Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1927 2156

Page 7 Text:

November 26, 1927
P R E S T O-T I M E S
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA
DESCRIBES THE AMPICO
Famous Conductor in Brief Letter Calls It "A Thing
of Beauty and Joy Forever."
Sousa is one of the many distinguished musicians
who finds relaxation and pleasure in the Ampico.
His purchase of an Ampico grand some months ago
THINGS SAID OR SUGGESTED
VIRTUE
TRIUMPHANT.
"Those piano dealers who believe in ethics for
revenue only remind one of the microscopic sense of
honor of the Hon. Bill Dalton," said Henry Hudson
of the Hudson Music House, Boonville, Ind., who
was a visitor to Chicago a few weeks ago. It w T as
during an enlightening discussion on that inexhaust-
ible topic, the trade uplift.
"The Hon. Bill Dalton was a saloon-keeper in a
certain Indiana town that shall be nameless," con-
tinued Mr. Hudson. "He, was elected a school trus-
tee at a time when the contract for supplying eight
pianos was pending.
"Bill was approached by a dealer w T ith an ingrow-
ing conscience, who offered the trustee a hundred
dollars for his vote. After a little financial dicker-
ing a figure of $250 C. O. D. was decided upon.
"The arrangement was hardly made when a com-
peting dealer with curvature of the moral instincts
came around and offered the Hon. Bill $300. The
temptation was strong, but the new school trustee
shook his head.
" 'Nope,' he virtuously proclaimed, 'no gentleman
as is a gentleman will sell out twicet on the same
proposition."
* * *
OFF AGAIN
through the nerve disturbing agency of the glossy
upright piano.
She presents a good line of argument for the dull
finished piano. She wants grey finished ones. Given
grey and dull finished pianos and furniture instead
of the nerve disturbing g!oss and everything will be
demure and proper.
* * *
Sometimes the man who tells the truth is called a
knocker.
* * *
ANOTHER
COUP.
Chicago has declared a war of extermination
against the gangsters which suggests other forms of
vigorous activity against obnoxious things. Why, for
instance, by a coup or fell swoop, cannot all the
American composers of villainous suggestive songs be
rounded up by a corps of vigilantes composed of real,
clean song makers and confined on some lone island
where they could noisily rag themselves and each
other into paresis.
And while the vigilantes are on the job they might
also gather in the pinhead dancingmasters respon-
sible for the kangaroo fit, Salome glide, spinal men-
ingitis schottische, wildcat whirl, hippopotamus hitch,
tarantula twist, St. Vitus glide, billy goat bump and
the delirium tremens two-step. How to dispose of
them might be left to a Zion City commission ap-
pointed by Overseer Voliva.
* * *
"How did you lose that job as adsmith for the
radio store?"
"I was too literal."
THANKFUL 'TIS OVER.
"How's that?"
"In one of my brightest ads I referred to the six-
When this issue of the Presto-Times reaches many
tube Staticola as a 'howling success.' "
of the readers Thanksgiving will have passed with
* * *
only the memory and the cold turkey remaining.
Apropos of the joyousness, complaint will be duly
REFORM FROM WITHOUT.
made in our learned contemporaries, the dailies, that,
A lady lecturer with the whole United States ?s as a nation, we do not celebrate our holidays in a
her field of uplifting and who finds audiences with rational manner. That is undoubtedly true. If we
the women's clubs, advances the theory that much celebrated them rationally they would not be holidays.
domestic infelicity is caused by what she calls "im-
Dwelling on the subject of holidays, it might be
possible" furniture, in which she includes the piano. pointed out that some people insist we have too
The high finish furniture and pianos, glaring rugs, many. Others think we have not nearly enough of
and plush settees are continuous incitement to the opportunities to be irrational in the festive way. We
family brawl, is her claim.
have not near as many as our friends, the Mexicans.
When little Tommy is fractious the cause is usually
Nearly every day is a fiesta there and all the vacant
attributed to the stomach or some other organ. All dates are filled in with the other national pastime
wrong, in nine cases out of ten, says the lady lec- of revoluting, thus providing a constant round of en-
turer. Like as not it is the shiny front and sides of
tertainment for the happy peon and his dark-eyed
the walnut piano. And many a good mauling given
peonola and his little peonetas.
to wife by hubby is often caused by glances at the
* * *
crimson piano scarf and not by looking on the wine
"You should learn to forgive those competitors who
when it is dago-red.
knock you," said the minister, fervently.
The piano with the shiny finish drives more cou-
"I do forgive 'em, but only in the interests of trade
ples to the divorce court than does the joyous bu/z ethics," said the state commissioner of the national
wagon of the midnight hour. Indeed, she practically association of piano dealers.
holds that the prime cause of our multutidinous
* * *
grasswidowhood is the shiny, highly varnished piano
If a salesman shrugs his shoulders at the mention
and furniture. Many a naturally gentle husband is of the piano of a competing house it's a sign he can
made brutal and driven into the alimony-paying class tell something that ethics prevents him from voicing.
