Presto

Issue: 1929 2229

June IS, 1929
P R £ S T 0-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. DAN I ELL—1904-1927.)
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
Publishers
417 So. Dearborn St.
Chicago, III.
The American Music Trade Journal
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 th«4
Post Office, Chicago, 111., under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $1.25 a year; 10 months, $1.00; 6 months,
75c; foreign, $3.00. 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.
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quested that their subjects and senders be carefully indi-
cated.
Forms close at noon on Thursday preceding date of
publication. Latest news matter and telegraphic com-
munications should be in not later than 11 o'clock on
that day. Advertising copy should be in hand before
Tuesday, 5 p. m., before publication day to insure pre-
ferred position. Full page display copy should be in hand
by Tuesday noon preceding publication day. Want ad-
vertisements for current week, to insure classifications
should be in by Wednesday noon.
Address all communications for the editorial or businesa
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street. Chicago, III.
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press at 11 a. m.
Thursday preceding publication day. Any news trans-
piring after that hour cannot be expected in the current
issue. Nothing received at the office that is not strictly
news of importance can have attention after 9 a. m. of
Thursday. If they concern the interests of manufactur-
ers or dealers such items will appear the issue following.
CHICAGO, JUNE 15, 1929
QUALITIES OF LEADERSHIP
The men who led in the work of the recent music men's con-
ventions in Chicago, gave their time, their money and their efforts
for the benefit of the entire trade. They bestowed as a gratuity and
ungrudgingly their talents in constructive planning for the good of
Tom, Dick and Harry after the manner of the Lord sending His
showers of rain to water the crops of the just and the unjust.
Will Mr. Tom, Mr. Dick and Mr. Harry now have the decency
to acknowledge their great debt to these workers who have taken
the lead in rescuing the perishing, in initiating right-about-face
methods of approaching and handling the public, in taking the lead
in the housecleaning that had become a necessity?
These teachers did not preach. Rather, they went about their
work under the principle that "men must be taught as if you taught
them not, and things unknown proposed as things forgot." They
spoke plain. Handled the present situation in the piano trade without
gloves. Reported truthfully that the present trend is constantly
toward more sales of good, well-made pianos and yet not near what
it ought to be or can be made.
In all they did, they showed qualities of leadership, coupled with
modesty which is the usual accompaniment of real ability. Not all
who remained at home or aloof from the work of the conventions
were slackers; in fact, very few were of the ilk that would even think
of sponging personal advantage at the expense of their broader-
minded and more public-spirited brothers. However, Presto-Times
takes off its hat to the men who took the lead in the recent conven-
tion and "put across" the better principles of advertising, of leading
the young into piano performance and of training young men how to
sell instruments, as well as to those who planned and executed its
most instructive and entertaining programmes.
IT WAS A GRAND CONVENTION
Differing in glory from all previous conventions, entertainments,
dinners and social activities, the programmes at Chicago last week
at the greatest assemblages of music men and women the world has
ever seen, presented a new galaxy of stars whose brightness added
luster to the famous hospitality of Chicago. This success was not
mere "happenstance," but the result of weeks of careful planning
and insistence on having the very best of talent, the best of food,
the best service, the most artistic displays, the finest music and the
most genial welcoming that any great metropolis has ever given.
The individuals who planned all this and carried it out so gracefully
and engagingly are leaders in music and the music industries. To
officers and leaders in the Piano Club of Chicago and the Chicago
Piano & Organ Association went much of the work of initiation and
execution, ably backed by assistance from all those from other cities
who took part in the programmes.
PREFER BETTER-CLASS MUSIC.
Thousands of letters in appreciation of the Edison
radio broadcasts have been received by Thomas A.
Edison, Inc., West Orange, N. J. These letters come
not only from every section of this country, but from
foreign countries as well and are of especial signifi-
cance, because they indicate a marked preference
for better-class music. Thomas A. Edison, Inc., to-
gether with other interests identified with the phono-
graph, has undoubtedly done more than any other
medium to get people to appreciate good music, and
it is fitting that quality radio entertainment should
now be vested more and more with such interests.
