Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1929 2230

July 1, 1929
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
Tennessee—Frank Clark, president and treasurer
( lark-Jones-Sheeley Company, Knoxvilie, Tenn.
I "tali—George S. Glen, president (Hen Hros.-Rob-
erts I'iano Co.. Ogden, Utah.
Vermont—W. C. W. Marshall, Marshall Music
Company, White River Junction, Vt.
Washington—R. E. Robinson, manager Sherman,
Clay & Company, Seattle, Wash.
West Virginia—Richard A. McKee, president Mc-
Kee Music Company, Charleston, W. Va.
Wyoming—C. E. Hayden, president and treasurer
A. L. Cummings Music Company, Sheridan, Wyo.
Colorado—Charles E. Wells, president The Charles
E. Wells Music Co., Denver, Colo.
Iowa—E. G. Stacker, vice-president Stoner Piano
Company, Des Moines, Iowa.
Kentucky—J. P. Simmons, The Music Shop, Lex-
ington, Ky.
Minnesota—M. L. McGinnis, M. L. McGinnis Piano
Company, Minneapolis, Minnesota.
New Jersey—Frederic Barlow, G. A. Barlow's Son
Company, Trenton, New Jersey.
Oregon—J. J. Collins, president Collins & Erwin
I'iano Co., Portland, Oregon.
RADIO CREATES THE
DESIRE TO PLAY PIANO
PRES. F. B. BASSETT
IN HOPEFUL VIEW
Head of National Piano Manufacturers* Asso-
ciation Gives Cogent Reasons for His
Faith in the Come-Back of Piano
Trade.
"Surely everyone who attended the recent piano
convention in Chicago was impressed with the feel-
ing of optimism and confidence which pervaded the
entire convention from beginning to end," said F. P.
Bassett, president National Piano Manufacturers' As-
sociation, last week to a Presto-Times representa-
tive. "Every dealer with whom I talked seemed to
feel that now that he has 'cleaned house' and has
many new and beautiful styles to offer to the public
he is in better position to do business than for a
long time.
A Successful Dealer.
"A number of dealers reported very excellent sales
during recent months; perhaps the best report from a
dealer w r as that he had sold seventy-two instruments
Famous Broadcaster, "Bill' Hay, at City Club,
Chicago, Answers Mooted Question on the Subject.
At the City Club, Chicago, one day last week,
"Bill Hay, chief announcer of WMAQ broadcasting
station, gave a talk on general radio topics. At the
close of his remarks he invited questions and many
were propounded to him. Most of these had to do
very closely with the affairs of his profession, but
one question was, "Does the radio improve musical
taste and inspire young people to study music?" He
believed it did, and he cited" quite a number of in-
stances where families had started studying music
after having a radio in the home. He believed that
the tendency would grow stronger and, after the
novelty of listening to the radio had worn off, they
would wish to recreate what they had heard.
Another question, "If the rad!o has injured the
piano trade as a business, will it continue to be
detrimental?" Mr. Hay thought that the radio had
not hurt to any alarming extent, at least, the piano
business. He is a man who knows whereof he
speaks, as he was connected with several large manu-
facturing and retailing piano concerns for a good
many years. He said the radio was creating an
ambition in the people to want to play the selections
they heard through the radio upon their own pianos.
Mr. Hay told of his transference from the piano
trade to broadcasting some years ago. At that time at
Hastings, Neb., an announcement would be made that
"Bill" Hay would sing a song "with Mrs. Hay at the
McPhail." And now it would cause Mrs. Hay a lot
of trouble and perhaps quite a journey to find a
suitable McPhail grand to use. as that well-made
Boston instrument has rather been "lost" for a few
years past.
According to Charles Deutschmann, former presi-
dent of the National Piano Tuners' Association, the
evidence of class for a family today is the grandeui
of the automobile that can be seen standing at the
curb in front of the home. Former generations got
the reputation for class through the ownership of
fine pianos. Each generation has its distinct fads
and fancies, and Mr. Deutschmann says that the
young folks just coming to maturity now will prob-
ably take to the piano with as much zestful appre-
ciation as this generation shows for the auto. Mr.
Deutschmann does not attribute the lower piano
trade to radio but to the changed attitude of this
generation and to cut-price methods of selling prac-
ticed for many years back by a majority of the
dealers and manufacturers. He cited the J. W.
Jenkins Sons Co., of Kansas City, the Steinway &
Sons and the Gulbransen Company as examples of
one-price houses and said that if other houses had
pursued their sensible policies the trade would not
have to mourn its present "sad pass." Tuner John S.
