Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2012

Page 3 Text:

Presto Buyers' Guide
Presto Year Book
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
E*abU.hed 1984. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
JO Cent,; $2.00 a Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 14, 1925
MAKE PLANS FOR
BIGGEST MEETING
Last Monday's Piano Club Meeting of Special
Interest also Because of Tribute to
Helpfulness and Loyalty of
Adam Schneider.
A CARD OF GOLD
Official Committee of Piano Convention Is Appointed
to Clear Way for Spring Event at Drake
Hotel, Chicago.
Monday's noonday luncheon of the Chicago Piano
Club this week was another near-overflow gathering.
The special attraction was a testimonial to Adam
Schneider, one of the founders and incorporators of
the club, in commemoration of the fifty-first year of
his life in the music trade. It was on February 9,
1874, that Mr. Schneider entered the employ of Julius
Bauer, as all-round office boy, with all the name im-
plies as to the varied kinds of work that a boy of
ADAM SCHNEIDER.
those days had to do to hold down his five-dollar-a-
week job.
At the opening of the meeting President Harry
Schoenwald spoke of the task undertaken by its mem-
bers in sponsoring the preliminary work and taking
upon itself the main responsibility for the success
and outcome of the music trades conventions to be
held at the Drake Hotel in June. Mr. Schoenwald
announced the names of the committee chosen to
carry forward the undertaking. It is as follows:
Harry Schoenwald, president Piano Club, chairman;
Gordon Laughead, of the De Kalb Piano Co., secre-
tary; J. G. Childs, of the Wickham Piano Plate Co.,
treasurer; and Henry D. Hewitt, of the M. Schulz
Co.; H. B. P. Bibb, of the Brunswick-Balke-Co.; K.
W. Curtis, of the Kohler Industries; Walter S.
Jenkins, of the John Church Co.; Matt Kennedy, J. T.
Bristol and John McKenna.
Headquarters Fixed.
This committee is called the Official Committee of
the Piano Convention. Its first official meeting was
last Saturday night, when the wheels were set in
motion by deciding upon the Drake Hotel as the
headquarters and meeting place for the convention
the week of June 8th next. This committee will prob-
ably appoint other special and sub-committees to
assist in its work. In fact, as President Schoenwald
announced, other general committees will be ap-
pointed by the club, embracing practically all the
active members. The truth is that it is up to the
Piano Club and its membership to put over the big
thing that the 1925 convention is headed to be, in
making it the greatest, the biggest—in short, the best
ever and the "last word" in music industries con-
ventions.
The club was honored last Monday by the pres-
ence of Cosmo Hamilton, the eminent English novel-
ist and playwright and author of "Parasites," now
playing at a Chicago theater, and also of "Scandal,"
"The Silver Fox" and "The Rustle of Silk," recently
shown in film, and a score of other stories and plays.
Mr. Hamilton, who is a noted after-dinner speaker,
gave the club an interesting twenty minutes of remin-
iscensing and anecdote in the charming manner for
which he is famous here and abroad.
Presentation Speech.
Referring again to the subject of Adam Schneider
and what the club had in mind to do in his honor, the
president said that he had never before made an an-
announcement that gave him greater pleasure, "for,"
he said, "we all love Adam, and he is entitled to all
and more than the club has to offer him." "Adam,"
he said, is that sympathetic, kind friend who cheers
with flowers and kind words when a member is ill,
and he is the one to whom both the "old guard" and
the "young guard" look for words of guidance
and encouragement. He remarked that it seemed
proper that one of the older members of the club
should preside, and thereupon requested E. B. Bart-
lett, vice-president of the W. W. Kimball Co. to take
the chair, which he did and gave an interesting talk,
telling of Mr. Schneider's many-sided career in the
trade of Chicago. Concluding, he brought out the
thought that it is well, oftentimes, to remember good
men and good friends in some other way than in
spoken eulogies or written testimonials. "And this,"
he added, "is why a tribute in something more
tangible is handed to him." And, then, matching
deed to word, Mr. Bartlett, on behalf of the club, pre-
sented Mr. Schneider with a token of its esteem in
the form of a life membership card in the Piano Club
of Chicago engraved on gold. It is of the ordinary
size and shape of a calling card, or an identification
card, and is richly engraved, giving the date—Febru-
ary 9, 1874—when he entered the employ of Julius
Bauer, and of February 9, 1925, the date of presen-
tation.
A Coming Event.
