Presto
Issue: 1923 1932 - Page 9
August 4, 1923
PRESTO
PIANO CLUB TO HOLD
PICNIC AT RAVINIA
Special Train Over North Shore Electric to Leave
Chicago at 1:30 p. m.
THINGS SAID OR SUGGESTED
The New York newspapers have revived the old-
fashioned "Poets' Corner." Every day a collection of
more or. less choice verse appears. And 'some of it
has sense and most of it rhymes. It's better than
most of the funny work of the overworked "colyum
conductors' " stuff, at least. The poetry department
of one of the New York newspapers is, furthermore,
in charge of a pop song-writer.
* * *
A feature in the Chicago Evening Post is Mcln-
tyre's "Walks About New York." But Mac over-
looks some things. A window on a downtown side
street displays the sign "Cracked Eggs, Assorted
Lots." Several uptown stores are showing cracked
pianos under the designation "Used." And a big
piano house on 42nd street announces "iine player-
piano, $265; only $2 a week." Is there no limit?
* * *
Among last week's New York state incorporations
was one that didn't seem to mean what it said. It
was that of the "Standard Organ Co.," of Port Ches-
ter, and the purpose was stated to be the "manufac-
ture of oils and toilet preparations." Tn years long-
past the Standard organ was one of the popular
members of the industry and trade. But what busi-
ness can oil have with organs? The late J. M.
Pelton should know about it!
* * *
There's nothing missing about the New York store
of the P. A. Starck Piano Co., on 42nd street, but
the revolving platform in the window. With that in
place it would be a piece of Wabash avenue trans-
planted from Chicago, signs, snappy prices and all.
And there are always customers in the Starck store.
* * *
The New York newspapers have been filled with
stories of the Merchandise Fair which is running in
that city. Perhaps it may surprise some of the deal-
ers throughout the country to notice the total ab-
sense of the piano in the space-filling of the re-
porters. The only mention of music is in the state-
ment that "a Spanish war veteran blew a blast on a
bugle as S. M. Goldberg, chairman of the Executive
Committee, opened the doors with a golden key."
Where were the New York musical instrument
makers?
* * *
On East 41st street, near Third avenue, New York,
there is an extensive wickerware industry. It is the
Long Beach Reed & Willow Furniture Co., and all
sorts of summer furniture is made there. It is a
"from factory to home" industry, and the special in-
terest to piano men is that a piano man owns it and
is running it. The president of the reed and willow
furniture industry is C. E. Byrne, long conspicuous
as a piano manufacturer. And, as showing how true
it is that "once a piano man always a piano man," a
row of uprights stands at the rear of the big ware-
room on the first floor of the willow-ware industry.
And they are still the "C. E. Byrne" pianos.
* * *
Parodies of the popular song-title seem endless.
One of the latest appears in a window in a music
store in Troy, N. Y. It is "Yes, we have some
pianos." Not especially dignified, but perhaps timely
enough to catch the attention of passers-by.
* * *
The Aeolian Company seems to have settled, once
and for all, the question of whether radio shall have
a place in the music business. New York newspapers
are printing advertisements of a combination Vo-
calion phonograph and radio receiving cabinet. The
two-in-one device is beautiful to look at and occupies
no more space than an ordinary console talking
machine. Without doubt, it will have a good sale,
and, equally without a doubt, other ambitious phono-
graph industries will follow suit. Radio has taken
its place among the things of logical piano store
sale, and Mr. Fegen's point of view, as expressed in
Presto, finds the kind of seconding that spells power
and permanency.
* * *
Of course, no one who has the interests of the
music trade at heart will deny that it is wise for the
dealers to handle anything, in any way related to
music, in which there may be profit. The average
piano store needs something by which to sustain the
overhead during dull times. Piano selling is not a
quick-moving business. If the radio cabinets can be
made to augment the results of the piano dealers'
efforts, then radio is a good thing to have in the piano
stores. There seems to be no room for argument in
a proposition so obviously rational and sound.
* * *
Some of the most attractive piano warerooms in
the large cities are above the street level, away from
the noise of the rushing crowds, cool, restful and so
unlike the conventional "stores" as to compare bet-
ter with the art studios. They are not to be classed
with the commercial "warerooms" at all, and, fortu-
nately, in connection with piano selling, they suggest
what they usually pertain to—the best class of
instruments.
