Presto

Issue: 1936 2279

PRESTO-TIMES
ANNUAL
T
and every matter brought to the attention of this
Board and industry, no matter whether it required
consultations with men in high places or through his
own attorneys to further the interests of this or-
ganization and solidify its purposes, now, therefore,
be it
RESOLVED, that this meeting hereby expresses
It was also voted that, By-Law IX, regarding a
lo Mr. Wulsin ils grateful thanks and appreciation for
Code Control Committee, be eliminated from the By-
his wise and efficient services as president ol this
l.aws, and that By-Law X would then become By-
organization during the most trying period of its
existence, for his painstaking efforts at all times in
Law IX.
our behalf and for the devotion to his ambition to
Mr. Herman Irion, Chairman of the Nominating
again restore this industry to its rightful position,
Committee, presented the following slate for officers
and members of the Executive Committee for the ready to carry on with pride and a renewed energy.
Mr. Wulsin responded, thanking the members for
fiscal year June 1. 1936, to May 31, 1937:
the co-operation which he had received, assuring them
President: L. P. Bull, Story & Clark Piano Com- that
it would be a pleasure to continue his work on the
pany.
executive committee.
\ ice-President: C. A. lacob, ]r., Mathushek Piano
For the benefit of some of the newer members of
Mfg. Co.
the association, the secretary was asked to introduce
Treasurer: E. A. Schmitt, Hardman, Peck & Com- each of the members present.
pany.
Following the regular annual meeting above re-
The following were named as Executive Committee
ported the new executive committee for the current
for the ensuing year:
fiscal year ending May 31, 1937, had their conference
James A. Gould, Pratt, Read & Co.
at 4:30 that same day. This meeting was presided
Theodore E. Steinway, Steinway & Sons.
over by the newly elected president, Mr. Bull, as
Carl Ultes, O. S. Kelly Company.
chairman, VV. A. Mennie was secretary of the meeting.
Lucien Wulsin, Baldwin Piano Company.
There being no further nominations, it was regu- President Bull and Treasurer Schmitt were authorized
larly moved, seconded and unanimously carried that to renew the contract with W. A. Mennie, secretary
the Secretarv be instructed to cast one ballot for the of the association, on the same terms and conditions
as previously.
The matter of a special meeting of the members,
to be held in Chicago, was discussed at some length
and it was decided to leave same to the President and
Secretary and have them decide upon a convenient
time and place for this meeting. Notice of the time
and place will be sent out in the regular way.
There being no further business, the meeting ad-
journed.
MEETING OF NATIONAL PIANO
ASSN. OF AMERICA
Meeting of Executive Committees
UP. regular Annual Meeting of the
National Piano 'Manufacturers As-
sociation of America, Inc., held on
Tuesday, June 2, at the Waldorf-
Astoria Hotel, New York, was
preceded by the executive commit-
tee meeting. There were present
Lucien Wulsin. L. P. Bull, George
C. Seeley and Carl Ultes. The absent ones were W.
G. Heller, C. Albert Jacob, Jr., and Theodore E.
Steinway. The meeting was presided over by Mr.
Wulsin. Mr. Mennie was secretary of the meeting.
The audited report of the financial conditions of
the regular account as well as that of the publicity
account was read by Chairman Wulsin in the ab-
sence of Treasurer C. Albert Jacob, Jr. This report
was approved and ordered filed.
A discussion followed with reference to the financ-
ing of the association during the coining fiscal year.
In view of the favorable cash balance on hand it was
brought out that no further financing would be neces-
sary during the current calendar year and therefore
it was recommended that the new executive commit-
tee be advised that the suspension of payment of
dues be continued and that the executive committee
be empowered after January 1, 1937, to assess the
members on the basis of sales reported for 1936 in an
amount sufficient to cover the regular operating ex-
penses of the association for one year.
A letter from one of the members with reference
to a new booklet on the "Care of the Piano" was
read. After some discussion it was agreed to refer
this matter to the new Executive Committee.
The Regular Annual Meeting
The session of the annual meeting opened at 2:00
p. m. on Tuesday, June 2, in the Carpenter Suite at
the Waldorf-Astoria Hotel, and was called to order
by Mr. Lucien Wulsin. the president, who presided.
