Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1929 2239

November 15, 1929
V R RSTO-TIMES
OPEN FORUM FOR
NEXT CONVENTION
Forecast Made That Great Opportunity Will
Be Offered at New York Meeting
of Piano Men for Free&nd
Open Discussion.
Excellent headway is being made by the Member-
ship Promotion Committee of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants appointed by President Wer-
lein shortly after his election to the office of chief
executive of the associate n at the convention last
June. Under the chairmanship of Otto B. Heaton of
Columbus, Ohio, with promi, ent members of the
trade in eight districts throughout the country acting
as district chairmen and with other prominent mem-
bers located in every state in the Union acting as
vice-chairmen, the Membership Promotion Commit-
tee are giving untiringly of their time and effort to
interest members of the trade who are not members
of the National Association to join the national body.
Returns have been coming in to the executive office
in New York in gratifving numbers and the - e is every
indication that between now and the next convention
to be held in New York, in June, 1930, the committee
will have brought in a very large number of new
members. New members taken now will be covered
for the balance of the calendar year of 1929 and all
of 1930, for the single membership fee of $10.
Ideas That Produced Sales.
Special stress has been laid upon the fac.t, that the
merchandising ideas which are being (i ; sse.ninated
monthly in the bulletins issued from the executive
office are worth many times the membership dues
during the year. These merchandising ideas are gen-
erously contributed by members of the association
who have made use of them successfully in the con-
duct of their own warerooms, These are not theo-
retical ideas which have been worked out by any
member of the executive office staff or any advertis-
ing man. They are ideas which have been evolved
by members of the association and in every case have
been utilized successfully in business operation and
have produced actual sales of musical instruments.
The plan of presenting these ideas to the members
was suggested by the executive secretary following
the extraordinary meeting of the board of control
of the association which took place on the last day of
the last convention and which was presided over by
President Werlein. At that meeting after the rou-
tine matters connected with the association were
disposed of. members of the board of control entered
into a frank and free discussion of. merchandising
methods which they have used successfully. Tin's
was essentially a development of the open forum
conducted at the convention for the first time and
presided over also by Pr Jent Werlein.
This
pointed the way to what
ly probably take place
at the next convention in
w York when it is fore-
casted that there will be
uch greater opportunity
offered for free and open
ssion of business plans
and selling ideas than at any time in the previous
history of the association which dates back to 1901.
The motivating idea back of all of this is one of
complete cooperatr'on between the members of the
association—a desire to be of mutual help to each
other.
The executive office has added new members since
the close of the last convention. There has been a
gratifying increase in membership since June 1, last.
WILLIAM R. STEINWAY
IN UNITED STATES
EVERY CHILD'S TITLE
TO CHANCE IN MUSIC
These Titles Are Becoming as Sacred in Col-
umbus, Ohio, as Titles to Real
Estate or Marriage Cer-
tificates.
Heaton's Music Store, Columbus, Ohio, of which
Otto B. Heaton is president, has been running a big
campaign of advertising in the Columbus dailies in
He Has Reached New York and Is Expected the shape of a contest for the best answers to the
question, "Should Columbus Schools Teach Classes in
in Chicago in a Few Days—He Regrets
Piano?"
Paderewski's Illness.
The first prize is to be $50; second prize, $25; third
prize, $10; fourth prize, $5, and fifth to fifteenth, $1
William R. Steinway, general foreign manager of
Steinway & Sons, whose headquarters are in London, each. The judges will be: E. F. Abbott, vice-presi-
is in New York on one of his periodical visits to this dent of the First Citizens' Trust Company; Grant
Council, president Capitol College of Music and Ora-
country.
His London office is in Steinway Hall, 1 and 2 tory; Mrs. C. W. Graham, president Women's Music
George street, corner of Conduit street, London, W. 1. Club.
Mr. Steinway is punctiliously particular about this
In one of the letters, Reva Y. Zuravsky, 473 Don-
address as he must needs be in such a jumbled-up aldson street, Columbus, wrote: "Children are more
town as old London. He says: "This old London attentive at school and learn more in a group than
is a very funny city, and lias just exactly 21 George they do by individual instruction. They profit not only
streets, and I cbuld not begin to tell you how many by their own experiences, but by those of their class-
King streets, Queen streets, Duke streets, etc., there mates. The new class method of teaching the piano
are. Therefore, 'Corner of Conduit street' is very recently adopted has proved very successful.
It
necessary, and my orderly mind always spots an
should not only be the privilege but the right of
omission of that kind which acts in the form of a every child to explore its own possibilities for better-
restraint of prompt postal service "
ment through an opportunity of studying music in
Mr. Steinway when seen by a Presto-Times repre- its basic form, the p : ano."
sentative in New York said Steinway & Sons re-
Otto Heaton, when met by a Presto-Times repre-
gretted exceedingly to learn of Paderewski's illness, sentative, said:
which would prevent the distinguished pianist from
"Judging from the hundreds of answers received,
touring this country this Autumn.
