Presto

May, 1931
PRESTO-TIMES
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PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
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The American Music Trade Journal
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Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the tion
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ers or dealers such items will appear the issue following.
CHICAGO, MAY, 1931
"The piano is being hard hit by the radio," says
a gabby exchange. Maybe it was a year or two ago,
but it is a cinch it will survive. Why, the piano has
had its back to the wall ever since it was invented,
and it has always faced the world for its successes.
* * * *
The deadliness of the piano has been reported at
times when a piano mover has been crushed by a
piano toppling over on him. Up to the present time
the deadliness of radio has been almost nil. How-
ever, the Associated Press sent out a story from Lynn,
Mass., some time ago to the effect that a woman's
scream, broadcast in the course of a radio mystery
play, was so realistic that a Mrs. Dane suffered a
paralytic shock from the effects of which she died
two weeks later.
* * * *
The National City Bank of New York, in its May
bulletin, says: "Perhaps the simplest statement of
buying power is that it is the product of hourly wage
rates multiplied by hours of employment, divided by
prices of the things bought. The desirable high quo-
tient must be sought through equitable adjustment of
all three elements. It is as necessary to keep the man
at work and to sell him goods cheaply as it is to pay
him a high nominal wage scale." These deductions of
the banker-writer apply with particular clarity of ap-
plication just now to the buying power of the average
piano customer. Every piano dealer Presto-Times
reporters meets makes open declaration that the buy-
ing power in his town depends upon the size of the
payrolls at the industries of his locality. It is not a
difficult undertaking to sell a piano to a man who is
regularly employed at a fair salary.
* * * *
Presto-Times made a prejudged notice when it at-
tached a suggestion in the story about the cigarette,
"Smiles," that Lee S. Roberts, composer of "Smiles,"
may have been eligible and entitled to royalties from
the cigarette manufacturers for using the name
"Smiles." Now comes information from Louis Deder-
ick, who meets Mr. Roberts frequently, that Lee as-
sured him that he never heard of the cigarette called
"Smiles" until Mr. Dederick called his attention to
them recently, much less that he expected any royal-
ties for using the name made famous by his song.
CONOVER GRAND FOR UNIVERSITY
A Conover large size grand has just been purchased
by Valparaiso (Ind.) University. A number of Con-
overs are already in use and the new grand has been
placed in the concert hall.
AN ANCIENT HISTORY SLAM
Pessi-Opti I'iano Manufacturer—"Well, how is your
loss going to turn out at the end of June, 1931?"
/
TTRACTIONS at the coming convention will include music and a good
time generally. Despite the very serious world-wide business depres-
sion through which all industries are now passing, courageous, far-
sighted business men realize that these conditions are only temporary,
and that sooner or later depression will again yield to prosperity.
Accordingly courageous and far-sighted dealers in musical instruments
are now making preparations to reap their share of this prosperity
which is surely on the way. and we believe that they will make every
sacrifice to be on hand in Chicago, on June 8th, °-th and 10th of this
year, to inspect the latest products of musical instrument manufac-
turers, and participate in the meetings and deliberations which are
calculated to solve many of the serious problems which confront the
industry. From the Atlantic coast cities, from Florida, Texas. Minne-
sota and the Pacific coast states they are coming to commingle with
their contemporaries of the Central West; to participate in the festiv-
ities and sociabilities; to impart and receive experiences; to see and
enjoy Chicago and to return home filled with new ambitions, new plans
and the will to work the home territory more thoroughly. They will
find both profit and pleasure in meeting and conversing with the manu-
facturers and familiarizing themselves with the goods at the exhibits. They will learn a lot
at the open forum discussions, where some of the secrets of success are likely to be revealed,
and at these meetings they will be called upon to add their own experiences for the general
good of the trade. In short, they will have the privilege to participate in "all that is going on."
* * * *
RADIO DEALERS WANT PIANOS
It really looks as if the radio dealers (at least some of them that can be classed as dealers)
are looking about for pianos. They desire to make their places of business look more attrac-
tive—more like a music store than a mere radio emporium with the toneless look of a way-
side general store. Well, let them step over from their radio exhibits at the Stevens to the
Palmer House at convention time and get in touch with a good line of pianos, or visit some
of the several independent exhibits of manufacturers that did not ''link up" with the "official"
exhibits at Convention headquarters at the Palmer House.
* * * *
COMMENT ON CONSUMER CREDIT
Commenting on the recent position taken by President Sloan, of General Motors, that "the
experience of 1930 demonstrates beyond any question of doubt the ability of the average indi-
vidual to meet the obligations incurred," and that, "granted sound policies and effective man-
agement, consumer credit has completely justified itself," Edwin Jarrett, Xew York piano man,
says: "The actual truth is that the installment customer, having an automobile which he
thought was indispensable, made his payments at the expense of many other debts. In the
case of his player-piano, which was outmoded by the radio, and therefore was not an object of
desirability, he just 'lay down,' forgot all about it, and when reminded, said, most generally,
'Come and get it; we don't want it.' "
SETTERGREN GREAT NORTHERN
EXHIBIT
R. B. OSLUND OF SPOKANE
Frederick Grebe, traveler for many years tor
Kranich & Bach, New York, is now the proprietor of
a music store at Freeport, Long Island, N. Y.
Among the several radio broadcasting stations
where the Baldwin piano is used is to be added station
WPG, Atlantic City, N. J.
R. B. Oslund, piano man and general all around
The special half-page announcement and invitation music trade hustler, head of the Oslund Piano House,
which appears in this issue of Presto-Times by the Spokane, Wash, says he hopes to start on his East-
B. K. Settergren Co., tells about a coming display of
ern trip so as to be at Chicago during convention
Settergren and Estey instruments by that house week, but he is not sure that he'll be able to do this.
which should attract the attention of every piano In fact, he is rather doubtful of reaching Chicago in
dealer in the country. The Settergren organization is time for the convention.
manned by two of the leading lights of the trade—
However, he sends greetings to his friends in the
B. K. Settergren and William C. Hess, who are trade and especially the manufacturers whose goods
always in the lead in supplying the trade with attrac- he handles and expects to see them later on. Our
tive and salable instruments. A visit to the exhibit correspondent adds to his letter that people say in
of the Settergren Co. at the Great Northern Hotel,
Spokane that if anybody in the trade can make a good
Chicago, convention week, will fully prove this.
record in piano selling, Oslund can do it.
Opti-Pessi Piano Manufacturer—"Oh, we can't
brag about this year, but we gave the croakers a big
dose of their own medicine last year."
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