Everett, w T ho was a member of the group when
Mr. Deutschmann expressed these views, agreed with
him in the main and said that the better grade
pianos were the only ones that would win from
now on.
WM. GRUNOW LOSES DAUGHTER.
Lois Grunow, aged 7 years, daughter of William
and Valborg Grunow, died on June 14 of the effects
of pneumonia. The offices of the Grigsby-Grunow
Radio Corp. in Chicago and both of its plants were
closed all day on June 17, the day of the funeral,
out of sympathy for the chief in his great loss.
Interment was at Forest Home Cemetery. The
Grunows have one child left, a little girl named
Valerie.
lent a n d w o r k early a n d late, a n d surely in t h e
lie w i l l b e w e l l r e p a i d .
•
'•'.*..
Outlook Very Encouraging.
" •
"From the manufacturers' • side of the question.
it appears to be far more encouraging than for a
long time, for the reason that he will not J)e com-
pelled to keep such a large sum of money invested
in inventory as had formerly been the case. Now
that pianos can be finished in lacquer in a compara-
tively short time, it will not be necessary for him to
carry the large number of cases in production which
he formerly had to have.
"All in all, the future appears very encouraging to
me, and I feel confident that when January 1 rolls
around that we will all be feeling very much better
than we have for the past few years."
GROUP CLASS METHODS
DEMONSTRATED AT SHOW
Miss Curtis, Leader in Group Instruction,
Gives Practical Demonstration of
Its Methods and Results.
Before 300 piano merchants, piano manufacturers,
public and parochial school teachers and conservatory
instructors, assembled during the recent convention
at the Drake Hotel, Miss Helen Curtis, director of
the Department of Class Piano Methods, Bush Con-
servatory, Chicago, conducted a demonstration of
first and second year group class work.
Over 100 pupils selected at random from group
classes in the grade schools and conservatories
participated. The ages of the children ranged from
4 to 15 years. So important is this school instruc-
tion regarded by Dr. Lewis J. Browne, superintend-
ent of musical instruction in the Chicago public
schools, that he secured the release of the children
from school for the afternoon.
The demonstration was conducted simultaneously
on eight pianos and eight key-charts. Groups of
children took turns at the various positions at the
p'anos and the charts. The demonstration was
marked by the spontaneity and freeness of the chil-
dren's performance, their freedom from self-con-
sciousness or embarrassment, and their remarkable
feeling for tone and dynamics.
"It is an encouraging sign for the future, of the
piano industry," said Miss Curtis when interviewed
by a Presto-Times reporter, "that both dealers and
manufacturers are real'zing that group c'.ass instruc-
tion is the solution of their problem."
The grand pianos used for this demonstration were
of the following makes: Gulbramen, Schulz, Lester,
Wurlitzer, Kingston, Brambach, Everett, Howard,
and Hazelton Bros.
CHICKERING DESIGNS
ARE VERY PLEASING
F. P. BASSETT.
THE EVIDENCE OF CLASS.
end
in four weeks. This may not be a very large num-
ber for some dealers, but this particular man was
located in a comparatively small town and surely this
shows what can be done.
"One of the most helpful things which transpired
at the convention was the resolution in the budget
of the Sales Promotion Committee of the National
Piano Manufacturers' Association to spend a far
larger sum this year in the Bureau for the Advance-
ment of Music than has ever been spent before; and
also to extend a greater amount of direct help to deal-
ers than has been formerly done.
Hold Taken by Piano Lessons.
"Another very hopeful sign for the piano mer-
chants is the hold which the teaching of the piano in
the public schools has finally taken. This is grow-
ing from day to day, and will result in sales for those
who seek them properly, of a large number of pianos.
"Of course, these sales are not going to fall into
any dealer's lap. He must have a good sales de-
INTERLOCHEN MUSIC CAMP.
The 1929 National High School Orchestra and
Band Camp got under way at Interlochen, Mich., on
Sunday, June 23. Only students of excellent char-
acter and undeniable talent are accepted -.•for the
camp. Musical director of the camp is Joseph E.
Maddy, of the University of Michigan school of
music, and its supervisor of instruction, T. P. Gid-
dings, music supervisor of the M'nneapolis public
schools. The camp will continue for eight weeks.
The major activities is an orchestra of 150, a band
of 90 and a choir of 60. By "doubling" the orchestra
will number 220, the band 150, and the choir 100. A
visit to the camp reveals a veritable city of music.
