Presto

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All A m e r i c a n Pianos
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
B*<**.h.d I**
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Trade Lists
Three Uniform Book-
lets, the Only Complete
Directories of the Music
Industries.
/• c*n*« tun • r ~ r
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, AUGUST 25, 1923
FOREIGN ARTISTS
AND OLD FIDDLES
Anonymous Correspondent Who Evidently
Puts Thought Behind His Caustic Com-
ment, Challenges Methods of Some of
the Music Trade Papers.
TOO MUCH TRUTH IN IT
Presto Cannot Be Said to Fall Within Limitation
Which Anonymous Letter Writer Had
in Mind.
Under the heading of "Some Reasons Why Mu-
sic Trade Papers Are Not So Well Patronized as
Trade Papers in Other Trades," Presto has received
the following anonymous communication.
By its
style and indirect emphasis upon a special line of
the music industry, it is not difficult to recognize
the writer of this sharp comment:
No other trade can point to trade papers which
consistently, if not conscientiously, discourage their
own trade.
What sort of a deal does the American violin and
the American violin maker get from trade papers?
Answer: Reams of bunk and fol-der-ol are printed
about Strad's fiddles, his secrets, his varnish, his
skill, etc. He's dead. He never did and never will
advertise. He made fiddles before the bass-bar was
invented. The bass-bar to a fiddle is what the Chick-
ering iron plate is to a piano. Why glorify a fiddle
maker who was dead before fiddles were fiddles?
Why glorify a fiddle maker whose fiddles should
be advertised in antiques trade journals? Why in-
sist, when it cannot be proven, that old fiddles are
better than new?
What sort of a deal does the American conductor
get from music trade papers?
Hip, hip, hurrah for every old Greek, Belgian,
Scandinavian or Hottentot that ever came here to
show us how to lead a symphony or read a score.
Abas with every American conductor who dares
raise his head.
What sort of a deal does the publisher of Amer-
ican music get from the music trade paper?
You know—his stuff is no good—low grade, etc.,
etc.
The American composer?
He's crazy to attempt anything. Racial limita-
tions make it impossible for him to compete with
the Slav; the Hungarian Moujik, etc. Our music
schools are not such as to turn out good composers.
Do you find any such attitude in journals of ar-
chitecture, of cooperage, of iron founding, etc. Then
why wonder at music trade papers being so poorly
patronized.
Charge Doesn't Apply.
It is to be regretted that the writer of the fore-
going communication considered it necessary to with-
hold his name. Without doubt he has some reason
for what he says. . But certainly his picture of the
trade press does not in any degree reflect the atti-
tude of Presto toward American industry and art.
This trade paper has repeatedly said just what
our anonymous correspondent says. It has, time and
again, said that there are American violins in which
there is greater merit, musically and constructive-
ly, than can be found in the creations of old "mas-
ters," whose names have been used as a foil and
delusion to liberal music lovers of this country.
This trade paper has even named some of the
American violin makers whose theories and prin-
ciples have been set forth as embodiment of in-
disputable reason and indubitable truths. Notable
has been the case of the Gemunder Brothers of
New York, whose new violins are used by some
of the world's greatest artists, and whose fame has
extended to the further corners of the Old World.
An Exploded Notion.
There can be no good basis for the belief that it is
necessary for an instrument of the violin family
being an antique in order that it may possess the
greatest possible tone or quality.
Of course it is possible that Presto may have
published extracts from newspapers in which some
'"find" has been noted—some improbable "discov-
ery" of an old Strad, or other instrument. It is
equally possible that the exchange editor may have
clipped some story about the causes of greatness in
the musical instrument. And such stories are usu-
ally the vaporizing of space fillers who know noth-
ing about music, and very little about wood and
the influence of age upon the porous structures.
Contains Much Truth.
However, what our anonymous correspondent
says is so largely true that it would be impossible
to let it pass as waste basket filling—as is custom-
ary with unsigned correspondence. In fact, when
the letter writer sees this,.comment, he may consider
that he is invited to send in an article on the sub-
ject which seems near to him. It will be paid for at
regular space rates.
Hut there is one glaring error in the anonymous
contribution. It is that the music trade papers are
"poorly patronized." They are "patronized" as a
rule more than they deserve. But they are not as
well supported by advertisers as they should be.
