Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1936 2280

P R E S T O - T 1 M E S
16
ENTERPRISING DEALER PROMOTES EN-
SEMBLE PLAYING AMONG CUSTOMERS
Carl Botefuhr. Wurlitzer dealer and owner of the
Botefuhr Music Store in Pittsburg, Kans., has been
taking an active part
in promoting t h e
cause of music in
Pittsburg. He has
been organizing his
customers into duets,
trios, small orches-
tras and bands. This
splendid activity of
Mr. Rotefuhr's lias
not only proved to be
of civic benefit, but
it has also served to
r e t a i n enthusiasm
among old customers
and to stimulate the
interest of prospec-
tive ones.
T h e photograph
reproduced herewith shows two of Mr. Botefuhr's
most enthusiastic young ensemble players, Page
Cavanaugh and Melba Baxter, both of them promis-
ing young musicians of Pittsburg.
MANY ASSURANCES OF SPLENDID PIANO
CONDITIONS
* * * Mr, E. P. Williams of the sales department
of Gulbransen Company, recently returned to Chicago
from a rapidly moving motor trip through parts of
the East and as far north as Montreal, Canada.
Traveling on through Indiana, Ohio and Pennsyl-
vania, Mr. Williams met J. C. Henderson, Eastern
Gulbransen representative, at his New Jersey home
and together they motored to various parts of the
East and through New England. Without going into
detail it is to be said that the trip resulted in some
excellent new dealer accounts, many new acquaint-
ances and greetings of old friends. Mr. Williams' chief
comment on this trip is that it was "decidedly satis-
factory." The Monday following Mr. Williams' re-
turn to Chicago there came in that morning's mail
orders aggregating 94 pianos. The Monday a week
later there were nearly as many orders in the mail
that morning and a good many of them from the
territory which he had recently visited. Mr. Williams
has been delightfully happy ever since his return home.
Substantiating Mr. Williams' prognostications on
continued improvement in the piano trade, a remark
made to him by Mr. Elbel of Elbel Brothers, South
Bend, Ind., that his friends nowadays do not greet
him as they once did with the inquiry, "Well, Mr.
Elbel, are you still in the piano business?" is apropos.
Also what Wilbur Templin of the Templin Music
House, Elkhart, Ind., said to him is highly significant
of rapidly improving conditions in the piano business.
Mr. Templin said: "We have had twice as many in-
quiries for pianos during the past thirty days as for
radios, and many of these piano inquiries have re-
sulted in sales."
Another big man in the trade who handles a varied
line of merchandise—refrigerating, electric goods,
radios, etc.—made the statement that in periods when
their piano department makes a good showing their
profits are materially increased. "When we do not
have a good piano showing," he added, "our profits
and general sales fall below normal."
Scpt.-Oct., 1936
GALLA-RINI HAD ENTHUSIASTIC ACCORDION CLASS AT NATIONAL
MUSIC CAMP
It was an enthusiastic group of young people from all over the country who studied accordion this summer un-
der the tutelage of the famous accordionist, Galla-Rini. The class numbered about fifty, despite the fact that it
did not get under way until two
weeks after the opening of the
camp and the publication of the
curriculum.
The majority of the students
were boys, although it proved
to be popular with the girls,
too. Among the latter, Jeanne
Maddy, daughter of Dr. Joseph
E. Maddy, director of the camp,
was one of the most enthusias-
tic of Galla-Rini's accordion
pupils.
At the close of the summer
term, some of Galla-Rini's stu-
dents accompanied him in play-
ing the accordion interpolation
into the finale (prison scene) of
"Faust." G e n e r a l comment
agreed that the effect was that
of a great pipe organ and that
the accordions supplied an un-
expectedly thrilling musical
climax to the scene.
Accordion instruction was of-
fered at the camp for the first
time during the past summer;
but it proved so popular that it
is highly probable that it will
hereafter have a permanent
place in the curriculum.
Galla-Rini, the camp's first
accordion instructor, is noted
not only as a teacher, but also
as a concert artist, composer,
and arranger of accordion
music. His book on accordion
instruction methods is accepted
WOULD R E N O W N E D ACCORDIONIST
as a standard textbook.
TWO NEW ADDITIONS TO WURLIT-
ZER ACCORDION DIVISION
State Teachers' College, received his bachelor of music
degree from Marquette University. His educational
and practical experience surely equips him for his new
position as salesman for the Wurlitzer Company, and
because of it he will surely be able to render valuable
practical assistance to the merchants whom he serves.
