Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1928 2176

April 14, 1928
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
CARLOAD LOTS IN
BUSH & LANE ORDERS
Official Opening of Spring Celebrated in
Markedly Pleasant Way at Big Factory
in Holland, Mich.
THINGS SAID OR SUGGESTED
HEAR CROUCHO, THE
PESSIMIST
Beware, take heed, get wise, my friends,
Attend unto each word.
A caution I'm compelled to give
From things that have occurred.
From circumstances that I see
Transpire around me now.
The rout of virtue is complete
Within the trade, I vow.
Our ancient enemies awake
To smite us on the bean,
Baneful evils fought so long.
Their dire effects are seen.
There's not the slightest use to meet.
Assemble or convene,
Or plan associations' fight;
The worst's arrived—'tis seen.
"Pis vain to pack the Commodore
For annual problem-baiting,
And eke to quaff synthetic bowls
Of stuff so kickless, sating.
Mow futile, too, the talkfest rites
Of piano trav'lers frisky,
Where unprotesting you must hear
The yarns old and risque.
A word about promotion schemes —
(Iravc dangers in them lurk.
I'or if the plans create more sales
They'll also mean more work.
Admitting group instruction scheme
The hopeful children serves.
But think of all the noise they make
Destructive to our nerves.
Close around me I can see
The deadly perils loom.
The sapping of integrity
\\ ith one result—that's doom.
About me, O piano men!
I see but enmities.
You may be sure if words sound kind,
They're but some cynic's wheeze.
The phrases from competitors
That friendliness express,
I put no trust upon them and
With freedom I confess
They'd burn me on the flaming pyre.
And break me on the rack.
At their approach I reinforce
'The armor on my back.
In tact, my friends, the trade I've scanned
With penetrating eye.
And naught but treachery and greed
And malice T descrv.
The ones who note a betterment
Are altruistic fools,
J wouldn't be surprised some owned
A kit of burglar's tools.
Real honesty no longer shows,
Your watch keep out of sight.
You cannot let small change be seen
Fxcept when nailed down tight.
I grieve to see such decadence,
Such wicked greed for pelf,
Tt cuts me to the heart because
I'm right, all right, myself.
* * *
AX IOWA
MYSTERY
The ambitious dealer who is pushing a high-grade
piano is usual'y jealous of the manner in which it
is featured. He likes to see it in places of honor and
at public entertainments where it is used he is care-
ful that it is heard to advantage. That admirable
trail in piano dealers was discussed by a group in a
Chicago wholesale piano showroom this week and the
talk evoked a story by a traveler which was verified
by two Iowa piano merchants who Avcre present.
In a certain small town in Iowa, which for rea-
sons shall be nameless, an interest in music was re-
cently being awakened by a cultured few. To further
that end a musical comedy company bil'ed for a
neighboring big city, was induced to include the
small town with the rampant uplift spirit in its list
of one-night stands.
The arrangements involved some odd conditions.
These were that a certain sum of money be guar-
anteed to the show people. Free rent of the hall
and free lights were also in the stipulations. A string
to the proposition was the proviso that the town or-
chestra should be permitted to provide the music for
the piece.
To those familiar with the imperfections of the
local orchestra the latter arrangement was grimly
humorous. The town orchestra was in reality the
music class of the enthusiast who owned the hall.
It was composed of twenty-three fiddles, two 'cellos
and a double bass viol, and the aggregation was what
is technically known as "rotten."
The piano supplied by a dealer of the town was of
a make widely known and prized. From the dealer's
knowledge of the orchestra's poverty of performance
he jealously saw that any association of the fiddles
and his piano w r ould be harmful to the latter. At the
rehearsal the squeaking and moaning of catgut nearly
drove him wild. But in the midst of his exasperation
came a plan like an inspiration.
