Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1927 2110

63
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
January 8, 1927.
SMALL GOODS, MUSIC ROLLS AND SHEET MUSIC
J. F. BOYER'S ACTIVITY
Secretary of C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.,
Known Alike for His Great Versatility
and Amazing Energy.
J. F. Boyer, secre-
tary of C. G. Conn,
Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.,
is versatile in things
concerning the mu-
sic trade in general
and he has had ex-
perience in e v e r y
phase of this trade.
He is a native of
Elkhart, and there,
as a musically in-
clined youngster, in
growing up became
a c q u a i n t e d with
many of the em-
ployees a n d work-
men in the Conn
shops.
R u n n i n g
around the factory,
J. F. BOYER.
as he used to do, he
obtained a great deal
of information about how band instruments were
made and became familiar with the construction of
all kinds of wood-wind as well as brass instruments.
Young Boyer began to play the organ in church
at the age of seven years and soon took up the cor-
net and other instruments. At the age of ten he
was taking cornet lessons from famous cornetists,
and in time became an adept in brass instruments, as
well as in the organ and piano. It was as piano
accompanist for visiting artists at concerts and re-
hearsals that kept bringing him more and more to
the front as an artist himself.
Mr. Boyer became director of the famous Conn
Band and of the Conn Conservatory of Music, in
his teens, and wrote and arranged much music for
bands and orchestras and composed and produced
several light operas. He became entrepreneur, direc-
tor and producer, touring the United States and the
Orient as director of opera, including grand opera,
and was acclaimed at that time the youngest grand
opera director in the United States.
After this interesting life of an artist, Mr. Boyer
swung to a commercial career, having had a con-
siderable experience in business with his father, who,
he says, "was a severe task master in business meth-
ods." In about 1905 he opened the New York branch
established by C. G. Conn, remaining there until 1911,
during which time he did much to increase the
number of bandmen, bandmasters and artists using
instruments from the Conn line.
In 1911 the new Conn factory built, tollowing the
disastrous fire of 1910, was completed, and Mr. Conn
brought Boyer to Elkhart. He was told that prac-
tically a new business would have to be created to
make up for the loss occasioned by non-production
of the past year. He developed new agencies and
got back the old ones temporarily lost; established a
mail order business that developed to immense pro-
portions; had new creations put on the market and
established connections with the general music trade
of the country that soon overtaxed the factory for
production. By dint of perseverance the business
continued to expand and in 1925 the present cor-
poration, C. G. Conn, Ltd., was formed. Mr. Conn,
upwards of seventy years of age, retired from active
participation in the new company. C. D. Greenleaf
became the president of the new company and with
whom Mr. Boyer continued his duties as "right-hand
man." Mr. Greenleaf has become a prominent
factor in the music trades and industries and in the
work of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
Throughout all these years of activity in music
and music trade Mr. Boyer has made hosts of friends
and acquaintances in all parts of the civilized world.
But with all these business activities he keeps up in
music. He is regarded as a proficient organist and
pianist, a good cornetist and saxophonist and di-
rected the Instrument City Band of Elkhart, a high-
class organization composed of testers of instruments
of various band instrument factories of the city and
also directed the Elkhart Symphony Orchestra of
seventy-five select musicians.
Not content with all these activities Mr. Boyer edits
Musical Truth, the well known organ of the C. G.
Conn, Ltd., duties requiring a great deal of time
and thought. It is a periodical filled with general
musical news and made more interesting by Mr.
Boyer's editorials. His attitude on "Selling the Mu-
sical Idea to Young America" has attracted attention
and has received wide press comment. The illu-
minating manner in which he presented his views on
the subject of "More and Better Music for Amer-
ica" is evidence of his enthusiasm and advertising
sense.
It is interesting to compliment a worker in the
music industry and one who has done so much for
the spread of music and the improvement of musical
instruments and the increase in their sales.
GREAT BAND MASTER DIES
Frederick Neil Innes, for Many Years Famous as
Bandmaster, Passes Away in Chicago.
Frederick Neil Innes, president of the Conn Na-
tional School of Music and for many years a famous
bandmaster, died in Chicago last week after a long
illness. He was sixty-nine years old and had been in
Chicago since 1905.
Mr. Innes, a native of England, was once a member
of a crack British regimental band. On coming to
America he organized his own band and played at
many of the great expositions, particularly those at
Chicago and St. Louis.
A widow, Mrs. Florence Atkison Innes, of the
Edgewater Beach hotel, survives. Funeral services
were held Tuesday at Cincinnati, Ohio.