He will travel the following states: Iowa, Minnesota,
North Dakota, Montana, Nebraska, Wisconsin, South
Dakota, Wyoming and the northern peninsula of
Michigan."
Ernest L. Weir, prominent musician and business
man of the west coast, has joined the Wurlitzer sales
organization. Ernie, as known to his friends in the
trade, has a really portentious background of musical
and sales experience, one of which he may well be
proud.
Mr. Weir attended Drury College at Springfield, Mo.,
his home town. Being exceedingly fond of music he
studied this art assiduously and as a professional trom-
HOW CHARLES E. WELLS PUSHED ON
bonist and accordionist he has directed and taught
As
mentioned in another part of this issue of Presto-
bands for man}' years. For the past several years he
has been assistant director of the California Boys' Times, Mr. Charles E. Wells, president-elect National
Music Merchants' Association, from Chicago went to
Band and orchestra director both at the fashionable
Denver to join up with his good Scotch friend, George
Marlborough School for Girls in Los Angeles and the
Campbell, who had just started with Frank Knight
Romona Convent in Alhambra, Calif. He became
the Knight-Campbell Music Co. Mr. Campbell soon
known in Los Angeles, too, as an organizer and di-
discovered
that Wells was too good a music man for
rector of accordion bands.
bookkeeper, and after about a month he hailed him,
Aside from Mr. Weir's professional activities he lias
saying: "Charley, give up bookkeeping; I want to
WORTH PUBLISHING
been in the musical instrument and accordion sales
make a salesman of you. Here are a few prospects.
Presto-Times is not given to publishing correspon- field for many years, having specialized in accordion
You get out and make these calls and from now on
dence and names of writers, notwithstanding how com- selling for the past ten years. His most recent con-
stay out; don't hang around the store. Mr. Wells said
plimentary they may be. fnasmuch as there are ex- nection was with the Southern California Music Com-
there was no alternative; his path was clear. He said
ceptions to all rules, we want to reproduce this letter: pany, whom he served as manager of the band in-
he "saw the washing on the line Monday morning;
Toronto, Ont., Sept. 25, 1936.
strument department. He is a member of the Band-
two kids going to school, sometimes with dirty faces,
Dear Presto:
masters' Association, and he has for two years served
so I was forced to get in my best licks. I rode a
Please send me copy of your paper. I lived in
as a member of the board of directors of the Na- bicycle, ate cheese and crackers at the grocery store,
Chicago and read your paper for 25 years regular-
tional Retail Music Dealers' Association.
and remembered all the time that I had the wife and
ly. Enclosed is nickel for paper.
children who had to have bread and butter, clothes
The territory to be served by "Ernie" includes the
Yours truly,
and shelter. I met with rather good success and even
states of Illinois, Missouri, Kansas, Colorado, Okla-
J O H N CAROLAN.
homa, Arkansas, Louisiana, Texas and New Mexico. occasionally sold a Steinway grand. So the command
250 Queen St., East.
of George Campbell was always the goal and urging
That his territory will be well served is evidenced by
me on to make a living."
his
wide
practical
and
theoretical
experience,
which
STILL PLUGGING AWAY
he himself <-o modestly summed up as, "Oh, it isn't
A "men wanted" classified adv. in the Chicago Daily
Mr. Wells, in speaking of various aids and assets of
News requiring grand action and upright action men, much."
the association, refers to the trade press as one of
Another prominent accordion expert who has been
and to apply to 2525 West Madison street, Chicago,
them, and believes that great credit should be given
has attracted a little attention when it is found that added to the Wurlitzer sales organization by Clark
traveling representatives of music houses. "Through
them," he says, "we are not only in touch with each
this is the present headquarters of Farrell, "notorious" Fortner, sales manager of the Wurlitzer accordion
division, is Oscar Kluck of Milwaukee. Mr. Kluck
other, dealer to dealer, manufacturer to dealer, and
and known to most piano men of the Chicago area of
was for several years supervisor of music in several
vice-versa, but we learn more of the new and up-to-
piano activity.
public schools in the state of Wisconsin. In making
date ways of doing things than by any other means;
WANTS STUDIO PLAYER PIANOS
The Blaylock Music Company, Konawa, Okla. (Box this announcement the Wurlitzer publicity depart- a co-informative system is maintained constantly be-
states:
tween Museum
music (www.arcade-museum.com).
houses from coast to coast that is very
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314) wants
to purchase
player
pianos by
about
valuable to all of them.