CONVENTION A GREAT SCHOOL
The men who attended the recent conventions in Chicago—piano,
radio and what not—are now scattered far and wide, perhaps con-
sidering how far they have gone and the charred bridges they have
left behind them. A w r eek's preoccupation with association matters
has brought them in contact with men who could direct five railroads
from a wheel-chair, and who would not hesitate to make the sacrifices
that such an ambition would entail, has shown them the nobility of
men who have been directing incalculable labors to prevent the slips
of tradesmen and the subtle omissions of lawyers, has caused them to
meet men with an innate capacity for business affairs. The conven-
tions have been a great school and its pupils have been apt learners.
THE CONVENTION EXHIBITS
Among the piano exhibits at the convention in the Drake Hotel,
Chicago, last week, there were several instances of a unique instru-
ment, differentiating it from all others, and every one of these merited
in a full degree this distinction. The groups that gathered around
the pianos of such individuality were groups that represented "one
for all and all for one." These groups chatted pleasantly about im-
provements in construction and all seemed much indebted to those in
attendance for their hospitality and conversation.
SECONDARY EDUCATION
Although hinted at by several of the speakers at the Chicago
conventions, the unique character of American secondary education
was not elaborated upon. It requires the freedom of bigness in the
first place to make a nation or a section broadminded. Breadth of
mind brings freedom of action and the inventions of a free people
are more likely to be pianos or radio than mousetraps or face powder.
The secondary education of the people of the United States has made
of them a nation distinct, and whether European peoples look upon
them as geniuses or boobs, they certainly recover rapidly from dis-
aster and branch out in new and startlingly successful ways that
even astonish their fellow citizens of their own class of advancement.
Even while talking blue the American may be planning a new method
of achieving success.
YEAST OF THE CONVENTION
The yeast in the recent convention was furnished by a few of
the most active men in the trade, and to them the trade now owes its
thanks for furnishing the preparation for raising the "dough."
Whether these men furnished hypothetical accounts of the causes
that made for the late mistakes in the trade, incurred the rancor of
men who have the incurable habit of getting into difficulties or
pointed out new ways of carrying on, they trod the path of pioneers
in a new route of practical sagacity. At least they pointed out that
patient labor for the good of the public redounds to the financial
success of the piano dealer.
WM. BRAID WHITE TO BOSTON.
William Braid White, accoustical engineer, who is
associated with research work at the American Steel
& Wire Company, Chicago, went to Boston, Mass.,
this week to attend the convention of the Federation
of National Music Clubs. And in the fall he will
attend the National Music Teachers' Association con-
vention in Cincinnati.
SCHAAD CONCERT DIRECTOR OF N. B. C.
Thirty-one years' experience in the management of
musical stars and the staging of musical events are
taken to radio broadcasting by H. B. Schaad, for-
merly of the Aeolian Co., whose appointment as asso-
ciate managing director of the National Broadcast-
ing and Concert Bureau, New York, was announced
recently.
HENRY L. MASON RESIGNS
Eduardo Marzo, music teacher, composer and or-
Henry L. Mason resigned from the presidency of
ganist, aged 77 years, died on June 7 at his home in the Mason & Hamlin Co., his resignation becoming
the Bronx, New York.
effective June 1, 1929.
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/
June IS, 1929
THIRTY=FIVE YEARS AGO
From The PRESTO, June 7, 1894.
Mr. Frank D. Abbott, of this paper, who sailed
this morning on the steamer "Normania," of the
Hamburg-American Line, for Hamburg, may be ad-
dressed for personal communications by mails leaving
this country up to June 25th, to Sarstedt, near Han-
over, Germany; for mails up to July 1, Hotel du
Nord, Dresden; up to July 6, care Herrburger-
Schwander & Son, 16 Rue d'Evangile, Paris, and to
July 15, care First Avenue Hotel, Holborn Bars,
London. Letters will be forwarded from these points
to him at Vienna, St. Petersburg, and other cities
on the continent of Europe.