The following companies were present by repre-
sentatives noted:
Piano Manufacturers
Baldwin Piano Company, Lucien Wulsin; Bogart
Piano Company, E. B. Bogart; Gulbransen Company,
S. E. Zack; Hardman. Peck & Co.. E. A. Schmitt;
Krakauer Brothers, Frank Edgar; Kranich & Bach,
H. Kranich; Steinway & Sons. Herman Irion; Story
& Clark Piano Co., L. P. Bull; Vose & Sons Piano
Co., D. D. Luxton; Weser Brothers, W. H. Keating:
Winter & Company, Herbert Simpson; Wurlitzer
Grand Piano Co., Cyril Farny.
Supply Manufacturers
Comstock, Cheney & Co., Geo. C. Seeley and A. W.
Comstock; O. S. Kelly Company, Carl Ultes; Pratt.
Read & Company, James A. Gould; Wessell, Nickel &
Gross, F. A. Wessell. Jr.; Wickham Piano Plate Co.,
Henry Wickham.
President Wulsiu's annual report was unanimously
approved, adopted and ordered filed.
The report of the treasurer was unanimously ap-
proved and adopted. The secretary was instructed to
forward a letter to the retiring treasurer, Mr. C.
Albert Jacob, Jr., expressing appreciation of his re-
port and thanking him for his untiring efforts on
behalf of the association.
The matter of financing the association's activities
for the current fiscal year were discussed as they
had been by the executive committee and the plan as
proposed by that committee was agreed to that after
January first assessments will be made as referred to.
Mr. L. P. Bull presented a brief outline of the
activities for the publicity campaign and announced
that a special meeting of the Association, to hear a
complete report by Mr.Selz and the Publicity Com-
mittee, will be held during the Music Trade Confer-
ence in Chicago, on Tuesday evening, July 28.
In the matter of an amendment to the by-laws it
was moved and seconded as follows, that
"The Annual Meeting of the members of the Asso-
ciation shall be held on the first Tuesday of June of
every year at such place as may be designated by tie
Executive Committee, provided, however that in any
year when there shall be held a National Music Trade
Convention, the Executive Committee may set the
annual meeting of this Association to coincide with
said Convention wherever it may be meeting. Notice
of the time and place of such meeting shall be mailed
to every member at least ten (10) days before the
date of said meeting."
June-July, 1936
MFRS.
H O W HE COULD PLAY; BUT,
ALAS, HE COULDN'T SELL
Play? I should rather say!
He could skip along the keys
With the greatest kind of ease;
There's nothing he couldn't do
In the music old or new.
Y'ought to hear him swell
From the bass'way up to
Well, as far as he could ever go.
'Twan't no use to him, though,
'Cause he couldn't sell.
Say, s'pose a man can play
All the tunes y'ever heard,
Or can sing like any bird,
All his ripplings or his runs
Never rang a dinner bell—
Not to save his soul from —•
Sure, ev'ry player sometimes knows
No piano playin' goes if he can't sell.
U'CIEX WTLSIX. UKTIK1XO I'KICSIDKNT
nominees who were thereupon elected to hold office
for the current fiscal year or until their successors
are appointed. The Secretary reported that he had
cast the necessary ballot and the nominees were duly
elected.
Mr. Bull spoke briefly, thanking the members for
electing him to the office of President.
The Wulsin Resolution
The following resolution honoring the retiring
president. Lucien Wulsin, was adopted by unanimous
vote of all members present:
THAT, WHEREAS, Mr. Lucien Wulsin has been
president of the Executive Committee of the National
Piano Manufacturers' Association for a period of four
years; and
WHEREAS, he has during such time unselfishly,
efficiently and devotedly applied himself to the inter-
ests and affairs of this organization, even to the ex-
clusion of his own business interests; and
WHEREAS, he has brought into the organization
new energy, purpose and concerted action by his
ceaseless efforts to unify the interests of each and
every member of the organization, whether piano
manufacturers or supply houses, to a greater realiza-
tion of the principle that the interests of all and
not a few must be served; and
WHEREAS, Mr. Wulsin did serve your Associa-
tion along with Mr. Theodore Steinway as co-ordina-
tor for this industry in all of the intricate and tedious
affairs pertaining to NRA. its hours, wages, etc., with-
out any expense or charge whatsoever to this or-
ganization, entailing frequent and long-drawn-out
visits to Washington, D. C : and, lastly,
WHEREAS, Mr. Wulsin did personally study each
GONE TO BEULAH LAND
Adam Schneider, the "one and only" of the Chicago
music trade fraternity, left his haunts in the hot, dusty,
summery Chicago life to take up his accustomed
summer home at his estate at Lake Beulah, Wis—the
Beulah he loves so well and that loves him. It is
feared his love of the country and his beloved country
home will keep him away from the big music trade
and industries convention in July, but perhaps not,
everybody hopes.
