Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
ing of doubt because signs change and some-
where someone cries that there is danger
ahead.
The fact that right now there are piano
manufacturers and dealers who are cutting out
the very means to progress, because "things
are dull," while others are adding to the pres-
sure by which progress may be maintained,
presents a profitable study just now.
It would be easy to name piano industries
that are pushing ahead, with busy factories,
producing new styles, steadily increasing out-
put, and without a word of complaint—quite
the contrary. Several instances have, within
a week or two been- pointed out in this trade
paper. It is a good piano rule that, when trade
drops, to put in extra effort to get more of it,
not to lop off the limb of the tree you are
trimming just as the blossoms may be sprout-
ing. Remember Ben Franklin's homely maxim,
"keep your business and your business will
keep you."
• i
April 23, 1927.
Kalb, 111. It is a moving picture film in which is
shown the making of a song from the brain of the
composer to its place in the playerpiano. It is in-
structive
as well as dramatic.
The American Miuic Trade Weekly
* * *
Little more than a month to the big convention of
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
the music trades and industries. The fine new Ste-
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
vens Hotel in Chicago is nearly ready, and the prom-
C. A. DAN I ELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT • - Editors
ise is that the event of the first week in June will
eclipse any of the earlier meetings. Are you getting
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
ready?
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
* * *
Entered as Sccond-cja^s matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
The demand for small instruments is a marked
Post Office, Chicago. fflThois, under Act of March S, 1879.
feature of the music trade. All over the country, in
Subscription, $2 a y^ar; 6 months, 91; Foreign. $4.
large cities and small towns, the report is that the
Payable In advance. No extra charge in United States
music stores are rapidly adding to their stocks of the
possessions. Cuba and Mexico. Rates (or advertising on
application.
lesser instruments. It is one way to make a dull
piano store a livelier place.
Items of news and-other matter are solicited and if
* * *
of general interest to the music trade will be paid for
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen
New York state has a new law designed to put a
in the smaller cities are the best occasional corre-
crimp in the activities of piano purchasers who prefer
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
not to pay. The Alterman Bill, referred to in another
column, should prove a good thing for dealers who
Payment is not accepted for matter printed in the
sell on the instalment plan.
editorial or news columns of Presto-Times.
The Wurlitzer Company has made a record distri-
Where half-tones are made the actual cost of pro-
bution to its stockholders. A dividend of one-hun-
duction will be charged if of commercial character,
dred-and-fifty per cent is a rare event in any business.
cr other than strictly news interest.
In the music business it seems to be the high-water
When electrotypes are sent for publication it is
mark.
requested that their subjects and senders be carefully
* * *
indicated.
TRADE MONTHS
Nero is said to have fiddled while Rome burned.
Forms close at noon every Thursday. News mat-
Every month should be a good month, for And it is now told how the Chinese did some fiddling
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the
music.
Consequently every month should be while her Shanghai collapsed. The fiddle has always
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full a good month for all musical instruments. But been a powerful ally of both peace and war.
page dFsplay copy should be in hand by Monday noon
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current it is easily possible that some months may be
week, to insure classification, must not be later than made especially good for some individual in-
Wednesday noon.
struments than other months.
This was demonstrated not very long ago
by the introduction of the "Ampico month,"
set aside for special promotion and sale of the
SATURDAY, APRIL 23, 1927.
remarkable "re-enacting" instrument of the
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press American Piano Company. That month was
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring followed by other months dedicated to the spe-
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur- cial energy in the interests of other instru-
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that
is not strictly news of importance can have ments by other manufacturers.
The result of the special setting aside of
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they
concern the interests of manufacturers or some particular months, to be named after, and
dealers such items will appear the week follow- given special emphasis by, enterprise of great
ing. Copy for advertising designed for the industries—as the Gulbransen month, and now
current issue must reach the office not later the Baldwin month, which is under way with
than Wednesday noon of each week.
representatives of the Cincinnati industry
everywhere. "The greatest selling asset, which
every Baldwin dealer possesses, is Baldwin
leadership," says the artistic folder describing
this month's effort.
