Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1931 2255

MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1884
Established
1881
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL
10 Cent*
1 Tear ..
Copy
.$1.25
10 Months. ..$1.00
6 Months. .75 cents
CHICAGO, ILL., FEBRUARY, 1931
Issued
.Monthly—
Fifteenth of Kuril Monlli
THE CHICAGO TRADE'S JOLLY DINNER
THE AUSTRALIAN WAY
OF PIANO TUNING
Speeches, Music and Fun Mark the Annual Party===E. B. Bartlett the
Quest of Honor
The Two Wandering Minstrels—Young Australians
Who Will Sing You a Song or Put
Your Piano in Order.
BY BESSIE E. PRIOR
(of Sydney, Australia)
In these modern days women adopt many voca-
tions, but none is stranger than the choice of a young
wife I encountered in central Queensland—that of a
piano tuner and mechanic traveling through the New
South Wales and Queensland backblocks. One of
Australia's oldest outback institutions, now vanishing,
is the traveling tuner, who is also a wonderful mins-
trel able to earn a welcome, "happy vagabond" fash-
ion, at lonely farms and stations by reason of the
entertainment he can provide his hosts. The old-time
tuner traveled on foot and depended on passing
vehicles, even bullock wagons, for a "lift." Nowadays
the traveler uses a light two-seater car.
I met my happy vagabonds through their seeking
accommodation where I also was a boarder. She
looked a mere slip of a girl, shingled, short-skirted,
powdered and lipsticked, with a very warm, brown
skin, the result of much bathing and an open-air life.
He was several years older than she, a happy-go-
lucky fellow, who was enough of a vagabond to
despise a hat. I concluded they were honeymooners.
He had been traveling as a piano tuner for fifteen
years. She was a Sydney, New South Wales, girl,
to whom housekeeping in a tiny flat or a Queen Anne
bungalow did not appeal—hated it, she told me—so
the pair started off on their married "career" in a
two-seater car, with a rumble seat at the back, where
tools, materials and personal needs could be stored.
She could teach the piano as well as tune it; she
played the ukulele and steel guitar, was a solo dancer,
and had a light soprano voice. Working with her
husband, she soon learned the inside workings of the
piano and could take down, re-lit, re-wire, and re-
assemble an instrument.
They had been on the road for nearly ten years.
They lived about five months of the year in Sydney,
where he had a tuning and repairing "round." The
other seven were spent traveling. Their range was
as far west as Bourke—some four hundred miles
from Sydney—and over the border into southwest
Queensland, and as far north as Rockhampton. They
stayed at boarding-houses as much as possible, but
it troubled them little to spend a night under the
stars. Their workshop did not worry them. If no
bench could be borrowed, the piano's mechanism was
fixed just as well on a hotel veranda, a house balcony,
or under a roadside tree, if need be, and no makeshift
job either. They undertook the most intricate work.
There was a little story-book touch about the way
Mr. Vagabond got his start. He was not always a
tuner, but a clerk, who saw possibilities in travel. He
employed an expert, from whom he learned the busi-
ness well enough to go alone. Later he taught his
wife to be his expert assistant. The pair used their
musical talent for publicity purposes, and Mrs. Vaga-
bond gave ukulele lessons in towns where they stayed
long enough. Mr. Vagabond wrote jingles, to which
Mrs. Vagabond attached tunes and dance movements
(they had the most complicated musical shorthand
system), and between them the couple could stage a
night's entertainment to satisfy rural centers. These
they gave for bush piano funds and the like. "It gets
us known," said Mrs. Vagabond, "and we get the
pianos to do up."
There was nothing of the amateur, however, about
their business. They carried cards, dodgers, and
humorous ticklers, and made use of country news-
papers. Personal canvass, however, brought the best
business. Mr. Vagabond went from house to house,
street by street, in townships, and called at every
house in the wayside settlements. It was a bad day
that did not bring $25, I was told.
