Presto

May 7, 1927.
PRESTO-TIMES
The American Music Trade Weekly
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT -
- Editor*
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-
Post Office. Chicago,
^ s matter Jan. 29. 1896, at J
nols, under Act of March S, 18
Subscription. $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign. $4.
Se In advance. No extra charge In United States
possessions. Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
application.
feel the stir of music in a different way than
in the home and in the sense of study.
Therefore the convention suggests, in a meas-
ure, the organized discipline of self-defense, as
the official call so clearly, intimates. And there-
fore, also, it is a matter of more than recreation,
great as that may be. It is really a duty of every
music merchant to attend the gathering at the
Hotel Stevens, Chicago, next month, and to thus
show interest in his own welfare no less than that
of the industry collectively. Arrange to be there.
STRANDED SONS OF ORPHEUS
Three letters from as many cities, within two
weeks, have suggested a need which, while any-
thing but new, has never been effectively drawn
to the attention of the authoritative, or collec-
Payment is not accepted for matter printed in the tively influential, spirit of the music trade. There
editorial or news columns of Presto-Times.
may be no ultimate good in drawing attention to
Where half-tones are made the actual cost of pro- the matter. Then again great good lies within
duction will be charged if of commercial character,
reach of the bare suggestion, for there are men
or other than strictly news interest.
When electrotypes are sent for publication it is of altruistic or benevolent leaning in the spread-
requested that their subjects and senders be carefully ing ranks of practical music workers. One of
indicated.
the letters concludes with this paragraph:
"I thank you for the interest you have taken
Forms close at noon every Thursday. News mat-
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the and wish something could be done to help the
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full veteran worker in the trade. It is a pity he has
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon not laid aside something by which to shelter him-
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current
week, to insure classification, must not be later than self in the rainy days."
Wednesday noon.
That is the customary defense of human nature
Address all communications for the editorial or business
when disaster comes to some hard worker whose
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
years have outrun the possibility of toil in an
unremunerative vocation. The victim of circum-
SATURDAY, MAY 7. 1927.
stances in this case has put in his whole life behind
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press sheet music counters. He has been a loyal and
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring tireless worker. He has no superior in the knowl-
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur- edge and understanding of his branch of the
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that business.
is not strictly news of importance can have
Hut what chance of accumulating a competency
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they
has
a plodding sheet music clerk? Where is the
concern the interests of manufacturers or
.surplus
for the inevitable "rainy day" to come
dealers such items will appear the week follow-
ing. Copy for advertising designed for the from ? Even the most modest kind of sub-
current issue must reach the office not later sistence would exhaust the means in that line of
than Wednesday noon of each week.
work under circumstances which have existed the
past quarter century. We need not say what is
A BATTLE CRY
the average wage of the sheet music clerk, who,
The official call of the June convention which because of the refinement of his surroundings and
rills a page in this issue of Presto-Times reads associations, must always present the appearance
much like a battle cry. It is not of the ordinary of financial resources which actually do not exist.
And the conditions outlined are not confined
anouncement type, by which most business gather-
altogether
to one branch of the music business,
ings are ushered in. It carries a suggestion al-
so
far
as
the
average employes are concerned. It
most of defiance and suggests even a challenge to
is
true
that
piano
men have possibilities. If they
the other and diverse lines of business which are
possess
capacity
they
are sure of a good income.
"lined up against the music merchant." Anyway,
Their
personal
share
in the business is limited
it may be well for the music trade to view it in
only
by
their
selling
ability
and the character of
that light, for the day is gone when the affairs
their
contact
with
the
music
loving world.
of art and music could saunter along with the
In most lines of trade the workers have protec-
throng without being obstructed by the pushing
and crowding that marks present day methods in tion against actual distress in unemployment or
old age. In the music trade we have organiza-
business of all kinds.
Unlike some other lines, less essential to home tions. The money expended in these organiza-
life and human happiness, the music business can tions is usually well expended. And again thou-
not thrive upon the urge or demand of excitement sands of dollars are wasted. That surplus might
and physical desire. It has no such appeal as the alone sustain the suffering veterans of the sheet
rush of out-door life suggests. It is not directly music counters. Is there anywhere in the trade
associated with the exhilaration of the speeding a man, or men, possessed of the altruistic initia-
car, or the drive of the sports afield. It must tive to emulate the example of the late Theodore
depend upon the quieter things, and the more Presser, whose Home for Aged Musicians, in
Philadelphia, has proved a blessing in the pro-
refined delights which belong to cultivation of
head and heart. ]t is something for the inner fessional branch of music?"