He said there was little to tell of a thrilling busi- Columbus people agree that every child i." entitled to
ness nature about most of the countries of Europe a chance in music—rich and poor alike. Almost every
at present. In the city of London where he has school has a seldom-used piano somewhere in the
his main office most of the dealers in high-grade building. These pianos should be used every day by
those underprivileged children hungering for musi-
.pianos were keeping fairly busy.
cal training. Who knows what talent might thus be
As to the house of Steinway & Sons, it kept as
discovered. Mayhap a Padcrewski, a Schumann-
busy as usual. Three of the sons of the late George Heink, or a John McCormack.
Eshelby are now Steinway men. One of them is a
"Music instruction is far more important than
live wire at the London house, while the two others
are in the Steinway factory at Hamburg, Germany. algebra, and many other subjects stressed in school
A cousin, John B. Eshelby, is assistant manager at these days.
"Every child who wishes should be able to sit down
the London headquarters. "Anyway. Steinway &
Sons are doing all they can on that side of the water and play the piano. A different atmosphere would
to keep the American flag waving," said Mr. Stein- permeate the home. Musical people are happy peo-
ple. Music drives away dull care, worry and fatigue.
way.
It inspires both young and old; it stimulates ambition
and rests the w r eary. Music in the home puts sun-
HEADS A PIANO EXCHANGE
shine in the heart. It keeps the children at home.
A. Weber, of Lawrence, Kan., writes to Presto-
"What would a church or a theater be without
Times that he has learned that the better class of
pianos now enjoy a healthy business. He is running music? Can you imagine a parade without a band?
a repair and piano exchange at 105 West Eighth The school boards ought lo make music an elective
street, Lawrence, and he says the Kansas State studv."
Chamber of Commerce with a high-powered man of
New York are surveying Lawrence and other Kansas
The Brunswick Music Shop at Robinson, 111., has
cities for better business and the encouragement of
changed its name to the Music Shop. M. G. Lorancc
capitalists to locate industries in the state.
is proprietor and Vernice Mullins is service man.
Grand and Upright Actions
Reconditioned
Water Damaged and Moth Eaten Player Actions Rebuilt
Expression Devices <
—
> Governors *
—
> Air Motors, Etc.
Striking Pneumatics
If you have grand or upright actions which have been damaged by water, moth, etc., and
are not prepared or do not have the time to rebuild these actions in your shops, let us give you
an estimate.
•
Special equipment and factory experienced mechanics enable us to give you a high grade
of work at minimum cost, and very prompt service.
E. A. BOUSLOG, Inc.
2106 Boulevard Place
Harrison 2268
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
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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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November 15, 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. ABBOTT
- - - - - - - -
(C. A. DAN I ELL—1904-1927.)
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), "PRESTO," 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. I>atest 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 «*d-
vertisements for current week, to insure classification
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, NOVEMBER 15, 1929
THE FUTURE OF THE PIANO
SOURCES OF POWER
The future of the piano is no longer a matter hung in suspense;
it is assured of continued manufacture and sale. The piano and radio
are so essentially distinct in performance and usefulness that they
help instead of hinder each other. Radio now challenges attention;
it assumes a definite aspect: it is not a thing apart or inimical to the
piano business. It is a member of the great musical family. A few
months ago there was all kinds of conjectural interpretations of what
radio was going to do to the piano trade. Now the intelligent piano
manufacturer is disabusing his mind of any such fears; he has ceased
to deplore the unproductiveness of all his toil and anxiety. His best
assurances of the possibilities of the piano are coming from the radio
men themselves, for radio men and piano men are now drawing-
closer together, and there is nothing to interrupt the friendly feeling.
By uniting, there is a spurring of mental activity in new directions,
so that each problem is solved simply on its own merits by men of
shrewd good sense. Kindness and friendship toward one another
helps, but there are other adjustments which may not be appreciated
or apparent except to the critical. Those who are bringing tin- piano
and radio elements into proper relationship are associating them-
selves in serving a worthy purpose.
The enlightening talks at the Piano Club of Chicago, the largest
piano club in the world, give sidelights on movements and tendencies
in the music business that probably could not be flashed from any
other source. Nothing highly picturesque comes from this innermost
circle, but the listeners have their minds reinforced and enriched by
the exhaustive investigation of sources of power that the talks dis-
close. They are thrilled when they are asked to study movements
of tremendous import that are changing their own businesses ; when
things are pointed out that call for a distinctive claim to their atten-
tion and they are asked to exercise the rights of private judgment as
to the best course to pursue, and they are gladdened to hear that the
piano trade is coming back steadily and to learn of the causes that
are impelling this strange discovery (?) forward. It is not a dis-
covery or something new to the men who keep pegging awa_v. To
them it is a well-known sound conditi.on, limited or modified only by
environmental incidents.
r
: ;V'^
THE QUIET, IMPRESSIVE SALESMAN
Dashaway salesmen who fail often wonder about the distinguish-
ing intellectual endowment they do not comprehend in the quiet, re-
sourceful, elastic, versatile salesman who succeeds in the same district
<»r as a member of the staff to which the sudden onsetters belong.
