Presto

Issue: 1930 2250

September, 1930
PRESTO-TIMES
OHIO MUSIC AND RADIO
MERCHANTS ELECT OFFICERS
Cleveland Chosen for 1931 Convention—Details of
Cincinnati Convention.
The twenty-first annual meeting of the Music and
Radio Merchants Association of Ohio, which was held
on September 9 and 10 at the Hotel Sinton, Cincinnati,
was characteristically full of Ohio pep, which will be
further demonstrated in piano, radio and radio-phono-
graph selling during the coming six months of musical
instrument harvest time.
The program opened on Tuesday morning, Septem-
ber 9, at 9:30 o'clock with a round table discussion,
with "radio" as the central topic, led by Charles J.
Meinberg of Cincinnati. The resolutions committee
was also appointed on that day. The address of wel-
come was given by the Hon. Russell Wilson, mayor
of Cincinnati, and the response by Otto B. Heaton of
Columbus, president of the association. At the after-
noon session Tuesday the round table subject was
"Pianos," led by Charles H. Yahrling of Youngstown.
That evening the big informal dinner was given fol-
lowed by dancing.
Wednesday's program in the forenoon included
round table talks on "Hand and Orchestra Instru-
ments," led by Robert L. White of Cleveland. In the
afternoon the meeting and the outing were held at
Bass Island, a resort located about ten miles from the
Sinton Hotel on the Little Miami river, where the
convention picture was taken. Here on Bass Island
the annual business meeting was held in the audito-
rium which is located there.
The Wurlitzer Grand Piano Co., of DeKalb, 111., did
not make a special exhibit of pianos at the Hotel
Sinton in connection with the convention, but there
were plenty of samples of these fine instruments to
be seen at the Wurlitzer store in Cincinnati, and they
were seen by many of the conventioners.
Other firms including the Baldwin Piano Co., did
not exhibit at the hotel.
At the closing session of the convention of the
Music and Radio Merchants' Association of Ohio,
held at Bass Island, last Wednesday, September 10.
A. L. Maresh, Cleveland, was elected president. Other
officers chosen were: Carl E. Summers, Jackson, vice-
president; George P. Gross, Cincinnati, treasurer;
Rexford C. Hyre, secretary and Harry R. Valentine,
Cleveland, trustee. The 1931 convention will be held
at Cleveland.
The election was held during the annual outing at
Bass Island, and brought to a close the two-day
meeting. Otto B. Heaton, Columbus, was the retiring-
president. Otto Grau, Dan F. Summey and W r i11iam
R. Graul were in charge of the entertainment and
other features of the program at Cincinnati.
DEALERS' NEW COMMITTEES
Otto B. Heaton, president of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants, has announced the personnel
of the press committee for the coming year as follows:
Frank J. Bayley, Bayley Music House, 1449 Broad-
way, Detroit, chairman; Charles H. Yahrling, Yahr-
ling-Raynor Music Co., 306 West F'ederal street,
Youngstown, Ohio; C. J. Roberts, Charles M. Stieff.
Inc., 315 North Howard street, Baltimore; Edwin R.
Weeks, Weeks & Dickinson Music Store, 39 Chenango
street, Binghamton, N. Y.
The resolutions committee for the coming year will
be made up of the following three members: George
y . Chase, Kohler & Chase, 111 O'Farrell street, San
Francisco, chairman; B. E. Neal, Neal-Clark-Neal Co.,
473 Main street, Buffalo, If*- Y.; Parham Werlein,
Philip Werlein, Ltd., 607 Canal street, New Orleans,
La.
CAPEHART EXHIBITS
AT MANY SHOWS
FIRMS CONTINUE TO TAKE
ON AMERICAN PIANO LINE
The enthusiasm which is shown by the piano trade
generally for securing the agencies of the American
Piano line of instruments is a matter that shows the
Irene! of the buying public, as well as the choice of
the dealers. This enthusiasm is genuine, and it indi-
cates the popularity and strength of the pianos now
made by the American Piano Corporation.
In addition to former long lists of well-known piano
merchants who have taken on the pianos of the Amer-
ican Piano Corporation are the following big firms,
with the names of the instruments secured:
Anderson-Sovvard Co., Dayton, O . Chickering.
