Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
The Baldwin Piano Company, new and original re-
styled Howard models which must win favor; the
Weaver Piano Co. "Vertiforte," placed in the trade a
few weeks ago; a console type vertical of elegant de-
sign and proportions by Hardman Peck & Co. is
looked for almost any day if not now already; Chick-
ering (East Rochester, N. Y. factories Aeolian-
American Corporation) new upright model put out
in September and similar report on a Knabe (East
Rochester) restyle production. The new console mod-
els of Weser Piano Corporation are called Colonial
and Colonionet Consoles.
The numerous models of these later productions,
varying in design and attractiveness accordingly as
each producer shall determine for his own product,
are now shown in music stores or are soon to be
placed on the market. A few manufacturers continue
to be more or less indifferent about getting into the
swim and meeting a demand that seems to be staring
them in the face and urging them to get a move.
Stieff, Baltimore; Ivers & Pond, Boston; Kranich &
Bach, Sohmer, Ricca, Krakauer, New York; Lauter-
Humana Company, Newark, N. J.; are among the
concerns eligible for entry into the "restyling the up-
right" campaign. Apropos of all this talk comes a
letter from a well-known manufacturer, who writes:
"We are not yet sure that the new styles of upright
pianos will meet with the approval of the general
public to the extent that they will be purchased in
preference to other and more conventional models and
until we do learn more about this we want to feel
our way as to whether these pianos find their way into
the homes of the people."
Manufacturers whose production is grand pianos
and consequently who are not much interested in any
new form or change of the conventional upright case,
as Steinway, for instance, who are entirely out of
upright manufacture and with whom should any model
of piano deviating from the grand in form and con-
struction be contemplated by them such an instru-
ment, that is to say, such a model or design, would be
of their own craftsmanship, drafted by their own ar-
tists and made by their own artisans regardless of
any existing specimens. Mason & Hamlin, at East
Rochester, N. Y., also confine their product to grand
pianos and naturally would follow the line of such
precedent.
A prime thought with most of the manufacturers
in bringing out new types in design and construction
is not alone to re-style the instrument and make it
more attractive to the eye but to show more par-
ticularly one that shall combine, as near as humanly
possible to make it so musically, the principles of
both the grand and the upright, qualities which can
be attained in marked degree if correct methods of
their production are understood.
Notwithstanding the Chicago convention has been
a "thing of the past" since back in July, yet a lot of
the memoranda of those days and other data that
come to Presto-Times from time to time with sug-
gestions to utilize them are as worhty of note now
and just about as interesting as they were a month
ago. What was accomplished at the July gatherings
and w r hat was left undone has passed into history,
but what is ahead and what will be doing to keep
up the momentum in trade activity now under way
is the interesting proposition and basis of inspiration
for carrying on.
A splendid card next year will be to get the "big
guns" of the association, past and present, to be there
and thus help make up for the absence of several of
them this year, although their absence was offset, in
a way, by the surprisingly large attendance of new
blood in the trade. For many of these newcomers
this was their first visit to a music merchants' con-
vention, although many of them had met with other
associations more recently organized, like the Retail
Musical Instrument Dealers' Association.
It would be a brilliant move to get the past presi-
dents together and they could be styled "veterans of
the association," made up of past presidents and ex-
officials. President La Motte could issue a call to
these past presidents, all of whom with only a few
exceptions (Colonel Hollenberg, R. O. Foster, Dan
J. Nolan and possibly one or two others) are still
identified with music and the music trades. Most of
them could get to the convention wherever held.
Here is the list of available past presidents:
William C. Hamilton (now honorary member),
Col. Hollenberg (1902-03), E. H. Droop (1909-10),
R. O. Foster (1911-12), P. T. Clay (1914-15), J. G.
Corley (1915-16), J. A. Turner (1916-17), E. G. Gram
(1917-18). Dan J. Nolan (1918), E. Paul Hamilton
(1920-21), M. V. De Forest (1921-22), J. Edwin Butler
(1922-23), Robert N. Watkin (1923-24), W. W. Smith
(1924-25), Henry E. Weisert (1925-26), Edw. H. Uhl
(1926-27), C. J. Roberts (1927-29), Otto B. Heaton
(1920-21) and, retiring (1932-35). E. R. Weeks, who
was succeeded by A. D. La Motte. Several of these
eminent ex-officials were at the Chicago convention.