Kluck.
who - The
is a International
graduate Music
of Products
the Wisconsin
support
from NAMM
Association (www.namm.org).
ft 8 m. to All 4 Rights
ft. Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with "Mr.
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/
Sept.-Oct, 1936
president. In 1905, on the death of W. W. Kimball,
the founder, he was made president.
It was from an ancestry of this character that the
.IOHN ANDERSON
subject of this memoir inherited the sterling qualities
• Death has recently taken a very important figure of character, integrity and citizenship manifest in his
in piano building in this country. John Anderson, who everyday life. Qualities which, too, coupled with
died at his home, 53 Lombard street, Newton, Mass., manifestations of conservative traits gave a personality
was known as an adept in piano scale drafting and
of peculiar strength and influence to the music trade
piano construction.
and industries of this country.
Born in Sweden, he won a government prize as the
Mr. Kimball began the ways of life as a farmer
best student in cabinet making and with this prize
boy. He was given a thorough schooling and a sound
money he traveled on the continent of Europe, visit-
education in anticipation of seeking a commercial
ing various piano factories, and in 1884 landed in
pursuit, possibly with his uncle, W. W., at Chicago.
America and soon after reaching these shores secured
This inclination became a reality and he was not slow
employment at the Steinway factory. New York.
in acquiring the routine of things at the Kimball
When the Shaw piano factory was started at Erie,
I'a., he went with that concern and made the piano offices. He soon started road work and followed the
from scale to case. After an interval of several years, occupation of piano roadman for many years. So
thoroughly had he grasped every detail of the expand-
working assiduously at various locations he joined
ing Kimball business that upon the death of the
the Everett Piano Company at Boston and later the
founder he was made president of the corporation,
Mason & Hamlin Company and Chickering & Sons
at their Boston factory. The product of this genius a position he held until his passing, July 30th last.
is recognized as work of the highest grade in piano
WILLIAM R. PRICE
building.
• Another charming character in the music trade
• The late R. W. Wilson, who was known on the fraternity, Mr. William B. Price, passed aw T ay Sept. 29
air as "Uncle Bob," of broadcasting station WIND,
Chicago, had a large circle of friends among music at Johnson City, Tenn., where he had been since he
trade people. Before connecting up with radio Mr. gave up a position with Harris, Upham & Co., bonds
Wilson was identified with music publishing. He
used to be at the Chicago Piano Club for luncheons
and on one or two occasions was one of the speakers.
He was a congenial and much-liked exparte member
of the Chicago music trade fraternity.
3fn jHemortum
CURTIS N. KIMBALL
• A great fortune came to this nephew of the founder
of the house of W. W. Kimball who had been a faith-
ful servant, employee and official in Mr. Kimball's
activities up to the time of his death in 1905 and who
had much to do in the successful business which he
joined in his earlier days.
But this inherited fortune, measured in gold and
securities or in prestige, is meager and negligible to
the gift endowed by inheritance from a sturdy, stal-
wart, honest parentage.
The father of C. N. Kimball, a native of the state
of Maine, settled in Mitchell County, Iowa, some
eighty years ago where he was a farmer up to the time
of his death. The Kimball family home was not far
from the town of Osage. At this home Curtis Kimball
was born in 1862. His father, David Wheeler Kim-
\1
PRESTO-TIMES
W. B. PRICK 20 YEARS AGO.
and mortgages, 112 W r est Adams street, Chicago, last
April. Mr. Price went to Tennessee on account of a
fractured elbow, to be with his daughter, one of two
children whose mother was the former Mrs. Price
when their home was at Hendersonville, N. Car.
Mr. Price started his music trade career in a little
town in Tennessee. His activities and music trade
proclivities, coupled with a love and talent for music,
gained him a position with the Farrand & Votey
Organ Co. of Detroit, Mich., as traveling representa-
tive, with which concern he remained until Mr. Votey
joined the Aeolian interests in New York City. He
then joined the W. W. Kimball Company and re-
maining with them several years, went with the Cable
Company, becoming in due time the secretary of that
corporation. He relinquished his Cable Piano Com-
pany position to join Frank W. Teeple who had been
a Cable traveling man for a'long time, in the manu-
facture of pianos. The Price & Teeple Piano Co. was
established at Chicago and a prosperous and success-
ful piano manufacturing business was carried on up
to about nine years ago when the business went into
liquidation and the offices in the McClurg building
were discontinued.
convention, was reminiscent of the flash that came
to the Statler Hotel in June, 1918, telling of the death
of Charles Kohler, founder of the Kohler industries.
