Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
PRESTO
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THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
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CHICAGO, SATURDAY, AUGUST 29, 1925
CONDITIONS IN
INDUSTRY ABROAD
Charles Stanley, Home from Special Mission
for Gaveau, Paris, Tells of Progress of
French Piano Industry as Compared
with German and English.
LONDON MAKERS DEPRESSED
American Piano Expert Places Output of the Paris
Factories as Exceeding Combined Activities of
Germany and Britain.
"France will produce 200,000 pianos this year; Ger-
many one-half that number, and England about
25,000," was the somewhat surprising statement of
Charles Stanley, the American piano expert who re-
turned from Europe last week. Mr. Stanley has been
in Paris superintending the reorganization of the
great Gaveau factory and creating several entirely
new grand scales and models for that distinguished
industry.
"I made a pretty thorough study of piano condi-
tions in the countries named," continued Mr. Stanley
to a Presto representative, "and I am convinced that,
especially in France, conditions in our trade have
picked up amazingly since the war. The French
piano industries are pushing right ahead, and I have
never known a more perfect piano institution than
that of Gaveau. The Paris warerooms of that house
are artistic and so arranged that they serve as the
most effective advertising for purposes of an artistic
kind, within my knowledge.
Unique Piano Warerooms.
"The Gaveau concert salon is in the rear of the
spacious warerooms, and the audience must pass
directly through an attractively arranged display of
the finest products of the Gaveau factory. Each of
the pianos is placed upon a raised dias, which adds
to its beauty and yet insures against the least danger
of being marred by the passers-by. The effect is
unique, and the result very frequently is to create
sales.
"During my stay in Paris it was a pleasure to re-
ceive calls from a large number of American friends
in the piano industry. Within the space of a few
days I had the pleasure of meeting at least a dozen
familiar gentlemen, each of them bringing vivid re-
membrances of home in the United States. And all
seemed to find satisfaction in their visits to the
Gaveau establishment.
Pleasant Associations.
"As much as I enjoyed my work in connection with
the great Paris factory, my recollection of the gentle-
men at the head of that institution will always accord
to my memory a still greater satisfaction. I have
never met a finer lot of gentlemen. From the head
of the house of Gaveau to the least of the workers in
factory and store, I do not recall a single incident in
which there was a suggestion of discord. All worked
together harmoniously, and all seemed imbued with
the purpose of carrying the business still further and
further in the esteem of the public.
"One of the surprising observations of my sojourn
was that French pianos have already resumed even
more than their former place in the esteem of the
German trade. In some of the German cities it is
easy to find more instruments from Paris in the
stores than from Berlin. As a matter of fact, the re-
vival of the French piano industry is one of the
miracles of the time.
German Piano Active.
"In the German piano factories there is the same
industry, and the old determination to get ahead.
You will not find complaint of hard times among the
German piano manufacturers. Whether they are all
prospering or not is something I could not attempt
to say. But it is certain that there is little complaint,
and in many instances there are ample evidences of
activity.
"England is not doing so well in its piano de-
partment. London piano men complain that the in-
ternal revenue laws, and especially the tariff are put-
ting a crimp into their industry. They say that pianos
from every part of the civilized world have been
dumped into the English trade, and that anything
like an export trade from the British manufacturers
is impossible under existing conditions.
London Trade Depressed.
"In the London stores you may find pianos from
France, Germany, Italy and the United States. The
dealers seem to have no special feeling of loyalty to
home industry, and the labor question is of a kind to
create disorder in the piano factories. There is no
more piece work in the English piano factories. It is
all based upon the highest possible cost of a day's
work and the work accomplished is not consoling to
the employer. The manufacturer has no control over
his own business, and the labor unions dictate such
terms as make it impossible to compete with any of
the imported instruments. In some of the larger fac-
tories production is almost at a standstill, and the
ambitions of such expert workers as seem inclined to
labor is rather to find occasion to claim a discharge
than to remain at work. One of the foremost London
piano manufacturers said:
" 'We have no idea of ceasing our efforts and shall
continue to make pianos. But until a change can be
made in the working system, and the severity of the
tax laws is relaxed in some way, it will continue to
be a problem for manufacturers as how to keep
going." "
Will Rest Awhile.
Mr. Stanley will put in the rest of the summer rest-
ing at him home in Grand Haven before starting in
again. He has several attractive propositions pend-
ing, but has not fully decided as to what connections
he may make. He is happy in the receipt of a warm
letter of commendation from the house of Gaveau,
of Paris, concerning his work there.
CLUB USES SAME
CHICKERING 39 YEARS
The Mendelssohn Organization of Rockford,
111., Procures a New Piano After Long
Use of Old One.
The Mendelssohn Club of Rockford, 111., has been
in existence for forty-two years, and thirty-nine of
those years have been using the same Chickering con-
cert grand, not only in their club rooms, for re-
hearsals, but for their concerts as well. The piano
was frequently used for other purposes and has only
just now been exchanged for a new Chickering for
their concert hall. The old piano wil,l however, con-
tinue to be used in the lounge of the club, for it is
far from being worn out and many years of useful-
ness are still ahead of it.
