May 15, 1929
P R E S T O-T I M E S
ISSUED THE FIRST AND THIRD
SATURDAY IN EACH
MONTH
F R A N K D. A B B O T T - - - - - - - - - -
(C. A . D A N I ELL—1904-1927.)
J. F E R G U S O ' R Y A N
- - - - -
Managing
The American Music Trade Journal
Editor
Editor
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ers or dealers such items will appear the issue following.
CHICAGO, MAY 15, 1929
THE WALDORF PASSES
The passing of the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel at Fifth avenue and
34th street, New York, brings many twinges of regret to many of
the older piano men who were familiar with its hospitality, its fine
cuisine, its glamor and its gallantry. Piano men for generations
past had made it their New York headquarters, some piano conven-
tions had been held there, and it was there that the weary traveler
had lain down to rest. It was in that old hostelry that many a big
deal in pianos had been closed; it was there that piano men had
married and some, perhaps, had died in the great building. The
merry dance and great feasts have gone the way of all history, so
now thev are alive only in the chambers of memory.
BETTER BUSINESS AHEAD
Better piano business, which started in California earlier in the
season, seems to have spread southeastward into Texas and Okla-
homa, according to reports given out by traveling piano salesmen.
"Westward the star of empire takes its way," is a reversed maxim
in this development.
And what could be more natural than that the Far West and
the Far South should be now approaching an era of wealth, culture
and power? The old South, the slave-holding states, recovered
slowly under a changed system of producing and marketing, while
the vast country beyond the Rockies was so remote from the great
financial centers, by both land and the old water routes before the
Panama Canal was constructed, that it ran its race for power and
for recognition under this handicap.
A different set of ideas govern a financial center, from the gov-
erning principle of developing vast areas in cattle-raising, railroad
building, exploring for minerals and the starting of mines, agri-
culture or lumbering. But these opposite ideas have a strong attrac-
tion for each other, as the one cannot do without the other, and when
brought together produce most wonderful results. The child of
AN ARTISTIC FAMILY.
J. C. Henderson, eastern wholesale representative
of Wurlitzer's, New York, can look with justifiable
pride on the accomplishments of his children, all pos-
sessing artistic, tendencies.
His eldest son, James, is noted as cartoonist for
the Providence Journal. His daughter, a harpist,
studied in Rome; and is now studying in New York
under Marcel Grandjany of Paris. Another son
George, a skillful draughtsman, is an architectural
student at Columbia University. Garry, chief trum-
peter of the 58th field artillery during the war and
an accomplished performer on that instrument, is
now studying sculpture, in which art he is said to
show equal proficiency.
SETTERGREN CO. PAYS DIVIDEND.
The B. K. Settergren Company has mailed to stock-
holders the semi-annual dividend for the second stock-
dividend for 1928. The Settergren Company, Bluff-
ton, Ind., manufacturers of baby grand pianos, had
a nice business in 1928 and has continued steady
operations during the current year.
VICTOR SYMPHONIC CONTEST NEARS END.
As the $25,000 contest of the Victor Talking Ma-
chine Company for the best unpublished symphonic
work by an American composer draws to a close, the
distinguished musicians composing the board of judges
who will award the prize are delighted by the wide-
finance and vast territory has now reached maturity with an entirely
new set of ambitions, regardless of what the older generation of
men and women may wish, or say or do.
And to watch it exercise power, to watch it at play and at work,
is a fascinating experience. It believes in radio; it insists on the
best and costliest pianos and other musical instruments. That piano
man is blind to his chances who does not see these things and take
advantage of them.
In short, there never was a better time to sell good pianos there,
or anywhere else in the United States, than now. Presto-Times will
go farther and say there never was an opportunity that offered half
the advantages of the present selling chances.
RADIO CULTIVATES THE MUSICAL EAR
Radio is dispelling the uncertainty existing in the average Amer-
ican mind as to what constitutes good or even passable music.
The general use of radio as a means of transmitting music is
a very rapid and effective means of cultivating the musical ear. Until
broadcasting got into full swing the diet of the American public was
limited to the rendition of the latest hits from Tin-Pan Alley, played,
for the most part, in a rather amateurish fashion. Appreciation of
the classics was limited to that small circle which patronizes the
Sunday afternoon concert. But today, in every home, the enjoyment
of the masterly interpretation of Bach, Chopin, Rimsky, Korsakov and
them all, can be participated in by every American household.
For this opportunity, we are indebted in a large measure to the
Baldwin Piano Co. for their "At the Baldwin" hour, to the activities
of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, and to the others
who are helping in this great work of developing the cultural side
of our people.
Unless the ear of the prospect has been cultivated, it is difficult
to interest him in a piano; but now all preliminaries may be stepped
over in one stride, and the salesman may proceed at once to talk
of the instrument and the terms of sale and payment.
spread interest which the competition has arou-sed.
Manuscripts to be considered must be received by
May 28, 1929. Only American citizens are eligible to
compete, the verdict of the judges to be announced
at a dinner to be given by the officials of the Victor
Talking Machine Company in New York on October
3 next.
BAND CONTEST IN 1930
The Committee on Instrumental Affairs of the Mu-
sic Supervisors' National Conference met April 13 to
adopt plans affecting contests to be held in 1930. For
the most part these plans concerned the standardiza-
tion of instrumentation for bands, and involved prob-
lems whose solution required the cooperation of the
publishers. Publishers present were: Charles J.
Roberts and Gustave Saenger, of Carl Fischer, Inc.,
of New York; R. Bannier, of Irving Berlin Standard
Music Corporation, New York; Clifford Page and
William Arms Fischer, of Oliver Ditson Co.
HELPFUL SUMMER PIANO OFFER.
The music teachers of Chicago are alert to the
opportunity offered them by The Baldwin Piano Com-
pany to obtain the use of used pianos for pupils
whose parents cannot afford to buy a piano at this
time, and for which the company makes only a nom-
inal rental charge and the delivery charge. The Bald-
win Company assures full cooperation with the teach-
ers and their pupils in availing themselves of this
offer which is good for two summer months.
GERMAN PIANO SALES DROP.
Growing popularity of radio sets and phonographs
all over the world is having a disastrous effect upon
the sales of pianos, German Commerce Reports show.
Production amounted to about 135,000 pianos yearly
before the World War as compared with 80,000 at
present. Sales have declined at about the same rate
in both domestic and foreign markets, about 50 per
cent of the piano output being shipped abroad. In
1928, 34,351 pianos were exported to foreign markets
as compared with 40,100 in 1927 and 76,400 in 1913.
There are between 250 and 300 manufacturers of
pianos in Germany, of whom sixty are of importance
and control 70 per cent of the production. Larger
firms are planning to merge in order more effectively
to manufacture and market their products.
GLOBE PIANO CO. RUNS CONTEST
By conducting a prize puzzle contest lasting sev-
eral weeks, the Globe Piano Co., Flint, Michigan,
aroused community interest in its services. Interest
became so keen that several hundred turned out for
the drawing of prizes. The first prize was a piano;
the second, a phonograph.
REPAIRMAN CONCERT ARTIST
Giulio di Capua, who appeared in song recital May
5th, at the Studebaker Theater, Chicago, has been em-
ployed for the last 4 years in the piano repair divi-
sion of Lyon & Healy's. He studied music during his
leisure.
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