Presto

Issue: 1933 2270

P R E S T O - T I M ES
WURLITZER COMPANY SUPPLIES
TWO NOTABLE CENTURY OF
PROGRESS EXHIBTS
NATIONAL
May-June, 1933
ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC
MERCHANTS
Two Wurlitzer grand pianos of modern design and
exceedingly attractive, recently completed at the De
Kalb factories, will be shown in two buildings of the
Century of Progress Exposition—one in the Masonite
House, another in the Model House put up by the The Postponed Convention at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, June 5,6, 7,1933
National Lumber Manufacturers' Association.
These models are designed by the noted New York
in the past; in other words the situation will be en-
artist and designer, Mr. Russell Wright, and were
tirely in keeping with present financial conditions. It
modeled especially for the rooms in which they will
is believed that the business side of the convention
appear, matching to a high degree of perfection the
will be productive of very worthwhile sessions which
furniture and decorations of the houses for which they
can be translated into increased sales by the members
were made. The designs have been noted by the New
who take advantage of the opportunity to attend.
York Times and the New York Evening Post and
criticisms contained in those papers have been, in-
President Weeks is to speak at the Oak Park
deed, quite favorable. One of the instruments is in
Rotary Club gathering on Wednesday beside his talk
ebony with chromium hardware; the other is in
at the Chicago Rotary Club Tuesday.
American walnut with copper hardware. Both are
This year's convention will be a model of enter-
exceedingly attractive and well worth the attention
prise and dispatch in bringing timely topics for action.
they will receive from the public, and they will well
It is a Music Merchants' convention pure and simple
repay a visit by aggressive piano dealers. The ebony
and the music dealers of the country are the ones
piano with chromium hardware strikes one imme-
vitally interested.
diately as being very beautiful in appearance; an
The big luncheon of the association is scheduled
instrument that "bears acquaintance." A critic who
to take place on Tuesday, when delegates and their
has looked at the engraver's designs many times says
friends will attend the meeting of the Rotary Club
he likes them (the style of cases) better and better,
The 33rd annual convention of the Music Mer- of Chicago. President Weeks of the Merchants' Asso-
for they are not so far fetched as to be just a stunt
but, on the contrary, instruments for today that will chants' Association convenes at the Stevens Hotel ciation will, on this occasion, be the guest speaker.
on June 5 for a three days' session, June 5, 6, 7. The His subject will be "Harmony in the Home."
sell and make customers.
program, so far outlined, is expected to be about like
The Weaver Piano Company, York, Pa., which
this: The opening sessions take the form of a Fed-
Less than one cent an exhibit building is the cost eral Trade Practice Conference, to be conducted by concern does not contemplate exhibiting at the Music
Trades Convention, says also that it is not "100 per
of seeing A Century of Progress—the Chicago World's the Federal Trade Commission, under the direction
cent sure" that Mr. C. D. Bond will be able to get to
Fair of 1933.
of Commissioner Garland S. Ferguson, Jr. Mr. Fer- Chicago for this year's convention.
The general admission—fifty cents for adults and guson will be assisted by George McCorkle, acting
There will be no united exhibit of musical instru-
twenty-five cents for children—will admit one to the director of trade practice conferences for the com-
twenty buildings erected by the Exposition itself and mission. This conference will be devoted to a dis- ments at the Stevens Hotel, all exhibits being as
to all the thirty-three special buildings put up by out- cussion of conditions in the musical merchandise field individually arranged by each exhibitor being con-
side interests at the Fair.
and it is understood it will be attended by one hun- fined as largely as possible to the fifth and sixth floors
The Hall of Science alone, with its comprehensive dred or more wholesalers in that branch of the in- at the Stevens Hotel.
range of action exhibits covering the whole field of
The following piano manufacturers have so far
dustry. Members of the National Association of
the basic sciences and their contributions to the ad- Music Merchants will also be invited to attend the made arrangements for a showing of their line of
vance of industry, is, in itself, if you saw nothing session which will probably occupy the entire day instruments.
else, worth a trip half way around the world.
Monday, June 5.
Mathushek Piano Mfg. Co.: Models of Spinet
The trade practice conference, as well as the other grands and Mathushek grands. Ben Strub, general
WILKING RE-INCORPORATION GIVES sessions of the convention will be held in private Western representative, in charge.
