Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1929 2221

MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1884
Established
1881
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1929.
MORE NEW MEMBERS
FOR NATIONAL ASSN.
Cincinnati, O., Lexington and Louisville, Ky.,
and Knoxville, Tenn., Add to Enrollment
in the National Music Merchants' As-
sociation and Spirit Grows.
One of the results of a meeting of members of the
Knoxville, Tenn., music merchants at luncheon last
week at the Farragut Hotel, will be regular monthly
luncheon meetings for the purpose of discussing trade
problems. At the present time there is no local asso-
ciation but it is possible that the monthly meetings
will result in the formation of an organization.
The meeting last week was called by Lynn Sheeley,
vice-president and general manager of Clark-Jones-
Sheeley Company, and State Commissioner and mem-
ber of the Board of Control of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants. Delbert L. Loomis, execu-
tive secretary of the association, was present and in
a talk following the luncheon, reviewed association
activities in detail. He told of the promotional work
now being done by the association in cooperation
with the National Bureau for the Advancement of
Music. A round table discussion followed which
was entered into by all present and it was at this
time that the suggestion was made that monthly
luncheon get-together meetings should be held.
Greet New Members.
Three new members were added to the association
during personal calls by the executive secretary in
the morning and two more at the luncheon, so that
Knoxville is now represented in the National body
with live members. J. V. Ledgerwood, president of
J. V. Ledgerwood, Incorporated, was the first mem-
ber to join. This company carries the Kimball and
Kurtzmann pianos. C. C. Rutherford, manager of
Sterchi Brothers, Incorporated, representatives of
the American Piano Company's line, and George
Brown, proprietor of the East Tennessee Music Com-
pany, also joined. The East Tennessee Music Com-
pany's line includes the Kranich & Bach, Sohmer,
Gulbransen. Starr and Cabler pianos and Atwater-
Kent radio.
Frank Clark, president and treasurer of Clark-
Jones-Sheeley Company, representatives of Steinway
& Sons, Aeolian Company, Vose & Sons, and the
Victor and Radiola, and who is dean of the piano
trade in Knoxville, having been in the business here
for many years, became a member of the National
Association at the luncheon.
Leonard C. Lamb Joins.
Leonard C- Lamb, president of the Lamb Company,
representative of The Cable Co.'s line and the Wur-
litzer line, also joined the association at the meeting.
It was Mr. Lamb who proposed that regular monthly
gatherings should be held. The luncheon meeting
was reported by The Knoxville News-Sentinel, an
afternoon paper, the story being- featured on the first
news page.
Prior to visiting Kentucky cities last week Albert
L. Loomis stopped in Cincinnati and added six new
members to the National Association of Music Mer-
chants to the twelve already enrolled in that city.
Four were enrolled in Lexington where one previ-
ously represented the "Blue Grass" city in the asso-
ciation.
The new members in Cincinnati in the order in
which they were taken are: Thomas P. Clancy, vice-
president of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company; George
P. Gross, president, George P. Gross Musical Instru-
ment Company; R. E. Wells, manager, Steinway &
Sons, Cincinnati branch; Herman Ritter, general man-
ager, Fillmore Music House; Philip Wyman, publicity
director, the Baldwin Piano Company; C. F. Welsh,
president, Welsh-Bennett Pia,no Company.
GULBRANSEN IN CONCERT
The Gulbransen piano is being used in a series of
concerts being given at Chicago parks, under the
auspices of the Civic Music Association of Chicago.
On February 3, one of the concerts was given at the
Black hawk Park, February 15, at the Rutherford-
Sayre Park, and on February 24 there will be another
concert at Blackhawk Park. The Northwest Park
District, J. F. Gubbins, president, and Frank M. Kal-
tcux, director of recreation, has arranged for these
musical presentations to be made in a public way,
admission being without charge. A number of well
known artists have been used in connection with this
work, presenting programs of worth while music.
GORDON LAUGHEAD ON ROAD.
Gordon Laughead, sales manager of the Wurlitzer
Grand Piano Co., De Kalb, HI., is leaving this week
for a two weeks' trip to Eastern and Canadian points.
LESTER FOR COLLEGE CONCERTS
The Lester Piano Co.. Philadel-
phia, is having great success by
holding concerts in colleges. They
have forty-eight artists that they
can call on to assist in this work.
