Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
dance with all kinds of entertainment was given by Sales" and gradually assumed a radio complexion
the Victor Talking Machine Company, Otto May, were inspirational and instructive.
Pacific Coast manager, acting as host, and on
Mr. Parnham's Talk.
Wednesday an equally wonderful party was given
John
H.
Parnham's
talk on "Period Model Tenden-
by the Atwater Kent Company with a program full
cies in Pianos" was of the timely kind that attracted
of surprises.
a large audience. It was a history of period styles in
The Complete List.
furniture and their continuance through artistic merit
In the report last week the nominations of the through successive generations. The admirable man-
officers were given, but it was explained that the ner in which the piano industry had adopted the
selections for president, first vice-president, second period and art styles while preserving their distinctive
vice-president and treasurer were certain of election. features was commented upon in an enlightening
The identity of the new secretary was not so sure way.
and no name was printed for that office. The choice
The Main Purpose of Dealer.
was Shirley Walker, of Sherman, Clay & Co., San
T
Edward C. Boykin's address on "Helping the
Francisco, w ho is president of the Music Trade Asso-
Dealer Sell More Pianos" had all the elements of
ciation of Northern California. The complete list of
officers of the Western Music Trades Association is attractions even in the title. It suggested the main
purpose of the piano man's activities and was han-
as follows:
dled by Mr. Boykin in the systematic manner that the
President—Edward H. Uhl, Los Angeles.
subject demanded.
First Vice-President—G. F. Johnson, Portland,
"You are not selling enough pianos or, at least, I
Oregon.
will gamble you are not selling enough to suit you;
Second Vice-President—Royal Daynes, Salt Lake nor is the industry as a whole selling enough pianos.
City.
These are facts—facts that the Sales Promotion Plan
Treasurer—Frank L. Grannis.
are seeking to controvert," he said.
Secretary—Shirley Walker, San Francisco.
What budgeting is and what influences it has on a
The Resolutions.
music business was explained by Joel W. Kaufman
Concerning music in high schools it was resolved, in an enlightening talk. He described the various
"that it is the sense of this convention that all proper types of budgets—the sales, production, expense and
methods be employed to urge high schools to place financial budgets and proved their relation to syste-
the study of music on their curricula as a regular part matic conduct in a business.
Increasing Record Sales.
thereof and give credit for progress in such study
to apply on the necessary units for graduation, and
How to increase record sales was ably explained
be it further resolved, that all universities in the area by Loral M. Best, technical editor of Radio Maga-
represented by the Western Music Trades Associa- zine. It involved a story of record manufacturing
tion be urged by all practical and proper means to processes and showed how every stage of the process
accept from accredited elementary schools in such has an influence on ultimate sales.
universities the credits given children in the elemen-
The same topic was assigned to C. E. Martin, but
tary schools for the prescribed music studios."
he handled it from a different viewpoint. Recent
r
The resolution on standard retail prices was as sales, according to Mr. Martin, ma3 be for all prac-
follows: "It is the consensus of opinion at this con- tical purposes considered as cost sales. He voiced
vention that all of the manufacturers of pianos in a reproof for the average dealer when he said:
this country be urged to place a national retail price
"Just a word about our general lack of co-opera-
on their products and do everything possible to main- tion with the recording companies. How many of
tain the prices thus placed by advertising and other you take the time or trouble to keep in touch with
means, to the end that the purchasing public will the salesmen that call on you, or how' many of you
recognize that there is a price standard on pianos. drop a line to the managers of the different companies
This will follow along the lines pursued by the suggesting this or that number, which is popular in
phonograph manufacturers, automobile manufacturers your vicinity, be recorded? This help is greatly ap-
and other manufacturers of standard merchandise in preciated by the recording companies and helps them
America and will lead to the ultimate cleansing of a to make the 'hits' while they are 'hot.' It also makes
condition in the piano retail trade today which the you feel that you are really part of the game."
Western Music Trades Association would like to see
G. L. Taylor of Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco,
on a higher plane.
spoke about "All Kinds of Music for All Kinds of
People," which was an essay that showed a keen
Resolution en Contests.
study of the subject.
"The Western Music Trades Association in conven-
"High School Band Contests" by E. J. Delano,
tion assembled at the St. Francis Hotel, San Fran-
cisco, July 12th, 13th and 14th, appreciating the im- manager of the band instrument department of Sher-
portance of cultivating in children an interest in the man, Clay & Co., was a masterly review of a situation
piano and of intensifying this interest; therefore be it which concerns the musical merchandise dealer every-
where.
"Resolved, That piano playing contests be encour-
aged in all the large cities of the Western Coast—to
the end that a coast contest may be held at a near
GEORGE P. BENT RETURNS HOME.
date—and to the end that the winners in each city
George P. Bent, who has made Chicago his head-
participate in a national contest which may be held." quarters for the past year, has returned to his home
It was also resolved, "That this convention by a in Los Angeles. Mr. Bent left Chicago last Friday
rising vote express its thanks and appreciation to the direct for San Francisco where he will remain a few
Victor Talking Machine Co. and the Atwater Kent days before proceeding on to Southern California,
Co. for inviting this convention to be their guests at where he had numerous matters demanding his at-
the dinners, respectively, Tuesday evening, July tention. Important affairs necessitated his sojourn
12th, and Wednesday evening, July 13th, making in Chicago, the closing out of the Bent Music Shop
these functions an integral part and a most enjoyable and getting his latest book ready for the printers.
part, of the convention."