A BEAUTIFUL TRIBUTE
The compliment extended to Mr. Lucien Wulsin
by his confreres of the executive committee of the
National Piano Manufacturers Association at the time
he retired from the presidency and ratified by unani-
mous vote of all the members, was a testimonial of
devotion. The resolution, preceded by five para-
graphs of preamble, was a notable expression of
friendship, comradeship and pride in the service of
one of their number. It was notable, too, by reason
of the reference in the resolution to Mr. Theodore E.
Steinway and the reference made to their united work
in behalf of the association by these two great figures
in the piano world and in the interests interwoven
with pianos and music.
The Haddorff Piano Co. is reported to have pur-
chased several months ago the stock of the Mann
Piano Co. in Seattle, Wash.
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/
June-July, 1936
L. P. BULL of the
STORY & CLARK PIANO CO.
PRESTO-TIMES
The President-Elect of the N. P. M. A. of A.
L. P. Bull of the Story & Clark Piano Co.
Mr. L. P. Bull, vice-president of the Story & Clark Piano Co., Chicago, who was elected President of tin-
National Piano Manufacturers Association of America, Inc., at the annual meeting ibis year, is a gentleman ot
notable characteristics: a man of rather few words and not given to superfluity in conversation or in speech,
traits which he admires in others and in persons who have an audience with him.
Mr. Hull's association with the Story & Clark Company came about in a somewhat peculiar way. In the
law linn of Bull, Lytton & Olson, Chicago, of which his father is the senior member and he was an asso-
ciate attorney, it fell to him to look after the Story & Clark account. This brought him into contact with
F. F. Story, president of the Story & Clark Piano Co. -Mr. Story, at that time, was on the lookout for the
right man for a division of the Story & Clark organization, so he proposed to Mr. Bull to take the job. This
was in 1926. Since that time he has advanced to the position of vice-president and general manager, and.
as Mr. Bull joyfully adds, of "capturing the prize of my l'fe, the daughter of my employer."
The home of Mr. and Mrs. Bull and their two children, two boys of eight and nine years, respectively, is
at (ilencoe, beautiful north shore suburb of Chicago.
It is a pleasant experience to have formed the acquaintance of this gentleman of culture, democratic
manner and refinement: courteous to all, and a personification of sincerity.
of them that have been sold and because of the gen-
eral interest they have excited and which has con-
tributed to the larger sale of the regular uprights and
grands.
Western Dealers Demand Quality
"There appears
to be an extremely favorable
market for small full scale uprights and small full
scale grands in the western states, but. frankly speak-
ing, they have to be good. The dealers out there are
critical and they expressed dissatisfaction with the
attitude some manufacturers now seem to be taking
that carelessness or lack of quality will be tolerated
President-Elect, National Piano Manufacturers Asso- if the piano is low in cost. They want good pianos
ciation of America, Inc.
and they want them to arrive well regulated and well
finished, and 1 think one of the reasons why Wur-
litzer piano sales are advancing so rapidly in the
western states is because we furnish that type of
Hugh Stewart, Vice-President of Wur- quality
and employ that type of inspection which in-
litzer Grand Piano Company Makes
sures satisfaction when the pianos arrive. Also, the
manner of seasoning and construction which Wur-
Interesting Comments Regarding
litzer uses seems to qualify them very favorably for
Piano Situation in the
the western climate. Everyone in the West appears
to be well pleased with Wurlitzer pianos.
Western States
Scale Comparisons
When Hugh Stewart, vice-president of the
"As to a comparison between grand and upright
Wurlitzer Grand Piano Company, returned on sales, I think uprights are a little ahead of grands or
this impression is gained because so many
I une 6 from a trip through the western states possibly
uprights are put out on rental. Actual sales to the
covering a period of sixty days, he said he had public other than through rental favors the grand, 1
a very enjoyable trip and a most encouraging one, believe, especially the small grand, or else we seem
to have a particularly satisfactory character of small
which is probably the reason he stayed out so grand. There is no diminishmeut in the affection in
long. "I did not see all our Western dealers," which the grand is held by the public, providing the
instrument is good enough as well as small enough to
meet the requirements of the average person. This
is likewise the field in which I was informed the most
favorable margin of profit is being made.
