Presto

PRESTO
August 22, 1925.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells
BUSINESS IS PICKING UP
And You Will Find a Ready
Sale for the Famous
Studio Grand
(only 5 ft. long)
This little Grand has no superior and it
presents the very qualities that win the
prospect and makes the sale.
If you have a trade for Reproducing
Grands we ask your particular
notice to the
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
Equipped with
A marvel of tone and expressive
interpretation of all classes of com-
position, reproducing perfectly the
performances of the world's great-
est pianists.
"The First Touch Tells"
1U«. U. I. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
CHAIN STORES FOR
THE MUSIC BUSINESS
Report Comes from Credible Sources That a
Plan for Giant Combination of Large
Existing Establishments Is Being
Considered by Large Capitalists.
FAMILIAR NAMES DISCUSSED
How Such a Scheme as Already Has Been Perfected
in Other Lines Might Affect the Smaller
Music Dealers.
The movement in many lines of retail trade toward
consolidation has at last reached the point where
the music business is attracting the attention of
"large capital." Presto has been aware of the condi-
tion for some time past, but has not referred to it
because it was deemed best not to stir up any rumors
which might point to results of doubtful nature, so
far as may concern the existing smaller music deal-
ers.
But the proposition has now reached a point where
there can be no little doubt that eventually the music
trade will fall in line with the rest and an attempt, at
least, be made to consolidate the larger music and
musical instrument houses throughout the country.
Retail Store Chains.
In some lines of trade there can be no doubt about
the advantages of consolidation in the retailing of the
goods. The tangible advantages which may grow
out of well organized consolidation, and the oppor-
tunities of groupings of stores, are indisputable in
many departments of trade. But whether the plan is
better than the individual development of local
houses, by internal strength, is a matter of dispute
even among the class of trade in which the groupings
processes have been tried, and seem to work well.
In any event, in a recent discussion among mem-
bers of the music trade in New York names were
mentioned, and capital summed up, by which an ef-
fort is proposed to bring into one central control a
chain of the largest and most successful, even famous,
music stores in this country.
It is not to be an informal grouping of piano
stores, such as already exists to a considerable ex-
tent, under the ownership of individual manufactur-
ers. If anything, it will be a thoroughly organized
and largely capitalized chain of general music houses,
most of which are now regarded as so strong as to
defy any of the blandishments of capital. And the
names already mentioned, and the stores of which
are located in nearly every large city, cover the
country from Boston to San Francisco.
If you recall the names most familiar to you, as
having built up great business, those may be the con-
cerns under consideration.
Industries, Also.
While there has been no discussion of the point, it
seems quite possible that, should the chain of retail
music stores become a fact, there will also be piano,
and perhaps other musical instrument factories con-
sidered as a part of the enterprise. Of this nothing
has as yet been said, by those who claim to have an
understanding of the inner workings of the capitalis-
tic managers.
But it is a project not difficult to imagine as a real-
ity, for musical instruments are as much a part of
the people's lives and desires as anything else. When
the department stores began to consolidate it was not
thought that concerns specializing in the smaller
things of trade could be brought under group con-
trol. See them today!
And how would a great chain of music stores,
reaching from coast to coast, affect the small dealers
who have built up local trade, but not enough of it
to entitle them to consideration as links in the big
chain?
Small Dealers Safe.
Selling musical instruments, from grand pianos to
fiddle strings, is regarded as a specialty. But is it
so, any more than selling drugs and the patented
things that pass over the drug store counters every
minute in the day? Perhaps not. But selling musical
instruments, and especially pianos, demands the
touch of individuality, and the confidence of the cus-
tomer, to a degree scarcely required in other lines
of business. The music dealer who has established
himself in a city may not be able to control any
appreciable proportion of the music-loving public.
In a small town it is different.
There are giant music stores in every large Ameri-
can city. Nevertheless, the small dealer even if not
distant from the great city, has his trade and holds
it. His neighbors do not go to the city to buy what
they need.