Mr. Butler, Mr. Watkin, Mr. Smith, Mr. Weisert, Mr.
Gram.
This group of "big guns," or even a fair proportion
of them, would be a card to draw crowds and attract
dealers from far and near. It is worth trying.
Here's a rather strange and far-fetched proposition
which a corrspondent suggests might be brought
before the convention. This writer asks: "Why could
not the National Music Merchants' convenion and
possibly the Piano Manufacturers' Association estab-
lish a fund for the purchase or the 'release' for old
pianos so as to be destroyed? It seems to me a
plan might be worked out for obtaining old pianos
that are on sale either by their purchase or a bonus
given for their elimination; the amounts or the bonuses
for them to be governed by the age of he instrument
or the prices they are offered for sale under, say
$25 to $40."
All piano men want to see worthless second-hands
put somewhere where they cannot be made use of
as musical instruments.
TIMELY COMMENTS AND SUG-
GESTIONS
Since the Chicago Music Trade Convention
and during the last days of that meeting, a
representative of Presto-Times has met vari-
ous ones of the individuals who were there
and who helped to make that event a big one.
Our representative has had occasion to listen
to their estimates of what was done at the
convention, what they saw, and what they
expect for the future. Also we have received
communications from others who had agreed
to have something to say "later on."
Herewith, then, are quotations from some
of these individuals, of belated correspondence
worthy of publication at this time:
MISS MAYME ZECHMANN, 418 West Fourth
street, Sioux City, Iowa—"The meetings were con-
structive and highly informative. The exhibits were
interesting. I am sure that those of us who have
weathered the depression have renewed faith in the
future of the music business. The exhibiting manu-
facturers are deserving of a great deal of praise and
we have seen many new styles of instruments that
will help to make pianos more salable. We who are
in the retail trade feel that when we sell a new piano
the transaction is not merely making a sale but is
doing a good service to the family and the com-
munity."
R. J. SHACKLETON of Shackleton's, Louisville,
Ky., writes: "In my opinion the music trade conven-
tion this year was the best one held in years. Both
manufacturers and merchants were enthusiastic over
the new piano models brought out. It seems for-
tunate that the manufacturers have grasped the idea
for a new design in the upright; one which will
make an appeal to the buyer to buy a piano even
if the purchase cannot be a grand, thus furnishing
additional business to the piano merchant. I notice
definite improvement in the music business generally
and if manufacturers and publishers will not fail to
realize that their success depends on close co-opera-
tion with the dealer we shall all be successful and
these conventions will serve a good purpose."
CORINNE MELVILLE, proprietor, Melville's for
Music, Asheville, N. C.—"I never saw a more beauti-
ful and high-class display of instruments. I have
sold the Martin band instruments so successfully that
it is but natural to give extreme praise to their exhibit
of the 'Handcraft' instruments which they advertise
as 'guaranteed for 30 years,' though I would say
'guaranteed for a lifetime.' " Mrs. Melville has dis-
tinct praise for the Selmer saxophones and mentions
the new sound equipment of Selmer which has already
made a big hit in Asheville where it is used as a
feature at Asheville Recreation Park. "Our motor
party to the convention, several of whom were pur-
chasers of musical instruments^ was delighted with
the visit." Referring to the Baldwin and the repre-
sentative display of Baldwin pianos at the Chicago
Baldwin store, 323 South Wabash avenue, Mrs. Mel-
ville says: "I cannot say too much; truthfully I can-
not say enough for the Baldwin pianos and the House
of Baldwin which through its marvelous executive
force put up a showing at the Stevens Hotel and at
the Baldwin display rooms that was exceedingly effec-
tive." Mrs. Melville remarks that the Baldwin at
the Stevens Hotel—one solitary Baldwin grand piano
—was impressive, and the showing at the store was
especially attractive. She was enthused over the
Howard showing partly by reason of the successful
Howard trade she is having.
RAYMOND STOTLER, Tulsa, Okla.—"It must
have been an inspiration to all of us who attended.
The supreme feeling of optimism that prevailed
throughout the convention did much to clear away
doubts in the minds of the ones who have 'stuck and
stayed' with the piano so long that many of us were
beginning to wonder whether or not loyalty to this
master instrument and to a conviction that its neces-
sity in our cultural scheme was lacking in sound
business sense. I believe the return of the music
store and increased musical instrument manufactur-
ing generally is following along with the general
awakening of the public to the value and importance
of music in the home. I have been greatly impressed
with the magnificence of new designs shown and
Oct.-Nov., 193S
improved tone quality shown in the pianos displayed
and certainly there are some tremendous values
offered by the exhibitors."
