Presto

10
June-July, 1935
PRESTO-TIMES
sign. Therefore it seems that the old and oft repeated tale of the "early bird" will
still hold good. But there are the 50,000 uprights now on the floors of dealers all
over the country to be disposed of and all awaiting for a new and happy home,
and not to be taken for a ride to the "dump." Thus we bide the time and ponder
over "die Zeit fluegt schnell."
The call for furnishing over 20,000 pianos for the public schools of Germany
has had a stimulating effect upon the piano manufacturing industy of that country.
The proposed deal specifies that 25% of the purchase price is paid by the schools
on delivery and the National Government is expected to appropriate another 25%,
while the balance of 50% will be taken care of by promissory notes given by the
schools or national department of education. These notes, then, it is expected, will
be discounted by banking institutions so that for the manufacturers the transac-
tion will be a cash deal.
tive power, both explicitly of the organ class
and character, together with the progress
going- on in production of the reed organ
known as the Spinet organ at the Gulbransen
factory in Chicago, there seem to be excellent
prospects for increasing demand for the prince
of the five-octave clavier type of instrument,
the organ.
One of the best piano salesmen of the coun-
try asks this question: "What is a master
salesman ?" and follows the inquisitorial sug-
gestion with this homily: "We interpret sales-
manship in the broadest possible way as per-
suasion. We believe that all the progress that
the world has made has been made by virtue
of wise and intelligent salesmanship. A doc-
tor is a salesman; his business is to sell the
world better ways of living. The inventor is a
salesman whose business is to sell the world
new and better ways of doing things. The
president of the United States, if he is success-
ful in selling his ideas to the public, becomes
a great popular leader."
There has been some newspaper publicity
to a proposition for an "all steel" piano case;
in fact practically an "all steel" piano. Insofar
as the house of Steinway is mentioned in this
connection, Presto-Times representative in
New York says that Steinway & Sons give
little credence to the story, and is quoted as
saying that "there is nothing to the story
which simply concerns routine experimenta-
tion."
'SURE," THEY DO
The Late NIRA
It may be safely presumed that the music industry
as a whole has gained rather than been a loser in the
experiences incident to carrying on under the rules
and codes of the NRA, most of which were formu-
lated by music trade men and their direct representa-
tives. The various code hearings and deliberations
before national, state and local advisory boards were
constructive gatherings and beneficial to those in
attendance. What, then, is left undone or not adopted
is easily adjustable now or any future time and no
hardship has come to any branch of the music in-
dustry, dealers or associations.
The matters brought up for attention by the co-
ordinating committee and the problems there dis-
closed were valuable to those who attended the meet-
ings and relatively so to the business interests which
these gentlemen represented. Many of the problems
brought up, some of them "knotty" ones and others
also more or less "naughty," were solved to advantage
of all concerned.
Mr. Holtz and Mr. Shinkman of the band instru-
ment manufacturers; C. F. Martin and James Krausof
the musical merchandise manufacturers; Paul Monig
and Fred Gretsch, Jr., of the musical merchandise
wholesalers; Ray Lammers, H. R. Lyon, Charles
Parker of the retailers' musical instrument association,
well know of the work accomplished in behalf of bet-
tering trade conditions and are sure that things are
coming back to former conditions, improved by the
rather severe though short stepping up to the mark.
The piano manufacturing industry did not take the
National Recovery Act enthusiastically in all of its
parts and specifications. There was something like a
lukewarm reception to several provisions of the code.
In fact Lucien Wulsin, president of the National
Piano Manufacturers' Asssciation of America, in his
report early in 1934, expressed an anticipatory tone
when, in referring to the expiration of the NRA which
would take place in June this year, he said: "Whether
any permanent benefits to industry in general and
to our own industry in particular will come from this
law is still a question which it is too soon now to
answer. There is one benefit which I believe our
industry has secured from the NRA which is that it
has brought us closer together, and, to my mind, only
through continuation of united position by the mem-
bers of our industry can we expect to secure real
future benefit. Those benefits are entirely independent
of the continuation of any code but are dependent
upon all of us getting together and deciding what is
to our best interest and then making those decisions
effective."
Whatever changes or whatever results may be or
whatever retarding element may have been expe-
rienced in carrying out drastic measures that would
affect prices and terms can now be made to conform
to conditions which will not necessitate reduction of
wages or lengthening hours of labor.
Addressed to the editor of a special feature
running in a Chicago newspaper bearing the cap-
tion, "In the Wake of the News," this inquiry
is made, joined to the sub-title, "Do You Re-
member 'Way Back When," "the Story & Clark
organ factory was at Canal and 16th Streets?"—
L. D. D.
Ell Dee Dee—and who is he ?
But whoever he be; sure he will see that lots of
folks, "plenty people," will remember "away back
when" Story & Clark were there and quite a few
of them who were there with Story & Clark from
the "90's" on to the time the Canal and 16th
Notwithstanding disastrous floods which Streets factory was given up and their new fac-
have overtaken various parts of the West, tory at Grand Haven, Mich., occupied.
nevertheless the abundant rainfalls which
Ask E. H. Story, now residing in California,
have been experienced practically in all sec- who was placed in charge of the financial end of
tions of the country West of the Mississippi the business when his father, H. L. Story, joined
River covering the great grain belts of this Melville Clark and Story & Clark was organized.
region and the arid and dust-ridden lands And ask Frank F. Story, now president of the
as well, ensure bountiful harvests to the far- Story & Clark Piano Co., and Chas. C. Russell,
mer, the horticulturist, the dairies and cat- now in the insurance business in Chicago, who
tlemen. Unless some unforeseen calamity de- was secretary and confidential man down at
velops the results and the benefits to every "Canal and 16th," and E. G. Clark, DeKalb, 111.,
avenue of life, sustenance, trade activity and brother of Melville Clark, and the late A. G.
