Presto

Issue: 1929 2233

MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1884
Established
1881
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL
10 Cents a Copy
1 Year
$1.25
10 Months. . .$1.00
6 Months.. 75 cents
CAMPAIGN FOR
NEW MEMBERS
Country Divided Into Eight Districts with
Known Workers Chosen as Leaders to
Round Up Piano Merchants
to Join.
In working out plans for the membership cam-
paign of the National Association of Music Mer-
chants the country has been divided into eight dis-
tricts. President Parham Werlein has appointed
Otto B. Heaton of Columbus, Ohio, the first vice-
president of the association as general membership
promotion chairman of a committee which will be
made up of chairmen, vice-chairmen and members in
the various districts. Mr. Heaton has been supplied
from the executive office with a list of "prospects"
covering the entire country and comprising approxi-
mately 7,000 names. The general membership pro-
motion committee, of which Mr. Heaton is general
chairman, consists of the following:
National Association of Music Merchants, General
Membership Promotion Committee: Otto B. Heaton,
(General Membership Promotion Chairman.
Pacific Western District: Washington, Oregon,
California, Nevada, Idaho, Utah, Arizona. Commit-
tee:
Chairman, Edward A. Geissler, Birkel Music
Co., Los Angeles, Calif.; vice-chairmen, Royal W.
Daynes, Consolidated Music Co., Salt Lake City,
Utah; R. E. Robinson, Sherman, Clay & Co., Seattle,
Wash.; E. R. Armstrong, Sherman, Clay & Co., Port-
land, Ore.; Aubrey O. Andelin, Andelin Music Co.,
Idaho Falls, Idaho; J. W. Dawson, Phoenix, Ariz.
Northwestern District: Colorado, Wyoming, Mon-
tana, North Dakota, South Dakota, Nebraska, Kan-
sas. Committee: Chairman, Charles E. Wells, Music
Co., Denver, Colo.; vice-chairmen, J. A. Poppler,
Poppler Piano Co., Grand Forks, N. D.; C. E, Hay-
den, A. L. Cummings Music Co., Sheridan, Wyo.;
Charles J. Kops, Kops Piano House, Great Falls,
Mont.; George H. Costain, Costain Music Store,
Huron, S. D.; Edward J. Walt, Walt's Music House,
Lincoln, Neb.; J. A. Campbell, Innes Music Co.,
Wichita, Kan.
Southwestern District: New Mexico, Texas, Okla-
homa, Arkansas, Louisiana. Committee: Chairman,
Robert N. Watkin, Will A. Watkin Co., Dallas,
Texas; vice-chairmen, L. A. Chenoweth, Chenoweth
& Green, Enid, Okla.; R. C. Bollinger, R. C. Bollin-
ger Music-Radio Co., Fort Smith, Ark.; B. M. Grune-
wald, L. Grunewald Co., Ltd., New Orleans, La.
Southeastern District:
Mississippi, Tennessee,
Kentucky, West Virginia, Virginia, No. Carolina, So.
Carolina, Florida, Alabama, Georgia. Committee:
Chairman, S. Ernest Philpitt, S. Ernest Philpitt &
Son, Miami, Fla.; vice-chairmen, J. P. Simmons, The
Music Shop, Lexington, Ky.; Rudolph Siegling, Sieg-
ling Music House, Charleston, S. C ; C. S. Andrews,
Andrews Music Store, Inc, Charlotte, N. C ; J. B.
Gressett, A. Gressett Music House, Meridian, Miss.;
Lynn Sheeley, Clark-Jones-Sheeley Co., Morristown,
Tenn.; Richard A. McKee, McKee Music Co, Charles-
ton, W. Va.; Ben L. Sykes, Lee Piano Co., Inc.,
Lynchburg, Va.; E. E. Forbes, E. E. Forbes Piano
Co., Birmingham, Ala.; W. P. Manning, W. P. Man-
ning Music Co., Augusta, Ga.
