Presto

June, 1930
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
as experience has shown, the desire to play can
readily be instilled.
"True and complete music-appreciation requires
actual participation by the individual in the playing
of a musical instrument for the Very excellent reason
that only he who plays an instrument derives the full-
est benefit and satisfaction from music.
"Knowing what music is, knowing what music
means to human beings of every creed and race and
color, knowing that it is the very essence of spiritual
life, aye, of human life itself, is it conceivable, is it
within the realm of reason to imagine for an instant
that our industry cannot hew out for itself a road in
the onward march of progress? Unless we permit
ourselves to fall completely out of tune with the
world in which we live and which we serve, this can-
not, this must not be."
ORGAN BUILDERS HOLD MEETING.
the M. Schulz Co., were met at the rooms maintained
at the convention hotel. Several M. Schulz Co. styles
were shown, and as for the Colony Grand, that in-
strument came in for a great deal of favorable com-
ment.
The Wanamaker Exhibit.
John Wanamaker, 9th street and Broadway, New
York, sent out invitations to attend the Wanamaker
exhibition of pianos in period and art designs. The
exhibition was held during convention week.
Steinway Displays.
The House of Steinway had one grand on exhibi-
tion at the New Yorker, their main exhibit being held
at their headquarters on 57th street.
The Mathushek Co. presented a complete display
of period and conventional model grands as well as
uprights and an exhibit of the special Mathushek con-
Wurlitzer Products.
The Wurlitzer House presented a complete and
attractive line of uprights and grands. The Julius
Bauer Grand Piano, exhibited for the first time in
conjunction with the other Wurlitzer products re-
ceived much favorable attention.
The new popular-priced grand of Winter & Co.
attracted much attention to the display of that insti-
tution which showed a full line of modern upright
and grand pianos.
Other piano exhibitors at the New Yorker included
The Aeolian Co., Weaver Piano Co., Krakauer Bros.,
Haddorff Piano Co.
Other Displays.
In various retail warerooms throughout the mid-
town district of Manhattan the following makers dis-
played their instruments: American Piano Co., C.
Bechstein Piano at Wanamaker's. Boardman & Grav
At a meeting of the Organ Builders' Association
of America held at the Hotel New Yorker. New
York, on June 9, a committee was elected to devise
ways and means whereby the Organ Builders' Asso-
ciation of America could be reorganized as a division
member of the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce.
The following individuals were elected and were
instructed to report back to a general meeting of
organ builders on September 9, 1930:
Herbert Brown, Austin Organ Co., Hartford,
Conn.; George L. Catlin, Skinner Organ Co., Boston.
Mass.; Gustav F. Dohring, Hilgreen, Lane & Co.,
255 Fifth Ave., New York, N. Y.; Arthur E Lott,
Welte-Tripp Organ Corp., Sound Beach, Conn.;
David Marr. Marr & Colton, Warsaw, N. Y.; W. B.
Miller, W. W. Kimball Co., 507 Fifth Ave., New
York. N. Y.
Sheet Music Dealers Convention.
Tn the National Association of Sheet Music Deal-
ers' session at New York, in association with the
general music conventions, there was considerable
discussion of the relation of radio broadcasting to the
sale of sheet music Jack Harden of Springfield,
Mass., president of the association, pointed out that
the growing appreciation of music was creating a
stronger demand for sheet music, which in turn was
increasing the number of "educated radio listeners."
"To be a good listener, one must have some edu-
cation in music," he said. "Although broadcast music
originally hurt the sales of sheet music, there is evi-
dence that it will help it in the future. The radio
depends primarily upon sheet music and the growing-
interest in self-expression will undoubtedly increase
the sale of sheet music."
Teaching Music by Radio.
The success of instruction in music given over the
radio was described by Franklin Dunham, president of
the Music Education Exhibitors' Association. Said Mr.
Dunham: "Dance music is changing and becoming
more tuneful and melodious. The trend back to grace-
fulness is so evident that it is hard to find a real jazz
orchestra any more. They are all gradually becom-
ing concert orchestras with players who have a real
musical education. The principal function of radio in
the future will be to continue instruction in music so
that appreciation of music may be developed to a
greater degree."
At Sheet Music Convention.
Henry B. Crosby, of the Arthur P. Schmitt Co.,
Boston, speaking at the sheet music men's meeting,
said: "We must as producers and retailers endeavor
to realize our respective problems—the publishers to
create a demand for their goods; the retailers to
control and build up the trade in their territories
thereby assuring satisfactory representation to the
publishers. The results of a recent canvass of musi-
cians prove without doubt that most of them prefer
to trade locally. One of the questions we asked was
this: 'Do you buy our publications direct or from
your local dealer?' Approximately 90 per cent gave
the name of the home dealer with whom they traded."
AMONGST THE EXHIBITORS
The spirit of both the manufacturers, who exhib-
ited and the merchants, who visited their rooms at
the convention, were filled with an optimistic, aggres-
sive spirit which promises well for the future of the
music industry. Many new products and improve
ments were shown and much that was new and valu-
able in the way of plans for promoting sales.