Mrs. Vagabond proved a fascinating table-mate,
with an abundance of humor, and full of tales of her
experiences. "As little baggage as possible" was the
order, so she bought clothes as she required them,
and even wore them to their last rag. Even if she did
look rather ready-made, she managed to be very
smart. But what a happy life she led, the country
she saw and the people she met! No wonder the
thought of a flat appalled her.
"But," I said one day when her stories had almost
made me decide to give up my humdrum, common-
The thirty-second annual dinner of the Chicago
Piano & Organ Association, with the Chicago Piano
Manufacturers Association and the Piano Club of
Chicago, co-operating, on the night of January 29 in
the Union League Club, Chicago, was given in homey
surroundings---a "homogeneous" assemblage, as one
attendant described it. Anyway, it was like the com-
ing together of a large family—very few from outside
Chicago were present.
After a half-hour spent in social chat, formalities
were opened by Adam Schneider who said the general
meeting was called in order to pay honor to E. B.
Bartlett, whose first fifty years with the W. W. Kim-
ball Co. had been reached on October 18 last. Mr.
Schneider read letters and telegrams of regret from
several friends and members who could not be pres-
ent and all expressing friendship for the guest of
honor. These regrets came from Richard W. Law-
rence and C. Alfred Wagner, president of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, New York, from
Col. F. B. T. Hollenberg, of Little Rock, Ark., and
several others.
E. B. Bartlett's Career
Mr. Schneider, master of ceremonies, biographically
sketched features of Mr. Bartlett's career in the music
business from the time he embarked in it at Rock-
ford, 111. Mr. Bartlett's father had known young
E. S. Conway while he was a student at Eau Claire,
Wis., and the elder Bartlett had been in the habit of
giving out odd jobs to boys in which Edwin Conway
was one of the participants. In this way he had
become acquainted with the young man and the two
youths—E. B. Bartlett and E. S. Conway, struck up
a friendship.
Some years later, when E. S. Conway had finished
his schooling and was engaged in selling organs, he
went back to Eau Claire to sell Kimball organs and
Mr. Bartlett, senior, helped him to a list of prospects
to whom he made several sales. Col. Conway never
forgot a friend, and this favor cemented his friendship
for the Bartlett family. He soon had young Bartlett
inducted into the music business, and after the first
step in it the period of his novitiate was soon passed.
Mr. Schneider introduced the chairman of the en-
tertainment committee, Eugene Whelan, who in turn
introduced the Harmony Girls, whose singing was
heartily applauded. Mr. Whelan said he chose these
young women for the part because the name of their
organization was so appropriate to this meeting and
the general harmony now prevailing in the trade in
Chicago, and their fine performance had proven he
had made a most happy selection.
Henry Weisert on Piano Playing
Mr. Whelan next introduced Henry Weisert, presi-
dent of the Chicago Piano & Organ Association, who
gave a very interesting talk on the study of piano-
playing by adults as against young folks' lessons taken
in their "teens."
Piano-playing with an adult often becomes a pleas-
ant hobby, for the grown-up could entertain himself
with it as well as to play occasionally for his
friends. It was no longer necessary for the average
person of mature years, or for children, to go in for
so much musical technicality from books and laborious
fingering. Chromatics and arpeggios for beginners
were a thing of the past; the player beginning need
not aim at virtuosity as his goal. Why? Because, for
ordinary playing, the joy of creating music himself is
all the beginner expects and everybody can play some
if taught a few simple notes and selections by the mod-
ern methods now being employed in the public
schools.
Music, Mr. Weisert said, is more interesting as a
pastime than golf or card games, and is, as it should
be; one of the most interesting hobbies.
Mr. Weisert introduced Miss Jane Clinton, of New
York, who has had special experience in teaching pu-
pils of a wide range of ages—from 18 to 65 years
old. The lady told the audience about a woman of
60 who had come to her for lessons and who took
them as enthusiastically as if she were only 18; of a
band and orchestra leader among her pupils; of a
music arranger and publisher who had come to her
for instruction, and others who had taken lessons
under her direction with most satisfactory results.
