Presto

Issue: 1924 2004

24
PRESTO
December 20, 1924.
SHEET MUSIC AND RADIO
STARR LOUD SPEAKER
Unit That Interests All Radio Fans Is the
Embodiment of Scientific
Principles.
The Starr Loud Speaker, made by the Starr Piano
Co., Richmond, Ind., is an article of proved, genuine
merit, built to meet the approval of everybody who
needs the very best in radio equipment. It has out-
standing characteristics to interest all radio fans and
possibilities for profitable handling to command the
attention of the wise dealer. The Starr Loud
Speaker is an embodiment of scientific principles of
proper tone amplifying which have been incorpo-
rated in all Starr musical instruments. It brings the
melodies and voices of the air to the listeners-in with
THE STAKR LOUD SPEAKER.
perfect fidelity. The horn is fashioned from silver
grain spruce, famous by music masters of all time.
Carved to scientific proportions it hangs free, sus-
pended to perfect balance so the tone is full and clear,
unretarded and unmarred. Every tone is delivered in
all purity and faithfulness of the original.
The amplifying horn is of exact proportions made
of extra sensitive silver grain spruce and is suspended
to allow tone vibrations to be delivered unimpeded
by any metal part or connection. It responds to the
widest range of tones. The tone volume is great and
its production of melody and speech clear and pure
as the original.
The Starr Loud Speaker is artistically finished in
mahogany, walnut and oak. It is compact, unob-
trusive and presents a neat, attractive appearance.
This beautiful, graceful little cabinet blends har-
moniously with other radio units and home furnish-
ings. The grill is of pleasing carved lines and is re-
movable in an instant.
The Loud Speaker unit is adjusted for the average
radio set, is of perfect workmanship throughout and
guaranteed to give lasting satisfaction in every re-
spect. The height is nine and a half inches; width,
seventeen inches, and depth, nine and three-quarter
inches.
NO WAVE LENGTH REVISION
Plan for Reallocation Proposed by Radio Conference
Considered Obsolete.
on a railroad varies from twenty-five to sixty, de-
pending on the nature of the grades. At the power
exposition in New York last week German engineers
showed the new bearings, which, they said, would
permit a mogul engine to handle a train of approxi-
mately 250 to 400 cars. It would be impossible,
however, to signal from the engine to the caboose
with the methods at present in use. The only
remedy, it is believed, is the use of radio.
MISS HEINZMAN'S SONGS
High Quality of Compositions of Canadian Piano
Man's Daughter Theme of Critics.
Miss Cornelia Gerhard Heintzman, daughter of
Gerhard Heintzman, head of Gerhard Heintzman, Ltd.,
Toronto, Canada, is a music composer of whom the
critics and musical folk of the Dominion are very
proud. One of the outstanding musical events in
Toronto so far this season was the recital of songs
written by Miss Heintzman, held in the Toronto
Conservatory of Music recently.
Some of Miss Heintzmau's compositions are: "Nuits
de Juin," "Lullaby," "When Trees Are Green," "The
Wind's Laughter," "Life and I," "Daddy," "A Rain
Song," "To Victory Arise," "The Willow Shade,"
"It Is Not Always May," "The Wind in a Frolic,"
"To My First Love," "Homelight" and "The Wind
of the Sea."
In commenting, the music critic of the Mail and
Empire said: "It is very easy to speak with enthu-
siasm of Miss Heintzman's work. In the first place,
she has imagination. She selects a poem, and then
endeavors to express the essence of its feeling in
music, and that, of course, is a song. The young
composer knows how to be appropriate in her treat-
ment without being banal. For example, dozens of
songs have been written about the wind, and the de-
scriptive methods of handling that subject are well
known. Yet in both 'The Wind's Laughter' and 'The
Wind in a Frolic' she has avoided being obvious and
given a freshness to musical pictures."
PAGE ORGAN CO.'S STATION
Alliance, O., Manufacturer of Organs to Broadcast
Programs by Local Talent.
