Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
plain the fact that the music dealer who does
not yet include radio in his lines is a good
prospect for the radio manufacturer.
The American Music Trade Weekly
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
PRESTO P U B L I S H I N G CO., Publishers.
Editor
F R A N K D. A B B O T T
- - - - - - - -
(C. A. DANIELL—1904-1927.)
Managing
Editor
J. FERGUS O'RYAN
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 0234.
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), " P R E S T O , " Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, Hi., under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1.25; Foreign, $4.
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
application.
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if of
general interest to the music trade will be paid for at
space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen in the
smaller cities are the best occasional correspondents, and
their assistance is invited.
Payment is not accepted for matter printed in the edi-
torial or news columns of Presto-Times.
Where half-tones are made the actual cost of produc-
tion will be charged if of commercial character or other
than strictly news interest.
When electrotypes are sent for publication it is re-
quested that their subjects and senders be carefully indi-
cated.
SIMPLIFYING PRODUCTION
Simplified practice is something more than
a phrase to the manufacturers in some phases
of the music industry. It is an accompani-
ment to standardization in the production of
certain lines of musical merchandise, and Na-
tional associations serving those trades en-
courage action to that effect in factories. But
simplified practice has grown in piano and
other factories as a result of keen observa-
tion of the requirements of profitable manu-
facturing and wise management generally. It
has proceeded independently and without sug-
gestion or encouragement from the Division
of Simplified Practice of the U. S. Department
of Commerce.
A statement of that division printed else-
where in this issue shows the increasing ex-
Forms close at noon on Thursday. Late news matter
should be in not later than 11 o'clock on that day. Ad- tent to which manufacturers follow and ad-
vertising copy should be in hand before Tuesday, 6 p. m., here to the recommendations of the Depart-
to insure preferred position. Full page display copy
should be in hand by Tuesday noon preceding publication ment of Commerce. Here is an extract from
day. Want advertisements for current week, to insure
classification, should be in by Wednesday noon.
the report:
Address all communications for the editorial or business
"At the end of the second quarter of this
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
year (June 30). there were 9,754 individual
firms and 883 trade associations supporting
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 1, 1928.
simplified practice recommendations. At the
The last form of Presto-Times goes to presa end of the third quarter (September 30). there
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring were 11,319 individuals and 1,023 trade asso-
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur- ciations. This endorsement is given in the
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that form of a signed acceptance to each simplifi-
is not strictly news of importance can have
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they cation project, by which the acceptor pledges
concern the interests of manufacturers or his support to the program as developed by
dealers such items will appear the week follow- the industry."
ing. CORY * o r advertising
designed for the
current issue must reach the office not later
(
han Wednesday noon of each week.
GOOD RADIO PROSPECTS
An obvious fact for music dealers and radio
manufacturers is that the music store is the
logical means for distributing radios to the
public. The extent to which music dealers are
interested in radio is not equal to the oppor-
tunities, although the number of music deal-
ers including radio in their presentations is
the biggest proportion of the total. The mu-
sic dealer today is considered a seller of home
entertainment of an audible nature and in the
scheme radio has an important part.
At first when the music dealers were in-
duced to add radio to their music goods stocks
many complained of a bewildering complexity
in the radio business that compared unfavor-
ably with the comparative simplicity of the
musical instrument stock. The multiplicity
of equipment loaded their stocks and in-
creased their overhead. They were justified,
too, in their complaints. But the policies of
all the progressive radio manufacturers now
are designed to simplify the situation. They
have practically relieved the dealers' difficul-
ties, removed a reasonable objection of selling
radio that some music dealers have expressed.
It is the belief of observant men of the mu-
sic industry like Hermann Irion, president of
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce,
that the music dealer is admirably fitted to
develop the radio business in a healthy way.
A great many dealers whose businesses have
been distinguished by association with fine
pianos have adopted radio lines and they add
new dignity to their stores.
In fact, the proportion of music dealers
handling radio has grown so great it makes
The slogan contest inaugurated early this
year by the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce comes to a close today (December
1) and the task of picking a winner will begin
at once by the trio of judges. The number
of slogans submitted is said to be enormous,
a fact which shows widespread and dee]) in-
terest in the purposes of the Chamber—to
stimulate interest in musical goods.
* # *
You cannot begin too soon in arousing the
interest of children in piano playing, accord-
ing to the National Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music, which has prepared a booklet
of suggestion and instruction for mothers. The
book shows how the mother may be helpful
in evoking the interest of children in piano
playing even before the. formal work of school
begins. It is called "Pre-School Music; A
Guide to Parents."
* * *
Timely and intensive work at signing up
new members of the National Association of
Music Merchants is urged by President C. J.