A fine illustration of the modern piano studios just
referred to is that of H. P. Mehlin & Sons, at 509
Fifth avenue, New York. The caller instantly feels
that he is at home with instruments so fine that to
place them in the average storeroom would be al-
most a sacrilege. They are too fine to jostle and
crowd. Here they have room to breath, and to ex-
press the art that is in them. The Mehlin studios
are not just like any others, and they must impress
any discriminating dealer with the same suggestion
of artistic temperament that finds expression in the
pianos themselves at the bidding of inspired per-
formers. There is no commercial atmosphere about
the place, and the local manager, Howard B. Abber-
ley, is a Mehlin enthusiast who has been associated
with the house for sixteen years.
* * *
The subject of window dressing is frequently dis-
cussed, as it affects the music stores. A grand piano
is always an attractive setting for a large show win-
dow. But there are window dressers who seem to
forget the fitness of things when they arrange their
displays. One of the large windows of the New York
department houses of Ludwig, Bauman & Co. last
week presented an illustration of what is meant. Its
center-piece was a small grand Waldorf piano. Rest-
ing carelessly upon the polished top, and extending
awkwardly over the keyboard, was a big tuba. The
horn was so placed as to suggest a ruthless marring
of the beautiful case, the brass somewhat battered,
as if carelessly thrown down by the soloist, while
the illusion of a piano accompaniment was spoiled
The Piano Club of Chicago announces that its
annual picnic will be held at Ravinia, on the 15th of
August. The picnic last year was quite a success, as
the large attendance indicated. Preparations are
being made to accommodate a record-breaking at-
tendance this year on account of the great increase
in the membership of the club.
There will be a special train over the North Shore
Electric, leaving Chicago at 1:30 p. in. The transpor-
tation, including admittance to the picnic grounds,
will be $2.25. Those who go by automobile will be
charged only the admission to the picnic grounds,
and not the full price, which was charged last year.
There will be plenty of enjoyment for everybody.
A magician will be on hand to entertain the children,
who will be admitted free. There will be races, and
prizes will be given the winners, which will stimulate
real competition among the participants.
Alex W. Christensen, president of the Christensen
School of Popular Music, and chairman of the picnic
committee, has expressed the hope that the Piano
Club of Milwaukee, and the Music Men of Racine
and Kencsha would be present. Wallace Kimball,
Sidney Sachs and Ben Wood are also members of
the committee and active in the plans to make the
picnic a greater success this year than ever before.
JAM AT NINETEENTH HOLE.
F. Joseph Volz, 224 West 4th street, Cincinnati,
is the official in charge of the Golf Tournament to be
held in connection with the Ohio Convention on Mon-
day and Tuesday, September 10 and 11, in Cincin-
nati. Monday evening a steak dinner will be given at
the Western Hills Country Club, and Mr. Volz prom-
ises all who attend the tournament, and their friends,
the most seductive and alluring 19th hole to be found
on any course in the United States. All those de-
siring to enter the tournament, including the 19th
hole and steak dinner, should communicate with Mr.
Volz in advance so arrangements can be made.
E. E. BAKER IN CHICAGO.
E. E. Baker, the St. Louis dealer, and Mrs. Baker,
were visitors to the offices of The Cable Co., Chi-
cago, last week. Mr. Baker, who handles the lines
of The Cable Co., in the Missouri city, passed an in-
teresting day at the company's factories in St.
Charles, 111.
by the total absence of any kind of a piano seat or
stool. A window display like that could not be effec-
tive, to say nothing of the apparent injury to the
piano itself.
Widen Your Sales Field With the Miessner
The many prospects for the Miessner Piano in your locality are difficult to sell any other
piano. No other type of instrument is as well adapted for use in schools, colleges, clubs,
churches, hotels, theaters, etc., and for the increasing number of small home and apart-
ment dwellers.
So by offering the Miessner, you are offering a
product that in no way interferes with your present
business. By failing to tie up with this line you are
overlooking one of the fast growing sales fields; one
which is proving highly profitable to thousands of
dealers in all sections. Selling the Miessner is
simply broadening your sales field.
The Miessner, the original small upright, is today
first in development and perfection. It is the product
of specialization. . It claims the entire attention of
the Miessner organization. It is built to lead, not
merely compete. Made to pick up the profitable
small piano trade.
Consider what a piano of this type will do for you
in this growing field; how it will actually build busi-
ness for you; bring you big profits that you're pass-
ing up today. Write for attractive dealer proposi-
tion.
"The Little Piano With The Big Tone"
MIESSNER PIANO CO.
