Presto

May 21, 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 •
• Editors
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Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at thp
Poat Office, Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March f, 1879.
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Address all communications for the editorial or business
d e p a r t m e n t s t o PRESTO P U B L I S H I N G
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
CO., 417 South
SATURDAY, MAY 21, 1927.
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur-
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that
is not strictly news of importance can have
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they
concern the interests of manufacturers or
dealers such items will appear the week follow-
ing. Copy for advertising designed for the
current issue must reach the office not later
than Wednesday noon of each week.
LOOKS PROMISING
Things are shaping up well for the conven-
tion of the men of the music industry and
trade which will open two weeks from next
Monday. The leading events scheduled for
the week of June 5-9 have been thoroughly
exploited, and the reservations at the Hotel
Stevens increase in number every day. The
programs which have already appeared in
Presto-Times give promise of a variety and
interest not often surpassed at the annual
gatherings of the men of music. Altogether
the interest in the event is at least as great
as was manifested in advance of last year's
convention in New York.
It has been customary, in advance of the
yearly meetings, to exaggerate the probable
attendance. It is seldom that the crowds
prove as large as anticipation has pictured.
But it seems settled that this year the attend-
ance will show a g"ood average. There ap-
pears to be less effort being made by indi-
vidual industries to draw the dealers. The
methods employed for purposes of bringing
the dealers to Chicago do not seem so hys-
terical as before, and the responses to re-
quests for information as to the dealers' plans
for being present have not received the eager
attention which marked similar researches in
times past. But the enterprise of the manu-
facturers is, in several instances, much larger
and plans more elaborate this year than ever
before.
So that, two weeks before the doors open,
haven for the weary and worn whose lives
have been spent in the cause of music. By
the altruism of the late Theodore Presser,
there are at this time more than sixty aged
music teachers secure from the storms that
may rage in life's twilight time. The Presser
Home for Retired Music Teachers, in Phila-
delphia, is thus doing a great work.
But the tired workers in the music trade
have no such assurance against want, although
THE CONTEST SPREADS
everything else associated with the material
Whether the piano playing contests actually side of music seems to be pretty well looked
close piano sales or not—and we believe that after. Is there any place for some such insti-
they do—it is certain that they stir up the tution for unfortunate workers in the industry
kind of interest, even music excitement, that and trade—perhaps for even the improvident
insures activity in the industry and trade. in the business, who have grown old in pov-
Whether or not many pianos are sold, as a erty. It isn't a pleasant subject, perhaps, but
result of the contest, in any community, it is it is filled with possibilities of good.
positively true that eventually the effect must
be to stimulate the people to buy pianos. The
An item in this week's Baltimore report
seed must be planted before the harvest can tells of a new application of the music roll.
be expected. It may require some waiting, It is an industry producing mechanical mouth-
but as sure as the sun shines the crop will harps which utilize tiny perforated sheets. The
develop.
miniature mouth-player will probably prove
And so it is in any special line of business. attractive to the small instrument trade.
Pianos have never been promoted in the same
sense that some other things have been pushed
forward. The real need of pianos has never
WHAT WE WERE DOING
been made a part of the public consciousness.
The piano has been permitted to make its ap-
And Saying When the Trade
peal through the urge of family pride, and
Was Young
because of its place in the social attainments,
rather than because it is an essential in edu-
cation and the mental development of the. 45 YEARS AGO IN THE TIMES
(From Musical Times, May 17, 1882.)
young. That it is not only a sign of refine-
There having been little or no spring, it is likely
ment but a necessary part of the educational
that the "spring trade" will continue throughout the
equipment has never until now been given summer.
The English piano manufacturers are adopting the
great emphasis. The contests are doing this,
American plan of giving concerts to advertise their
and doing it effectively.
instruments.
The Emerson Piano Co. has started the manufac-
And the playing contest has developed into
ture of keys in a building separate from the piano
other realms than that of the piano. It has factory.
In Italy small grands are most used, uprights next.
taken hold of the other instruments of music.
