Presto

April, 1931
P R E S T 0-T IMES
ISSUED THE
FIFTEENTH IN EACH
MONTH
FRANK D. ABBOTT
The American Music Trade Journal
Editor
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mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, 111., under Act of March 3, 1879.
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news of importance can have attention after 9 a. m. of
that date. If they concern the interests of manufactur-
ers or dealers such items will appear the. Issue following.
CHICAGO, APRIL, 1931
There is no more earnest worker or greater force
working for the propagation and extension of musical
knowledge, particularly piano music, than C. M. Tre-
maine, director of the National Bureau for the Ad-
vancement of Music, 45 West 45th street, New York.
Mr. Tremaine believes that unless the children who
receive music training in the schools are followed up
and urged to utilize the training in actual participa-
tion in music after they leave school, most of the
benefit will be lost. What he is trying to do—and
he is succeeding—is to arouse the musical educators
to the importance of this matter, if they are in any
position to affect the situation. He has fully planned
to take it up later with music clubs, parent-teacher
groups and others who may show an interest.
* * * *
Now that Chicago has a new mayor, preparations
are going on faster than ever for the Century of
Progress World's Fair, which is to open June 1, 1933.
During the fair, Chicago will be the mecca for conven-
tions of all kinds, and no doubt there will be many
music industry exhibits in the big show.
TRIBUTE TO C. G. CHENEY
Speaking of the passing of C. G. Cheney, vice-pres-
ident and a director of Comstock, Cheney & Co.,
who died at his home in Essex, Conn., a local paper
pays this tribute to that worthy gentleman: "Mr.
Cheney was beloved by his townspeople and those in
his employ, a kind and sympathetic friend in time
of trouble and ever ready to help morally and finan-
cially in any worthy enterprise. His beautiful home
at Champlain Square was an asset to the town and
he took much pride and interest in the appearance
of the surrounding grounds. He lived a noble and
worthwhile life and his passing is mourned by the
entire community. Funeral services were held from
his late home at 9:30 o'clock yesterday morning with
Rev. B. C. Chandler, rector of the Episcopal church,
and Rev. George Abel, pastor of the Congregational
church, officiating. Interment services were private
and were held at Woodlawn cemetery in New York."
PRESTO-TIMES TITLE PAGE FOR
APRIL
The title page of Presto-Times, this issue, is
adorned by a display advertisement of the M. Schulz
Co. Although the M. Schulz Co. is liberal in an-
nouncements in its display advertising, these an-
nouncements are conservative in what they say in
tone and import. The M. Schulz Co. needs no intro-
duction at our hands, for the reputation of the house
and its goods and the unquestioned high standing of
both in the trade, need only to be barely mentioned
to more than invite dealers to keep in mind the M.
Schulz Co. as piano manufacturers of the first class.
APPRECIATE QUALITY PIANOS
That people do appreciate quality pianos is the firm
belief of John H. Gettell, secretary of the Mathushek
Piano Manufacturing Co., New York. Mr. Gettell,
in speaking of piano trade one day this month to a
Presto-Times representative, said: "We look forward
to a great deal more activity and also to the time
when the dealer and the public realize that a piano
is a work of art and not merely something that can be
'slapped' together to resemble a piano so that it can
be sold at a price. We know that there are very few
people who do not appreciate a quality product, and
who don't want nice things and good things in their
homes. Knowing this to be true, we have strictly
adhered to the manufacturing principles which have
played such a great part in the past and present
success of our company."
The Kimball Music Shop, 9129 Commercial avenue,
South Chicago, 111., is closing out after being ten
years in business. The store must be vacated.
THE DOWN=HILL SLIDE IN PRICE-CUTTING
O. P. Bassett, president of the Martin Band Instrument Co., Elkhart, lnd., strikes the
keynote of the difficulty in the piano business as well as in his own line—band instruments
—in his letter which appears in "Open Forum" department of this issue of Presto-Times.
Mr. Bassett, who has always considered quality rather than cheapness in building- musical
instruments, says in that article that "a good instrument cannot be built to sell cheap," and
he justifies this assertion by declaring that "good instruments are the most economical in
the long run and are the best to buy." And he advocates "giving your customers instruments
on which they can really play and which will be a help to them and a credit to you." Mr. Bas-
sett sounds a warning not to beguile the public into believing that the prime consideration
in buying a musical instrument is price. And while he no doubt was thinking of his own
line, band instruments, his words apply with just as much force in the piano business.
EXTENDING PIANO CLASS WORK
The increasing and continued application of the piano class method of inspiring young peo-
ple with a love of piano playing is more than a method of concomitant variations ; it seems to
be becoming a general method of unity. For this plan is being taken up by music houses
generally throughout the country. Many of them are giving up space, giving free music
lessons and allowing pupils to choose their own music teachers. Enthusiasm all over the
country is manifested in piano class work. Incidentally, Mrs. Oberndorfer, of Chicago, who is
broadcasting in the interests of music over the radio, has been engaged by the forthcoming
Century of Progress World's Fair to conduct programs there. Mrs. Oberndorfer is preparing
to attend four conferences of music supervisors, looking to preparation of programs for the
World's Fair, at which she will have charge of making arrangements for groups in voice,
orchestra work, piano classes and work with school children.
STILL FINDINGIPIANO CUSTOMERS
Notwithstanding the actuality that a few piano manufacturing firms quit the business in
the last two years, there is still a good deal of piano making going on. And there always will
be a nice business for those that have pulled through the protracted panic. Dealers are in the
same boat. One elimination means one more chance for the surviving neighbor to exist, and
while this on the face of it may seem selfish, it is the law of life and of business—always
proclaiming the survival of the fittest. And who are the fittest in business if not those who
are quickest to observe and take advantage of changes while they are still pending? Marshall
Field used to say that the metropolitan merchant who hoped to succeed must not fail to fa-
miliarize himself with the success of the smallest farmer in the remotest part of the country.
And it was this faculty of taking note of conditions everywhere and profiting thereby that
contributed to making him one of the greatest of the world's merchants. The piano men who
are succeeding today are picking up their trade from many scattering and far-away districts.
By the way, a piano manufacturer told a Presto-Times representative one day this week that
he had just shipped two carloads of pianos.
BUY FINE JESSE FRENCH PIANOS
AN UNUSUAL "FIDDLE SHOP"
One of the outstanding sales in Indianapolis in
March was two Jesse French & Sons Spanish Renais-
sance ensemble pianos, in butt American walnut
veneer. The two instruments were built especially
and covered with this veneer for two members of
one of the first families of Indianapolis. The veneer
is very attractive and beautifully matched. The work
is one of the many accomplishments of the Jesse
French & Sons establishment.
An establishment located at Milwaukee, Wis., is
known as "The Fiddle Shop," the proprietor of which
is Wm. Peter Stoffel. Mr. Stoffel is an expert in
violin making, violin repairing and in making good
violins better. He carries an advertisement in this
issue of Presto-Times, to which we call especial at-
tention. Mr. Stoffel's establishment is a place where
any work or any service in connection with violin
making, repairing and rejuvenation can be entrusted
and placed in the hands of "one who knows." Presto-
Times takes pleasure in referring its readers to Mr.
Stoffel and the excellent work he is doing at his
laboratory, which he styles "The Fiddle Shop," and
is located at 3400 North avenue, Milwaukee, Wis.
PLAYER BUSINESS REVIVING.
Presto-Times referred in its last issue to a lar^e
order for playerpianos placed by a firm not far from
Chicago, and we learn of another substantial order
this week received by a Chicago concern.
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