Presto

Issue: 1927 2141

MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, AUGUST 13, 1927
LATE TRADE NEWS
FROM INDIANAPOLIS
Several Changes in Store Location Impend-
ing—Success of Hobart M. Cable Styles
and Other Interesting Facts.
Business in Indianapolis has been beyond expec-
tations during the summer, and the majority of the
dealers have noticed that the higher grade instru-
ments are gradually increasing in sales.
One of the developments in the city is the change
that will take place to the Hobart M. Cable Com-
pany's store. Ray Coverdill, who has managed the
store for some time, and held the lease on the loca-
tion, has sold out to the W. W. Kimball Company,
and the complete Kimball line will be sold exclusively
from now on.
H. P. Williams, representing the Hobart M. Cable
Company, is in the city at present looking after the
interests of his company, but refrains from giving
any information as to the future plans of his com-
pany. It is understood that the Hobart M. Cable
Company will remain in the city, and conduct their
business at some other location, which information
will be given out later. It is also understood that
the services of a capable manager has been secured
and the sales force will be kept intact.
Hobart M. Cable Wins.
During the conversation with H. P. Williams of
the Hobart M. Cable Company it was learned that
the new style grand known as the Aristocrat is meet-
ing with wonderful success, in fact it is selling better
than was anticipated, and the same applies to the
new "Song Bird," which is one of the latest produc-
tions of the Hobart M. Cable factories.
As to the future of the Kimball Company under
the supervision of Mr. Coverdill nothing definite
could be learned, other than that he will be retained
as the manager, and everything manufactured by the
Kimball Company will be sold in Indianapolis. Kim-
ball pianos were formerly sold by the Wilson-Stewart
Company, until the present arrangements were made
to open an exclusive Kimball store in Indianapolis.
Jesse French in Schools.
The Wilking Music Company is very enthusiastic
over the success of the Jesse French & Sons' line
during the past few months. In reviewing the situa-
tion it has been found that the French line of pianos
are now in some of the foremost homes in the city,
not making mention of the public schools, churches
and schools of music. The instrument has made
many friends in Indianapolis, and is continually gain-
ing popularity, which is proven by the increased sales.
Frank Wilking reports the summer business far in
excess of any previous year in the history of the con-
cern, with prospects very encouraging.
Eugene Wilking is spending his vacation at Lake
James, where he will remain for several weeks, spend-
ing his time fishing, which seems to be his favorite
sport.
The Rapp & Lennox Piano Company is well
pleased in their new location, which seems a trifle up
town, but out of the restricted district of traffic. The
general summer business has been up to expecta-
tions. During the past week the company report
some activity in the used instrument line, which they
have been featuring to some extent.
Harry Wert Pleased.
Harry Wert, manager of the Pearson Piano Com-
pany, reports a very satisfactory business for the
summer, especially on high grade merchandise. Mr.
Wert believes that the cheap and shoddy instrument
is a thing of the past, and that the higher grade
of pianos will head the sales lists from now on. The
public is not accepting the cheaper instrument as
easily as it did several years ago; instruments of
worth and reputation are coming into their own, and
the public are demanding them.
Edgar T. Daab, in charge of the Steinway salon,
is away on his vacation touring Canada by way of
Detroit. Mr. Daab will visit the Kurtzmann fac-
tories at Buffalo, N. Y., while on his vacation, leav-
ing Detroit by boat en route to Buffalo. C. E. Stout
of the sales force is away on his vacation for several
weeks.
Harry Fuller, representing the Kimball Company
of Chicago, was a visitor in Indianapolis during the
past week.
Mr. Shall, representing Wm. Knabe & Company,
spent several days in the city this week, most of his
time at the company's warerooms.
Aliss Leavitt, in charge of the Ampico music divi-
sion, has left for a vacation of several weeks.
PIANO TRADE HONORS
GEORGE M. SLAWSON
Representative Gathering of Old Friends of
Veteran Traveler for The Cable Company
Attend Last Rites at Grave.
George M. Slawson, dean of The Cable Company
travelers, died on Thursday, August 4, at the age of
64 years. The funeral was held at his home in
Bangor, Mich., Saturday, August 6.
Mr. Slawson had been associated with The Cable
Company for over forty years and was very well
known throughout the Northwest. His death came
GKO. M. SLAWSON TEN YEARS AGO.
as a shock to his many friends and marks the passing
of one of the most genial characters in the trade. His
activities are best described by the success of the
Cable line in the territory in which he was so well
known.
Among those in attendance at the funeral were
the officers of The Cable Company and a great many
of his dealer friends.
M. SCHULZ COMPANY'S REPORTS
SHOW WHOLESALE INCREASE
Schulz Dealers Throughout the Country Place Orders
for Various Styles of Instruments.
