Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1935 2277

Page 6 Text:

PRESTO-TIMES
PERSONAL MENTION
^Quality pianos with
greater eye-appeal
•Positive territorial
protection policy
• One wholesale price
to all dealers
• Equalization of freight
• Dealer Helps
for the collection of
WURLITZER literature and learn
why our list of representive deal-
ers continues to steadily grow.
GRAND PIANO COMPANY
Factories De Kalb, Illinois
Wholesale Sales Offices
Wurlitzer Building
329 South Wabash Are.
CHICAGO, ILLINOIS
WILLIAM STRICH, now residing on his estate
at Larchmont, N. Y., writes that he had hoped to
visit Chicago this summer but was unable to do so.
Years ago "Billy" attended the music trades con-
ventions every year, as a senior member of Strich
& Zeidler, but could not get to Chicago in time this
year. Mr. Strich has lived in this beautiful West-
chester county location for the last twenty-five years.
A. C. BURNETT, who was engaged in the music
business at Hopkins, Mo., up to a few years ago and
who sold out at the right time, "just before," etc., and
started on a long vacation trip toward the Pacific
coast, covered the Pacific coast and mountain regions
as far north as Vancouver, B. C, and wound up at
Petaluma. Mr. Burnett is still located in that section
and it would not be surprising to hear of his entry
again, into the music business, "for," says he, "the
music business appeals very strongly to me as a
former dealer. I feel right at home in a music store."
J. J. FERRIS, long time with Starr Piano Co. and
at one time carrying on a Starr company retail store
in Chicago, is now a typewriter .salesman with the
Woodstock Typewriter Company, Chicago.
ROBERT 6 . FOSTER, proprietor of the erstwhile
Foster & Waldo Piano Company, Minneapolis, Minn.,
who has been living at his California home, 818
Beverly boulevard, Los Angeles, California, occupy-
ing his villa at Lake Minnetonka, Minn., for the
summer season.
CHARLES STANLEY, whose home—and a most
delightful and hospitable one it is—is at Grand Haven,
Mich., has been visiting his son in Chicago lately.
Mr. Stanley is one of the ablest and wisest piano
technicians of the day and has been so regarded for
many years by piano men, piano experts, piano build-
ers and manufacturers of America and abroad. Many
noted pianos of the United States and Canada are the
constructive workmanship in scale drafting of Mr.
Stanley, and the same compliment extends to several
pianos of Europe. Mr. Stanley is an honor to the
profession of expert piano technicians.
FRED P. WATSON, proprietor of the Fred P.
Watson Music Company, Mount Vernon, 111., who
has been summering at Arthur's Point, near Hacken-
sack, Minn., has just returned home. For 20 years
Mr. Watson has been spending some part of the
summer at Arthur's Point where he has a cozy cot-
tage and delightful home surroundings. Mr. Watson
went to Minnesota immediately after the Chicago
convention, which, by the way, was, as he says, a
very pleasant occasion, although as a former president
of the Illinois Music Merchants' Association he would
like to have seen many more of the old-timers at
Chicago.
CARL FRIEDRICH KOB, who succeeded the late
Richard O'Connell, sales manager of the Piano De-
partment of Lyon & Healy, has been associated with
the house of Lyon & Healy for upwards of five years.
Coming to Chicago from the main store of the Schmol-
ler & Mueller Music Company, Omaha, Nebraska,
where he had charge of the piano division. During
the past summer months Mr. Kob was in Europe, and
while over there visited several times at the Steinway fac-
tory and general headquarters, Hamburg, Germany.
Mr. Kob also spent some time at the London, Eng-
land, salesroom and branch house of Steinway &
Sons.
Oct.-Nov., 1935
MANHATTAN BRIEFS
Late Items from New York
An interesting announcement is that of the change
of location of Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. from
13th street and Fourth avenue to new and enlarged
quarters at 229 Fourth avenue (at 19th street). The
American Piano Supply Company, located "around
the corner" on 13th street, will occupy premises in
connection with Hammacher Schlemmer & Co. The
Standard Oil Company bought the property at 13th
street and Fourth avenue where Hammacher Schlem-
mer & Co. have been located for the last thirty-one
years, "and," says our correspondent, "what would
you suppose they're going to do with it? They in-
tend to tear it down and put a super-service oil sta-
tion in its place.'"
