February 2, 1929
PIANO CLASSES
DINNER TOPIC
Chicago Piano & Organ Association Hear
Music Supervisor of Chicago Public
Schools on Progress of Piano
Instruction.
PRESTO-TIMES
expert services of Fannie Cole Sample, soprano; Beu-
lah Tayler Porter, accompanist, and Allen Spencer,
pianist.
The officers of the Chicago Piano & Organ Asso-
ciation are: R. J. Cook, prescient; James Sill, vice-
president; Adam Schneider, treasurer, and Walter
Kiehn, secretary.
ANSWER TO COMPETITION.
SIGNS OF NEW ERA
IN NEW YORK TRADE
Expressions of Confidence in Future of the
Music Trade by Both Manufacturers and
Dealers, Signifies the Stimulus of a
Hopeful Spirit.
By HENRY MACMULLAN
The answer to competition is not price cutting, but
reduction of waste in physical distribution, says "Dis-
tribution Economy." In this connection, the maga-
The annual banquet of the Chicago I'iano & Organ zine says: "When your goods leave the production
:
Association, held on Thursday of last week, was only line are they handled with the same mechanical sk ll
One of the good signs in the piano business of New
briefly written up in last week's Presto-Times as the that produced them? Are they packed so that each
\ ork is the return of confidence among both manu-
event occurred after the paper was put to press. It package will take the lowest possible rates, yet carry
facturers and dealers. There are a number of men
was a business-like event and had all the appear- without damage hazard? Are they loaded and braced
here who believe that the piano has entered upon a
ances of doing something and accomplishing some- safely? Have the most economical combinations of
rail, motor, water or air transportation been used? new period which makes them look back on the past
thing for the music trade.
Have you public or private warehouse facilit'es to as an unstable period. They are getting over their
The subject of piano class instruction in the public enable you to take advantage of carload rates, and pessimism; they are beginning to lose respect for the
schools was a chief and vital issue discussed at the at the same time maintain spot stocks in strategic petty acumen that sees difficulties. E. J. Radle, pres-
meeting following the dinner.
marketing areas? Are your commodities moved me- ident of the Radle Piano Company, 609 West 36th
Piano Classes Discussed.
chanically at all times to reduce handling costs? street, New York, is one of that kind.
The piano classes as the most potent aid to piano These are the problems of every industral executive.
Mr. Radle puts much of the blame for unprofitable
sales provided a stimulating topic for talks by mem-
piano business on the dealers. Dealers are so hungry
for trade, he says, that they are selling cheap instru-
bers and guests. The Chicago Piano & Organ Asso-
CLEVELAND ASSOCIATION PLANS.
ments on long terms and thus hurting both their own
ciation has always been a strong force in efforts to
A. L. Maresh, recently elected to his fourth term business and that of the men making the better goods.
promote and encourage business and has a character
for such activities going back to its founding. It is as president of the Cleveland Music Trades Associa- But Mr. Radle said he realized that the better grade
natural that an admirable and proven method of pro- tion, is credited with the success of the organization pianos such as his factory is producing, are coming
moting piano sales like that of group piano classes both in membership and influence in the general busi- in for a larger share of the trade in 1929 than they
in stores and class lessons in schools, should now ness field of Cleveland. Mr. Maresh promises a con- got in 1928.
tinuation of his effort for achievement for the asso-
interest the association.
As Edwin G. Tonk Sees It.
ciation, in which he will be aided by Harry J. Valen-
President Cook made a remarkably efrie'ent toast- tine, the new vice-president, and the secretary-treas-
Edwin G. Tonk, of Win. Tonk & Bro., Inc.. 10th
master and presiding officer, and his introductions
avenue, 35th and 36th streets, New York, is another
were prompt and sparkling. His talk, which was urer, Rexford C. Hyre. A big meeting is scheduled opt-mist. Mr. Tonk is enthusiastic in his hustling for
for
a
date
in
February
and
the
annual
dinner—to
be
1
along the line of piano class instruction, made an
trade. His father, William Tonk, who has been
excellent preamble to the address of Dr. J. Francis given at the Winton Hotel—for a date in March.
taking care of his health, was not at the office on
Browne, who gave estimates and figures concerning
Wednesday, but remained at home because the streets
WURLITZER STORE MOVED.
the number of teachers. Something like 350 are
of New York were covered with slushy snow.
employed in teaching the nearly 500 classes and 20,000
The Ashland, Ky., branch of the Rudolph Wur-
New York's One Hundred-Year Business Club.
pupils at piano lessons in the public schools, he said. litzer Company has been moved from Ironton, Ohio,
The One Hundred-Year Club of New York was
to the Ventura Hotel Building, 13th and Winchester organized at a dinner at the Savoy-Plaza Hotel on
Dr. Browne on School Music.
avenue. For the convenience of Ironton customers, the night of January 24. Nearly 200 concerns, quali-
Dr. Browne spoke of the wonderful development the company is maintaining an office in the Ironton
that will come to piano class lessons and anticipates Mortgage Company Building at Second and Railroad fied by age, were invited and responded. Among the
that in the near future there will be a hundred thou- streets, where payments on all instruments previously present temporary governors of the new club are
W. P. H". Bacon, president of the Bacon Piano Com-
sand pupils taking lessons with the corresponding sold in this locality can be made. The manager of
pany, and among the firms represented at the dinner
increases in number of teachers, classes and schools. the Ashland branch is Charles J. Argus.
and organization were the Bacon Piano Company,
T!ie work is in its infancy with a great future.