The petition in a Chicago court to restrain George
business activity, will be a godsend. Rain, Gulbransen, at one time a foreman and super-
rain, rain; fine, old rain! And doesn't the intendent. These gentlemen as well as others W. Lyon, Jr., son of the late G. W. Lyon, one of the
founders of Lyon & Healy, from disposing of se-
Good Book speak of "showers of blessing" ? well remember "Way Back When."
A. G. GULBRANSEN
The death of A. G. Gulbransen takes a noted char-
acter from the ranks of the music industries. A gen-
tleman of distinction as an artisan in the production
of keyboard instruments, the reed organ, the grand
organ, the piano and the player and reproducing piano
so closely allied to the piano proper and distinct.
Mr. Gulbransen had been honored by being placed
at the head of the Board of Directors. As Chairman
of the Board, Mr. Gulbransen was relieved of much
detail and direct activities in the affairs of the com-
pany which bears his name and was founded by him.
Speaking of the passing of Mr. Gulbransen, S. E.
Zack, president of Gulbransen Company, says: "The
loss of Mr. A. G. Gulbransen to our organization
can, of course, never be replaced. The memory of
his fine character, his sense of justice and his many
remarkable accomplishments will, however, remain
with us and inspire and aid us in guiding affairs of
this company founded by him in a manner which
will bring honor to his name."
Mr. Gulbransen was a native of Norway. When
quite young he worked at the Estey Organ Factory,
Brattleboro, Vt., and it was his pleasure to relate to
friends how in those days he was a member of the
bible class led by deacon Jacob Estey, founder of the
Estey Organ Company. Coming back to Chicago,
he and his two brothers went to work at the Western
Cottage Organ Company factory at Mendota, 111.,
and later at Ottawa, 111. In due time A. G. settled
in Chicago and was first a workman, then superin-
tendent and later by degrees became one of the most
noted figures in the American music industry; a man
to be long remembered and his memory cherished.
American Piano Company several years ago. He
was first employed as a workman in the Estey Piano
Factory, New York, and later on formed a partner-
ship with Georges Laffargue, from which association
an important position in the piano manufacturing field
followed. Joseph was noted for athletic and gym-
nastic associations, and took several prizes for
wrestling. He had several hobbies, one of which was
furnishing his home with inlaid furniture, much of
the work done by himself in the piano factory. Joseph
was laid at rest in Beechwood Cemetery, New
Rochelle.
J. B. Spillane, who died June 12, had been asso-
ciated with music trade journalism for more than
fifty years. He was with the Messrs. Bill, father and
sons, during almost the life of "Music Trade Review"
and was the editor in chief of that paper for many
years. He was a noted journalist and for years was
the New York correspondent of the London Times.
Mr. Spillane was a brilliant, capable and lovable char-
acter.
The passing of Mrs. George B. Carpenter takes
away a character well known in music trade circles
as well as in the music world of Chicago years ago.
Mrs. Carpenter was the manager of Central Music
Hall, then the center of the best musical attractions
of the day. Instrumental and vocal concerts,
operatic performances, orchestral and choral events.
Here were held several conventions of the Music
Teachers' National Association and conventions of
the Piano Manufacturers' National Association. Near-
ly all the great pianists of that day and orchestras
concertised at Central Music Hall. Here was held
the funeral of that bright star of her day, Emma
Joseph Oktaveck. who died at his home in New Abbott. Central Music Hall also housed Dr. Zieg-
Rochelle early in June, was a familiar figure in the field's Chicago Musical College. It was the elite
trade before his business was taken over by the musical center of the West.
curities owned by his mother now living at the Del
Prado Hotel, Chicago, is a vivid reminder of former
days. It is news to learn that the widow of the late
G. W. Lyon (genial man he was), now 83 years of age,
still resides in Chicago and that the son is still among
J. H. Poppler, head of the Poppler Piano Co.,
Grand Forks, N. Dak., who has been undergoing
treatment at St. Mary's Hospital, Rochester, Minn.,
following an operation at the Mayo brothers' institu-
tion, is gradually improving and his family and friends
expect him back in Grand Forks about the middle of
July. This is good news to Mr. Poppler's host of
friends in the trade.
PROUD OF THEIR NEW CONOVER GRAND
The Women's Club of Glen Ellyn, 111., is a recent
purchaser of a new Conover grand piano which in-
strument, in its new home in Arcacia Hall, Glen
Ellyn, where concerts have already been given, has
been the subject of much interest because of its
striking beauty of case and design as well as musi-
cal qualities. The funds for the purchase of this
instrument have been realized through special savings
for a long time past until now the club has realized
its ambition to have a new grand piano.
R. B. Fitzsimmons is the new manager of the
Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. store, 417 N. Main St., Piqua,
Ohio. Mr. Fitzsimmons succeeds Ray Basler who
had been w T ith Wurlitzer at Piqua for eleven years.
It is said that Mr. Basler is the oldest manager in
point of service in the Wurlitzer organization. Mr.
Basler has not yet determined upon his future opera-
tions but is now taking a well-earned vacation. The
announcement of this change was made by H. H.
Fleer, general sales executive of Wurlitzer.
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