Mr. Schneider responded as best he could, for, as
he said, he was "too full for utterance." He also
gave numerous interesting incidents of his associa-
tions in the trade. He called the occasion "one of
the happiest days of my life," and said that the friend-
ships manifested on the occasion were far more to
him than any other consideration, and that he could
wish for no greater pleasure than the loyalty of his
friends and associates as shown at that and countless
other times.
Just before the close of the meeting announcement
was made of the Piano Club dinner and frolic and the
Ray Reilly's part to be given by the club at the
Trocadero Cafe, Grace street at Broadway, next Mon-
day, at half-past six o'clock. Tickets are $2.25 each.
The affair is strictly informal, and it is styled a "Pre-
Convention Dinner and Frolic." Members are ad-
monished to be "sure to bring the ladies." Good
music and dancing. For reservations and all particu-
lars get word to Ray Reilly, Room 528, 209 South
State street, Chicago.
BOSTON MUSIC WEEK.
The first seven days in May have been set for the
Music Week of Boston, and the committees have
already planned an interesting program of events.
The music dealers are giving aid to the movement,
and all activities are being stimulated by Mrs. Wil-
liams Arms Fisher, who ably contributed to the suc-
cess of the Music Week in 1924.
P. A. STARCK PREPARATIONS.
Requisite space for the planned program of ex-
pansion has been acquired by the P. A. Starck Piano
Co., Minneapolis, now located in its fine warerooms
in the new Yeates Building at Nicollet and Ninth
streets. The wareroom and outside sales force have
been increased in preparation for a spirited campaign
for sales.
A radio department has been added to the other
sections of Rhine's Edison Shop, Canton, O.
TAKING LIBERTIES WITH
NAME OF STEINWAY
iSC*. -
New York Industry Asserts Conroy Company,
of St. Louis, Is Infringing Its Trade-
marks and Asks Injunction.
A great piano name possesses an almost incal-
culable value. FoF^-this reason it is common to hear
of misappropriation of great piano names by other
industries. An injunction to restrain the Conroy
Piano Company, of St. Louis, from alleged infringe-
ment of its trade-marks for pianos and phonographs
is asked in a complaint filed in the United States Dis-
trict Court in the Missouri city by Steinway & Sons,
of New York.
Stating that it is the exclusive owner of the trade-
mark "Steinway" and "Steinway & Sons," the Stein-
way interests allege the Conroy concern has imitated
these trade-marks, seriously injuring the Steinway
business.
It is set out in the petition that the Steinway com-
pany is organized under the laws of the State of New
York, where it has its principal offices, and that the
trade-mark denoting instruments sold throughout the
United States and Europe was obtained at great ex-
pense from its predecessor and that it was duly regis-
tered at the United States patent office in 1905.
Specifically, the Steinway firm charges the Conroy
people are selling pianos marked "Steinmetz" and
phonographs marked "Stanway" and because of the
similarity of the first syllable in the former with the
first "Steinway" and the last syllable in the latter with
the last in "Steinway," the Steinway company de-
clares them to be colorful imitations.
There is also a "Steinway" radio industry, recently
started up in Chicago.
BUSH & LANE LINE
IN CLEVELAND, 0 . STORE
H. B. Bruck & Sons to Actively Handle Lines of
Pianos and Duo-Vox Phonographs.
According to an announcement by the Bush &
Lane Piano Co., Holland, Mich., H. B. Bruck & Sons,
1242 Huron road, Cleveland, O., will represent the
Bush & Lane line of pianos, players, reproducing
pianos and the Duo-Vox phonograph in the city of
Cleveland. The arrangements were completed by
Leslie I. King, wholesale representative of the com-
pany in Ohio.
Mr. King will open wholesale offices at the address
of H. B. Bruck & Sons, and a representative stock in
all lines will be maintained for the convenience of
dealers in the territory of which Cleveland is a cen-
ter. The plans include the promotion of the Bush &
Lane lines in the state of Ohio in an active manner.
One phase of publicity will be a request by radio
for a name for a new style Bush & Lane piano. The
person suggesting the most suitable name will get a
Style 32 Bush & Lane upright.
The scheme of publicity planned by H. B. Bruck
& Sons includes a series of full-page advertisements
in the newspapers announcing the addition of the
new line to its offerings.
AN INDIANAPOLIS VOID.