An exhibit which commanded considerable atten-
tion was that of the German piano—the Julius Bluth-
ner. Two grand models were shown at the Hotel
New Yorker containing an interesting device of a
fourth treble string designed to increase the res-
onance, etc.. of that section of the scale.
The M. Schulz Co. Exhibit.
Henry D. Hewitt, sales manager: Fred P. Bassett,
secretary and treasurer; Otto Schulz, vice-president,
and Otto M. Heinzman, Eastern representative of
STEINWAY & SONS SPECIAL, SKETCH PIANO EXHIBITKH AT IIOTKL NEW YORKER Dl'RINO CONVENTION
This instrument is of French walnut parquetry, with panels of English burled oak. and decorated with Chinese sea-
weed marquetry of rosewood. The less and lyre columns are gracefully banded together with a typical English stretcher.
The Mathushek Pianos.
at Oliver Ditson's, Cable-Nelson Piano Co. at their
structional features. New dealer helps were also in New York wholesale warerooms, Chase-Emerson
Corp., 42nd Street warerooms, Jacob Doll & Sons,
evidence.
Kranich & Bach featured their beautiful period 6 East 39th street, Hardman, Peck & Co., Ivers &
model grands and also a display of action materials Pond at Oliver Ditson's, James & Holmstrom Piano
and methods. Kranich & Bach build their own Co., Ludwig & Co., Paul G. Menlin & Sons, Schiller
Piano Co.. Sohmer & Co., Starr Pianc Co. at Hotel
actions with several exclusive improvements.
Weser Bros., Inc., showed a complete line of instru- DeWitt Clinton; Steiner & Sons, Story & Clark, Vose
ments including a Radioplayer. A playerpiano which & Sons Piano Co., Wing & Son.
also contains a radio receiving set—a combination of
music well adapted to certain types of trade.
The new Lancaster Grand and Upright was shown
by the B. K. Settergren Co. as well as their usual
models. The Lancaster line met with remarkable
success at the convention, due, Mr, Settergren says,
The annual meeting and dinner of the National
to its outstanding value.
Piano Travelers Association was held on Monday
The House of Baldwin had a large display of
their complete line and also featured their remarkably evening, June 9, at the Hotel Barbizon-Plaza, 58th
comprehensive plan of dealer helps and sales—pro- street and Sixth avenue, New York city. Hotels
are an old story to the Travelers, but in this case the
motional material and activities.
This was the first convention at which the Kohler- hotel was a decidedly new one. The banquet was
Brambach Co. has exhibited its new lines and models held on the thirtieth floor and the interior of the
and a very complete line of instruments, styled and hotel had only been completed to the twentieth. How-
priced to meet the demands of the day, was on hand. ever, the Barbizon-Plaza reaches upwards forty-two
stories, so that while the Travelers realized they
The Gulbransen Exhibit.
were away above the crowded sidewalks of New
The new Edward B. Healy Grand of the Gulbran- York, they also knew they had not quite hit the
sen Company—an outstanding product in its way, ceiling.
attracted much attention. Also the Educational Cam-
Jack Bliss Now Hotel Man.
paign whereby the Gulbransen Co. co-operates with
A splendid banquet was served to about seventy
its merchants to stimulate piano business.
Howard C. Rice, President of the C. Kurtzmann men. which was almost twice the number expected.
& Co., was in charge of the exhibit of Kurtzmann For it. Jack Bliss, a well-known figure in the music
Pianos, and presented to visitors a very interesting industries and, incidentally, manager of the Barbizon-
story of the technical reasons for the tonal eminence Plaza, is to be held accountable. Regrets were ex-
pressed over the passing of P. J. Conroy and Otto
of Kurtzmann Pianos.
Schulz, honorary members, and O. W. Williams.
Decker & Son showed several of their always popu- The reports of the Grievance Committee and the
lar grand models.
Highways and Waterways Committee were marked
A new 6 foot 10 inch Lester Grand was one of the by a pleasing brevity.
features of the display of the Lester Co. Their
Total Membership Now 229.
complete line was shown in their suite of rooms.
The
secretary.
Albert Behning, reported that the
The Lester canes were also in evidence.
total membership was now 229. Roger Brown gave
The Weaver Headquarters.
a report on the condition of Dan Fabian, a member
The headquarters at the Hotel New Yorker were who was injured in an auto accident some two years
in room 3121. Here C. D. Bond and Walter L. Bond ago and whose health is now improving. It was
and other members of the Weaver organization were unanimously decided to send him a note expressing
on hand, shaking hands and asking visitors to stay in best wishes and regret that he had not been able to
the rooms as long as they liked. These men exhibited attend.
The treasurer, J. 11. Bliss, reported a balance in
true Pennsylvania hospitality and also some very fine
the treasury of $15 instruments.
THE TRAVELERS DINNER
AND ELECTION
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