Speaking of this move Mr. Siebert of the Piano
Supply Department of Hammacher Schlemmer &
Co., says: "Now, after thirty-one years in this old
stand we will be still further expanding at the new
place, rearranging, readapting and getting ready for
the improved conditions in the piano field, piano
manufacturing, repairing and tuning. We will have
far more space than we had before and greater con-
venience for handling our line of supplies."
The piano business is still pulling along and on the
upgrade in and about New York. All reports show
considerable activity, in fact, several of the prano
manufacturing concerns are quite busy and a con-
dition of general improvement prevails.
''This same afternoon," continues this correspond-
ent, "I enjoyed a visit with the New York manager
of Wurlitzer, P. R. Powers, who spoke enthusiasti-
cally about indications for an autumn and holiday
trade that will go ahead of anything in the music
line for more than half a score of years."
There is a great deal of interest manifested along
the Weser Bros, headquarters in West 43rd Street
these days, brought about largely by the new Weser
enterprise operating under a new corporation known
as Weser Pianos Corporation. This new activity asso-
ciated with Weser is to specialize in a new type of
grand piano and console pianos. Walter C. Hepperla,
well known in the grand piano manufacturing field,
and L. C. Kauling, who has long been associated with
Weser Bros., are in charge of production and market-
ing of this new product. This new corporation has
the benefit of the extensive plant of Weser Bros, and
all the facilities of the big Weser Company's plant.
The piano department of the Outlet Company, the
great department store of Providence and one of the
biggest of all New England, has been making some
important changes and additions of late in its line of
active going agencies. In one particular case, where
orders were usually handed out for one, two or three
instruments at a time, they are now given for a dozen
or more, or at the smallest a good-sized motor truck
load. A recent order of this dimension was followed a
few days after it was given by a wire to add two
special styles and "rush shipment."
Wrong Angle on A Guaranty
A "dealer" writing from Duluth, Minn., over the
signature "Inquirer," says that he noticed an an-
nouncement in a Minneapolis paper that the music
dealers of that city united in the guarantee of the
second-hand pianos sold by them "after being properly
repaired and put in salable condition. This seems like
a strange guarantee," he said. "I can see how a
united guarantee on new standard pianos might be
BRIEF CHICAGO PERSONALS
made by a group of dealers, but cannot understand
how it could work out with second-hands."
Roman de Majewski, general representative, Stein-
This correspondent evidently has a wrong impres-
way & Sons, who was in Chicago several days the
sion
of any situation of that kind at Minneapolis. He
latter part of September, journeyed on to the Pacific
may have been misled by a card which appeared in
Coast and was back in New York about the middle
a Minneapolis newspaper stating that the dealers of
of October.
that city, naming them, as follows: M. L. McGinnis
E. R. Andrew, manager of the piano department
Piano Co., Boutell's, Mayer & Co., Inc., J. E. Frank
of the Hudson Store, Detroit, was recently visiting
Piano Co., Aagaard's, Holstad Music Co., Cable Piano
friends in Chicago and placing some orders.
Co. and Cammack Piano Co., all carry in stock ex-
J. N. Freeman, whose home at the present time is cellent bargains in rebuilt second-hands and which
Cedar Rapids, la., was in Chicago a few days the lat- are guaranteed by each house to be as represented.
ter part of September. It has been reported that
This correspondent fails to give his name, but as his
Mr. Freeman would again get back into music trade
impression of the situation in Minneapolis seems to
activities, but his Chicago visit this time was con- be entirely wrong, we quote him and comment on his
fined almost entirely to visiting friends in and out of remarks, in justice to the dealers of Minneapolis.
the trade.