Indianapolis is one of the cities in which the Mason
& Hamlin piano has won artistic favor in leading
homes, and it is a favorite of many of the leading
musicians. There was considerable gossip among
Indianapolis piano men as to which of the dealers in
that city may be fortunate enough to add this instru-
ment to his line, but at this time the Mason & Ham-
lin is without representation in the Indiana state
capital since it left the floor of the Pearson Piano
Company.
ROSENWINKLE RECEIVER.
The Citizens' Trust Company, of Ft. Wayne, In-
diana, receiver for the piano business of Walter F.
Rosenwinkle, filed a report in Superior Court of a
sale to Hugh G. Keegan at $1,675. The liabilities of
the store were more than $15,000.
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/

Page 4 Text:

PRESTO
TO STRONGLY OPPOSE
SONG WRITERS' TAX
A. L. Smith, Representing the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce, Enters Pro-
test Against New Copyright Bill
and Assails Composers.
CHARGES PLAGIARISM
Says Part of "Yes, We Have No Bananas" Is Note
for Note in "The Messiah."
The exactions of the American Society of Authors,
Composers and Publishers has stirred the music
trade, and the stand of the Music Industries Chamber
of Commerce is made clear in the report of the rep-
resentations of that organization before the House
Patents Committee at Washington last week. At
that meeting Manager A. L. Smith, of the Chamber,
denounced the efforts of the publishers' association to
levy taxes upon all music performed or broadcasted.
Mr. Smith charged plagiarism against modern song
writers, and declared that song writers, instead of de-
pending on the creative faculty which they contend
should be strongly protected by copyright, had
niched their motif-strains from tunes of long ago. He
said that some of the catchy refrains of today are
even being taken from classical and religious music.
"Musical experts say that the particular theme
which made 'Marcheta' a hit can be found in the over-
ture of 'The Merry Wives of Windsor,' by Nicolai,"
asserted Alfred L. Smith, representing the Music In-
dustries Chamber of Commerce.
"That appetizing and inspiring song, 'Yes, We
Have No Bananas,' may be found almost note for
not in part of 'The Messiah,' by Handel, and in part
in 'I Dreamt I Dwelt' from 'The Bohemian Girl,' by
Balfe. 'I'm Always Chasing Rainbows,' in its main
theme, is note for note like parts of Chopin's Fan-
taisie impromptu, Opus 66.
"These are but a few of many examples which
could be cited. Such is the creative genius which the
advocates of this bill say must be protected by a
drastic extension of copyright monopoly in order that
we may be assured of progress in the musical art.
Prices of Records Would Rise.
"Much of the current popular music is based upon
works of the old masters," Mr. Smith continued.
"The repetition of a single theme taken from an old
symphony or opera, or perhaps themes from several
original sources, a change in time, a different accent,
adaptation to the modern dance rhythm, makes a
popular hit which may earn thousands of dollars in
mechanical royalties."
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, Mr.
Smith said, was composed of all branches of the
music industry, but the music publishers had broken
away from it in this particular instance. The organi-
zation includes thirteen national trade associations, in-
cluding the manufacturers, wholesalers and retail dis-
tributors of pianos, phonographs, pipe organs, band
instruments, orchestral and other small instruments,
phonograph records, music rolls, musical publications
and parts.
Phonograph and playerpiano interests, with 300 fac-
tories in which $225,000,000 was invested, which have
an annual production of more than $200,000,000 and
employ 70,000 persons, object to the bill, Mr. Smith
said. He took the position that copyrights should
protect the public.
"The public has the right to demand the retention
of such restriction of copyright monopoly as is neces-
sary to allow the fullest and freest use of music at
the lowest possible price," he stated, while arguing
that if the mandatory royalty limit of 2 cents a record
now paid to a song writer were abandoned the cost
of the records and piano rolls would necessarily
increase.
Although there is a royalty limit to the composer
of two cents on each phonograph record, the royalty
for each music roll of the same song not covered by
the compulsory license system now often goes as high
as 12^ cents, Mr. Smith said. This, he explained,
was because "word-music" rolls, which means piano-
player rolls with words of the music printed on them,
were unknown when the 1909 copyright law was
passed and were not included under that law. He
urged that these rolls be placed under the restric-
tions.
"Cheap phonograph records are sold by the manu-
facturer for as little as eighteen cents, Mr. Smith tes-
tified. "An increase of ten cents in the cost of pro-
duction on such records would mean at least that
increase in the wholesale prices, and the price to
the public would be increased at least fifty per cent.