GREATER FACILITIES
Charles Frederick Stein line of grands, showing the
dining room No. 2 at the Stevens Hotel. The con-
Harmonic tone chamber.
The new amended incorporation of the Wilking ference will convene at 10 a. m.
Music Company, Indianapolis, Ind., is made to con-
B. K. Settergren Company: Suite 513. B. K. Set-
On Tuesday the Merchants' Association will meet
form to the new corporation act of the Indiana legis- at 9:30 a. m. for the first Round Table convention tergren and W. C. Hess in attendance.
lature which gives greater power and diversity to session. It is expected that after the noon recess this
Starr Piano Company: Exhibit of Starr-made
corporations. In the case of the Wilking Music Com- session will be continued at 2 p. m. Arrangements pianos, including Starr, Remington, Richmond, Tray-
pany, Mr. Frank Wilking, president, says: "Under will be made for a meeting of the board of control ser. Also electric refrigeration exhibit, Starr Freeze.
the new law we will be able to do bigger things. The of the association at 3:30 p. m.
C. R. Hunt in charge.
re-organization has nothing to do with the financial
One of the most interesting features of the con- Winter & Co.: Exhibit of Winter & Co. and Heller
status of the business." Mr. Wilking is president of vention will be a joint session of the Music Merchants'
grands and uprights. Wm. G. Heller in charge.
the corporation, J. M. Wilking vice-president, and Association and the National Association of Sheet
Apollo Exhibit: Apollo grands and uprights. Suite
Maude Kerr secretary.
Music Dealers, which will take place Wednesday
516.
morning at 9:30. It is expected that this will be the
The Baldwin Piano Company: Suite 552. Baldwin
FRANK HOOD RETURNS FROM FLORIDA
closing session of both associations.
Masterpiece grands, Hamilton, Howard, Ellington
Frank Hood, erstwhile piano man, now freelance
It will be noted that no evening sessions or activi- grands and uprights. Paul Smiley in charge.
and man of leisure and pleasure, and Mrs. Hood have
Wurlitzer Grand Piano Company: Wurlitzer line
been wintering in Florida, but have just now returned ties of any kind have been scheduled, the idea being
of grands and uprights. Gordon Laughead in charge.
by motor to their Chicago home. Mr. and Mrs. Hood to leave these periods free so that the delegates may
Cyril Farny, vice-president, and Charles Howe, spe-
motored many thousand of miles, going, coming and visit the Century of Progress Exposition, the exhibits
cial representative, in attendance.
side trips, with the result that the past six months in the hotel, or make other arrangements as they
may desire.
Among the merchandise exhibitors are Fred
have been a very delightful period for them.
This convention will be essentially a business af- Gretsch, S. Simon, Harmony Company, Targ &
Diner, Chicago Musical Instrument Company, Regal
At a called creditors' meeting of the Silver-Marshall fair, although there will be certain entertainment fea-
Musical Instrument Company, Tonk Brothers, and
tures which will be developed between now and the
radio windup the receiver made his final report.
Kay Musical Instrument Company, Chicago; Elkhart-
McCoy's Music Store, Hartford, Conn., made a convention.
Buescher Company, Elkhart, Ind.; Holton, Elkhorn,
display of the Emicon Solotone instrument at the
The round trip railway rates, which are very liberal
Hartford Times Exposition held in that city. A cor- for travel to and from Chicago this summer, w r ill be Wis.; Martin Band Instrument Company and Henry
Pedler, Elkhart, Ind.; Carl Fischer, New York; V. C.
respondent says that the instrument received "many in force from June first on. The sixteen-day ticket
favorable comments."
will be desirable this year, giving opportunity for the Squier, Battle Creek, Mich.; The Vega Company,
Boston; Art Musical Instrument Company, Elkhart;
The Spence Music Company, Zanesville, Ohio, have radio convention at the Stevens Hotel, June 7 to 12 V
taken on the Majestic radio distribution for that dis- and for visits to the Century of Progress Exposition. Globe Musical Instrument Company, St. Charles, 111.;
and M. M. Cole (music publisher), Chicago.
trict. The Spence Music Company is one of Zanes-
Many prominent members of the music trades and
ville's oldest and most respected business houses.
industries will be heard during the round table dis-
SHEET MUSIC DEALERS' CONVENTION
The Nashville Radio-Kraft Corporation has been cussions. President Weeks has extended invitations
The twentieth annnual convention of the National
incorporated for doing business at Detroit. Mich.
to numerous leaders to take part in these discussions
Association
of Sheet Music Dealers will be held the
asking them to speak particularly on the topics in
which they are most individually interested. Among week of June 5 at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago. The
these are: Jay Grinnell, Detroit; C. H. DeAcres, San other organizations of the music industries will hold
Francisco; W. W. Bradford, Denver; Charles H. their annual conventions at the same time and place.
