November 1, 1929
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
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.)
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
Publishers
417 So. Dearborn St.
Chicago, III.
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), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-ciasa matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, 111., under Act of March 3, 1879.
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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
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space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen in the
smaller cities are the best occasional correspondents, and
their assistance is invited.
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tion will be charged if of commercial character or other
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Address all communications for the editorial or business
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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, NOVEMBER 1, 1929
ANTIQUES NOT DESIRABLE
Sensible piano men are no longer in the habit of allowing fancy
prices for old pianos; they have abandoned that elaborate and costly
method of creating modern antiques. They have discovered that
their studiously-inverted and far-fetched plans for selling pianos were
at fault. While their errors might be classed among the mistakes
of the judicious, they are now making the discovery that nothing
astonishes men and women so much as common sense and plain deal-
ing and that these routes are the new pathways to the commonplace.
The slow-pokes are discovering that progress is the law of life, and
that there is no sense in getting into a train of reasoning as John
Stuart Mill did when he made himself miserable by forecasting the
final extinction of original music. Nor are piano men trying to em-
bellish their fictitious territory with the notion that they are going
to put a piano in every house. However, the knowing ones are work-
ing their communities very closely and getting better results than
they've had for two seasons past.
SELLING TO THE YOUNG
It is well these days to keep the young generations in hail. How-
ever, the very truth of this plan sometimes carries piano and radio
merchants too far, introducing them into the easy comradeships of
young folks who are not in circumstances to pay out. The chief and
characteristic mistake is to anticipate from the ticket what is inside
the bundle. There are distinct principles for judging young married
couples to those who have a natural faculty in that direction. Young
folks who have an insatiable love of splendor and display may not
be the worst customers, for they will pay on the fine instrument and
perhaps stand off the milkman. Even those toiling under the most
distressing hardships and discouragements, may be good pay and en-
titled to credit. Verily, the credit man's job is a line of work requir-
ing keen discernment.
RADIO ENHANCES MYSTERY
Everything that comes into being seeks room for itself, yet very
seldom crowds out anything else. Its recognition is a bid for its
duration. Radio is a powerful proof that things may be mysterious
without being miracles. Its discovery and application is proof that
men are finding new faculties in themselves, with a full conscious-
ness of the mysteries that surround our existence. Wonderful as
has been the development of radio, there is hardly yet a uniform
recognition of the permanent powers and reality of it. Every right
and title to exist belong to it, despite instances of uncertain vision or
imperfect appreciation. In a manner admitting of no mistake and no
uncertainty, the research departments of great radio works are
applying discoveries to the majority unknown. Neither hasting nor
resting, these investigators work on. They are ceaselessly working
out what is necessary for definite improvement. Accuracy and com-
pleteness are their objectives. Every care is being employed by these
STORY & CLARK BUSY.
President E. H. Story of the Story & Clark Piano
Company, Chicago, is now living at his home in
Pasadena, Calif., while his brother, Frank F. Story,
vice-president, is in charge of the headquarters at
Chicago. A Presto-Times representative called upon
L. P. Bull, the treasurer, one day last week. Mr.
Bull said the company had very good orders on its
young men to produce the best. What would have caused terror as
the voice of a ghost two generations back, is now the life of the party
—the utterance of radio, dispelling mystery and enhancing it at the
same time.
A TONIC ATMOSPHERE
One makes the acquaintance of a tonic atmosphere at or in the
hearing of a piano. Even if one can not play, the piano music gives
hin: the capacity for absorbing the floating ideas of the hour, which
supply the place of originality. Among the devices of the improvis-
ing pianist are novelty, variety, contrast, complement, surprise, com-
plexity, humor and pathos, and, most important of all, suspense and
climax. The listener is convinced that genius is evidence of what
human intelligence and skill can do at high pressure. To him, the
pianist seems capable of achieving any design, now touching the keys
with a certain irresponsible whimsicality, now with extraordinary
self-sufficiency, and again making the listener feel the spell of the
magician, not the calm power of the teacher. Then shifting his whim,
as a pianist knows how, he will play one long variation on a single
theme and in such a manner as to show that the province of the piano
is to idealize life.
CAREERS OF PIANO MEN
Careers are the result of opportunity; vision and opportunity
make them. Every piano or radio man or band instrument man who
has succeeded has made a constant use of his native powers and
responsibilities. His habits of intensive and continuous work were
proof of his character, and brought about the fulfillment of his
dreams. In fact, the supremacy of a nation resides in the sum total
of private virtues, activities and energies. The failures are those who
have not been able to contribute to effective work. The successful
man is ever on the alert, keeping track of every evidence of material
change or trend in the business. He avoids the blunders of the past
and takes hold of that which contributes to immediately practical
aims. It is in him to succeed; therefore, he does.
PIANO LESSONS IN GROUPS
The importance of piano class instruction can hardly be over-
stated, particularly by any man who is interested in selling more
pianos. This form of group teaching, which got its impetus from the
public schools, is now being taken up by private teachers of piano
playing, and it is not surprising to find as eminent a man as Dr. J.
Lewis Browne, director of musical education in the public schools of
Chicago, in full advocacy of the plan. The movement is gaining
momentum in many of the larger cities of the country. It is a method
that induces ambitious rivalry among the pupils, leading to better
playing and arousing the keenest interest to know all about pianos
as well as to show what a piano can be made to do.
books, showing an improved season. R. A. Burke,
of the wholesale department, advertising manager,
is now on a trip into the far northwest, having been
accompanied on the outgoing trip by E. H. Story.
Sawkins Music House, of St. Louis, Mich., has
opened a branch store in the Seaver Hotel Building,
Ithaca, Mich.
STARR FIRE ON ONE FLOOR.
Fire in the radio unit of the Starr Piano Company,
Richmond, Ind., on October 19, damaged the roof of
the building but was confined to the fourth floor.
Water running on the floor damaged radio cabinets
and stock on the lower floors. Company officials
were unable to determine the loss. The origin of the
fire has not been determined.
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