Presto

January, 1930
FOR PIANO SPACE
IN LIVING ROOM
Secretary Loomis Making Strenuous Efforts
to Interest Builders and Real Estate
Boards in Proper Construction
of Homes.
It lias been brought to the attention of the Execu-
tive Office of the National Association of Music Mer-
chants by members that occasionally a piano sale
has been lost because of adequate space in a living
room of a small apartment or home has not been
provided for placing the instrument and after consult-
ing with President Parham Werlein, the Executive
Secretary, D. L. Loomis, has taken this subject up
recently with the chief executives of various chapters
of the American Institute of Architects.
Mr. Loomis has just returned from a trip which
included Philadelphia, Baltimore, Washington, Col-
umbus, Ohio; Chicago and Detroit. In each city the
president or secretary of the local chapter of the
Institute was interviewed and a resolution was sub-
mitted by the Executive Board for possible action by
the executive committees of the various chapters.
This resolution "extends the suggestion to its mem-
bers that in the preparation of plans for small homes
and apartments, thoughtful consideration may prop-
erly be given to providing ample space in living rooms
for such musical instruments as pianos, console
models of phonographs and radio sets."
Architects Taking Hold.
The matter was brought to the attention of Edwin
C. Kemper, executive secretary of the American In-
stitute of Architects, which is the National body with
headquarters in Washington, and Mr. Kemper gave
assurance that the subject would be brought to the
attention of the Executive Committee at its next
meeting in March.
Interviews were had with executives of such or-
ganizations as the Philadelphia Operative Builders
Association; Operative Builders Association of Wash-
ington and the Washington Real Estate Boards; the
Columbus, Ohio, Better Home Builders Association;
the Real Estate Board of Columbus and also with the
National Association of Real Estate Boards with
headquarters in Chicago.
In connection with any action which may be taken
by these various architectural chapters and associa-
tions, it is probable that stories will be released for
publication in the daily papers in the various cities.
There are more than fifty chapters affiliated with
the American Institute of Architects covering the en-
tire country and it will be the plan of the Merchants'
Executive Office to take up this matter with the presi-
dents of all of the chapters.
It is believed that while a great many architects
and builders give consideration to providing ample
space for such musical instruments as a piano, con-
sole models of phonograph and radio sets in drawing
the plans for small living rooms, nevertheless it may
be that favorable action along the lines indicated will
result in bringing the subject to their attention and
it may very probably result in some desirable public-
ity. In approaching these associations the thought
has been conveyed that music in the home is a very
big and vital subject and one having to do w 7 ith
cultural and educational advancement.
In Detroit.
In Detroit Mr. Loomis attended a luncheon meet-
ing of the Detroit Music Trade Association at which
there was a re-election of officers including Frank J.
Bayley, president; Walter E. Jenkins, first vice-presi-
dent; George W. Bourke, second vice-president; A. H.
Howes, secretary and treasurer. These officers, to-
gether with Jay Grinnell and David Reddaway, con-
stitute the Board of Directors. President Bayley
was requested by the Association, in the interests of
the music trade, to allow his name to be placed in
nomination for re-election as president of the Detroit
Retail Radio Dealers' Association at the annnual
meeting which will take place December 22.
Mr. Loomis also attended one of the regular Mon-
day luncheons of the Piano Club of Chicago as the
guest of President Brownell. On both of these occa-
sions he spoke on the promotional and service activi-
ties of his office.
MUSIC DURING OPERATION.
A hired musician played a saxophone in the operat-
ing room at Butte City, Mont., on December 16, dur-
ing an operation upon Ed. Mason, which was necessi-
tated by an automobile accident. Dr. E. S. McMahon,
who performed the operation, hired the musician.
The patient went under the ether to the crooning
strains of a popular melody, and when he "came to"
the first thing he heard was the wail of a fox trot.
P R E S T O-T I M E S
LAYING A FOUNDATION
NEEDED FOR A SALE
W. B. Marshall, Packard Piano Co. Sales Manager,
Speaks of This Necessity.
