March-April, 1935
PRESTO-TIMES
MUSIC TRADE GLOBE TROTTERS
Frank F. Story Now in the Limelight
Music trade men:-manufacturers, jobbers, buyers,
wholesalers and retailers of the trade, have long been
noted as travellers and "globe trotters" far and near.
Our buyers and principals of music merchandise and
instrument houses have long made regular trips to
musical instrument-making centers of Europe; the
Vogtland localities of South Germany and the near-by
Bohemia district; to the wire and felt-making section
of the Rhineland country and other localities where
supplies, felts, wire and musical material are produced.
In reed organ days our salesmen, and one reca 1 ls
such names as Charles Wagner, F. W. Teeple, H. C.
Dickinson, Geo. W. Tewksbury, E. P. Hawkins. Mel-
ville Clark. Phil A. Starck and others now laid to
rest, and there is now with us E. H. Story. J. C.
Henderson, A. G. Gulbransen, who travelled long
and often to distant lands and added to the glory and
prestiere of musical America.
E. H. Story, now living the life of a retired gentle-
man in California, was famous as a traveller all over
the world and now following the inclinations of his
elder brother, Frank F. Story, president of the Story
& Clark Piano Company, is making a record for na-
tional and international travel that mav ecl'pse his
brother Ed. H. and all the others of like renown.
However, about 60 per cent of Frank Story's wan-
derings is within the bounds of the American conti-
nent, the United States, Canada, Alaska, Mexico,
Cuba, and these tours are largely in the interest of
the Story & Clark Piano Company.
Some three years ago Frank set out for a tour
around the world via. Europe; thence on eastward,
but after "half-way around" he abandoned the jour-
ney for that year, took a run all over Europe and
returned home. Two years ago he set out again for
his globe tour by way of the West, from California
on to Hawaii, the Philippines, Japan, China, India and
the orient in general, thence on westward to Europe
and back to America. Mr. Story's latest saltwater
voyage was a West Indies-Caribbean cruise this sea-
son; a very delightful outing, he says. But! Piano
business in that part of the country? "II fait pas
rien," savs Frank.
iiiloiuin
THE BALDWIN PIANO CO. WINDOW, 323 S. WAl'.ASH AVH., CHICAGO.
Broadside on a Group of New Models
The Baldwin Piano Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, has
recently sent out. to the music trade an announcement
bearing the heading:
"INCREASE YOUR PIANO SALES"
and the contents of this big 25 by 38 inch folder
deals clearly with this vital subject and tells in a
straight forward, logical manner how such a coveted
victory may be accomplished with the new Baldwin-
built line which possesses improved tonal qualities
FROM GRANDMOTHER TO GRANDCHILD
and advanced features, an achievement in piano
production and piano promotion that "meets a new
The W. W. Kimball two-column advertisement in demand" in piano requirements of today. This Bald-
the Chicago daily newspapers wherein styles of Kim- win "broadside" brings forcibly to the attention oi
ball pianos from their old souare used by "my grand- everyone who reads it the terse expression in the first
mother" on to the grand of today attracted marked paragraph of the bulletin that "there is more musical
attention. The illustrations were their old square sense in America today than in 20 years; more ap-
piano, then their reed organ, a pipe organ console preciation of the benefits of musical self-expression,
and the Kimball grand. This display was put up in self discipline, beauty." And further that "parents are
an attractive manner, closing with the line, "K : mball learning a-new that nothing takes the place of a piano
has alwavs made the Kimball."
in a home; that musical culture has a lot to do with
success and a richer life."
And now, modestly announced, comes to public at-
The crux of these axiomatic utterances and others
tention an item on another of the genus Spinet in the circular letter equally vital to piano merchants
piano, this through an advertisement of May & of today; the moral of the story is that the dealer
Company, Cleveland, of a Hallet & Davis grand, will find in the Baldwin line coupled with Baldwin
modeled after the Spinet type grand. And where service and cooperation abundant opportunities for
has Hallet & Davis been all these days! However making money and an elevated position in the trade
the illustration shown to a Presto-Times correspond- by associating his efforts with the house of Baldwin.
ent indicates that the actual production spot of this
Here is the formula proposed: "For this new
little instrument is some distance from Hallet & ;md pleasing situation so rich in profit for the 'dealer'
Davis in the Bronx district. New York Citv.
