Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1929 2221

PRESTO-TIMES
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. D A N I ELL—1904-1927.)
J. FERGUS O'RYAN
_ _ _ _ _ Managing Editor
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, III., 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 commerc?al character or 1 other
than strictly news interest.
When electrotypes are sent for publication it is re-
quested that their subjects and senders be carefully indi-
cated.
Forms close at noon on Thursday. Late news matter
should be in not later than 11 o'clock on that day. Ad-
vertising copy should be in hand before Tuesday, S p. m.,
to insure preferred position. Pull page display copy
should be In hand by Tuesday noon preceding publication
day. Want advertisements for current week, to insure
jlassification, should be in by Wednesday noon.
Address all communications for the editorial or business
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street. Chicago, III.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1929.
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur-
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that
is not strictly news of importance can have
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they
concern the interests of manufacturers or
dealers such items will appear the week follow-
ing. Copy for advertising designed for the
current issue must reach the office not later
MECHANICAL THEATER MUSIC
Much dissatisfaction has been expressed
over the substitution of the talking movie for
the silent picture. The feeling expressed in-
cluded the synchronized music accompanying
the screen plays. And It is said, too, that the
theater-going public will, in time, indicate
thumbs down for the "sound" pictures. That
ma}' be true but it does not justify the inac-
tion of those concerned in the making and
selling of. musical instruments.
Some organizations of or related to the mu-
sic goods industry have taken action to mark
the gravity of the theater music situation, but
in a perfunctory way. In time, the public may
express its dissatisfaction with the talking
movie and synchronized mechanical music,
but it might be wise for the interested indus-
tries to. help the public reach a desired de-
cision. Other industries, when threatened by
a detrimental attitude towards their products,
are prompt to make use of deterring propa-
ganda.
Musical people know that the new movie
music, no matter how perfect may be its re-
production, must fall short of artistic excel-
lence. They could be helped in that realization
by the organized action of the music industry.
It is follv to sit supinely by waiting for the
entire people to see what the musically-mind-
ed among them already observe — that the
canned music of the movies is meretricious
and while doing incalculable damage to art
also is hurting the music profession and the
music trade.
It is easy to see the effects on the public
of the dehumanized entertainment; the dis-
placing of musicians, the discouragement of
young talent, restriction in musical art and a
cultural loss of appalling proportions. This
is not a form of the old industrial duel, the
worker fighting the machine in which the
worker always has lost. Synchronized thea-
ter music has few artistic merits, and the
music industry and the music profession
should take effective steps to influence the
theater-going public and theater owners
against its use.
CONGRATULATE LA PORTE, IND.
La Porte. Ind.. is the most musical commu-
nity in the United States, according to a sur-
vey of the support given good music in vari-
ous cities made public last week bv George
Fugles, New York concert manager, Xine
per cent of its population, given by gazeteers
as 15,158. attend concerts regularly, a percent-
age far higher than in Xew York or Chicago.
How much the good music lovers of the
lively Indiana town are influenced by the loca-
tion there of the Hobart M. Cable Piano Co.
is not told by Mr. Engles. But that the tastes
and inclinations of the community are, in a
considerable way, directed by the production
of the means to the making of fine music —
admirably tuneful pianos—is freely acknowl-
edged by LaPorte people.
Another LaPorte factor that, without
doubt, promotes the desire for the harmonies
expressed in good music, is the Polk College
of Piano Tuning, which represents the practi-
cal effort towards achieving a tuneful world.
The piano manufacturers who feature the
period models among their lines really have
much to thank the furniture manufacturers
for in increased interest of the public in period
models and the ability to differentiate between
one and the other. And the dealers and sales-
men in the music trade are in consequence
familiar with the peculiarities of the various
periods and are more effectivelv equipped to
meet customers possessed of the knowledge
of period types and to instruct those who are
not versed in the beautiful forms.
Those interested in radio broadcasting at-
fairs are speculating as to whether any legis-
lation is going to be passed at the present ses-
February 23, 1929
sion of Congress prolonging the life of the
Federal Radio Commission. But many of
those interested people now consider broad-
casting "a legally uncharted science" and see
a growth of dissatisfaction with present wave
allocations. All over the country are stations
dissatisfied with their wave assignments who
are looking towards the courts to change
them. From that it is seen that the Federal
Radio Commission is no longer considered the
sole arbiter of the broadcasting situation.
I he true and artistic period designs elevate
the tone of the piano, but the makeshifts for
period designs are really detrimental. The
plan to simplify production is too often sub-
servient to artistic ambition. Giving a piano
the mere semblance to a period model is fall-
ing short of a purpose. l'iano dealers mav
help the piano promotion plan by encouraging
the purchase of the artistic models put forth
by the ambitious piano manufacturers.
LATE TRADE NEWS
FROM MINNEAPOLIS
Foster & Waldo Vigorously Featuring Chick-
ering Piano in Able Series of Adver-
tisements—Other News.