Miss Clinton has been doing some special work for
The Aeolian Co. and other big concerns.
In speaking of Mr. Bartlett's long period of fifty
years with the W. W. Kimball Co., Mr. Weisert
compared him to the man about whom George H.
Chickering told a story. "The company was in doubt
about hiring him," said Mr. Chickering, "telling him
that if they decided to drop him at any time they
would give him two weeks' notice. Well, that was
72 years ago—he's still working for this firm and he
hasn't had his notice to quit yet."
Mr. Bartlett was presented with a memento in the
shape of a fine traveling bag, with the advice that
every time he went traveling with it he must bring it
back to Chicago. He promised to do this and also to
stick to the piano trade. His first trip with the bag
will be taken soon, as he intends to visit his grandchil-
dren in Texas.
Baldwin House Has Piano Classes
Retail Manager Wagner, of the Baldwin Chicago
store, when called upon, said the Baldwin house had
started piano class playing at the headquarters at $2.50
per person for the course and already had a big class
of grown-up pupils enrolled, whereupon Fred Liihnow,
of the M. Schulz Co., arose to remark that he'd give
twice $2.50 if Mr. Wagner would get President Wolff
of the M. Schulz Co. to join that class.
Among those called upon for volunteer speeches
were W. W. Lufkin, vice-president and general super-
intendent of the W. W. Kimball Co.; Ben Duvall,
president of the Piano Club of Chicago, who expressed
his pleasure at being associated with Mr. Bartlett in the
Kimball offices; James V. Sill, who said he had gained
much from Mr. Bartlett's superior advice, and George
J. Dowling, president of The Cable Co.; who spoke of
the friendly rivalry that exists between the Kimball
house and his own. In a droll, humorous way, Mr.
Dowling told of calls that were made years ago by
dealers from out of town who had dropped in at
The Cable Co.'s headquarters to say "Hello," and
who had casually remarked that they had just placed
one of their customary orders for pianos at Kimball's
across the street. However, as a similar story was
one of the late W. W. Kimball's about his rival.
The Cable Co., this seems to be a pretty well per-
petuated anecdote of the friendly competition that
has long existed between the two houses.
It was proposed by one of the speakers that a
debate be arranged between Paul B. Klugh of the
Zenith Radio and W. E. Guylee of The Cable Co.
Anyway, this proposition arose from a desire to rehear
parts of complimentary addresses by these men at
previous meetings when Mr. Bartlett was the sub-
ject. Calls for some of this former oratory brought
Mr. Guylee and then Mr. Klugh, the oratorical gen-
tlemen, to their feet and they gave, in substance, part
of their former speeches that had been remembered
with so much pleasure.
Mr. Bartlett had been at one time president of the
National Piano Manufacturers' Association and at
another time president of the Chicago Piano & Organ
Association.
The meeting closed rather early, and as a jolly ex-
pression of farewell R. J. Cook, one of the "called-
for" speakers, proposed a toast to be drunk to the
health of Mr. Bartlett, which heartily ended the cele-
bration.
GOOD STARR TRADE IN THE WEST
W. E. Gillespie, Pacific Coast wholesale representa-
tive for the Starr line of pianos, whose headquarters
are now at 1934 Ninth avenue, Seattle, informs a
Presto-Times representative that he finds, as he puts
it, "a great deal of real, nice business now and will
have a good 1931 trade." He says that the Starr line
of pianos is meeting with continuing success and in-
creasing popularity in his territory and he finds them
an excellent line to trade in.
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/
February, 1931
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
place occupation, and take to the open road, "you
couldn't have done it if you had gone in for babies."
"Oh! but I did," she exclaimed. "I've got two—my
eldest boy is eight."
