Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1928 2194

12
P R E S T 0-TI M E S
OPPORTUNITIES OF
THE PIANO CLASSES
"before or after" making a piano sale, whether the
children in the home ever learn to play that piano
or not, as long as the sale helps him to get by finan-
cially; so he may claim his commission or draw his
salary without fear of a blue ticket in his pay envel-
ope? How many of them have ever seen, heard or
even acquired any knowledge of what a piano class
does, or what it looks like, or how twenty children
Piano Industry Realize Their Respon-
can be taught to play piano and acquire piano playing
sibilities or Show Practical Under-
ability more quickly, more economically, more enjoy-
standing in the Case.
ably and practically, than through any fundamental,
private instruction, with its drudgery and discourage-
By WILLIAM L. BUSH.
ments for both teacher and pupil.
The vital question that every p;ano dealer, manu-
Why, in God's name, is it that only a measly hand-
facturer and salesman in the industry must consider ful of dealers or salesmen in the last two years of
of special importance to himself is "What Am I Doing intensive, expensive, laudable, far-reaching propaganda
for Group Piano Instruction?"
in support of piano class lessons, have even tried,
Your very existence and future progress and suc- offered or in any way attempted to give real time,
cess in the piano business, depends largely upon your effort, or personal work to the local development of
personal cooperation, and vigorous effort to assist this this vital subject of group piano lessons in their
great national movement to give all children the op- home town?
portunity to follow up this fundamental study of piano
What Do They Know?
music in public schools, parochial schools, music
How many of these dealers and salesmen realize
schools and studios.
that these classes of 100, 200, 500 or 1,000 create 20 to
The vast work of the Bureau for Advancement of
Music under Mr. Tremaine's able direction, the great 30 per cent of real piano sales—and very rapidly? It
volume of publicity distributed by the Publicity Com- is a sad commentary on the ability, energy, salesman-
ship, vision, foresight and intelligence of piano dealers
mittee of the W. P. M. A., have at least "scratched
the surface" and awakened a great national interest and their organizations, that not 5 per cent of the
and knowledge of what group piano instruction really parents have been given any suggestions or informa-
is. The entire number of school children in the tion, or conception of what class piano work is, and
what it means to them and their children.
United States now being taught piano playing in
Are piano dealers asleep at the switch? Are they
classes, is a deplorable reflection upon the lethargy,
indifference and neglect of this vital piano selling dying of dry rot? Are they blind to opportunity?
Deaf to the knocking at the door of its persistent
plan, by the five or six thousand piano dealers, and
probably ten thousand piano salesmen in this indus- clamor for admission? Why not awaken? Why not
change the present descriptive adjectives that almost
try.
I maintain that a piano salesman, to be entitled to always answer the inquiry, "How is piano business?"
that title, should justify membership in that profes- with a shrug and an impulsive utterance of "rotten,"
sion, not only by actual performance and accomplish- "terrible," "awful," "dead," "putrid," "nothing," "nix,"
ment, in selling a minimum of one piano per week, "there ain't any such animal," "gone glimmering," all
or a maximum of one piano per day. but by identifying heard on piano's "rotten row" during the past two
himself with some assumption of musical understand- weeks, and many more characteristic expressions—
also ran.
ing, sympathetic cooperation, or active participation in
the promotion of musical education for children.
The Available Helps.
The Blunt Question.
No wonder it is that way, when the men behind the
Tell me. how many of these present day piano guns talk and act as they do. "The exception alone
salesmen or dealers ever give it a thought? What
proves the rule." Why not take a few hours off the
percentage of them ever think, care or give a thought
golf game, the fishing trip, the auto tour, the pleasure
August 18, 1928
INDIANAPOLIS TRADE
WAS FAIR FOR JULY
Torrid Weather Slackened It Off Somewhat, but
Hoosiers Are Used to Hot Days.
Frank Carlin of the Carlin Music Co. reports some
activity in the cheaper grade of pianos, and seems well
pleased with the outlook for fall and winter trade.
Mr. Carlin believes that the torrid weather in the
past few weeks has been responsible for the lull in
the music business.
John Pearson of the Pearson Piano Co. spent a
week in the city, but left Monday morning for Chi-
cago, and from there will motor to Michigan, where
he will join his family at his summer home. The
street floor of the company which is being remodeled
to meet the needs of the record department, is very
much torn up, but will be ready for occupancy in a
few days.
George C. Shaffer of the Kurtzmann Piano Co., and
J. Schiller of the Lester Piano Co. were visitors at the
Pearson store during the week.
