Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2057

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
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4.
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
application.
be the physical and mental weakling whose
pastime it is to edit a music trade paper.
Consequently the charge was made that one
of the Presto editors had impersonated Mike
the Mover and joined the ranks of Volstead.
The only other whose literary style might sug-
gest the intellectual grace of Mike's fine Celtic
pen is Mr. Ben H. Janssen, the "Poet Lariat
of the Piano." But that versatile gentleman
promptly entered a denial. And Mr. Bent
placed his indorsement of the piano manufac-
turer in these words:
December 26, 1925.
up and extending to them the support with-
out which no industry can hope to progress
satisfactorily.
We believe, furthermore, that no other aid
and co-worker of the piano, in its industrial
and commercial aspects, has done its work so
quietly as the great financial institution to
which credit is given in this editorial. Still
more, we believe that, much as it has already
done, its future will develop still greater
things.
This is the last issue of Presto this year.
With the new year the American Music Trade
Weekly will greet its friends with some slight
changes, but even more than ever ready and
eager to do all possible to swell your busi-
ness and to help the accumulation of the profits
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if
that belong to all enterprise of musical kind.
of general interest to the music trade will be paid for
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen
* * *
in the smaller cities are the best occasional corre-
One of the New T York music trade papers
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
and a truthteller, I believe.''
Inasmuch as there have developed only two put forth a very beautiful Holiday Number.
Forms close at noon every Thursday. News mat-
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the suspicious characters, there seems but one Another issued a giant publication which was
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before conclusion. Consequently, until Mr. Janssen
also labeled to imply that the holidays had
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon can see the enormity of his suspected inno- come. As we remarked, by way of contempo-
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current cence and confesses, it must be clear that
raneous greeting several years ago, "Merry
week, to insure classification, must not be later than
veracity may, in degree, be measured by. voca- Christmas Numbers!"
Wednesday noon.
Address all communications for the editorial or business
* * *
tion. A piano manufacturer, whose warranty
^ppartment5 to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
ftearborn Street, Chicago, III.
Next week Presto, in its customarily modest
is never questioned, and a trade editor, who
swears to his paper's circulation, do not belong manner, will present proof of undeniable kind
SATURDAY DECEMBER 26, 1925.
in the same class. Meanwhile, inasmuch as that the piano trade is "all right" if not more
Mr. Bent is sure that the Poet Lariat is not so. The testimony, in both prose and poetry,
the man behind Mike's whiskers, there seems of manufacturers and dealers will give strength
to be no way but to throw that mythical in- to the evidence.
dividual back among the mysteriously missing.
Anyway, the reward for Mike, the Mover,
still stands. And unless the call for his ar-
ticle on prohibition as Mr. Bent sees it sub-
From the Files of Presto
sides it may be necessary to run it again in
As the old year closes Presto joins in the an earlv issue of Presto.
(December 26, 1895.)
congratulations of a promising New Year for
Patti
is
not
to
be outdone in her distinguished place
the music trade in all its branches. The energy,
as the reigning Quen of Song, even by the Queen of
A FINANCIAL AID
in an almost new direction, that prominent
England herself. She is now emulating the real
It is talked in New York that a trade paper, Queen, Victoria, in inviting artists to sing in her
men in the industry are putting into the exten-
castle.
sion of music love, especially among the in the music line, has caused adverse comment
Trade reports for the week preceding Christmas
of an order which must be satisfactory to even
younger generation, is one of the certain signs by decrying the discount companies. And no are
the most confirmed grumbler. With few exceptions
of continued growth of the love and under- wonder. If there is anything that the piano the sales have been well in advance of those reported
standing of music and consequent increased de- industry needs more than others, it is the con- for the two previous years.