The other child, also a boy, was three. He stayed
with his grandmother till mother returned for her
"holiday.'' The elder was at boarding school, had
been there since he was four years old. Mrs. Vaga-
bond had taken each child with her on the road from
three months old, making on a spirit stove and carry-
ing in a thermos such food as was required for out-
side nursing. Both parents were tremendously fond
of their kiddies; but, like true vagabonds, they did
not miss the children. They took the parting as a
matter of course. "It makes the annual reunion all
the sweeter," said the astonishingly flapperish mother.
She and I became quite friendly before she and her
husband chugged away farther into Queensland, and
she showed me the needlework with which she was
occupying spare time—baby clothes! She was not
quite sure yet, she told me, "whether to let it be a
little Queenslander, or to go back to Sydney." The
parents thought the former. They were not due back
in the South for some time; they were doing well in
Queensland, liked the winter climate, and thought
they would stay on and take little Number 3 back
with them when they went.
Happy vagabonds, indeed! Almost an ideal relation-
ship between man and woman, and not neglecting
their duty either of helping to people the vastness of
Australia, as well as carry music into lonely places.
No boredom ever invaded this young matron's life.
When that threatened it was merely a case of get the
car out and point its bonnet toward the horizon!
SCHOOL POLITICS IN
CHATTANOOGA PIANO TRADE
A piano war in which unethical methods are
charged against one dealer has been going on for
some time at Chattanooga, Tenn. The battle centers
around the furnishing of pianos for the public schools
of Chattanooga, and one dealer, D. M. Coleman, is
accused by the other local dealers of being "the only
person who can sell pianos to the city of Chatta-
nooga." D. M. Coleman, a legislator from Hamilton
county, according to a story in the Chattanooga News,
"since the election of H. D. Huffaker as commissioner
of education four years ago, has sold the city schools
alt their pianos with the exception of one which the
Lansford Piano Co. supplied for the new Brainerd
Junior High School." The same issue of the paper
says "the records at the City Hall show that Mr.
Coleman does not even pay license as a piano dealer."
"On the other side of the dispute, Commissioner
Huffaker flatly denied that Mr. Coleman had been
shown any favoritism in the city's purchase of pianos
when asked for a statement. He said that he did not
remember how many pianos the city had bought
during his administration or from whom they were
purchased.
Inquiry by a Presto-Times correspondent elicited
the information that the Clark-Jones-Sheeley Co., of
Chattanooga, had sold one Ivers & Pond upright
piano to the city schools, but that it was purchased
by the Parents and Teachers Association, and not
through bidding contests, as an Ivers & Pond instru-
ment could never be sold through bids submitted in
competition with cheaper instruments. The fight has
taken on a political tinge, and the end is not in
sight.
SCHAFF PIANO STRING CORP.
IS NOW REORGANIZED
The Schaff Piano String Corporation, 2011 Clybourn
avenue, Chicago, has just incorporated. This is a
reorganization of the Schaff piano string business,
although the notices set out that part of the business
is to deal in pianos and musical instruments. The
incorporators are A. L. Linenthal, Charles Myles and
Louise M. Johnson.
Correspondent: Linenthal,
Schyer & Myles, 127 North Dearborn street, Chicago.
Mrs. Johnson is the manager and a very competent
business woman she is, for she is the daughter of the
original John A. Schaff, founder and builder-up of the
business. In fact, after her father's death, Mrs. John-
son conducted the wire business for several years, or
until her son, Ed. Johnson, grew to manhood and
returned from college. She says that business for
January and so far in February has been good and
that the newly-enlivened firm will pay close attention
to the piano wire end of its work, as its customers
are numerous in the Central West.
Since the proof was read on the above item, a new
notice has reached Presto-Times that the name of the
company has been changed to Clybourn Piano String
Co.
The Toebe & Noble Amplified Music Co. has been
established at 1017 Michigan avenue, Sheboygan, Wis.
WHERE THEY ARE;
WHERE ARE THEY?
Many inquiries have come to Presto-Times within
the last few weeks about the location of well-known
persons who have been or are now active in the
music trade but whose addresses or present line of
work they have lost trace of. In looking up answers
to these questions Presto-Times has found a good
deal of interesting news, and, by answering a number
of inquiries at once, presents them here in collective
form.