It is time that something practical were done
life, the home life, and the hour of quiet and
to
relieve the distress that may largely be found
rest.
in the more prosaic but no less necessary depart-
This is especially so with the things of music
ment of the trade and industry. Another associa-
that pertain to individual experiences, as pianos.
tion or society seems to be needed.
The departments of small instruments, band sup-
plies and concert work have other appeals, which
If the better business bureaus continue to jump upon
more distinctly belong to aggregations and large
all schemes of "direct from factory to the home" selling
gatherings. And there it is to listen and to there will be disturbance in some cities where even the
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
in the smaller cities are the best occasional corre-
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
piano merchants are resorting to that method of catch-
ing customers. The custom is not uncommon in the
piano trade in many places.
* * *
Music Week has been a great success. Probably never
before has the influence of music been so generally felt
as during the present week. The result should stimulate
the sale of all kinds of instruments designed to utter
the "inarticulate, unfathomable speech," as Carlyle called
music. And music stores everywhere should profit by
Music Week.
* * *
The piano manufacturers who persist in keeping
their names, and the names of their instruments, con-
spicuously before the trade are the wise ones who
will be first to feel the return of real prosperity. The
piano that is not promoted by the trade press—the
papers that are read by the men who sell pianos for
a living—are like defeated candidates, dead on their
feet.
* * *
The Mississippi floods have carried away household
treasures of every kind, much of which is irretrievably
ruined. Pianos soaked by the rushing waters are more
certain to be totally lost because, even if recovered, in
most cases, they will be hopelessly damaged.
* * *
There is a genuine brass band boom in the air. Town
hands and school bands are tooting everywhere, making
heretofore dull communities bright.
WHAT WE WERE DOING
And Saying When the Trade
Was Young
35 YEARS AGO IN THE TRADE
(From Presto, May 5, 1892.)
Mr. P. J. Healy and his son, Paul J. Healy, were
in New York this week.
Mr. Henry Hazelton, one of the founders of the
old and famous piano manufacturing house of Hazel-
ton Bros., died at his residence in New York City
on Saturday night last.
Mr. William Steinway is a member of the commit-
tee of One Hundred who are to take charge of the
celebration in New York of the 40Qth anniversary of
the discovery of America.
Among twenty of the dealers handling Steinway
pianos, the average time they have held their agency
is over twenty-one years, while the aggregate is four
hundred and 'twenty-five years.
Mr. Win, Tonk is finding the attractions of Europe
a little more potent than he thought they would be
this time. He intended being home in New York
by May 1, but will not be here for several weeks yet.
25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
(From Presto, May 8, 1902.)
The action of 'the Chicago Piano & Organ Asso-
ciation in meeting and adopting resolutions petition-
ing the school board to reconsider its action in drop-
ping music from the school curriculum is one which
can not he too highly commended or too heartily
endorsed.
Like the last words of McKinley, those uttered by
the late Robert Proddow, of the Estey Piano Com-
pany, were beautiful in the depth of their religious
sentiment. Mr. Proddow's last words were: "If I
have an unkind thought of anybody, dear Lord, for-
give me."
Everybody, or everybody who is anybody, or, to
put it more politely, a good proportion of- Greater
New York music trade celebrities, appear 'to be busy
making necessary preparations for visiting Baltimore
on the occasion of the dual convention of piano man-
ufacturers and dealers, duly scheduled for the coming
week.
SELLING MUSIC.
Music trade papers have long recommended to the
industry that they sell MUSIC; that emphasis be
placed on quality, tone and beauty, rather than price.
—Gulbransen Bulletin.
When you're selling saxophones,
Fiddles, phonographs and bones,
Upright pianos and grands,
With the things they blow in bands,
Ukuleles, harps and strings—
All the other sounding things—
Are you sure you comprehend
What should be your aim and end?—
Selling MUSIC.
Selling things that stir the soul
Should reach higher for its goal,
Higher than the gain that's hid
In the barter and the bid;
Music that can move the heart
Transcends every other art,
And the selling of the thing
Has no gain like 'that we bring
Selling MUSIC!
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