The Hausncr Music Store in Minneapolis. Minn.,
was robbed of about $20 in cash from the cash regis-
ter while the store Was in darkness for a few minutes.
Albert Hausncr, son of the proprietor, was alone on
duly at the time. He took a man and woman to the
repair department to select a small instrument part
when a motor was started, blowing out a light fuse.
The three then made their way to the front of the
store and arrived just as K. H. White, store manager
entered. He got tile lights turned on, and discovered
that the till h^cKbeen looted.
The Foster it Waldo Piano Company of Minne-
apolis, Minn., is featuring its line of Chickering pianos
in a series of advertisements in the city's dailies.
These delicate advertisements, rather than featuring a
special low price sale, convey an idea of the Chicker-
ing's tone-free principle, its manufacture by a master
of piano-making and its long history. These adver-
t : sements are meant for instructing the public of the
merits of the p'ano and are creating enough interest
to warrant their further exploitation.
TED E. PERKINS TRAVELS.
Ted W. Perkins, popular Wurlitzer Grand Piano
Co.'s traveling man, is leaving on a tr ; p through Ken-
tucky and Missouri, which will be Mr. Perkins" first
trip through this territory for the Wurlitzer company.
PIANO CLASSES FOR CHILDREN
The accompanying cut shows the class in piano
being put on at the Norwegian Lutheran Children's
Home at Edison Park, 111. A Gulbranseu piano used
is seen in the background. The admirable feature of
musical education in the home may be credited to
A. G. Gulbransen, president of the Gulbransen Com-
pany, Chicago, to which we are indebted for the cut.
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 2.1, W2<)
E. C. HILL TO MANAGE
AMPICO HALL, MILWAUKEE
Chicago Piano Man Will Assume New Duties
March 1, with Competent Force in
Beautiful New Salon.
F. C Hill will take charge of the beautiful new
Ampico Hall. .Milwaukee. Wis., which will be opened
March 1, at 445 Broadway. Mr. Hill, who has had
long and varied experience in the piano field and who
is at present a member of the Chicago Ampico force,
is looking forward to the opening of the store as a
big event in the fact that it will be one of the most
elaborate salons in Milwaukee and will be another
progressive step in the piano circle of that city.
As to the future business of the new Ampico
Hall, Mr. Hill is most optimistic. His assistants
will be competent and the prestige of the Ampico
is pronounced in the Wisconsin city.
R. A. BURKE RETURNS
FROM SUCCESSFUL TRIP
Popular Stcry & Clark Wholesale Manager
Visits Eighteen States in Five Weeks'
Tour of the Trade.
K. A Burke, general wholesale manager of the
Story & Clark Piano Co., 173 North Michigan avenue,
Chicago, returned last week from a road trip which
was one of the most extensive ever taken by Mr.
Burke in the United States. Leaving Chicago more
than live weeks ago, Mr. Burke visited the principal
cities and dealers in the states of Minnesota, North
Dakota, Montana, Idaho. Washington, Oregon, Utah,
Nevada, Arizona, Colorado, New Mexico, Texas,
Oklahoma, Kansas. Nebraska and Iowa.
Close analysis of the existing conditions in this
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
vast territory showed the piano business fair in the
states east of the Rocky Mountains, good in Idaho
and Utah and exceptionally good in the Northwest,
Mr. Burke reports. "The worst handicap of dealers
in North Dakota and Montana has been the ex-
tremely cold weather. It was 50 below zero at
Rutte. Mont., and 47 below at Grand Forks, N. D.,
during my visit to these points. However, in spite
of the weather, the trade is in good shape. The gen-
erous orders I received prove that dealers are on
their toes and going after business. The Story &
Clark small grands and uprights were in demand by
a majority of dealers."
In reviewing his trip Mr. Rurke expressed his sat-
isfaction of the results obtained. He also expressed
his appreciation of the nice way dealers received him
wherever he called.
PEERLESS ON THE AIR
In the series of radio broadcasts being presented
under the auspices of the Radio Manufacturers' Asso-
ciation, the third RMA program will be contributed
by the Peerless Reproducers, through the courtesy of
the United Reproducers Corporation of Rochester,
New York, and St. Charles. 111., an RMA member, at
1:30 p. m.. Sunday, February 24, over a chain of 40
stations of the National Broadcasting Company headed
by W F A F . The Pacific Coast chain of the National
Broadcasting Company also will carry this program.
A special program by the New York Philharmonic
Orchestra of 21 pieces is to be the major feature of
the RMA program contributed by Peerless Reproduc-
ers. Two officials of the United Reproducers Cor-
poration, A. T. Haugh of Rochester, and Jess Hawley
of St. Charles, 111., are on the RMA Board of Direc-
tors, and Mr. Haugh is the past president of the RMA.