The night arrived and the house was packed. The
company was cheerful because the real mazuma for
the night's work was already in the pocket of the
treasurer; the man who herded the Tiddlers was su-
premely proud, lie was so happy that the suggestion
of the piano dealer to have all fiddles receive their
An encouraging form of celebration of the official
opening of spring is reported by a Presto-Times
representative who cal'ed last week at the factory
of the Bush & Lane Piano Co., Holland, Mich. The
company inaugurated the gladsome day by shipping
live carload orders to dealers in the Middle West and
on the Atlantic and Pacific coasts. Business had
been increasing steadily for more than a month, but
the five carload shipments notably marked the ar-
rival of a season of liveliness in orders and activities
in shipments.
This week the actual orders received far exceeded
the number in any week for quite a while and the
urgency of the dealers for prompt shipments is con-
sidered by the company as a significant sign of the
return of active days to dealers. The favor for small
grands in the orders from dealers is a tribute to the
admirable character of the grand piano line of the
Bush & Lane Piano Co.
The ability of the company to furnish grand p:anos
in the beautiful Period and Art designs most eagerly
sought, is a potent reason for the growth in sales of
the models. The success of the scientific and artistic
efforts in producing a winning line naturally have
their rewards in appreciation by the music loving
public.
BOOK ON PIANO TUNING.
"Financing Piano Instalment Sales" is the title of
a booklet by T h o m a s J. Mercer, and issued by the
Bankers-Commercial Security Company, Inc., New
York, of which Richard W. Lawrence is president. It
is an instructive booklet for piano dealers and tells
how they can put reasonable capital into their busi-
nesses. The booklet may be had free by writing to
the company named.
final tuning back of the curtain, so as to avoid rasping
in front, was readily acted upon.
But something happened in the interval between
the tuning back of the curtain and the moment when
the amateurs sat in their places in front with fiddles
in position and bows poised. The conductor gave a
grand flourish; there was a preliminary crash of the
overture from the grand piano, but no sound of hair
on catgut was heard.
Twenty-three fiddlers scraped with vigor, but the
result was noiseless, weird and ghostly.
The ama-
teurs with the 'cellos carved away in desperation, but
there was no responsive wail. Fven the bull fiddle
gave no answering bellow to the frantic sawing of its
owner.
But the show proceeded, however. T h e feet ol the
ballet twinkled; the chorus never missed a trill or
the vil'ain a thrill, and the tenor won the hand of the
soprano regardless of the puzzling fact that an outfit
of fiddles was stricken dumb. And in the meantime
the grand piano was doing good service at the capable
hands of its player to the glory of its name and the
satisfaction of the piano dealer who supplied it.
" W h o rubbed vaseline on the liddle bows.''" is a
mystery yet unsolved in that Iowa town.
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).
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/
10
April 14, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
INDIANAPOLIS PREPARES
FOR BIG CELEBRATION
Music Merchants' Association There Plan
Music Week Events—Piano Displays at
Show—Other Music Trade News.
Announcement was made by H. G. Hook, president
of the Indianapolis Music Merchants' Association, that
preparations are being made, and committees have
been appointed for National Music Week activities.
The committees are: H. G. Hook, general chairman;
Bert Saring, chairman of committees; J. B. Ryde,
chairman of public school and noon concert commit-
tee; C. V. Herdman and Frank Davis, chairmen of
the theater program; William Christena, chairman of
women's clubs committee; H. J. Jenkins, chairman of
radio committee, Ira Williams, chairman of church
committee. The program is well under way and co-
operation from the local newspapers has been guaran-
teed.
Home Show Displays.
The Pearson Piano Company has arranged a very
attractive display at the Realtors Home Show, now
being held in the manufacturers building at the State
Fair grounds. In the midst of attractive surround-
ings, the Steinway & Sons, Weber Duo-Art and
Everett pianos are being displayed. The Baldwin
Piano Company have a very attractive display at the
exhibition where some of the very finest styles of
Baldwin, Ellington and Howard instruments are on
display.
Kingsbury Chosen.
The Carlin Music Company was very fortunate
during the past week in placing one of the Kingsbury
Spanish Renaissance instruments, in a newly con-
structed Spanish style home. Competition from every
dealer in the city entered into the deal, but the Kings-
bury piano was finally decided on.