A plan is on foot to start a piano and organ fac-
tory in Salt Lake City. A Mr. E. H. Jenkins is
interested.
The new styles of pianos produced from time to
time by the Starr Piano Co. will be designated by
the letters spelling the name "Lumsden," the hon-
ored president of the company.
O. Sundstrom, of the Aeolian Company, New
York, has been in San Francisco for two weeks
working up an interest in the instrument he rep-
resents. Kohler & Chase have secured the Pacific
Coast agency and they give daily matinees on the
Aeolian at their warerooms.
The fine residence of Mr. H. D. Cable, president
of the Chicago Cottage Organ Co., at Evanston,
111., is the subject of an extended notice in the
"Scientific American" Architect and Builders' Edi-
tion for June.
The last of the goods have been shipped from
the Anderson factory in Rockford to their present
location in Minneapolis, and the Anderson piano
henceforth will be a Minneapolis product. Mr. John
Anderson left Rockford a week ago to take up his
residence in the "Flour City."
Arrangements are being made by the Western Cot-
tage Organ Co., of Ottawa, 111., to manufacture
pianos. A competent superintendent has been en-
gaged and is now purchasing stock and as soon as
possible the instruments will be on the market.
The Ann Arbor Organ Co. have put into con-
venient book form the "Suggestions for Salesmen,"
published in The Presto March 22. While particularly
addressed to representatives of the Ann Arbor Organ
Co. there are many pertinent points that can be used
with advantage by representatives of other firms.
Mr. Lew H. Clement, the secretary of that company,
is a man fertile in ideas, and he has put some of
them in good shape in this book for the use of sales-
men
George D. Cole, of Muncie, Ind., who recently sold
his stock to Dennis & Dieterling of that city, has re-
entered the trade with a full line of Kimball goods.
There was a sheriff's sale on Thursday last at the
Behning & Sons plant, 157 East One Hundred and
Twenty-eighth street, New York, to satisfy judg-
ments confessed by the firm a week previous. These
amounted to $10,469.
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. is one of the most
extensive establishments in Cincinnati.
Rudolph
Wurlitzer, the president, Anton Wurlitzer, vice-
president, and A. C. Strobel, secretary and treasurer,
are all thorough men of business and are seconded
by a staff of assistants well grounded in the duties of
their several departments. Small wonder the busi-
ness has reached its present great proportions, with
every indication of continued increase.
The new store of Hockett Bros. & Putenney at 27
West Main street, Newark, Ohio, is meeting with
even greater success than was anticipated.
The Marquette, Mich., papers are commenting on
that marked resemblance between Mr. Louis Dede-
rick of the Manufacturers' Piano Co., and Dr. Daw-
son of Marquette. The "Journal" of that place says:
"Twins could scarcely resemble each other more
closely than do these two men to me. So much, in
fact, are they alike that they had to be very careful
when the short chat—which took place in the doc-
tor's office—was over, to see that Mr. Dederick did
not remain and Dr. Dawson go out and hustle for
piano customers."
We compliment Dr. Dawson, as we know Mr.
Dederick.
Mr. A. M. Sweetland, of Newman Bros.' Co., has
been storing up energy for a new campaign by tak-
ing a rest at a bathing resort in Michigan. He has
returned to Chicago feeling first rate and Charles
and Gus Newman are off on a fishing trip and laying
in a stock of stories for the heated term.
From The PRESTO June 14, 1894.
Mr. Nahum Stetson, of Steinway & Sons, sails for
Europe today by the steamer "Fiirst Bismarck."
Mr. Abbott, the managing editor of this paper,
extends his thanks to the many friends who made
very delightful the short stay of himself and family
in New York previous to sailing to Europe, and to
the scores who have expressed their good wishes.