JUDGE DENIES INJUNCTION
Justice Thomas C. T. Crain in New York Rules
Against Plea of Ross Gorman Music Co.
The Edward B. Marks Music Co. of 223 West 46th
street, New York City, has won the suit brought
against it in the New York Supreme Court by the
Ross Gorman Music Co., Inc., which by a written
contract had appointed the Edward B. Marks Music
Company selling agent for publications, and also as
agent, authority to make mechanical instrument con-
tracts for the publications and to receive and dis-
tribute the mechanical instrument royalties.
When the Ross Gorman Music Co., Inc., tried to
restrain the Marks company from holding itself out
as agent, the latter, through its proprietor, Edward
B. Marks, asserted that the Ross Gorman Music Co.,
Inc , had broken the contract. Justice Thomas C. T.
Crain in denying the Ross Gorman motion for an
injunction reviewed the facts and held the Ross Gor-
man Music Co., Inc., had not shown itself entitled
to the injunction which it sought.
C. G. CONN, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.
C. D. GREENLEAF, Pres.
J. F. BOYER, Sec'y
World's largest manufacturers of High Grade Band and Orchestra Instruments. Employs 1,MP
expert workmen.
All of the most celebrated Artists use and endorse Conn Instruments.
Famous Bandmasters and Orchestra Directors highly endorse and recommend the use of the
Conn Instruments in their organizations.
Conn Instruments are noted fur their sase of playing, light and reliable valve or key action;
quick response, rich tonal quality, perfect intonation, tone carrying quality, artisticness of design,
beautiful finish and reliable construction.
Conn Instruments are cent to any point in th U. S. subject to ten days free trial. Branch store
or agencies will be found in all large cities. Write for catalogues, prices, etc.
C. G. CONN, Ltd.
DEPT. MS.
ELKHART, IND.
SLINGERLAND
THE FAMOUS
May Bell
CLARK
ORCHESTRA ROLLS
of De Kalb, Illinois
Slingerland Banjos
The Best for Automatic Playing Pianos
Organs and Orchestrions
Whether you sell automatic playing in-
struments or not, it will pay you to
handle and be able to furnish
CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLLS
Monthly bulletins of new records. Write
for lists, folders and FULL PARTICU-
LARS.
are sold the country over because
they are Highest quality and sold
at a reasonable price.
Over 40 Styles of Banjos, Banjo Mandolins, Tenor Banjos
and Banjo Ukuleles, to select from.
Write for Catalogue
Clark Orchestra Roll Company
SLINGERLAND BANJO CO.
Manufacturers — Originators — Patentees
De Kalb, Illinois
1815 Orchard Street
CHICAGO
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/
64
PRESTO-TIMES
NO MORE VOCALSTYLE
Cincinnati Industry Will Turn Its Energies to
Other Lines of Music Trade Sup-
plies and Radio.
The following letter from the president of the
Vocalstyle Music Co., of Cincinnati, tells the story
fully—as a story which many dealers will regret.
We have decided to discontinue the manufacture
of playerpiano rolls.
When rolls were sold at $1.25 we were able to
keep our average getting price at a point which en-
abled us to pay the high royalties, and have a little
left for ourselves. But since the prices have gone to
pieces, the getting price has gravitated to such a low
level that there is not sufficient profit in the business
to justify the investment and effort.
We can see no future in the making of player rolls
to warrant its continuance, and are, therefore, offering
our entire inventory of rolls at a flat price of 40c each
on $1.00 rolls, and 30c each on 75c rolls, including
Expression Rolls, net 30 days, and will dispose of
machinery and equipment as soon as possible. We
will continue to serve the trade from our wonderful
stock of Vocalstyle rolls until February 1, 1927, which
includes all late popular rolls from our recent bulle-
tins, including January releases.
Do not overlook the fact that there are a great
many standard selections only procurable in Vocal-
style, including Home Minstrel Series, Square Dance
Rolls, etc., that have satisfied your customers for
Music Rolls Have
Always Sold
Player Pianos!
From the inception of the Player
Piano business, music rolls have sold
them.
A new age has dawned in the piano
business. All those who have bought
player pianos are prospects for ex-
pression players. It is not too soon
to cultivate this business intensively.
The public is ready.
Dealers have in the Vocalstyle Cat-
alogue of "Reproducing Rolls" a very
desirable list of numbers—selections
that create the desire for ownership.