AXEL CHRISTENSEN MOVES.
Axel Christensen has moved his Chicago School ot
Music to the Kimball Building where he occupies a
large space on the seventh floor. A Kimball grand
piano and seven Kimball uprights were installed in
the new quarters this week.
PROGRESSIVE FT. WORTH DEALER
TRADE IS ACTIVE
IN PHILADELPHIA
Dealers Generally Pleased at the Satisfactory
Etent of Piano Sales and All Say the
Possibilities of the New Season
Are Excellent.
Trade is certainly coming back in Philadelphia for
the better grades of pianos as well as for other musi-
cal instruments.
Just an instance of high-grade work came to my
notice on Monday afternoon of this week -when I
stepped into the store of B. B. Todd, Mathushek
dealer at 1306 Arch street, where a Mathushek Coli-
bri Grand had been sold one hour before my arrival.
Mr. Todd's store handles the Mathushek and the
Jacob Bros, pianos, and the Kolster, Zenith, Majesf'c
and Atwater Kent radios.
"The worst of the piano depression period is over."
said Mr. Todd to the Presto-Times caller. "From
now- on piano business will be steady and sure. And
the better grades will have the call."
P. J. Cunningham Says Trade Improves.
Like Mr. Todd, P. J. Cunningham, president of
the Cunningham Piano Company, 1312 Chestnut
street, Philadelphia, believes the turn for the better
noticed since the first of February has come to stay.
Both of these men bel'eve that radio from now on
will greatly help the piano business. And a third
man who expressed himself likewise, was Ed. Trefz,
the manufacturer, 1305-9 North 27th street, Philadel-
phia, upon whom I called on Monday afternoon of
this week.
Ludwig Philadelphia Activities.
The Ludwig Piano Company's Philadelphia store
at 1103 Chestnut street, presents busy scenes this
week. Benjamin F. Busch. one of the salesmen here,
is a veteran in the piano business. His father was a
second cousin of Adolphus Busch of Anheuser-
Busch fame, but he does not trace any relationship to
William Lincoln Bush of Chicago. J. J. Ryan, man
ager of the store, was busy and could not be seen.
The Ludwig card shows that pianos of this make
received highest honors at expositions in Philadelphia
in 1899; Paris, 1900; Buffalo. 1901; London. 1902.
Steinways Go Well in Philadelphia.
Your reporter had a chat with Manager Yon Bcr-
nuth and with J. C. Povey at the Steinway piano
store in N. Stetson & Co.'s. 1111 Chestnut street.
Philadelphia, this week. Mr. Povey has been with
this firm for more than twenty years. The business is
going pretty well, especially since the beginning of
February. Mr. von Bernuth says. "Why not? Phil-
adelph : a always has plenty of money."
In the Small Goods Line.
Herbert W. Weymann is busy at Weymann & Son's
store, 1108 Chestnut street, Philadelphia "We man-
ufacture banjos, mandolins, guitars and ukueleles."
said Mr. Weymann to Presto-T'mes representative.
"Trade could be more active." The Weymanns have
a Kimball piano agency.
WURLITZER PLANT ADDITION
Farny R. Wurlitzer, president of the Rudolph Wur-
litzer Manufacturing Company. North Tonawanda,
N. Y., has announced that his company will imme-
diately begin the erection of a one-story addition to
the local plant, 120 feet wide and 525 feet long. This
new building when completed, and also some addi-
tional floor space in the present plant will be leased
to the All-American Mohawk Corporation, to be used
in the manufacture of radio cabinets for the All-
America n Mohawk Company. Work on the new
plant will begin at once and rushed to completion.
Mr. Wurlitzer said, and will be completed early in
May. and that by the end of the summer the pro-
duction will be up to a basis of 1,000 cabinets a day.
The Wurlitzer Company estimate that it will be neces-
sary to have 500 additional employes for this produc-
tion. The contract for the new building has been
awarded to the L. A. Harding Construction of Buf-
falo, N. Y.
LARGE ORDER FROM WEST INDIES
The success of the T. C. Jones Piano Co. of Ft.
Worth, Tex., in building up its business, results in
the necessity for greater space for exhibiting the
goods. The necessity was the reason for the third
move in a few short years. The pictures of the
interior and exterior of this wareroom herewith
shown will prove of interest. Attention is drawn to
the Gulbransen electric sign and the Gulbransen Baby
cut-out in the window in the upper picture, and the
Gulbransen Grand which occupies the prominent dis-
play place in the interior of the store, as shown in
the lower picture.
The export business of the Story & Clark Piano
Co., 173 North Michigan avenue, Chicago, has made
>teady increases year after year. Many active dealers
South America. Mexico and the West Indies
have placed large orders and recently a large order
taken by R. A. Burke, wholesale manager of the corn-
pany, from a progressive West Indies music mer-
chant, caused much enthusiasm at Story & Clark
headquarters.
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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