December 26, 1925.
PRESTO
very merry Christmas and a happy, prosperous new
year.—B. K. Settergren Co."
* * *
"What a kindly custom is this yearly exchange
of Christmas greetings—this touch of sentiment
among business men! And how appropriate it is in
this business of ours, so closely related to the sing-
ing of Christmas Carols, the playing of Christmas
hymns and the spreading of the Christinas spirit
through music!
"May this message express to you our very best
Christmas wishes and thoughts—our most sincere
thanks for your loyalty and the service you have
given us during the past year.
"The twelve months now closing find us and the
merchants we arc associated with in a contented
state of mind. The happenings of the year, the
progress that has been made, have given all of us
renewed confidence in the present and future possi-
bilities of this business. The outlook was never
brighter.
"We hope to share this vision, for you can help,
through continued good service and your moral sup-
port.
"May the Holiday season bring you peace and joy,
and the New Year be tilled with prosperity and hap-
piness.
"Sincerely,
"A. G. GULBRANSEN,
"Chicago.
President Gulbransen Company."
Looks Back 30 Years.
"Thinking of the rapid advance in civilization. I
am going back thirty years ago or more, remember-
ing eggs at 5 cents a dozen, butter at 10 cents a
pound, milk 10 cents a gallon with buttermilk free,
the butcher gave away liver and treated us kids
to bologna; the maid had two dollars a week and did
the baking and the family washing. Women did not
paint or powder, smoke in public, vote, roll their
hose, play poker or shimmie, and they wore their
ears right out before God 'n everybody.
"Men wore whiskers, boots, and rubber collars on
Sunday; chewed tobacco, and beer was 5 cents a
stein with free lunch. They worked twelve hours or
more a day with no strikes; tips to waiters were
unheard of, and the hat check graft was unknown.
"We had a hanging lamp and what-not in the
parlor, and a stereoscope was a luxury.
"Gland operations were not even dreamed of;
microbes were not used and folks lived to a ripe old
age, walking over to wish the neighbors a Merry
Christmas or a Happy New Year.
"We now ride around in high powered automobiles
equipped with every known contraption—including a
mortgage; we fly, play golf, shoot craps, play the
piano by electricity, tinker with the radio, make
home-brew, and dance the Charleston.
"The high prices of likker and gasolene help us
blame the other folks for the high cost of living.
"We never go to bed the same day we get up,
and we think we are having a Hell of a time.
"If you still think life is worth living, I wish you a
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year.
"As ever,
"Salina, Kas.
"AL. BUENNING."
As Original as Plentiful.
Equally glowing with the good will that always
radiates from them, the following friends of Presto
send their cheery geeetings, all of which are appre-
ciated. Among them are many of special originality,
design and expression:
Mr. and Mrs. Arthur L. Wessell, New York; P. E.
Conway, St. Louis; Mr. and Mrs. Edward Hampton
Story, Pasadena, Cal.; William Lincoln Bush, Chi-
cago; Charles E. Byrne, Chicago; Fernando A. Wes-
sell, New York; W. T. Sunderland, Memphis, Tenn.;
H. Edgar French, New Castle, Ind.; William Strich,
New York; E. S. Richardson, Chicago; Mr. and Mrs.
Jesse French, St. Louis; Mr. and Mrs. George M.
Slawson, •Bangor, Mich.; James C. Henderson, New
York; C. C. Prockington, New York; Geo. P. Bent,
Los Angeles, Cal.; Mr. and Mrs. J. P. Simmons, Lex-
ington, Ky.; Oscar L. Kindler,- Memphis, Tenn.;
Music Trade. Indicator; Perfection Piano Bench Co.,
Chicago; and many still coming, to all of whom
Presto returns its hearty greetings.
There is one greeting card this season which is so
unique as to present permanent and even instructive
interest. It is the card of W. Otto Miessner, of
Milwaukee. It is so novel that a fac-simile reproduc-
tion will appear in next week's Presto. It is "A Bell
Carol," a melody composed by Mr. Miessner with
such ingenuity that the third and fourth phrase are
to be sung upside down, thus affording a complete
four measure melody in two short lines:
"Ring, bells, and carols sing,
Ye bring joyful tidings;
Tidings joyful bring ye—
Sing carols, bells ring."
NEW TECHNICAL MANUAL.
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce,
through a special committee appointed by Presi-
dent Jacobson, has compiled a manual containing
standardized technical terms for the various parts
of pianos and playing mechanisms. The request for
such a manual came from the National Association
of Piano Tuners, who, in a resolution adopted at their
recent convention in Detroit, stated that there new
exists a deplorable confusion in the piano and playing
piano industry on account of the various names ap-
plied to the separate parts of these pianos, and that
this confusion militates against technical efficiency
both inside and outside the piano factories, and stated
that there was a real necessity for standardization of
such terms.
JOHN L. COTTER BACK
WITHW.W.KIMBALLCO.
In Opening Retail Store for Kimball Goods in
Boston, He Feels Like Getting
Home.
John L. Cotter, who was for many years with the
W. W. Kimball Company on the road and who later
for several years was with the wholesale end of the
Hallet & Davis Piano Company, of Boston, has
opened a retail piano store in Boston, where he ex-
pects to do a large and increasing business in the
instruments of the W^. W. Kimball Company, of
Chicago.