The Vocalstyle Music Company will
be glad to co-operate with any dealer
in arranging a program which we feel
will close at least half the prospects.
years and helped to build up your business and sell
playerpianos. Now is the time to order these, in such
quantities to take care of your trade for many months
to come, for when these are sold out you may never
be able to buy them again. Look over the Hymns,
Mountain Tunes, Old Favorites, e t c , and supply
yourself generously before it is too late, using en-
closed order blank.
The Vocalstyle Music Co. will continue to serve
the trade with a complete line of radios, phonographs,
piano benches, and music accessories—a formal an-
nouncement of which will be made at an early date.
With the Season's Greetings,
Yours very truly,
T H E VOCALSTYLE MUSIC COMPANY.
E. I. KAIPER, President.
January 8, 1927.
PHONOGRAPH'S ADVANTAGES
Why Edison's Marvel of Inventions Surpasses in
Tone Respects All Other Reproducers.
A writer in the New York Times says that he has
"often wondered how many persons who appreciate
music faithfully reproduced really value the phono-
graph, especially in its present state of excellence.
As a dispenser of music to the discriminating, its place
is high and unassailable. It is the one reliable in-
strument which may be called upon at any moment to
render the particular music one wants to hear at a
precise moment.
"There is not that feeling of misgiving, however
slight, which accompanies one on his journey across
the room to tune in on the radio—the batteries may
What Are the Proper Grades to Place in Stock Should be exhausted, the bulbs may have burned oat, there
Be Determined in Time.
may be interference or static; they may not be play-
ing the kind of music one wishes to hear.
The musical merchandise dealer builds his business
"From an economic standpoint it may be said of
to endure when he builds on quality. There are too
many in the business who do not realize that fact: the phonograph that the first cost is practically the
that 'there is no real market for shoddy musical last. For, where the radio requires batteries and
bulbs which are useless after they are dead, the
instruments.
The man launching in the musical merchandise phonograph requires records which, with proper care,
business anywhere estimates the community if he has last for many years.
"Almost everything in the way of music wlrch is
the requisite business sense. An observation of the
community should enable a man to determine the heard over the radio may be heard on the phonograph
character of its musical instrument requirements. —and more, too. Who could ever expect to tune in
Of course the dealer who could judge the demands the voices of those now dead or retired who have
of his trade to a certainty would be enviable. But raised the "concord of sweet sounds" to such exalted
one can apply certain rules governing the business heights?
of buying and selling. Experience, plus certain
"The radio has its place and a very important one,
sound rules of common sense and the gift of observa-
but for uniform satisfaction, versatility, practicality
tion will effect good results.
and economy, there is one instrument which, in my
In opening a business no one can lay down hard opinion, stands pre-eminent in the field of music re-
and fast rules for his guidance in buying. Each production—the phonograph."
dealer must gage his problems from his own angle.
The man in a high class residential section will find
his demands entirely different from the man who
caters to a large foreign born population in a work-
ing class neighborhood. But no matter what the
difference may be the dealer who studies his possible
customers must succeed.
ORDERING MUSIC GOODS
MARKS WINS SUIT.
The suit of Edward B. Marks Music Company,
New York city, the owner of the song, "Oh, Didn't
He Ramble," against the Perry Bradford Music Pub-
lishing Company, claiming that the song published
by the Perry Bradford Music Publishing Co., under
the name "He Rambled, Yes, He Rambled 'Till the
Butcher Killed Him Dead" was an infringement on
the Marks Song, came up for final hearing before
Judge Francis A. Winslow in the United States Dis-
trict Court for the Southern District of New York
on December 23, 1926. Judge Winslow, after hear-
ing the case, decided that the Marks Music Company
was entitled to an injunction, and since an account-
ing was waived awarded the Marks company, in addi-
tion, damages of $250 and a counsel fee of $300.
The Only
Completely
Equipped
School in the
United States
In Successful Operation for 24 Years
In its own new building especially designed and
equipped for its purposes.
Every branch taught, including Repairing,
Regulating and Voicing—All Player Actions,
with Demonstrating Specimens to work with.
Diplomas awarded and positions secured. Pri-
vate and class instructions. Both sexes.
School all year. Catalogs on request.
POLK'S COLLEGE OF PIANO TUNING
WIZARD B. POWELL, President
LA PORTE, IND.
Write our nearest branch
for complete bulletins.
THE VOCALSTYLE MUSIC COMPANY
Cincinnati
New York
San Francisco
FOR TRUE ECONOMY BUY
PERFECTION
Benches and Cabinets
The line that sells on sight and satisfies always
STYLE 25
Send for catalog and price list
PERFECTION PIANO BENCH MFG. COMPANY
1514-1520 Blue Island Ave.
Chicago, I1L
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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