The M. Schulz Co., 711 Milwaukee avenue, Chi-
cago, reports at the end of July that the wholesale
trade is on the upward trend, which indicates that
the piano trade in general is in a much improved
condition. The active Chicago concern reports that
the month of July was far better than had been
anticipated early in the month and with dealers
showing more activity in exploiting the wide range
of instruments now on the market, the trade will
improve steadily until September, when large fall
orders are expected.
The many M. Schulz styles, which includes period
are grands and uprights, have made a wide appeal
to the trade and the factory has maintained a steady
pace in its production in order to fill all requirements
without delay.
$2 The Year
MID-SUMMER ACTIVITIES OF
THE CHICAGO PIANO CLUB
The Monday attendance is Retting larger each
week and the Great Northern Piano Club parlor is
growing in favor.
E. D. Waldren, of the Waldren Storage and Trans-
fer Co., celebrated his seventieth birthday last Mon-
day by having the cigars passed around to the mem-
bers and guests after a speech fitting the occasion
had been made by Axel Christensen, who came over
from the Palace theater, where he has been playing
an engagement this week, to give his friend the
proper kind of a send-off. Mr. Waldren announced
that he was also on that day celebrating the advent
of a grandson, born the day before.
Harry Bibb spoke a good word for the coming
Detroit convention which he said promised to out-do
itself this year. The Cheese-Hounds, for instance,
have planned something extraordinary. Harry says
"every cheese-hound should be there."
Sympathy was expressed for Mr. A. IT. Grim, in
the death of his beloved wife, which occurred last Sun-
day at the late home of deceased, 7644 Rastlake ter-
race. Services were held in Chicago Monday evening
after which the body was taken to Dayton, Ohio, for
burial, where a daughter resides. The club sent a
floral wreath.
Frank Albright, formerly a Chicagoan, now resid-
ing in New York, called at the club rooms in com-
pany with William Bauer, president Julius Bauer &
Co. Mr. Albright carried a "dee]) dyed" sunbrown
from a week's tour with W. B. Armstrong, late of the
American Piano Company, on Mr. Armstrong's
yacht.
The best wishes of the Club were expressed to
member E. B. Fox, general representative of the
B. K. Settergren Co., Bluffton, Indiana, who is leav-
ing Chicago to go to New York, which, will be his
headquarters hereafter. Mr. Fox is known as one
of the trade hustlers in the grand piano business and
his hosts of friends wish him well. President Gordon
Laughead's last words to him were that if he had
more orders than he could fill that he (Gordon)
would see that all such orders were properly taken
care of.
E. F. Lapham told a story of the making of an
impromptu musical composition that brought fame
and fortune to a cabaret piano player over night. If
the story, as it came to Mr. Lapham, is true it is a
wonder; if only half true it is one of the best the
Club has heard in a long time.
The nominating committee for the October elec-
tion met at the close of the luncheon hour and
deliberated on a ticket, but did not give the names of
any selections they had made or intended to place
before thec lub.
SOUTH DAKOTA DEALER
VISITS STORY & CLARK
J. W. Swift, of Williams Piano Company, Sioux
Falls, Places Order for New Store.
A welcome visitor to the Story & Clark Piano
Company's headquarters at 174 North Michigan ave-
nue, Chicago, this week was J. W. Swift, of the
Williams Piano Co., Sioux Falls, S. Dak. Mr. Swift
came to Chicago for the latest market quotations
and in the end placed a handsome order for Story
& Clark instruments which have always held a
prominent place in the Sioux Falls dealer's ware-
rooms.
While in Chicago Mr. Swift made the announce-
ment that his firm is to open a branch store at
Rapid City, S. Dak. While the store has been offi-
cially opened, it has not been stocked with merchan-
dise and the Story & Clark order was one of the
first steps in that direction. The Williams Piano
Company is one of the most active in the Northwest.
It has conducted a successful business which has
as its foundation, courtesy, service and quality mer-
chandise. Rapid City, which was chosen as the Sum-
mer White House this year, is the scene of much
activity at the present, and Mr. Swift has come in
contact with President Coolidge on several occasions
and reports the President as saying that he was
enjoying his vacation immensely.
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/
i>k£sT6-TIMES
COMMODORE FILLED
WITH PIANO SOUNDS
dreds of the delegates, reading, "Every Piano Should
be Tuned 2 to 4 Times a Year. Gulbransen." This
is the sentiment, made famous through Gulbransen
National Advertising, which has made a decided hit
as a convention motto.
Four Days of Absorbing Lectures and Prac-
tical Demonstrations Provided as Special
Convention Features by the National
Association of Piano Tuners, Inc.
