Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1931 2259

Page 6 Text:

P R E S T 0-T I M E S
July, 1931
OULBRANSEN PIANO IN
GENERAL NEWS AND NOTES
COLLEGE AND AT SEA
PICKED UP AT THE CONVENTION
Tuners Tour the Exhibits
After the National Piano Tuners' Association dinner,
a group of the leaders took it upon themselves to
invite the interested ones to make a tour of the piano
exhibits. The next hour or two was spent in exam-
ining and studying the different makes of pianos with
comments on their principles of construction and the
faculty of invention to which are due such creations.
These men who fearlessly disembowel old pianos in
homes to study their ailments are the best judges of
the merits of almost any make of piano that consti-
tute its claims to popular appreciation. In many of the
exhibits they found these claims more than justified.
They found reasons for superiority in several makes
of pianos there exhibited. Keen and eager, they en-
joyed the stroll and it could not be said of any man
in the group that he took insufficient cognizance of
every method of stringing—every principle of con-
struction for that matter. What each man learned he
kept under his hat, but it is no guess to say that
each learned something worth knowing.
vided some unique features that made it a dinner
long to be remembered with pleasure.
The Vose & Sons Piano Co., Boston, was well rep-
resented at the travelers dinner in the Palmer House.
Notable men of this house in attendance were Presi-
dent and Treasurer George A. Vose and Fred Har-
low.
MARJORIE STRUB'S ACCOMPLISH-
MENTS
Marjorie Strub, 14 years old, daughter of Ben M.
Strub, demonstrated Mathushek pianos at the Mathu-
shek exhibit in the Palmer House at convention time.
Miss Strub plays in the Oak Park High School Or-
58 Years* Service!
and Still Enjoying the Confidence
of Conservative Buyers of High
Class
Piano Benches and Chairs
Radio Tables
I O N G years of activity in our
™ line and close study of the
demands upon the trade have en-
abled us to keep pace with the
advancement of the times.
A. J. Lehmkuhl at Convention
A. J. Lehmkuhl, who was for thirty years with
Lyon & Healy, Chicago, in the piano department, the
last of that period as retail piano manager, and later
for six years with Grunewald's in New Orleans, was
an interesting and interested visitor at the convention.
Mr. Lehmkuhl told a Presto-Times representative that
he is going to remain in the north. He was not at-
tached at the time of the convention to any piano
house, but expects to associate with one soon.
Rich and Schmoller to Visit Europe
Major W. S. Rich, retired piano man who traveled
for twenty years for the McPhail Piano Co., arrived
at the Palmer House late Monday night. June 8, to
meet bis friend, William H. Schmoller, of the Schmol-
ler & Mueller Piano Co., Omaha, Neb. Messrs.
Schmoller and Rich will spend a few days at Mr.
Rich's country place, Lebanon Springs, N. Y., and
sail together on June 18 from the foot of 57th street.
New York, on the steamship Lafayette, of the French
Line for a trip of three or four months in Europe.
They have made similar trips every year together for
the last ten years. They will spend most of the time
in France and Germany and will visit Eisenach, Mr.
Schmoller's native town in Germany. Major Rich is
a widower, his wife having died some time ago.
Efficient Secretarial Workers
It is "all work" and very little "play" with sec-
retaries at big conventions. Yet they are the most
cheerful personalities to be found on the face of the
globe. Harry Meixell, executive secretary of the
Music Industries Chamber of Commerce, and Delbert
L. Loomis. executive secretary of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants, were ubiquitously pres-
ent. Their helpers were more stationary. Here was
Joseph Pavloff, secretary to the convention commit-
tee. Miss Lillian Auerbach, secretary to Mr. Loomis,
and Miss Adeline Stephanek, Mr. Meixell's secretary
—all busy as bees in a buckwheat field. And every
one of them radiating good-nature.
Albert Behning, of New York, was very much
missed from the travelers dinner.
Among those at the travelers dinner were A. A.
Mahan and Mr. Mclntyre, two of the most popular
piano road men in the United States.
Arthur and Ferdinand were both there. Arthur who
and Ferdinand who? Why Arthur and Ferdinand
Wessell, of New York, of course, manufacturers of
tbe Wessell, Nickel & Gross piano actions.
Ralph Henry Day, of Ivers & Pond, president of
National Piano and Music Travelers Association, is.
very much at home in that group of hustlers. Toast-
master Henry Hewitt, of the M. Schulz Co., pro-
The Mathushek Piano Mfg. Co. representatives say
that their trade at the convention was the best they
have ever had at a similar gathering.
