it.
C. E. WEST.
The Piano Repair Shop, 339 South Wabash avenue,
Chicago, makes a business of repairing all manner of
mechanical instruments. It is possible, however, that
you might be able to get electrical parts by applying
to any of the following:
Operators' Piano Co., 715 North Kedzie avenue,
Chicago; Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co., 224 North Shel-
don street, Chicago; Motor Player Corporation, 340
West Huron street, Chicago.
All of those concerns are in the electrical player
action industry.
* * *
VIOLIN MAKERS' SUPPLIES.
Ft. Wayne, Ind., Oct. 7, 1924.
Editor Presto: Would you kindly advise where
I can secure material for violins, such as maple,
spruce and purfling; also stain and varnish? I am
making a few violins for my own amusement and
would only require a small supply, say for two or
three instruments.
J O H N NORTON.
We suggest that you can get what you want here
in Chicago by addressing either of the following
concerns:
William Lewis & Son, 225 South Wabash avenue;
Lyon & Healy, Wabash avenue and Jackson boule-
vard; C. H. Taylor & Co., 218 South Wabash avenue;
J. N. Copland & Co., 63 East Adams street, or of
August Gemunder, 141 West Forty-second street,
New York.
While there are a number of others the ones we
have named are reliable and no doubt can furnish
you with whatever you may want.
* * *
WANTS USED PIANOS.
Ardmore, Okla., October 16, 1924.
Editor Presto: Will you kindly give me the
address of those in Chicago who make a business of
wholesaling used pianos?
E. B. LUKE.
E. E. Blake, care P. A. Starck Piano Co., Chicago,
has made a specialty of this line of business. So,
we understand, has Lem Kline, East End Park Hotel,
Chicago.
Of course, as a rule, you can get quantities of
used pianos of all grades by writing such houses
as Lyon & Healy or The Cable Co. Both of those
concerns very frequently have large supplies of sec-
ond-hand pianos in their warehouses. The firm of
Hill & Son, 1365 Myrtle street, Brooklyn, N. Y., also
makes a specialty of wholesaling used instruments.
* * *
A "MASON" GRAND PIANO.
Seattle, Wash., Oct. 10, 1924.
Editor Presto: Have been offered a new "Mason"
Grand Piano. Kindly let me know if it is a standard
make and the manufacturer of same, through your
"Where Doubts Are Dispelled" column in Presto, as
I read same every week.
MRS. FREDERICK B. WILSON.
We have no record of a "Mason" Grand Piano,
though the distinguished Mason & Hamlin instru-
ments are known the world over and stand at the
forefront among artistic instruments. If it is a
Mason & Hamlin Grand to which you refer, as hav-
ing been offered to you, we can assure you that it is
an instrument which you may buy with the utmost
confidence.
If it is merely a '"Mason" instrument, then we can-
not tell you from what factory it comes, and that is a
bit of information which we would ourselves be very
glad to have. The salesman who offers you a
"Mason" piano should be willing to tell you some-
thing of its manufacture.
* * *
BUSH & GERTS PIANOS.
Appleton, Wis., Oct. 13, 1924.
Editor Presto: Will you kindly give us the full
particulars regarding the Bush & Gerts Piano Co.
as to their going out of business?
F I S H E R BROS.
You will find full particulars of the reorganization
of the Bush & Gerts Piano Co. on another page in
this issue of Presto. There will be.no change in the
character of the Bush & Gerts pianos. They will
continue, under the reorganization, to be the same
artistic instruments, and we understand that the
grands will be made even more of a feature of the
industry than before. The famous little "Midgette"
grand will also have special attention. Mr. Johnson,
who heads the new organization, is so well known
for his adherence to correct principles that nothing
more need be said on the subject than appears in the
article to which reference has been made.
* * *
WRONG STREET ADDRESS.
Cambridge, Md, October 14, 1924.
