Presto

P R E S T O-T I M E S
ACTIVITIES OF THE
MATHUSHEKPIANO MFG. CO
The Mathushek Piano Manufacturing Co., 132nd
street and Alexander avenue, New York, has issued
a revised edition of its general catalog in a new color
scheme which includes a picture of the new model
Louis XV Welte-Mignon Grand and also makes use of
the company's seal.
The work of James A. Pastor, Mathushek export
manager, in securing new and much lower freight
rates from New York to Buenos Aires, will prove
of distinct benefit to the company as well as to all
American piano manufacturers shipping to South
America.
Mr. Pastor, after a thorough investigation, had
discovered that discriminatory freight rates were par-
tially responsible for Argentine merchants buying their
pianos from Germany in preference to this country.
He communicated with the German shipping author-
ities in Bremen and Hamburg, and found that freight
charges on the German instrument were approxi-
mately $27. This against approximately $39 in freight
for a piano from New York to the Argentine, a dif-
ference of $12 per instrument. He wrote a letter to
the River Plate and Brazil Conferences, explaining
the situation and asking them to consider the matter.
The reply received was that they could not recom-
mend a reduction of freights.
Mr. Pastor then took the matter up with the Com-
merce Department at Washington, and an informal
complaint was lodged against the injustice of these
discriminatory rates.
To make a long story short, the River Plate Con-
ference was directed and ordered to reduce these rates,
if the Mathushek Piano Manufacturing Co. could
substantiate its position.
The result was that on September 23 Mr. Pastor
was advised by telephone that a reduction on rates
on shipments of pianos from New York to Buenos
Aires had been agreed to at a figure identical with the
rates charged from Hamburg and Bremen.
AUTOMATIC PHONOGRAPHS
GAINING NEW MARKETS
Capehart Installations at White Plains, N. Y.,
and Other Community Centers Boosting
Sale of Records, Too.
The balance of this year and next year will see
the musical instrument dealers in all sections of the
country paying more attention to the automatic phono-
graph and the market it automatically sets up for new
sales and perpetual income from the sale of records.
The Chicago Radio Show again emphasized the
growing importance of the automatic phonograph-
radio combination as a factor in the home entertain-
ment field. The trend toward automatic combina-
tions was very much in evidence not only from the
standpoint of public approval but from the comments
of dealers as well.
Public interest centers around those features which
enable them to enjoy the kind of music they want,
when they want it—prearranged selections of phono-
graph recordings played automatically and without
attention as well as radio reception of outstanding
programs and news events. The automatic phono-
graph and radio combination are paramount in the
merchandising plans of retail dealers for the home
market.
At the recent Philadelphia Show the L. P. Clark
Co., 1207 Race street, Philadelphia, displayed the
Capehart Amperion 10 to 14 record chassis in its
booth. The demonstration attracted unusual attention
because the mechanism was in constant operation dur-
ing the entire week. Visitors to the show were much
impressed with the ease with which records were
changed, automatically and without attention.
An imposing edifice of steel and stone has been
erected by the people of Westchester County, in
White Plains, N. Y., and stands as a symbol of the
musical and commercial ideals of the largest non-
unit, incorporated population in America.
Built by the County of Westchester, at a cost of
$1,200,000, this Community Center ranks as one of the
finest in the country. This great auditorium has a
seating capacity of 4,500.
It is needless to say that the equipment therein is
the finest that money can buy. In addition to a
$40,000 pipe organ, installed by the Aeolian Co., New
York city, it has an elaborate Capehart sound system,
consisting of the Studio model, mixing panel, micro-
phones and speakers.
The many friends of the Andrews family regret the
passing of Mrs. F. H. Andrews, in her 80th year, on
November 5, from the effects of a stroke of paralysis
on October 25. She was the wife of F. H. Andrews
of the well-known Andrews Music Store, Charlotte,
N. C.
The
M. SCHULZ
CO.
Piano enjoys a
Popularity That
is Unfailing.
November, 1930
WURL1TZER PLANT WORKING
,
AT FULL CAPACITY
Operations of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Manufactur-
ing Co. have been increased to 100 per cent of capacity
and 300 men have been added to its pay roll, accord-
ing to Farny B. Wurlitzer, president. Increase in
plant operations is largely to provide for additional
production of radio receiving sets.