The Page Organ Co., Alliance, O., has begun prep-
arations for broadcasting and it is expected the sta-
tion will be ready for operation this week, according
to D. M. Lamson, superintendent of the plant.
Aerials 100 feet high have been erected, and at the
start the broadcasting outfit will operate at 500 watts
power. Later the station will be converted to 1,000
watts.
Defiance people who enjoy the concerts from far-
distant stations will not be deprived of this privilege
through operations of the local company, Mr. Lam-
son said this week. It is probable that the programs
here will be only a half hour at noon and a half hour
in the evening, except on one or two nights in the
week, when more extensive programs provided by
talent from Defiance and towns nearby will be broad-
cast.
Excellent response has been made by many people
who desire to co-operate with the plan, believing it
will be of benefit to Defiance, said Mr. Lamson. He
is sure that enough programs can be arranged to give
at least one concert a week, and during the other reg-
ular periods at which the station will operate music
will be provided by the Page organs as they reach
completion in the factory here.
The commerce department of the Government has
abandoned the plan for reallocation of wave lengths
to radio broadcasting stations recommended by the
recent radio conference held in Washington. While
the department will meet the increasing demands as
far as possible, it is understood that until the radio
broadcasting situation becomes more stable no at-
tempt will be made to revise the present allocation of
wave lengths.
The plan, which was devised a short time ago, has
already been rendered obsolete by the increasing
number of broadcasting stations and the demand for
wave length assignments, officials of the department
said.
The radio conference, which met in October, drew
up a comprehensive plan for the reallocation of all
radio wave lengths, shifting, in some cases, those for
marine communication in order to extend the number
available for commercial broadcasting stations.
The radio conference reallocation plan in general
was devised to make available more wave lengths in
the great centers of population where, it was expected,
the greater number of future broadcasting stations
would be located. The applications that immedi-
ately began to come to the department, however, up-
set these calculations, since most of them were from
the less thickly populated centers for which it became
evident that adequate provision had not been made.
The dealer should remember that few songs create
a demand for themselves by intrinsic musical and
lyrical merits; that even the admittedly good songs
must be featured and exploited before they are "put
over"; then he can realize his own opportunities for
exploiting something already in stock. Merchants in
other trades see the advantages of "showing the
goods." Why shouldn't the sheet music dealer pre-
vent the accumulation of copies by varying the "hit"
featuring with the playing of something from the
leftover shelf? Don't be bluffed by the "newest"
song fans into relegating the not so new or even the
admittedly old to the limbo of the sheet music de-
partment—the dusty resting place of the supposedly
dead.
RADIO TRAIN SIGNALS.
With the application of ball bearings to railroad
freight cars a new use for radio has come to the
fore. The limit number of cars that can be handled
Capt. George A. Taylor, president of the Associa-
tion for Developing Wireless in Australia, recently
showed for the first time in Europe his machine for
transmitting colored pictures by wireless.
FEATURE THE MUSIC.
YOUR CUSTOMERS
An Analysis of the Sheet Music Possibilities
May Disclose the Way to the Con-
stant Sales That Assure a
Big Business.
Do you strive to the fullest extent to reach all the
possible sheet music buyers? The question is impor-
tant in view of the new fields for sheet music sales
opened up within the past few years. There is much
more to the business than the popular songs which
literally sell themselves. There are places where
sheet music and music books are obvious needs,
where, not many years ago, the sales of sheet music
were negligible.
The buyers of orchestra music today, for instance,
are not limited to the professionals. A pleasant fea-
ture of music today is the number of amateur or-
ganizations ambitious to play the latest as well as
the best music. Fraternal bodies, church organiza-
tions, clubs, groups of friends, families, all provide
opportunities for the sale of orchestrations. And of
course it is well understood that never before were
there such a number of people learning and playing
musical instruments of one kind or another. The
extent of sales of saxophones alone gives an idea of
the requirements in music for the buyers.
The Prospective Buyers.
Every buyer of a musical instrument, everybody
who sings, should go down on the prospect list of the
sheet music department. Instruction books may be
made a more important part of the sales if the buyers
of musical instruments are canvassed by circulars.
