PRESTO-TIMES
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, fit 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.
covered agencies totally ignorant of the sub-
ject for the purpose of promoting the-piano.
That sort of skill exists within the confines
of the business ; plenty of it. Here is where
Mr. Bayley's keen darts reach home with ac-
curacy. However, it is not for us to do any
criticising at this time. It is to deny that
spirit here, and to insist upon every one inter-
ested reading Mr. Bayley's essay on the dog,
that this is written, and nothing more.
A FINE ALLIANCE
January 22, 1927.
cause they make a noise. Let the parents
understand that, and the sale will be more sat-
isfactory to both merchant and customer. The
trade-in should seldom be encouraged for the
prospective profit in its re-sale.
The item in this issue, in which the Estey-Welte
Corporation declares 'that this year will be a great
one for the organ industry, will be a surprise to many
in the trade. It has become a settled conviction that
the organ had in some way lost its life. But plainly
the organ is very much alive.
* * *
The "essay on the dog," by Mr. Frank J. Bayley,
in this issue, will interest and amuse every piano man
and especially all who are concerned in 'the methods
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and
its multiform activities. Mr. Bayley has the knack of
clear expression and his views are practical as well
as pointed.
The association of the "Melody Way" of
Mr.
Otto Miessner with the powerful Ampico
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if
of general interest to the music trade will be paid for Corporation affords an interesting trade item.
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen Mr. Miessner's method of class piano in-
in the smaller cities are the best occasional corre-
struction has become recognized as a vital
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
influence in elementary music teaching". Its
Payment is not accepted for matter printed in the
creator is a teacher of great experience and
editorial or news columns of Presto-Times.
WHAT WE WERE DOING
Where half-tones are made the actual cost of pro- ability. He has succeeded in so many ways
And Saying When the Trade
duction will be charged if of commercial character, that his place in the faculty was long- ago
or other than strictly news interest.
Was Young
When electrotypes are sent for publication it is fixed.
The great influence of the Ampico, and the.
requested that their subjects and senders be carefully
indicated.
Ampico itself, in the world of educational mu-
Forms close at noon every Thursday. News mat- sic, as a means of positive and indispensably
(From Presto, January 21, 1892.)
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the accurate re-enacting of the best compositions,
Air. I. N. Camp, of Estey & Camp, is very much
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before seems to suggest the high order of apprecia- gratified that the firm of Decker Bros, have secured
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full
the American right to manufacture the Janko key-
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon tion for which Mr. Miessner is noted.
board and states that a Decker piano with this key-
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current
will soon be in Chicago.
Undoubtedly the Educational Department of board
week, to insure classification, must not be later than
The James & Holmstrom Transposing Keyboard
Wednesday noon.
the Ampico Corporation will extend still fur- has taken a firm hold with the trade, and the firm
Address all communications for the editorial or business
expect to do a very large business with them this
ther its influence as an educational force in year.
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Whether with or without the transposing key-
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
music study. No less will the author of the board the James & Holmstrom is a good, saleable
reliable instrument, which it pays dealers to
Melody W r ay extend its vital effects in dis- and
SATURDAY, JANUARY 22, 1927.
handle.
seminating the love of music and the attend-
There has never been a period covering any twelve
months in the history of William Knabe & Co., the
ing
demand
for
pianos.
We
have
seldom
had
great Baltimore piano manufacturers, that has been
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring so reassuring an item of news as the one which productive of more beneficial results than the past
The output of the factory has been the largest
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur- tells of the co-operation of the two sources, year.
ever made by the house, and the prospects for 1892
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that particulars of which appear on another page are brilliant.
is not strictly news of importance can have this week.
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they
25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
concern the interests of manufacturers or
(From Presto, January 23, 1902.)
dealers such items will appear the week follow-
THE TRADE=IN'S VALUE
Many of the W. W. Kimball Co.'s employes have
ing. Copy for advertising designed for the It might pay retail piano merchants to con- become enthused with the "home idea" to the extent
of meeting to discuss the best means of obtaining
current issue must reach the office not later
sider the suggestion made by Mr. A. G. Gul- homes on the monthly payment plan.
than Wednesday noon of each week.
