Presto

Issue: 1925 2022

PRESTO
FIRST VICE PRES.
OF THE N. P. T. ASSN.
which Miss Witton was easily the victor, with scores
of 51 and 55. The best Mr. Liljestrom could roll was
48 and 47.
A pleasing feature of the evening's festivities was
the reading of an original poem by Morris J. Lane.
Geo. E. Mansfield, Traveler for C. Kurtzmann
& Co., Buffalo, One of the Most Popular
Men "on the Road."
FIRE BADLY DAMAGED
MARQUETTE PIANO CO.
If the customary order of the Civil Service rulings
carries at the approaching conventions of piano men
and other music men next June, there is good mate-
rial in sight for president of the National Piano Trav-
elers' Association. The portrait herewith will he rec-
Factory Building in Wallace Street, Chicago,
Partly Destroyed, Causing Loss of Nearly
Fifty Thousand Dollars.
Damage to the amount of $50,000 was done by a
fire which started early Wednesday of this week on
the first floor of a four-story brick factory building at
2439 Wallace street, Chicago. A 4-11 alarm was
turned in, but before firemen could get the blaze under
control it had practically destroyed the first two floors
of the building, which were occupied by the Mar-
quette Piano Company.
The Marquette Piano Company has been making
automatic pianos. It is an old industry, having been
started by A. F. Larson and B. C. Waters nearly
twenty-five years ago. Of late it has been making
theater orchestras. The company is controlled by
C. S. Morse, president, and C. A. Scott, secretary and
treasurer. It is understood that the factory will be
restored and manufacture of the "Cremona" automatic
pianos continued.
CLEVER DISPLAY BY
STOUT'S MUSIC HOUSE
U. S. Player Music Roll Featuring "Peter Pan"
Attracted Much Notice in Kirksville,
Missouri, Store Window.
GEO.
E. MANSFIELD.
ognized by a large proportion of piano dealers
throughout the country.
And if there is a more cheerful, trade-inspiring cap-
turer of large orders for fine pianos than is suggested
hy the smiling countenance of Geo. E. Mansfield,
traveler for the C. Kurtzmann & Co., of Buffalo, it
would be good to know where to find him. For real
trade winners, and trade holders, are not too plentiful
at any time.
Mr. Mansfield is first vice-president of the piano
travelers' organization, having served the current
year. He will be present at the convention in Chi-
cago, without a doubt, and when the records of the
association are presented the vote for a new presi-
dent will follow and it will require a mighty good one
to succeed President Plaisted.
MILLER EMPLOYES
AT QET=TOGETHER
Talent Displayed at Pleasing Banquet and En-
tertainment Which Was Greatly Enjoyed
at Y. M. C. A. Recently.
About sixty employes of the Henry F. Miller fac-
tory of the Continental Piano Co., Boston, were pres-
ent recently at the annual "open house" and get-to-
gether at the Y. M. C. A. in that city. An appetising
supper, served by Caterer Grattan, was enjoyed early
in the evening, followed by a splendid entertainment
with O. D. Howlett acting as toastmaster. A com-
mittee was appointed to attend to the details in con-
nection with the outing early in July, and the same
committee will attend to the matter of obtaining
flowers for sick employes or those who pass away.
The music during the banquet was by the Henry F.
Miller Welte-Mignon reproducing upright piano. Fol-
lowing the banquet, the following program was
given :
1. Violin solo, "Bolero," by Bohn, played by Mrs.
Natalie Powell, accompanied on the piano by Miss
Carrie Upton.
2. Recitation by Philip Reynolds.
3. Monologue by Frank Crosby.
4. Violin solo, "Serenade," by Schubert, played by
Mrs. Natalie Powell.
5. Philip Reynolds in comic burlesque on the "Aria
from Trovatore."
Frederick C. Smith, secretary of the Y. M. C. A.,
led the community singing, following the entertain-
ment, and then the members adjourned to the game
rooms, where pool, billiards, volley ball and bowling
were enjoyed. An interesting bowling match took
place between Miss Whitton and Mr. Liljestrom, in
The question that often arises in making window
displays is "Will the display pay?" It is doubtful if
Mr. Stout, of Kirksville, Mo., sold enough copies of
the roll "Peter Pan" to make this display pay, per-
haps in terms of actual dollars and cents received for
the merchandise that was displayed in the window.
But the big thought is this: Isn't it possible that a
great many people were attracted to Mr. Stout's win-
dow by this very good display who might have been
interested in buying anything, from a Jew's harp to a
reproducing piano, and, as a consequence, there is no
doubt but that the display did pay.