Isaac Bledsoe Music Co.. Austin, Tex., Chickering.
Pearson Piano Co., Indianapolis, Ind., Chickeriug.
Columbia Music Co.. Columbia, S. C , Knabe.
W. F. Frederick Piano Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., Knabe.
SHAFFER A RECORD SALESMAN
George P. Shaffer, one of the veterans of the piano
trade, is still in the music business and as much in
The Capehart Corp., Fort W'ayne, Ind.-, will have love with it as ever. He is now local retail represent-
a very impressive exhibit at the seventh annual Radio ative of the Capehart Corp. of Fort Wayne, Ind., and
World's Fair, to be held at Madison Square Gardens. his store is in the Randall Hotel building in the down-
New York, September 22 to 27. The booth numbers town section of that city. A Presto-Times represent-
ative met him in his store recently and rode with him
are 14BB and 16BB.
Capehart hotel headquarters will be at Hotel Astor, in his machine out to the Capehart plant on East
Pontiac street. Mr. Shaffer is as active as a youth
on the first floor, at the Broadway and 44th street
corner. In attendance at this show will be H. E. and never misses a chance to make a deal. He was
Capehart, president; T. J. Hicklin, general sales man- famous as a piano wholesale traveler in times past—
ager; W. C. Peterson, director of sales training; J. A. six years traveling out of Boston for the Bush & Lane
Piano Co. of Holland, Mich.; he traveled for the
Darwin, eastern regional manager, and R. C. Vaughan,
Lester Piano Co. of Philadelphia for five years; he
district manager.
"Our booth at the Atlantic City show was unques- was traveler for the Kurtzmann Piano Co. of Buffalo
for one year; he ran a store in Huntington, Ind., for
tionably the outstanding exhibit at the show," said
C. E. Ihrie, director of advertising and sales promo- five years.
tion, "and we are making a special effort to make our
A BUSY SPECIAL SALES MAN
exhibit at the Radio World's Fair even more attrac-
tive and interesting.
^
]. R. l'enn of Frcderiektown, Ohio, advertises that
"In addition to our complete line of commercial hi' is in the business of conducting special sales for
and home models of the Capehart Amperion and the piano dealers. Mr. Penn, it is presumed, might be
Capehart Orchestrope and Amperion combination called a clean-up man, a man who goes to a music
units, we shall exhibit our new industrial model which
house and takes entire charge of a special sale of
in one compact unit combines automatic phonograph, used instruments, and meanwhile customers for new
radio, microphone, and mixing panel features. It has instruments are turned up. He has had long and
three channels of distribution so that recorded music, varied experience in the piano field and knows piano
radio and microphone may all be used at the same selling from all angles. He traveled in wholesale
time over separate groups of speakers. Through a piano work for twelve years and knows many dealers
simple switching arrangement the recorded music, in this country, especially in the southern states.
radio or microphone pick-up may be distributed
through any one, two or three groups of speakers at
FORD SALESMEN AS CUSTOMERS
the same time. Any combination is possible.
The Baldwin Piano Co., in advising its salesmen
"This Capehart industrial model is the one which
will be used to furnish the music for the twelfth an- the other day as to classes of men to solicit to pur-
nual Restaurant World's Fair .to be held in the Cleve- chase a piano, said: "We are advised that Ford dealers
land Auditorium, October 6 to 10, and at the Indiana and salesmen everywhere are doing a splendid busi-
Industrial Exposition, October 4 to 11. This exhibit ness and are making more money than heretofore.
is being held in the Indiana State Fair Grounds, In- Such men are excellent prospects for pianos. And
dianapolis, Ind., and the installation will include our the man who is selling automobiles can't say, 'I want
model 193, two microphones and forty-eight speakers to buv a car first.' "
installed in the ceiling of the mammoth exhibit hall.
And All of This Half-Century He Has Been Asso-
"HOT TIME" COMPOSER VISITS U. S. A.
"We shall also exhibit at the ninth annual Chicago
ciated with the W. W. Kimball Company.