Subsequent purchases of music for the particular in-
struments may also be assured thereby.
!
The Teachers' Trade.
But the schools, public and private, are today trie
means towards profitable sheet music sales for the
dealer. In large or small towns the field, is an ex-
cellent one for the dealer to cultivate. The dealers
who have built up a big business along this line
know the value of getting close to the music teachers
in the schools and establishing himself as an advisor
in matters relating to published music. There are a
lot of things the catalogs don't tell the teacher but
which become known to the dealer by way of the
supplements issued to the trade by the publishers.
If the dealer makes himself acquainted with the char-
acter of every teacher's needs there will be practically
no "lost motion" in his activities for the teachers'
benefit.
Reputation an Asset.
The reputation of a dealer for eagerness to help
school teachers in every way is a valuable asset. The
character of the best supply house for the teachers
is one that assures an increase of sales as the im-
portance of music in the schools grows.
Consider the extent of the field of school music.
Through the grammar grades to the end of the high
school years music is now a study. Then in connec-
tion with the schools there are the glee clubs, class
and school choruses, and vocal quartets. Also in the
high schools there are the string quartets, full or-
chestras and bands. In fact, the high schools in
many places are as renowned for their bands as for
their football and baseball teams or the stand in
athletics. And the members of the music organiza-
tions in the schools are all possible buyers in the
future and valuable to add to a prospect list.
RADIO IN MINNEAPOLIS.
The new 5,000 watt Gold Medal Broadcasting Sta-
tion, WCCO, which will go on the air about April
1, will be located eighteen miles northwest of Minne-
apolis and St. Paul, according to an announcement
made by officials of the Gold Medal station. The
new station will succeed the present Gold Medal
station of 500-watt power, which has been on the
air since October 1. The site for the new station has
been purchased outright by Washburn-Crosby Com-
pany, owners of the Gold Medal station, and who
co-operate with the Business Men's Association of
Minneapolis and St. Paul in operating it.
TEACHING BY RADIO.
The German radio casting program during this
winter includes educational courses covering the same
ground as the present night schools. The course in-
cludes all common school branches, following text
books which may be secured at small cost.
The
pupils will be registered and examined orally once a
month.
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/
December 20, 1924.
RADIO IN MUSIC STORES
Exact Number of Music Dealers Who Have
Added Radio a Question of Doubt, But
Those Who Have, Influence It for Good.
The exact proportion of music dealers who have
adopted radio and given it a more or less prominent
place in the stock has not been officially stated. But
the proportion must be big and increasing so rapidly
that figures printed one day would not represent the
situation a month later. There are many conditions
that favorably influence the music dealers toward
radio. One is that the cut-price methods so disrupt-
ing some time ago are fast disappearing and the deal-
ers generally are maintaining prices.
There are well understood reasons for disorganiza-
tion of prices in any business and very cogent rea-
sons appeared in the radio business at an early stage.
One was the instability of parts. What was desir-
able one day was less desirable on the day following
or maybe entirely obsolete. Wherever price-cutting
is found, the cause or excuse is an accumulation of
ante-dated material.
The reputable music dealers who have entered the
radio business are making no appeals to economy in
radio prices. Many of them have learned such wis-
dom in their piano experiences. A radio set is pre-
sented as a genuine article for entertainment in the
home, not a plaything possible of getting out of
order at any moment. Reputable dealers are staking
their reputation on sets with the same vigor that
they back pianos, players and reproducing pianos.
For this reason there is all the more necessity for
the music dealer to acquaint himself with the char-
acteristics and merits of the various types in the
market. In advertising his new product he will be
advertising a trade name as much as anything else,
so he must learn in advance the meaning of the
terms, types and names in radio. He will learn that •
many of the technical tongue-twisters mean nothing
as regards the operation of the circuit, but are titles
given receivers by their builders to distinguish one
from the others.