Yahrling, Youngstown, Ohio; Rcinhard G. Knuepfer, Joint sessions of the various music trade associations
Lawrence, Mass.; Robert J. Shackleton, Louisville, will provide an opportunity for the discussion of the
Ky.; Edward J. Walt, Lincoln, Neb.; William How- common problems that confront each and every music
THE PIANO
ard Beasley, Dallas, Tex.; Otto B. Heaton, Columbus, dealer in these unusual times.
Among the topics for discussion will be "The Sales
Ohio: W. W. Smith, Toledo, Ohio; Edmund Gram,
Milwaukee; E. E. Forbes, Birmingham, Ala.; Melville Tax and How to Handle It"; "Cooperation with the
American Society of Composers, Authors and Pub-
Clark, Syracuse, N. Y.; Ben F. Duvall, Chicago; Carl
lishers on Broadcasting"; "The Establishing of a
Wittich.
Reading,
Pa.;
S.
Ernest
Philpitt,
Miami,
Fla.;
Distinctive Back Construction—Open Sound Chamber
A. A. Klamer, Evansville, Ind.; Arthur E. Winter, Loan Association for the Financial Support of Sheet
Mathushek Method of Holding Strain of Strings
Music Dealers"; "How Can We Suppress the Sale of
Altoona. Pa.
Song Sheets Sold on the Streets"; "Ask Trade Papers
AMERICA'S FAMOUS
The round table discussion will bring out some ex- to Refrain from Printing Wholesale Prices Where It
ceedingly interesting topics.
Has a Retail Distribution."
SPINET GRAND PIANO
It is the belief of President Weeks and the other
"All music dealers, whether members or not are
MATHUSHEK PIANO MFG. CO. officers that the Century of Progress Exposition will cordially invited to attend this convention," is the
furnish a most important incentive to members to invitation of the officers of the association—John
Piano Manufacturers
visit Chicago at this time and they will be offered Harden, president; Robert A. Schmidt, vice-president,
much more for their monev than has been the case and Thomas J. Donlan, secretary-treasurer.
132nd St. and Alexander Av e .
New York, N. Y.
MATHUSHEK-
"KNOWN FOR TONE"
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/
May-June, 1933
PRESTO-TIMES
NOTABLE PIANO BROADCASTS
KIMBALL HALL A MECCA FOR
The playing of Josef Lhevinne over the National
VISITING DEALERS
Broadcasting Company network is just about like
listening to a real piano recital by this eminent pianist.
A WORTHWHILE INVITATION
Mr. Lhevinne's interpretations, which were on the
Among the attractive displays of pianos to greet
air for several weeks this season, starting from
visitors to the Music Merchants' and Radio conven-
W E A F NBC station in New York City, have been
tions and the flock of visitors who will come to the
listened to with rapt attention by students, teachers,
Century of Progress exposition opening week, none
will be found more attractive or interesting than the
showing at Kimball Hall where the W. W. Kimball
Company have placed on exhibition models of prac-
tically their entire line of grands and uprights.
In extending an invitation to dealers attending the
Music Merchants' and Radio conventions to visit Kim-
ball Hall and inspect their array of pianos, they make
this statement:
"The house of Kimball believes that opportunities
for success in the retail piano business are constantly
increasing and is actively soliciting the business of
desirable dealers in those localities where the Kimball
is not represented."
The house of Kimball cooperates with its dealers
and it is, therefore, well to look up Kimball methods,
the Kimball proposition and the Kimball plan of man-
ufacturer-dealer cooperation for mutual profit and
advantage.
It goes without saying that a Kimball agency today
is a mark of activity and success in piano selling.
Yes, it is well worth while for the visiting dealer,
agent or piano salesman to visit Kimball Hall.
Along with the special invitation which the W. W.