Extracts from Letters from Pennsylvania, Oklahoma,
Arkansas and Ohio Show Satisfaction.
Chickering & Sons, New York, continue to receive
letters from their dealers expressr'ng satisfaction and
delight over the instruments they have been receiv-
ing. Fallowing are a few samples:
From Ben Reynolds & Co.. Washington, Pa.:
"We received the new style Chickering Grand on
this date and we wish to congratulate you upon its
beautiful design and workmanship. It certainly lives
up to its reputation and surpasses the former Chick-
ering designs. We are pleased with it and hope to
be able to turn in some fine Chickering business in
the future."
From Stotler Music Co., Tulsa, Okla.: "Please
put me down for one of the Chickering Florentines
with the Ampico, Style 376 Walnut. The Chickering
you sent us from East Rochester is a beauty, and
you are certainly to be congratulated for turning out
such a beautiful instrument."
FVom J. D. Pope Piano Co., Searcy, Arkansas:
"The Chickering Grand came yesterday, and T am
pleased with it .in every way."
From Otto B. Heaton Co., Columbus, Ohio: "Per-
mit us to congratulate you upon the new style
Chickering, conventional model grand received a few
days ago. This piano is a little gem and should
meet with instantaneous success."
From the J. W. Greene Company, Toledo, Ohio:
"Mr. Church and I looked over the "'new Style 300
Chickering Straight Grand and we were very much
delighted with it. The case is very delightful and
especially do we like the lighter shade of mahogany—
our hopes being that the public will like them as
well as we do and that you will continue to make
them. We predict that this piano is going to be an
exceptionally'good seller.' You have our congratu-
lations."
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/
July 1, 1929
PRESTO-TIMES
THE SHEET MUSIC DEALER-SHALL HE LIVE? NAME COMMITTEES
By GEORGE H. COSTAIN of Costain Music Store, Huron, S. Dak.
FOR THE DEALERS
The ailment and the remedy in the Sheet Music
business today is not greatly different from that in
nearly every other industry. In most cases the dis-
temper is contagious, but not fatal. Quite frequently
it is merely a skin disease and sometimes a sleeping
sickness. However, we are all exposed so often that
it .takes in one form or another on most of us, and no
matter how healthy our individual business may be,
even the skin disease is terribly irritating.
Musical Stuff Overproduced.
We hear much today about over production of
crops and farm relief. Over production of food-
stuffs, is: nothing compared to the over production of
musical stuff, and manufactured products generally.
How are we going to "install" it on the customer?
The trouble with our farmer is that for centuries
he has believed the world would get hungry enough
to come and buy his produce for cash, and at a good
price. Now he finds Mr. Public can eat fish instead
of pork, "Ole" instead of butter, and Mrs. Public
can cook with cottonseed oil instead of lard. So he
is begging Congress for a few hundred millions to
help him sell the world on his product, and no
doubt he must learn that trick if our nation is to
prosper generally.
Just so. I believe, publishers, dealers, and music
teachers have all gone on the assumption that the
public would have to study and buy music. They
don't—they can buy a whole box full of staticated
jazz for $10 down and lie to all their friends about
how it came, in last night.
In a recent promotional campaign which cost us
several hundred dollars, we wrote about twenty of
our music teacher customers, explaining what the
campaign would mean to them in more pupils, and
asking for the names of parents whose children might
become their pupils should we sell them a piano.
We followed the letter- by a 'phone call. How many
names did we get? Not one. Yet every teacher
said she was interested.
To me, this is an illustration of the short-sighted-
ness "of the whole industry in the past. Unless we
dealers can get both the publishers and the teachers
to co-operate in a promotional campaign to sell the
public on the idea of "Music in the Home" it's just
going to be too bad.
Showing Publishers the Light.
W e must convince both that they cannot survive
long without us dealers. Teachers generally respond
readily to invitations to join in such promotional
work, especially when we bring to their attention
results from the work of the National Association
of Music Merchants and the Music Dealers. Some
publishers still seem like the mule that walked into
an oak tree, when Rastus was trying to sell him to
Sambo. As Rastus hastened to explain, "Dat mule
ain't blin', he jest doan giv' a dam." Many publish-
ers, however, can see, and are building up a good
business by working through the dealers.
If business could be done without dealers, the mail
order houses would not be rushing into the chain
store business today.
After more than twenty years of battling hard
enough with this problem to keep our sheet music
department showing a profit each year, I am con-
vinced that we dealers can do best by tying up with
our national organizations in their promotional work,
and cutting out the publications of those houses
which sell direct at discounts or ship music on six
months' approval. Promotional and educational work
will sell music, and the promoters will get the first
chance at the business.