Even the small-town piano dealer can hold his own
against the large city piano house, in most instances.
Such music dealers need have no concern about any
chain which may develop from the amplitude of sur-
plus capital and the steadily narrowing list of indus-
tries and trade which are still being conducted as in-
dividual enterprises.
The music dealer is safe. He will not be denuded
of what he has earned. In fact, there is another side
to the consolidation, or chain store question. And
it is a side which may easily benefit the independent
dealer, wherever he may be. That other side will be
discussed in a later issue of the American Music
Trade Weekly.
NOTE FROM PRESIDENT
OF THE N. A. P. T., INC.
Speaking for the Association, Chas. Deutsch-
mann Expresses Appreciation of Support
That Made Big Convention a Success.
Chicago, August 15, 1925.
Editor Presto: Nobody reading the results of the
Sixteenth Annual Convention of the National Asso-
ciation of Piano Tuners, Inc., held at Detroit, Mich.,
August 3rd to 6th, as so faithfully chronicled in the
trade papers, can fail to be impressed by the wonder-
ful work being accomplished by the N. A. of P. T.,
Inc. It is almost impossible to realize that this asso-
ciation could bring together such a large assemblage
of qualified tuners, representatives from 26 states,
from Maine to California, and a visitor from Canada.
Just about one-fourth of the entire membership was
in attendance, and to know that these men paid their
own expenses and lost their own time, to be present,
is most astounding. And for what purpose? To
gain more knowledge in the art and work, so as to
enable them better to serve the trade and the public.
I wish every piano and player manufacturer, every
sales-manager, and every music merchant in the
United States could have been an eye-witness, to see
what rapt attention was paid to all the lectures and
addresses delivered at the sessions of the convention,
and the eagerness shown to learn as much about
the product of the various exhibitors as possible, and
also the enthusiasm displayed at the various classes
held by exhibitors.
This desire to become more proficient was brought
about through organization, and I consider it the
greatest achievement of the N. A. of P. T., Inc. In
fact, it is the first article in our constructive platform.
In view of these facts and these accomplishments I
do not hesitate to ask the support and co-operation
of the entire music industry.
In closing, in the name of the National Associa-
tion of Piano Tuners, Inc., I wish to convey our ap-
preciation to the firms that exhibited at the conven-
tion, and I sincerely hope that the results justified
their actions. And I also wish to thank the trade
papers which were so generous with their space and
gave us such good and full accounts of our conven-
tion.
Yours very truly,
National Association of Piano Tuners, Inc.
Chas. Deutschmann, National President.
PORTLAND PIANO CO. CLOSED
AND STOCK MOVED AWAY
Ivers & Pond Piano Representatives Discontinue
and Schwan Piano Co. Takes the Goods.
The Portland Piano Co., of Portland, Ore., has
closed its doors. This company operated for several
years on the seventh floor of Lipman, Wolfe & Co.
department store, and for the past two years has been
operated by the Schwan Piann Co.
The stock remaining on hand has been moved to
the Schwan Piano Co.'s store, at Tenth and Stark
street, and the piano, phonograph and record depart-
ments will be closed out from there. The firm feat-
ured the Steger and the Ivers & Pond pianos.
The sheet music department has been moved to
the basement.
RADIO EXPORTS.
Still holding the lead as the best customer, Japan,
during the fiscal month, purchased $285,135 worth
of American radio apparatus. Brazil forged to the
front with purchases amounting to $81,066. Austra-
lia took third place with $62,968. Canada, who as a
rule has been our foremost customer, dropped to
fourth place with $53,593, and the United Kingdom
fifth with $46,877. Our radio exports to all countries
during the month totaled $667,710.
Frank Decker is up in the Adirondacks, resting and
reading under the towering pines. Meantime the fine
old New York Decker & Son industry is in charge
of the third generation.
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