C. G. Conn, the well-known band instrument maker
at Elkhart, Ind., has been in negotiation for the
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
purchase of the "Washington Times," a paper that
is run on the co-operative labor plan.
Mr. and Mrs. J. O. Twichell celebrated their
wooden wedding on Tuesday evening at their home
in the Devonshire, Wabash Avenue and 28th Street.
A large party of friends gathered to do the honors
and a very enjoyable time was had.
Mr. Harry E. Freund, of "Freund's Weekly," New
York, has been a visitor in Chicago this week.
Marriage bells will ring today for Mr. Wm.
("Billy") C. Camp, son of I. N. Camp. Miss Edith
Schuyler of this city is the bride. The PRESTO
extends congratulations.
Mr. Chas. H. Parsons, of the Needham Piano &
Organ Co., will join the American colony in Europe,
sailing from New York on Saturday next. He will
be away about a month.
We have an important item of news from the
Northwest. The Mehlin Piano Co., of Minneapolis,
has made a combination with the W. J. Dyer &
Company by which the latter becomes sole factor for
the Mehlin Piano Co. throughout the entire West.
A. A. Fisher, the Kimball fighter who awoke the
slumbering echoes in Fort Wayne and gave the deal-
ers of that city such a lively dance, has left that
city for new fields. The results of his clever adver-
tising and wide-awake methods are set forth in an
article in the Fort Wayne "Journal."
The go-ahead capital of Indiana, with its popula-
tion of some 160,000, is blessed with six first-class
piano houses. In common with other centers of
trade at this time, the dealers in the concord of sweet
sounds are feeling the depression, but unlike some
others they anticipate a speedy return of business
activity.
Mr. Louis Grunewald, Jr., representative of Jacob
Doll, has returned to New York after a successful
trip, which extended as far as the Pacific coast. He
made a number of important dealers for his house.
The contest for the $500 piano offered by the
Kimball Piano Company for the greatest number
of words made out of the sentence, "Kimball pianos
are best," was determined last night at Metzerott's
music store, in Washington, D. C, between 600 and
700 people being present.
Mr. Charles F. Tretbar of Steinway & Sons has
issued a very handsome little book, "Portraits of
Musical Celebrities," which presents a number of
well-known faces in the world of music. Among
those represented are Wagner, Liszt, Berlioz, Rubin-
stein, Gounod, Dr. Joachim Helmholtz, Theodore
Thomas, Seidl, Nikisch, Paderewski, Joseffy, Rosen-
thai, Friedheim, Busoni, Rummel, Adele Aus der
Ohe, Patti, Calve, Emma Eames-Story, Nordica,
Scalchi, Arnoldson, Jean and Edward De Reszke,
Lassalle, Vignas, Mancinelli and Alberto Jonas. Let-
ters and portions of letters from these famous artists
are quoted in which they express their warm admira-
tion for the Steinway piano.
CREDIT COMMITTEE'S WORK
A GREAT ACHIEVEMENT—SMITH
Credit Facilities of Musical Supply Associa-
tion Kept Conditions from Becoming
Far More Trying.
B. K. SETTERQREN WEDS
AND CROSSES ATLANTIC
Bluffton
Manufacturer and His Bride on
Honeymoon Trip to Sweden
and Other Places.
R. K. Settergren, president of the B. K. Settergren
Piano Company, Bluffton, Ind., is now in Sweden
on his wedding trip and visiting at his old
home. Mr. Settergren and bride sailed from New
York some two weeks ago. During Mr. Settergren's
absence the honors of the houses of Settergren and
Estey Piano Company are in the hands of W. C.
Hess and E. Newton Fox, vice-president of the Estey
Piano Company. The marriage took place on
May 31.
The bride, who was Miss Emma Klinsinger, of
Jamaica, L. I., is a charming young lady, and the
Presto-Times hereby joins the many friends of the
couple in wishing them happiness and long life.
