Presto

MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 24, 1927
CONDITIONS IN PIANO
TRADE OF FRANCE
Jacques Herrburger of Great Piano Action and
Key Manufacturing House of Herrburger-
Schwander, Paris. Makes Interesting Com-
parisons with Those of United States.
DIFFERENCES IN TASTE
Small Uprights Comparatively Unknown in France
and Reproducing Piano Demands Are Few—
Other Interesting Observations by Him.
Jacques Herrburger, son of Joseph Herrburger,
head of the great piano action and key manufactur-
ing house of Herrburger-Schwander, Paris, France,
and grandson of one of the founders, was an interest-
ing visitor to the United States this month. He sailed
for home on the 16th inst. Mr. Herrburger came
to America this year mainly to purchase certain kinds
of milling and other wood-working machinery for one
of the newer Herrburger factories; the one at Epiuay,
about ten miles from their main factory in Paris.
Mr. Herrburger gives some interesting comparisons
concerning American and European pianos. He
says that about eighty per cent of the keys manu-
factured in France are of composition, ivory keys
being almost prohibitive in price to the average man-
ufacturer in that country. Only concerns like Ga-
veau, Pleyel and a few others of the first rank build
pianos with ivory keys.
Small Uprights Unpopular.
The small-sized uprights which have proven so
popular on this side of the Atlantic are comparatively
unknown in France, he says. A small sized grand,
however, has been introduced and is becoming very
popular, but the smallest upright is about five feet
high.
Pianos with less than 18 notes are comparatively
unknown in France. Actions are similar to those con-
structed in this country, except that in France, hand
labor still prevails in most operations. An average
popular priced grand in France sells retail for about
$750, while automatic pianos bring around $1,500.
Reproducing Piano Lags.
Up to the present time, the reproduccing piano has
lagged somewhat, due to the fact that the rolls were
manufactured in other countries and did not meet
with the approval of the French music lovers. When
recording studios are established in France, this con-
dition will be rectified and a limited but growing
demand for the reproducing instruments is likely to
follow.
Conditions in the piano industry are much better
than they were last year. Mr. llerrburger reports
that last year, his concern did only about one third as
much business as the year before. This was largely
due to the fluctuating value of the franc. Prices had
to be changed every three months.
There is little foreign competition in France. With
the mark equalling six francs, German prices are too
high, while American and English manufacturers find
it difficult to compete with the domestic makers.
French tastes are conservative and little change
has been made in piano design during the past few
years. Mr. Herrburger prefers the American style of
fall board and the simplicity of American design, but
states that it would be futile to attempt such changes
in his country.
Admires American Methods.
Mr. Herrburger is a great admirer of American
methods of machine production. He visited the
Knabe plant and was astounded at the speed and
accuracy with which high grade instruments can be
produced by American methods. Such plants, he
figured, could produce three times as many pianos as
are built in all of France.
The glossy or "French" finish is still popular in
France. Mr. Herrburger reports that his plant has
had some success with kcquer finish as applied to
brackets and other action parts. Mahogany and
rosewood are the favored woods for piano case con-
struction in France. The domestic walnut is not at
all suitable. It is clear, light in color, and has no
grain to speak of.
Bench Replaces StooL
The piano bench is gradually supplanting the
swivel stool in France, but the period model piano is
built only on special order for the very wealthy.
Mr. Herrburger was surprised to note the great
popularity this type of instrument has attained in the
United States.
It is interesting to note that French piano manu-
facturers are buying a percentage of their piano wire
in the United States, due to the superior quality being
produced in this country.
Although radio outfits are so cheap in France that
even the laboring class can afford to own sets, the
use of radio has not become so widespread as in
the United States.
Phonograph Is Popular.
The phonograph has held its popularity in France
and the Columbia Phonograph Co. has secured quite
a foothold in that country. Mr. Herrburger finds
that the phonograph is a valuable asset to the piano
merchant, in that record purchasers often develop
into good piano prospects.
The Herrburger business was established in 1815
by the great grandfather of the present head of the
house. When founded, the section of Paris where
the principal plant is located, at 15 rue d' Evangile,
was surrounded by open fields and was rural in
aspect. Now it is in the heart of the city.
During the war, the Herrburger plant manufac-
tured wings for airplanes. The woodworking plant
was pressed into service to turn out gun cases and
other military equipment for the French army.
JESSE FRENCH & SONS PIANOS
IN BEAUTIFUL HOMES
New
Castle, Ind., Piano Manufacturing Concern
Issues a Gorgeous Booklet on Subject.
An elaborate brochure, pictorially-prepared with
eye-delighting re-touchings, showing homes of the
well-to-do and also interior views with Jesse French
& Sons pianos in parlors, music rooms, studios and
churches, has just been issued and is being distributed
to their dealers and salesmen.
These pictures are of rooms and homes in several
widely-separated cities, such as Indianapolis, Denver,
Mobile, Montgomery, Ala.; Boston, Nashville, and
other places.
