Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
April 2, 1927..
enthusiastic receptions and assurance of complete
co-operation.
Rabbi Franklin has given his endorsement and a
committee is to appear before the Protestant Pastors'
Union. Since the recent unanimous endorsement of
the Federation of Women's Clubs, the matter is being
presented to all affiliated women's clubs of the city. The Straight Upright Piano Shows Consid-
erable Increase and the Reed Organ Dis-
New Means of Cooperation Between Pro- In view of this unexampled cooperation, a definite
plan of publicity is being mapped out by Director
plays a Great Comeback.
moters, School Heads and Contestants, Dis-
Roy A. Maypole, covering the nearly three months
of
daily
newspaper
articles,
with
the
end
in
view
of
The Canadian musical instrument industry as a
covered and Effectively Brought Into
selling the piano to the community on a big scale.
whole showed a slight increase in the total value of
Play for Second Annual Event.
products for 1925 as compared with 1924, according
Contest headquarters are located in the sixth floor
hall of the Union League Club, through the generos- to the annual report of the Musical Instrument Indus-
try for the calendar year 1925, issued by the Cana-
ity of its board of directors.
dian Census of Industry. The number of reporting
establishments was reduced from 50 to 48, but the
value of products increased $229,262.
Interlocking Interest Between Cities I s Seen in the
Musical instruments represented $6,504,995 of the
Spread of the Piano Contest Idea Which Is In-
total value of $8,958,140 for all musical instrument
dorsed by Many Leading Newspapers.
products for 1925. Compared with 1924 there were
Twenty thousand entries and the sale of one thou- Shirley Walker of Sherman, Clay & Co., San Fran- decreases in the value of musical instruments of
$116,816 and in all other musical products of $147,-
cisco, Heads Active Trade Organization.
sand pianos is the goal of the Detroit Music Trades
980. On the other hand, musical instrument mate-
Association in the Second Annual Greater Detroit
At the recent meeting of the Music Trade Associa-
Piano Playing Contest. While the last year's plan tion of Northern California, held in the Hotel Stew- rials and radio sets and accessories showed increases
in value of production of $214,001 and $280,057, re-
has been proven correct, nevertheless, with the pres- art, San Francisco, Shirley Walker of Sherman, Clay
tige and familiarity as a decided asset, much higher & Co., was elected president. Other officers elected spectively.
efficiency and many new avenues of cooperation are were James J. Black, Wiley B. Allen Co., San Fran-
Ontario the Manufacturing Center
being developed, and preparations are much further cisco, first vice-president; William Cross, Jackson
The center of the musical instrument industry is
advanced than at the same time last year.
Furniture Co., Oakland, second vice-president; in Ontario, where more than 68 per cent of the total
The schedule of contests has been developed with George Q. Chase, Kohler & Chase, San Francisco, output is manufactured. Out of the 48 establish-
ments reporting, 35 are located in that Province, 11
the end in view of producing greater rivalry and lead- treasurer.
in Quebec, 1 in Nova Scotia, and 1 in British
ing up to a Grand Finale in August that will excite
In addition to the officers named the new board of
this spirit to the greatest degree, thereby being of the directors is composed of Beeman P. Sibley, H. C. Columbia.
most public interest. It is a matter of keen pride that
The number of establishments engaged in manu-
Hanson, Lee S. Roberts, C. P. McGregor, A. J.
the Piano Playing Contest is easily sold to the com- Shrade, and Russell Franck.
facturing each class of products in 1925 was as fol-
munity as an altruistic movement for the public good,
Philip T. Clay gave a very enlightening talk on lows:
and the Detroit Times and the Detroit Music Trade "The Talking Machine and Its Future—A Predic- Pianos, organs, etc., only
30
Association are making the most of this prestige.
6
tion," in which he advised music merchants to watch Phonographs and records only
3
the course of events in that field. He pointed to the Phonographs, radios and parts
Interest Is National.
8
suggestive fact that unit sales in talking machines are Musical instrument materials, etc., only
The interlocking interest between cities can be ap- now much higher than in former years.
Musical instrument materials, radios and p a r t s . . . 1
preciated from the letter just received at contest
The annual report read by Mr. Walker showed the
Piano Manufacture Increased.
headquarters from a Mrs. Caroline McElroy, 3322
active
character of the organization and the schedule
19th street., N. W., Washington, D. C , whose hus-
The
number
of pianos produced increased from
band, a traveling man, sent her a Detroit clipping, for the present year suggested no diminution in its 16,168 valued at $3,889,645 in 1924 to 17,392 valued at
energies.
in which it was stated that Baltimore contemplated a
$4,080,409 manufactured in 1925. There was a large
contest. She states that her daughter attends the
gain recorded in the production of the upright stand-
Sacred Heart Academy in Baltimore and wishes her
ard piano which increased from 13,060 instruments
entered.
valued at $2,732,788 to 13,757 valued at $2,771,067.
Organs show a gain in production, reed organs in
A. C. Pulfrey, of the University Music Store of
particular increasing almost 17 per cent during the
Ann Arbor, Mich., made a special trip this week to
year. Phonographs decreased in both quantity and
Detroit to gain details for a contest in his city, stat- New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
value and records decreased in value but increased
ing that the Scripps-Booth string of papers are much
Places.
in quantity.
interested and assuring him of strong local support.