Editor Presto: In a recent issue of Presto we no-
ticed the address of Hill & Son, 909 Hart street,
Brooklyn, New York, as a dealer of second hand
pianos in a wholesale way. W r e have written these
folks and the letter was returned to us. Will you tell
us by return mail exactly how to reach this firm?
"M. NATHAN ESTATE.
It is evident that the cause of your letters addressed
to Hill & Son being returned was that the concern
has moved and the Brooklyn postoffice has not found
it out.
If you will write to Hill & Son, 1365-1375 Myrtle
avenue, Brooklyn, New York, we believe that you
will have a response. The house is an old one in
the handling of used pianos, and advertises to sell in
carload lots of twelve or more.
SEASONED TRAVELER
SAYS TRADE IS FINE
R. K. Maynard, in Spokane, Reverts to His
Beginning in the Trade Forty-four
Years Ago.
R. K. Maynard, Pacific Coast representative of the
M. Schulz Company, Chicago, who left his home at
South Pasadena, California, two weeks ago for an
extensive trip through the Northwest, was at the
Davenport Hotel, Spokane, Washington, a day or
two last week, where he was met by a Presto cor-
respondent.
Mr. Maynard said he found his own trade, as well
as business in general, in Oregon and Washington
better than he had hoped for or expected, ''and," he
added, "I am told conditions are good in Idaho,
Montana and Wyoming, where I am now headed for.
If all reports are correct," Mr. Maynard said, "busi-
ness generally is booming in Texas, and I intend to
go to that field as soon as I can get this northern
territory properly gone over."
Mr. Maynard expressed regret that he could not
have been present at the Chicago Piano Club's annual
meeting, as that meeting occurred on the day of the
forty-fourth anniversary of his entry into the piano
business, in October, 1880, when he went to work as
city collector for Story & Camp, then located at 188-
190 State street, Chicago, at about in the center of
the present State street frontage of the Fair. Mr.
Maynard said he is in fine trim for business and that
"it's fun selling M. Schulz and Werner pianos."
LOOKING FORWARD IN ST, LOUIS.
Holiday business is being anticipated in the adver-
tising of the St. Louis music merchants and all the
sales managers are confident the sales for the festive
period will be good. For the past two weeks there
lias been a consistent toning up of the situation, with
increased sales of satisfactory volume. Stocks are
being replenished in expectation of a large movement
between now and Christmas.
NAME A MOUTHFUL.
The Musikwissenschaftlicher Kongress is the title
of an assembly which recently met in Leipzig, Ger-
many. It ceased to function during the late war and
had not met in convention since the war. This con-
gress is broad in its scope and embraces the theory
and practice of music as well as displays in the de-
velopment of musical instrument making and displays
of manufactured musical goods in all branches of the
industry.
E. H. STORY RETURNS HOME.
President E. H. Story, of the Story & Clark Piano
Co.. returned to his home in Pasadena, Cal., early
this week; Mr. Story put in six solid weeks visiting
the headquarters in Chicago and the several branch
houses in the East. He returned home perfectly sat-
isfied with the progress which is everywhere evident
in the affairs of the Story & Clark Piano Company.
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
UNCLE SAM'S MUSIC
SALESMEN ABROAD
Department of Commerce Not Only Performs
That Important Function But Also Serves
Music Goods Manufacturers in Buying
Raw Materials in Remote Places.
GATHERING INFORMATION
How the Constant Accumulation of Valuable Facts
for Exporters and Importers Are Collected
Makes Interesting Reading.
For the American manufacturer who wishes to sell
his line of pianos in Persia, his talking machines in
Timbuctoo, his saxophones in Salonika, his banjos in
Basutoland or his music rolls in Munich, his Uncle
Sam provides a salesman—the Department of Com-
merce—which is a representative covering the world.
And no matter whether the manufacturer is a wet
or a dry, a tariff stand-patter, or a free trader, a
devout church goer or a citizen of .easy conscience,
the service of the department is open to him.