The music dealer's window is one of the very best
advertising mediums he has, and, whether he dis-
plays cleverly a ten-cent seller or a grand piano, if he
can attract favorable attention to his window he has
accomplished his purpose. So we think Mr. Stout is
to be complimented upon the very exceptional win-
dow display which is pictured here, particularly when
you consider that Kirksville, Missouri, is a town of
about eight thousand inhabitants and Mr. Stout's dis-
play certainly would do credit to the window of any
metropolitan music house.
W. C. DIERKS RETURNS.
W. C. Dierks, treasurer and general manager of
the C. C. Mellor Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., recently re-
turned from a two months' tour of Europe, on which
he was accompanied by Mrs. Dierks and their
daughter Elizabeth. The main purpose of the trip
was to visit the son of Mr. and Mrs. Dierks, Barry C.
Dierks, who is a prominent young architect of Paris,
where he makes his home.
April 25, 1925.
MASON & HAMLIN TO
CELEBRATE BIRTHDAY
Famous Instrument of Boston Will on May
First Mark Completion of Seventy
Year's Progress.
Friends of, and dealers in, Mason & Hamlin pianos,
as well as other lovers of artistic pianos outside the
trade and profession have received a handsomely en-
graved invitation reading as follows:
The Mason & Hamlin Co. cordially invites Presto
to attend a celebration marking the completion of its
seventieth year, and in recognition of those who have
served for periods ranging from five to fifty-six years
its a'ms and ideals, on Friday evening, May the first,
nineteen hundred and twenty-five, at a quarter after
eight o'clock, Jordan Hall, Boston, Massachusetts.
Pianoforte sclori, Harold Bauer. Overture, the
Mason & Hamlin Orchestra.
Kindly reply to the Mason & Hamlin Co., 146
Boylston street.
"Seventieth year!" Here is one of the oldest of the
American pianos, which has sustained its place by
adhering to the highest type of artistic attainment
possible. The Mason & Hamlin maintains the unique
position of having never stepped aside from the line
originally laid out, which was to create the perfect
piano. And at the beginning of ith seventieth year
the Mason & Hamlin stands higher in the world of
art than ever before, if that is possible.
The indicated character of the celebration of the
seventieth birthday of the famous Boston instrument
is in keeping with the quality of the Mason & Hamlin
piano, and all who attend will have occasion to con-
gratulate themselves.
And the Mason & Hamlin piano will, without doubt,
be the same artistic product seventy years hence that
it is today.
MUSIC INTERESTS LIKE
PATENT OFFICE CHANGES
Department of Commerce Now Has Charge of
Patent Office Work and Promises Pro-
testion to Americans Abroad.
The recent transfer of the U. S. Patent Office from
the jurisdiction of the Department of the Interior to
the Department of Commerce, thereby placing it
under the control of Secretary Hoover, is commended
by music trade interests.
The Department of Commerce organization act
vests the President with authority to transfer certain
bureaus whose work is related to commerce to that
department, and it was under such authority that the
executive or-der was issued today.
In announcing the change Secretary Hoover de-
clared that he intended to undertake a vigorous cam-
paign for the removal of present injustices toward
American patentees and American manufacturers.
"At the present time," said Mr. Hoover, "an Ameri-
can patentee is required in many foreign countries to
continuously manufacture in that country under his
patent or lose his patent rights. We make no such
requirements in the United States. The consequence
is that our inventors and manufacturers, in order to
protect their inventions, have been driven to the
establishment of a large number of factories abroad,
whereas foreign patentees have been able to use their
patents in the United States to actually prevent manu-
facture here."
STONER WITH LEE S. ROBERTS.
PROGRESSIVE ROCHESTER FIRM.
H. L. Stoner, for the past four years manager of
the retail Ampico department of Kohler & Chase,
San Francisco, has resigned, to join Lee S. Roberts,
Inc., and he is already taking part in the preliminary
work of opening the new piano store. Mr. Stoner is
one of the best-known piano men on the Pacific Coast,
and successfully managed the artists' department in
conjunction with the Ampico, while managing the re-
tail Ampico department for Kohler & Chase.
The Gibbons & Stone music store, Rochester, N. Y.,
at 172 Main street, East, for the past sixty-four years,
moved to new quarters at 94 Clinton avenue, North,
recently. The business was originally established in
the Main street address and has remained under the
same name and under the management of the original
owners. The move was necessitated by the growth
of business in recent years. Added floor space and
the advantage of entrances from two streets in a sec-
tion that is rapidly finding favor as a retail center
have been secured.