An exchange says: "Paderewski, idol of feminin-
mand for the instruments that make it. Presto venient, well organized and liberally conducted ity, it seems, is only human. He plays poker. He
financial
concerns
that
stand
ready
to
discount
has improved in his technique since last he was here,
extends its sense of appreciation to all manu-
and when, after four hours' hard work, he arose from
facturers whose enterprise has helped to sus- dealers' paper.
the table $4.50 ahead, he was as delighted as a boy
A fine illustration of the kind of institution with a new wagon."
tain it and to every reader by whose encour-
J. Newton, one of the original members of
agement the American Music Trade Weekly to which we allude, as an anchor and sustain- the Henry
old house of Lighte, Newton & Bradbury, fore-
has been enabled to grow in influence through ing safeguard, is the Bankers' Security Com- runners of the present piano bearing the latter's
pany of New York. And the history of that name, was run over at 6:15 p. m. Monday by a cable
the forty years of its existence.
car on Broadway, between Twenty-second and
institution affords the best possible proof of Twenty-third streets, New York. He was so badly
the dependable character of piano paper. For injured that he died in a few minutes.
Mr. Henry Ziegler, nephew of Mr. William Stein-
MYSTERIOUS MIKE
it is credibly said that since the Bankers' Se- way and superintendent of the construction of all the
The reward offered for the identity of "Mike, curity Company was first organized, as the pianos made by William Steinway & Sons, has pat-
a number of improvements for pianos, and the
the Mover," who sprang into fame following Commercial Security Company, it has rolled ented
new upright instruments are equipped just as the
the Bent-Tucker prohibition controversy, has up a surplus of more than $2,000,000.00.
famous grand pianos are. Among other improve-
ments, the Capo-d'-Astro bar is cast as an integral
not been claimed. It will be recalled that
The Commercial Security Company was part of the metal plate (both are cast in one piece)
Mike sent an article to Presto in which Mr, established in about the beginning of this still while formerly the Capo-d'-Astro bar was separately
Geo. P. Bent was humorously chided for his young century. Its first offices were in the adjusted.
banquet speech last June.
First National Bank building, Chicago. And
• The eloquence of Mike's appeal was so com- it has continued to specialize in piano paper
20 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
pelling that curiosity was aroused as to his as- on a plan so liberal to the industry and trade
sociation with the piano business—whether he that we have yet to hear the slightest com-
(From Presto, December 28, 1905.)
really was a piano mover by profession or just plaint against it or its methods. Its officers
It seems now too late to say that the career of the
an ordinary manufacturer or dealer. And in are gentlemen of the best type and its capital- playerpiano is problematical. The original argu-
the investigation that followed it became clear ization is large and as strong as a national ments averse to its general acceptance have been
very largely overthrown.
that if Mike was a piano mover he must be bank.
The first "smoker" of the Chicago Piano and Organ
.occurs tonight at the Wellington Hotel.
moving his own pianos, or delivering the out-
Just how the piano business could have de- Association
A nice menu has been prepared and the occasion
put of his own factory.
veloped to its present stage without the aid promises to be one of interest and enjoyment.
Wise piano dealers are busy making out checks to
That discovery seemed to simplify the mat- and support of the Bankers' Security Company
cover the manufacturers' statements of account and
ter until Mr. Bent himself, after going from it is difficult for anyone weli posted in this mailing
them with "Happy New Year" pinned to the
Los Angeles to. New York in his search for particular line of trade to understand. And left hand corner. That's the sort of New Year greet-
all through the year.
Mike's address, decided that piano moving is there are hundreds of large piano concerns ing that The will Old carry
Year turns and totters out
not the exclusive function of the brawny oper- that will readily accord to the New York
His stunt so soon is over,
And in his place, 'mid cheer and shout
ator of the truck and van. He might equally financial institution the credit of building them
Comes New Year—rosy rover.
"hi spite of your remarks I think I have located the
author of 'Mike, the Mover.' Ben Janssen denied author-
ship and says you did it, and Ben, as you know, is
truthful. At all events, 'Mike, the Mover,' has given
me and my friends a lot of joy, so you had better
admit it, for no blame whatever attached to you other
than that of a joy-maker, and that's no blame at all.
It is up to you to square yourself, if you can, with the
Honorable Ben H. Janssen, who is a poet, of course,
30 YEARS AGO IN THE TRADE
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/
December 26, 1925.
MUSIC AS SCHOOL
STUDY IS OBJECT
Year Just Closing Resulted in Greater Atten-
tion to Causes of Piano Indifference and
the Beginning of Movements of Trade
for Amelioration of Conditions.