But it is not alone in selling that the department
offers help. It also provides valuable information for
the buyer. It knows all the foreign sources of sup-
plies of raw materials for the piano supply house.
Ivory Key Facts.
For instance the ivory market of the African Congo
develops nothing of interest to the ivory buyer but
big users of ivory, like Comstock, Cheney & Co.,
Ivoryton, Conn., or the Brunswick, Balke, Collender
Co. are soon made aware of the facts.
From the character of fine ivory for which there
can be no satisfactory substitute, the locating of sup-
p'ies at the source constitutes important information.
The fine pianos must have their real ivory keys of the
best kind, so the supply and demand for ivory, the
fluctuations in price from one cause or another, are
matters of particu!ar interest to the makers of piano
keys and the piano manufacturers who buy them.
The habitat of the ivory bearing elephant of Africa
is becoming of more circumscribed dimensions every
year, so the results of the ivory hunters become of
keener interest as the wild herds become smaller.
Fine Leather Materials.
The interest of T. L. Lutkin, Inc., New York,
extends to raw pelts of certain animals found in out-
of-the-way corners of the earth. In remote "places in
Asia, Europe and Africa, the big specialty leather
company finds some of the most desirable skins to
be converted into fine pneumatic leathers for the
playerpiano and organ manufacturer. When the buy-
ers of organs estimate the value of the various
parts, few are aware of the interesting incidents con-
nected with the procuring of the skins from which
T. L. Lutkin, Inc., manufactured the specially
tanned bellows leather on which the efficacy of the
instrument in a great measure depends. The com-
pany has its own scouts abroad but it is indebted for
much valuable information to Uncle Sam's active
agent—the Department of Commerce.
Sending Ukes to Hawaii.
Carrying ukuleles to Hawaii sounds like shipping
coal to Newcastle, flivvers to Detroit or brass instru-
ments to Elkhart, Ind. But shipping fancy ukes to dis-
criminating ukulele players in the birthplace of the little
stringed instrument is a rather frequent incident in
the business of the Slingerland Banjo Co., 1815 Or-
chard street, Chicago. While the sales department of
the company is indefatigable in looking for new
customers for Slingerland banjos, it frankly admitted
that the first intimation, coming from the Department
of Commerce, that Hawaii was a promising field for
ukulele sales, came as a glad surprise.
Makes Romantic Reading.
But the incidents of buying the materials for many
musical instruments and selling them abroad are
among the romantic incidents of business. The
thrill of it is well suggested by Frederic J. Haskin in
a new book called "The American Government."
Describing the procedure in the Department of Com-
merce, Mr. Haskin writes in a revised edition, in a
chapter of which, reproduced as an article by the Chi-
cago Daily News, this is said:
"In the office of the secretary there is a huge map
of the world, which covers the entire side of a wall.
From the spot which marks Washington on this map
there radiate scores of spidery threads, which extend
for greater or lesser distances to every part of the
map. At the end of each of these lines is a colored
button. By reference to this code it is learned what
this colored button represents. Yellow ones are for
trade commissioners, blue ones for consuls and so on
down through a rainbow of designations for commer-
cial attaches, special agents and district offices of the
bureau of foreign and domestic commerce.
"Each button means that the Department of Com-
merce has stationed at the place where the point is
inserted a source of commercial information. Many
of them represent permanent assignments, but some
represent roving agents, and their buttons are moved
when the cables advise that a new field is being
visited. News of commercial developments is sent
in by cable, radio and mail from these outposts of
American trade.
The Facts Gathering Process.
"In addition to the general information, the agents
send in statements of opportunities to sell American
goods in distant ports. This process of gathering
general and specific information is going on constant-
ly. When the information reaches Washington it is
transmitted in various ways to American manufac-
turers, dealers, exporters and buyers interested. A
constant stream of circulars is being sent out by mail
to business men; in addition, the department pub-
lishes a weekly magazine called Commerce Reports.
