MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1927
PIANOS IN THE BIG
SOUTHERN FLOODS
Loss of Instruments Not Nearly so Great as
Might Have Been Expected and Dealers
Display a Remarkable Spirit
of Optimism.
COL. HOLLENBERG'S VIEWS
Letters from Beardstown, 111., and Little Rock, Ark.,
Tell of Measures by Home Owners to Pre-
serve Their Instruments.
The unparalleled floods which have devastated a large
area in the Missisippi Valley for weeks have caused
losses almost beyond computation. Everybody is, of
course, informed of the catastrophe and in the special
interests to which Presto-Times is dedicated the dam-
age has been proportionately great.
Naturally the piano trade has been stirred by the
stories of sacrifice, and interest in the probable loss
by the sweeping away of instruments in homes and
stores has been widely discussed. Among the letters
to Presto-Times, touching upon the subject, several
of general interest have come within the past week.
From those letters the following are selected for pub-
lication—though not written for that purpose—as
showing the approximate conditions in typical centers
in which the Hoods have reached their maximum in
area. It will also be noticed that the spirit of opti-
mism is the dominating note and, largely because of
this fact, these representative communications are
chosen for publication here.
Moved to High Ground.
Beardstown, 111., April 30, 1927.
Editor Presto-Times: Very few pianos are dam-
aged beyond repair by the flood. A large number of
pianos have been subject to damoness.
While we have had a very bad flood, it came gradu-
ally and people were able to move their most valu-
able furniture and pianos to high ground. Of course
their houses are damaged very badly, and it will be
quite some time before they can move back, yet their
furnishings, in the majority of cases, were saved.
Of course all could not move, as there were not
enough drays, or help, and they were caught and lost
all. But that is very rare.
We, ourselves, moved all to high ground; that is,
to the second floor of-other buildings. As the water
is in our store, business is paralyzed and will be for
quite a while. We have quite a job to fix our store
up, but are going ahead just as soon as the water
leaves us.
Yours very truly,
VON FOSSEN MUSIC CO.,
R. J. VON FOSSEN.
Col. Hollenberg's Estimate.
Little Rock, Ark., May 2, 1927.
Editor Presto-Times: It is impossible to estimate
the loss or damage upon pianos caused by the flood.
T had made a large estimate, upon the theory that if
later on the loss were not so great the re-action on
me would be favorable.
I estimate that I still retain title in approximately
1,800 pianos scattered throughout the state of Ar-
kansas and I arbitrarily estimate that I will suffer
a loss of eight to ten per cent. There is no way of
determining what this will be until after the waters
have all receded and complete reports are all in.
Took Precautions.
I was agreeably surprised in two or three instances,
where new pianos were in the houses, to learn that
parties, before abandoning their homes, had placed
the pianos upon scaffolding—that is, in one-story
homes; and in one case, in a two-story house, they
had moved 'the piano up stairs. In these exceptions,
the pianos would not be damaged, and if this same
procedure were carried out generally, there would
be practically no loss, or only a small loss, in 'the
way of repair bills.
But of course, no man can tell. Generally speak-
ing, the pianos are in homes that are more or less
protected, or owned by thoughtful people who will
endeavor to guard and protect their property as far
as possible. Therefore, when the results come in, we
may learn that the loss is comparatively small as far
as pianos are concerned.
A Terrible Condition.
The situation has been a most terrible one. Mil-
lions of acres covered, and thousands upon thousands
of people made homeloss who lost their all. But the
people of this country endeavor to look upon the
favorable side of tilings and to count their blessings,
and there is quite an optimistic spirit running through
the minds of every one and they are going back
bravely and whole heartedly in the restitution and,
aided by the Red Cross, are doing wonderful things.
Too much credit cannot be given to the Red Cross
and to the men and women who have so faithfully
worked in that cause, aided and abetted by the United
States officers, particularly in the Air Service, who
no doubt have rescued—and saved hundreds and thou-
sands of lives.
The general response and assistance of the people
throughout the country has encouraged our people,
and they are doing bravely in the work of rehabili-
tation. In fact, we thank the people in the entire
LInited States for the generosity and great aid, and
for the kind words expressed everywhere.
Yours very truly,
F. B. HOLLENBERG.
BRINKERHOFF PIANO CO.
MAKES ANNOUNCEMENT
Will Make Nation-Wide Expansion Campaign
with Roy S. Dunn as Sales
Manager.
Believing that this year holds possibilities far in
advance of previous years, the Brinkerhoff Piano Co.
of Chicago, has launched a far-reaching expansion
campaign.