An expert classes all radio receivers into four dis-
tinctive types—the non-regenerative straight vacuum
tube circuit, the regenerative vacuum circuit, the radio
frequency circuit and the reflex circuit. There are
many forms of each which in turn are subdivided.
It sounds like setting out a big course of study to
say the music dealer entering radio should learn the
capabilities and advantages of each type of receiver
before making a choice. If he understands the essen-
tial differences he will be the better equipped to make
the most sensible decision.
GREAT SHEET MUSIC SECTION
Under Management of A. J. Seylor, Department in
Nordheimer's, Toronto, Has Grown Amazingly.
In the development of the business of the Nord-
heimer Piano & Music Co., Toronto, Canada, a
notable feature is the growth in extent, importance
and aggregate of sales of the sheet music department.
The company recently took over the stock of the
Colonial Music Co., thereby acquiring a valuable
assortment of English and European music.
To accommodate an increase in sheet music offer-
ings additional space was allotted to the department
on the main' floor, where vocal, piano and popular
music is shown. In addition a new music section has
been formed. The front section of the basement has
been rearranged and decorated to make a bright, at-
tractive, cozy department where organists, choir
leaders, violin teachers, and students may select from
a large stock their music requirements away from the
Best Loved CHRISTMAS CAROLS
25
PRESTO
Wo
^ cnd
Booklet 5x8 for Piano Manufacturers and Dealers.
Used in large editions every year. Order now.
Send for samples to
STATE REGISTER, Dept. A, Springfield, HI.
bustle of the main floor music section. The new
basement department is reached by a new stairway
entrance, cut in from the Yonge street doorway. It
is devoted to the stock of violin, organ and choral
music.
The manager of the progressive sheet music de-
partment of the Nordheimer Piano Co. is A. J. Sey-
lor, who has been with the department for over
thirty-five years and is considered a high authority
on sheet music matters with an amazing knowledge
of catalogs of publishers throughout the world.
A PHENOMENAL RECORD
Soprano Who Strikes Highest Note of Human Voice
Will Broadcast Over WLS.
Radio fans and music lovers will have an oppor-
tunity the evening of December 26th over WLS, the
Sears-Roebuck station, Chicago, of hearing the high-
est note ever recorded by the human voice, when
Edna La Verne Friebe, lyric soprano, who holds this
remarkable record for altissimo, will give a musical
program, beginning at 10 o'clock. This will not only
be of interest to the musical world, but will be an
achievement for radio, according to Edgar L. Bill,
director of the station. The broadcasting of high
notes in singing has been found difficult, but WLS
has made successful tests with Miss Friebe's voice
for her inaugural radio program.
Miss Friebe is able without any effort to record
and sustain B flat above high C—the world's record
in altissimo for the natural tone of the voice. This
is three notes above G. The record for high singing
was previously held by Ellen Beach Yaw, a noted
concert singer, who reached A above high C. Miss
Friebe established her record at the conclusion of
Bishop's "Lo, Hear the Gentle Lark."
Miss Friebe. has a remarkable range and her "bird
trills" have been paid high tribute by musical critics.
She was one season with the Chicago Grand Opera
Company. Among the selections she will sing over
WLS will be the Mad Scene from "Lucia."
AWAIT HEARST CONTEST RESULTS.
The voting in the unique campaign for featuring
six songs of Hearst Music Publishers of Canada,
Ltd., closed this week and the trade and the song
fans of the United States and Canada await the re-
sults. Voting coupons issued to customers of Hearst
representatives entitled them to vote for the six songs
in the order of their preferences. "Tallahassee,"
"Bobbed Head," "Better Keep Away," "Bringing
Home the Bacon," "In a Wonderful World of Our
Own," and "Broken Dreams," were the numbers
submitted for the contest. The first prize is $500,
the second $200 and the third $100.
GIMBEL DIRECTOR SPEAKS.
Dailey Paskman, director of WGBS, the new
broadcasting station recently opened by Gimbel
Brothers, New York, is of the opinion that radio will
take its place alongside the other forms of major
entertainment, such as drama, motion pictures, etc.
