Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1928 2182

PRESTO-TIMES
The American Music Trade Weekly
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
give time to, will directly apply to the sales
improvement scheme, while others will indi-
rectly convey lessons that will indirectly sug-
gest improvement in processes for the piano
seller.
And, of course, the many displays of pianos
and other music goods in the convention head-
quarters and elsewhere, are meant to have a
helpful effect on sales. The novelty in piano
models and in the finishing of the instruments
will have an inspiring and stimulating effect
on the dealers with more enthusiasm in pre-
senting them as a desirable result.
May 26, 1928
naturally would react on piano sales, and in
that way it concerns all promoters of the piano
todav.
THE CONVENTION PLEASURES
Of course, it will not distress the prospec-
tive attendant to the annual convention of the
F R A N K D. A B B O T T - - - - - - - - - -
Editor
music trades at the Hotel Commodore, New
(C. A . DANIELL—1904-1927.)
J. FERGUS O'RYAN
_ _ _ _ _ Managing Editor
York, the week of June 4, to learn from the
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 0234.
trade papers that the serious incidents of the
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), " P R E S T O , " Chicago.
meeting will be interrupted by intervals of
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
a frankly joyous nature. The business of the
Post Office, Chicago, 111., under Act of March 3, 1879.
convention will be more enjoyable than ever
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1.25; Foreign, $4.
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
before because of the efforts of the various
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
application.
committees to inject new features and novel-
CONVENTION REPORTS
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if of
ties
in procedure in the program. Other com-
general interest to the music trade will be paid for at
space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen in the
In
this
issue
of
Presto-Times
is
printed
the
mittees
have been equally alert in devising
smaller cities are the best occasional correspondents, and
their assistance is invited.
important advance news of the convention pleasurable distractions for the social and
which opens at the Hotel Commodore, New sociable hours.
Payment is not accepted for matter printed In the edi-
torial or news columns of Presto-Times.
York,
next week, including the interesting list
Where half-tones are made the actual cost of produc-
Nothing relaxes a tired conventioner better
tion will be charged if of commercial character or other
of
displays
at the headquarters hotel and else- than a few rounds of golf with congenial con-
than strictly news interest.
When electrotypes are sent for publication it is re-
where in the city. Further and more up-to- testants, even without pauses for reflection
quested that their subjects and senders be carefully indi-
cated.
the-minute reports of convention preparations and refection at the nineteenth hole. Oppor-
Forms close at noon on Thursday. Late news matter
will appear in the issue of June 2. Presto- tunities for golf have been provided and con-
should be in not later than 11 o'clock on that day. Ad-
vertising copy should be in hand before Tuesday, 5 p. m.,
Times
of June 9 will report the full proceed- ventioners so desiring can stretch their legs
to insure preferred position. Full page display copy
should be in hand by Tuesday noon preceding publication
ings
of
the convention.
and their imaginations in that desirable
day. Want advertisements for current week, to insure
classification, should be in by Wednesday noon.
In this way a complete record of the events manner.
leading up to and during the convention will
But among the pleasures not scheduled by
Address all communications for the editorial or business
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
be presented in this paper. The dealers who the publicity committee are those of meeting
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
will be prevented from attending the annual with old friends and trade acquaintances in
SATURDAY, MAY 26, 1928.
gathering of the trade at the Hotel Commo- some part of the convention headquarters. In
dore will be enabled to read in Presto-Times fact, the habitual attendant at the annual con-
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press detailed descriptions of the shows of piano ventions looks forward to the incidental meet-
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring styles made during the week of June 2. They ings by which old friendships are renewed. It
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur- also will be informed, in the reports of the is a human phase of the annual gatherings
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that
is not strictly news of importance can have business sessions, of promotional plans for dearly appreciated by the ones proud to con-
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they piano sales and the popularizing generally of sider themselves convention veterans. It is a
concern the interests of manufacturers or piano study. That phase of activity is partic- renewal of interest in fellow-members; a re-
dealers such items will appear the week follow- ularly interesting to the alert piano dealers calling of occurrences of previous conventions
ing. Copy for advertising designed for the and the reported successes of the various that make up the pleasurable mental history
current issue must reach the office not later schemes should prove stimulating reading.
of the events.
