THE NEW YORK
PUBLIC LIBRARY
0 « LENOX
FOUNDATIONS
MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1884
Established
1881
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL
10 C«nta a
I Tear
Copy
$1.25
10 Months... $1.00
6 Months. .75 cent*
CHICAGO, ILL., JULY 1, 1929
INTERESTING ITEMS
FROM NEW YORK
City and. State News and Comments by
: Manufacturers and Dealers Upon Their
Activities, Views and Topical Analyses
]
of the Whole Situation.
= Fanatical men did not govern the piano" meetings.
The convention leaders were not dazed by what they
see of-radio success, nor unable to conceive its-mean-
ing. Rather they see in radio the greatest help" the
piano has ever had. They realize that men possibly
could have made a better musical instruniehf than the
piano, but that they never did/and all true piano men
believe that more improvements upon the instrument
are still on the way. These leaders, who come from
all over the country, are men who love to come for-
ward in a moment of danger, just as the trade press
does.
'
' " • • • ' . .
E. J. Radle's Vufcws.
E. J. Radle, president and treasurer of F. Radle,
Inc.. 609-611 West 36th street, New York, keeps busy
producing and selling fine pianoSC A recent visit to
his busy headquarters disclosed the fact. Mr. Radle
has positive views about the too^small piano. "In
building it the only saving in size from a real-tone
piano, is seven inches in the height, the length of each
being the same." He is chuck full of good "ideas on
this ^subject.
Another matter of observation that he holds to
pretty strongly is the fixity of the blame for not get-
ting the most out of territory. These reasons are
patent to Mr. Radle. Shiftless dealers will probably
always be with us, but Mr. Radle is not wasting any
love on them. He believes that good house-to-house
canvassers are hard to get and when you get one
hang on to him and pay him handsomely. The laziest
dealers, he says, are not men who have farms or are
in other side lines near their town, but men who are
doing nothing else except the piano business. He
respects the man who has enterprise enough to en-
gage in a side line to help out.
Miller Busy Selling Tonks.
E. Miller is one of the busiest of the piano sales-
men at William Tonk & Bro., Inc., 456 Tenth avenue,
between 35th and 36th streets. New York. "We are
making a good many sales," said Mr. Miller to Presto-
Times representative recently, "but it requires lots
of hustling to find the customers." Edwin G. Tonk,
the active manager of the business, spends his week
ends in his beautiful new bungalow at Long Beach,
Long Island.
The Welte Mignon Corporation, New York, now
bids fair to have a continued existence in the organ
department, fortified by ample outside capital. This
information Presto-Times man gleaned by making a
callon W. S Schwabacher in his office, Suite 910, No.
115 Broadway, recently. He said: "We are fig-
uring on such a reorganization of the finances to be
applied to refinance the organ department."
This will be good news to the other stockholders,
coming as it does from the receiver of the corpora-
tion, who has been ably managing the business, with
the aid of the officers of the embarrassed company.
Treasurer Webster had said to this correspondent at
the time when the company suffered a set-back in its
finances, that this was only a temporary embarrass-
ment." He and the others associated with him will
now be delighted at the prospect of going on with
the end of the business that has been paying them the
best. Mr. Schwabacher has seen to it that all old
orders for organs have been promptly filled, and this
has kept the factory running.
Good Trade at Sorino & Sons.
"We are glad to report a comeback in the piano
trade," said Ben M. Sorino, head of Sorino & Sons, 38
East Ninth street, New York. "Our orders have
been coming in very actively and in steadily increas-
ing numbers since the first of April, and this is giving
our hustlers great encouragement. There is nothing
to fear about the future of the piano business.
Mr. Sorino is an interesting man to interview. In-
telligent and active, in giving his views he is the type
of man who will go far in the piano industry. His
faith in his own line is refreshing. Mr. Sorino is
alert, progressive, not a moment wasted, and giving
the customers full service.
Damrosch Quits.
After forty-four years on New York concert plat-
forms Walter Damrosch has retired as guest con-
ductor of the Philharmonic Symphony Orchestra. Mr.
Damrosch, who is 67 years old, will devote his atten-
tion to other duties, especially in connection with the
radio.
How to Sell Pianos and Radio.
J. H. Shale, president of the A. B. Chase-Emerson
Corporation, 11 West 42nd street, New York, holds
to a splendid idea about keeping the piano business
separate from the radio. He cites the success of
Ben Platt of Los Angeles, to prove hoW fine this
plan works. He says Mr. Platt assured him that he
is sticking to the piano business. But Mr. Platt does
not allow his piano salesmen to sell any radio. He
does allow his radio salesmen to sell pianos. Mr.
Platt adopted this policy perhaps as long ago as two
years. He has made money at the piano business
by following out the plan strictly, and Mr. Shale
believes Mr. Platt is on the right track. The aver-
age salesman naturally follows the line of least resist-
ance. If he is sent out to sell pianos and radio, or
pianos or radio, he is very apt to sell radio every
time. It is a matter of psychology. The radio is
supposed to be more novel, more mysterious, and it
generally sells for less than even the ordinary upright
piano. It then becomes easier for the salesman, who
gets access to a residence, to talk radio to the family.
Mr. Platt has made his fortune in the piano busi-
ness and he does not feel like going back on it. He
sells lots of radios, too. While he doesn't miss any
of the radio sales that his men could have made, he
upholds the piano business thoroughly in his territory.
Mr. Shale and Mr. Platt are both leaders, not only
in doing business in the musical instrument line, but
also in thought.
FINE PIANOS USED IN
DALLAS INSTITUTIONS
Clubs, Churches, Schools, Theaters, Hotels and
Town Hall Have Watkin's Instruments.