Midwestern District: Illinois, Wisconsin, Michi-
gan, Indiana, Minnesota, Iowa, Ohio, Missouri. Com-
mittee: Chairman Jay Grinnell, Grinnell Bros., Detroit,
Mich.; Yahrling-Rayner Music Co, Youngstown, O.;
George B. Wiswell, WisweH's, Joliet, 111.; Edmund
Gram, Edmund Gram, Inc., Milwaukee, Wis.; Frank
O. Wilking, Wilking Music Co., Indianapolis, Ind.;
Grant P. Wagner, Howard-Farwell Co, St. Paul,
Minn.; Miss Mayme Zechfhann, Davidson Bros. Co.,
Sioux City, Iowa; Frank J. Bayley, Bayley Music
House, Detroit, Mich.; P. E. Conroy, Conroy Piano
Co., St. Louis, Mo.
New England District: Maine, Vermont, New
Hampshire,
Massachusetts,
Connecticut, Rhode
Island. Committee: Chairman, Herman C. Spain,
Jr., American Piano Co., Boston, Mass.; vice-chair-
men, Andrew Meiklejohn, The Meiklejohn Co., Prov-
idence, R. I.; A. M. Seavey, A. B. Seavey & Son,
CHICAGO, ILL., AUGUST 15, 1929
Saco, Maine; W. C. W. Marshall, Marshall Music
Co., White River Junction, Vt.; E. J. Mclntire, Piper-
Mclntire Co., Manchester, N. H.; Alvin P. McCoy,
McCoy,s Inc., Hartford, Conn.
Eastern District: New York, Pennsylvania, New
Jersey, Maryland, Delaware. Committee: Chairman,
Edwin R. Weeks, Weeks & Dickinson Music Store,
Binghamton, N. Y.; vice-chairmen, John J. Glynn,
James & Holmstrom Piano Corp., New York, N. Y.;
George J. Winter, Winter Piano Co., Erie, Pa.; C. E.
Cameron, Jr., Lauter Company, Newark, N. J.; C. J.
Roberts, Chas. M. Stieff, Inc., Baltimore, Md.; Ralph
L. Salter, Salter's Music Shoppe, Wilmington, Del.
District of Columbia: Homer L. Kitt, Homer L.
Kitt Co., Washington, D. C.
SETTERGREN ACTIVITIES
B. K. Settergren, president of the B. K. Settergren
Company, Bluffton, Ind., who returned some weeks
ago from a honeymoon trip to Sweden, will remain
for the balance of August at the headquarters of the
Settergren Company in Bluffton.
W. C. Hess, secretary of the company, is making a
tour of the Pacific Coast. Mr. Fox, general repre-
sentative, who was in Chicago several days this week,
has started on a tour of the Eastern states. He will
make his headquarters at the offices of the Estey
Piano Company, 127 West 43rd street, New York
city.
E. R. Blanchard, treasurer of the W. W. Kimball
Company, Wabash Avenue and Jackson Boulevard,
Chicago, is now enjoying a brief outing at his favorite
place of recreation, Charlevoix, Mich.
Issued Semi-Monthly
First and Third Saturdays
A. L. SMITH JOINS
C. Q. CONN, LTD.
Former Chamber of Commerce Manager Is to
Be Executive Vice-President of
Indiana Concern.
Announcement has been made from the offices of
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce that
Alfred L. Smith is to be executive vice-president of
C. G. Conn, Ltd., and will begin his duties on
September 1st in Elkhart, Ind., where he will make
his residence in the future.
Mr. Smith, who has acted in the capacity of secre-
tary and general manager of the chamber for nine
years, announced his resignation recently at the
annual convention of the music industries. He is to
be succeeded by Harry Meixell, formerly of the
National Automobile Chamber of Commerce.
TO REPAIR BAY COMPANY FACTORY.
The receiver for the H. C. Bay Piano Company
is preparing to have the factory buildings at Bluff-
ton, Ind., repaired so that they can be sold. The
creditors are still hoping to get something more
than seemed possible a few weeks ago. Information
has been received by Elmore Sturgis, chairman of the
Bluffton Chamber of Commerce industrial committee
to the effect that an expenditure of $14,000 has been
authorized by the receiver of the H. C. Bay Company
for the repairs to the large factory buildings in
Bluffton.