Radio Show to be held at the Coliseum, Chicago,
Theodore A. Metz, composer of the old song, "A
Hot Time in the Old Town Tonight," has recently
E. B. Bartlett, vice-president of the W. W. Kimball October 20 to 26, and our exhibit there will be similar
Co., Chicago, is receiving congratulations far and wide to the one in Atlantic City and in New York. Our arrived in this country from Germany where he has
made his home for many years past. Mr. Metz is one
from trade friends w r ho happen to be aware that at booth number for the Cfncago show is E-4.'
of the last of the old guard of minstrel entertainers,
the present time he is just about completing fifty
having been for many years musical director with the
years' connection with the music trade and industries.
great troupes that were the leading attractions of that
Fifty years ago Mr. Bartlett started in the music busi-
day. Although his age is said to be more than 80, Mr.
ness and he has continued in it all that time as one
Metz is more active than ever and he has just com-
of its most interested and beloved members. In its
During the past three years A. C. Beckman has pleted an Indian operetta, "Poketa," which several
larger fields Mr. Bartlett has served the cause of
music and pianos by performing his duties w 7 ell in represented the M. Schulz Co. of Chicago in the west- American managers are Jcnown to be considering
offices of honor and trust, both in national and home ern territory. In the adjusftnent of selling operations favorably. He is also organizing something new in
organizations in different periods. Today he is alert and territories Mr. Beckman is retiring as the M. the way of a dance orchestra which will probably be
and active, boyishly eager to serve his fellow man, Schulz Co. traveler and returning to Chicago. This known as the "Hot Time Band." Accompanying Mr.
Metz is his niece, Miss Anita Jakobi, whose beautiful
statement is made with keen regret by the M. Schulz
and he counts his friends by thousands.
soprano voice has already become a feature on broad-
In his younger days, after leaving the farm of his Co. as Mr. Beckman has always proven himself loyal casting programs over here. Mr. Metz is making his
father in Wisconsin, Mr. Bartlett had been a school in his every trust with that Chicago manufacturing headquarters with the Edward B. Marks Music Co.,
teacher and a book agent, selling books put out by corporation.
Arrangements have been effected with Charles Dun- Xew York, publishers of his famous "Hot Time."
D. Appleton & Co. of New York. In this respect he
dore to visit Schulz dealers on the west coast, that is.
was like Herman D. Cable, Hobart M. Cable and
Fayette S. Cable, each of whom sold school books the territory from Salt Lake west between the bound-
SCHUMANN OUTLOOK FAVORABLE
before they entered the music trade. Mr. Bartlett aries of Canada and Mexico. Mr. Dundore, who has
A Presto-Times representative who met W•'. N. Van
and the late Col. E. S. Conway were intimate friends represented the Haddorff company of Rockford, 111., Matre, president of the Schumann Piano Co., Rock-
for
the
past
few
years,
will
continue
as
their
rep-
for many years. In fact, so much so that Mr. Bart-
ford, 111., a few days ago learned from that gentleman
lett regarded Mr. Conway as his mentor in learning resentative, giving to their line the same conscientious that while July and August were quiet months in
service
as
in.the
past.,
The
present
arrangement
in
the piano business.
representing tw Mr. Bartlett lived at the home of Mr. Conway for mit of more frequent visits to the trade. This -*A'ill and. if present business and indications keep on as
%
some time after his arrival in Chicago. His entire place the dealer in closer contact with the St»ulz
they have started this month, September will go
association in the music business has been with the factory and bring to him more direct trade informa- through with a good record, and orders ahead insure
house of Kimball.
good business for the balance of the year at least.
tion.
As a member of the M. Schulz Co. said to a Presto-
Zaney-Gill Corp. of Illinois, 1727 West 22nd street.
Edwin Jarrett, well-known piano man of New York
Times representative:
Capital, $40,000 and 2,000 shares non-par value com-
and vicinity, has been building some stone walls
"Mr. Dundore is a fine personality; he is well and
around his garden at Sound Beach, "just by the way favorably known for his aggressive interest in the mon. To manufacture and deal in radios, tinware,
of exercise," he says When a piano man finds him- problems of the dealer, and I am sure the coast trade, etc. Incorporators: Saul P. Zaney, William Gill,
Raphael Dvorak. Correspondent: Bernard Allen Frief,
self with a bit of leisure, watch what he does just
Haddorff and ourselves, will find great satisfaction in
163 West Washington street.
as play.
the present arrangement."
