Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1929 2237

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
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 the
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.
When electrotypes are sent for publication it is re-
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 business
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, 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.
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/
P R E S T O-T I M E S
October 15, 1929
The Tonk Manufacturing Co., Chicago, reports
that its traveling men are sending in fairly good
orders. Trade with the house by mail is also active
from Manitoba to Mexico and from New York to
San Francisco.
The Krell-French Piano Co. has brought suit to
drew opposite her she cried out, "There's President
1
McKinley!" The president, hearing the child, looked compel the town of New Castle, Ind., to turn on its
water
service
pending
the settlement of a disputed
up, and with a smile and a graceful bow, recognized
her. To say that Estella is proud of the recognition bill of $1,000. Whatever may be the justice of the
bill, the town board should not have turned off the
does not do her feelings justice.
factory's water, thereby impairing the fire protection.
The citizens of New Castle put up $60,000 to get
the great piano factory and it is short sighted policy
to take chances on losing it. The town had no con-
(From The Presto, October 20, 1904.)
tract price with the Krell-French and the piano com-
The company is
New York piano men do not think so much of the pany violated no agreement.
Russian piano market as they did a few weeks ago. good for any amount and the proper place to settle
In fact, there is a distinct sentiment against the the matter is in the courts, if it cannot be done with
Muscovite empire as a market for American pianos. the affable and always accessible gentlemen in charge.
Last Monday, October 18th, marked an interesting
However, there are several pianos bearing well-known
New York names on the way to various Russian event in the career of America's greatest all-round
ports—if they have not already reached them—and music house. On the evening of that day there was
their makers, who have not been paid for them, are a gathering at the Kenwood Hotel, the purpose of
wondering whether or not they will be claimed by which was announced on the cover page of the beau-
the owners of the jaw-breaking names to whom they tiful menu as follows: "1864-1904—A dinner tendered
to our beloved president, P. J. Healy, by his early
are addressed.
The surest way to be happy is to do good work. associates in business in commemoration of the
The surest road to a permanent piano manufacturing fortieth anniversary of the founding of Lyon &
Healy."
business is to make good pianos.
We do not see so very much difference in the
GOOD PIANO TRADE AT DIXON.
trade papers, after all, except that some are hand-
A
representative of Presto-Times enjoyed a visit
somely printed and others give the news. The
with R. A. Rodesch at Dixon, HI., one day last
Presto gives the news.
When in Chicago last Saturday, Mr. J. C. Hender- week. Mr. Rodesch, as many readers of Presto-Times
son bade his friends of the trade goodbye preparatory will remember, was engaged in the music business
to another trip abroad. He expected to sail for and industry for many years. He still carries on to
some extent his music roll business and the Rodesch
London this week.
Music Roll Perforator. Mr. Rodesch is also the
Talk about libel suits is too plentiful in the trade. Dixon representative of the Franklin motor cars.
The latest is that the Wurlitzers intend to demand Speaking of the piano business in his locality, he
restitution from a New York paper for trifling with says: "The piano business around here, as I learn
their name in connection with the stencil piano from our dealers, has been good for the most part of
discussion.
this year. One dealer told me last week that they
Stanley M. Steinhaus, member of the firm of Grad- had sold at his store a piano every day for the past
stone & Steinhaus, New York, whose peculiar busi- week. This looks as though the piano business is
ness methods in exporting pianos to Russia were coming into its own again." Mr. Rodesch is well
chronicled in The Presto last week, was released from in health, happy and prosperous.
the custody of the sheriff on Saturday after he had
put up $600 cash bail. Mr. Steinhaus was not incar-
ABOUT THE DOLCEOLA.
cerated upon any criminal charge. The action was
An inquiry came in at Presto-Times office from
simply a civil one.
Emil Paquin. Sault Ste. Marie, Mich., a few days
Philip Werlein, the piano man of New Orleans,
has been appointed supervisor of elections in his city ago asking for information about the Dolceola, an
by Gov. Blanchard. The appointment of Mr. Werlein instrument made years ago by the Toledo Symphony
Company. This instrument was manufactured at
gave universal satisfaction.
Toledo, "Ohio, by L. F. and B. P. Boyd, both of
H. T. Kyser, special representative of the Steger
whom have passed away. Henry Ford has one in his
and Singer pianos and whose headquarters are at museum at Dearborn, Mich. A brother of the Boyds
Fairbury, 111., and C. E. Lishness, a dealer in the lives at 851 West Grove place, Toledo. The Dolceola
Steger line at Cornell, 111., were Chicago visitors one is not manufactured now.
day this week.