"I Wanna Be Kept."
Although we have a general music store, I started
with the sheet music business and I want it to live.
I want to keep it. I'm like the little girl at the big
"Baptizing" in a river in North Carolina. As the
candidates were being dipped into the water she
began screaming "I wanna be kept," "I wanna be
kept." Nobody could imagine the trouble w T ith her
until they learned that she had a prolific old cat
which brought around a family of kittens every once
in a while, and that the little girl was allowed to
keep one of them while the rest were brought down
to this spot in the river and drowned.
So let us see to it that our sheet music business
is kept.
Resolutions, Legislative and Press Committees
Made Up of War-Horses Who Were Wisely-
Selected for the Work by President Par-
ham Werlein of N. A. of M. M.
Parham Werlein, president of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants, announces through the ex-
ecutive office the appointment of certain standing
committees for the coming year as follows:
Press Committee, C. J. Roberts, Charles M. Stieff.
Inc., Baltimore, Md., chairman; Charles H. Yahrling,
Yahrling-Rayner Music Company, Youngstown.
Ohio: Frank J. Bayley, Bayley Music House, De-
troit, Mich.; Roger O'Connor, Kranich & Bach, Chi-
cago, Illinois.
Resolutions Committee, Robert M. Wa+kin, Will
A. Watkin Company, Dallas. Tex., chairman; Otto
B. Heaton, Otto B. Heaton Company, Columbus,
Ohio: Jay Grinnell, Grinnell Brothers, Detroit, Mich.
Legislative Committee. Frederick P. Stieff, Charles
M. Stieff, Inc., Baltimore, Md., chairman; W. S.
Bond, Weaver Piano Company, York, Pa.; R. A.
McKee, McKee Music Company, Charleston, W. Va.,
and Charles R. Putnam, S. Ernest I'hilpitt & Son,
Tampa, Fla.
M. STEINERT & SONS
HOLD JOYOUS MEETING
Race Brook Country Club Near New Haven
the Scene of a Fine Diversified
Entertainment.
The Race Brook Country Club, on the outskirts
of New Haven, Conn., was the scene of a joyous
gathering of officials, executives, salespeople, and
office-attaches of M. Steinert & Sons Company on
Tuesday evening, June 11, when the New Haven
store, as the official host, entertained visitors from
the head office in Boston, and the Steinert stores in
Bridgeport, Waterbury, Worcester and Springfield.
Included in the Boston contingent were Robert S.
merchants are doing much toward developing this Steinert, President of the Company, Jerome F. Mur-
new order of things, at least, they were promoting phy, General Manager, Percy Jenks, Sales Manager,
Culture.
Arthur C. O'Leary, Traveling
Representative,
It was decided to hold next year's convention in Thomas F. Kelliher, in charge of Credits, and Rich-
San Francisco.
ard Newman, Advertising Manager.
Western Music and Radio Trades Convention
Robert Steinert, acting as toastmaster, introduced
Elects Ernest Ingold to Lead Its Activities.
the official hosts, Jerry Spilland, manager of the
New Haven store, and Rudolph Steinert, vice-presi-
The Salt Lake convention of the Western Music
dent of the company, both of whom welcomed the
and Radio Trades elected the following officers, who
visitors and invited them to consider the premises
had first been recommended by the nominations
their own. Among the speakers were Mr. Murphy,
committee: Ernest Ingold, president of Ernest Some Pertinent Words from R. E. Girton, Credit Mr. Brennan of Worcester, and Mr. Prouty of
Ingold. Inc., radio distributors, San Francisco, as
Manager of Fort Wayne Concern.
Springfield. Steinway & Sons sent as their special
president; W. H. Graham, Seattle, as first vice-presi-
envoy John Powell, who spoke appreciatively of the
The Capehart Orchestrope, the instrument that long and intimate relations between his firm and
dent.
Second vice-president, John C. Preston,
plays 28 records (56 selections) on both sides con- Steinert & Sons. Charles Addams brought the
Rakersfield, Calif.; secretary, Beeman P. Sibley of
San Francisco.
Directors:
Russell T. Bailey, tinuously, and reproduces the music in an absolute greetings of The Aeolian Company in a most enter-
Spokane, Wash.; W. W. Bradford, Denver, Colo.; "true to life" manner, is meeting with greater suc- taining talk.
