Presto

Sept.-Oct., 1 ( W
15
P R E S T O-T I M E S
Glances and Observations { W
Word from other sources indicates that Mr. Shink-
man's apprehensions are well founded and that there
I )isctissions in ami out of the "congress" of band
will be a continuance of this activity throughout the
instrument and merchandise manufacturers, sometimes fall and winter season. Dealers will make no mistake
a bit acrimonious, Rive rise to the inquiry in the cap- in heeding the suggestion of Mr. Shinkman and others
tion above. To a non-influenced observer it seems who have already given expression to their observa-
clear that manufacturers who supply nationwide retail tions.
selling organizations, most of them known as mail
The Wheaton, 111., Municipal Band, which played at
order houses, goods bearing either the manufacturers'
labels or "branded to order" become hostile to the the Great Lakes Exposition, Cleveland, a while ago
and was given a very cordial reception, has been in-
trade ethics of the more conservative element of musi- vited by the management to "Come Again."
cal instrument and merchandise manufacturers.
It is not the big cities and great metropolitan cen-
ters alone that sustain and "bring up" high class
The "thing" (what better term can be used) has
musical organizations, particularly of the civic and
been gone over and gone over every way, many times
and at many angles by maker, seller, buyer, consumer. municipal band and the band-orchestra class. Some
of the highest honors and most desired prizes given
Some of these great mail order establishments, pur- during the past year or two have been won by small
veyors of every article needed by man or beast, have
town bands and diligent work is going on all ovet
bought entire factories and gained control of others the country toward continued advancement in this
in their attempts to supply goods of quality that would phase of musical development.
satisfy.
Newspapers are given to belittling and making us'j
In musical instruments quality is essential; reputa- of the names of almost every instrument named in the
tion is, too, immensely important. An instrument with- category of musical instruments trying to find a me-
out an established brand of manufacture is not easily dium for something humorous or a funny skit. One
sold to persons of musical intelligence and to the of these is found in the letter of a reporter who, in
musician, amateur or professional, the source of man- describing an invasion of mosquitoes in New Jersey,
ufacture is an essential condition of purchase.
puts it thus: "In some of the summer resorts the
zing-zing of the insects is so loud that the noise i:-
like a brass band at an Armistice Day Parade."
A notable member of the military and civic band
'"But don't take this hyperbole estimate of the
instrument fraternity, a Chicago visitor recently, en
route to the Army Corps Veterans National Asso- 'capacity' of brass band instruments too lightly," says
Presto-Times' correspondent who sent the clipping,
ciation meeting at Saratoga, N. Y., stopped off in
Chicago to visit friends and purchase a lot of supplies. "for, reallv, there may be some substance in the com-
This gentleman, O. F. Rominger, is a member of the
Long Reach (Calif.) Municipal Hand, of which or-
ganization the eminent band leader and soloist, Her-
bert L. Clark, is the director. Mr. Rominger is a
man of many successes, many vicissitudes and numer-
ous episodes. He had always been interested in war
stories, particularly concerning the drummer boys of
the army, so when the call came in 1898 he enlisted
at San Francisco and joined an old regular outfit of
the Eighteenth United States Infantry. By a stroke
of good luck he found that the chief musician of this
band had been a drummer boy in his younger days
and therefore could give him valuable instruction. As
a drummer boy he had had thrilling experiences in
the Philippines, several of which nearly cost him his
life. Mr. Rominger has organized numerous drum
corps and assisted in the forming of bands, but besides
his high standing as master of percussion instruments
he has been engaged in the music business at various
times and has also followed piano tuning. Mr. Rom-
inger is very proud of his present location and con-
siders the Long Beach Municipal Band one of the
outstanding band organizations of this country and
of both Europe and America. The repertoire of music
of the Long Beach Municipal Band embraces all the
classics used by great band organizations besides
all standard pieces of the day.
IS THERE A STIGMA ATTACHED?
pHiison. I'hrre arc band instruments and band instru-
ments; bands and bands," he says. Does the glove fit
anywhere or shall it all be forgotten.
The sale of band and orchestra instruments is be-
coming more and more an established department
of music houses, great and small, all over the country.
In fact, starting a music business with due considera-
tion to a band and orchestral instrument sales de-
partment is the perfectly correct way to begin.
Only a few years ago band and orchestra outfitting;
supplying band organizations with their musical equip-
ment, was generally left to someone of the organiza-
tion making the purchase; and oftentimes to the band
leader.
Today conditions are materially different and the
out fitting of civic, school and educational organiza-
tions with the instruments they require is almost en-
tirely through music dealers.
The majority of leading music houses of the country
have added this line to their regular piano and musi-
cal merchandise business. Many of them have made
remarkable headway and financial success in the band
business and added greatly to the prestige of their
establishments. They have thus benefited through the
publicity and general attention which comes in con-
nection with public affairs of this nature through asso-
ciation with band and orchestra activities.
PLACE YOUR ORDERS WELL IN ADVANCE
Hugh Stewart, of the De Kalb division of the
Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, again emphasizes the
general advice to place orders well in advance, thus:
"At no time in the past ten years has Wurlitzer piano
production been so high nor trade so active as now,
and orders for all models at this season should be
forwarded well in advance."
R E V E L A T ION
O I LS
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the
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and samples sent to dealers on request.
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STERNBURG. 1823 Washington St.. Boston. Mass.
Rudy Vallcc • Don Conlin
AND THE
The Summer of 1936 has been a pretty good band
season; remarkably so for several of the instrument
manufacturers. A representative of Presto-Times re-
cently enjoyed a visit with Mr. Karl Shinkman, presi-
dent of the York Band Instrument Co., Grand Rapids,
Mich. Mr. Shinkman said this past summer has been
the busiest summer the York business has experienced
in ten years. "There has been no summer slump;
our sales have increased and here, the last days of
August, we have a great many orders booked for
delivery in September, October and into November.
AH indications point to a scarcity of standard line in-
struments this fall,'' continued Mr. Shinkman, "and the
wise dealer is protecting his profits by placing orders
well in advance of requirements."
When you hear Vallee on the Fleischman Hour, you are
hearing bass such as only a YORK can deliver. Above,
we have Don Conlin, Ace Bass Player with Vallee, and
Rudy admiring the Bass that delivers — the YORK. You
will register the same happiness with a YORK.
York Band Instrument Co., Grand Rapids, Mich.
Makers of GOOD BAND INSTRUMENTS since 1882
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