Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
E« a biuh*d ISM.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
to c.nt. t ti.oo « i w
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, APRIL 11, 1925
FIGHTING "BAIT"
ADVERTISING EVIL
Generous Financial Aid by American Piano
Company Gives Impetus to Growing
Movement to Abate Practice of Low-
Price Advertising in the Piano
Trade.
THE SPECIAL COMMITTEE
Energetic Group with C. Alfred Wagner as Chair-
man to Fight Dangerous Condition in the
Retail Music Business.
The American Piano Co. has taken decisive action
to help stop the "bait" advertising evil which leaders
in the trade believe is threatening the vital interests
of the piano industry. An appropriation of $1,000 for
the Better Business Bureau of New York City has
been made by the company for the intensive work of
investigation and correction of local evils, to protect
the advertising of the retail interests of the company
and its representatives in the Metropolitan district.
This will set an example for the trade in New
York and elsewhere in support of the Better Busi-
ness movement affiliated with the Associated Adver-
tising Clubs of the World. This action, in co-oper-
ation with the drive undertaken by the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce against the "bait"
methods, is expected to clear up the field for legiti-
mate promotion work. C. Alfred Wagner, general
manager of the American Piano Company, has ac-
cepted the chairmanship of the special committee of
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, to com-
bat the evils of "bait" advertising.
The Committee Suggested.
In the concluding paragraph of the "Report and
Recommendations with Reference to Low Price and
'Bait' Piano Advertising," submitted by the Better
Business Bureau of the Chamber and adopted at the
January meeting the request was made for a com-
mittee. A careful selection of committee appoint-
ments was headed with the name of Mr. Wagner,
whose associates were also picked with careful con-
sideration in keeping with the importance of the sub-
ject. Mr. Wagner's prompt acceptance of his ap-
pointment as chairman indicates the feeling of the
legitimate trade towards the "bait" methods.
Mr. Wagner Speaks.
"I am really glad to accept the chairmanship of the
committee which has been formed to institute a cor-
rection of piano publicity that has undoubtedly tended
to place in the mind of the public erroneous piano
values and which in my opinion represents the most
damaging influence with the public that has ever
been instituted," said Mr. Wagner.
"It is bad enough that the public has been led to
believe that pianos can be purchased at less than
their manufacturing cost, but it is shameful that after
the prices have been published to cover retail values
that are absolutely ridiculous, the sales methods re-
sorted to for obtaining higher prices are bringing the
piano business into further disgrace.
$1,000 For New York Fight.
"I am glad to be able to say that our company has
appropriated $1,000 to the Better Business Bureau of
New York City to carry on the local work here
toward the protection of our local retail stores here
in New York and those representing us in this Metro-
politan district. We certainly realize what a damag-
ing influence has been instituted and we will lend
not only our moral support but financial also toward
a correction of what we believe is the most destruc-
tive tendency that has ever been in evidence in piano
retailing.
"We have the machinery created to meet this
dangerous condition, and in my belief to put a stop
to the worst features of the 'bait' advertising and
the sales methods that accompany it. Those adver-
tisers who are so short sighted that they cannot see
what they are doing to the piano business must be
set right, and if they cannot be made to correct their
advertising sterner methods must be adopted.
Aim Is Nation-Wide.
"In the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce
we have the means of national and local contacts
which will reach every member of the trade. We
can enlist the piano manufacturers and music mer-
chants who are sure to revolt against the situation
when they realize what it is leading to. We already
have evidence that the trade press will keep the sub-
ject agitated and expose offenders who are tearing
down the trade.
"We are assured of the co-operation of the Na-
tional Vigilance Committee of the Associated Adver-
tising Clubs and the local Better Business Bureau in
42 cities throughout this country. These bureaus are
a vital factor in the program for better advertising
and they deserve all the support we can give them."
ESTEY ORGANS FOR
NUMEROUS CHURCHES
Big List of Sales of Fine Instruments to
Churches in Four States Published by
Lyon & Healy, Chicago.
Manager Damsel of the organ department of Lyon
& Healy, Chicago, reports great activity in recent
installation work. The following impressive list of
installations of Estey organs is an eloquent tribute
to the excellence of the instruments:
An exceptionally fine four-manual Estey organ is
being installed in the First Presbyterian Church, Fort
Wayne, Ind.; a three-manual Estey organ is being
installed in the First Church of Christ, Scientist,
Wheaton, 111.; a two-manual Estey organ is being
finished up at St. Matthew's Lutheran Church, West
80th and Aberdeen streets, Chicago; a three-manual
Estey organ has just been completed in the First
Baptist Church of Elgin; a three-manual Estey organ
has been shipped and is ready for erection in the
Second Church of Christ, Scientist, Cincinnati, Ohio;
a large two-manual Estey organ is awaiting erection
in the Luther Memorial Chapel in Milwaukee, and a
large two-manual Estey organ is now being erected
in the First Church of Christ, Scientist, Kokomo,
Ind.; another three-manual Estey organ is on its way
to the First Methodist Church at Madison, Wis.