E. B. BARLETT NOW
FIFTY YEARS IN MUSIC TRADE
DUNDORE NOW WITH
M. SCHULZ CO.
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/
September, 1930
P R E S T O- T I M E S
STEINWAY NAME HEARD
WHEREVER TRAVELER WENT
PIANO TRADE LIVELIER
AT INDIANAPOLIS
After a Year's Trip in Europe, Customer Purchases
Two Steinway Grands.
Baldwin, Schumann, Wurlitzer, Lester and Other
Lines Selling Well.
The Steinway News Letter always contains inter-
esting information pertaining to the Steinway person-
nel and Steinway business. The last issue tells how
easy it was to close a put-off deal after the prospect
had returned from Europe. The story is told as fol-
lows :
"Several years ago one of our dealers had a cus-
tomer for two large Steinway grands. This gentle-
man was undecided between Steinway and another
make. For several weeks he called frequently at our
dealer's store, but they were unable to close the deal.
Suddenly this man disappeared and upon investigation
our dealer found that he had gone to Europe.
"The proposition had been almost forgotten, when
about a year later this gentleman walked into the
store and immediately placed his order for two style
B Mahogany Steinway grands. Naturally the sales-
man was glad to enter this order but could not re-
sist asking his customer what had caused him to make
up his mind in favor of the Steinway.
"The customer answered as follows: 'I have just
returned from a year's trip to Europe. Wherever I
went I heard the name Steinway and wherever this
name was mentioned it was considered the best piano.
This other piano, although a good instrument, is noth-
ing but a local proposition, but the Steinway ranks
first in the world of music'"
The great Eastman School of Music in Rochester
is headed by Howard Hanson, the distinguished
American composer, who writes: "Our experience
with these pianos, in regard to tone quality, respon-
siveness of action and last but not least, durability,
lias been eminently satisfactory. Notwithstanding the
very hard usage to which your pianos are necessarily
subjected in our school, they always give perfect sat-
isfaction."
Mr. Carl Kinsey, president of the Chicago Musical
College, Rudolph Ganz, director, expresses his appre-
ciation of the Steinway pianos in the following words:
"We know of no other piano with so beautiful and
noble a tone as the Steinway, nor one that has so
much physical strength and endurance."
PRESIDENT HEATON'S
AIRPLANE TRIP
The "air minded" president of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants, Otto B. Heaton, "hopped
off" from his home city, Columbus, Ohio, last month
for a visit to several cities in the mid-west. He made
the trip as the guest of R. H. Schryver, president of
the Metal Aircraft Corp. in one of their new all-metal
8-passenger Flamingo planes, and as the invitation
came at a moment's notice, Mr. Heaton made the
trip sans baggage, even a tooth brush, to use his own
expression in telling the story.
The cities visited included Indianapolis, Kansas
City, St. Louis and Cincinnati. The schedule of stops
was so fast that an opportunity for paying visits to
members of the music industry was available in only
one city, Kansas City, but President Heaton called
on three members of the trade there.
It is possible that President Heaton may make
other trips of a similar nature later this season and
if so he will plan to visit the trade in cities wherever
possible.
THE NEW HAMILTON UPRIGHT.
In announcing the Hamilton upright model 235,
Sheraton period design piano, the Baldwin Piano Co..
Cincinnati, declares it a masterpiece, saying: "Baldwin
draws aside the curtain to the new season and dis-
closes the newest production of its Hamilton factory
craftsmen. This new Hamilton is a beautiful small
piano that combines an unexcelled richness and re-
sonance of tone with durability of construction. It is
a quality instrument throughout, with all the features
for which the Hamilton piano is famous. It is a
beautiful piece of furniture, following a design by
Sheraton. Its dimensions are: Height, 4 feet; width,
4 feet 11'4 inches; depth. 2 feet J/. inch. Walnut
(only).
SCHULZ GRAND FOR BROADCASTING
Chenoweth & Grten, prominent music dealers of
Enid, Okla., are justly proud of a deal they made
recently in selling an M. Schulz grand piano to the
Hotel Youngblood in that city for the use of the
Youngblood Hotel Orchestra, whose music is regu-
larly broadcast by radio to all parts of the country.