NOTABLE WILLIS INSTALLATIONS
Willis & Company, Ltd., of Montreal, Canada, an-
nounce that they have placed a Knabe Grand and a
Checkering Grand in the rebuilt Manoir Richelieu at
Murray Bay, Province of Quebec. Until last Sep-
tember when the famous old chateau was burned
down, the Manoir Richelieu was host to thousands
of Americans. It is a significant tribute to two Amer-
ican pianos that the Knabe and the Chickering
should have been chosen to grace the luxurious music
salon in this great hotel of culture and distinction.
MANOIR RICHET.IKU 1
Among other Knabe and Chickering successes is
the exclusive piano equipment of the Canada Steam-
ship Company's fleet of vessels. The Willis Com-
pany has also secured an order for the major por-
tion of the piano equipment of the new Canadian
Pacific Railway Hotel, the Royal York, which is
being opened this month in Toronto. This, the
largest hotel in the British Empire, will use 14
pianos. This house has also equipped the principal
hotels on the Canadian Pacific Transcontinental route
and on the Canadian National lines.
In his annual report Alfred L. Smith, secretary of
the Musical Supply Association of America, said in
part:
It is certain that conditions in the industry would
have been far more trying than they have been dur-
ing the year if it had not been for the credit facili-
ties of the Association and the work of its various
committees in the reorganization and liquidation of
piano manufacturers who are in financial difficulty.
Credit Committees took over the affairs of three
manufacturers during the year. Two other Credit
Committees terminated their operations during the
year. At the present time, six manufacturers are
being operated under the jurisdiction of Credit Com-
mittees sponsored by this Association. There were
also during the year two other cases of financial
difficulty in which the Association took a part, but
in which no Credit Committees were necessary, in
one case due to a receivership, and in the other an
informal liquidation.
Mention should also be made of the United Piano
Corporation, with which your secretary served as
trustee. The affairs of the bankrupt were finally
terminated during the year, paying creditors 38.65
per cent.
The credit work of the Association has continued
to be the great accomplishment and will be reported
upon in detail by the Chairman of the Credit Com-
mittee.
Headed by Arthur Walsh, the Representative Group
of Workers Made Good Showing.
The group from Thomas A. Edison, Inc., Orange,
N. J., was headed by Arthur Walsh, vice-president
and general manager of the radio-phonograph divi-
sion of Thomas A. Edison, Inc. Other Edison exec-
utives at Chicago were: R. R. Karch, assistant to
the vice-president; Alfred Hand, advertising man-
ager; H. H. Silliman, eastern sales manager; Roy
Dunn, western sales manager; W. Hildebrand, traffic
manager; E. H. Philips, credit manager; P. J. Mc-
Gee, technical assistant to the vice-president; A. W.
Gruno, superintendent of manufacturing; C. T.
Jacobs, research executive, and E. S. Palmer, New
York sales representative.
In addition to the above, the following Edison Dis-
tributing Corporation executives were in Chicago for
the shows: J. W. A. Henderson, Minneapolis man-
ager; H. H. Curran, Kansas City manager; A. E.
Emrick, Dallas manager, and H. F. Andre, Pitts-
burgh manager. S. F. Patchin, Clrcago manager of
the Edison Distributing Corporation, generously
placed the facilities and service of his entire organi-
zation at the disposal of the visiting Edison exec-
utives.
CHICAGO SCHOOL WINS.
Nicholas Scnn High School. Clr'cago, won the
grand tropliv at the National School Band Contest in
Denver on May 23, 24 and 25, w : th Modesto High
School of Modesto, Calif., second, and Emerson High
of Gary, Ind., third.
E. A. Francis, piano dealer
drove over to Chicago to attend
convention. Mrs. Francis made
and was an interested observer
hibits.
EDISON MEN AT RADIO SHOW
MOTORS TO CONVENTION
of Galesburg, 111.,
the sessions of the
the trip with him
of the various ex-
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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