Roy S. Dunn, whose home is at Port Byron, Illi-
nois, and who has been associated with some of the
largest and most progressive piano manufacturing
concerns of the country, has been engaged as sales
manager and director of the sales expansion cam-
paign.
This is an important announcement, for no piano
man in this country is better or more favorably
known than Mr. Dunn. He tells Presto-Times that
the "Brinkerhoff Plan" is now available to dealers
in unoccupied territory and this plan offers complete
cooperation with the dealers and is supported by the
entire resources of the corporation, which is one of
the strongest financially and in its organization.
It is certain that the Brinkerhoff piano, already
a great favorite with the trade, is in line for continued
progress and the announcement here made must
prove of unusual interest to representatives already
established as well as to new ones to be occasionally
added.
BAUER GRANDS PROMINENTLY
DISPLAYED BY LYON & HEALY
Fine Showing of Popular Instruments with Announce-
ment Arranged in Spacious Corner Window.
Following the announcement of the purchase of
the retail business of the Julius Bauer & Co., Chi-
cago, the piano department of Lyon & Healy has
put underway a vigorous sales campaign, featuring
the entire line of Bauer pianos.
One of the first steps by the active Chicago house
was to inform the public of the purchase through
daily papers and a large announcement which was
placed in its spacious corner window at Jackson and
Wabash streets, in connection with an impressive
display of Bauer grands.
The graceful lines and beautiful finish of the in-
struments shown has attracted the attention of hun-
dreds of people who pass the corner daily.
$2 The Year
PREPARATIONS FOR
THE CONVENTION
Things Are Rapidly Getting Into Shape for
the Big Trade Gathering of Trade and
Industry at the Hotel Stevens
in Chicago.
SOCIAL FEATURES STRESSED
May Be Less of the Hilarity of Earlier Conventions
but Serious Work and Exhibits Will
Be Ample.
The page announcement of the great Music Trades
convention to be held at Chicago June 6 to 9, inclu-
sive, which appears in this issue of Presto-Times, is
well worth reading carefully by every music mer-
chant and by others engaged selling musical instru-
ments.
This advertisement of the Music Trades Conven-
tion, in making the plea for attendance at the gath-
ering in June, at the great Stevens Hotel, assures
those who come that they will take back something
of profit to them in their business. In other words,
that the big convention will be a worth-while occa-
sion.
Plenty of Entertainment.
While the business sessions, and the convention as
a whole, will not take on so much of the blare and
trumpet of high life and frolic as some past gather-
ings of the trade have exhibited, nevertheless there
will be plenty of amusement, pleasure parties, drives,
theaters and so forth, for every one who is 'there—
man. woman and child.
It is especially urged this year that visitors bring
as many of their families as possible, especially the
wives and daughters. Some interesting things are
in store for the members of the family who are so
fortunate as to make the trip. The best of attention
will be given to parties who come by motor car in
the care and attention of their automobiles.
The Invitation.
As already announced in Presto-Times, the conven-
tion starts with the great luncheon Monday noon.
Reserved seats and reserved tables may be secured
for this affair which will be an event of more than
ordinary interest as regards the ente'rtainme'nt to be
offered.
Invitations are out this week for the Merchants
Banquet Thursday evening, June 9, at the Hotel
Stevens. This invitation reads as follows:
"The National Association of Music Merchants in-
vites yourself and ladies to attend its twenty-sixth
annual banquet on Thursday evening, June 9, 1927,
at half after six o'clock. The Stevens, Michigan
boulevard at Seventh street. Chicago."
Hotel Arrangements.
The committee of local arrangements, as well as
the management of the Stevens Hotel, urge that
reservations be sent in early. There are some $3.50
and $4 rooms yet on the open list, but to secure such
accommodations they should be reserved right away.
Children's Playing Contest.
The Children's Piano Playing Tournament Prelimi-
nary Tests are going on this week with added inter-
est. Exhibitions have been conducted at the Chicago
College of Music hall, 306 South Wabash avenue; at
Kimball Hall; at the Recital Hall of the Reichardt
Piano Co., 1311 Milwaukee avenue; at the Kimball
Piano display room; at Assembly Hall, Olivet In-
stitute, Cleveland and Blackhawk; at Justin Bros.'
music store, Cicero; at the Assembly room of Austin
High School; at the Grosvenor Music House, 1022
Wilson avenue, and at Central High School, Ham-
mond. The teams for these test concerts, consisting
of the master of ceremonies and two assistants, are
made up every Wednesday morning at the Piano
Club of Chicago.
In the language of the convention page already re-
ferred to and which will be found in this issue of
Presto-Times, "Come to the 1927 Chicago convention
and 'Bring the Family.' "
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