TOLEDO MELODY WAY
CLUB IS STARTED
CALL IT RECORD WEEK
Hundreds of Enthusiastic Students Have
Joined Playing Classes Now Being Con-
ducted by Toledo Music Merchants.
The "Melody Way" club, which is being formed
by the Toledo Blade, with the cooperation of promi-
nent music houses, has proved a boon to the music
trade in Toledo and surrounding communities.
In its appeal to people in all walks of life to avail
themselves of the free lessons, the following article
recently appeared in the Toledo Blade:
"Music, with its educational values, with its possi-
bilities for entertainment, instruction and pleasure,
with its inspirational powers, is perhaps one of the
greatest influences on humanity today.
"There is an universal appeal and charm in the
harmonious blending of tones or notes—which we
know as music—to which few of us fail to yield read-
ily. There is a subtle something in melody which
soothes and inspires. Everyone loves music.
"But, throughout all the history of music there
has been such a few of the great throng of humanity
who have been able to produce music—such a scanty
few who have felt able to devote the supposedly nec-
essary hours and days and weeks and months and
Opening Sessions.
years to study and practice and preparation.
"This all may be eliminated by the Melody Way
The entire New York division of the Tuners' Asso-
ciation served as reception committee. The ladies' method of musical instruction. This method is the
committee, under the direction of Mrs. George H. work of W. Otto Miessner, one of America's fore-
Lawrence, welcomed the wives and daughters of the most teachers and composers. It consists of twelve
visitors. At 2 p. m. the convention was called to lessons which teach the student to play the piano. A
order by President Charles Deutschmann in an Ad- simple melody, which grows more difficult as the
dress of Welcome. Vice-Mayor of New York City, course progresses, accompanies each lesson.
"The piano offers a profitable vocation, too. Not
and M. F. Garwoocl, Jr., chairman, Xew York divi-
only is the ability to play the piano an unfailing
sion, were present.
On Tuesday, August 9, at 9:30 a. m., the keynote source of pleasure and happiness, a social asset of the
address was given by President Charles Deutsch- first importance, but it is also a most practical and
mann, and the annual reports of Secretary W. F. pleasant means of earning a livelihood. Many young
McClellan and Treasurer Lester Singer. The report men and women have worked their way through col-
of Committee on Piano Class Instruction, Leslie lege by their musical abilitiy. Others interested
Hoskins, chairman. Report of Committee on Edu- solely in the cultural and aesthetic aspects of the
piano, have later through this same delightful abil-
cation, Xel% C. Boe, chairman.
ity, kept themselves from actual want.
A Big School.
"With but four exceptions, more people in this
The convention was a series of school events in country earn their living in music than any other
which the instructors and pupils stayed overtime. profession. Whatever may be your plans for the
Technical lectures with models were given by Mr. future of your child, you owe one outstanding obli-
gation: a piano and lessons in playing. "
Werolin of the American Piano Co., Mr. Frey of
The following Toledo dealers have extended a
the Brambach Piano Co., Mr. Gutsohn of the Stand-
ard Pneumatic Action Co., Mr. Taylor of the Mason cordial invitation to "Melody Way" club members to
& Hamlin Co., Air. Cheek of the Kohler Industries join the piano lesson classes now being conducted in
and many others competent to till a teacher's role. their studios: Cable Piano Co., 209 Superior street;
Frazelle Piano Co., 715 Adams street; Goosman
Notably instructive exhibits were made by the Am
Piano Co., 314 Jefferson avenue; J. W. Greene Co.,
pico Corporation, Aeolian Co., Steinway & Sons,
Baldwin Piano Co., the M. C. Shulz Co,. American i 01 Jefferson avenue; Grinnell Brothers, 603 Adams
Steel & Wire Co., Standard Pneumatic Action Co., street; Whitney-Blaine-Wildennuth, 703 Adams
the Gulbransen Co., Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co., street: Crane-Halleck Music Store, Bowling Green,
Boston Tuners Supply Co., Winter & Son, Rudolph Ohio, and Stilson's Music Store, Gibsonburg, Ohio.
Wurlitzer Co., Straube Piano Co., Pratt-Read Prod-
ucts Co., and others.