C. E. Holmes, long time a music dealer at Ames,
The brothers Wardell, proprietors of the Wardell
Iowa, called on some of his Chicago friends recently
Music Co., Sioux City, Iowa, who located there
when he was on his way to a favorite wintering spot
on the Rio GrancTe not far from Brownsville, Texas. eighteen months ago after their graduation from high
school, have a unique method of supplying pianos
Mr. Holmes' annual visits to Texas show that he
to customers and attracting prospects. One of their
knows of the enjoyment of life.
Benj. Sibley, who was with the Kohler Industries supply trucks is called the "Wardell Traveling Piano
in Kohler Industries' days, visited Chicago on his Parlor" and is a familiar sight in the territory worked
bv the Messrs. Wardell.
way back to his home in Los Angeles, Calif., after
attending the funeral of Mark Campbell in New York.
On moving to larger quarters at 149 North Concord
The Tallman Piano Co. at 12th and Mill streets, street, St. Paul, Minn., the Vavro Music Company
Salem, Ore., suffered a loss by fire estimated at about say in an announcement folder: "The study of music
$7,500. The fire started in the repair shops. Loss enriches the life, develops character, opens the door
to social distinction and provides a pleasant pastime."
entirely covered bv insurance.
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/

Page 7 Text:

Oct.-Nov., 1935
PRESTO-TIME
PRESTO-TIMES
The Restyling
Proposition
If this new form vertical piano continues in favor, "holds its own," it may
then be regarded as practically in a class by itself and be given a permanent name
as in the case of the "player" of the vertical scale and the Reproducing piano of
ISSUED THE
the grand piano class. Some of the first instruments turned out have not shown
FIFTEENTH OF
any notable improvement in tone production over the upright from which
PUBLICATION MONTH
they emanated. Some of the makers who early built sample instruments, particu-
larly to specialize case design, and other manufacturers who later entered the
Editor
I'RANK D. ABBOTT
"new model" field, have centralized their efforts on improvements with the object
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 0234.
in view of not only still further re-styling but of producing instruments that will
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
meet the musical demands of the buyer of a grand as well as to increase vertical
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
scale trade.
Entered as second-class matter April 9. 1932, at the
Post Office at Chicago, 111., under act of March 3, 1879.
Many experts still contend that the vertical scale piano, the conventional up-
right, with such betterments as might ensue in the regular course of construction,
Subscription, $1.00 a year; 6 months, 60 cents; foreign,
(2.00. Payable in advance. No extra charge in United
will not be surpassed musically and will continue to be the standard vertical scale
States possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for adver-
tising on application.
piano unless some phenomenon arises to produce a change for the better.
(ietting that modified form of the conventional upright to appreciable atten-
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
tion of the trade, that is to say the recently introduced console vertical type so dras-
Publishers
tically restyled as to meet favor as a novelty and be taken up by one manufacturer
417 So. Dearborn St.
Chicago, 111.
after another and so on to a representative following, has been a piece of work for
which some individual credit may be properly given, whether it be a trade editor
of today or an inspiration from any other source.
"Why worry and make so much fuss over
The trade editor is so equipped for broadcasting and distributing his own views
a new model upright?" asks a correspondent.
and the opinions of others that he holds a position for accomplishing an aim or to
It isn't a matter of "worry"; it's the propo-
aid in bringing about results where others, by means of "this, that and the other"
sition of fitting out a type of instrument that
will meet requirements better than existing method of contacting fail to make headway. See the evidence of this in Mr. Waite's
models and aid the over-due piano sales cam-
efforts in resurrecting inspirations and cherished ideals of masters of piano crafts-
paign already started.
manship whose dreams of new models to replace in due time the antique and crude
designs are materializing. It is a further stroke of good fortune that these
Under the heading, "The Piano Plus," the
efforts were manifested at the most favorable time of a psychological moment.
Detroit Free Press, speaking of the Music
Thus the fortunate circumstance of one manufacturer following another and
Trade Convention at Chicago, has this to say
of the unique display of the Story & Clark another in their haste to get public attention insures successful reception of the
exhibit at the Stevens Hotel: "With the Music restyled upright for had only one or two manufacturers followed in the wake of
Trade Convention at Chicago a while ago ventures of those manufacturers whose goods are now well featured; or had the
Mr. and Mrs. Public got some surprises, case
field been left to two or three experimenters and not followed up by others,ithen
designers had been at work in a big way.
the
new model upright proposition wouldhave fallen flat as in the case of other ex-
There was a piano combined with a cellarette;
perimenters. It is a condition of mass production that will make the present move
a piano that could be converted into a writing
desk and one that had a folding keyboard in a for a restyled piano a success, if success shall finally be in .store for it.
regulation chest of drawers."