The Lester Concert Ensemble leads
in concert work for this enterprising
piano manufacturing house. The
four principal artists are Josef
Wisso, noted concert pianist; Mary
Miller Mount, accompanist; Wilbur
Evans, bass baritone; Jeno De Do-
nath, violinist.
On Sunday evening of this week,
February 17, at the Ben Franklin
Hotel ball room, Philadelphia, more
than 500 persons attended the con-
cert.
Even the galleries were
crowded.
These concerts started last Octo-
ber. On February 1 the Reading
(Pa.) Y. M. C. A. Hall was
crowded to overflowing at the con-
cert and the doors had to be locked
to prevent more people from crowding in. On Feb-
ruary 9 another concert was given at St. Stephens
Episcopal Church, Torresdale, Pa.; on February 12
another concert at the Women's Musical Club, Lans-
downe, Pa. A second concert this week was given
on February 20 at the Women's Club of Adath-
Jeshurun, Broad street above Diamond street, Phila-
delphia, and on February 27 another concert will be
given at Media, Pa.
LKSTKR fi-FOOT (JRAN1).
All of these concerts are free, cards of admission
being given on application at the F. A. North Com-
pany, 1306 Chestnut street, Philadelphia, Pa.
A great piece of advertising is a picture of the
Lester factory to be put in store windows, illuminated
from behind so that all its windows glitter. Adver-
tising Manager Whitcraft is a genius in producing
new advertising stunts.
$2 The Yeai
M. SCHULZ CO. TO
SPONSOR BROADCAST
Radio Piano Lessons, Inaugurated by WGN,
Chicago Tribune Station, Under Edward
Barry, to Be Sponsored by the Pro-
gressive Piano Manufacturers.
The M. Schulz Co. formally entered the held of
radio broadcasting on Friday of this week at 5 o'clock
when it assumed the sponsorship of Edward Barry's
Radio Piano Lessons on WGN.
This popular feature is well known to middle west
radio fans, as it has appeared each Friday afternoon
from 5 to 5:30 for nearly three years. Thirty thou-
sand students have taken the course and a larger
number are enrolled at the present than ever before.
It is the deluge of mail which caused the Tribune
station to seek an outside sponsor who could effi-
ciently handle the requests and enroll students. The
M. Schulz Co., with the assistance of its large dealer
organization throughout the middle western states,
will handle the distribution of music books, keep
registration records and answer fan mail.
For Children and Adults.
The lessons are for beginners or for persons who
have studied piano at one time and want to review
their work. Simple melody playing is introduced
almost immediately arousing the interest and enthu-
siasm of the pupil. Some of the lighter classics in
special arrangements are used and are included in
the scries of folios.
M. Schulz Company's Part.
The music folios are printed and edited by the
WGN staff and will be issued by the M. Schulz Co.
without any cost to all listeners sending their names
and addresses to the station or direct to the spon-
sors. Announcement will be made that complete sets
of this music may be had at Schulz dealers through-
out Illinois and adjoining states. A complete roster
of pupils enrolled at present will be furnished the
Schulz dealer organization so that they can keep in
touch with the fans.
The manner of instruction is similar to the piano
class work that is being carried on in public schools
and dealers' stores. Dealers will be encouraged to
hold the broadcast in their own store each week and
provide pianos for children whose homes lack either
a piano or radio. Mr. Barry's pupils are most enthu-
siastic about his work and hundreds of letters arc
received each week from pupils pleased at the prog-
ress they are making. The feature will also receive
publicity in the radio columns of the Chicago
Tribune.
Good Publicity.
Mention will be made that the piano lessons are
sponsored by a Chicago piano manufacturer, the M.
Schulz Co., which has manufactured musical instru-
ments in that city for sixty years.
Comment by Otto Schulz, Jr.
Otto Schulz, Jr., said this week:
''W T e feel that no other form of advertising could
prove such a boon to the piano itself and to the
whole piano industry as the support of Edward
Barry's weekly half hour of piano lessons in WGN.
We are not so much interested in our direct gain as
we are in helping to encourage interest ni piano play-
ing. WGN is a wonderful medium for this service.
We urge music dealers everywhere to listen in on
Mr. Barry to familiarize themselves with the scope
and method of the lessons.
"In the past pupils have ranged in age from 7 to
70 years. We find a great many of them are mar-
ried women, housewives who would have no other
opportunity to study the piano. There is absolutely
no charge for whatever music is needed. These folios
will be furnished by us to anyone who sends in their
name and address either to the station or to the M.