No doubt scores of others who have turned their
attention to other work or changed houses in the
music trade have been omitted or overlooked, so if
Presto-Times readers will kindly furnish this paper
with any such changes as may have come under their
notice, an additional list will be prepared for a subse-
quent issue. The list here shows the vim and vigor
of piano men, and proves the truth of the old adage
that "You can't keep a good man down."
C. F. Reeps, who was for several years factory
superintendent with James & Holmstrom, Jesse
French & Sons, and other concerns, now resides at
Oak Park, suburb of Chicago.
William Dolge, formerlj' with Alfred Dolge & Sons
in the felt business; now of the concern known as
Lester Herrick and Herrick and William Dolge & Co.,
certified public accountants, Merchants Exchange, San
Francisco, Calif.
Edwin Jarrett, formerly secretary of the Henkel-
man Piano Co., New York; now with Paul G. Mehlin
•& Sons.
Alfred L. Smith, formerly executive secretary of
the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, 45
West 45th street, New York, now holds a prominent
position with C. G. Conn, Inc., Elkhart, Ind.
The Doll Brothers—Otto, George, Fred and Jacob—
are now busy helping in the straightening up of the
affairs of Jacob Doll & Sons, now in the hands of the
Creditors' Committee.
Charles H. Parsons, former president of the Need-
ham Piano Co., New York, and considered the wittiest
and ablest orator in the piano trade, is now living at
19 South Oxford street, Brooklyn, N. Y.
Platt P. Gibbs, who published music books for
many years in Chicago and whose "Circus Grand
Excursion Trains" carried the Chicago delegation to
New York to several national conventions, is living
quietly at home, 5515 Everett avenue, Chicago.
Hv Eilers, famous for several years as the biggest
plunger in the retail piano trade of the Pacific Coast,
when last heard of was in New York conducting a
small business in second-hand pianos.
E. W. Furbush. old-time .V-ose man, later in charge
of the Haddorff business in Chicago, has been at Hot
Springs, Ark., off and on the past year.
Fred C. Harlow—years ago with Vose; years later
with Vose; now with Vose.
Roy S. Dunn, formerly well-known piano traveler,
now with Thomas A. Edison, Inc., and he travels all
over the United States. He owns a pretty home at
Port Byron, 111., on the "Mississippi," but doesn't get
a chance to spend much time at it.
Robert Burgess, "Bob," who traveled for many
years for the Wegman Piano Co. of Auburn, N. Y.,
and other piano houses, now lives in Dallas, Texas.
Henry C. Billings, roll expert and manufacturer,
father of Earl Billings, the record producer, now
resides in May wood, 111., a suburb of Chicago.
James T. Bristol, whose piano career centered at the
Price & Teeple Piano Co.'s headquarters in the old
A. C. McClurg building in Chicago, but who took
hold as Chicago representative of the Commercial
Security Co. of New York, is now located on La
Salle street, Chicago, in financing and discounting in
association with the Majestic Radio Corporation.
George H. Bliss, who became famous as a general
traveler for the Q R S Music Co., was last heard of
as manager of a big hotel on Manhattan Island.
Harry Freund, former publisher of a piano trade
paper at New York, has been living in Chicago for
many years. He is now a gentleman of leisure fol-
lowing pursuits that pertain to the welfare of man-
kind and contributing articles to the daily press and
magazines of various kinds.
Kenneth Curtis, who came to Chicago from Colum-
bus, Ohio, and for several years was in charge of the
Kohler Industries Chicago headquarters, is now re-
siding in California.
R. A. Burgess, who traveled for Smith, Barnes &
Strohbcr and during another period for The Cable
Co., of Chicago, is now a free lance in the piano busi-
ness residing at Dallas, Texas.
Charles Burtzloff, formerly in charge at Chicago of
the Kohler Industries interests, is now living at his
home in Benton Harbor, Mich.