But what for a name? Dealers, manufacturers, designers have been conjur-
ing for a name that could be suitably given another class of piano construction;
A daily paper publishing a feature called another name to add to the grand, the upright, the obsolete square and later, with
"Local Oddities," refers to a letter mailed to a
apologies to the upright and the grand type, the "player" and the "Reproducing
caricaturist connected with a trade publication
which uses the signature, "The Picture Man." piano." Numerous names were given out during the late Music Trade Convention
in Chicago and various names have since been suggested and sent to Presto-Times
and states that a letter to that party dropped
in the Chicago Post Office carrying only that
direct.
address, "Picture Man," reached him safely.
Most of the names mentioned are not definitive of a type or class of piano
Presto-Times goes a little beyond this. A
construction
and w^hile they are suitable to specify some particular form or model
letter having been dropped into a mail box in
New York City addressed "Presto," with no of a type, they do not indicate any new class of pianoforte construction as do the
other address, reached its destination safely names "grand," "square," "upright," which have been generic names of these types
in Chicago.
of pianos for many years.
* * * *
When Moissaye Boguslawski, the eminent
The name console has been mentioned as one adaptable for this remodeled
concert virtuoso, bringing his own piano."
upright.
The Story & Clark Piano Company designated their product from the
star attractions for the Will Rogers memorial
first as of this type when they announced the Story & Clark Windsor Console,
concert recently given in Chicago, that dis-
tinguished gentleman and eminent pianist ac-
the Cabinet Console, the Colonial Console which name they have continued as most
cepted the invitation with the proviso that
appropriate to designate this form of piano for a specific type name. Story & Clark
he be permitted to use the piano of his choice. have no thought of utilizing the name in any way exclusively to themselves or in
That piano need not be named here; it is the
any form of trade-mark or copyright distinction. "It is a suitable name for this
instrument he has used in his recitals, concert
type of piano," said L. P. Bull, treasurer of Story & Clark Piano Co., "and we
and orchestral work and his famous series of
would favor its general use to distinguish the new styled instrument." The new
piano broadcasts for a long time.
Estey restyled uprights are designated as "Estey Colonial Console," "Victorian
In speaking of Dr. Boguslawski's part in
this stellar event a Chicago newspaper lists
Console," "Cabinet Console," etc.
that eminent pianist this way : "Boguslawski,
* * * *
concert virtuoso, bringing his own piano.
Music training, musical instruction is helping young people to learn to play on
some
kind of musical instrument. In other words, the music training idea and
In the death of Edward Moore, musical
critic of the Chicago Tribune, and Karlton what some dealers are pleased to call a "conservatory" proposition have been grow-
Hackett, president of the American Conserva- ing apace for several years and now we hear of music schools, "conservatories,"
tory of Music, also a newspaper critic and
and other means of instruction close to the music store. This proposition was
writer, the Grim Reaper has taken two gen-
tlemen of the music profession who were well dwelt upon at considerable length recently by A. D. LaMotte of the Thearle Music
House, San Diego, Calif.
known in the music trade and of intimate
acquaintance and friendship with many in the
* * * *
.music trades and industries.
Radio City, headquarters of the National Broadcasting Co., is a very impor-
tant center of attraction for visitors to New York City where approximately
In a public library rental volume which is 300,000 persons visiting during the months of June, July and August, 175,000 of
much in demand, entitled "Good-Bye. Mr.
which number were paid admissions to the studios and the so-called N.B.C. studio
Chips," the author of which is James Hilton,
Old Man Chips is asked by one of the small tour. Beside visitors there are some 14,000 persons engaged in various kinds of
bows of the "cheekier" kind in the school work associated with N.B.C. activities.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADES JOURNAL
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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