John Aimer, publisher of the Baltimore American, is
The W. H. Stowe Piano Co., Akron, Ohio; $10,000;
Imports Decrease and Exports Increase.
urging Mr. Bayley and Mr. Maypole to visit Balti- Joseph Dudrick, H. Dudrick, Leo McGarry and
The value of imports fell from $2,038,417 in 1924
more next week and assist them in laying out a others.
to $1,673',218 in 1925, a decrease of $365,199. Imports
contest for them. It is anticipated that delegations
The Sporleder Music House, St. Louis; $10,000; from the United Kingdom were about average, those
from Philadelphia and other nearby cities will be in Paul Sporleder, Joseph Gustat and B. Nicholas
from the United States decreased by $404,980, but im-
attendance.
Gustat.
ports from other countries increased by $39,900. Can-
Dealers Generally Concerned.
The Charles Schulz & Sons Co., 4243 West Madi- ada imported musical instruments from Germany
Many letters of inquiry are constantly coming to son street, Chicago; $30,000.
valued at $124,368.
Detroit from dealers all over the country, interested
Harry Currie, Inc., Louisville, Ky.; to deal in band
The principal United States losses were sustained
in the contest movement, which is keeping Mr. instruments; $20,000.
in the piano and phonograph classes. Although im-
Bayley busy answering, however, his advice now is
The Ackerman Music House, 3148 West Sixty- ports from the United States show a decrease as a
to prepare to come to the Michigan merchants' con- third street, Chicago; $20,000.
whole, American band instruments increased more
vention August 15-18 and study the Detroit contest
than 20 per cent. The total increase in imports of
The Shaw Piano Co. and the Bennett-Bretz Piano band instruments and bagpipes amounted to $50,512,
first-hand.
The Detroit Piano Tuners Association received Co., Baltimore, Md., both operated by Charles M. or about 28 per cent.
Stieff, Inc., have been incorporated. The capital
some nice publicity in an article this week. It stated
that this organization had undertaken the job of see- stock of each is 250 shares of common, par value $100.
TO CLOSE ALL BRANCHES.
Nail-Robertson Piano Company, Kansas City, Mo.,
ing that all school pianos were in first class tune,
The
Hollenberg
Music Co., Little Rock, Ark., has
since this is so important to the progress of a child in $6,000; to manufacture, buy, sell and deal in pianos,
phonographs, and musical instruments; W. G. Robert- announced the closing of all its stores in Arkansas
its music.
son, Arthur B. Nail, J. P. Compton. Attorneys, Gar- with the exception of the Little Rock store, which
Effect on Piano Sales.
will be operated in the future purely as a retail store.
rett & Ruark, Kansas City.
The announcement appearing in the trade press that
The Lawrence Music Co., Lewiston, Me., to deal The reason assigned for the discontinuance of the
the 1927 Greater Detroit Piano Playing Contest in musical instruments; 1,000 shares of common stock branches is the poor physical condition of F. B. T.
Hollenberg, Jr., who has been directly supervising
would result in the eventual direct sale of one thou- of no par value.
sand pianos has attracted widespread attention. The
The Rex Melody Shop, New York; $5,000; M. that phase of the business.
Detroit dealers, however, are looking wise and main- Thompson, M. Simonin and E. J. Hoffman.
taining an air of confidence. It is pointed out that
KAHN SUCCEEDS MARSHALL.
The Mel-O-Art Player Roll Manufacturing Co.,
the whole city appears to be united in the movement
Baltimore, Md.; $20,000; office address, 665 West
Arthur C. Kahn, long with Krakauer Bros., New
which is looked upon as a civic affair for the benefit Saratoga street.
York, has taken the place vacated by Mr. Marshall,
of the child, the home and the community.
Cameo Record Corp., Wilmington, Del., talking who also was with the same house. Mr. Marshall,
The Detroit Times takes the stand that the encour- machine supply; $10,000; T. L. Crotcan.
as already noted, is now in the sales department of
Alba Music Shops, New York, $15,000; A. Falsetti, the Packard Piano Co., of Fort Wayne, Ind. Both
agement of all the children to play the piano, the
basic instrument, is for the public good and that the and F. Tripodia.
are expert piano men who will do good work in
Detroit Music Trades Association is a public bene-
their respective positions with the two famous indus-
factor.
tries.
IN CHINA'S WAR ZONE.
It is a matter of surprise and gratification to note
Julian Arnold, who is instrumental in securing a
the agility with which civic, social and musical leaders fund for the relief of Americans, and European na-
NEW ENGLANDERS TO DINE.
are hastening to place their stamp of approval upon tionalities as well, in the war zones in China, will
The
New England Music Trades Association will
the movement, and when the sponsors and Advisory be remembered by members of the Piano Club of
hold
its
annual banquet April 11 at the new Statler
Committee names are announced it will disclose a Chicago, as the distinguished gentleman who gave a
Hotel, which was formally opened last week with
most unusual list of these leaders.
noon-day talk to the club some five or six weeks ago. ceremonies in which music formed an important part.
Individual Workers
The event will be for members only, according to
the announcement this week of William F. Merrill,
IN BANKRUPTCY.
Phil Sadowski, assisted by Mr. Glendenning, of
Involuntary petition in bankruptcy has been filed secretary of the association.
Bush & Lane Piano Co., and Paul Schilling, consti-
tuting the parochial school committee, are following against Harry Brazen at 3541 West Roosevelt Road,
up a letter sent from Bishop Gallagher to all the Chicago, doing business as Brazen Piano Co., by Uni-
A. P. Willis was re-elected president of Willis & |
pastors of the diocese, by a personal visit, and report versal Battery Company and others; claims $5,000.
Co., Montreal, at a recent meeting of the company.
DETROIT SETS
CONTEST GOAL
MUSICAL INSTRUMENT
INDUSTRY OF CANADA
NEW PLANS INTRODUCED
NEW OFFICERS ELECTED BY
NORTHERN CALIFORNIA ASSN.
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC QOODS TRADE
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