Baldwin has built a new line of pianos of irresistible
appeal."
The folder from which Presto-Times quotes is re-
THE L. E. LEINS MUSIC COMPANY
plete with instructive reading matter and the illustra-
REORGANIZATION
tions so attractively arranged and set forth that any
The L. E. Leins Music Company, Springfield, Mo., dealer in the land will be benefited by its perusal.
has been reorganized whereby the three heirs of the
The New Baldwin Piano Salesrooms,
L. E. Leins estate purchased the interests of Mrs.
Chicago
Otis Maxey, Mrs. J. Brite and Dr. H. A. Lowe in the
business. Mr. Morton Leins will continue as presi-
For several weeks, "a month and a half, to be ex-
dent; Mrs. Betty Keiler, secretary, and Lawrence act," as Manager L. C. Wagner says carpenters,
Leins, treasurer; and these are how sole proprietors plumbers, decorators, specialists in various branches
of the business. Presto-Times is informed that they of interior work, were busy transforming a well ar-
"are going to continue business with great activity ranged piano store of yesterday into a modern piano
and in an aggressive manner."
establishment.
A piano shop to which is attached a series of piano
Services for Mrs. A. G. Gulbransen. wife of the parlors, delightful to visit and entirely homelike,
Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Gulbran- artistic, dignified, comfortable, inviting.
sen Company, who passed away at Garfield Park
This is the way Presto-Times endeavors to describe
Hospital, Chicago, some two weeks ago. were con- briefly this new piano emporium, the new piano sa!on
ducted from the beautif.il Gulbransen home in River of the Chicago branch of The Baldwin Piano Com-
Forest, and a special service from Christ Episcopal pany. For the opening event the following invitation
Church, Chicago, was also held. Mrs. Gulbransen card was sent out:
was an active member of Christ Church. She took an
{INVITATION)
active interest in the River Forest Garden Club in
The
Baldwin
Piano
Company cordially invites you
which both she and her illustrious husband were
closely interested and both also were active in music to attend the Formal Opening of their Modernized
and musical advancement not only in the immediate Piano Salon, Saturday, March the twenty-third, 323
surroundings of their greater activities, but nationally South Wabash Avenue.
The invitation brought many visitors: some from
as well. Interment was at Oak Ridge Cemetary,
Western suburb district of Chicago. The entire homes, others from studios, others prospective buy-
music industry will join with his many other friends ers brought in by their friends, teachers, solicitors
outside the field of music in expressing to Mr. Gul- and others, to view Chicago's latest and. safe to say.
handsomest, exclusively-piano establishment and one
bransen deep sympathy in his great bereavement.
unsurpassed anywhere, east, west, north or south.
So, although the live or six weeks of reconstruction
and remodeling was a period of confusion, neverthe-
less it was of the kind of uproar and confusion that
workmen make and it gave the opportunity for a
L. C. WAGNER, MANAGER OF THE BALDWIN
PIANO CO. CHICAGO HOUSE.
real, genuine, remodelling sale, a condition that was
taken advantage of effectively and profitably, and
the new store was ready for a perfect presentation
of the new line of Baldwin and Baldwin-made pianos.
Spinets and the Spinet Grand
Spinet, the name given to a form and construction
of the pianoforte of sixteenth century days, was re-
vived by the Mathushek Piano Mfg. Company, who
placed on the market some years ago a grand of the
Spinet type. Thus came into being the Spinet grand
of Mathushek, a square-like piano duplicating as near
as practicable the early-day Spinet, hut embodying
the finalities and principles of the modern piano in
tone and volume, as well as action, key, hammer,
pedal and sounding board construction that have
superseded the methods of early days. Although
other manufacturers have in some degree caught the
Spinet thought, nevertheless the great strides made
by Mathushek and the immense popularity which the
Mathushek Spinet grand has met with all over the
country, insures this product the unique position of
being in a class by itself.
A recent Jenkins Music Company (Kansas City,
Mo.) card reads, "The best place in the world to
buy," followed by the statement that they endeavor
to sell each piano they carry at the lowest price that
piano can be sold for anywhere in the United States.
This advertisement distinguishes Steinway, Vose,
dickering. Story & Clark, Cable-Nelson pianos.
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