In a recent chat with W. B. Marshall, sales man-
ager of the Packard Piano Co., Fort Wayne, Ind.,
just after his return from a Pacific Coast trip, that
experienced piano man emphasized the old-time meth-
ods of selling pianos by taking the time to get well
acquainted with the families of those solicited. Mr.
Marshall is right—a piano is not an article to be sold
in five minutes or by making one call.
"On the trip just finished," said Mr. Marshall, "I
found many dealers who are actually selling a goodly
amount of pianos, but this was only taking place
where the dealer was giving undivided attention to
pianos—stores where they had a number of men
working on nothing but pianos.
"In many other stores I found them selling and
pushing nothing but radios and most of them com-
plaining very bitterly because they were making no
money doing so. The ones selling pianos seemed to
be the happiest ones I met.
"There is nothing new in the piano business, be-
cause to obtain piano sales it is necessary to get out
and work up the prospect just as we did twenty-five
and thirty years ago, taking the time to get will
acquainted with the family and invariably piano sales
will follow. Too many salesmen are neglecting to
take the time to get a customer interested and when
the real effort is made the piano man has as good a
chance to sell the customer as any other industry.
This has been proven too many times to lie anything
but the absolute fact."
GULBRANSEN ORDERS
INCREASED PRODUCTION
Thirty Per Cent Increase Is the Order in Radio
Department Issued by John S. Gorman.
In the face of pessimism in some quarters that the
demoralizing upheaval in stocks would possibly have
a dampening influence upon the flourishing prosperity
of the radio industry, John S. Gorman, vice-president
of the Gu'.bransen Company, broadcast a reassuring
statement to all Gulbransen jobbers and dealers.
"I am today ordering an immediate thirt} 7 per cent
increase in production," Mr. Gorman said. "Although
the stock market upheaval undoubtedly may cause
radical readjustment affecting many concerns in the
next ten days, we are going full steam ahead. The
tremendous prosperity of this country cannot be seri-
ously affected and we are confident that this present
flurry will have a tendency to increase production by
solidly financed, progressive manufacturers, and they
will reap greater benefits than ever before
"Our orders for production increase are based solely
upon visible demand for Gulbransen products, a de-
mand which we are certain cannot be changed. All
signs point to renewed activity in every substantial
line of industry."
Apparently in the same spirit of optimism, Gul-
bransen dealers and jobbers assert the belief that
radio buying will not be slowed up in any way in
spite of the probability of curtailment in retail pur-
chasing predicted by some economists due to the
fact that the stock market upheaval caught so many
small investors. They take the view, as does the
Gulbransen company, that radio while so lately
classed more a necessity than a luxury, is entertain-
ment, and business history records that entertain-
ment is bought by the American people to a far
greater extent in times of sorrow, war or other dis-
turbing influences than at any other time. Entertain-
ment such as radr'o provides is one certain way of
relief for downcast or troubled minds.
The Enterprise Company of Cincinnati, local dis-
tributors for the Gulbransen Radio receiving sets, en-
tertained their dealers from the surrounding territory
at a recent banquet at the Hotel Metropole.
Dan V. Goodman of the Gulbransen sales staff
acted as toastmaster at a Gulbransen dinner at the
Hotel Baker in St. Charles, 111. Albert Hasselquist
and Ernest Hasselqu : st, owners of the Fox Electric
Supply Company, welcomed the visiting dealers.
Other speakers on the program were G. G. Smith,
H. S. Alexander, advertising manager of the Gulbran-
sen Company; N. M. Miller, of the Burgess Battery
Company; Attorney A. L. Paulson of Elgin; A. S.
Wells, chief engineer of the Gulbransen Company,
and John S. Gorman, vice president of the Chicago
concern.
The Alabama Electric Supply Company of Bir-
mingham, Ala., has been appointed state distributors
for the Gulbransen radio, according to an announce-
ment by Ben W. Glassman, president of the Bir-
mingham concern.