This was the annual gathering of the National Music
Merchants' Association. The news came the second
day of the convention and was confirmed in a tele-
gram from Corley Gibson from New York, repeating
the cablegram he had received from Mrs. Kohler from
Paris. This message said: "Charley is gone. Passed
out this morning. Returning first steamer."'
Mr. Gibson was a nephew of Mrs. Kohler, who
was a sister of Mrs. Charles E. Byrne. It was in
the office of the Charles E. Byrne piano factory where
Charley Kohler was "taking care of the books" that
he met his future wife.
The Kohler Industries Corporation has been op-
erating in the interests of Mrs. Kohler by Mr. Gibson
since important changes took place in that business.
Mr. Gibson was popular in the trade; his friends em-
braced the entire music trade and industry, for his
virtues were many. Certainly his faults were few and
every omission long ago forgiven.
LOUIS <:. WAGNER
• Chicago music trade circles were shocked to read
in the Friday evening paper, Sept. 18, a notice of the
death of L. C. Wagner, manager of the Chicago Bald-
win Piano Com-
pany s t o r e . Mr.
Wagner was loved
and esteemed by a
l a r g e circle of
friends both in and
out the music trade.
He had worked as-
siduously in the in-
terest of trade pro-
motion and h i s
work in connection
with the Piano and
Organ Association,
of which he had
been president, was
v e r y beneficial to
that
organization,
and in fact a sus-
taining influence in
the welfare of the
association.
Mr. Wagner was
engaged by the late
H. C. Dickinson to
come to Chicago
and take charge of
the Baldwin piano
store in 1930. He
LOUTS C. WAGNER
had been with the
Henry F. Miller &
Sons Company in Boston previous to that and im-
mediately before coming to Chicago had been with
the American Piano Company in New York. His op-
erations in Boston also were with the Chickering
store in that city, which store for many years has
been under the management of H. C. Spain.
Mr. W r agner was born in Long Island, New York,
and his ashes will probably be taken back to the
family plot at Flushing. Mr. Wagner will be sorely
missed by those with whom he was formerly asso-
ciated and he is mourned by his many friends. Resolu-
tions of respect and sympathy have been drafted by
the Chicago Piano and Organ Association and will
be presented to Mrs. Wagner and her two sons, Robert
and Richard.
Mr. Wagner lias been succeeded as manager of the
Baldwin store by Mr. R. K. Fanning, who had been
an able assistant to Mr. Wagner and whose associa-
tion with Baldwin dates back about a score of years,
nearly all the time at the Chicago office. Mr. Fanning
is regarded as an able as well as experienced piano
trade man, a gentleman who will be well fitted to hold
the position to which he has been appointed with
honor and credit to himself and his employes.
The late Mrs. Price passed away upwards of ten
years ago. The Prices had made their home at the
Surf residence hotel, Chicago. Mrs. Price was a
woman of remarkable talents in literature, art and
music. She was composer of several songs, some of
them published by the Clayton F. Summy Company
of Chicago. Her last volume of poems contains many
gems in poetic thought and expression. She was a
linguist and scholar. Her passing was a severe blow
to Mr. Price and after her death he gave a memorial
FREDERICK A. HOSCHKE
for her, where numerous persons identified with cul-
C. N. KIMBALL 25 YEA US AGO.
• The death is announced of Frederick A. Hoschke,
ball, had come west a little in advance of his brother, tural organizations and men and women of talent
William Wallace, who located in Chicago and, as gathered to help Mr. Price do honor to his distin- who had been associated with the Everett Piano Com-
authentic music trade history tello us, started to sell guished and talented helpmate, Natalie Whited Price. pany in the production of the Orgatron electronic
pianos in the 50's. From this beginning the W. W.
organ put out by the Everett Piano Co. some time ago.
CORLEY GIRSON
Kimball piano business started in 1857, later becoming
Mr. Hoschke was the inventor of this instrument and
• The news of the death of Corley Gibson, which
the W. W. Kimball Company, the name it bears
was heralded, passed around the corridors and ex- brought it to its present standing as one of the out-
today and of which organization C. N. Kimball became
standing
electric
organ productions of the day.
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