Squares are seldom met with now. Most of the
Bands are now forming into classes and meet- pianos used are imported from France.
It would not be detrimental to the business of
ing in competition. Study of the band instru-
some piano and organ people if they would keep
ments is becoming almost a regular feature in •their wareroom windows a little cleaner.
the music life of many cities and towns. Even
the humble harmonica is coming in for its
share of the contest plans for spreading music,
(From Presto, May 19, 1892.)
and prominent men in community life are tak-
The piano makers of New York and vicinity are
ing personal interest in the practical side of appealed to for funds to complete the Grant monu-
Already the treasurer of the committee ap-
music. Which means the spread of the de- ment.
pointed by the New York Piano Manufacturers' As-
mand and sale of musical instruments of all sociation reports the following subscriptions: Estey
Piano Co., $50; J. & C. Fischer, $50; L. F. Hepburn
kinds.
& Co., $25; Lindeman & Sons Piano Co., $50; Peck
It looks like the day of the music store. & Sons, $75; Steinway & Sons, additional to $500
17, 1885, $250; Stuyvesant Piano Co., $50;
And there is no place so indifferent to music November
F. G. Smith, $50; Chas. Schirmer, 55 West Sixteenth
but that the live dealer may help along the street, $5; Wm. E. Wheelock & Co., $150.
In Chicago this week: Albert Strauch (Strauch
playing contest with direct profit to his bus-
Bros.) , Otto Wessell (Wessell, Nickel & Gross),
iness.
P. Jacob (Jacob Bros.), P. J. Gildemeester (Gilde-
the outlook is good for a large gathering and
a rarely good performance. And it is certain
that piano dealers who may come for the pur-
pose of learning about the new piano models,
and to inform themselves concerning the trend
of trade generally, and the stimulating facts
by which to gauge the future, will not be dis-
appointed.
35 YEARS AGO IN THE TRADE
meester & Kroeger), New York.—Edward P. Mason
(Mason & Hamlin), Boston.—Mr. Baedenroth, Mari-
nette, Wis.—J. H. Rheem, Ottumwa, I a . ^ J . H. Bell
A WORTHY PURPOSE
(Bell & Co.), Lawrence, Kas.—W. H. Seaman s,
Kas.—R. S. Howard (New England Piano
A recent Presto-Times brought forth a com- Atchison,
Company).
munication from a veteran in the eastern
Lyon & Healy have purchased the ground at the
trade who sent a clipping from an old New back of their factory in Chicago. The land faces
Lake street and is larger than the ground on which
York trade paper, now defunct, which reads their factory is located. They will hold it for the
present but will probably build on it next year. The
as follows:
building may be an addition to their present quarters
The "Music Clerks' Association" of New York is an or it may be a piano factory.
organization which we expect to see duplicated in other
large cities. The objects are not, like some "trade" soci-
eties, to harass the employers, but to aid those members
(From Presto, May 15, 1902.)
who, unfortunately, require help, and to elevate the mind
The greatest activity reigns at the Haddorff Piano
by social intercourse and free interchange of ideas.
Co.'s factory at Rockford, 111., the getting out their
That item appeared in the year 1881 and it first consignment of pianos having kept the entire
shows that the plan suggested in Presto-Times force busily employed. The Haddorff pianos will,
from now on, be in evidence, representing an impor-
less than a month ago was not so original as tant addition to the numerous successful American
may have been supposed. But it proves also pianos now on the market.
In his annual address at Baltimore, President E. S.
that, even if the idea of lending encourage- Conway
of the National Piano Manufacturers' Asso-
ment to unfortunates in the music trade had ciation congratulated the members on the cooperative
that has been manifest in the trade dur-
been suggested nearly fifty years ago, things friendliness
ing the last twelve months.
Fake advertising was discussed at some length at
have not improved much in the meantime.
convention of the National Association of Piano
The music profession has been provided a the
Dealers in Baltimore this week.
25 YEARS AGO THIS WEEK
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