"While the Gulbransen set is a newcomer in this
district," Mr. Glassman said, "it is being met with
11
WHAT THE NEW
GUIDE WILL SHOW
Withdrawals of Piano Manufacturing Firms
Do Not in All Cases Indicate the Per-
manent Cessation of Making Pianos
for the Trade.
The Presto Buyers' Guide corrections now being
returned by manufacturers as an aid to the publishers
in bringing the book up to date, show fewer radical
changes than had been anticipated. PRESTO BUY-
ERS' GUIDE is an index of how the piano industry
stands from year to year, and the indications are that
the units in manufacturing, with a few less, are prac-
tically unchanged.
Barrrng t'.ie several discontinuances, liquidations
and consolidations the new Guide will show that prac-
tically all the pianos and their manufacturers that
were represented in the 1929 issue and in former edi-
tions reappear. Actual withdrawals are fewer than
many in the trade would guess, there being only about
a half-dozen companies that can be included in the
list, although these represent about a score of piano
names.
However, there are still fewer of these firms that
will permanently cease to function, as some of them
are in the hands of the Music Industries Chamber of
Commerce Committee and are likely to pull through
and start manufacturing at a livelier rate sooner or
later. Therefore, the reader must read between the
lines to get at the actual residue of manufacturing
firms that are alive and in a state of continuance—
aware of their opportunities to produce the kinds of
pianos that are wanted to meet the requirements of
customers.
TRIBUTE TO I. N. RICE
The death of I. N. Rice was fully reported in the
last issue of Presto-Times, but further tribute to his
memory reached Chicago since that publication in the
shape of a letter from his life-long friend, George P.
Bent. This letter was read from the speaker's table
at the Piano Club of Chicago and then passed around
for individual reading. Mr. Bent's letter follows:
"A Tribute to Isaac Newton Rice, Born August 28,
1847; Died December 1, 1929.
"Words cannot fully eulogize or adequately express
the high regard and esteem and respect felt for Mr.
1. N. Rice by myself and his host of friends.
"He was a life-long, close and intimate friend of
mine, and in a weak way I wish to pay tribute to his
sterling worth and character.
"He had thousands of friends—no enemies.
"His was a most kindly, helpful and friendly nature.
"He had nothing but good to say of and do for his
competitors in business as I well know, for I was one
of them. He was helpful, never harmful, to everyone
he knew.
"His rare attributes and merits of head and heart
endeared him to all. He was loved and admired by
all who came to know him in his long life of 82 years.
"GEORGE P. BENT.
"Los Angeles, December 4, 1929."
This letter is eloquent of the life of a man who
was beloved by all who had the good fortune to know
him well. It contains sentiments that this paper
expressed about him some 25 years ago, as will be
seen in our "25 Years Ago" column of this issue.
Presto-Times extends its sincere condolence to the
bereaved members of his family. Mr. Rice was one
of the members of the trade who will be missed by
the houses he had visited as well as by other hosts
of friends.
LOUISVILLE CONCERN EXPANDING.
The Kelsall Music Co., now located at 632 South
Fourth street, Louisville, Ky., will move in February
to its own building at 909 West Broadway, Louisville.
The music company plans to establish a chain of
three stores in Louisville, to be completed in the
early spring, according to O. C. Kelsall, president.
The Broadway building, a two-story structure erected
at a cost of $15,000 to $20,000, will house the main
store.
MOISEIWITSCH BACK IN U. S. A.
Benno Moiseiwitsch. the Russian pianist, gave his
second recital of the season on the night of Decem-
ber 14, in the Town Hall, New York, where he was
welcomed by a large audience on his return from a
tour of Central America, which embraced Santiago
and other cities off the beaten path of concert artists.
exceptional enthusiasm both by dealers and the gen-
eral public who are impressed by its unusual sensitiv-
ity and selectivity, its liquid tone, quiet operation,
and attractive mounting."
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