H. G. Hook of the Starr Sales Corporation, reports
business affected by the weather more than anything
else, but has no complaint to make, with July show-
ing up as well as last year, while the year of 1927 was
more favorable so far as the weather was concerned.
Frank Davis of the Baldwin Company reports a bet-
ter outlook for business during the coming months,
with sales up to the average.
trip, the summer complaint, to presto-change the con-
ditions and get busy with piano promotion, not de-
struction?
The Bureau for the Advancement of Music is pre-
pared to advise and help you. The Publicity Com-
mittee has oodles of good ammunition to send you.
The teaching systems, good ones, are available. Good
graduated certified instructors are within your reach,
at your command, and full details of practical proced-
ure can be had from several manufacturers of pianos
who have and are now advertising educational de-
partments.
So, Mr. Dealer, it is up to you. No passing the
buck, no dodging the issue. Your hand is called!
Do you pass, lay down, OR ARE YOU GAME?
ESTABLISHED 1863
"the most Durable Piano in the world
Mathushek Sales Are Constantly Increasing
INVESTIGATE
OR WRITE
MATHUSHEK PIANO MANFG. CO.
132nd St. and Alexander Ave.
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/
August 18, 1928
13
PRESTO-TIMES
BALDWIN EASTERN MANAGER
IS C. S. ONDERDONK
Man of Extensive Experience to Be Located with
Headquarters in New York.
Charles S. Onderdonk will assume his duties as
head of the Eastern Division of The Baldwin Piano
Company on September 1. In addition to extensive
retail interests in New York City Mr. Onderdonk will
also assume direction of the widely developed whole-
sale business of The Baldwin Piano Company in
Eastern and New England States.
Mr. Onderdonk has had extensive experience for
the past eighteen years in successful retail and whole-
sale piano merchandising. In addition he is thor-
oughly familiar with the manufacturing and the
financing phases of the piano industry. Under his
administration an aggressive policy of retail develop-
ment and dealer cooperation may be confidently ex-
pected.
POLK COLLEGE OF TUNING
Announces Enrollment Dates for the 1923 Fall Class—
Technical Instruction.
Polk College of Piano Tuning, La Porte, Ind., is
again going through the usual preliminary work be-
fore the fall class of September 12 conies in.
The enrollment dates for the fall class are Septem-
BANG!—WE'RE OFF!
Over 1000 orders were filled the past month to
Professional Artist for this "Song." In every
State of U. S. A.
THE MAN THAT CATCHES ME MUST
HAVE THE GOOD HARD CASH
(Comic with Extra Verses)
Regular Trade Price—Retails at 35c
Write for Special Introductory Rates
(Unsold copies can be exchanged.)
J. S. UNGER MUSIC HOUSE, Publishers
Reading
.
.
.
Pennsylvania
THE LATEST JESSE
FRENCH PRODUCTIONS
her 10 and 11. School commences on the morning of
the 12th, and for many weeks the student will be
given the fundamental principles of the piano, player-
piano, coin operated and reproducing pianos. At the
end of the term the student is required to tune and
regulate a number of pianos, or until he is able to
obtain the grade of a technician, which is the standard
of the school.
Prospects are very encouraging and Polk College
officials are positive that this class will be the best
of the year.
LIST OF SEPTEMBER
MEL=0=DEE ROLLS
New Range of Word Rolls and Other Music
Included in the New Bulletin of Player-
piano Music.
The September advance bulletin of Mel-O-Dee
music rolls, has been issued by the Mel-O-Dee Music
LISTED AMONG THE TALENTED.
Co., Inc., Meriden, Conn. The name of the record-
In the article "Local Boy Makes Good" in the ing artists are printed in parentheses:
Saturday Evening Post, issue of August 11, one of
Word Rolls—Because My Baby Don't Mean May-
those honorably mentioned is Edward L. Bernays, be Now, fox trot, Walter Donaldson (Ralph Addi-
who is widely known in the music trade from his son); Come Back Chiquita, waltz, E flat, Mabel
advertising association with the Sonora Phonograph Wayne (Pauline Alpert); Crazy Rhythm, "Here's
Company. The local boys who made good are a long Howe," fox trot, Meyer & Kahn (Pauline Alpert);
list, and the author of the article, Wesley Stout, says If You Don't Love Me, fox trot, Milton Alger (Dag-
of Mr. Bernays: "He is from Vienna, a nephew of
mar Nordstrom); I'm on the Crest of a Wave,
good Dr. Sigmund Freud." Though why the writer "George White's Scandals," fox trot, DeSylva, Brown
for the Saturday Evening Post should consider "mak-
& Henderson (Phil Ohman); Lonely Little Blue-
ing good" in New York as any greater performance bird, fox trot, Woods (Harvey Maddon); Lonesome
than succeeding in any other town is past all finding In the Moonlight, fox trot-ballad, Baer (Pauline
out.