"Foreign agents of the department also give per-
sonal assistance to American salesmen abroad. Lo-
cated at strategic points in various countries, they
know the language and are familiar with the local
laws and business customs and to some extent with
the credit of prospective customers. No charges of
any sort are made for such service, nor is any charge
made for the information disseminated by the de-
partment.
"In order better to serve the needs of American
business men the department has established branch
offices in important American cities. Such offices
are located at St. Louis, San Francisco, Chicago,
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta and
New Orleans. In twenty-five other cities there are
co-operative offices where the department has a man
in charge of its information in connection with the
offices of chambers of commerce, commercial clubs
or boards of trade. Files of information valuable to
business men are maintained at all these offices."
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
Places.
The Tune-House, Inc., New York City, $25,000; to
deal in sheet music and phonographs; William Web-
ber and others.
The L. A. Russell Piano Co., 666 Broad street,
Augusta, Ga., $10,000; L. A. Russell.
The Fayette P'iano Co., Cleveland, O.; $1,000; to
deal in pianos and all kinds of musical instruments;
Julius Bloomberg, Eugene E. Wolf, M. G. Sloss, J.
W. Shanker and F. Friedman.
October 25, 1924.
LATE NEWS ITEMS FROM
THE PORTLAND FIELD
Music Houses Are Active and Some of the
Foremost Pianos Are Having Steady
Sale Throughout Western Territory.
Collins & Erwin, "Upstairs Piano Store," has in-
stalled a Henry F. Miller grand piano in the audi-
torium of the Portland, Ore., Y. M. C. A., which is
located in the heart of the business district of that
city and is the scene of many musical events during
the year.
Phil Lasher, Q R S representative for the Pacific
Coast and the states of Nevada, Utah and Montana,
after completing a trip over his entire district, dropped
into Portland, Ore., and visited the trade there and
said that he found business conditions very good
over his entire district and all of the dealers placing
big orders anticipating a large volume of fall and
winter business.
The Moore's Music House of Salem, Ore., had an
attractive display at the Oregon state fair September
22 to 27 inclusive, featuring the Duo Art and the
Victrola. Daily concerts were given, with Miss
Leona Mourten, contralto and Duo Art demonstra-
tor of the Portland, Ore., Sherman, Clay branch as
assisting artist. On September 25 a special Duo Art
concert was given in the auditorium of the fair, with
Selge Halman, head of the piano department of the
Portland store in charge, assisted by Miss Mourten.
This concert was given to a capacity audience who
were loud in their appreciation of the instrument.
STREATOR, ILL, MUSIC FIRM
CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY
Twentieth Year in Business Sees Continued Observ-
ance of W. B. Meil's Policies.
The Meil's Piano Company, 315 Main street,
Streator, 111., is celebrating the twentieth anniversary
of its formation by W. B. Meils, and interest in the
event is augmented by a lively celebration sale which
has been widely advertised.
Twenty years ago W. B. Meils opened his store at
its present location. Adherence to correct business
policy has achieved success and today the store ranks
among the best in the state. Only in the largest
cities can such a comprehensive stock be found.
Among the instruments carried are Packard, Cable-
Nelson and Brinkerhoff pianos and playerpianos.
The Danbury, Conn., store of Heim's Music House
will be located in new quarters this week.
Q R S ROLLS AT STATE FAIR
1 or clever window decorations there are a few past
masters in the art, and Mrs. Roussellot, of the Lyric
Music Co., 88 Wisconsin St., Milwaukee, Wis., is one.
The above window, featuring the Q R S roll of the
Animal Fair, is a regular Noah's Ark and still is
original and most interesting.
It was a big hit during the State Fair and sold
many rolls, records and copies of sheet music, not
only of this particular number, but others as well.
Roll departments are at liberty to copy this window
and many will take advantage of it.
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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