CLASSES IN STORES
PRESTO
Byrne, vice-president and general sales manager of
the Steger & Sons Piano Mfg. Co., Chicago, to
establish an annual series of piano playing contests
for children of primary school age and more advanced
pupils in every town and rural community. The plan
suggested is that involving state recitals to pick the
best in the successful pupils in the local contests to
send to Washington for the finals. The scheme has
the encouragement of prominent piano men and offi-
cials of state and national trade associations.
PAGE ORGAN CO. BUYS
BIG LIMA, 0., FACTORY
An Important Phase of the Efforts to Reawaken In-
terest in Piano Was Spread of "Melody Way"
Plant Established in Defiance, O., About Three
Method of Child Instruction.
Years Ago to Occupy New Location
Early in 1926.
With class instruction in instrumental music well
started in the schools throughout the country, the
The Page Organ Co., Defiance, O., has purchased
parents of the thousands of boys and girls may no
longer find it necessary to bribe the children to take the plant of the Rhoda Mfg. Co., Lima, O., and will
music lessons. That feature of the schools and the move their business to the latter city early in 1926.
The purchase included all of the buildings and land
increasing adoption by music houses of the "Melody
Way" of teaching piano were the notable facts of the Rhoda Body and Manufacturing Co., together
marking the music encouragement efforts during with the machinery and material on hand. This mate-
rial is now being worked into bodies for which
1925.
A great army of children now enrolled for class orders have already been received. As soon as the
instruction in the schools and the enthusiasm of the holdings now in the plant have been worked up, the
students has made a bigger army of boys and girls manufacture of organs will begin.
In acquiring the plant, which consists of a modern
anxious to learn to play something. Instruction in
the piano seems to be the most popular course among factory building 50 to 200 feet, power house and
the girls but the boys do not let the girls monopolize other small buildings, the organ company also took
over the adjacent land, upon which it is proposed to
the hours of piano instruction.
add new structures in the near future.
Bears on Trade Conditions.
The organ company began operations at Defiance
In these facts lie influences of momentous bearing about three years ago and has enjoyed a steady in-
on the survival of the piano as an instrument of gen- crease in the volume of its business, Page Maus,
eral use in American families. It is a phase of school president of the company said this week. Under a
study that interests in a vital way the music dealer new plan of distribution, the product of the company
of today and his successor of the days to come. will be handled through dealers in each city in the
Class music instruction in the public schools is a new United States in which agencies will be established.
departure in many sections and the plain duty of the Inquiries already have been received concerning sales
piano dealer everywhere is to take an active part in connections in all parts of the United States, Canada,
its encouragement.
Mexico and European and South American countries.
Transfer and taking of larger quarters has car-
Piano First.
From a consensus of reports the violin runs second ried with it a material increase in capitalization, it
to the piano in the class studies in the schools. Other was announced. The directors of the company are
orchestra instruments follow in an order that varies Fred Cook, Walter Scott, F. J. Banta, Frank Kom-
with the locality. In all the studies in t'.ie Flint, minsk, B. E. Tabler, A. W. Wheatley, Page Maus and
Mich., public schools no pupil of a private music P. M. Hulsken.
President Maus declared that the organ business is
teacher is allowed in the classes. The rule eliminates
from the classes the children of well-to-do parents still in its infancy. He pointed to the great growth
who can afford to give their children the advantages in the business of manufacturing residence organs
of private instruction. In that way, which is ob- since many homes have begun installing them. Thea-
served in many other places, the private teachers are ters and churches also are daily adding to the organ
assured that the system will not conflict with their field.
D. M. Lamson, present, factory manager in the
profession.
Defiance
plant, will continue in the same connection
What Dealers Did.
after the plant has been removed to Lima.
The importance of systematic encouragement by
The stock in the company, it was explained, is held
dealers of piano instruction for children has been fre- for the most part by Lima residents, with the re-
quently pointed but b y W . Otto Miessner, president mainder owned in Defiance.
of the Miessner Piano Co., Milwaukee, who is widely
known as an ardent proponent of the "Melody Way"
method of child instruction in the piano. During the
year 1925 he has continued to be a potent influence in
arousing piano dealers to the gravity of the condi-
tion which his method of interesting and teaching
the children would ameliorate.