TRADE PAPER MAN'S OBSERVATIONS IN
CIRCLING LAKE MICHIGAN
A thousand miles by auto around Lake Michigan—•
the envied excursion of Western autoists—was com-
pleted last week by a member of the editorial staff of
Presto-Times. Here is something to write about,
and no matter what is written, the half is not being
told. Lake Michigan, one of the four greatest lakes
in the world, with shores of natural grandeur, with
wild waves such as the Atlantic or the Pacific Ocean
can produce, bordered by scores of resort towns as
pretty and well-equipped as any on the seaboards,
giving port service to such mighty cities as Chicago
and Milwaukee and many manufacturing towns of
smaller dimensions, is a body.of water of many mani-
festations of • usefulness and impressiveness.
In Seeing America First, one should put this trip
either first or second in his category.
Stores Short of Pianos.
In passing through the larger towns, the traveler
noted, in brief calls at piano stores, that they were
rather low on stocks of instruments, revealing an
encouraging condition for new supplies. Sales were
being conducted along the methods of clean-out
disposals.
Great Crops.
In Wisconsin, he learned that farm productions are
going to be large. Vast quantities of timothy, of
wheat, oats, clover and alfalfa have been cut. Fruit
was of excellent quality and good yield this year.
Wisconsin is known as the cherry state, and that
crop was excellent; mostly picked now. The pickers
were at work as the Presto-Times man drove
through.
Good Trade in View.
Interesting visits were made at many cities en
route—Ludington, Escanaba, Grand Traverse, Man-
istee, Menominee, Appleton, Oshkosh, Fond du Lac,
Janesville and others being on the route. At all of
these cities, dealers were found to be in an optimistic
frame of mind, predicting better trade than had been
anticipated by those whose views a few months ago
had been crippled by a fancied downfall in the esti-
mate of the piano. In the entire trip, the tourist
found not a scintilla of evidence of the skunky pres-
ence of the piano scare—the bugaboo with the
scented and busy tail.
As Wisconsin is a dairying and potato-raising state,
a state famous for cherries, oats and clover, as well as
famous for its manufactures, the observer noted a
good outlook in all of its interests, and the conclusion
is that it will be a good state for piano trade.
Regret Otto Schulz' Dealth.
Expressions of sorrow were heard at several of
the Wisconsin stores at the news of the death of
Otto Schulz, both from those handling the Schulz
lines and those who did not. Many of these men had
met Mr. Schulz while in his official capacity as head
of the National Piano Manufacturers' Association.
Many AirPorts Seen En Route.
An attractive feature among the sights on this trip
was the great number of airport fields, either in use
or in preparation for service to flyers. Some seven
to ten of these places of alighting and departure were
soon. They were mostly at some miles distant from
the towns, for which they were named; as for in-
stance, the Appleton Flying Field, the Oshkosh Air-
port, etc., etc., each equipped with proper antenna,
search and beacon lights and towers. Many erst-
while farms have been purchased for this purpose,
and graders and levelers were at work on some of
them, as the trade paper man whizzed by. And
near by were several radio stations for broadcasting.
SCHILLER TRAVELER'S TRIP.
Frank M. Hood, of the Schiller Piano Company,
who recently returned from an extensive trip through.
Kansas, Missouri and Nebraska, brought back im-
pressions of a good outlook for fall trade in pianos
in those wonderfully prosperous states. He said to
a Presto-Times representative: "On the whole, the
outlook is very good. Too much rain in parts of
Kansas and Missouri has spoiled the crops. Corn
doesn't look good in Missouri and parts of Kansas.
In the southeast part of Kansas, wheat is not good;
the wetness had spoiled crops around Parsons and
Pittsburg, Kan. I received some very good business
while on the trip and predict a good deal more for
the fall season."
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).
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PRESTO-TIMES
MUSIC WANTS ITS
RIGHTFUL PUCE
August 15, 1929
"In every respect, therefore, the slogan fulfills the
sales axiom, that the selling appeal must fit the article
sold. We must seek to introduce the child first to
the thrill of playing rhythm, then to the beauties of
melody and the raptures of harmony, and he will be
brought, unconsciously, to a true evaluation of music
through the playing of it, so that this playing will
thereafter become an inseparable and indispensable
part of his very life.
piano man. The hovel is truly beautiful, artistic,
well done.
While on the subject of shacks, there are several
new ones owned, operated and dw T elt in by local piano
men. A. C. Danz has but lately moved into as homey
and lovely a place as you can see in many an auto-
mobile ride. The Maws of San Diego have a beau-
Thoughts About Bringing the Child to a True
tiful "duck of a place" on Point Loma, and B. J.