126 Reed St., Milwaukee, Wis.
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/
PRESTO
PIANO CLUB TO HOLD
PICNIC AT RAVINIA
Special Train Over North Shore Electric to Leave
Chicago at 1:30 p. m.
THINGS SAID OR SUGGESTED
The New York newspapers have revived the old-
fashioned "Poets' Corner." Every day a collection of
more or. less choice verse appears. And 'some of it
has sense and most of it rhymes. It's better than
most of the funny work of the overworked "colyum
conductors' " stuff, at least. The poetry department
of one of the New York newspapers is, furthermore,
in charge of a pop song-writer.
* * *
A feature in the Chicago Evening Post is Mcln-
tyre's "Walks About New York." But Mac over-
looks some things. A window on a downtown side
street displays the sign "Cracked Eggs, Assorted
Lots." Several uptown stores are showing cracked
pianos under the designation "Used." And a big
piano house on 42nd street announces "iine player-
piano, $265; only $2 a week." Is there no limit?
* * *
Among last week's New York state incorporations
was one that didn't seem to mean what it said. It
was that of the "Standard Organ Co.," of Port Ches-
ter, and the purpose was stated to be the "manufac-
ture of oils and toilet preparations." Tn years long-
past the Standard organ was one of the popular
members of the industry and trade. But what busi-
ness can oil have with organs? The late J. M.
Pelton should know about it!
* * *
There's nothing missing about the New York store
of the P. A. Starck Piano Co., on 42nd street, but
the revolving platform in the window. With that in
place it would be a piece of Wabash avenue trans-
planted from Chicago, signs, snappy prices and all.
And there are always customers in the Starck store.
* * *
The New York newspapers have been filled with
stories of the Merchandise Fair which is running in
that city. Perhaps it may surprise some of the deal-
ers throughout the country to notice the total ab-
sense of the piano in the space-filling of the re-
porters. The only mention of music is in the state-
ment that "a Spanish war veteran blew a blast on a
bugle as S. M. Goldberg, chairman of the Executive
Committee, opened the doors with a golden key."
Where were the New York musical instrument
makers?
* * *
On East 41st street, near Third avenue, New York,
there is an extensive wickerware industry. It is the
Long Beach Reed & Willow Furniture Co., and all
sorts of summer furniture is made there. It is a
"from factory to home" industry, and the special in-
terest to piano men is that a piano man owns it and
is running it. The president of the reed and willow
furniture industry is C. E. Byrne, long conspicuous
as a piano manufacturer. And, as showing how true
it is that "once a piano man always a piano man," a
row of uprights stands at the rear of the big ware-
room on the first floor of the willow-ware industry.
And they are still the "C. E. Byrne" pianos.
* * *
Parodies of the popular song-title seem endless.
One of the latest appears in a window in a music
store in Troy, N. Y. It is "Yes, we have some
pianos." Not especially dignified, but perhaps timely
enough to catch the attention of passers-by.
* * *
The Aeolian Company seems to have settled, once
and for all, the question of whether radio shall have
a place in the music business. New York newspapers
are printing advertisements of a combination Vo-
calion phonograph and radio receiving cabinet. The
two-in-one device is beautiful to look at and occupies
no more space than an ordinary console talking
machine. Without doubt, it will have a good sale,
and, equally without a doubt, other ambitious phono-
graph industries will follow suit. Radio has taken
its place among the things of logical piano store
sale, and Mr. Fegen's point of view, as expressed in
Presto, finds the kind of seconding that spells power
and permanency.
* * *
Of course, no one who has the interests of the
music trade at heart will deny that it is wise for the
dealers to handle anything, in any way related to
music, in which there may be profit. The average
piano store needs something by which to sustain the
overhead during dull times. Piano selling is not a
quick-moving business. If the radio cabinets can be
made to augment the results of the piano dealers'
efforts, then radio is a good thing to have in the piano
stores. There seems to be no room for argument in
a proposition so obviously rational and sound.
* * *
Some of the most attractive piano warerooms in
the large cities are above the street level, away from
the noise of the rushing crowds, cool, restful and so
unlike the conventional "stores" as to compare bet-
ter with the art studios. They are not to be classed
with the commercial "warerooms" at all, and, fortu-
nately, in connection with piano selling, they suggest
what they usually pertain to—the best class of
instruments.