Even in the highest priced records the increase
would be substantial. Does Congress wish to make
the public pay from fifteen per cent to fifty per cent
more for their phonograph records and music rolls
in order to extend the monopoly of a few copyright
owners?" he asked.
Fears a "Great Music Trust."
The danger of a "great music trust" was sounded
by Mr. Smith, who said that six New York pub-
lishers now collected 85 per cent of the mechanical
royalties on popular music.
" 'Three O'Clock in the Morning' never gained one
cent for its actual composer, but the mechanical
royalties enriched the publishers by thousands," Mr.
Smith told the committee. 'Dardanella* was sold by
the author for $100, but the mechanical royalties
to the publishers were very large."
The witness said that the only real beneficiaries of
the abandonment of the compulsory mechanical
license, would be, not the great body of song writers,
but a few who had acquired an exceptional reputa-
tion, and also a comparatively small number of music
publishing concerns.
Paul B. Klugh of the National Association of
Broadcasters, criticized Thorvald Solberg, the regis-
ter of copyrights, for having drawn the bill, and
added that the radio interests had not been consulted
in the preparation of the measure.
A denial that 90 per cent of music was not copy-
righted was made by Mr. Klugh, who on the other
hand, contended that it was virtually impossible to
obtain uncopyrighted music for radio transmission.
He asked for the right to make individual bargains
between the radio broadcasters and the composers.
Only twenty out of 526 radio broadcasting agencies
are manufacturers of radio apparatus, he stated.
Questioned by Representative Sol Bloom of New
York, Mr. Klugh denied that $100 a minute had been
charged by the broadcasting stations for sending out
a speech by President Coolidge. The stations, he
said, charged nothing-, but there was a charge by the
telegraph companies for linking up land wires.
Other witnesses of the day were G. W. Case, Jr.,
who appeared for the phonograph manufacturers
against the bill, and John MacRae of E. P. Dutton
& Co , who, as a representative of the National Asso-
ciation of Book Publishers, approved the measure.
Nathan Burkan, counsel for the Society of Authors,
Composers and Publishers, charged that the song
writers were not even receiving the two cents royalty
from phonograph companies, due to the fact that
statistics were not properly kept. Mr. Burkan also
February 14, 1925.
INCREASED FREIGHT
SCHEDULE POSTPONED
If Passed by the Interstate Commerce Com-
mission Transportation Cost of Phono-
graphs and Radio Will Advance.
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce has
received official notification from the Secretary of the
Interstate Commerce Commission that the Commis-
sion has ordered the new classifications and increased
rates on interstate shipments of radio sets and radio
equipment, which were to go into effect on February
10th, suspended until June 10th, and that no changes
shall be made in the classifications or rates in the
meantime.
The postponement of the date on which the pro-
posed rates were to become effective has been made
in order to allow time for the commission to conduct
an investigation and hold hearings at which the rights
of all parties concerned and the interests of the pub-
lic may be fully considered and protected.
The new classification proposed by the railroads
would result in increases of 50 to 100 per cent in the
freight rates over those now prevailing. Hearings on
the matter will be held in San Francisco on March
4th, and in Washington, D. C, on March 25th.
OPENS GENERAL MUSIC STORE.
G. D. Bogue and L. R. Bigewit, who recently pur-
chased the music stock of the Shearouse Music Co.,
Palatka, Fla., have formed the B. & B. Music Shop
and opened for business last week in a spacious store
at Lemon and Fourth streets. It is the purpose of
the owners to do a general music business.
MUSIC STORE ROBBED.
P>urglars recently entered the store of W. J.
Augusta, Fond du Lac, Wis., and stole two receiving
sets, a loud speaker and other articles, altogether
valued at close to $500.
declared that the song writers had been unjustly
treated by the companies, who had, in more than
one instance, not paid the composers what was due
them.
WINDOW DISPLAYS INAUGURATED
The announcement has been made in Presto of the
new Chicago home of the Story & Clark Piano Co.,
at 173 North Michigan avenue. The change from the
"old piano row" on Wabash avenue to the new home
on Michigan will not be effected until late in the
spring. However, the enterprising firm has gone for-
ward with elaborate decorations that will make the
opening a beautiful event.
The above picture showing an attractive model of
the Story & Clark grand is the first window display
in the new home. It suggests a refined atmosphere
and depicts the quality of the extensive line that will
soon be displayed in the well appointed warerooms
of the new home.
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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