The Packard Company has been making some very
bransen in the matter of worn-out pianos. creditable
foreign shipments. A consignment of thir-
Every retailer has occasion to take in old in- teen pianos was recently shipped to Hamburg, Ger-
THE DOG'S TAIL
of the best foreign markets for American
struments as payments on new ones. To re- many, one
and organs. Recently a shipment of thirty-
In this issue of Presto - Times will be fuse to take them would mean losses to the pianos
three pianos was made to England.
found Mr. Frank J. Bayley's entertain- active piano houses. It is, in fact, at times
The much-talked-of Detroit Music Traders' Asso-
ing- essay on the dog', as represented almost absolutely necessary to accept the ciation is now accomplished. At the meeting at the
Hotel Cadillac, on the 15th inst.. the following officers
by the piano industry and the compli- decrepit instruments. To refuse to do so of the new association were elected: President, C. A.
cation of interests by which, in its association would imply that "service" has little place in Grinnell; first vice-president, James Vaughan; sec-
ond vice-president, S. E. Clark; third vice-president,
functions, it is controlled. Mr. Bayley is a the business.
S. B. Smith; fourth vice-president, C. H. Van Wag-
oner; secretary, J. Henry Ling; treasurer, W. P.
keen observer with the knack of saying thing's
But the habit of taking them in as if they
in good English and to the point. What he were really most welcome, sometimes even Parker.
The annual meeting of The Cable Company was
says in his essay may, or may not, interpret more acceptable than cash, is a mistake al- held in Chicago on Tuesday afternoon last, when the
fo'lowing officers were re-elected: President, F. S.
with exactness the ideas of Presto-Times, or
ways. There are times when the condition of Cable; first vice-president, Jonas M. Cleland; second
any one else in particular, aside from Mr. Bay-
vice-president, F. S. Shaw; secretary, W. B. Price;
the trade-in justifies the valuation placed upon treasurer, H. L. Draper; mechanical superintendent,
ley himself. Nevertheless, there is so much
it, but only when the piano is not too old D. G. Keefe; general agent, F. W. Teeple; directory
common sense in his remarks that it must
S. Cable, F. P. Snyder, F. T. Heffelnnger, H. A.
to be usable without danger to the student's —F.
Ware, J. M. Cleland, F. S. Shaw, D. G. Keefe.
seem almost impossible not to agree with
purposes. In a very large proportion of cases
some of them.
HIS DISCOVERY.
the old timers are fit only for the scrap-heap,
"I haven't made a sale today—
It is the latter fact that makes the essay al- and it is a pity that, as with automobiles, the
I fear the trade is dying;
most essential to a good trade paper just at customer can not be made to understand that
No matter what I do or say
My prospects are not buying;
this time. The indus-try and trade is "al! fact.
But when I watch my neighbor's store
stirred up" over the tvVo uppermost plans of
Mr. Gulbransen's idea is that the dealer's
His place seems much more active—
I can't see that he offers more,
promotion, both of which must entail a drain best argument is that the old piano should be
Or has goods more attractive.
upon the cash box and call for the exercise of gotten rid of, by its owner, for the sake of
"And when I meet him on the street
a good deal of executive judgment if results the young people of the home. That it is do-
He smiles and talks so breezy
are to be made adequate to the labor and ing injury to susceptible youth and may spoil
You'd think his happiness complete
On avenue called 'Easy';
expense.
native genius and talent where a good new"
There must be something in my biz
It will be taken for granted generally that instrument would be sure to develop the best
That needs some kind of clearing,
It's up to me to find what 'tis
some of Mr. Bayley's sharp challenge to the that is in the children.
That clogs my running gearing."
Chamber will receive the commendation of
And that is an argument well worth while.
And soon he found, without a doubt.
many in the trade. In a business so old, and Pianos are not merely pieces of furniture.
The secret of his trouble,
composed of men of experience and acknowl- Their purposes go much deeper. They may
And saw the way to turn about
And make his progress double;
edged skill in every department of the busi- blend the beautiful with the inner refinements,
It is not magic that transcends,
ness, no one will question the challenge to but to be of real value they can not be the
Nor aught that seems surprising—
He found the way to better ends
the judgment of whoever it may be that dis- wrecks of other days, nor desirable merely be-
Led straight through advertising.
35 YEARS AGO IN THE TRADE
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