PRESTO
Presto
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY.
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT
Editors
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Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
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Address all communications for the editorial or business
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Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
SATURDAY, AUGUST 8, 1925.
EVOLUTION AND MUSIC
The scene at Dayton, Tenn., which recently
stirred the mind of the thinking' world was, in
its essence, but the re-enacting of a very old
drama. To some people it is in the nature of
a tragedy, while to others it is a comedy. And
to people who are directly interested in mu-
sic, and the instruments that make it, the
evolution trial recalls the struggle through
which the art divine itself has passed.
Of course, music is older than religion itself.
But in its methods, and means of interpreta-
tion, it has always been comparatively new.
It has kept pace with human development, and
the instruments of music have been created
and modified as conditions have suggested and
the love of novelty and progress has de-
manded. But evolution, as it stirs the world
of dogma or belief today, is having no harder
a time than music has experienced.
The scene of the evolution trial itself re-
minds us that it was in another town of Day-
ton that the first claimant to the honors ac-
corded to Jonas Chickering, as the inventor
of the "full iron plate" lived and had his being-.
And, while the pioneer piano maker of Day-
ton, Ohio, did not succeed in establishing his
right to the distinction, he nevertheless did
attract a good deal of notice. And we all know
of the "hard road to travel" that beset the
w r ay of the organ. It is not so very long ago
that we read, in the same newspapers that
are now telling the evolution story, about the
casting out, by an established old congrega-
tion, of a new church organ.
The reed organ was, perhaps, the most ac-
tive article in the average music store. And
one of the favorite designs was that of the
chapel organ. But around the little chapel
organ centered many a fierce skirmish. It
was at one time not very unusual to hear of
the box of innocent reeds being cast out of
the house of worship. There are even yet
veteran music dealers who can remember the
stings of disappointment that followed the
negative vote of the little church on the hill-
side, whose congregation had defeated the
more advanced notions of the newer, music
loving preacher.
So that there isn't so much to wonder at
in the incident of the little Tennessee town.
Nor is it to be doubted that, as in the case of
the organ, the time will come when the drama,
which today seems serious to many, will be
looked back upon with amused amazement.
It is all in the way of progress.
AN ABSORBING DISCUSSION
There need be no apology for the great
amount of space this week given to the con-
troversial correspondence between Mr. Geo.
P. Bent and the Rev. Irving Putnam. Re-
cently every newspaper in the world filled
more space with stories of evolution as they
were being told in a little town in Tennessee.
And this week's discussion between the distin-
guished former piano manufacturer and the
Joliet minister is of more importance, and
much more interest to our temporal being,
than that which held the world at Dayton. And
it is probable that not a reader of Presto will
miss a word of the prohibition discussion as
set forth in this paper.
It may be that such things do not exactly
belong in a music trade paper, but when the
discussion is so vital, and is discussed by a
man who has made his mark in the piano
industry, we believe that conditions justify
the time and space. Besides, Mr. Bent throws
new light upon the piano business itself. His
suggestion concerning the bootleggers as buy-
ers of Grand pianos may seem a bit exagge-
rated, and certainly the piano has not been so
very "dead."
As a matter of fact, Mr. Bent's own declara-
tion about the bootleggers' activities as good
customers seems to present proof that the
piano has been very much alive. It might
be better were the Grand pianos all sold to
people who respect the law, and others who
win their money open and above-board. But
perhaps the conclusion drawn from what Mr.
Bent says is right, and people who buy Grand
pianos must find it hard to be good if the
laws won't let them without restricting their
tastes for the mild inspiration that helped
Schubert to write his immortal "Serenade,"
and Theodore Thomas to prove that he was a
real conductor of orchestras, and almost in-
numerable others to create the "drinking
songs" which lend color to the more or less
grand operas which live through the ages.
If you happen to be among the fortunate
ones who enjoy peaceful controversy, with
the stings eliminated, the letters by the Rev.
Irving E. Putnam, of Joliet, and Mr. George
P. Bent, of nearly Everywhere, will fill you
with delight. There may be two sides to
every question, but most readers will decide
that after the perusal of whichever of the
two gentlemen's letters he reads last will
leave less than half a side for the other gentle-
man's contention. For both seem to present
indisputable arguments.
* * *
It seems probable that the playerpiano will
eventually belong to the class of specialties.
That is, the famous names which have become
a part of the nomenclature of the industry
will survive and the piano manufacturers, as
August 8, 1925.
a class, will return to the grands and uprights,
as pianos to be played upon by hand in the
good old way.
There are playerpiano names, such as Aeo-
lian, Pianola, Autopiano, Gulbransen, Inner
Player and others which will live indefinitely.
Straight pianos will have a new life, and they
will be called for and sold under the names of
their makers and their makers' trade marks.
So the signs of the times say.
* * *
In the days now almost forgotten there used
to be such things as "stencil" pianos. Today
pianos are pianos, and the only stencil that
counts is one that is recognized by the intelli-
gent music loving public. If it signifies an in-
strument of quality it is a helper in competi-
tion. If it is something altogether strange the
prospects will shy—or ought to.
There is no advertising in the Bent-Irving
controversy which brightens this issue of
Presto. But if either Mr. Bent or the Rev.
Putnam had happened to be making pianos
just now, what an adv. their letters might
give them.
There is a very general feeling in the trade
that the "straight" upright is coming back.
It has really not been far away, but it is "com-
ing back" strong, nevertheless. So say many
prominent piano men.
* * *
Either an upheaval or a collapse of prices
weakens confidence in money. A slash-price
sale of pianos weakens confidence in the in-
struments themselves.
30 YEARS AGO IN THE TRADE
From the Files of Presto
(August 8, 1895.)
There is very little doing to make glad the heart
of the average music dealer at this time. Of course,
like the occasional ripple on the water when the wind
has subsided, there is a good sale once in a while,
but this is the exception not the rule.
Dr. Geo. F. Root died on Wednesday at Bailey's
Island, in Casco Bay, twenty miles from Portland,
Me. He had reached the ripe age of 75, and up to
within a few days of his death retained much of his
early vigor.
"Would it be painful to ask how business is?" said
a prominent music trade man down town, during the
week, to a gentleman of like distinction. "No," was
the prompt and witty reply, "I am case hardened."
Here is an interesting item. In discussing music
in the homes of New York aristocrats and money-
princes, a daily paper says that "pianos costing from
$10,000 to $15,000 are common in the homes of these
people and are not regarded as luxuries."
Though days be slow
And nights be dark 'twixt days that come and go,
Still Pluck will win. Its average is sure.
He gains the prize who can the most endure,
Who faces issues; he who never shirks,
Who waits and watches, and who always works.
20 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
(From Presto, August 10, 1905.)
He who can sell pianos let him prepare to sell
them now, or very shortly. Prospect is for a fine
fall trade.
Plans for an additional factory building for the
Lester Piano Company, at Lester, Delaware County,
have been posted by Roydhouse, Arey & Co., at
Philadelphia, Pa.
A pious congregation of the Holiness Association
which meets in a store room on Chicago's west side
recently entered on a "season of prayer" to the Lord
to remove or otherwise silence a music box which
played ungodly airs in the saloon adjoining.
The new factory, of the Schaeffer Piano Co., at
Kankakee is now under roof and is being finished
with all dispatch. Remarkably favorable weather
has given the company great advantage in the con-
struction of the big building. The structure will be
complete in about two weeks' time.
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