Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2020

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.
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/
April 11, 1925.
PRESTO
ACTIVE MEETING
OF OHIO DEALERS
Music Merchants' Association of Ohio Hold
Sessions at Columbus and Cover a Good
Deal of Ground, Including a New
Golf Organization.
TOO MANY ABSENTEES
But Committee Reports Prove that Interest Is Alive
and Present Most Cheerful Outlook for This
Year's Business.
The regular mid-year meeting of the Council and
Advisory Board of the Music Merchants' Association
of Ohio was held at the Fort Hayes Hotel, Colum-
bus, March 30th. President Grau called the meeting
to order. The following members of the Council
were present, in addition to President Grau: Otto C.
Muehlhauser, vice-president; secretary, Rexford C.
Hyre; executive committee men, R. C. Taylor, E. C.
McMahon, E. M. Harbough and George P. Gross.
Treasurer O. H. Boyd wrote explaining his absence—
vacation trip to Panama; C. C. Baker was also unable
to be present.
There were six members of the Advisory Board
present: A. B. Smith, Omer E. Westerfield, John F.
Renner, Henry Dreher, William W. Smith and Robert
C. Wilkin. Letters were received from other mem-
bers explaining their inability to attend.
Push for New Members.
C. M. Alford, chairman of the Membership Com-
mittee, and William V. Crowe, chairman of the Legis-
lative Committee, were also present. The former
made his report, which showed that since the Cleve-
land convention twelve members had resigned, eight
had removed from the trade or died, and fourteen
new members had been secured, making the present
total membership 360. A general discussion followed
regarding the best methods to get new members.
It was finally decided to have the secretary send
all present a list of the present membrship with appli-
cation blanks, so that each one could secure at least
five new members by July 1, 1925. It was also sug-
gested that each month a list be carried in the bulle-
tin of all those members who have secured new mem-
bers, giving the number of applications secured by
each member.
The report of the Advancement of Music Commit-
tee was given by Otto Grau for F. B. Beinkemp,
chairman, who was unable to be present. Mr. Bein-
kamp urged the establishment of a broadcasting sta-
tion by the Ohio Association. Because of lack of
finances, this suggestion was passed for consideration
at a future meeting.
Insurance and Carrying Charge.
The report of the Mutual Insurance Committee
was read by Secretary Hyre, as Charles H. Yahrling,
chairman, was not present. The secretary was in-
structed to continue the Mutual Insurance Depart-
ment and all members were urged to give the organi-
zation a part of their insurance at least.
The report of the Carrying Charge Committee was
not available due to the absence of its chairman, Wil-
liam R. Graul. W. W. Smith, president of the Na-
tional Association of Retail Music Merchants, then
presented a letter from Ed Kiesselhorst, of St. Louis,
which the secretary read and, in which Mr. Kiessel-
horst told how he had been using a carrying charge
since January 1, 1925, on his piano sales. A great
deal of discussion followed and it was by mutual
consent decided to continue this committee for re-
port at the next convention.
President Otto Grau then read the report of Joseph
A. Jacober, chairman of the Cincinnati Convention
Executive Committee.
Upon a motion by Mr. Crowe, secouded by Mr.
Renner, and unanimously adopted, Henry Dreher was
appointed a committee of one to take up and prepare
plans, including a constitution and by-laws, for or-
ganizing an Ohio Music Trade Golf Association at
the forthcoming Cincinnati convention; the said asso-
ciation to be composed of members of the Music Mer-
chants' Association only, to have its own member-
ship fee conduct its annual contest at the same time
as the annual conventions of the State Association,
and to have uniform rules and regulations for its play
each year.
It was also moved and seconded that future con-
ventions charge for strip entertainment tickets the
fixed sum of $8.50, said amount to cover a banquet
and such additional entertainment as is possible in
each individual case, depending upon the ability of
the local committee each year.
Fixed Convention Dates.
It was also decided to recommend to the 1925
convention that the annual meeting and convention
each year of the Music Merchants' Association of
Ohio, beginning with the year 1926, occupy three
days—that is, the second Monday of September each
year and the Tuesday and Wednesday following,
with business meetings held only in the afternoons
of these days.
It was unanimously decided that the same plan for
selecting the subjects to be discussed at the forthcom-
ing Cincinnati convention be used as was adopted for
the 1924 convention held in Cleveland. The secre-
tary was instructed to prepare a suitable letter to all
members, enclosing a printed postal for the recording
of a vote on a suggested list of subjects. The six
subjects receiving the highest postal card vote of the
members are to be discussed at the 1925 Cincinnati
convention, the speakers and the method of handling
to be left to the discretion and judgment of the
president.
Subjects for Discussion.
The following subjects were suggested, with the
understanding that they could be added to or changed
before the postal card vote was taken as the presi-
dent and secretary might deem best:
Overhead Compared to Volume; The Carrying
