PRESTO-TIMES
January 8, 1927.
are still made by the men by whom they were
established. And still more is it true that few
of their founders are still alive to know just
how their treasured industries fared and what
their destinies are today.
THE TRADE EDITORS.
It may be said that the reason the music trade
editors have for so many years talked about every-
thing in the industry and trade but themselves is
traceable to their innate modesty. We believe it is
SO.
I " ;
But even then, there seems to be something almost
traitorous to the cause they profess. For the ed-
itors are as much a part of the stock-in-trade as the
jewsharps, harmonicas and jazz horns. Consequent-
ly the trade papers are open to the charges of dis-
crimination or neglect in ignoring the claims of their
editors to the same attention they give to the more
important, or if possible lesser concern, 'to the greater
numbers.
It is this thought, somewhat tardy, perhaps, that
prompts Presto-Times to start the series of personal
tributes to the trade editors which begins this week.
If nothing serious follows the appearance of the
first installment of the trade editorial sketches they
will be continued, with constantly increasing excite-
ment, through several issues.
What of the new year just begun? The
foremost men of the piano trade are not go-
ing to be frightened by the miracle of change.
They are not going to be upset if something
happens unexpectedly ; not alarmed when fate
plays her pranks and tricks ; not going to ex-
pect every manifestation of the sky to de-
velop into a business twister. They are not
going to stand on their heads just to prove
that they are hard-headed. But they are going
to be sensible and stick, with the faith in the
future and themselves that works wonders.
* * *
Piano salesmen of America are among those
whom Presto-Times recognizes as having
lived with big men and women in a big coun-
try. Many of them have had most surprising
roles to play in the drama of human relation-
ships. They have proved that it is never the
believer who is afraid. With factories and
stores behind them, they have gone out in
the belief that pianos in the homes ought to
be a winning slogan.
* * *
The English piano manufacturers are intro-
ducing revolutionary ideas. One of them has
completed a new Concert Grand with two key-
boards. The keys are arranged like those in
an organ, with the upper keyboard having a
register one octave higher than the other. As
a novelty, like the Janko keyboard, it is in-
teresting, and that's about all.
* * *
No salesman fit for his job will stop the sell-
ing of a reproducing grand to tell about the
merits of a foot-playing upright. But neither
will a wise salesman hazard the delivery of an
upright in his enthusiasm to sell a grand. The
real salesman has the ability to measure ac-
curately the kind of instrument that fits his
prospect.
* * *
It is certain that the trade isn't getting all it
can out of the automatic pianos. As now con-
structed, and considering the almost limitless field
it affords, the automatic and electrically operated
piano should be a source of large profits to the
dea 1 ers almost everywhere.
* * *
Now is the time for piano dealers to arrange
for their lines for the year beginning. A great
name on the leader reflects also upon the char-
acter of the lesser known in the line in any
store. Have a great leader, if possible, and
WHAT WE WERE DOING
And Saying When the Trade
Was Young
45 YEARS AGO IN THE TIMES
CLEVELAND'S OUTLOOK
FOR YEAR IS GOOD
High-Grade Pianos Have the Call and Grow-
ing Ohio City, with Live Association,
Will Have Contests.
By A. E. DIHM.
Will Cleveland piano dealers enjoy a good busi-
ness during 1927, and if so, why? This question
asked the leaders of the trade brought out the opin-
ion that Cleveland will enjoy a good business for
the following reasons:
Cleveland is a city of diversified industries. A
large proportion of its residents are home owners.
It is a city that is growing rapidly. It is recognized
as one of the leading musical centers of the United
States. The opinion of all the industrial leaders and
bankers of the city is that the business outlook for
1927 is good.
Most Lines Represented.
The fact that the city has agencies for every high
grade piano manufactured and that they have enjoyed
a good business in 1926 despite the fact that many
(From Presto, January 9, 1892.)
other lines of trade complained of business being
At the Estey factories, seven in number by the below normal, speaks well for a continuance of pros-
way, Col. Julius Estey was reported as confined to perity. A large number of the highest priced pianos
his bed with a severe cold, and Col Fuller had just
made were sold at Christmas.
about recovered from one almost as severe.
The only industry affected in Cleveland has been
The house of Lyon & Healy is practically a happy
family. Goodfellowship prevails to an amazing ex- the automobile and the slight depression suffered
tent among the members of the firm, and they are in the later part of 1926 was only temporary. Just
all bright and happy.
as long as the city's factories continue to operate,
At the sale of the stock of the insolvent Boston its citizens will have money to spend on music.
Piano Co., recently, the first day saw sixty instru-
Will Have Playing Contest.
ments (new) sold at an average price of $121.59, and
The Cleveland Music Trades Association has voted
on the second day sixty brought an average of $136.
unanimously to put on a piano playing contest dur-
The second-hand instruments averaged $88.
Mr. George W. Lyon, of Lyon, Potter & Co., has ing 1927 and committees are now working out details.
invented a new duplex bridge and tone chamber for
While it is true that the Cleveland Better Business
the guitar which is wonderful in tone and carrying Bureau put on a campaign in the newspapers and
power. It adds one-third power over any guitar over the radio to expose bait advertising, and crooked
made in the world, has none of the tinkling tone
found in guitars, but a full, round, resonant tone methods in the sale of pianos, yet all these messages
emphasized the point that the great majority of the
much like the grand harp, capable of playing with
piano dealers were upright and honest and the bureau
full orchestra.