JOHN PHILIP SOUSA.
was prompted by a desire to hear in his leisure
moments the playing of his admired contemporaries
and to provide pleasing entertainment for his guests.
He has more than once expressed his pleasure and
satisfaction in his purchase, the latest being a tiny
note with every word full of meaning. He writes:
"Gentlemen: The Ampico is all that is claimed for
it. 'A thing of beauty is a joy forever,' so be happy."
The accompanying picture, which he kindly per-
mitted, shows him seated at his Ampico grand.
LETTER CONTAINS STRONG
ENDORSEMENT FOR TONK PIANO
Harry Weber, Head of Widely Known Theatrical
Agency, New York, Gives Opinion of Instrument.
Heads of schools, theater owners, conductors and
concert pianists have contributed to the praises of
the Tonk piano, made by William Tonk & Bro., New
York. In each instance the writers who testified to
Tonk piano merits were men of musical discernment
and well qualified to attest to the desirable merits in
an instrument. Their prominence in every case made
the words of Tonk commendation more valuable.
Last week Presto-Times reproduced a commenda-
tory letter about the Tonk from Bennie Cummins,
leader of the orchestra of the Biltmore Hotel, New
York, and here follows an equally strong endorse-
ment from Harry Weber, manager of Harry
Weber Attractions, Palace Theater Building, New
York, to Edwin G. Tonk, sales manager of William
Tonk & Bro.:
"Dear Mr. Tonk: I want to take this opportunity
to tell you how thoroughly we are enjoying our
Tonk piano. The tone of the instrument is excellent
and we are delighted with it. I assure you it is a
pleasure to have it in our home."
NEW WISCONSIN STORE.
The Baldwin Piano Company of Chicago recently
opened a branch store at 114 Grand avenue East,
Eau Claire, Wis. H. G. Austin and son, F. D. Aus-
tin of Chicago, are in charge of the new branch store.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER HELPS SALESMEN
Outside Salesmen must be equipped so as to "show the goods." The season for country piano selling is approaching. Help your sales-
men by furnishing them with the New Bowen Piano Loader, which serves as a wareroom far from the store. It is the only safe
delivery system for dealers, either in city or country. It costs little. Write for particulars.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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).
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Page 8 Text:

November. 2.6,, 1927
PRESTO-TIMES
COOPERATES WITH THE
PIANO PROMOTION PLAN
The H. V. Beasley Music House, Texarkana,
Ark., Applies the Services of the Scheme
in Interesting Teachers.
The H. V. Beasley Music Company, of Texarkana,
Ark., is cooperating with the work of the Piano Man-
ufacturers' Sales Promotion Plan in a splendid
manner.
This progressive concern sent the following letter
to music teachers in connection with the two folders
issued by the Sales Promotion Committee entitled
'•Shall My Child Study the Piano?" and "When Shall
My Child Begin?'":
"We are sending enclosed two very line articles
on a subject that you are interested in—'Shall My
Child Study the Piano?' and 'When Shall My Child
Begin?' Read them.
"How many would you like to have to distribute
among parents who have children that you would
like to have study with you? If you will indicate
the quantity desired on the form below, we will gladly
send you the supply with our compliments.
"We have ten thousand of these (live thousand of
each) for our teacher friends to distribute, so feel
free to ask for as many as you can use to advantage.
"Order today as time is limited for their best use."
This is work that other piano dealers would do well
to emulate.
members. The club is progressing finely and is ful-
liliing an important function in the trade of Chicago.
Mr. Wolfe's talk was intended to be illustrated by
moving pictures entitled the "Birth of Aviation" and
"Since America Learned to Fly," showing first flights
< f the Wright Brothers m the United States and
Furope, the development of airplaines to date as well
as parachute jumping, altitude flights and aeroplanes
attached to Zeppelins, but the films had been loaned
to the Government and he could not get them.
He said the airplanes of the world had flown 12,-
000,000 miles and had carried 395,000 passengers.
The company which he represented has 38 planes,
each averaging travel of about 5,000 miles a day and
they carry a large number of passengers.
HAROLD HENRY, AMERICAN
PIANIST, WRITES OF BALDWIN
Artist Whose Playing Delights Concert Audiences
Expresses Gratification at Baldwin Tone Quality
In a recent letter to the Baldwin Piano Company,
Cincinnati. Harold Henry, the famous American
pianist, says "Baldwin combines the excellence of
them all." The letter follows:
"It has been .my privilege to use in my concerts
in Furope only the acknowledged best piano of each
make
a Fine Piano
for every pocketbook
All exquisite instruments
offering unique tone beauty
and durability. All made
and g u a r a n t e e d by t h e
makers of the Hardman, the
world's most durable piano.
Your choice of models priced
to consumers from $375 to
$5000.
55 Years of Fine Piano Making
and prices
of pianos
WM. KNABE & CO. ANNOUNCES
REMOVAL SALE OF PIANOS
Made and guaranteed by
Hardman, Peck <&/ Co.
Before Occupation at Knabe Tower Building, Near-
ing Completion, All Pianos Will Be Sold.