FRANK WILKING, Wilking Music Company, In-
dianapolis, Ind.—"I believe the new upright has come
to stay. We have done a remarkable job with the
ones we have had and have sold other pianos to cus-
tomers who came to see the new Haddorff which
we put in stock in the first days of that instrument.
This new upright helps the piano merchant's business
because it gives him a new idea and new thought to
present to the public. I was glad to see so many
of this new modified form of upright at the conven-
tion for I would have felt alarmed had I seen only
the Haddorff Vertichord there. The numerous others
of this type now being manufactured by various man-
ufacturers proved to me that as the dealers get these
vertical uprights in stock it will stimulate the idea
that there is something new in piano production."
KARL B. SHINKMAN, vice-president, York Band
Instrument Co., Grand Rapids, Mich., goes on record
as saying that he does not believe there has ever been
any more exhibits nor more attractive ones than
shown in Chicago this year. "What pleased me par-
ticularly," he writes, "was the keen interest shown on
the part of the dealers of both large and small houses.
A year ago dealers simply didn't want to look at
merchandise. This year it was entirely different; they
were eager to get all the facts and information. The
only suggestion I can make for future conventions
is that they be held a little later. I believe that if
the convention would be staged about the middle of
August there would be a heavier attendance and more
actual buying on the floor."
S. ERNEST PHILPITT, Miami, Fla., writes: "All
the visitors I came in contact with at the July con-
vention were much interested in inspecting the mer-
chandise shown. Mr. Delbert Loomis, executive
secretary, deserves a great amount of credit for so
successfully working out and carrying to completion
the 1935 convention, and I believe its success this
year should establish the real necessity for the piano
merchants and music dealers generally to come to-
gether every year and to hold the various association
meetings at the same time and place each year, all
conjointly with the national music merchants' con-
vention, for every arm of the music industry is de-
pendent in a measure upon the success of each of the
other music industry organizations. I think the new
styled vertical pianos will increase sales greatly and
fill a long felt want."
E. E. FORBES, Birmingham, Ala.—"The manu-
facturers are showing good spirit in bringing out new
piano models. We are expecting a much larger sale
of pianos and general musical instruments this fall
than we have ever had before."
ROBERT A. SCHMITT of Minneapolis, ex-presi-
dent, National Association of Sheet Music Dealers,
says: "We are noticing a new demand for the kind
of sheet music with which people can do a little barber
shop harmonizing. People are buying, for home con-
sumption, songs with a good tune, whether they've
'got rhythm' or not. I see a growing tendency fos-
tered by music training in the schools to gather around
the piano for a song in close harmony."
EDWIN R. WEEKS of Binghamton, N. Y., ex-
president of National Association of Music Mer-
chants, ramarked to Presto-Times when he was in
Chicago: "Public school music is responsible for the
revival of music in the home. Hardly a high school
in the country that doesn't have a hard-working band
nowadays. Parents and teachers alike realize the
value of music in bringing the backward child out
of his shell."
Dignify the Piano in Your Store
"Now is the time to push sales," says E. P. Wil-
liams, sales manager of the Gulbransen Company,
Chicago, and continuing the sound advice, adds: "re-
newed interest and increased sales warrant giving
this basic musical instrument (the piano) the best
space in your store and a display commensurate with
its importance." Mr. Williams makes it clear that
he is not criticizing the condition of a dealer handling
other goods along with pianos but the objectionable
feature of a dual interest in a music establishment is
the "mixing process." putting lamps on upright pianos
and wringers on grands to give them prominent dis-
play.
Reference had been made to a dealer who in trying
to build up a paying electrical equipment business had
lost both business and prestige in music and made
a flat failure in trying to sell the new electrical line.
In handling household equipment goods these should
be as completely segregated from the piano end of
the business as possible so that the piano may be
given the prominence it deserves as a family treasure.
This is the only successful way to carry on two lines
of business under one roof and the experience of
dealers who have made any kind of success in the
household and kitchen equipment business are as a
unit in confirmation of this way of solving the prob-
lem of dual interests.
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