V
Noll Men Visit Convention
One of the men met at the convention by a Presto-
Times representative was H. W. Noll, president of
the Noll Piano Co., 1015-19 Muskego avenue, Milwau-
kee, Wis. He was accompanied by his wife, Mrs.
M. K. Noll, and also by Herbert J. Konen, vice-presi-
dent and general manager of the company. He han-
dles the Chas. Frederick Stein piano among others,
the Stein being his leader. Mr. Noll says piano trade
is improving recently.
Kimball Convention Advertising
Local papers in Chicago all carried special adver-
tisements during convention week by piano houses
calling attention to their wares. The W. W. Kimball
Co. said: "See our Wabash avenue windows this
week. They are of interest to Chicagoans and the
hundreds of piano dealers attending the National Con-
vention in session here."
The Gulbransen piano has been chosen for one of
the sorority buildings at Montana State college, Boze-
man, Mont. It is a 5-foot 4-inch grand in an artistic
burl walnut veneer. J. M. Seaman, proprietor of the
Song Shop, Livingston, Mont., made the deal.
Lieut. Commander Berkey, of the U. S. Navy, has
ordered his third Gulbransen Minuet piano since his
connection with the Navy. The new one is to be
used on the U. S. S. Texas, to which he is at present
attached. All these instruments are still giving "emi-
nent satisfaction," to quote Lt. Commander Berkey's
own words.
appreciate the confidence
of the public which we en-
joy and are at all times ready
and willing to serve the trade.
TONK MFG. CO.
FACTORIES
1912 Lewis St. — Chicago
MARJOHIE STRUB.
chestra. She plays in the trio in Oak Park clubs,
the Y. M. C. A. and in public entertainments. She
is a pupil in the Bliss School of Music and stands
high in her other studies, thereby confirming tbe views
of modern educators that the study of music brightens
the minds of the young in other branches of learn-
ing.
Why Mathushek Exhibit Was Interesting
There were many interesting things to be seen at
the Mathushek exhibit in Chicago at the recent con-
vention aside from the pianos themselves. C. Albert
Jacob, Jr., John H. Gettell of New York and Ben
Strub of Chicago, entertained some of the callers by
showing them some relics of a former day. Kept
under lock and key in a desk, they had with them a
book published over fifty years ago in which the
Mathushek piano was elaborated upon, specifying
that the Mathushek Piano Mfg. Co. was established
in 1863. The company had at the exhibition this
month one of the old Mathushek catalogs, printed in
February, 1871, when their wareroom was at 23 East
Fourteenth street. New York. On the back of this
catalog was a picture of the factory of the company
at New Haven, Conn. The plant back in those days,
even, was 416 feet long and 120 feet wide. Back in
1871 the Mathushek Piano Mfg. Co. was putting up
a fight in favor of building and using the best in
pianos, for their catalog of that year says: "A cheap
piano is dear at any price. It is certainly much safer
for all buyers of pianos to purchase only pianos of
a reliable maker whose reputation is thoroughly es-
tablished, and whose pianos are giving universal satis-
faction in almost every town in the United States."
"Tony" Maresh, of Cleveland, also has an old relic
in the shape of a book two inches thick, filled with
pages of sheet music. It was published 65 years
ago and the only advertisement in it is one by the
Mathushek Piano Co., showing a picutre of the Mathu-
shek grand piano.
The group of tuners who took an after-dinner stroll
of examination of the different makes of pianos ex-
hibited at the convention found much to please them
in the construction of the Mathushek instruments, as
some of their expressions made in the hearing of a
Presto-Times representative indicated.
4627 E. 50th St. — Los Angeles
A
Pianos When Equipped with
A. C. Cheney Actions
are capable of giving forth their
best musical qualities.
An A. C. Cheney Action is the sort
of intermediate mechanical agency
without the help of which good
piano music cannot be produced.
Order directly from the
A. C. CHENEY PIANO
ACTION COMPANY
CASTLETON, N. Y.
Gerts, Lumbard & Co.
BRUSH MAKERS
entabllshed 1850; Incorporated 1891
K. C. I.iimhard, President; F. A. Crego, Treasurer;
W. S. fterts. Secretary
Factory, 2100-2116 West Grand Avenue,
Chicago, III., U. S. A.
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).