A fine illustration of the modern piano studios just
referred to is that of H. P. Mehlin & Sons, at 509
Fifth avenue, New York. The caller instantly feels
that he is at home with instruments so fine that to
place them in the average storeroom would be al-
most a sacrilege. They are too fine to jostle and
crowd. Here they have room to breath, and to ex-
press the art that is in them. The Mehlin studios
are not just like any others, and they must impress
any discriminating dealer with the same suggestion
of artistic temperament that finds expression in the
pianos themselves at the bidding of inspired per-
formers. There is no commercial atmosphere about
the place, and the local manager, Howard B. Abber-
ley, is a Mehlin enthusiast who has been associated
with the house for sixteen years.
* * *
The subject of window dressing is frequently dis-
cussed, as it affects the music stores. A grand piano
is always an attractive setting for a large show win-
dow. But there are window dressers who seem to
forget the fitness of things when they arrange their
displays. One of the large windows of the New York
department houses of Ludwig, Bauman & Co. last
week presented an illustration of what is meant. Its
center-piece was a small grand Waldorf piano. Rest-
ing carelessly upon the polished top, and extending
awkwardly over the keyboard, was a big tuba. The
horn was so placed as to suggest a ruthless marring
of the beautiful case, the brass somewhat battered,
as if carelessly thrown down by the soloist, while
the illusion of a piano accompaniment was spoiled
The Piano Club of Chicago announces that its
annual picnic will be held at Ravinia, on the 15th of
August. The picnic last year was quite a success, as
the large attendance indicated. Preparations are
being made to accommodate a record-breaking at-
tendance this year on account of the great increase
in the membership of the club.
There will be a special train over the North Shore
Electric, leaving Chicago at 1:30 p. in. The transpor-
tation, including admittance to the picnic grounds,
will be $2.25. Those who go by automobile will be
charged only the admission to the picnic grounds,
and not the full price, which was charged last year.
There will be plenty of enjoyment for everybody.
A magician will be on hand to entertain the children,
who will be admitted free. There will be races, and
prizes will be given the winners, which will stimulate
real competition among the participants.
Alex W. Christensen, president of the Christensen
School of Popular Music, and chairman of the picnic
committee, has expressed the hope that the Piano
Club of Milwaukee, and the Music Men of Racine
and Kencsha would be present. Wallace Kimball,
Sidney Sachs and Ben Wood are also members of
the committee and active in the plans to make the
picnic a greater success this year than ever before.
JAM AT NINETEENTH HOLE.
F. Joseph Volz, 224 West 4th street, Cincinnati,
is the official in charge of the Golf Tournament to be
held in connection with the Ohio Convention on Mon-
day and Tuesday, September 10 and 11, in Cincin-
nati. Monday evening a steak dinner will be given at
the Western Hills Country Club, and Mr. Volz prom-
ises all who attend the tournament, and their friends,
the most seductive and alluring 19th hole to be found
on any course in the United States. All those de-
siring to enter the tournament, including the 19th
hole and steak dinner, should communicate with Mr.
Volz in advance so arrangements can be made.
E. E. BAKER IN CHICAGO.
E. E. Baker, the St. Louis dealer, and Mrs. Baker,
were visitors to the offices of The Cable Co., Chi-
cago, last week. Mr. Baker, who handles the lines
of The Cable Co., in the Missouri city, passed an in-
teresting day at the company's factories in St.
Charles, 111.
by the total absence of any kind of a piano seat or
stool. A window display like that could not be effec-
tive, to say nothing of the apparent injury to the
piano itself.
Widen Your Sales Field With the Miessner
The many prospects for the Miessner Piano in your locality are difficult to sell any other
piano. No other type of instrument is as well adapted for use in schools, colleges, clubs,
churches, hotels, theaters, etc., and for the increasing number of small home and apart-
ment dwellers.
So by offering the Miessner, you are offering a
product that in no way interferes with your present
business. By failing to tie up with this line you are
overlooking one of the fast growing sales fields; one
which is proving highly profitable to thousands of
dealers in all sections. Selling the Miessner is
simply broadening your sales field.
The Miessner, the original small upright, is today
first in development and perfection. It is the product
of specialization. . It claims the entire attention of
the Miessner organization. It is built to lead, not
merely compete. Made to pick up the profitable
small piano trade.
Consider what a piano of this type will do for you
in this growing field; how it will actually build busi-
ness for you; bring you big profits that you're pass-
ing up today. Write for attractive dealer proposi-
tion.
"The Little Piano With The Big Tone"
MIESSNER PIANO CO.
126 Reed St., Milwaukee, Wis.
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/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).