PRESTO P U B L I S H I N G CO., Publishers.
CONVENTION PURPOSES
The music trade convention, to open at the
Hotel Commodore, New York, June 2, will
have for its leading interest the promotion of
the piano. To piano men, tne stimulation of
sales is frankly the most desirable thing to be
accomplished by the cooperative action of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce and
the various associations directly interested in
the fortunes of the piano. The revival of favor
for the piano and the consequent increase in
piano sales are topics of vital interest to the
piano manufacturer, the action maker, the
traveler who aids in distributing the goods,
the dealer who retails the instruments and the
tuner who keeps them in a condition of tune-
fulness. Other problems of importance will
be considered but it will be noted that many
of these are important in proportion to the
closeness of their relation to the stimulation of
piano sales.
The numbers attending the convention, are,
in a way, indicative of the extent of the piano
promotion plans and the hopes of dealers for
an improvement in trade. They represent the
degree of earnestness and enthusiasm in the
local, state and national associations, which
means the cooperative purpose to put the
piano before the public and the devising of
means for creating interest leading to sales.
The business sessions of the various national
associations are always the means of discuss-
ing improvements in sales and this year more
than ever before, that motive will govern the
gatherings. At the business sessions of the
National Association of Music Merchants
many addresses and the discussions they will
The number of piano men who believe that
summer dullness is more of a state of mind
In an interview printed elsewhere in this than a condition is becoming' reassuringly
issue, Mr. Arthur L. Wessell points to a condi- large. Action to disprove the summer dull-
tion in the house-building activities which he ness fallacy resulted in an amazing number of
says provides a problem that might be dis- piano sales during the summer months of last
cussed at the annual convention. It is a con- year, which agreeable events contributed to a
dition familiar in every city in the country and healthy average business for all the months of
one which dealers everywhere view with alarm the year.
* * *
—the cramped apartments where the providing
A very lively discussion is going on in the
of space for the piano is a matter ignored by
Swedish press and commercial circles regard-
architects and builders.
But Mr. Wessell in his practical way does ing the system of selling on the instalment
not stop at pointing out building methods that plan, which is rapidly gaining ground in
discriminate against the use of pianos by ten- Sweden. Opposition to the system led to a
ants. He states his opinion that the music resolution being passed in the Riksdag this
trade organizations should act to strongly and year asking the Government to institute an
persistently bring this music deterrent before inquiry into possible methods of public con-
the public, which include prospective tenants -trol in order to counteract its effects.
* * *
who are piano owners. The propaganda, too,
People
in
every
line of trade are prone to
should endeavor to influence the designers and
believe
that
their
particular business is the
builders of apartment buildings.
least successful, the most difficult to conduct,
The skimpy rooms in the apartments inter- beset with the most snags and hard-pressed
fere with the scheme of piano promotion, ac- with the most wily and designing enemies.
cording to Mr. Wessell, who sees a loss of In all these assumptions and conclusions, of
effort and money in trying to induce a person course, the are entirely wrong. Rut such
renting one of the cramped apartments to buy views are always presented at trade con-
a piano.
ventions.
The hope of the piano trade in the future is
* * *
in young people who are being made more in-
The piano salesman who hasn't much to say
terested in music today. Music encourages co- is apt to use too many words in saying it.
hesion in families and someone has truly said
* * *
that "the piano is the center of the home."
The bare truth about the piano need not
But if the builders of apartments persist in necessarily be naked facts.
their present methods, the apartment dwellers
* * *
will be deprived of one valuable musical in-
Arguments for the poor piano are sound—
fluence in their homes. It is a deprivation that and that's all.