Chandler of Santa Ana dwelleth in the midst of
Evaluation of Music Through the
orange groves. Whiteside of San Bernardino has
A
Natural
Instinct.
Playing of It, so That 'Twill
leased his new foothills home to some one, the while
"The Great Power above us has implanted in every
he and the missus have taken a place on a Rialto
Be Part of His Life.
human being a love for music. We have but to chicken ranch. This enabled Daddy Whiteside to
The new music slogan, "The richest child is poor kindle that divine spark, to arouse the desire, latent,
be near his daughter, and son-in-law Henry Roys,
without musical training," is elaborated upon by but universal, to express ourselves through, and by,
who are operating the chicken ranch. That is, Henry
Henry C. Lomb, who has just written a letter to the the playing of music, and we will have created a field
does the work and Nellie comes to San Bernardino
membership of the National Association of Musical for ourselves, the like of which no other industry can
daily to help the old man, and both go home at night
Instrument and Accessories Manufacturers, in which ever hope to have. Search the markets of the world;
to eat a chicken that Henry has raised.
he urges everyone to co-operate in the distribution of
review the whole range of business and commerce,
The Young Music Company at Venice made a
the slogan campaign leaflets. He says: "Order as and you will not find a single industry that can trace
special store effort with the advent of the new Victor,
many slogan folders as you can consistently use for the demand for its basic product to so deep a source,
and seems to have started something in the seaside
distribution to your dealers, provided, of course, that and can command for this product, no matter how
town. For that matter, I have yet to find a radio
you have not already done so.
strongly it wills, a potential market even slightly
dealer who handles the Victor who does not expect
"The members of this association must have this comparable to that which music and music playing
big things from it. 1 think so, too. More power to
slogan matter very much at heart, because, as you inherently enjoy.
all parties.
know, we were the prime movers in the slogan cam-
"No better means of reaching this advanced posi-
Went into the Imperial Valley the other day. Tn
paign, so that we are in duty bound to do all in our tion, and of building an impregnable defence, is now
that place the white heat will make your blooming
power to bring about its wide-spread adoption. The at hand than the slogan. Let us cease to bemoan our
eye-brows crawl. Still there are two or three good
cost of the material involved is comparatively trivial, fate, and utilize the resources we already have to
piano men in the valley. Don Jose Garcie is one,
and the labor, negligible, for it simply means adapting secure our rightful place in the ranks of American
Sig Simonson is another and the Imperial Valley
this material to our already existing sales helps.
industry."
Hardware Company the third. Radios are scattered
"This question of securing the nation-wide adoption
hither and there throughout the valley. It is not a
of the slogan really touches the very foundations of
good reception place in summer, but fine in winter.
our industry, and the failure to recognize this fact
The Imperial expects great things from Boulder dam.
must cause us grave concern. Regardless of what
The summer has been rather hard on radio out this
some sales psychologists of our acquaintance may tell
way, but the radio men contend, and rightly so, that
By MARSHALL BREEDEN
us, our slogan, 'The richest child is poor without
the fall will bring a good change upwards; if not,
C. Alexander & Co. have opened a new radio store.
musical'training,' is a good slogan, for it was selected
many of them are going to fall down and go boom.
from a huge number submitted in a campaign that This is not such a great achievement for Alexander.
was remarkable in the interest it aroused in all parts fTe has that opening habit. To date then he has radio
FRANCIS CO. GETS BUSINESS.
of the country and in all classes of the population, shops in Redondo Beach, Hermosa, Beach, and Tor-
"We
can't quite understand why any one should
ranee. Perhaps by the time this gets in print he may
and was chosen by a committee composed of some of
complain about the piano business," said E. A. Fran-
the most prominent and capable publicity men in the have more stores. That seems to be a radio habit—
cis, president of the Francis Piano Co., Galesburg,
to run several places of business. Some piano men
country. And, in any event, it now is our slogan.
111., to a Presto-Times representative last week. "At
have tried it—not so good.
Interest in Piano Playing.
Macomb, 111., where we recently sold several fine in-
The
other
day
I
went
into
the
store
owned
and
"Although it may not appear so at once, the slogan
struments, there are four firms carrying pianos."
embodies, in my judgment, precisely the appeal that operated by E. MacLartey and his four sons. The
Among recent sales in Galesburg by the Francis
this industry of ours requires at this, perhaps the "boss" was out dusting off a piano or something. 1
Piano Company are a Wurlitzer Grand to Elmer
most critical, moment in its history. More and more frequently use this store as a sort of way station.