Charge; Bait Advertising; Radio Discounts; Future
of the Talking Machine; Trade-Ins; Advantages of
Handling Smaller Musical Instruments in Music
Stores; Business Systems, Prospects, Shop, Collec-
tions, etc.; How to Create and Secure Trained Piano
and Musical Merchandise Salesmen; Financing; Tun-
ing and Service; Mutual Insurance.
Secretary Hyre reported regarding the credit blank
that he was authorized to prepare at the Cleveland
convention. He stated that he had prepared a proper
legal blank but that it was too lengthy, in the opinion
of the members heard from, and asked for a com-
mittee to co-operate with him. He also suggested
the preparation of a uniform slip that could be used
by Ohio retail music merchants on their bills, their
payment books, or any other method used to collect
installments, which would inform customers of the
uniform rule of the association regarding delinquent
payments, and when the instrument should be re-
possessed.
Credits and Freights.
The credit statement and repossession slip notice
was approved in principle, and the president was
authorized to appoint a committee of three to co-
operate with and advise the secretary in the final
preparation of these two forms. President Grau ap-
pointed the following credit statement committee:
M. E. Smith, Cleveland, chairman; F. E. Woodford,
Youngstown; Fred J. Van Court, Cincinnati.
A motion was made and seconded that the asso-
ciation pledge its united support to the Music Indus-
tries Chamber of Commerce in its fight against in-
creased freight rates affecting the music industry.
Radio in the Trade.
President Grau appointed the following committee
to investigate and report on the radio manufacturers
of the country who were inclined to provide proper
discounts for music, stores: E. C. McMahon,
Youngstown, chairman; Omer E. Westerfield, Green-
ville, and Dan R. Baumbaugh, Cleveland.
The question of admitting radio dealers to the
State Association was presented, and after consider-
able discussion it was decided that merchants han-
dling radio only were not to be invited to join or
admitted to the State Association. This was not to
INDIANAPOLIS SHOWS UP
AT HOME EXHIBITION
All of the Local Music Houses Are Repre-
sented and Many Fine Pianos Add to
Beauty of Display.
Practically every music house in Indianapolis is
represented at the Home Complete Exposition now
being held in the Industrial Building at the State Fair
Grounds. The booths are beautifully decorated and
indeed a credit to the attraction.
The Carlin Music Company are exhibiting the
Fairj' Conover Grand with the Welte-Mignon repro-
ducing action, and also a pressure gauge which is
attached to the instrument and indicates the shading
of the artist. The guage is an invention of Edward
Mitchell, an employee of the company. The Cable
Midget style upright is also being displayed to
advantage.
The complete line of small goods, including the
Holton band instruments, and the Ludwig, Bacon and
Paramount banjos, are also on display, and also the
Ludwig drums.
The Christena-Teague Company is showing its line
of Marshall & Wendell Grands. The Chickering Ara-
pico, in the Adam design, and the William and Mary
style show up well. The Vose Grand, in style O, is
also on exhibition.
The Baldwin Piano Company's both is occupied by
one of the style H, Baldwin Grands, in mahogany;
the Howard Manuola style 476, the art design Bald-
win Grand and a new style Hamilton upright, and
the style 260 Brunswick Radiola.
The Pearson Piano Company are exhibiting the
Steinway Grand in style M, the Settergren Grand,
style X, the Kurtzmann, style B Grand, and the
Weber Duo-Art, style Louis the 16th. The complete
line of Buescher Band instruments are also being
displayed.
Rapp & Lennox are showing the Francis Bacon up-
right, the Fisher Grand, the Fisher Ampico Grand
and the Knabe Ampico Grand.
The Indianapolis Music House are showing the
A. B. Chase piano in several styles and the Repro-
ducing: Grand.
OPENS NEW BRANCH STORE.
The Parks Music House Company, of Hannibal,
Mo., has opened a branch store in Monroe City, Mo.,
with a stock of pianos, playerpianos, and other musi-
cal instruments. A concert was given at the formal
opening. F. A. Hurd, of the Hannibal house of the
Parks company, is in charge.
apply to dealers handling radio along with other
musical instruments.
A motion by Henry Dreher, seconded by Otto C.
Muhlhauser, and unanimously adopted, was that the
retail music business is on the up grade, that collec-
tions are much better than last year, and that from
all ndications in Ohio and throughout the country
1925 will be one of the biggest years in the trade.
The ladies and gentlemen present were entertained
at seven o'clock dinner at the Hotel Fort Hayes by
President Otto Grau.
THE H. G. JOHNSON FACTORY
II
As has been told in Presto, the new factory of
the Henry G. Johnson Piano Co. at Bellevue, Iowa,
is under full headway. The new factory is much
larger than the one which was destroyed by fire a
year ago. It is perfectly equipped for the produc-
tion of pianos in quantities to meet the requirements
of the trade. The small grands from this factory
will be a large factor of the trade in the near future.
The completion of this comprehensive piano mak-
ing plant is another testimonial to the energy and
enterprise of Mr. Johnson.
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/

Download Page 3: PDF File | Image

Download Page 4 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.