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Page 7 Text:

PRESTO-TIMES
July. 1931
ANNUAL DINNER AND ELECTION
OF THE PIANO TRAVELERS
A Festive Occasion, Sparkling With Good Music—Jacob Schiller the
New President
The annual dinner and business meeting of the Na-
tional Piano and Music Travelers' Association, includ-
ing the election of officers, which took place on the
evening of June 8 in Room 8 at the Palmer House,
drew a large attendance of men. Some of those who
were missed at this big festival were Albert Behning
of New York, Dan Fabyan, Jack Bliss, Ray Briggs
and others of the old-timers who were always regarded
as standbys and leaders. They were absent but not
forgotten, as each of these men was mentioned at the
meeting with affection.
The "eatments" were fit for a king—a grand dinner
—and the entertainment was of the highest class in
the category of music, admitting no conditions or
exceptions. A. L. McNab, business manager of the
Chicago office of the Music Trades, was given the
credit for securing the services of Enrico Clausio, the
tenor, who is head of the music department of De Paui
University in Chicago, and his accompanist, Charles
Quint. Henry Hewitt, chairman of the evening, in
introducing these distinguished artists, said they had
been secured because the committee felt that "nothing
was too good for the travelers." Mr. Enrico Clausio
had won his spurs in Europe before he came to this
country, Mr. Hewitt explained. The singing of this
gentleman was one of the principal features of the
entertainment and elicited unstinted approval and
praise. His encores were liberal.
Another artist of distinction, who has often been
heard in the broadcasts of WGN and other stations,
was Harry Zimmerman, who also delighted his lis-
teners by playing upon the Baldwin instrument in the
room.
Frank Bennett and his wonderful concert company,
comprising one other gentleman and three ladies, gave
a delightful and melodious concert at the close of the
program.
Speech of the Evening.
Louis A. Crittenton of the W. W. Kimball Co.,
orator of the evening, delivered a speech that might
stand him as the oration of his life. William Jennings
Bryan, Col. E. S. Payson, Rufus Choate or Daniel
Webster might not have done better.
The purport of Mr. Crittenton's address was that
no other industry has made such an effect on human
hearts as the piano business. He said the most over-
worked word today was "depression." If we could
find some other word as a substitute for it the piano
business and every other activity of trade would re-
ceive new inspiration and life. He suggested that we
are passing through a readjustment and he advised
piano men to act alive, for "nobody ever bought any-
thing from a corpse." He referred the traveling men
present to the song which Mr. Clausio had just sung,
"I Love Life." He told of a sign an undertaker had
published—"Why do you go around half dead, when I
can bury you for $65?" He said sales would be vastly
increased if we'd really be alive to the great interests
that cluster around the piano industry.
"A man's a fool that talks the same to everybody
that comes into his store," said Mr. Crittenton. Some
salesmen talked too much and studied the customer
not at all. Urging discretion along this line, he told
of a girl who wrote to Marion Harland, saying she
had false teeth, and asked Mrs. Harland if she'd better
tell her lover about it before marriage or afterward.
Mrs. Harland's advice to the bride-to-be was: "Girlie,
you marry him, and afterwards keep your mouth
shut."
Selling pianos is selling the basis of a substantial
civilization and building better citizenship, according
to Mr. Crittenton. "You've got to pass out to the
dealers and the public that nobody can become an
artist without hard, grueling work. A wonderful come-
back in the piano business is on the way," said the
speaker. He then spoke of the nature of music as old
as the universe when the morning stars sang together.
The piano was only 225 years old; the piano was "too
young to die." He spoke of Superintendent Bogan
of the Chicago public schools as a friend of music.
Mr. Bogan had said that the children in the public
schools of Chicago were showing higher scholarship
than ever before, due to the study of music. "What
your business needs is your enthusiasm, your capacity
as a builder," said Mr. Crittenton in conclusion.
Reports of the officers at the business meeting
showed that the association has 192 members. Treas-
urer Jack Bliss reported by letter that there is a
balance in the treasury of $139,
Elected as Honorary Members
President Fred P. Bassett of the manufacturers and
President Otto B. Heaton of the dealers were elected
honorarv members of the association. Mr. Heaton
CONVENTION NOTES
H. Gerald Hyde, who has been representing the
Wurlitzer pianos out of North Tonavvanda, N. Y.,
for the last two years, expects to travel out of the
Chicago territory from HOW on. Mr. Hyde is a stand-
by piano man. He kept a store at Croton, N. Y., for
twelve years before joining the forces of the Wur-
litzer house.
It was amusing to see Delbert L. Loomis and Otto
B. Heaton racing about in the Palmer House get-
ting a number of group pictures of small groups taken.