GROWS IN POMONA, CAL.
The Ressler Music Co., formerly located at 365
West Second street, has taken new quarters in the
Investment Building. The piano wareroom and re-
cital hall have been prepared for the display of pianos.
In addition to pianos, up-to-the-minute sheet music
and phonograph departments have been created, the
latter featuring the Brunswick Radiola as the leader
of its line.
J. E. Bennett and E. I. Simmons are partners in a
general music store in the Jones Building at Cordell,
Okla, They are carrying pianos, phonographs, rec-
ords, rolls and sheet music.
BIG STARR DISPLAY.
In the combined exhibition of the Starr Piano Co.
and the Witlin Musical Instrument Co., Starr repre-
sentative, opened at the Ben Franklin Hotel, Phila-
delphia, the week beginning April 27, the music trade
of Philadelphia and territory supplied by the local
distributors will have an opportunity to view all the
Starr products of the piano, talking machine and radio
lines. This most comprehensive of Starr exhibits will
include a dual display of the Starr uprights, grands,
reproducers and playfrs and Starr phonographs and
radio loud speakers.
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 25, 1925.
PRESTO
LEADERS IN DRIVE
ON "BAIT" METHODS
EEBURG
Strong Committee of Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce Appointed to Combat
Advertising Which May Demoral-
ize the Piano Industry.
C. ALFRED WAGNER CHAIRMAN
TYLE"L"
The KEY to
OSITIVE
ROFITS
MANUFACTURED ONLY BY
J. P. Seeburg
Piano Co.
'''Leaders in the
Automatic Field"
1510 Dayton St.
Chicago
Address Department "E"
Prominent Members of Powerful Houses Appear as
Champions of the Better Class of Publicity,
and to Kill Tricks in Trade.
The appointment of a special committee to guide
the drive against "bait" piano advertising, undertaken
by the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, is
another step taken in the movement to combat retail
piano selling methods practiced by a few dealers
which are regarded as demoralizing to the entire
industry.
President R. W. Lawrence, of the Chamber, has
named a committee which is regarded as thoroughly
representative of important manufacturing and retail
interests whose influence can scarcely be disregarded
in bringing about a correction of the conditions in
question. The special committee includes:
C. Alfred Wagner, American Piano Co., chairman;
Herbert W. Simpson, Kohler Industries; A. G. Gul-
bransen, Gulbransen Co ; W. H. Alfring, Aeolian Co.;
Henry Dreher, Dreher Piano Co.; W. E. Guylee, The
Cable Co.; Henry E. Weisert, Bissell-Weisert Co.
To Protect Good Will.
The importance of the subject in the minds of these
trade leaders is indicated by the readiness with which
they accepted their appointments and the expressions
of condemnation by them and others. The "bait"
practices were roundly condemned by many piano
manufacturers in submitting their votes on the reso-
lution recommended for passage by the National
Piano Manufacturers' Association, at the January
meeting of the Board of Directors of the Chamber.
"I am rather heavily loaded up with association
matters for this year," said Henry E. Weisert, of Chi-
cago, who is also vice-president of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants, "and have felt I should
not take on any more, but this is a matter of such
importance that I feel I ought to lend my efforts to it
and you may, therefore, count upon me to serve upon
this committee."
In Full Sympathy.
For the Aeolian Co., W. H. Alfring, vice-president
and general manager, said:
"Our company is in full sympathy with organized
movements designed to protect values and preserve
good will in the piano industry, and so is interested in
plans designed to accomplish these ends. Pianos are
major purchases, requiring to be surrounded with
dignity and with respect for the established prices."
"Surely the object is worthy and the need impera-
tive," says W. E. Guylee, of The Cable Co., Chicago.
"I accept the asignment and will do what I can in
conjunction with the committee."
New York Sees Progress.
"We note with a great deal of pleasure the gradual
combination of the better element in the piano indus-
try to combat the evils of the trade," wrote L.
Schoenewald, New York manager of the Story &
Clark Piano Co., in pledging an additional contribu-
tion, to the Better Business Bureau of New York
City. "Last fall we subscribed to the Better Busi-
ness Bureau, and it is without hesitancy that we are
glad to state that we will further support this with an
additional donation at this time of $250 and feel that
if this good work is kept up we shall be glad to sub-
scribe from time to time to the Bureau.
"Any other co-operation that this company or the
writer personally can render we will be glad to do so,
and we want you to know that we are at your service
or the service of the Bureau in this matter."