Among the homes supplied is shown a Jesse French
& Sons Grand in the residence of G. A. Miller, In-
dianapolis, sold by the E. O. Wilking Music Co.; a
grand in the home of J. A. McGuire, Denver, Colo.;
a grand in the home of A. M. Helm, Mobile, Ala.;
a grand in the home of Frank H. Miller, Montgom-
ery, Ala.; a grand in the home of H. B. Newell,
Boston, Mass.
GULBRANSEN CHRISTMAS ADS.
The Gulbransen Company, Chicago, has this year
had a tremendous response to its special Christmas
advertising service for use by the local dealer. Not
only were a large group of illustrations and an assort-
ment of copy available for use of Gulbransen dealers,
but in addition three new type advertisements dis-
tinctly modern in nature were made available to the
dealer. Hundreds of requests for the material have
come to the Gulbransen Company Advertising De-
partment. It is estimated that the Christmas adver-
tising placed by Gulbransen dealers throughout the
country will have a total circulation of 50,000,000 in
large and small newspapers.
PIANO CLUB'S DOINGS.
The Piano Club of Chicago had an overflowing
attendance at its Monday luncheon this week. A
visitor of note at the luncheon was E. H. Vogel,
advertising manager of the Kohler Industries, New
York. Greetings and good wishes of the coming
holiday season were passed, everybody was sociably
inclined, and the announcement was made that one
week must be skipped and the next meeting be held
on Monday, January 9.
$2 The Year
C. J. ROBERTS ADDRESSES
RADIO ASSOCIATION
President of the National Association of Music
Merchants Talks on Music Merchant
as Radio Dealer.
C. J. Roberts, president of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants, was one of the speakers
at the meeting last week at the Hotel Commodore,
New York, of the Radio Manufacturers' Associa-
tion. In discussing the value of radio to the music
merchant he alluded to the early days of radio when
service was non-existent, and a medium-sized city
was fortunate to have even one service man who
knew anything of consequence about his business.
"Repairs and adjustments which are now readily
made by a much larger number of service men were
then matters of opinion and disagreement among
those who claimed to be experts," said Mr. Roberts.
"I am much gratified to learn that, contrary to
what I had previously been informed, from thirty-
five to forty-five per cent of from $300,000 000 to
$400,000,000 gross retail radio business in this coun-
try this year has been distributed through music
merchants. Dependable statistics are hard to obtain.
A very considerable portion of this business has, of
course, been due to the sale of radio in combination
with phonographs. The store of the music merchant
is the natural outlet for radio. All stores of music
merchants, including music departments of general
stores, should carry radio. Music merchants and
their organizations and activities are entitled to the
support of radio manufacturers.
"The music merchant has the knowledge and experi-
ence necessary to properly sell radio. He and his
sales force are accustomed to selling merchandise, not
merely accepting orders for it, even to the extent of
doing so through house to house canvassing. He is
an experienced installment collector, if he is a suc-
cessful merchant. He is a specialist. Radio should
be handled by a specialist. A large percentage of
radio sales are made on a partial payment plan of
some kind.
"I am anxious for every music merchant in the
country to sell radio. I am anxious for every radio
merchant in the country to sell other musical in-
struments—particularly pianos—the basic musical in-
strument. I am willing to say that, if two men of
equal ability, both properly financed, should start in
business in any city or community, one handling
pianos only, and the other not only pianos but all
other musical instruments, including radio, 'every-
thing musical," in fact, that the general music store
would within a reasonable length of time put the
exclusive piano merchant out of business.
"I wish to say that the National Association of
Music Merchants at their convention at Chicago last
year, recognizing the radio as a great musical instru-
ment adopted an interpretative resolution qualifying
radio merchants and executives for membership in
the association. 1 would like that information to
reach all radio dealers who are not now members of
the National Association of Music Merchants."
HEPPE SPONSORS CONTEST.
Over eighty pupils of the public and parochial
schools of Ridley Park, Moore, Norwood, Glenolden,
Folcroft and Sharon Hill, all places near Philadelphia,
were enrolled in a piano-playing contest held recently
under the auspices of the Women's Clubs of the re-
spective communities and sponsored by C. J. Heppe
& Son, the prominent music dealers of Philadelphia.
The winners in the contest were awarded gold, silver
and bronze medals and trophies furnished by the
Heppe Foundation Fund. Separate contests were
held for pupils in the elementary schools and in the
high schools.
ACTIVE ORGAN MAN.
W. D. Wood, head of the organ department of
Sherman, Clay & Co., San Kraucisco, is as active at
locating a prospect as he is useful in installing an
organ. He made a trip to the Pacific Northwest to
superintend the finishing touches on the pipe organ
being installed in the Rhoades Department Store at
Seattle, Wash., and to make plans for installations
at Portland, Ore.
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