The three and four-manual organs are all equipped
with the Estey Patented Luminous Stop Console,
which is becoming very popular with many of the
better organists throughout the country.
PITTSBURGH FIRM'S ELECTION.
At the annual meeting recently of the E. G. Hays
Co., in Pittsburgh, Pa., representatives of the
Lester piano in that territory, the following officers
were elected: President, Charles H. Wilt; vice-presi-
dent, Horace Hays; treasurer, E. G. Hays; secretary,
M. E. Goodman. Mr. Wilt, who has been connected
with the company for more than fifteen years and
was sales manager for a long time, is contemplating
locating in Miami, Fla. He is widely known to the
trade and was warmly congratulated on his elevation
to the presidency of the company.
TUNER'S CONVENTION PLANS.
At the convention of the National Association of
Piano Tuners to be held in Detroit August 3, 4, 5 and
6, with headquarters at the Hotel Statler, one entire
floor will be given over for the various exhibits to be
held. This- is in charge of A. V. Minifie, president
of the Detroit branch. The general chairman of the
convention is T. M. Wise, of Mt. Clemens. F. L.
Donelson, of Flint, Mich., will have charge of the edu-
cational part of the program.
HANDLES MUSIC EXCLUSIVELY.
Arthur E. Jackson, Santa Monica, Cal., who has
conducted a music and stationery store for many
years at 1404 Third avenue, will in future confine his
efforts exclusively to music goods. He handles a
full line of pianos, talking machines and small musi-
cal instruments. His son, Kenneth L. Jackson, as-
sists him in the sales.
UNITED PIANO CORP.
DEALER'S ADVANTAGE
Great Line of Artistic Grands in Variety of
Sizes Provided for Trade in Addition to
Other Desirable Instruments.
The importance accorded to the grand piano phase
of the business of the United Piano Corporation, Nor-
walk, Ohio, reflects the favor of the piano buying
public and of course the piano trade. It is the day
of the grand, and the United Piano Corporation has
recognized the fact in the most marked way. For
two years the company has been working towards its
present advantageous position in grands and complete
reorganization of production methods have been
necessary to fully accomplish the end aimed at. The
assortment of grand pianos which the United Piano
Corporation offers gives that powerful industry a
strong advantage in the trade.
Many new machines have been invented by J. H.
Williams, president of the company, and patented,
to eliminate the possibilities for mistake and to make
the production of grand pianos correct to the in-
finitesimal degree. The men who are responsible for
the A. B. Chase piano tone are still "on the job,"
many of them having been in the Norwalk factory
for more than thirty years.
The production of grand pianos is eighty-five per
cent of the entire production in all three lines, which
embraces the A. B. Chase, Emerson and Lindeman
& Sons pianos. The corporation is equipped to make
quality grands only, as the type of men in the organ-
ization and the work they have been doing for so
many years makes it literally impossible for them to
produce cheap instruments. This, of course, *s in line,
with the policy of Mr. Williams and J. H. Shale,
treasurer, to improve the product of the three fac-
tories wherever possible. There are four different
sizes and twenty different models in grands alone in
the line of the United Piano Corporation.
In addition to the advantages of a big line of
grands, varied in models and size, the corporation
provides its dealers with a range of playerpianos of
artistic character and simplicity of construction. The
Celco Reproducing Medium, installed in instruments •
of all three lines, is remarkable for its delicate tonal
effects, with an ease and sureness of touch made
possible by this mechanism.
The United Piano Corporation manufactures one
upright in the A. B. Chase, one upright in the Linde-
man & Sons, and two uprights in the Emerson line.
Upright electric Celco equipped pianos and foot pump
Celcos are also produced.
It is a complete line of grands, uprights and play-
ers, which puts the United Piano Corporation deal-
ers in position to offer pianos appealing to practically
every class of purchaser.
FRANK M. HOOD ENJOYED
TRIP THROUGH SOUTH
Visited Schiller Representatives and Interested Many
New Dealers in the Schiller Line.
Frank M. Hood, vice-president of the Schiller Piano
Co., Oregon, 111., returned last week to the com-
pany's Chicago office full of optimism in regards to
the southern trade. Mr. Hood reports that dealers
in that section expressed their confidence of a good
summer trade and accordingly placed liberal orders
for the Schiller line.
Trade conditions in the south are better than in
the mid-west states, in the opinion of Mr. Hood, who,
when seen by a Presto representative this week, was
in an enthusiastic mood over the prospects of the
Schiller line in that part of the country.
A. M. WRIGHT BACK IN BOSTON.
A. M. Wright, who has been wintering at St.
Petersburg, Fla., is expected to return to Boston
about April 12. He was scheduled to leave St.
Petersburg on April 9. Mrs. Wright doesn't say
what his first activities will be when he gets back
home, but no doubt his love of the piano will keep
him close to his old friends in the trade.
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