The music of this fine piano thereby goes out far
and wide, bringing pleasure to thousands. Boyd
Schreftler is director of the broadcasting orchestra
which uses the Schulz instrument for its accompani-
ments.
MOVING
PROBLEMS
SOLVED
by the
SELF-
LIFTING
PIANO
TRUCK
CO.
Write for a copy to
Self-Lifting Piano
Truck Co.
FINDLAY, OHIO
There is a noticeable change in the piano business,
and dealers as a whole report conditions very much
improved over the month of July. August, while very
hot, with the thermometer around 90 during the early
part of the month, showed a marked improvement
over July, and present conditions are satisfactory, with
prospects looking good. Many of the present pros-
pects are anticipating early purchases, according to
reports from the leading music houses, and dealers
are very optimistic.
The House of Baldwin is enjoying one of the best
runs on Baldwin grands in several years. Sales are
made on shorter time, with substantial down pay-
ments. Last week the usual Baldwin display at the
Indiana State Fair attracted large crowds, resulting
in some very good business. The entire line of pianos
made by the Baldwin company was on display, ar-
ranged in a very attractive booth with plenty of pub-
licity literature for distribution. Crowds gathered at
the display all during the day and evening and many
prospects were received. The display was an unusual
success. Colonial styles are moving well with some
demand for period models.
The Pearson Piano Co. notes an improvement in
business, with high grade pianos leading in sales.
August showed a big improvement over July and
prospects are encouraging.
J. L. Gormly, traveling representative for the Lester
Piano Co., Philadelphia, was interviewed by the
Presto-Times correspondent, and Mr. Gormly says
there is a decided change for the better in business
conditions. Mr. Gormly was working east from the
west coast. He found business conditions much im-
proved in the western states. The same report was
given for the mid-western states, where a decided
change in business has taken place, with signs of im-
provement on every side.
The Wilking Music Co. announce better conditions
with sales showing a decided improvement in the last
month.
One of the new arrivals from the Wurlitzer factory
is the new Duncan Phyfe, an early American period
model in the Apollo piano.
Frank Wilking returned last week from a trip
through the East, including New York City.
Thomas Riddick, general manager of the Philip
Werlein, Ltd., of New Orleans, La., was a visitor at
the Wilking store last week.
Much attention is being attracted by an unique
display in the window of the Marion Music Co. where
a Parlor Gem square piano, built more than one hun-
dred years ago, is being displayed in comparison with
one of the new Schumann grand pianos. A placard
announcing the "infant of 1805 and infant of 1930"
has been arranged on the square piano in order to
draw the attention of the passersby. The case of the
old instrument is in perfect state and the tone is very
good considering the age of the octagon-leg master-
piece. The original stool has been preserved and is
on display.
Business is reported very good by the Marion Music
Co. with prospects for the future encouraging. Grands
especially are selling well, with substantial payments
down and short time notes.
DID PREACHER PURLOIN PIANO?
If stealing a piece of sheet music is niching, what
would be the word for appropriating a piano without
the legal right to remove it, if not purloining? Any-
way, after a split in his congregation, the Rev. George
Short, pastor of the Church of the First Born, Misha-
waka, Ind., was arrested last month, charged with
stealing a piano from the church, as was also George
Friend, who is a friend of the pastor. The church
might split, but the piano couldn't be split and still
retain its musical powers, so the pastor perhaps
thought it would have to be taken whole for the bene-
fit of the faction supporting him. Anyway, the police
found the piano at the pastor's home.
FUN FOR THE PIANO CLUB
On Monday, Sept. 15. I'resto-Times' day of publi-
cation, the Piano Club of Chicago is enpoying an
entertainment by Carle A. Christensen, son of the
famous entertainer, Axel Christensen. Young Mr.
Christensen was a co-star with his father at the
Winona Lake, Ind., camp meeting the first week in
September—a place made famous by Billy Sunday
and other speakers and by song leaders like Homer
Rodeheaver. Carle Christensen has the reputation
for great versatility, and as his subject is 'Musical
Appreciation," his resourcefulness will have wide
scope. By the way, Axel Christensen's new book,
entitled "Axel Grease," is out of press and is selling
well.
Frank Barry, violin maker at Urbana, Ohio, died
last month.
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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