Frank Carlin reports an unusual demand for used
instruments; it is brought about by the way the com-
pany rebuild these pianos, and the method has proven
very profitable. Every instrument that comes into
the store is thoroughly overhauled and put in good
condition before it is offered for sale.
Signs of Spring.
The Wilking Music Company has just comp'eted
its annual spring house cleaning, and its warerooms
have taken on clean atmosphere. Mr. Wilking an-
nounces the arrival of the new Wurlitzer upright
style 825. which is a medium size piano for which
there is an excellent demand at present. Wlliiam
1>. Morrison, formerly with the Rapp & Lennox Com-
pany, has joined the Wilking sales force and has been
quite successful, it is reported.
Rapp & Lennox are busy cleaning up the remains of
its stock of Knabe, J. & C. Fischer and other in-
struments on hand, and preparing for a new line
which will be announced very soon.
Mr. J. Schi'ler of the Lester Piano Company of
Philadelphia was a visitor in Indianapolis during the
past week, and called on the Pearson Piano Com-
pany, local representatives for the Lester Piano in
Indianapolis.
LETTER TO WILL COLLINS
RECALLS ARMAND CRABBE
the Chicago Civic Opera Company. He used to come
often with his friends in the trade to the piano lunch-
eons, generally in company with Will 11. Collins. Mr.
Collins has kept up a correspondence with Mr. Crabbe
ever since he left Chicago.
Last week he received an interesting letter from
the singer written from Nice, where he had been
filling engagements with a Spanish opera company.
Mr. Crabbe has now returned to his home at Paris
and is preparing for an extensive tour of South
America, the West Tndies and Mexico, as leading
baritone oi a French-Spanish opera company. In
fact, it is announced from Paris that this organiza-
tion is already en route to its destination in the
Antilles. M. Crabbe started work early in life as a
workman in a piano factory at Brussels. Belgium,
lie met with an accident in which he broke an arm,
which unfitted him for duties as tuner and regulator,
whereupon he took up seriously the study of music,
joined an opera company in London and has reaped
tame and fortune in his chosen profession.
Kreiter Mfg. Co., Inc.
Grands - Reproducing Grands
Player-Pianos
and Pianos
The Line That Sells Easily
and Satisfies Always
BRINKERHOFF PIANO CO.
711 Milwaukee Ave., CHICAGO, ILL.
EDWIN WEICKERT PLANS
TRIP TO UNITED STATES
Member of Leipzig Firm Which Makes
Famous Line cf Piano Felts Will Be
Here fcr Convention.
Edwin Weickert of
L e i p z i g , Germany, is
planning another trip
to America and will ar-
rive late in April and
avail himself of an op-
portunity to visit the
entire piano trade prior
to the conventions to be
held in June at the Ho-
tel Commodore, X e w
York.
Mr. Weickert is a son
of Fritz Weickert, well
known to many in the
industry, and a grand-
son of Otto Weickert,
senior member and still
active head of the felt
manufacturing firm of
KDWIN WKICKKRT.
.1. D. Weickert. makers
ot the world-renowned
extensive line of Hammer and Damper Felts.
Mr. Weickert will make his headquarters with
Philip W. Oetting & Son, Inc., 213 East 19th street.
New York, American agents for J. D. Weickert.
Accompanying Mr. Weickert on his pre-convention
trip to many of the chief cities of the United States
will be Mr. betting and William M. Shailer, treasurer
of Philip W. Oetting, Inc. Included in their itinerary
will be Albany, Buffalo, Detroit. Chicago, Milwaukee,
Cincinnati, Philadelphia, Boston and a dozen or
more other piano using and piano manufacturing cen-
ters—a trip of business with the pleasures of the
road at a most inviting season of the year.
R. W. LAWRENCE ENTERTAINS
VISITING ENGLISHMEN
Luncheon at National Republican Club Is Acknowl-
edgment of Hospitality of British Friends
Chicago Piano Men Who Used to Attend Noon
During Recent Trip Abroad.
Luncheon at Stratford Hotel Remember Singer.