Schulz Co. general office at 711 Milwaukee avenue,
Chicago."
The Mastin & Gardner Music Store, formerly lo-
cated at 80 Court street, Binghamton, N. Y.. is now
located at 78 Court street. Pianos, musical instru-
ments and other lines are carried.
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/
February 23, 1929
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
NEWS NOTES OF THE
PACIFIC COAST TRADE
Vigilance in Advertising Supervision Results
in Issuance of Folder for Radio Dealers
Which Frankly Lists Objectionable
Practices.
The Pacific Radio Trade z\ssociation, in conjunction
with the Better Business Bureau of San Francisco, has
issued a folder containing recommendations for radio
advertisers. These are designed to develop more
accuracy in advertising and the fair play methods
which evoke public confidence. Bait advertising is
condemned in a specific way.
The use of the word "electric" should be limited to
sets which operate directly from an electric light
socket, is the statement in the folder.
A set originally designed for battery operation and
subsequently ef4tiipped with A and B power devices is
not "electric," as the term is used in the trade and
as it is generally understood by the public.
When citing the number of tubes in the set, the
advertiser should specify, the number used for power
conversion and that for regulation, is the advice
which adds: "It should be appreciated that the num-
ber of tubes utilized in a radio receiver does not
necessarily give an indication of its performance."
The folder recommends that the word "dynanr'c"
should be used only in connection with the speakers
which are of the true dynamic type. That is, those in
which the reproducing element is a moving coil
rather than a magnetic armature. Also the word
"complete" should be used only if the fully equipped
set is sold at the advertised price. If any of the equip-
ment is omitted, this fact should be stated in type
of a size easy to read, in immediate proximity to the
price.
Other objectionable practices in radio exploitation
are laid bare in the folder, which has been widely
distributed.
Pacific Coast cities are no worse than cities else-
where in the use of objectionable methods of adver-
tising and selling radios, but two prominent bodies
have jointly issued a booklet of advice, recommenda-
tion and warning to radio advertisers.
The department and branch store manager of Sher-
man, Clay & Co., San Francisco, held a conference
last week at the Palace Hotel. At the various ses-
sions which extended throughout three days the oper-
ations of every department in the music store were
discussed. The requirements of the piano, phono-
graps, musical merchandise, sheet music, organ and
radio departments were set forth by speakers and
the nature of operations in each evoked by discus-
sions.
Featuring Jesse French & Sons.
The Union Music Co., San Francisco, is actively
featuring the line of pianos and radios of the Jesse
French & Sons Piano Co., New Castle, Ind. And
satisfactory results arc pointed out by D. A. Hen-
nessy, owner and manager of the progressive firm,
who says the dependable character of the Jesse
French & Sons piano throughout the years since their
first introduction to California is now favorably influ-
encing prospects for Jesse French radio sales. The
Jesse French receiving set made a good start at its
first appearance in San Francisco.
The Union Music Co. has taken over the second
floor of the building which has been subdivided into
piano showrooms. The growth of the firm's radio
business recently demanded more accommodations
and accordingly two radio demonstration rooms were
provided on the main floor.
The repair shop for band and orchestra instruments
operated by Sherman, Clay, & Co., has been moved
from 536 Mission street to the retail store of the
company at Kearny and Sutter streets. Ray Towl,
manager of the shop, believes its effectiveness will
be increased by the removal.
PROGRESSIVE SYRACUSE STORE
The Godard Music Store, formerly located at 113
East Washington street, Syracuse, N. Y., is now
occupying the splendid new store at 436 South War-
ren street, giving to this popular Syracuse firm one
of the best-appointed and most centrally-located music
shops in the Central City. The constantly growing
business of this enterprising firm made removal to
more spacious quarters a necessity. The location on
busy South Warren street is in the center of the retail
section and desirable in every way.
Four Progressive Firms Contribute to Effort
in Making Blue Grass Section Notable
for Lively Sales.
Lexington, Ky., the historic city, in what is widely
known as the famous "Blue Grass" section of a most
interesting state, is the home of four progressive and
successful piano houses. Business in the music line
is really good in Lexington and the piano men are
not only cheerful, but are looking forward to in-
creased business for the year of 1929. Lexington is
a prosperous city. It has had a remarkable growth
in population during the past ten years. There is
much wealth there and surprising business activity.
The Proper Spirit.