In other words, he believes the field of radio broad-
casting is to be a lasting one and that, thus far, the
surface of this tremendous medium has scarcely been
scratched; that there are practically unlimited sources
of supply to be tapped to develop the radio.
ENDS FAKE PUBLISHING
C. L. Dennis, in Bureau Report, Tells of
Methods Taken for Elimination of
Swindling Schemes.
Definite steps toward the extermination of the song
swindle in its worst phases were gained during the
year now closing, according to C. L. Dennis, man-
ager Better Business Bureau of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, who believes that 1925 will
see the finish of systematic looting of amateur song-
writers through misuse of Uncle Sam's mails. Con-
tinuing, Mr. Dennis says:
"Since the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
undertook the campaign of exposure over two years
ago, steady progress has been made, but the fraud is
so elusive that it seemed almost an endless task to
cut out what was described by President George
Fischer of the Music Publishers' Association as a
"cancerous growth" in the publishing field.
"Energetic prosecution of the fake publishers in
Chicago by Post Office Inspector R. N. Davis ended
the operations in that city during the first half of
1924, and the biggest fakir left outside New York
was closed up by fraud order in October, when the
New Era Music Company and Music Sales Company,
of St. Louis, both conducted by Robert A. Bell, were
put out of business. A few small operations remain
outside of New York, which is naturally a great cen-
ter for the song sharks as well as for legitimate pub-
lishers. New York is under fire as the last strong-
hold of important song sharks, so that the end ap-
pears to be in sight. One of the biggest groups has
been closed by fraud order, and the principals have
been indicted by a federal grand jury. This group is
the New York Melody Corporation, Broadway Com-
posing Studios and World Music Publishing Corpora-
tion, conducted by Albion S. Keller and George
Graff, Jr.
"Another big New York shark and several lesser
ones have switched their plans to an extent that in-
dicates all are on the run—yet it is not possible to
let up with the campaign until all the big ones are
gone. The smaller ones can then be kept in check.
"By-products of the campaign have been the expo-
sure of stock selling schemes and mail order efforts
to unload $2 'working outfits' of worthless sheet
music on 'agents' who answered want ads for home
work. Several houses were stopped from using the
latter scheme, but others have sprung up and are
being reported as fast as they appear."
S H O W T H E MUSIC.
Sheet music buyers will not -buy if unaware of the
existence of the music. Showing the public what it
might want is a preliminary to selling it what it wants
as far as sheet music is concerned. For that reason
the window display is the most economical kind of
advertising for the sheet music dealer. No matter
how big or effective his display inside may be or no
matter how effective he may feature the music at the
counter, the activities are supplemented with telling
force by the show in the front windows. Many a
wayfarer casually glancing at the window layout
pauses for a closer and more attentive view, sees
something that prompts an investigation of the stock
inside.
ADVERTISING SONG BOOKS
Editor Presto: One of our customers inquires
about a collection of old-fashioned songs, suitable for
giving out to prospects and the general public. If
you can inform us where these are printed, you will
confer a great favor, and incidentally boost the piano
business, as it is a foregone conclusion that every-
one receiving a book will need a piano on which to
produce the accompaniments.—A Jobber.
Reply: About the best book of the kind within
our knowledge is put forth in quantities by the Illi-
nois State Register of Springfield, 111. We believe
if you write to that concern you will get a sample of
about what you want.—Presto.
Over 50 songs, words and music for 4 voices and piano,
'•"i p.p., 6x9, in editions with special illuminated cover
printed to order as wanted. Mention Presto.
REMICK SONG HITS
Mandalay
It Had to Be You
There's Yes, Yes in Your Eyes
Dreamer of Dreams
Follow the Swallow
New Kind of Man
My Best Girl
Me and the Boy Friend
Little Black Buddy
Until Tomorrow
Old Pal
Goodnight, Sleep Tight
Where the Lazy Daisies Grow
Bring Back the Old Fashioned Waltz
The Grass Is Always Greener (In the
Other Fellow's Yard)
J. H. REMICK & CO.
New York
Chicago
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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