They do not realize that closing a sale is not an exercise in argument
or disputation, glittering u ith sarcastic thrusts at somebody else's
piano. They love to sport with what they call the curiosity and
credulity of the public, not realizing that their customer has a keener
penetrative mind than their own and is analyzing every step of the
sales talk. In their intrepid and highly impatient manner of dealing
with the matters in hand, they do not trouble themselves with such
"useless courtesies" as the mild-mannered salesman emptoys. But
the dashaway fellows are men whose struggles are out of proportion
to their achievements, although they may have worked to the limits
of their capacities, innate or acquired. Ignorance in action is bound
to produce poor results. The quiet salesman, on the other hand, takes
men and women as he finds them, believing that minds must be
allowed their peculiarities. So he handles all customers with care
and applies his sales talks with discretion.
STORY & CLARK TRADE GOOD.
WHAT MUSIC-STANDS FOR
Music stands for the verities and sanctities of the past and for the
meaning and majesty of the present. It proves that a life is more than
a living and that manhood and womanhood are more than money. It
sends the rut-held spirits out on voyages of discovery and opens the
eyes to new horizons. It shows that the pulpit, the stage, politics and
business are but different aspects of the same activity in the sense
that all contribute to higher modes of living, without which good
music is impossible. Music prevents the disintegration of morale in
the masses ; it causes them to lay hold of the meaning of life. To
some, music has an ideal significance which makes it difficult for them
to give it a natural classification. Probably these get as much enjoy-
ment out of music as the analytical writers for the press who bombard
us with the narrow-mindedness of criticism.
EVERLASTING ENERGY
Everlasting energy is the price of success in the piano business.
The man who can't suffer disappointment or who is cast down by
every little defeat will not win. Some of the biggest piano manufac-
turers began with little or no capital, but they possessed pluck and
perseverance. There is no room for a gentleman of leisure in the piano
trade. We are in a world where work is the condition of life, and
the survival of 'the fittest means that the fittest must will to survive.
out the country, with the piano as the basic instru-
ment." The Francis Piano Co. is now featuring the
following lines: Haddorff, Lester, Poole, Ivers &
Pond, M. Schulz Co., and Wurlitzer.
TURNER HALL CONCERTS.
Among the finest concerts in Chicago this fall are
those by Ballmann's Orchestra, Martin Ballmann, con-
ductor, given Sunday afternoons in North Side Tur-
ner Hall, 820 North Clark street. The Lyon & Healy
piano and harp were used at the concert on Nov. 3,
and the soloists were Franz Voigtmann, dramatic
tenor; Abram Hochstein, violinist; Matthew Manna,
cornetist, and Miss Betty Muehlberger, harpist.
Ernest Heinen was the humorist.
Wholesale trade in Story & Clark pianos is above
average, a Presto-Times reporter learned last week
from E. M. Love, secretary of that company. The
retail trade at the Michigan avenue store must also
ROBS MAIL; GETS FOUR YEARS.
he going along fine, for all the members of the Story
The postmaster at Chicago last week returned a
& Clark floor sales force whom this writer had the
letter to Presto-Times which this paper had sent out
good fortune to meet, were in the most radiant of
last January to a customer addressed to his residence.
spirits.
On the letter was the notation that this letter was
found in the effects of a culprit now doing four years'
HUSTLING WINS FOR FRANCIS.
t ; me in Leavenworth prison for robbing the mails at
J. F. GLYNN MAKES CHANGE.
The Francis Piano Co. of Galesburg, Ills., con- the house boxes.
J. Francis Glynn. who has been connected with
tinues its push and consequent success. Mr. Francis
Mat'uishek Piano Company, New York, for some
recently sold pianos to the West Side school at Bush-
E. T. Gundlach, head of the Gundlach advertising
nell. 111., the Science Hall school near Alexis, 111., agency, 400 North Micnigan avenue, Chicago, which time, in a wholesale and general capacity, and prior
and the West Union school, north of Maquon, 111. handles several musical instrument manufacturers' to that with the James & Holmstrom Piano Company.
Inc.. has resigned his position to engage in literary
To a notice of these sales, printed in a local paper, advertising work, told the City Club of Chicago on
His many friends in the piano
the following sentence is added: "Music is being November 7 some of his experiences in Germany on a and journalistic work.
trade will wish h : m success in his chosen vocation.
given a major place by many school boards through- recent trip to that country.
He is the son of John J. Glynn of the Mathushek.
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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