Nov.-Dec, 1937
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
PRESTO-TIME
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADES JOURNAL
ISSUED THE
FIFTEENTH OF
PUBLICATION MONTH
I ' R A N K D. ABBOTT
Editor
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At the convention of Ohio State music deal-
ers held at Dayton, when Mr. Grossman urged
the elimination of the flat tariff of $1.25 on all
violins, which is now an additional tax to the
ad valorem tariff of 35 per cent, he said that
this flat tariff was preventing; the import of
stringed instruments. To this Mr. Otto B.
Heaton of Columbus replied, reminding" Mr.
Grossman that the National Association of
Music Merchants was responsible for the flat
tariff of $1.25 put on violins in order to keep
the cheap Japanese products out of the
country.
* * *
The Wurlitzer mats and electrotypes for the
use of Wurlitzer dealers are having- an ex-
tended distribution. The Winter Piano Co.,
New Philadelphia, Ohio, uses one of these.
"An Inspired Design," in the center of a news-
paper page which gives wide publicity in that
locality to the new Wurlitzer Symetrical
Grand.
* * *
The new Story & Clark Spinets, 36 inches
high, with case designed by the eminent Ever-
ett Worthington of Park avenue. New York,
and Mr. Joseph Klepac, accoustical engineer
and superintendent of the Story & Clark fac-
tor)-, which were introduced and enthusiastic-
ally received at the music trade convention
exhibit in New York last July, have continued
:
n marked favor in the trade and become a
prime favorite and remarkable seller by Storv
& Clark dealers.
* * *
Anyone who, per chance, had a copy of the
illustrated magazine, "Vogue," and would turn
to the center pages of that magazine for
August would see a beautiful illustration of
three dancing girls with Patti, the beloved
daughter of Otto B. Heaton, proprietor of
Heaton's Music Store. Columbus, Ohio, in the
center of the trio. The exhibition Hustrated
bv these three dancers took i>1ace at the St.
Regis Viennese Roof in New York.
Information has been received bv Steinwav
& Sons from Europe that Professor Edward
Weiss has been appointed head of the piano
department of the famous old Klindworth-
Scharwenka Conservatory in Berlin. Profes-
sor Weiss, who has concerned extensively,
and has made several tours in the United
States, is a devoted friend of the Seinway
(Continued to page 8)
TOO GOOD TO BE ADVANCED
A change was contemplated in the management of an important manu-
facturing- concern of the music industry. In this organization was a man who
had made remarkable headway in increasing the business of the company and
the output of its factory. The president of the company in seeking- a new
manager asked of a piano man of wide experience and acquaintanceship who
would he recommend or suggest to take the place of the intended retiring man-
ager. His reply was that the best man for the job would be the salesman, now
a division manager, who had made such a great record in his department;
"but," said the advisor, "you cannot afford to let him leave his present position
with you. Not until his ability can be replaced can you afford to let him go."
So the general manager remained in charge of the business and the sales
manager under him keeps on increasing the factory output.
*
*
*
•
The 5,707 unfilled orders for pianos for the month of September repre-
sent an increase in unfilled orders over last year of 31.37 per cent and over
the year 1935 of 113.27 per cent. Not a month this year has the output fallen
1 ehind the previous month.
A settlement and agreement to stop false and misleading representations
in advertising certain radio sets has been entered into with the Federal Trade
Commission by some of the concerns interested. The companies referred to
agreed to discontinue using the word, "world-wide or all-wave" either alone
or with the word "Not Just Foreign."
*
*
*
•
Often an attractive window display, whether of pianos, musical merchandise,
holiday and seasonable attractions or what-not brings one into the store, some-
times to look at a musical instrument or, perhaps, to get more information on a
new spinet-type or new style console. At any rate a prospective customer has been
brought to the store and it is up to the dealer to "handle" the prospect in the right
way to get results.
Some rather "far fetched" ideas in window display advertising are taking"
shape this season in the form of window and store attractions; some of them
"home made" material, originating and put together by the dealer, himself. An un-
usually excellent lot of material furnished by manufacturers and jobbers is novel
and varied.
Great houses know the value of window and store attractive advertising. It
has been estimated that the big Lyon & Healy show window at the corner of
Jackson and Wabash, Chicago, giving two extensive views from the two streets,
is worth not less than $50 a day to them, the year 'round.
* * * *
All signs, everything in sight at least, indicate that the flourishing condi-
tion of the music trades and industries pointed out by Mr. L. P. Bull, presi-
dent of the National Piano Manufacturers Association, when he was inter-
viewed by an official during the music trade convention last summer, is to con-
tinue with us many months.
In piano production most of the factories of this industry are rapidly get-
ting "full up" and some have reached the overflow stage, where the manage-
ment is confronted with the proposition, shall it be more factory space or
slow down on production, which? This all lines up pretty closely with one of
the statements made by Mr. Bull in his reply to the interviewer's inquiry: "Is
it true that the piano manufacturers of this country are experiencing greatly
increased business?" The reply being:"Yes, the increase of interest in the
piano has been sensational; America is buying pianos, and buying them faster
than we manufacturers can produce them. Piano production the first six
months of this year was 33 per cent greater than for the similar period in
1936. The increase this year will probably be approximately 480 per cent over
1932."
The condition is also in close alignment with the establishment of a branch
factory recently at La Porte, Tnd., by Winter & Company to provide for the
increased output of the business, "found necessary due to the demand of deal-
ers for our products," says an official of Winter & Company.
Note the statement of Gulbransen Company made a few days ago that their
September business was the largest month's business in a decade; that I'aid-
win is far ahead of last year, and that a similar condition at the Ilardman,
Peck & Co. factories. New York, prevails.
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Company's gain in piano production has been steady
month after month through this year, showing not onlv a gain in output but
a greater increase over its own record than the piano manufacturing industry
at large over its own business.
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