PRESTO-TIMES
ISSUED THE FIRST AND
FIFTEENTH IN EACH
MONTH
F R A N K D. A B B O T T
- - - - - - - -
(C. A. DAN I ELL—1904-1927.)
October 15, 1929
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
Publishers
417 So. Dearborn St.
Chicago, 111.
The American Music Trade Journal
Editor
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mercial Cable Co.'s Code), " P R E S T O , " Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, 111., under Act of March 3, 1879.
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Thursday. If they concern the interests of manufactur-
ers or dealers such items will appear the issue following.
CHICAGO, OCTOBER 15, 1929
MINIMAL CHANGES
Most of the changes that have been tooted by the gossips of the
piano trade as overwhelming and overturning are minimal in their
nature, negligible bagatelles without effectiveness or importance.
Some changes have come, it is true, as they will in this shifting world.
It is the fellow who can not get out of the rut that is doing all the
yelping. The star of progress guides the younger generation over
hitherto untried routes, and as Galileo said in prison after being tor-
tured by religious fanatics for teaching astronomy, "the world does
move." It is moving so fast that it is running away from the stupid
fellows who can not see how greatly the radio is aiding the piano
business. They are acting like a bunch of harvest hands who a few
years ago set fire to the self-binders in the wheat fields near Battle
Creek, Mich., because they were labor-saving machines; like the
I. W. W. of the Northwest when they practiced sabotage; like reac-
tionaries who stand in their own light. The radio is a stimulus to
the desire for better music everywhere, an incentive to the hitherto
untrained ear, which is bringing about increased activity in the piano
trade.
CONDUCT OF PIANO BUSINESS
There are few lines of business as honorable or pleasant as mak-
ing and selling pianos. The United States government decided at the
time of the world's war that music was one of the essentials of
civilization, so the manufacture of pianos went right on during that
trying period. The function of business is to provide for the material
needs of mankind, and to increase the wealth of the world and the
value and happiness of life. When business enterprise is successfully
carried on with constant and efficient endeavor to reduce the costs
of production, to improve the quality of its products, and to give fair
treatment to customers, capital, management and labor, it renders
public service of the highest value.
THE DAY OF CENTRALIZED CONTROL
Producing merchandise and manufactured articles on a large
scale to be distributed widely and wisely for the benefit of mankind,
calls, for centralized control, which is altogether a different thing
from monopoly or a trust. When a business reaches the point of
absolute impossibility of expansion without additional capital and
facilities, it is then very susceptible to plans for a merger. The unit-
ing of rival or similar businesses supplies the needful stimulus to be-
come greater than any one firm or corporation could grow alone ;
such a union gives triumph in the struggle for success. Individuals
discover that strength and might does not lie precisely in the lines
they had been following; that after the merger they have more time
to work on broader ideas than they did when managing a one-man
business that told so terribly upon their health and strength. The
October 1st issue of Presto-Times told of three mergers of impor-
tance in the music industry, and expects to tell of others soon, for
there are some in the incubators.
FRIENDLINESS GETS BUSINESS
It may not always be good salvage from the waters of oblivion
to take an old piano in exchange, yet it may be well to do it if the
friendship of the customer may be obtained thereby. It is noticeable
that the merchant who is usually found taking a kindly and generous
view of the world is the most successful in a financial way. A mer-
chant of that type feels that the claims of the day are his duty. On
his own path that sort of man finds a kind of truth which helps him
through life. Instinctively, he seems to realize that the world takes
a man at his own estimate. He can afford to be friendly when he
contemplates that he is in a business that makes families better,
wiser and happier; that their good is not alien to him. The friendli-
ness of his satisfied customers brings him satisfaction and some-
times another customer.
GROUP INSTRUCTION ON THE GAIN
This issue of Presto-Times features on page 5 the progress of
group teaching in the schools of America. This method of giving in-
struction in piano playing is so elemental a success that it is now on its
way to be put into the curriculum of studies in every graded school
under intelligent school management. In the articles on page 5, our
authorities are C. M. Tremaine, Miss Ella H. Mason, Adam Schneider
and K. E. Ritchie, publicity director, who sent us copies of the Gul-
bransen Sales Manual, a booklet replete with reasons why a child
should learn to play the piano.
Geise said: "Who pays for the advertising of suc-
cessful houses that do advertise? It is the business
Frank Frederick Loew, in a signed article in the man who does not advertise, for the advertising takes
Chicago Daily News, says: "I have been in musical the money away from his business." He quoted
activities since the age of 8 years and I have a keen
William Wrigley, Jr., who described advertising as
interest in fostering the cause of the musical profes- the engine that draws the train.
sion in its higher development. The study of music
alone from a technical standpoint in its higher
VIRGINIA'S LARGEST MUSIC HOUSE.
branches is equal to any two studies in the curriculum
The Corley Company, Richmond, Va., is the largest
of any university. Music is the international lan-
guage, a language which any listener of any race music house in the state of Virginia. The Corley
may understand, and even animal and insect life has Company's volume of business during 1928 on
been known to respond to music's charms. Too, the Radiolas was approximately $75,000. They also
peace power of music is incalculable. In consoli- maintain stores in Greensboro and Petersburgh, Va.
Under the direction of .the radio manager, a service
dating community life with an invulnerable bond of
department of three men is maintained, as well as a
sympathy, it is supreme."
large selling force. A broadcasting studio located in
the Corley Building is used frequently for programs
ADVERTISING IS THE ENGINE.
sponsored by the RCA dealers of Richmond.
J. W. Geise in a talk recently to the merchants of
Kankakee, 111., said a salesman should cultivate tact
A tuned piano is a fresh source of pride to the
and diplomacy. Cheerfulness, self-respect and poise
were given as qualifications worth cultivating. Mr. owner.
WRITES OF POWER OF MUSIC.
DEATH OF LAWRENCE MILLER.
The American Piano Supply Co. division of Ham-
macher, Schlemmer & Co., 104-106 East 13th street,
New York, learned on October 2 of the sudden demise
of their Mr. Lawrence Miller while on a trip abroad.
He was one of the linn's oldest employees, having
been with the house more than 41 years and was
widely acquainted throughout the trade. He was
one of three brothers who grew up with the company,
including Joel Miller, who passed on a few years
ago, and Isadore Miller, their Canadian representative
who makes his headquarters in Toronto.
CHICAGO OPERA ENTHUSIASM.
Chicago's 1929-30 opera season opened Monday
night, October 7, in a blaze of glory and of public
enthusiasm, when the American Opera Company pre-
sented its production of Gounod's "Faust" in English,
at the Majestic Theater before a house crowded with
music-loving Chicagoans from all walks of life.
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