The Chairman's Views.
This response was made to the appeal of C. Alfred
Wagner, chairman of the national committee, for the
New York trade to set an example for the rest of the
country in the drive against "bait" methods.
The early contributors to the Better Business Bu-
reau of New York City, when the effort was first
being made to establish the merchandise section which
has now been put into operation, are greatly encour-
aged by the impetus given to the movement through
the $1,000 contribution of the American Piano Co. on
behalf of its big retail interests in the metropolis.
The further effort of Mr. Wagner, as national chair-
man, to obtain backing for the effort in New York,
has resulted in increasing the Story & Clark con-
tribution to $350, and a subscription of $300 from the
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., which are in addition to the
previous contributions of $200 by Landay Bros, and
others by Hardman, Peck & Co., Krakauer Bros.,
Winterroth & Co., Jerome W. Ackerly, Wm. Knabe
& Co., James & Holmstrom Piano Co., Mathushek &
Son Piano Co., and Pease-Behning Co., Inc.
Calvin Purdy Speaks.
"It is indeed gratifying to see the volume of inter-
est that is growing in our work to stamp out the evils
of the piano trade," said Calvin T. Purdy, president
of the New York Piano Merchants' Association and
a member of the Better Business Advisory Commit-
tee which approved the "bait" advertising report of
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
Mr. Purdy acted as chairman of the local commit-
tee to raise funds for the Better Business Bureau of
New York City when that work was started more
than a year ago. "It is pleasing to our members in
the New York Piano Merchants' Association to see
the national campaign against 'bait' methods getting
under way, and also to feel that our co-operation in
New York with the Better Business movement is
likely to have a national effect for the general good
of the trade."
RUDOLPH C. BECKER
HEAD OF BECKER BROS.
Son of the Founder of the Reliable Old New
York Piano Manufacturing Company
Elected to Presidency by Directors.
At a recent meeting of the directors of Becker
Bros., New York, Rudolph C. Becker was elected
president to succeed Jacob H. Becker, his father, the
founder of the company, who died recently.
The new president of Becker Bros, is a young man
in his early thirties, but he has had ten years of varied
experiences in the sales and manufacturing divisions
of the business. Under his father's tutelage he has
become familiar with every phase of piano building
and inspired with the same desire for accuracy and
ta?t-j in construction that distinguished his predecessor
as head of the company., The well-equipped factory
at 52nd street and 10th avenue is an example of order-
liness in every department and a fine tribute to a
family of practical piano makers.
Becker Bros.' dealers feel assured that the fine
tonal qualities and superior mechanical features of
the Becker Bros.- Pianos and playerpianos will be
continued under the supervision of the new president.
Mr. Becker's ambition is to continue the instruments
as representatives of the better class of American
pianos and players, continually meriting the confi-
dence of the dealers and the public.
MARION, IND., MUSIC FIRM
HOLDS SUCCESSFUL SALE
Strong Advertising by Butler Music Company Results
in Numerous and Prompt Sales.
The Butler Music company, Marion, Ind., has just
put the entire stock of the Lafayette Music company
recently purchased, on sale at their local store, an-
nounces that so far a record business has been done.
The new record for business set by the Butler house
indicates that Marion is in a prosperous condition.
In the advertising by the progressive Marion house
the fact that this is the logical time to purchase a
piano, due to the spring house cleaning, is pointed
out and also the school will soon be out and the
children can take up music. It is evident by the
remarkable business done by the Butler Music com-
pany in the early days of their big sale that the sug-
gestions in the newspapers have had the desired effect.
INVENTS NEW PLAYER ACTION.
Charles A. Wheatley, Jeffersonville, Ind., has been
granted patent No. 1,533,052 for an action for player-
pianos. Mr. Wheatley's invention relates to improve-
ments in the construction of pneumatic actions for
playerpianos, and has for its object the provision of
an action so constructed that all the individual valve
members are separately detachably mounted beneath
and associated with the tube rail. An important ob-
ject is the provision of an action of this character in
which all the valve members are duplicates of a cer-
tain unit so that all the valve members will be inter-
changeable.
KANSAS CITY MAN ABROAD.
F. B. Jenkins, of the J. W. Jenkins' Sons Music
Co., Kansas City, Mo., recently sailed on the "Levi-
athan" from New York to tour Europe for several
months. Mr. Jenkins, who buys for several depart-
ments in the big Kansas City store, will visit the
musical instruments manufacturing centers in order
to formulate a general survey of industrial conditions
and the markets there.
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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