"Improvement in volume of our business," said
Mr. Wurlitzer, "clearly indicates that genuine upturn
in business is under way. We are now employing
more persons than a year ago, operating at full capac-
ity, with complete personnel of 1,127 employes. Dur-
ing the first seven months of the year we were in
production on curtailed schedules and employment
was cut to 700. Wide improvement in general busi-
ness is looked for after turn of year."
K SCHULZ CO/S] PIANOS
FOR REBUILT STORE
The serious fire experienced by the Sandee Music
Shop of 103 South Main street, Fond du Lac, Wis.,
about sixty days ago, was only a temporary disad-
vantage to the company, for Mr. Sandee has had the
entire interior of his store rebuilt.
He has it fully equipped as an up to date music
shop, handling M. Schulz Co. pianos as leaders, and
on Saturday, November 1, had a formal opening of
the new layout.
Souvenirs were distributed, he had music through-
out the evening, and on his ticker account had be-
yond three thousand guests there from 7 until 10
o'clock that evening.
PIANOS AND RADIOS
SHOWN TOGETHER
Graceful in Style, Rich
in Tone, Reasonable in
Price, and Every Instru-
ment Made with a Final
Touch of Quality.
When you see This
Piano you will Want
the Agency for it. Every
Instrument Made in the
Reliable M. Schulz Co.
way.
Address the
M. Schulz
Company
711 Milwaukee
Avenue
Chicago, 111.
In another part of this issue of Presto-Times ap-
pears an account of the attention the Gulbransen radio
show was given by the public of Milwaukee in the
recent radio exhibit in the Milwaukee Auditorium. But
Gulbransen pianos and radio won similar substantial
tributes at the show of radios in the Coliseum in
Chicago last month.
Pianos and radios are both musical instruments,
and, as such, they should be shown together at radio
shows whenever possible, because they do not com-
pete in any way. At least, that's the viewpoint of the
Gulbransen organization which is making a com-
plete line of pianos and radios for homes, as well as
for all commercial institutions which require music.
Acting upon their convictions, the Gulbransen Co.
placed one of their small "Grands" and benches in the
booth with their radios at the October radio show at
the Coliseum in Chicago.
Many people who stopped to inspect the radio re-
ceivers became interested in the piano, and it devel-
oped that some of them were considering the pur-
chase not only of a new radio but also of a piano.
Every music dealer should profit by the example
of the Gulbransen Co. and display at least one piano
at radio, food, or other shows whenever they exhibit
radios. They should particularly use pianos in radio
displays in their stores and store windows. Pianos
will create a living room atmosphere in displays,
which is difficult to obtain in any other way.
A. HOSPE CO.'S GREAT LINE.
The A. Hospe Co., 15th and Farnam streets,
Omaha, Neb., whose slogan is "The name insures
the quality," and which motto the house calls a
"declaration of faith" or a "Christmas thought," has
a fine line of pianos to pick from, including the
Mason & Hamlin, Knabe, Wurlitzer, Gulbransen,
dickering, Kimball, Vose & Sons, Hospe, Harrison,
Schaff Bros., Everett, Richmond, Cable-Nelson and
Apollo. Hospe's is conducting its business on a
"profit-sharing rent sales plan."
BALDWIN AND BRUNSWICK.
The American Furniture Co. at Denver, Colo., used
an extensive newspaper advertisement to mention the
Brunswick radio. The Baldwin Piano Co. attested
to the advertisement as run by the Brunswick people
by saying: "Note the fine tone of the Brunswick radio,
then remember you can select the model of your
choice at the Baldwin Piano Co., 1636 California
street."
STEINWAY SUCCESS IN FLORIDA.
The house of S. Ernest Philpitt & Son, Miami, Fla.,
with branches throughout the state, has just made an
important sale of pianos to the Rollins College at
Winter Park. Fla., several Steinway grand pianos
and 18 upright Philpitt pianos being in the deal—"a
complete Steinway-Philpitt equipment," the Philpitts
announce.
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