Mr. Jas. F. Broderick began his commercial life recommended dealing with them. It was only a very
about fourteen years ago with the house of Julius small fraction of the trade who were not dependable.
Bauer & Co., with whom he was connected for eight
It is felt that this publicity helped the piano business
years, only leaving upon the death of Mr. Julius
instead of harming it.
Bauer to go with Mason & Hamlin Organ & Piano
Factor in Piano Sales.
Co., with whom he remained but one year, s : gning
a contract with the B. Shoninger Co in November,
Another big factor in the sale of p : anos in Cleve-
as his year ended with the Mason & Hamlin Co. in land is the large foreign population. There are
December.
scores of singing and other musical societies among
them and the section of the city in which the ma-
jority of these people live has more piano and musical
stores than any other part, including downtown.
(From Presto, January 7, 1£92.)
A visit to many of the stores on Monday, Jan-
A Chicago physician has recently been airing the
opinion that insanity and genius often go hand in
uary 3, in various parts of the city, found the pro-
hand. This accounts for the brilliance of some music
prietors demonstrating pianos to prospects, and as
trade editors.
one dealer remarked: "Nineteen twenty-seven is
A pianoforte which is said to have
belonged to starting off well and I see no reason for not believing
:
Mozart is at the present time on v ew in London. that this condition will continue throughout the year.
The instrument, which bears the name of Johann
Personal Notes.
Schautzburg, Vienna, is an early specimen of the
family of keyed instruments.
Work on the new store for Frank Basta on Broad-
D. P. Faulds, the veteran music dealer, of Louis- way is progressing fast and when completed he will
ville, Ky., was reported to be dangerously ill with have one of the finest music stores in this section.
pneumonia early in the week. Mr. Faulds is one of
Henry Dreher has gone to Miami Beach, Fla. Mrs.
the oldest dealers in the South, having started pub-
Dreher went with him and they will stay until the
lishing music there sixty-three years ago.
Music and prosperity go hand in hand. In 1890 worst of the winter is over.
The bait classified ad was the subject for exposure
there were sold in the United States 125,000 pianos,
a record year's sales, but it is estimated that in the
in the advertisement run by the Cleveland Better
past twelve months fully 150,000 new pianos have
Business Bureau this week. A typical bait ad was
found their way into American homes. A very large
shown and then an explanation was given as to how
proportion of the instruments went into the West, the rest of the scheme was worked. The bureau has
particularly Oregon, Kansas and northern California. had many people into see them w 7 ith stories of their
Among the Welsh miners of the Pittsburgh region,
experiences.
too, a great many pianos have been sold.
(From Musical Times, January 8, 1882.)
Some of the leading pianos are represented in
San Francisco, as follows: Chickering by B. Curtez;
Decker Bros., by Kohler & Chase, who also have the
Emerson; Hallet & Davis Co. by W. G. Badger.
Gold string pianos are not so new as some people
pretend to believe. The English piano makers pat-
ented the process of making gold piano wires in 1855.
and the heavy strings were gold wound by Haider
in 1856.
Messrs. Conover Bros, will soon have their pianos
with newly patented device for uprights on the mar-
ket. The new idea is to do away with the "hood"
which causes an unpleasant jerking in the touch of
some instruments.
35 YEARS AGO IN THE TRADE
25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
LOOKING AHEAD.
If you had the power to look ahead
And see to the new year's end,
You'd s.art with a smile that you'd never shed
So long as it cheers a friend;
You'd radiate gladness and smother fear,
Avoiding all thought of dread,
And send only joy through all the year.
If you could but look ahead.
Some mornings will come with sky o'ercast.
Some nights bring sorrow and pain,
But after the darkness all shades are past,
WUh sunshine and song again;
The back may be bent to bear the blow.
And hidden the thorns we tread,
But later our hearts with joy may glow
If we could bat look ahead.
Prosperity glows when man aspires, ;
Success comes to light the way,
• '
But seldom a chance for vain desires
Whose clamor can never stay;
The future stands smiling, clear and fair,
Its portals have naught of dread,
And fortune to all brings ample share
If we can but look ahead.
BRIEF RECORDS OF PIANO
DEALERS ACTIVITIES
The C. F. Johnson Piano Co. of Portland, Ore., is
featuring the new Marshall & Wendell upright apart-
ment model by attractive window displays.
The Foster Piano Co., 283 River street, Troy, N. Y.,
noted for its able featuring of pianos and band in-
struments, is doing school featuring for the Ampico
in the new model, the Marque Ampico.
The Beasley Music Company of Salt Lake City has
opened up a new branch store in Ogden, Utah, where
they expect to do a flourishing business in Mason &
Hamlin Ampicos, Orthophonic Victrolas, orthophonic
records, player-paino rolls, etc.
The Clarke-Atlanta Music Co., for ten years located
at 58 Auburn avenue, Atlanta, Ga., moved recently
to 45 Auburn avenue, where a building was recon-
structed to suit the requ'rements of the company.
The Baldwin Piano Company placed one of the
style "K" Baldwin grands in mahogany in ihe nation-
ally known Home Lawn Sanitarium at Martinsville,
Indiana.
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