A. L. WESSELL'S SUGGESTION
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/
May 26, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
TRADE EVENTS IN
NEW YORK FIELD
very rapidly. Mr. Kraft buys the finest of South
American buckskin, and he has peculiar processes of
finishing it for use in piano actions. He has a beauti-
ful home out northeast of New York City, where his
friends who drive out are always welcome, and just
now he is going on a little fishing trip, a sport in
which he takes peculiar delight.
Stores Suggest Assurances of Dealers That a
Lively Piano Business of a Seasonable
Character Is Here and Factories
Give Other Evidences.
As Mr. Horton Sees It.
Presto-Times correspondent had a pleasant chat
with Mr. Horton, representative of the Cornwall
Patterson Company, Bridgeport, Conn., manufacturers
of piano hardware, who was making a call in New
"Business has been coming in a good deal better," York this week. He said he had observed that piano
said Max de Rochemont, president of Laffargne & manufacturing was commencing to spruce up quite
Co., 455-459 East 147th street, New York, this week. a bit.
"In fact, we have had quite a noticeable increase in
Autopiano Company Shipments.
our trade, and it is coming in from all points of the
country."
"We are shipping pianos from our plant every
Mr. de Rochemont spoke of the probable after- week day; not as many as we'd like to, perhaps,
but a good many," said Corley Gibson, president of
effect of the recent heavy trading in the Wall street
the Autopiano Company, 12th avenue, 50th and 51st
section of New York. It had been his observation
that it took about three months for the big fellows streets, New York, to Presto-Times correspondent
who gained and lost by such heavy trading to recover on Friday. "Trade is increasing; times are getting
their equipoise, and the general business throughout
better, and our own trade has been very fair."
the nation would take a straight shoot forward. No
The excellent instruments turned out at this great
doubt, he said, a good many lost heavily—were
factory are splendid trade builders for any dealer,
burnt—but on the other hand, many others made a
for the?? always make satisfied customers, thus bring-
lot of gains, and both these classes were temporarily
ing new inquiries.
upset. As soon as the nominees on the leading tickets
Bogart Piano Company Keeps Busy.
are known, Mr. de Rochemont believes, times will
Botli
E.
B. Bogart and C. A. Bogart of the Bogart
react for the better. He actually believes that Presi-
Piano Company, New York, were busy in their office
dent Coolidge will be drafted to head the Republican
on Friday when Presto-Times correspondent made a
ticket.
call there. C. A. Bogart, who travels extensively for
Pianos for Piano Men.
the company, as becomes a younger man, has been
That piano dealers lose out by spreading themselves in the South a good deal and over several thousand
over too many side lines, particularly radio, is the miles of territory lately. A keen observer and judi-
firm belief, of John J. Glynn, vice-president of James
cious piano man, C. A. Bogart took note of condi-
& Holmstrom, Inc., 37 E. 37th street, New York. He tions generally in the Southern States. He says the
knows of several instances of this very folly.
piano retail trade down there has lost a good many
dealers within the last ten or twelve months.
Mr. Glynn said that the seeming success the dealer
experienced the first few weeks or months after
At Jacob Bros.
switching over to radio was more than swamped later
"Our business is coming in regularly, a little from
by overhead, by loss of time in running out to cus-
tomers' houses to fix this or adjust that, loss of time here and there and everywhere, but it is gaining no-
ticeably and we welcome the improvement," said C.
by the presence in the store of chatterers who called
Albert Jacob, Jr., secretary of Jacob Bros., at the
to ask what to do about aerial interference, what bat-
factory office in the Bronx, on Tuesday of this week
teries were best, how to overcome static troubles or
to the caller from Presto-Times.
what was new in radio invention.