Lindstedt, vice-president of the Macomb Mfg. Co.;
It
is
handy
because
of
its
location.
On
this
trip
Mr.
it is becoming clearly apparent that the salvation of
a beautiful Werner upright to Miss Hazel Mackey,
the music industry lies in arousing the masses of the MacLartey had installed a pay-as-you-enter telephone
telephone operator at Cameron; a playerpiano to A.
American people to actual participation in the playing register. There was a sign on it. It made my poor
F. Sandford of the W. O. W. Orchestra; a Pianista
of music, not necessarily as a means of earning a battered heart bleed with pity. The sign said: "De-
to Mrs. P. M. Wilson, 82 East Berrien street.
posit
five
cents
upon
using
the
phone."
My
heart
livelihood, but as a source of infinite pleasure, of un-
alloyed satisfaction, and of lasting happiness, and as was sore and frightened for MacLartey. 1 used the
VIOLIN SHOP OWNER WOUNDED.
a wholesome outlet for the expression of those emo- phone seven times and then ran out of friends and
The Associated Press on August 5 reported that
tions without which life would be a drab and dreary acquaintances to call up. I do feel sorry for Mac-
J. Clem, aged 69 years, proprietor of a violin repair
Lartey, but he should not attempt to get nickels
spectacle.
shop, Tulsa, Okla., was in a serious condition in a
"Now it is well known that once a person has from a piano traveler in August. You cannot expect
hospital, having been shot twice at Red Fork., Okla.,
passed the age of early youth, it becomes increasingly a turnip to have any blood.
by W. B. Williams, aged 52, twice convicted of mur-
difficult, if not impossible, to interest him in music
The last few days, or perhaps weeks, have pro-
der. Williams was shot dead by Clem.
playing. Whatever the cause may be, the fact re- duced a change in the California piano business. I
mains indisputable. It immediately follows that our know for a fact that the great Platt organization sold
PIANO PLANT MAKES CHAIRS.
purpose of securing actual participation in music a piano the other day. Whoopee, keep it up. I
playing can be accomplished only through the child, know also that John J. Foster of the Danz outfit sold
The former piano manufacturing plant of A. Gold-
and that is exactly what the slogan does. Moreover, a player-piano the other day. I shall some time give
smith, 1223 Miller street, Chicago, is now used by the
the indirect or inferential appeal to the parent adds John a leather bracelet.
Abco Chair Company, Mr. Silvers, proprietor, and is
to its all-compelling force.
busy making chairs of various patterns. Mr. Gold-
As a sort of celebration over the sale of the piano
smith has given up piano manufacturing entirely.
Spiritual and Cultural Values.
Ben Platt went and built himself a new hovel in
"Furthermore, the slogan irresistibly draws the at- which to dwell. Ben's shack is at the bottom of a
GIRL WINS PIANO CHAMPIONSHIP.
tention (again by compelling indirection) to the over- steep hill.' The hill rises to the horizon behind his
Miss Elizabeth Vandenberg of Grand Rapids won
powering and eternal significance of spiritual values dump. It is a beautiful hill. It is being landscaped
as against material values. The richest child is poor, and prepared for tennis and swimming. Maybe piano the piano championship in the annual solo contests
at the National High School Orchestra Camp, Trav-
etc' And so the slogan leads the mind to see that men do need baths now and then. The dwelling itself
erse City, Mich., Friday. She is a daughter of United
it is music, and the playing of it, that, above all else, is nothing short of a young palace. The Caesars of
States Senator Arthur H. Vandenberg.
holds these spiritual and cultural values in its heart. Rome had not a thing on the home of this successful
A VOICE FROM THE WEST
When in need of music rolls, or advice about them write to the experts who make the
CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLLS
for all standard 65-note rewind electric pianos and automatic pianos of all makes and
descriptions. Rolls for Goinolas and Orchestrions. Also Calliopes and Calliaphones.
"Always the latest and snappiest"
When ordering, give style of instrument on which roll will be used.
CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLL COMPANY
DE KALB, ILL.
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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