It is not unusual to hear of Chickerings that have
been used for even longer periods, but not often for
the exacting demands of the concert stage. The fact
that the Mendelssohn Club has found the instrument
adequate, remembering the high artistic standard
which this organization has set for itself, is a remark-
able tribute to the durability of the famous Chicker-
ing tone.
NEW STORE AT CANNONSBURG, PA.
Davis, Burkham & Tyler Company, a part of the
W. F. Frederick Piano Company, of Pittsburgh,
has opened a new store at 8 North Central avenue,
Cannonsburg, Pa. A first-class music house will be
conducted, the Frederick Piano Company having
stores all over the state. The Cannonsburg branch
will be up to their usual standard, and a full supply
of pianos and musical supplies will be kept on hand.
VINCENNES DEALER'S VACATION.
P. F. Schneider, of the Schneider Music Co., Vin-
cennes, Ind., was in Chicago last week Thursday in
the course of a vacation trip. He called at the big
Gulbransen factories. Mr. Schneider went to Niagara
Falls, then through Canada and back to Chicago by
way of Detroit. He stopped also at Grand Rapids.
OHIO CONVENTION
IN CINCINNATI
The Approaching Sixteenth Annual Meeting
of the Music Merchants Association of
Ohio Promises to Be Large and
Enthusiastic.
COMPLETE PROGRAMS
There Will Be Enlightening Discussions, a Big Golf
Tournament, and a Good Time Generally, In-
cluding a Good Sized Exposition.
There is every indication of a rousing convention
of the Music Merchants' Association of Ohio, at Cin-
cinnati, on September 15-16. Interest evinced in. the
approaching meeting is one of the encouraging signs
of trade enthusiasm. And in the preparation of the
convention program there are evidences of the kind
of planning and skill that always promise results.
Presto expects to find the largest state convention in
the history of the trade, and one that will compare
well with even the national gathering in Chicago last
June.
In announcing the following program for the six-
teenth annual convention of the Ohio association,
Secretary Hyre calls particular attention to the fact
that, while the convention does not officially open
until Tuesday, September 15, there will be an attend-
ant at the secretary's desk in the lobby of the Hotel
Sinton on Monday, September 14, from l l a . m. until
5 p. m , to register arrivals and give all information
desired. To all those registering the beautiful official
badge will be given free.
Attention is also called to the fact that the Cincin-
nati manufacturers, jobbers and dealers have pro-
vided a fund to cover expenses of entertainment dur-
ing the convention. By purchasing a coupon book
for $8.50 a saving of $2.00 is effected on meals.
Ladies are invited and most welcome to all social
functions and meetings. All meetings held in tea
room, lobby floor, Hotel Sinton.
The Golf Tournament.
The sixth annual golf tournament in connection
with the sixteenth annual meeting of the Music
Merchants' Association of Ohio will take place on
Monday, September 14, at Hyde Park Country Club,
Erie avenue, Hyde Park, Cincinnati. It will be in
charge of F. Jos. Volz and Win. R. Graul. Those
wishing to enter communicate with F. Joseph Volz,
224 West Fourth street, Cincinnati, Ohio.
The entrance fee is $8 00 and this pays green fees,
luncheon and annual golf dinner. Each contestant
pays his own caddy. Secure tickets from Wm. R.
Graul at Club grounds before play.
Rules governing play will be the same as at the
preceding tournament in Cleveland the past year.
First flight at 10 a. m., Cincinnati time. Morning
play, nine hole handicap event medal play. Flights
made up according to handicaps. First and second
prizes for low net in each flight. Luncheon will be
served at the club.
Afternoon play—match play, handicaps; 18 holes.
Foursome made up according to net scores in morn-
ing play. Players with two closest net scores to play
match for first nine holes. Winners and lowers to
play match last nine holes. First and second prizes
for winners of each nine holes in each flight. Also,
prizes for first and second low gross, and first and
second low net in the afternoon. There are fourteen
prizes, eight for members and six for non-members.
No contestant will be permitted to win more than
one prize.
The annual golf dinner will be served in the club's
dining room. Henry Dreher will present plans for
organizing the "Ohio Music Trade Golf Association"
at this dinner. The list for donors of prizes to the
golf committee follows:
Wm. H. Alfring, The Aeolian Co., New York;
Grinnell Bros., Detroit, Mich.; Fred Gennett, Starr
Piano Co., Richmond, Ind.; Henry Dreher, Cleve-
land; Arthur Wessell, New York; Fred P. Bassett,
The M. Schulz Co., Chicago; The Otto Grau Piano
Co., Cincinnati; Otto P. Muelhauser, Cleveland;
Charles H. Yahrling, Youngstown; The Baldwb'n
Piano Co., Cincinnati; The Gulbransen Co., Chicago;
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