There are four piano houses in the city and so far
as membership in the National Association of Music
Merchants is concerned, the city is not only one
hundred per cent, but really one hundred and twenty-
five per cent represented, for the Music Shop, one
of the houses, includes in its membership W. A. Bur-
nett, the proprietor, and also J. P. Simmons, one of
the charter members of the association, who is now
connected with the establishment. The Music Shop
BUYS FRENCH LICK STORE.
Lewis S. Bowles has purchased the stock of mus ; cal
instruments and radios at French Lick, Ind , formerly
owned by the late George Ellensohn, and which has
been in operation there for a number of years. Mr.
Bowles advises that the store will now be known as
the Valley Music and Radio Company and that same
will be under the management of Miss Vivian Mere-
dith, assisted by Mrs. Bowles. Since the death of
M. Ellensohn, the store has been operated by Frank
H. Stonnaker of Bedford, executor of Mr. Ellen-
sohn's will.
NEW NASHVILLE STORE.
Theodore Sharpe, son of the Rev. George N.
Sharpe, pastor of Temple Baptist Church, Nashville,
Tenn., will open a music store in that city in the
near future. Mr. Sharpe is widely known as a musi-
cian, and many Nashvillians have heard him on his
broadcasts from the station in Toronto, Canada, as
well as on records. He plays both the violin and the
saxophone. The new store will be opened under his
rad : o name, Ted Arden, and will be known as the Ted
Arden Music Company.
PIANO LESSONS IN STORE
RECITAL, AT AUGUST GROSS' PIANO CO.'S STORE.
The accompanying cut shows the audience of
pupils, their parents and friends assembled recently
at the store of the Aug. Gross Piano Co., 3933 to
3935 North Kedzie avenue, Chicago.- It was a large
assemblage of enthusiastic people who braved a
below r zero temperature to come to hear the ambi-
tious children. The sympathetic attitude of the audi-
ence was conclusive evidence of the existence in the
public of a recognition of the piano as the most im-
portant instrument for the reproduction of music.
Miss Ellen Munson is the instructor of the Curtis
system classes, which are continuous in the store
and have proven potent for results for the past three
ACTIVE MUSIC TRADE
MEN OF LEXINGTON, KY.
years; The classic character of the program showed
the ability of the students.
The Aug. Gross Piano Company is one of the
alert piano houses which show a realization of the
fact that the perpetuation of piano playing largely
depends as the encouragement dealers give to piano
class instruction. The encouragement most produc-
tive of results is the practical kind favored by the
energetic Chicago piano house. Mr. Gross is free to
state the benefits to business of the piano group in-
struction fostered by the house. "Piano sales at any
time are in equal ratio to the enthusiasm for piano
playing," is an epigram of Mr. Gross which voices
a situation and suggests a course of action.
J. P. SIMMONS.
is the local representative of the Baldwin line of
pianos, the Victor and Sonora talking machines;,
Conn band instruments, Gibson string instruments,
Atwater-Kent and Philco radios and sheet music.
J. P. Simmons Active.
Mr. Simmons, whose mother is now an invalid liv-
ing in Lexington, returned recently to his native
state. He has had an active and intertsting career in
the music industry. He entered the business in 1883
as shipping clerk in the Baldwin wareroom in Louis-
ville. Four years later when the Memphis store was
opened he was made manager of that store. Later he
was connected with the Smith & Nixon Company and
following that connection he was for twenty-five
years the principal owner of the Junius Hart Piano
House in New Orleans. He recently spent two years
on the Pacific coast.
The Music Shop was started six years ago by Mr.
Burnett and has been very successful. U. G. Row-
botham is also associated with this house.
J. H. Templeman's Standing.
J. H. Templeman is the dean of the piano men in
Lexington. Associated with him as treasurer of the
J. H. Templeman Piano Compapy is Dan S. Ste-
phens, a piano man of unusual ability. The line
includes the Steinway, Kranich & Bach, Kurtzmann
and the Milton pianos.
Donald B. Neal has given attention particularly to
special sales and has not only been successful in the
music business but is known as an unusually success-
ful real estate operator. He operates a piano ware-
room on one side of North Limestone street and a
phonograph shop in the opposite side.
Joe Candioto has been in the piano and music
business in Lexington for about twenty years and
he has built up a prosperous business. His line of
pianos includes the Henry F. Miller, Becker Brothers
and Schubert. He also handles talking machines and
radios.
Isadore Meyer, 222 Georgia street, Valejo, Cal.,
will open a branch music store in another part of the
town.
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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