Jacob Bros,, known in every state in the Union
In some of these conversations neither the dealer
nor the customer knew scientifically what they were as manufacturers of "pianos of quality," are more
talking about, nor realized that each had wasted his than living up to their reputation as quality piano
time because the language of each was Greek to the builders, for no better money's worth in pianos can
other. After the dealer had made a few radio sales be found anywhere than in the instrument produced
he found he had a lot of petty, vexatious accounts at this great and progressive Bronx factory.
and that his piano business had so suffered by neglect
A Busy Needle Company.
that it had all but died on his hand; whereas, if he had
The
New
York
headquarters of the Brilliantone
stuck to the piano, the basic instrument, he would
Steel Needle Company of America, Inc., Suite 1214,
have had a lot of larger accounts and a much stronger
No. 370 Seventh avenue, New York, is a very busy
bank balance besides.
place these days, under the general management of
Halsey Hazelton at Darien, Conn.
H. W r . Acton, a gentleman of wide experience in his
line. This company is selling agents for the W. H.
Halsey Hazelton, who at one time was president of
the Hazelton Piano Company, New York, now lives
Bagshacl Company of Lowell, Mass.
at Darien, Conn., at the home of his sister. Miss
John Howard Strodl Dies.
Hazelton. Their father, Samuel Hazelton, was well
John Howard Strodl, for many years active in the
known as a piano manufacturer for many years, the
musucal instrument business in New York, died on
Hazelton factory being then located on University
Saturday morning, May 12, at his home, 438 Grove
place south of 14th street.
street, Upper Montclair, N. J. Mr. Strodl was born
John Kraft Optimistic.
on Franklin Square, New York, on September 29,
1851, and was therefore 76 years old. He leaves his
John Kraft, importer of piano action buckskin
leather, was met on Tuesday this week by Presto- wife, Bertha, and four children—Edward V. Strodl
cf Oradell, N. J.; Dr. George T. Strodl of New
Times correspondent. He says he is glad to note
that the piano business is coming back into its own York; Irene, and Mrs. Charles M. Cook of Mont-
NEW YORK TUNERS GIVE
TESTIMONIAL DINNER
Hermann Irion and B. Neuer Entertained at
Pleasant Event at Commodore
Hotel This Week.
The directors of the New York Piano Tuners'
Association gave a testimonial dinner at the Commo-
dore Hotel on Tuesday nuight of this week, in honor
of Hermann Irion of Steinway & Sons, and B. Neuer,
retail sales manager at New York for the American
Piano Company.
Charles Deutschmann, president of the National
Tuners' Association, was present from Chicago. Mr.
Irion and Mr. Neuer were made honorary members of
the National Piano Tuners' Association at the meet-
ing.
This was a very pleasant gathering, with mutual
exchanges of experiences and good will, and the
occasion was one that those who participated in it
will cherish as a pleasant memory. Mr. Lane of the
American Piano Co., prominent tuner, was present,
and contributed no small part to the pleasures of
the evening.
ASSURED MARKET FOR
TREASURE CHEST OF MUSIC
Demand for Instrument of Wurlitzer Con-
struction Points to Public Interest in
Quality, Tone and Construction.
That there is a market for a reproducing upright
piano selling at retail under $600 is indicated by the
increased demand for the Wurlitzer Treasure Chest
of Music—the piano that plays for you. From the
inception of this instrument it has found immediate
favor with the trade and the orders have far exceeded
our expectations.
The usual levers and push buttons that were ordi-
narily on the keyrail have been placed in the spool
box where it is much more convenient for manip-
ulation.
The new manual control feature which controls the
volume of tone when using a regular 88 note roll
is an exclusive Wurlitzer feature. It is a valuable
addition to the reproducing piano.
Other exclusive features are incorporated in the
instrument that makes it a very distinctive style and
Wurlitzer dealers are finding that through the me-
dium of the Treasure Chest of Music, they are in-
creasing their distribution.
clair, and one sister, Mrs. G. Dimatteo of Union
City, N. J.
Premier Grand Co. Getting Its Share.
"I can only say that we are getting our share," said
Walter C. Hepperla, president of the Premier Grand
Piano Co., this week. "You know how business is—
nobody is selling up to high-water mark, but we must
be content with getting our share of the trade. We
will not have an exhibit in the Commodore Hotel at
convention time, but will have a much larger exhibit
here at the warerooms.
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/

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