MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17, 1927
FEATURES NOTED
IN EASTERN TRADE
Favor for Small Grands and Uprights and Par-
ticularly of Customers for Period and Art
Models Are Predominant Phases
of Piano Business.
PIANO MAKERS ACTIVE
New James & Holmstrom Baby Grand Presented to
Trade After Thorough Test—F. Radle Favor
—Other Activities of Industry.
Piano dealers in New York state, Massachusetts,
Pennsylvania and the East generally agree in the
prominence of two features of the trade—the favor
for small grands and small uprights and the well
defined preference for Period models. The condition
is similar to that reported from states in other sec-
tions, according to the New York and Boston manu-
facturers. The eastern manufacturers have wisely
encouraged the preferences of the trade and as far
as possible, the consumers, to models in well-defined
classes which the furniture trade had proven to be
the most available for its purposes. The piano manu-
facturer, like the furniture manufacturer, tries to
avoid a multiplicity of models. The growing favor
for the Period models held a possible danger in that
respect, but it has been avoided so far. New York
and Boston piano manufacturers were quick to rec-
ognize the trend of the public towards the Period
models, but in production of them they proceeded
with certainty as to their acceptance by the public.
James & Holmstrom Baby Grand.
The James & Holmstrom Piano Co., New York
city, is now offering to the trade a new model Baby
Grand, 5 feet long, known as Style 3. This instru-
ment has been thoroughly tested at the James &
Holmstrom factory for the last six months. It is
the policy of this company to place no pianos on the
market until the makers are certain that they will
equal the high standard of the present line.
The Style 3 is now pronounced ready for large-
volume production. Its size will fit in any home.
The sounding board expanse and scale used produce
a volume and quality of tone that will meet the
demands of the most discriminating purchasers. This
is the smallest James & Holmstrom Grand and is
a worthy addition to the line of a house famous for
its grands, and who was a pioneer with its "Small
Grand with a Big Tone."
The new style will be made up in period casings
and also with the Welte-Mignon Reproducing Action
as well as in the Colonial design. It will be fur-
nished in mahogany or walnut veneer, lacquer or
art finish.
John J. Glyun, secretary of the company, reports
that several orders are already booked for fall deliv-
ery.
Artist Praises Christman.
The strong favor for the Christman Studio Grand
among professional musicians is a notable feature of
business of Christman Sons, New York. Letters from
artists show what an enviable place the piano holds
in their esteem. They are justifications of the Christ-
man slogan, "The First Touch Tells," a phrase sug-
gestive of the powerful and agreeable tone of the
piano. A letter recently received from Theo. Wendt
is similar to others frequently received by the com-
pany:
"You may be interested to hear from a visitor to
the United States how much I enjoyed playing on
one of your Studio Grands.
"As conductor for eleven years of the Capetown
Symphony Orchestra, a permanent organization
subsided by the Capetown Municipality and the only
orchestra in the British Dominions, I have had great
and varied experiences of most makes of pianos, and
state without hesitation that in its class, your Studio
Grand is second to none. The tone is round, full
and of beautiful singing quality, whilst the evenness
of touch is delightful. Small wonder what with such
instruments America is becoming the musical center
of the world."
Theo Wendt, born in London, was educated in
England and Germany, and received his training at
the Cologne Conservatoire and the Royal Academy
of Music, London. He has composed numerous
orchestral, operatic, chamber and piano works, many
of which have been published.
Solvent, But Capital Frozen.
The George A. Cassedy Co., Schenectady, N. Y..
and operating a chain of stores in New York and
Massachusetts, declared to be solvent but with capi-
tal frozen, was granted an equity receivership by the
Federal Court recently, following a petition for a re-
ceiver filed by the Lester Piano Co., of Philadelphia.
Alfred L. Smith of New York and T. Earl Furman
of Schenectady were appointed receivers in equity by
the court and bonded at $30,000 each.
In returning its assets at $367,000 and its liabilities
at $266,000 it claimed it is not bankrupt but unable to
promptly meet its matured obligations with ready
cash.
The Ahlstrom Dividend.
At a meeting recently of the creditors of the Ahl-
strom Piano Co., in Jamestown, N. Y., it was decided
to distribute the assets of the company to creditors
at the rate of 57 cents on the dollar. It was an-
nounced as the final meeting and was held before
Referee Rolland W. Snow in the Bankruptcy Court.
Charles A. Ahlstrom, president of the company,
who appeared in court, said his assets were $30,-
445.32 less a government claim of $77.61 for manu-
facturers' excise tax for 1921.
F. Radle Pleases.
The F. Radle piano, made by F. Radle, Inc., 609-
611 West 36th street, New York, is one of the oldest
instruments in the industry, with a beginning dating
back to 1850. F. Radle owners in every year have
contributed spontaneous written opinions of the in-
strument which show that the good feeling for their
pianos by F. Radle owners is a continuous thing.
The following letter from an Ohio ' customer is
typical of a great collection of documentary proof of
F. Radle merits:
Just a few lines to thank you for your interest in
my inquiries. I appreciate your help in answering
to my satisfaction the facts concerning your piano.