Kimball Company are sending to the trade is some
interesting Century of Progress literature. One
folder gives the places of interest to visit in Chicago.
Another is a plat printed in colors showing the
JOHK.F LHKVINXK. KM1NKNT CONCERT PIANIST,
general
plan of the exposition grounds. This exposi-
WHO USES THE BALDWIN.
tion map is really an interesting souvenir and is a
visual guide to the grounds, buildings, and chief at-
amateurs and musical people generally. As the story
goes NBC had for quite a long time been looking for tractions along the lake front devoted to Chicago's
Century of Progress World's Fair. Mr. D. W. Kim-
a pianist to meet certain conditions in attracting the
ball, in charge of publicity of the W. W. Kimball
public and their engagement of Mr. Lhevinne seems
to have enabled them to meet all requirements. As Company, has certainly done himself proud in supply-
a matter of course the New York studio W E A F is ing this Kimball-Century of Progress literature.
supplied with Baldwin pianos for Mr. Lhevinne's use.
P. & O. LUNCHEON FOR MAY
Mrs. Lhevinne, also a talented pianist, assisted her
husband in several of these radio recitals.
The May luncheon of the Chicago Piano & Organ
By the way, Josef Lhevinne, as well as two other Association called for Wednesday, the 24th, is sched-
noted artists who use the Baldwin piano, Harold Bauer uled for something like a gala event, for Frank Ben-
and Jose Iturbe, is among the pianists engaged as nett, chairman of the entertainment committee, says
soloists with the New York Philharmonic Orchestra he will have on hand a good many artists for both
next season.
vocal and instrumental music.
CLARK & JONES CHANGE CORPORATE
NAME
In changing the corporate name of Clark & Jones
Piano Company, Birmingham, Ala., to Clark & Jones,
Inc., the reason for the change, as stated in the cir-
cular letter, is that "the old name did not indicate the
wider scope of the company's business. All of the
assets as well as the liabilities of the company were
assumed by the new corporation, making absolutely
no change in its net worth. The ownership and man-
agement remains exactly as it was."
The 35th anniversary of this house, which is under
the same ownership and management, was recently
celebrated.
A STEINWAY REMINISCENCE. OF 1894
"The steamer is elegantly furnished. The parlors
are decorated in garnet; old gold and ivory trimming.
In the center of the main salon stands the piano: a
Steinway grand of about 5 ft. 8 in. in ivory with heavy
gold trimmings. A celebrated pianist returning to
Germany was asked after he had played on the piano
at a concert the night before (playing a Beethoven
concerto) what he 'thought' of the piano, made this
reply, 'Oh, well, there isn't anything better.' "
(Extract from diary of E. S. A., written on the S.S
Normania, New York to Hamburg, June 8, 1894.)
TO OBTAIN THE BUSINESS THAT HAS
BEEN SLEEPING
In a recent circular letter to the trade H. Edgar
French, president of the newly organized Jesse
French Corporation, New Castle, Ind., speaking of
opportunities in piano selling today says that "ener-
getic and resourceful salesmen will find that a real
opportunity awaits them today. Personal perform-
ance is and always will be attractive and a great
force; use it in obtaining the business which has been
sleeping."
O. K. HOUCK STOCK BOUGHT IN FOR
BANKRUPTCY SALE
The stock of the O. K. Houck Piano Company,
Memphis, Tenn., including office and store equipment,
was recently purchased by Harry Marks from the
U. S. court. It is Mr. Marks intention to start a
bankrupt sale of goods and the sale is now going on
at the O. K. Houck premises, 108 South Main street,
Memphis.
STEINWAY & SONS
MAKERS OF THE WORLD'S STANDARD PIANOS
First choice of the most famous artists.
Indispensable to musicians who appreciate fine tone.
General Offices, Steinway Hall,
109-113West 57th Street.
New York
STARR PIANOS
STARR FREEZE ELECTRIC DOMESTIC and COMMERCIAL
The Starr Piano Co.
Richmond, Indiana
REFRIGERATION
Established
1872
TH E CO MSTOCK, C HEN EY & CO.
IVORYTON, CONN
IVORY CUTTERS SINCE 1834
MANUFACTURERS OF
Grand Keys, Actions and Hammers, Upright Keys
Actions and Hammer • Pipe Organ Keys
Piano Forte Ivory for the Trade
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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