Knibellished with a reproduction of a drawing of
the new Knabe Tower Building, Hearing completion
on Fifth avenue at Forty-seventh street, New York,
Wm. Knabe & Co., Fifth avenue and Fifty-second
street, an advertisement in New York papers last
week announced a pre-removal sale of tine pianos.
"But Knabe's are not going to move any pianos,"
is the printed statement. "When we move to the
new Knabe Tower Building, we are not going to take
a single one of our present stock of p:anos with rs.
Instead—a great selling event!
"One million dollars' worth of pianos will be dras-
tically reduced in a removal sale starting next Mon-
day, November 21. Think what that means! One
million dollars' worth of pianos cut to such dra-.-
tically low prices that now no one need be without
a fine instrument."
Hardman, Feck G? Co
433 Fifth Avenue, New York
Fine Pianos
Makers of the world's most
durable piano—the Hardman
Schumann
HAROLD HENRY
country, and 1 come back to the Baldwin piano to
find that it combines the excellences of them all.
"For quickness and responsiveness of the action, it
is perfection. The tone admits of endless variety
from the greatest sonority to the most delicate pian-
In Letter Announcing Fact Mr. Bent Expresses issimo. One is able to secure through the use of
the pedals unlimited cumulative tonal effects and
Sorrow at Death of Miss Black.
every quality of tonal color.
Geo. P. Bent, 214 South Wabash avenue, Chicago,
"Other pianos may possess some of these excel-
this week announced a regrettable fact in the follow-
lences, but I must confess my surprise and gratifi-
ing letter to Presto-Times dated November 21:
"It is with great sorrow that I inform you of the cation to find them all combined in one—the Bald-
death of my secretary, M*ss Blanche Stuart Black. win."
Mr. Henry is an American by birth, and a descend-
She was killed by an automobile last Thursday eve-
ning, the 17th. within an hour after I bad dictated a ant of a line of Yankee ancestors dating back before
the Revolution. He studied under Dr. Ernest, Jed-
number of letters to her.
''1 wish to pay tribute to iier memory by telling liczka, Berlin, and Moritz Moszkowsky, Paris.
you that for more than thirty years she served me as
He has played with unvarying success in the most
private and confidential secretary most loyally, faith - important music centers of Europe, starring with the
ful'y and capably. She was a woman of most lovable Munich Tonuenstler, Orchestre de Paris, Hamburg
and charming character, and I have known but few Volks-Symphonie, and in America with the New
as good and true as she was."
York Symphony, Chicago Symphony, Cincinnati
Symphony, Detroit Symphony, Minneapolis Sym-
phony and Seattle Symphony. He has appeared in
recitals in the leading cities of Europe and the
United States.
G. P. BENT'S SECRETARY
IS KILLED BY AUTOMOBILE
AN AVIATION TALK TO
PIANO CLUB OF CHICAGO
PIANOS and PLAYER PIANOS
GRANDS and UPRIGHTS
Have no superiors in appearance, tone
power or other essentials of strictly
leaders in the trade.
Warning to Infringers
This Trade Mark la cast
In tbe plate and also ap-
pears upon the fall board
of all genuine Schumann
Pianos, and all lnfrlngera
will be prosecuted. Beware
of Imitations such as Schu-
mann A Company, Schu-
mann A Son. and also
Shum&n, as all stencil
shops, dealers and users of
pianos bearing a name in
imitation of the name
Schumann with the Inten-
tion of deceiving the public
will be prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law.
flaw Catalogue on Request.
Schumann Piano Co.
W N. VAN MATRE, President
Rockford, 111.
N E W BAND CONTEST BOOKLET.
Enlightenment and Fun Are the Two Things 'he
Attendant Never Misses at This Club.
The booklet of rules and general information on
the state and national school band contests for 192S
is just off the press and is being sent out by the
The Piano Club of Chicago was richly entertaiii'-d
National Bureau for the Advancement of Muse. 45
ihis week at its Monday luncheon, the two Joes fur- West 45th street, New York, to the 15,000 music
nishing fun and music, and Thomas Wolfe, division supervisors of the country. The wide extent of the
traffic manager of the National Air Transport Com- participation of these contests and the interest
pany, Inc., giving an enlightening talk on aviation. aroused is indicated by the fact that it was necessary
The two Joes are both members of the Piano Club— to issue a sixty-four page booklet to convey the infor-
Joe Lyons and Joe Pierson. The Four Horsemen of
mation and contain the pictures of the forty-nine
Dance Music and Popular Songs were students of
winning bands in the different classes of the state
the universities of Chicago and the Northwestern and national contests. The growth in the band con-
who did song and jazz stunts in a most amusing- test movement since its inception under the auspices
manner.
of this Bureau and the Committee on Instrumental
Affairs of the Music Supervisors' National Confer-
There was a full attendance, with visitors present
to the number of ten or twelve, as guests of the ence, in 1924, has been remarkable.
W. P. Haines & Co.
Manufacturers or
BRADBURY. WEBSTER
and
W. P. HAINES & CO.
Grand, Upright and Reproducing
Pianos
138th Street and Walton Avenue
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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