Returning the hospitality extended to him during
one of his recent visits to England, Richard W. Law-
Many men in the Chicago music trade who used rence gave a luncheon on Wednesday of this week
to attend the piano mcns' daily luncheons at the at the National Republican Club in honor of Ernest
Stratford Hotel will remember Armand Crabbe, the Marshall, managing director of Sir Herbert Marshall
young Belgian singer, a member in those days of
& Sons, Ltd., London, England, past president of
the British Associated Piano Makers and a member
of the general council of the Foundation of British
Music Industries.
Other guests at the luncheon were Hermann Irion
of Steinway & Sons, president of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce; Herbert Simpson, president
Kohler & Campbell, treasurer of the Music Indus-
The Leading and Most Popular
tries Chamber of Commerce; William J. Haussler of
C. Bruno & Son. Inc., director National Bureau for
Pianos and Players
the Advancement of Music; Charles E. Gorham, Am-
Grands, Players, Uprights and
pico Co., Ltd., London. England; Charley Allen of
Reproducing Pianos
I\. R. Preston & Son, chartered accountants, Leices-
ter, England; Charles Jacob, Jacob Brothers, New
The Results of Over Forty Years'
York; Max De Rochemont. treasurer of the Laffarguc
of Experience.
Company, and director of the Music Industries Cham-
ber of Commerce; Edward De Rochemont; Delhert
Kreiter Piano* Cover the Entire Line
and no Piano Dealer who tries these in-
L. Loomis, executive secretary of the National Asso-
strutnents would supplant them by any
ciation of Music Merchants.
others. A trial will convince.
Following the luncheon, there was an informal
discussion of trade subjects. Mr. Marshall took occa-
sion to say that he believed the music merchant and
the manufacturers of musical instruments in England
310-312 W. Water St., Milwaukee, Wis.
have much the same problem to meet as are presented
Factory: Marinette, WIB.
to American members of the trade.
KREITER
BRINKERHOFF
STRICH & ZEIDLER, Inc.
GRAND, UPRIGHT and PLAYER
AND
HOMER PIANOS
740-742 East 136th Street
NEW YORK
Becker Bros.
Manufacturers ot
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
Factory and Warerooim
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
Wanted: Young Men!
—to become specialists in a field which will not
only pay them exceptionally well but which
will give them social standing and prominence!
T
O young men looking for such an opportunity we
have an unusyml (itl'.i. Fight now in numberless
cities and towi a in thu Unutd States, 'here is a jtrtat
shortage of piano experts, technicians and tuners.
The few masters there are, are earning Jartre salaries
for tnlr, rvceptionally pleasant work. Their time is
irrNp—'
theirown. Th^y moot the beftpeo-
rKtC
plf and sonn establish a wealthy elien-
„
*el«. We nan fit you for this profession
Send for free book- in . nroximately 12 short weeks' tinsel
•t which tells, all
Now ilon't say you are not a musician!
about our practical Y oa don'i. n-ed to be. In fact. 51) p «
ana thorough ti aln- c e n t o f ( l u r K a , i u l ) t p s n e v e r took a music
i n * course. Sund l es , O n And now thry are earning from
for -t now I
j 2 5 0 t o $BjU a m , , n l H
This is the opportunity you ar- lookimr for. I'ull yourself out
[ the rut. Make a place for yourself Hm.nst the
bostpeoiile. Our complete course, in nurnew #-5,
MPO.OO laboratory fits you for a real paying pro-
fession You can riV it. Others have «'flh n . i W t r r
backing than vim have. Find out the fads anyway.
POLK COLLEGE OF PIANO TUNING
i Building. DapHO
La Port*. Ind.
•oik Oollert >f Piano Tuning, La I'orte. Tnd.
V'lease send me a copy of your free bookle>
like the idea of becoming a professions
tiano expert.
Name.
Artdr,
WILLIAMS
PIANOS
The policy of the Williams House is and always
has been to depend upon excellence of product
instead of alluring price. Such a policy does not
attract bargain hunters. It does, however, win the
hearty approval and support of a very desirable
and substantial patronage.
1A/MIIAHK
Pianos,
WILLIAMS Makers of Williams Ortfans
E p w o r t h PianO9 a n d
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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