The regular annual meeting of the Chicago Piano
MUSIC MASTER CLASSES.
and Organ Association was held last Tuesday after-
Among the artists of international fame who con-
noon at the Wellington Hotel. There was a good
attendance and the reports of the retiring officers ducted master classes in Berlin in the summer of
1929 were Walter Gieseking, Eugen d'Albert, Willy
were read and other business gone over. The follow-
ing are the officers elected to serve during the Hess and Edwin Fischer. Also in cooperation with
ensuing year: president, F. S. Shaw, of the Cable the college of fine arts of New York university, a
series of lectures was given on musical subjects, both
Co.; vice-president, W. L. Bush; second vice-presi-
dent, Harry Schaaf; secretary, C. C. Checkering; in English and German. The students were either
young concert artists or teachers of music. Twenty-
treasurer, George J. Dowling.
William Strich of Strich & Zeidler, New York, nine of the total of forty-two were Americans.
was in Chicago on Monday of this week on his way
SIROIS WITH GULBRANSEN COMPANY.
southward. Mr. Strich has had fine success on his
western trip, and after he calls at a few more cities,
A. P. Sirois, who for some time was advertising
will return to New York. Mr. Strich left Chicago manager for Colin B. Kennedy Corporation, manu-
Monday night for St. Louis, where his house has an facturers of the Kennedy radio, South Bend, Ind., has
exhibit at the Fair. After St. Louis, his next move joined the Gulbransen Company's advertising depart-
will be to Indianapolis.
ment in Chicago.
YEARS AGO IN THE PRESTO
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
(From The Presto, Oct. 18, 1894.)
In some respects a trade paper is like a good gun—
both the paper and the gun are very effective when
properly handled. But the paper, no less than the
gun, may be dangerous to the ones operating it if
it is stupidly charged or overloaded. The assault of
the "Musical Courier" upon the Everett piano offers
a good illustration of our meaning.
Mr. Wm. Schlemmer, of the piano hardware house
on the Bowery, New York, is doing jury duty this
week. This throws double duty upon some of his
associates and accounts for the weary smile that
lights the face of Mr. Merrett when the blithesome
trade paper man presents himself.
"The Chicago Automatic Music Company is located
in the rear room on the third floor of 106 Wabash
avenue, where it conducts a decidedly shady busi-
ness. In the place are all kinds of nickle-in-the-slot
machines, those with the musical attachments being
most conspicuous. These gambling devices, which
are contraband and illegal, are being circulated
throughout the city by the concern."
A long racy clipping has reached us concerning
Frank M. Hulett, of Plainfield, N. J. We have no
room for such stuff.
Mr. A. Dalrymple has joined the road forces of
Estey & Saxe.
Mr. Wm. Sohmer of New York, who is the nominee
of Tammany Hall for Sheriff, is a brother of Hugo
Sohmer.
B. S. Barrett, the Cleveland piano dealer who was
sent to the penitentiary in 1891 for forgery, has been
paroled out.
The last message of Col. Levi K. Fuller, retiring
governor of Vermont, was sent to the assembly of
that state and Mr. Fuller has retired from his duties
as governor October 4th, as already published.
THIRTY YEARS AGO
(From The Presto, October 19, 1899.)
Resde ahora, queremos llamar la atencion de nues-
tros lectores sobre la Edicion De Exportation de El
Presto, que aparecera en al primera semana del mes de
Noviembre proximo venidero. La Edicion de Exporta-
cion de este ano sera muy interesante, pues presentara
numerosos informes de sumo interes para el mundo
musical y especialmente para las casas que trafican con
instrumentos musical les en todas partes del mundo.
Se remitiran ejemplares en cambio de 50 centavos
oro, inclusive el porte, 6 sea 25 centavos para los
Estados Unidos, Canada 6 Mexico. Es este momente
de remitir pedidos.
Charles Dold, disturbance agent of the Piano and
Organ Makers union, has presented to all the manu-
facturers the new scale of the union, which calls for
a 25 per cent increase in wages. Many employers
conceded to the demand for the raise immediately
after the close of the Bush & Gerts strike.
Mr. J. V. Steger kindly opened the Wabash avenue
warerooms that his friends might have a splendid
view of the parade last week Monday. While the
parade was passing, says the "Steger Herald," Miss
Estelle Steger had climbed to an elevated position
on the fire escape, and as the president's carriage
TWENTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
THE PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE
PRICES
EDITION OF 1929
Is now ready for distribution
Send your order at once and copies will go
forward by first mail after receipt of order
PRESTO
417 S. DEARBORN ST.
One Copy Potspaid 50c
Three copies postpaid $1.40
Six copies postpaid $2.50
Twelve copies postpaid $4.50
Special prices for larger quantities.
Subscribe for Presto-Times with the Buyers' Guide as a
Premium.
Address—
PUBLISHING CO.
CHICAGO, ILL. U. S. A.
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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