"Mr. Cotter feels as if he was getting back home,"
said F. P. Whitmore, secretary of the W. W. Kim-
ball Company, on Wednesday evening of this week,
to a Presto representaive. "Of course, it would seem
that way to him, he was with our house so long, and
he expects to do a big business at retail. His brother
William served the Kimball house for more than 40
years."
Mr. Cotter will also sell the Geo. P. Bent Co. line,
manufactured by the Geo. P. Bent Company, and
will represent that concern in a wholesale way
throughout the New England States, carrying a com-
plete line of all the models made by the Louisville
industrv.
CHICAGO PIANO CLUB
WANTS 900 MEMBERS
President Hewitt Urges Each Man to Bring
in One New One—Other Features at
Luncheon.
The Piano Club of Chicago enjoyed its regular
weekly luncheon and social and business session on
Monday of this week at the Illinois Athletic Club.
The attendance was larger than usual, and included
several visitors, among them Mr. Gamble, of the
Gamble Hinged Music Company, 67 East Van Buren
street, Chicago.
Encouraging reports were made in the membership
drive, Adam Schneider reporting several "scoops"
that he made by getting men to join the club after
others had "worked them up" as prospects—yes, and
Mr. Schneider actually got the cash from them on the
spot. The annual dues arc $10. The average din-
ner, or luncheon as it is called, is $1. Elmon Arm-
strong, who had been out of the piano business for
several years, rejoined the club last week.
Henry Hewitt, of the M. Schulz Company, presi-
dent of the club, read an acknowledgement of thanks
THE "SONG OF LOVE"
IN SCHILLER CALENDAR
Artistic Wall Hanger from Progressive Piano
Industry at Oregon, 111., Will No Doubt
Ornament Many Warerooms.
The music trade will not be inundated with calen-
dars this season. Usually a score or more arrive be-
fore Christmas each year. But such as have reached
the piano offices are fine ones. A good specimen is
that of the Schiller Piano Co., of Oregon. It is a re-
production, in the artist's colors, of the original paint-
ing by J. H. Hintermeister. The story, copyrighted by
the Osborne Company, which accompanies the pic-
ture, is as follows:
"There is something about the combination of
music and twilight that is irresistible. It seems to
bring up all the sweet memories that cluster about
the cozy hearthstone of a happy home.
"As fair fingers wander lightly over the ivory keys,
softly accompanying some sweet, old refrain, eyes
grow as misty as the twilight and thoughts as kindly
and tender as a mother's love.
"When life seems full of jarring discords, occasion-
ally listen to the melody of this sweet "Song of
Love," and you will find its harmony as soothing as
it is beautiful.
"The title of this picture was taken from that beau-
tiful song of Schubert's, which became the theme of
the most successful musical play of our generation,
'Blossom Time.' "
GULBRANSEN PLANS FOR
THE NEW SALES COMPANY
New National Magazines Added to List of Big
Weeklies and Monthlies for 1926.
The Gulbransen Co., Chicago, plans the use of ten
national magazines for its advertising campaign for
1926 as follows:
The Saturday Evening Post, January 9.
American Magazine, January issue.
Country Gentleman, January issue.
Farm Journal, January issue.
Progressive Farmer, January 20.
Jacobs Religious List, January 20 and 21.
Ladies' Home Journal, February issue.
Woman's Home Companion, March issue.
Farm & Fireside, February issue.
Holland's Magazine, February issue.
Some of these have been used by the company in
previous campaigns. The new mediums are shown in
the cover page group cut shown herewith.
Bernard Pollock has been made eastern manager
of the publishing department of Sherman, Clay &
Co., San Francisco.
HKN'HY
KW1TT.
from E. A. LeVeille to the club for its expression of
sympathy in the recent tragedy in which he lost his
wife in an auto mishap.
Adam Schneider asked the members if they knew
anything of the whereabouts of a man known as J. E.
Newman, who was supposed to be going around ask-
ing for work in Chicago as a piano tuner; if any one
did hear of him, they were to report to George
Dowling, president of The Cable Company, for it was
reported that this man had deserted his wife and
children, and that they were in want. Newman had
been living in Norfolk, Va.
Mr. Benedict sang a song, beginning "Christmas Is
Coming; Factories Are Humming," and he ended up
in praise of the Kimball Grand. Mr. Schneider took
occasion to remind Mr. Benedict that this club was
not an advertising agency, whereupon Mr. Benedict
retaliated that every member of the club had a piano
in his home already, so his song could hardly be
construed as having any advertising value.
Harry Bibb told some stories, and then the club
sang with gusto a number of Christmas carols for
Chicago, from a leaflet furnished as the compliments
of A. G. Gulbransen, president of the Gulbransen
Piano Company, Chicago.
President Hewitt announced a turkey dinner next
Monday at the Club—a regular $2 dinner for $1.50.
He urged more work on the membership drive, say-
ing that if each member would bring in one new man
they would have a membership of about 900.
NO MUSIC STORE THERE.
The D. O. Betz Piano House of Ada, O-, which
has maintained a branch store at Crestline, O., an-
nounces a closing-out sale and will enlarge the base
store at Ada, having recently erected a new business
block at that place. This leaves Crestline once more
without a music store.
The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. has moved its
wholesale quarters in Seattle to larger quarters on
East John street, near Westlakc avenue.
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