Ciiickering & Sons, J. & C. Fischer, and John Wan-
Dr. Browne made a good hit when he said he was
amakcr.
WURLITZER MANAGER MOVED.
backed by manufacturers and dealers in Chicago:
J. C. Henderson Makes New England Trip.
"Help us get music through our class instruction into
Harry C. Reinwald, with the Wurlitzer Company.
J. C. Henderson, eastern wholesale piano represen-
1 CO,000 homes and we will guarantee you business Milwaukee, as general manager for seven and one-
and sales of pianos." At close of Dr. Browne's talk half years, has been transferred to the Chicago office tative for Wurlitzer's, was out of his New York office
he was warmly congratulated by Mr. Cook.
at 320 South Wabash avenue. Mr. Reinwald will act last week on a trip among the trade in New England
including Boston. He got back to his desk Saturday
as sales manager of the Chicago store.
Adam Schneider's Activities.
noon, January 26. Mr. Henderson's calls are always
Adam Schneider told how keen was the interest of
welcome; many ; n the trade look forward to a visit
INCREASES TUNING FORCE.
the Chicago Piano & Organ Association in the activi-
from Mr. Henderson as an event. Xot many know
ties to promote piano instruction in schools. Donat-
W. W. Grubb, p : ano tuner, lias joined the Parks the remarkable career of this quiet, unassuming man.
ing a piano to a school may seem to many a per- Music House Company of Hannibal, Mo., which main- or of the stepping stones that tallied the successes
fectly easy matter; an affair of just sending the piano tains a first-class repair shop and caters to large sur- of his lite, notable as a manufacturer of organs and
and in course of time getting the thanks of the school rounding territory. W. \\ r . Parks is in charge of the pianos and a very successful man in politics back
board, superintendents and teachers. The idea is tuning and repair department.
in the days when he served a term or two as mayor
erroneous, according to Mr. Schneider, who knows.
of Ann Arbor.
Mr. Schneider is one of the active members who
New Organist at the Roxy.
The
Music
Shop,
Columbia,
Mo.,
in
the
wholesale
has worked hard on the scheme to get piano manu-
Eniil Yelazco, one of the most prominent theater
facturers to donate or loan pianos for piano class and retail music business, with a capitalization of
purposes in Chicago public schools. That 4,000 $12,000. W. L. Martin and F. G. Wharton, in similar orgairsts in the country, has been added to the staff
( Continued on page 12)
pianos are now in use in schools in the city shows business in Columbia. Mo., and others.
how successful he has been. But while getting the
pianos from the manufacturers was easy to a man
of Mr. Schneider's persuasive powers, getting them
installed in schools was a more difficult job. School
hoard members are strangely suspicious, and it is
due to Mr. Schneider's gift of explanation and per-
suasion to satisfy the directors that there was no
financial strings to the gifts and loans nor no circum-
stances that would make the schools party to adver-
tising schemes for piano manufacturers. "This p : ano
kindly furnished by So & So & Co.," is the maximum
of acknowledgment on cards attached to the pianos.
It was considered a disappointment that Superin-
tendent Bogan could not be present, being kept away
on account of illness. But Dr. Browne, speaking for
Superintendent Bogan, emphasized the interest that
he has and the backing given to him by Mr. Browne
and the school board in his work as supervisor of
music.
Eleven tables aside from speakers' table were occu-
pied and the members were told to go to the dining
room in groups, which was carried out with the result
that there was a congenial arrangement—a Gul-
bransen table, a Cable Piano Company table, a Bald-
• win Piano Company table, a press table, and other
groups.
The beautiful bunch of roses on the speakers' table
were sent to Otto Schulz by a unanimous vote of the
Inventory Value, $800,000
meeting.
Fred
E.
Hummel, Trustee in Bankruptcy
The novelty of appointing a host at each table had
Paul Ginsburg & Co., Auctioneers
pleasant results. His duty was to introduce those
seated at tables to each other.
189 W. Madisan Street, Chicago*.
The musical numbers were provided through the
AUCTION
By Order of Fred E. Hummel, Trustee in Bankruptcy
for the Estate of
H. C- BAY CO-
BANKRUPT
The Entire Stock, Machinery and Equipment Must Be
Removed at Once
STARTING FEBRUARY 6, 1929, AT 11 A. M.
We will sell at Public Auction the entire assets at
Bluffton, Ind.
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