The plan of setting aside any month for spe-
cial zeal designed to stimulate the dealers
seems to be a good one. And if all the leaders
in the piano trade were to adopt it, every
FIRST SUNDAY IN MAY
month would soon be one of particular pro-
motion by which not only the pianos directly
promoted with special energy, but all the rest,
as well, would receive a remarkable impetus.
WHEN TRADE IS SLACK
You can't arouse unusual interest in any
It's not wise to do much talking about trade
being; slack or dull, or "bum," or "rotten," or piano without contributing to the public in-
anything else that implies disappearing pep. terest in all of them. If the retailers enter
Trade is always slack with the piano manu- enthusiastically into the spirit of the manu-
facturer or dealer who permits himself to let facturer who gets behind the special month,
up in energy, seemingly with little else in mind every man concerned in the music business
than to prove his depression justified. On the must profit, in some, degree, by.the unusual
other hand, trade is never dull with the kind activities of the piano whose month it is, and
of industry or trade that puts on pressure the music world _at large must share in some
way in the results.
whenever there is a hill to climb.
It requires sand to get the heavy load up
Milwaukee's big Saengerfest takes place coincident
hill when the track is slippery and there is ob-
with the annual music trades convention in Chicago.
struction of any kind ahead. But there are That fact will make June a good time for the music
always examples of the kind of business pluck men who attend the convention to make the trip to
that sees nothing to stop progress so long as the Cream City and hear the singers sing. Milwau-
kee is always a delightful cky to explore, and espe-
there are ways and means by which to defeat cially in the spring.
conditions. The active man won't stay indoors
* * *
Baltimore appears to be music-blind. The initial
because it rains hard, if he has an umbrella or
a. "slicker" about the premises. The manu- effort in that city to establish a piano contest, like
that of Detroit and Chicago, has been denied the help
facturer or merchant won't draw in all his of the public schools. But Baltimore will have a con-
means of progress if by a little special effort test and the dealers are enthusiastic on the subject.
* * *
conditions may be equalized. He knows that
A novelty, and an interesting one, has been pro-
the tendency of the world is to catch the feel-
Address all communlcatiuns for the editorial or business
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Denrborn Street, Chicago, III.
National Musitpeb
duced by the Clark Music Roll Company, of De
*
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WHAT WE WERE DOING
And Saying When the Trade
Was Young
35 YEARS AGO IN THE TRADE
(From Presto, April 21, 1892.)
The New England Piano Company, 262 and 264
Wabash avenue, threw open their doors to the public
last Monday.
Mr. Albert Weber was in the city Tuesday, leaving
for home the same evening. He has been on a tour
of the agents for his house between New York and
Chicago.
Organs 265, pianos 44, orders for three days, one-
half of this week, is the record of the Chicago
Cottage Organ Co.; something to be proud of and
brag about.
There has been considerable dissatisfaction ex-
pressed in many quarters over the amount of space
allotted by the World's Fair authorities for the ex-
hibit of musical instruments.
25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
(From Presto, April 24, 1902.)
We are in the midst of a period of factory build-
ing, as The Presto shows from week to week.
Chicago and the West have ample reason for con-
gratulating themselves over the showing made in the
music trades and industries during 'the fifteen months
just ended.
The Haddorff Piano Co. is tbe completed and very
ambitious project of Mr. P. A. Peterson, the com-
pany's vice-president. Mr. Peterson is one of Rock-
ford's most enterprising business men whose control
of several prominent industries 'testifies to his pro-
gressive ideas and successful direction.
MUSIC WEEK.
Spring is the time for flowers and song,
(But this is not a spring pome),
There is no time when such things are wrong,
And every day's best in the home;
Days without music are sombre and sad,
Time drags like days without sun,
And of all weeks there's one that's most glad
From first day until it is done—
Music Week!
Weeks that are merry and gladsome and gay
Are found if we look for them right,
Nothing is lacking at night or in day
To those who can help make them bright,
And there is one week .that's fruitful of joy
And filled with the sounds that uplift,
It drives off the doubts of life that annoy
And sets all the shadows adrift—
Music Week!
Fifty-and-one of the work-a-day weeks—
Enough for the toiling and strife;
One week for respite, of music that speaks
Revealing new visions of life;
Rest from the struggle of traffic and gain,
Release from the turmoil is best
Enlivened by tonic of music's refrain
A full week of music and rest—
Music Week.
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