Salesmen Who Can Interpret What Lady of the
The piano class as a means to arousing and con-
House Says Do the Business.
tinuing interest in piano instruction has been adopted
"It is listening to women that teaches us to speak
by a large number of progressive piano merchants
during the year now drawing to a close. Mr. Miess- to men in such a way as to worm our way into men's
will," said a piano salesman to a Presto representa-
ner, in various ways, has made known the causes of
some of the piano trade ills, has pointed out the seat tive one day last week. "Now, I'm a house-to-house
of the canker that threatens to undermine the piano man, else I'd let you use my name. I let the lady
do most of the talking. She wants a piano or she
industry.
wants to exchange the old one and buy a better one,
An Awakened Effort.
which amounts to the same thing. She's a 'pros-
The individual efforts of piano firms to encourage pect.'
piano instruction in the public schools by private
"I don't need to worry to find out how to handle
teachers and in classes in their own stores shows
her
husband on the deal, for if I let her talk she'll
the awakened effort to face the fact. They have put
purposely
drop hints on how to do that. It's not his
in practice the theory that demand for the piano is the
result of desire for piano music. The merchants in the weak points that I want to know, but his strong ones,
year coming to a close, were faced with the fact that and these I am led to understand by the conversation
of his wife or daughter. I'm a good listener; it's
piano music was losing out. That a fair number of
years
since I talked myself out of a sale."
them realized the condition by taking effective steps
to ameliorate it, is encouraging.
PIANO TRADE NEEDS
MORE GOOD LISTENERS
Chamber Takes Part.
To include the teaching of music, including the
piano, was the object declared at a meeting of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce October 16.
It was the beginning of a campaign with the object
of having music study adopted in every school when
a resolution from the Executive Board of the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants was referred
to the Advisory Committee for the National Bureau
for the Advancement of Music, with instructions to
bring the board plans for such a major activity of
the Chamber.
In line with the movement of the Chamber and in-
dividual dealer is the scheme proposed by Charles E.
PHIL. WYMAN VISITS CHICAGO.
Phil. Wyman, publicity manager for the Baldwin
Piano Company, Cincinnati, was in Chicago on Sat-
urday last, where a Presto representative ran across
him in the office of H. C. Dickinson, vice-president
of the company. The retail department of the Chi-
cago Baldwin establishment is very busy just now
selling instruments for Christmas week delivery. The
recently re-built fourth floor is attracting many visi-
tors and piano customers. It is one of the finest
salesrooms in Chicago.
R. J. COOK APPOINTED
HEAD OF DIVISION 34
Active Official cf The Cable Company Made
Chairman of Important Committee of Chi-
cago Association of Commerce.
At the annual election of the Ways and Means
Committee, Division No. 34, of the Chicago Asso-
ciation of Commerce held last week, the committee
appointed by the Ways and Means Council to nomi-
nate chairmen and members of the division committee
for 1926 reports as follows:
For Chairman: R. J. Cook, Cable Piano Co.
For Vice-Chairman: Jas. T. Bristol, Jas. T. Bris-
tol Co.
For Members: W. C. Griffith, Chicago Talking
Machine Co.; Chas. W. Litsey, Lyon & Healy, Inc.;
Albert Page, Q R S Co.; Henry Weisert, Bissell-
Weisert Piano Co.; F. P. Whitmore, W. W. Kim-
ball Co.
New Business
for 1926
Miessner Piano Opens
Untouched Sales Fields
The Miessner Piano and our ad-
vanced plan of selling this excep-
tional small instrument open up a
great, big, new field of sales and
profits for dealers.
This new business does not inter-
fere in any way with your regular
piano sales. It means profits that
you are not getting now and cannot
get with anything but the Miessner
and the sales plan behind it.
Return the attached coupon today
for "The Miessner Markets" and
full information about Miessner
sales opportunities.
Miessner Piano Co.
126 Reed St., Milwaukee, Wis.
THE LITTLE PIANO WITH THE BIG TONE
MIK8SNKR PIANO CO.,
]2 Gentlemen:
Please send me Miessner catalog, "The Miessner
Markets," and full information about Miessner sales
opportunities.
Name
Name of Store
A piano department has been added by the J. S.
Shapiro Department Store, Mount Union, Pa.
,
.'
Address
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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