Alpert); Old Man Sunshine, "Little Boy Bluebird,"
fox trot, Warren (Frank Milne); (Dreaming Down
ENTERPRISING METHOD IN INDIANA. on) Silver Bay, waltz, key of G, Milne & DeSocio
Routh's Music and Radio Shop, located on the pub- (Frank Milne); Sweet Ella May, fox trot, Renard,
lic square at Salem, Ind., publishes Routh's Music Alpert & Robinson (Harvey Maddon); That's My
and Radio Notes once in a while in the Salem news- Weakness Now, fox trot, Green & Stept (Ernest
papers. It is run in the shape of a miniature news- Leith); What D' Ya Say, "George White's Scandals,"
paper with all the musical and radio notes of the fox trot, DeSylva, Brown & Henderson (Ralph
town published in newsy, spicy form. This "paper" Addison); Who Wouldn't Be Blue, fox trot, Davis
has attracted a great deal of attention among musical & Burke (Frank Milne).
people in that part of the state.
Ballad—Memories, Key C, Sanford (Henri Berg-
man).
HOW UNCLE SAM HELPS.
Instrumental—Punch and Judy, novelette, Vin^
A particularly valuable service rendered by the for- cent (Henri Bergman).
eign offices of the United States Bureau of Foreign
Special Word Rolls—The Sidewalks of New York,
and Domestic Commerce is found in the reports cov- ballad, Lawlor & Blake (Dave Russel).
ering what are known as "trade opportunities." These
French-English Words—Hello, Montreal, fox trot,
reports give complete details pertaining to specific Irving Berlin (Armand Sartorius); Girl of My
opportunities for the sale of designated American Dreams, waltz, Key C, Sunny Clapp (Pauline Al-
merchandise. In addition to the staff of commercial pert).
specialists in the foreign service of the Bureau,
Instrumental—Officer of the Day, march, R. B.
approximately 450 American consuls located in the
Hall (Dave Russel); Old Timer's Waltz Medley,
various foreign countries, co-operate in this work, and Arranged
by Lake.
there is scarcely an area in the world of any commer-
cial importance from where the American manufac-
turer can not receive a definite report prepared by a
CARL O. DONALDSON DIES.
trained man on the ground.
Carl O. Donaldson, prominent piano dealer, who
died at his home in Minneapolis recently, had been
Adam McMurdo, who was formerly in the music in the music business the past eighteen years, both
trade business in Chicago and was a member of the wholesale and retail. Mr. Donaldson represented the
Musical Times staff, is going to New York about the Hallet & Davis Piano Co. for several years, both in
first of September to take a position on one of the the South and the Northwest. He represented the
New York dailies. For some months past Mr. Mc- Bush & Lane Piano Co. for the past nine years until
Murdo has been assisting George P. Bent on the the time of his death. Mr. Donaldson spent the past
composition of Mr. Bent's book soon to be out of winter in Pasadena, Cal., and returned to Minneapolis
press.
in May.
The LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Orand*, Uprights and Players
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that can be
made.
Y O R K PIANOS
Upright! and Player Pianos
A high grade piano of great
vaiue and with charming tone quality.
Livingston Pl&nos— Uprlrfitf and Playar Planot
A popular piano at a popular price.
The Heppe, Marcellua and Edouard Jules Piano
manufactured by the
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
FOLLOW THE TRADITION OF
UNQUESTIONABLE QUALITY
Over 70.000 instrument! made by thin oompany ai
are ring*
Ing their own praises in all parts of the civilised world.
Write tor catalogues and state on what terms yon wonld
like to deal, aud we will make yon a proposition if yon are
located in open territory.
WEAVER PIANO CO., I K .
Factory: YORK, P i .
Established 1870
are the only pianos In the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented tn the United States. Great Britain,
France, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only.
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PHILADELPHIA. PA.
Coin Operated and Selection Controlled Pianos
MECHANICALLY PERFECT
Music That Pays as It Plays
W E S T E R N ELECTRIC P I A N O CO., 832-850 Blackhawk St., Chicago, HI.
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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