William Cross, Oakland, Cal.; James T. Fitzgerald, cess from week to week. About pepping up business
The evening closed with an entertainment by talent
Los Angeles; James Fletcher, Victoria, B. C ; George in this line, R. E. Girton, credit manager for the from local theaters, followed by dancing to music
Capehart
Automatic
Phonograph
Co.,
says:
S. Glen, Ogden, Utah; Earl P. Hagenmeyer, Denver,
furnished by the new Victor Micro-Synchronous
Co!o.; Mrs. S. Hockett, Fresno. Calif.; Galvin
"Summertime is here and regardless of a certain Radio instrument.
Hopper, Tacoma, Wash.; H. E. Gardiner, San Fran- amount of local pessimism the up-to-date merchant
cisco; Daryl Kent, Vancouver, B. C ; A. D. Lamotte, should be so enthused with national optimism as to
San Diego, Calif.: F. McL. Brinckerhoff,- Los sweep local prejudices aside and make for himself
W. S. HEDGES' CAREER.
Angeles; J. Donald Daynes, Salt Lake; E. R. profits that the most complete line of automatic
William S. Hedges, convention speaker, was elected
Mitchell, Seattle, Wash.; W. C. Orton, Butte. Mont.; phonographs can give him. At this time we strongly president of the National Association of Broadcasters
Gene Redewill, Phoenix, Arizona; Ellas Marx, urge our large dealer organization to expose them- October 17, 1928, at the annual convention held in
Sacramento, Calif.; Frank Salmacia, Glendale, Calif.; selves to every possible optimistic movement. This Washington, D. C. He spent thirteen years of his
C. B. Sampson, Boise, Idaho; Fred R. Sherman, spirit is sure to be passed along to his customers youth in Colorado and came to Chicago in 1913 im-
George C. Will, Salem, Oregon.
old and new. They pay up and buy more.
mediately after his graduation from Colorado Springs
"Realizing maximum profits on the Capehart line High School and entered the University of Chicago
Ernest Ingold defined a musical instrument,, say-
in 1914 where he took a course in the College of
ing, "It is anything which produces sounds that are is the one certain way to keep costs at a minimum
Arts and Sciences.
harmonious to the listener. A skin stretched across and trade on prestige already earned."
a stump in the days of the savage was, to him, a
musical instrument. Today a radio set is by any
JULY AMPICO RECORDINGS.
ERT AN ORGANIZER.
one of a half-dozen definitions a musical instrument
The Ampico Corporation, 29 West 57th street,
Another speaker, Michael Ert, is president of the
—it is a means of interpretation just as is a piano, a New York, includes in its recordings for July the
violin or a saxophone. It is a musical instrument following, with words for singing and dancing: Blue Federated Radio Trade Association. He organized
just as a typewriting machine and not a corn-husker." Hawaii, waltz, G major, Shipman; (When I'm the Wisconsin Radio Trades Association in 1923 and
was president of that group until his resignation fol-
Arguing from this premise, Mr. Ingold contended
Walkin' with My Sweetness) Down Among the lowing his election as president of the Federated
that whoever sells instruments for interpreting Sugar Cane, Fox Trot, C major, Carroll; Love Me
music is a music dealer—"So a radio dealer or a or Leave Me, "Whoopee," Fox Trot, A flat, Arden; Radio Trade Association in February of this vear.
garage selling radio is not a music dealer beyond
Broadway Melody, "The Broadway Melody," Fox
question."
Trot, E flat, Arden and Carroll; The Wedding of the
FRANK HOOD PLANS TRIPS.
"The Music Merchant Helps Our Educational
Painted Doll, "The Broadway Melody," Fox Trot,
Frank M. Hood, of the Schiller I'iano Company,
System" was discussed by J. F. McCoy of the
E flat, Arden and Carroll; Louise, "Innocents of
6th floor of the Republic Building, Chicago, after
At water-Kent Manufacturing Company, Philadelphia.
Paris," Fox Trot, F major, Shipman and Lane; returning from a short trip this week, planned to
He said the children of today are not being taught
Heigh-Ho! Everybody, Heigh-Ho! (Fox Trot, E flat), leave for a much more extensive trip during which
the three R's only, but the three C's—Citizenship,
Wright and Johnston; From Sunrise to Sunset, Fox he will introduce the splendid new styles of Schiller
Culture and Character. He held that the music Trot, G major, Shaw and Chadwick.
instruments,
SAN FRANCISCO MAN
IS NEW PRESIDENT
CAPEHART BUSINESS
KEEPS PUSHING ONWARD
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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