I also wish to thank you for the Presto Buyers'
Guide which you mailed me, and which I gave to
your dealer, after I had studied it.
On July 27 I bought one of your style B player-
pianos in a brown mahogany case. To say that I
am pleased is to put it mildly indeed. The instru-
ment is far beyond my expectation in style, tone,
finish and action.
I am willing to say, that it far surpasses any instru-
ment of the price I have ever seen in tone quality,
appearance, style and finish. Every one who has
heard it has said the same thing. I really feel now
that I cannot praise the Radle too much and I shall
not hesitate to speak of it in the most glowing and
confident terms at all times and places.
If you have any inquiries from our section do not
hesitate to refer them to us as well pleased cus-
tomers.
Old Music Dealer Dies.
Charles A. A. During, nonogenarian music teacher
well known to the piano trade, who for years taught
the sons and daughters of many of New York's old-
est families, celebrated his ninety-eighth birthday
quietly in his home at 600 West 146th street, this
week. Born in 1829 at Frankfort-on-Main, Germany,
the son of a bandmaster in Napoleon's army, Mr.
During came to this country in 1849. He settled in
Greenwich Village at the time when Twenty-third
street marked the northern boundary of the city.
A Philadelphia Branch.
A new wholesale branch of the International Player
Roll Co., Inc., Brooklyn, N. Y., has been opened at
125 North Ninth street, Philadelphia, in charge of
John Neldine, who has covered the music trade in
that territory for a number of years. Under him
will be a force of assistants well acquainted with all
angles of the player roll industry. The new branch
is in the heart of the Philadelphia wholesale music
district, and with the stock room on the store floor,
a few doors north of Arch street, is ideally designed
for expeditious handling of the orders and shipments.
$2 The Year
EXECUTIVE BOARD
MEETS IN CLEVELAND
Advisory and Auxiliary Boards, Also Com-
prised in Board of Control, Aid in Defin-
ing Policies of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants.
NEW YORK IN JUNE
Exact Date and Location of Convention of National
Organization to Be Determined Later and
Duly Announced by Board.
There was a preliminary meeting of the Executive
Board of the National Music Merchants' Association
on Saturday morning, Septembc: 10, at the Winton
Hotel, Cleveland. It dealt largely with financial
affairs. The entire board, which met at luncheon at
the hotel, included the Executive Board, Advisory
Board and Auxiliary Board. A business meeting
followed the luncheon and continued throughout the
afternoon and was concluded at noon Sunday.
An invitation was extended to all national board
members to take part in the convention of the Music
Merchants' Association of Ohio by President C. H.
Boyd of Marion and Rexford C. Hyre of Cleveland.
The representative attendance at the meeting, pre-
sided over by President C. J. Roberts, included C. J.
Roberts, Baltimore; Shirley Walker, San Francisco;
Frank J. Bayley, Detroit; Otto B. Fteaton, Columbus;
Jay Grinnel, Detroit; Edmund Gram, Milwaukee; M.
V. DeForest, Sharon, Pa.; Joel B. Ryde, Indianapo-
lis; George B. Wiswell, Joliet; A. H. Howes, De-
troit; Fred P. StiefT, Baltimore; C. L. Dennis, New
York.
Policy Adopted.
The Board of Control adopted a definite policy for
the promotion of piano classes, both in the schools
and through dealers stores, and also piano playing
contests to be developed through the National Bu-
reau for the Advancement of Music. It was reported
by Executive Secretary Dennis that more than nine
hundred requests from trade members throughout the
country had been received at the association execu-
tive office in New York city, and passed to the Bu-
reau for mailing of copies of booklet on piano play-
ing contests.
The board approved the policy of offering awards
to the winners of state contests for first, second and
third places, and also awards to the schools and to
the music teachers of the same winners.
The Promotion Stamp.
It was reported that an increasing number of piano
manufacturers are cooperating with the association
to collect funds through the new merchants' promo-
tion stamp for the promotion work and that the
dealers are responding in increasing numbers. It
was also pointed out that the lack of cooperation of
certain manufacturers in this stamp plan was re-
sponsible for failure of the association to collect
funds from many dealers willing to pay.
The Federal Tax.
Executive Secretary Dennis submitted a memoran-
dum for A. L. Smith, general manager of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, relative to status
of federal income tax matters involving installment
regulations under a recent decision of the Board of
Tax Appeals, in which he said that the only recourse
of the trade is now to Congress for amendment of
the 1926 Revenue Act. Another memorandum rela-
tive to copyright legislation, stated the position of
the Chamber to oppose a bill amending the copyright
act of 1909 which is expected to be introduced as
soon as Congress convenes.
Mr. Dennis also reported that one hundred and
six orders for 146,600 booklets: "Care of the Piano,"
had been received for a new edition of that publica-
tion which is now on the press. Previous editions of
the booklet amounted to -550,000 circulation.
Resolutions.
The Board adopted the following resolutions;
Whereas, the Puzzle Contest and Credit Check
(Continued to page 17.)
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