The earnestness of the convention was exemplified
GOOD PIANO PICTURE.
by the manner in which the business sessions were
The committee of the American Photo Engraver
attended and by the way in which the members Association has selected an illustration from the Mar-
listened to the admirable addresses, which invariably shall & Wendell catalogue as one of the examples of
were followed by interesting discussions.
line engraving for reproduction in their book,
"Achievement." This speaks well for the workman-
Interesting Subjects.
ship that went into the catalogue as the committee
Most of the subjects taken up at the sessions were is very exacting in its requirements and only the
devoted to the piano; however, at least a third of the best work of the year is included in the book.
program was given over to phonographs and radios
and took place on Wednesday morning. These con-
sisted of a talk on "Increasing Record Sales" by
C. E. Martin, Martin's Music Shop, Palo Alto, fol-
lowed by Gerald M. Best, technical editor of Radio
Magazine, San Francisco; "Handling the Phonograph
ifflr*. C. &. BanieU
Trade-in Problem," by Wm. H. Cross, manager
anb
Talking Machine and Radio Department, Jackson
Furniture Co., Oakland; "Electricity in Music," by
fsto
|)ublist)ins
Co.
R. J. Heffner, Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Co.,
San Francisco; "Importance to Radio Dealer of
beeplp appreciate anb gratefullp
Good Broadcasting," by J. W. Laughlin, managing
director of KGO (operated by Hale Bros.); "Radio
acfenotolebge tfje feinb expresisiion of s#mpatl)j>
and Talking Machine Service—What It Should Re
and How It Can Be Made to Pay,'" by Loren L.
from tfje great number of frtenbsi anb
Ryder, superintendent of Radio and Talking Machine
Service, Sherman Clay & Co., San Francisco; "How
abmirers! of tfje late C. 9 . Baniell
to Sell Radio in a Music Store," by R. E. Smiley,
assistant sales manager, Atwater Kent Co., Philadel-
phia. All of these talks which started with "Record
July 23, 1927.
KNABE AMPICO FOR
NEW ORLEANS THEATER
Maison Blanche Company Scores with Fine
Sale of Knabe Ampico to the New
Saenger Theater There.
The week of June 26 was "Knabe Ampico W r eek"
at the new two and one half million dollar Saenger
Theater in New Orleans. The feature of the per-
formance was the playing of "Liszt's Liebestraum."
as recorded by Leo Ornstein, accompanied by John
Hammond. STO, on the grand organ of the Saenger
Theater. In a special Sunday concert the Knabe
KXABE AMPICO IN SETT INC. KOK RECITAL. WITH
ORCJAN ACCOMPANIMENT AT SAENCER THEATER.
Ampico presented the "Grieg Concerto in A Minor,"
also accompanied by Mr. Hammond on the organ.
The "Liebestraum" roll was a stock record (not
one intended to be used in an accompaniment). Mr.
Hammond's arrangement for the organ was excep-
tionally line and supplied a musical background that
added extraordinarily in richness and dignity of the
Ampico presentation. The audiences were markedly
enthusiastic, and the Maison Blanche Company re-
ceived many favorable comments on the beautiful
tone of the Knabe and the wonderful playing by the
Ampico. Both the Maison Blanche and the Saenger
Theater featured the playing of these recordings by
the Knabe Ampico in their newspaper advertisements.
The Maison Blanche was successful in selling a
Knabe concert grand, a special art design, finished in
white and gold, to be used on the stage of the Saen-
ger Theater, and also a Knabe Style A grand for
use with the orchestra. At the same time, the
Saenger Theater Company placed an order for a
Knabe grand for another new Saenger Theater in
Mobile, Ala.
From Don Philippini. music director, Maison
Blanche has received a letter of commendation, in
which he expresses his satisfaction and The Maison
Blanche is naturally proud of its success in placing
the Knabe in two of the finest motion picture the-
aters in the south.
MORE HOME LIFE NEEDED.
George W. Allen, president of the Milton Piano
Co., New York, make* public a letter from Coleman
Cox, San Francisco, which Mr. Allen believes "con-
tains a thought for every man-jack of us in the piano
business: "WHAT W E N E E D IN T H I S COUN-
TRY IS MORE HOME-LIFE. More pianos in the
homes, with the children gathered around them play-
ing and singing, with proud mothers and fathers as
appreciative listeners. And, I wish you luck in
placing a piano in every home. No man could do
more for his countrv."
OPENS IN ANDERSON, IND.
Hobart M. Cable Piano Company of LaPorte has
opened a branch store at 1107 Main street, Anderson,
Ind. Saul S. Karantz and J. W. Bateman, factory
representatives, are in charge of the store. The
Hobart M. Cable line is fully represented and the
stock of the new branch includes high grade pianos
of every kind.
MARSHALL & WENDELL OWNERS.
The long list of prominent owners of
& Wendell Ampico in Venezuela has
increased through the following sales
Alfredo Scholtz & Co., which handles
& Wendell at Caracas.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/
the Marshall
been further
reported by
the Marshall