Roberts in a special letter to members this
week. To strengthen his plea for activity, he
adds a resolution that should have been pro-
posed at the last convention. Now. however,
he believes its purposes will be better served.
;(:
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*
The way for any piano dealer in the smaller
places to disprove that, things are dull is to get
out and sell more pianos. It can be done, and
often the thick of the calamity-howler's bad
times is the best time for the energetic piano
salesman.
There is also the kind of success that needs an
excuse.
December 1, 1928
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
(From Presto, November 30, 1893)
The music trade has much to be thankful for. The
season has been a dull one, it is true, but not so bad
as it might have been. At this time we wish to call
attention to some things to be remembered on
Thanksgiving day:
The trade in general—That there have been so few
failures.
The exhibitors at the Exposition—That they re-
ceived such good awards and that these awards were
not signed by Marc A. Blumenberg.
John Boyd Thacher—That he is still alive.
Leopold Peck—That the "Courier" didn't praise
him last week.
CHckering & Sons—That the Checkering piano is
being properly represented in Chicago.
Lyon, Potter & Co.—That the Steinway piano is
always "on top."
Theodore Thomas— That his popularity is as great
in Chicago as ever.
Harry Freund—That W. W. Kimball let him off
so easily.
John C. Freund—For the beautiful black eyes he
has given one of his contemporaries.
The "Indicator"—That it has had some special
advertising.
Marc Blumenberg—That the trade hasn't gone
back on the "Courier" entirely and that Gen. St. Clair
did not say any more than he did.
Milo J. Chase—That there is a land where injunc-
tions are unknown.
William Steinway—For added honors to the great
hcuse of Steinway & Sons.
The Presto is deeply grateful for the increased
friendsh ; p of the trade and the warm recognition ac-
corded its enterprise.
Mr. Wm. Steinway announced at the meeting of
(he Rapid Transit Commission Tuesday afternoon
that he and his associates, Commissioners Inman,
Porter and Bushe, had practically come to an agree-
ment as to a new independent elevated railway route
fcr the West Side.
Mr. Wisner has now under way a concert grand
piano of which he and musicians expect great things.
The Presto's man about town was in the Chicago
Cottage Organ warerooms on Tuesday and found
Mr. H. D. Cable at the telephone. This was what
Mr. Cable said to the somebody at the other end of
the line: "Yes, the eight pianos must be shipped
tcday."
Mr. George W. Lyon, of Lyon, Potter & Co., has
been a pretty s'ck man for some time past; in fact, he
is far from his old form now. He comes to the
warercoms, however, as determined as ever to make
sales and, needless to add, he does so.
The Presto joins its European contemporaries and
the many friends of Herr Commerzienrath Bliithner
in wishing him many happy days and that he will
fce in robust health to celebrate his fiftieth centen-
nial, or, as our friend Paul de Witt, editor of Zeit-
rchrift fiir Instrumentenbau, says: "Moge er noch
viele Jahre in gleicher Rustigkeit und Schaffensfreu-
digkeit die Friichte seiner Arbeit geniesen!"
R. W. Stewart, of Springfield, Mo., representative
cf the Kimball pianos and organs, has put out a little
took showing the sales made by him since he entered
business.
W. W. Putnam of Winchester, Va., who handles
Strich & Zeidler pianos, has an excellent trade in
these instruments.
"Tonk's Monthly Price List of Musical Merchan-
dise" for November contains many articles especially
suited for holiday presents, and a number of them are
being offered at a sacrifice to reduce stock. Dealers
should look through the list carefully.
Messrs. A. Reed & Sons, 171 South Canal street,
Chicago, are send:'ng out to the trade an eight-page
circular giving the text of the award received by them
at the World's Columbian Exposition and an analysis
cf the po : nts specified in their award. The idea is a
novel one and the little pamphlet well worth reading.
There has been some little talk—not general but in
certain quarters—about forming a company in this
country to push the pianos of Grotrian, Helfferich,
Schulz, of Brunswick, Germany, successors to Theo-
dor Steinweg. From a certain point of view this
will be commendable, that is, if the pianos are adver-
tised and offered on their own merits. But if they
are to be run here as "Steinway" pianos and as the
original pianos of that name and in opposition to the
great Steinway piano, we are sure the scheme will fail.
Mr. Charles K. Harris, composer of "After the
Ball," who marries Miss Cora Lehrberg in Chicago
today, stopped in at Flanner's Music House, Milwau-
kee, just as he was leaving that city to meet his bride,
and selected a fine $800 upright Knabe piano, which
will be put into his apartments at the Davidson
Hotel.
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