In the d splay rooms of Walter M. Gotsch, 887, when
Presto-Times man was passing the photographer took
a picture in which Mr. Heaton was the principal figure.
He was shown playing an accordion, and meanwhile
not sparing the Heaton smile.
W. G. Behrens, wholesale traveler for the Tonk
Mfg. Co., from Chciago westward, including the states
of Colorado and Wyoming, was in Chicago during
the convention. He was met at the Tonk exhibit
room by a Presto-Times representative and later at
the Tonk factory in Chicago. Mr. Behrens says
trade is getting better in his territory.
Will Brinkerhoff May Return
Will T. Brinkerhoff, who has been living quietly
at his home in Oak Park, 111., since his resignation
as general manager of Ludwig & Co., of New York,
was an interested visitor at the convention in the
Palmer House. He said he came down just to meet
a lot of his friends in the trade, and his visits with
them had aroused in him a keen desire to return and
re-enter the piano game. Of course, with a live wire
like Will Brinkerhoff, the wish will probably be grati-
fied before long.
Popular J. C. Henderson
Among those in attendance at the Wurlitzer ex-
hibit was J. C. Henderson, eastern sales manager of
the piano department, who has hosts of friends. Mr.
Henderson is really a western man, having been a
co-organizer and official of a piano manufacturing con-
cern at Faribault, Minn., and later heading the Ann
Arbor Organ Co., at Ann Arbor, Mich., of which
famous university city he served as mayor. Now he
has been in the piano business so long that he might
be considered as the dean of the piano travelers.
made an address in which he said that it might be
beneficial for the travelers to "trade places with us
merchants for a while."
The most interesting thing just now Mr. Heaton
said is the increased interest in the study of music.
It had increased during the last fourteen months
almost 72 per cent. The people are interested in the
study of music as never before. "I think we're on
the eve of the greatest boom the piano has ever
known—I mean the grand piano," said Mr. Heaton.
He said there are 21,000,000 families in the United
States; 20,000,000 homes in the United States., and only
15,000,000 pianos in the United States, including
squares.
Mr. Bassett also made a few remarks when called
upon.
The secretary was instructed to send letters of
sympathy or condolence to Ray Briggs and Dan Fab-
yan, whose health is not what it ought to be.
Jacob Schiller President
The election resulted as follows:
President, Jacob Schiller, of the Lester Piano Co.
(Mr. Schiller is vice-president of the Lester Piano
Co. in charge of sales).
Vice-President, Ray Briggs.
Second Vice-President, Ben Fox.
Secretary, Albert Behning.
Executive Committee, Charles Onderdonk, William
B. Marshall.
A Badge of Honor
J. H. Shale, "acting in the place of Col. E. S. Pay-
son," presented the association's past-president's gold
badge to the retiring president, Ralph Henry Day, of
Boston,
H. P. Moller, of Hagerstown, Md., who is some-
times called "the grand old man of the pipe organ
industry." was in Chicago on June 13. Mr. Moller,
who is now 76, came from Denmark to America in
1872 at the age of 18. He built the organ for the
Philadelphia centennial which was held in 1876.
"Piano men have sold more grand pianos since the
stock-market slum]) than at any other time in the his-
tory of music," was one of the significant remarks
made by Delbert L. Loomis, executive secretary of
the National Association of Music Merchants at the
Chicago convention.
Walter L. Rhein, of the W. L. Rhein Co., Belle-
ville, 111., long-established piano dealers, was at the
convention. To a Presto-Times representative Mr.
Rhein said that Belleville has 95 factories and 17 good-
sized stores. Mr. Rhein's trade in pianos has been
fair.
WANTS TO LOCATE OLD-TIME FIRM
A correspondent asks Presto-Times where Cable &
Sons, who manufactured pianos in New York city
for many years, can be located, having sent a letter
to the company addressed to 1306 Chestnut street,
Philadelphia, and which letter was returned, marked
"not there." As the writer of the letter believed the
Cable & Sons had been taken over by the Lester
Piano Co., whose address is 1306 Chestnut street,
Philadelphia, he is now "stumped" to locate Cable
& Sons, he says.
On the back outside cover of the Presto Buyers'
Guide is an attractive advertisement of the Gulbran-
sen radios, and again Presto-Times invites its readers,
who are not too closely tied up with other radio in-
terests, to look into the merits of the Gulbransen
product. The Gulbransen Co. is a good house to tie
up to, and it gives mutual co-operation of the closest
kind to its dealers in the sale of radios as well as
pianos.
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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