On Monday, August 8, the opening day of the
convention of the National Association of Piano
Knight-Campbell Music Company, under the cap-
Tuners, more than one hundred men of the profes- tion
for Salesmen," use the daily
sion, from as far away as Texas, Missouri, Minne- papers of to "Opportunity
say:
"We
have
two or three places for
sota and Nebraska, registered at the display room of
salesmen
of
proved
ability,
but
men who have
the Gulbransen Company. Appearances were that had no former experience in the prefer
business. To
this condition would be duplicated on the succeeding succeed, the salesman must have music
a pleasing appear-
days of the convention.
ance, good education, good health, a desire to work,
From the standpoint of instruments shown, the energy, initiative and a record of past successful
Gulbransen Combination Registering and Reproduc- accomplishment. We want men between ages of
ing piano was undoubtedly the outstanding sensation. 25 and 40, and prefer men who have lived in Denver
Word of it passed quickly around the hotel, and at least five years. Apply in person to Mr. W. W.
scores came up to see and play it. This instrument, Bradford. If you are employed now, your call will
it might be explained, plays as a strictly reproducing be treated in strict confidence."
piano; a registering piano with the spool propelled
W. H. Nichols, radio expert for the Bechtold
electrically and with ordinary piano pedals, not Music Company, bet his roll on Jack Dempsey to
player treadles, used for striking the notes and play- defeat Sharkey. Here is how he describes the fight:
ing with expression. This mechanism, as shown at "All is well that ends well. I had heart failure the
the Tuners' convention, is in a small suburban model first round; paralysis the second, but the seventh,
in beautiful walnut duco finish, and four feet one inch wasn't that a peach?"
high.
Francis Tate, official of the Denver piano tuners,
Other instruments on display are the four foot six was the guest of honor at a picnic in Deer Creek
inch reproducing grand: the Art Model Minuet in canon, July 31, and on August 4 left for New York
deep verde green with dainly. colored decorations and as a delegate to the National Association of Piano
with fancy art panel back; the small Style S, with Tuners and the last word he heard was: "Bring
sliding fall board and of new design, finished in ma- that 1928 convention to Denver."
hogany duco: and the Community Model in polished
Tom Savage, known all over the Rocky Mountain
wa'nut, four feet rive inches high.
regions as an "automobile man," has surrendered the
Through a unique system of flood lighting, the new Oldsmobile agency and is now the general distributor
instruments are show.n up to particular advantage in Colorado, Wyoming. New Mexico, for the Atwater
Kent radio products. Now, then, who says that the
in the Gulbransen room.
One of the novelties of the convention is the badge radio business has reached its peak or am gwine to
issued by the Gulbransen Company and worn by hun- slump?
Exhibits of Pianos, Players and Reproducing Instru-
ments as Well as Supplies and Tools
Add to Interest.
Realizations at the annual convention of the Na-
tional Association of Piano Tuners, Inc., held in the
Commodore Hotel, New York City, this week, from
August 9 to 11 inclusive, exceeded the most enthusi-
astic anticipations of the officials and the interested
membership. It was the biggest event of the kind
ever arranged by the organization, both in attend-
ance and. spirit.
It was notably an educational event and it at-
tracted tuners and technicians from every stfitc in
the Union, Canada, South Africa, South America,
Cuba, and Hawaii. Tuners from
far-removed
places displayed the friendliness evoked by mutual
interest in vital things. Everybody displayed eager-
ness to take advantage of valuable opportunities to
imbibe up-to-the-minute piano knowledge.
DENVER TRADE NOTES
August 13, 1927.
KREITER
The Leading and Most Popular
Pianos and Players
Grands, Players, Uprights and
Reproducing Pianos
The Results of Over Forty Years'
of Experience.
Kreiter Pianos Cover the Entire Line
and no Piano Dealer who tries these in-
struments would supplant them by any
others. A trial will convince.
Kreiter Mfg. Co., Inc.
310-312 W, Water St., Milwaukee, Wig.
Factory: Marinette, Wis.
E. Leins Piano Co.
Makers of Pianos and
Player Pianos That Are
Established L e a d e r s
Correspondence from Reliable
Dealers Invited
Factory and Offices, 304 W. 42nd St
NEW YORK
The Heppe, Marcellus and Edouard Jules Piano
manufactured by the
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
are the only pianos In the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented in the United States, Great Britain,
France, Germany and Canada.
liberal arrangements to responsible agents only.
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
The LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANO5
Qrand*. Upright* and Player*
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that can be
made.
YORK PIANOS
Uprights ard Player Planot
A high grade piano of great
value and with charming tone quality
Livingston Pianos— Uprights an<1 PUver HUno*
A popular piano at a popular price
Ovor 7U.0U0 instruments made by thu company are «lna-
inn tbeir own praises in all parts of the civilised worW.
Write f 01 catalogues and state on what terms you wonld
tike to deal, and we will make you a proposition ••' yon are
located in open territory.
WEAVER PIANO CO., Inc
Factory: YORK. » V
Satahllahed 1M70
CHRISTMAN
UPRIGHTS, GRANDS, PLAYERS
AND REPRODUCING PIANOS
THE FAMOUS "STUDIO GRAND"
"The First Touch Tells"
(Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.)
CHRISTMAN PIANO CO., I n c .
597 East 137th Street.
NEW YORK
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/

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