Below is a portion of the impressive list of well-
known Dallas institutions that use pianos sold only
by the Will A.' Watkin Co., 1207 Elm street, Dallas,
Texas. No piano purchaser could do better than
follow the lead of these acknowledged judges of
quality and value.
The Mason & Hamlin is found at: Dallas
Woman's Club, the University Club, New Bell Tele-
phone Bldg., Stoneleigh Court, Cliff Temple Baptist
Church, the Hockaday School.
The Marshall and Wendell at: First Presbyterian
Church, Highland Park Presbyterian Church, East
Dallas Baptist Church.
The Knabe at: City Club,, Columbian Club,
Baker Hotel, Palace Theater and all Publix Shows,
Melba Theater.
The Chickering at: Southern Methodist Univers-
ity, Highland Park Town Hall, Majestic Theater.
E. LEINS CO.'S NEW PLACE,
The E. Leins Piano Company, formerly for many
years at 304' West 42nd street, New York, now has
its factory and offices at 520 West 48th street, New
York. This company is continuing the manufacture
of players, uprights and grands and is conducting an
up-to-date piano hospital and soliciting all kinds of
difficult repairs.
CAMP HAD MARITAL CAREER.
In the Thirty-five Years Ago column of last issue
in this issue of Presto-Times appears a notice of the
first marriage of William C. (Billy) Camp, in June,
1894.
In Wednesday morning's Chicago Tribune,
this week, appears a picture of Mr. Camp and his
fourth wife, Mrs. Mabel Patricia Camp, who seeks
divorce.
Issued Semi-Monthly
First and Third Saturdays
FINE ARTS COMMITTEE
MEMBERS NOW NAMED
United States Piano Men Prominent and Re-
liable Chosen to Work with Chairman
F. P. Stieff.
During the past year Frederick P. Stieff, of Balti-
more, Md., has been inquiring from many sources as
to the benefits which could be derived from national
government support of the fine arts. He thinks that
a Department of Fine Arts at this time is hardly to
be hoped for, and yet he asks, ''Why should Ameri-
can musical talent be less favored by their govern-
ment than that of France, Germany, Italy, Mexico
and other nations of supposed less aesthetic opportu-
nities? Are we less able financialy, less equipped
mentally to foster and develop our own musical gen-
ius ?"
Mr. Stieff recommends and sincerely urges that
government support of the Fine Arts be obtained,
declaring his belief that this can do more for music
and for the music industry in this country than any
other achievement within the ability of the American
citizen. The matter was presented at the convention
in Chicago last week and the following music men
named as the members of the Fine Arts Committee:
Louisiana—Parham Werlein. president Philip Wer-
lein, Ltd., New Orleans, La.
Ohio—Otto B. Heaton, Heaton's Music Store, Col-
umbus, Ohio.
California—Edward A. deissler, vice-president,
Rirkel Music Company. Los Angeles, Calif.
Michigan—Frank J. Bayley. Bayley Music House,
Detroit, Mich.
Illinois—Henry E. Weisert, vice-president Lyon
& Healy, Inc., Chicago, 111.
Texas—Robert N. Watkin, secretary the Will A.
Watkin Co., Dallas, Texas.
Missouri—P. E. Conroy, Conroy Piano Company,
St. Louis, Mo.
Indiana—Fred Gennett, secretary Starr Piano Com-
pany. Richmond, Ind.
Wisconsin—Edmund Gram, Edmund Gram, Inc.,
Milwaukee, Wis.
Florida—S. Ernest Philpitt, S. Ernest Philpitt &
Sons. Miami, Florida.
Virginia—Ben Sykes, Lee Piano Co., Lynchburg.
Arkansas—Colonel F. B. T. Hollenberg, Hollen-
berg Music Company, Little Rock, Arkansas.
Alabama—E. E. Forbes, E. E. Forbes & Sons
Piano Company, Birmingham, Alabama.
Arizona—Gene Redewill, Redewill Music Com-
pany, Phoenix, Arizona.
Connecticut—Alvin P. McCoy, president McCoy's,
Inc., Hartford, Conn.
Delaware—Ralph L. Salter, Salter's Music Shoppe,
Wilmington, Del.
Georgia—H. T. Phillips, president Phillips & Crew,
Atlanta, Ga.
Idaho—Aubrey Andelin, president Andelin Music
Company, Idaho Falls, Idaho.
Kansas—J. A. Campbell, manager Innes-Cosgrove
Music Company, W r ichita, Kans.
Maine—Frank C. Allen, treasurer Cressey & Allen,
Portland, Me.
Massachusetts—Alexander Steinert, M. Steinert &
Sons Company, Boston, Mass.
Mississippi—J. B. Gressett, secretary and treasurer
The A. Gressett Music House, Meridian, Miss.
Montana—R. J. Barber, president Barber Music
House. Great Falls, Montana.
Nebraska—William Zitzmann, president A. Hospe
Company. Omaha, Nebraska.
New Hampshire—E. J. Mclntire, Piper-Mclntire
Company, Manchester, N. H.
North Dakota—J. A. Poppler, president Poppler
Piano Company, Grand Forks, N. D.
North Carolina—C. S. Andrews, Charlotte, N. C.
Oklahoma—L. A. Chenoweth, Chenoweth & Green
Music Co., Enid, Okla.
Rhode Island—Andrew Meiklejohn. president The
Meiklejohn Company, Providence, Rhode Island.
South Carolina—Rudolph Siegling, Siegling Music
House, Charleston, S. C.
South Dakota—George H. Costain, Costain Music
Store, Huron, S. D
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/