Vertical Type Comparisons
"In the new vertical field, 1 gained the impression
the Spinette type is arousing most interest. This
opinion may, of course, be influenced by the amount
of business Wurlitzer is receiving for their model. It
is quoted as possessing a very likable character of
tone, a satisfactory action response and, in addition,
a professional and artistic type of appearance instead
of the cumbersome, amateurish nature of designing
typical of many new vertical pianos to which reference
was made."
Mr. Stewart remarked that if the expectations
of the many dealers he talked with are realized
there will be a great attendance at the music
trades convention in July. He said that many
had expressed their intention to attend the Wur-
litzer luncheon to be given by the Wurlitzer-
Grand Piano Co. at the Stevens Hotel Tuesday
noon, July 28. Another interesting thing Mr.
Stewart mentions is the great Wurlitzer Piano
Ensemble concert at Indianapolis which, he says,
was listened to on the NBC hookup by about
every dealer he met and by every Wurlitzer
dealer so far as he was able to discover.
he said, but I saw a good many of them, and
those I missed I hope to call upon later."
"There may be some doubt as to the amount of in-
spiration I furnished piano dealers, but no question
exists as to the inspiration which they gave me. Our
records will show. I believe, that we are now doing
about four times as much piano business in the West
as we were a year ago, and as Wurlitzer always did
enjoy quite a large volume of piano business in the
western states, an advancement of this kind is natur-
ally of a nature most gratifying to us.
Exclusive Sales Agency
"Most all of our pianos are sold through one dealer
only in any trading area and we try to build our
dealer organization in such a way that very little in-
terference results. This has proved so practical and
so attractive to dealers themselves that if I were
to give you a list of our western dealers I think you
would get the impression there had come into exis-
tence some kind of a 'league of leading dealers,' all
handling the Wurlitzer, so prominent are the accounts
with which we deal. 1 feel very proud of all of
them, and the interest which they take in piano selling
is considerably beyond that which most people im-
agine.
Increasing Piano Interest
"However, this trip did indicate extensively in-
creasing piano interest. I did not hear as much about
ice boxes, radios, washing machines, sewing machines
and appliances as 1 have heard heretofore. I did
hear some very interesting phraseology to the effect
that while times have changed and conditions have
changed, the necessity of profit in business has not
changed and this is no doubt the reason why in
Western music stores the piano is now receiving so
much attention. This is also very likely the reason
why the Wurlitzer is receiving so much consideration.
Short Scale and Console Model Observation
"Short scale pianos—well, with respect to those
dealers upon whom I called, I did not hear much
interest manifested in little short scale pianos. I heard
a good many favorable comments on the 'new ver-
ticals,' as they are called, both because of the number
How a Great Music House Features a Glorious Piano
The illustration herewith is a view of a beautiful Louis XV Gulbransen grand in oyster shell white, re-
cently ordered by the Charles E. Wells Music Co., Denver, Colo., which instrument attracted much atten-
tion as it was shown in the display window of the Wells Company. Immediately upon arrival of the
piano, Mr. Wells wrote the
Gulbransen Company as fol-
lows :
"The Louis XV grand, in
oyster shell white, arrived to-
day, and is beautifully gracing
our front window. It is cer-
tainly a wonderful job. and I
sincerely congratulate all who
had part in bringing forth this
beautiful piano."
The Charles E. Wells Com-
pany is one of the great music
houses of this country, and
such a letter from the head of
so great and important a
house is a distinct tribute to
an instrument, and especially
to one that has been one of
the principal pianos of a great
piano selling enterprise like
the Charles E. Wells or-
ganization.
Louis XV Gulbransen on display in the show windows of the Chas. E. Wells
Music Co., Denver.
The Blanchard Music Shop, 175 East South street.
Schenck's Music House has engaged in business at
139 South Broadway, Los Angeles, Cal., under the Kalamazoo, Mich., has added several new lines to its
management of Mrs. Ida Schenck of 1509 Quintero musical instrument department, and has installed a
large display case for showing them to advantage.
street.
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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