Walter C. Hepperla, former president of the Premier
Grand Piano Corporation, New York, is now in
charge of the Cable-Nelson eastern agency at New
York, having succeeded A. Dalrymple to that position.
W. J. Keeley, with the Kohler Industries for many
years, now living on his money, at his home on Riv-
erside Drive, New York.
Herman Leonard, famed as a salesman for piano
supplies; now living at 121 East 74th street, New
York.
William Strich, of Strich & Zeidler, New York;
now spends part time at the Strich & Zeidler head-
quarters at the Ludwig & Co. plant. Willow avenue
and East 131st street. New York.
Otto Heintzman, formerly Eastern representative
of Chicago made pianos; now living at 175 Eastern
Parkway, Brooklyn.
J. H. Shale, of the A. B. Chase-Emerson Corpora-
tion, whose plant at Norwalk, Ohio, has passed into
other hands, as the pianos are to be manufactured at
the Lester Piano Co.'s factories near Philadelphia;
now living at his home, 14 Elm street, Larchmont,
N. Y.
L. Schoenwald, lately manager of the Ampico Hall
store in Chicago, which closed, now with The Aeo-
lian Co. in New York.
Elmon H. Armstrong, whose headquarters were at
Dallas, Texas., for some years, is now located at
Jacksonville, Fla.
A. M. Wright, who at one time was president of the
Mason & Hamlin Co., and who brought Ossip Ga-
brilowitsch, pianist and orchestra leader, to Amer-
ica, still resides in Boston but generally winters at
St. Petersburgh, Florida.
W. B. Price, former head of Price & Teeple Piano
Co., Chicago, is in the brokerage business semi-occa-
sionally, but continues to reside in Chicago.
H. C. Bay, piano manufacturer of Chicago and
Bhiffton, Ind., whose company went into bankruptcy
some two years ago, was in a hospital for a long
time.
Adam Schneider, former treasurer of Julius Bauer
& Co., is now displaying great activity in piano class
instruction in the public schools of Chicago.
William M. Shailer, formerly secretary Philip \\ 7 .
Oetting & Sons, 213 East 19th street, New York,
felts, is probably making his mark elsewhere.
George D. Turner, piano plate man, who sold the
Paragon piano plates made at Oregon, 111., is now
living at Etna, N. Y.
W. Lincoln Bush, well known as piano manufac-
turer and dealer, is now temporarily in real estate and
other promotional work. His home is at the Webster
Hotel, Chicago.
Charles Stanley, piano maker expert "pianoician"
and factory superintendent—who even went to Paris
a few years ago to start a French plant on the Ameri-
can plan—is now residing at his comfortable home and
enjoying the companionship of his family at Grand
Haven, Mich.
Charles C. Russell, formerly in the music business
up to three years ago, is now in the insurance busi-
ness at 175 Jackson boulevard, Chicago.
Harry Bibb, prominent in the phonograph and radio
business in Chicago where he was connected with the
Sonora Co., and ex-president of the Piano Club of
Chicago, is now manager of a big radio distributing
company in St. Louis.
J. H. Hackenheimer, one of the big guns in C.
Kurtzmann & Co., Buffalo, N. Y., is now living on
his money and his laurels.
\\ r . E. Hall, a traveler in the piano business who
while on the road for the Pease Piano Co., New
York, visited every state in the Union, was last seen
in New York by a Presto-Times representative sell-
ing goods in another line.
Charles Grundy, who traveled for The Cable Co.
and other houses for a number of years, is now
doing work in the jewelry line and resides in Chicago.
Fred Kurtz, action manufacturer and piano repre-
sentative of some years ago, now resides in Chicago.
His home is at 1406 East 67th street, Chicago.
A. L. Jewett, who gave good service with the Na-
tional Piano Co. and other companies, is now living
at home in Boston, Mass.
Albert B. Lane, who was owner of the Mansfield
Piano Co., and later with the Shoninger Piano 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/

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