There is a difference between "patronizing" a trade
paper and employing it for purposes of advertis-
ing. And this, notwithstanding that this particular
trade paper carries the advertising of a very large
majority of the manufacturers of musical instru-
ments in this country.
The American Trade Paper.
Nearly forty years of constant adherence to the
principle that American musical instruments and
American music are the best the world can produce,
is the background and justification of this trade
paper's second head—"The American Music Trade
Weekly."
It would be worth something if the anonymous,
but intelligent writer of the letter which appears
above would write again and be more specific in
his charges that the trouble with the trade papers
is that they ignore native talent and industry, in
favor of the ancient relics, and the newer artists,
of imported character. So far as Presto is concerned
the charge is untrue.
BIG WINDSTORM DAMAGED
FRENCH & SONS FACTORY
Two Giant Steel Stacks Were Toppled Over, Making
Necessary a Week's Shut-down.
The great rain and wind storm which visited the
middle-west two weeks ago did a great deal of dam-
age in many places. At the big factories of the
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., at New Castle,
Indiana, the wind blew over the two 130-foot steel
stacks. But little damage was done otherwise when
the stacks fell, as they fell in the yard.
It required more than a week to reset only one of
the stacks for temporary purposes, while the other
is being again built up permanently. After one has
been rebuilt it will be used and the temporary stack
will then be reinforced.
The falling of the stacks put about ISO of the fac-
tory force out of work, but they are busy again by
this time.
The damage came at a peculiarly bad time, for
many dealers were clamoring for instruments. But
the facilities at the New Castle factory are such that
it requires more than a wind storm to upset things
for any length of time.
A PLAYER ACTION SCHOOL.
A. M. Dads, for some time in the employ of the
Sigler Player Action Co., at Hastings, Mich., is
about to establish a school of playerpiano construc-
tion and repairs in the city named. Mr. Dads is a
skilled mechanic in the specialty suggested, and, in-
asmuch as there has been a good deal of discussion
on the subject of playerpiano instruction, he should
succeed in his endeavor.
STRANGE LOVE AFFAIR.
Manager Henderson, of the Chicago Conn Co., has
heard many stories about the saxophone, but never
realized it possessed an infatuation until he received
a letter from Central America a short time ago. The
letter was written by one of the natives, who stated
that the "saxophone loved him."
EVIDENCES OF PROSPERITY
SHOWN IN BUSINESS FACTS
Reasons for Optimistic View of Present Con-
ditions Are Outlined by New York
Observer of Conditions.
A GOOD TRADE OUTLOOK
Psychology of the Public Is Important and Pessi-
mists Only Hold Back Progress.
In a communication to the New York Times, F.
Morgenstein sets forth his faith in the present and
future business in the following summary of condi-
tions. It is a showing which may help to reassure
any despondent piano man as well as any others:
I wish to mention a few facts in the business situ-
ation which, in my opinion, outweigh all other con-
siderations:
1. Failures last month were the smallest in any
month since November, 1920.
2. Car loadings the week of July 21 were higher
than those of the same week in the previous three
years.
3. The course of loans and money rates during
the past few months is strong evidence that the rapid
pace of business in the early part of the year put no
strain upon banks and had not led to any dangerous
piling up of stocks of goods.
4. There is no mentionable unemployment in this
country, and labor as a whole is employed at equit-
able wages.
5. The total Federal Reserve ratio is still at an
exceedingly high mark.
6. Farm products, with the exception of wheat,
are at profitable price levels. While it is true that
the price of wheat is extremely low, yet it must be
borne in mind that wheat represents less than 10 per
cent of the total value of the nation's crops. There
is, therefore, little fear of the purchasing power of the
agricultural community in general being seriously
impaired.
7. Saving bank deposits show tremendous in-
creases.
Summed up, it may be said that fundamentally the
business situation of this country is excellent, but the
psychology of the public is vitally important to its
betterment.
The last paragraph in Mr. Morganstein's letter con-
tains a suggestion of value. Every piano salesman
knows that the attitude of his prospect toward life
and his possible prosperity ahead has a great deal to
do with his readiness to buy. If he thinks things
look dark he will hesitate even if in reality there is
nothing to induce despondency of doubt. If he feels
that things are fine and business will flourish, noth-
ing is too good for the family and home.
Cultivate the cheerful optimism. It will help your
business. And just now there is little reason for any
other spirit of thought or outlook.
DEATH OF FRANK STANLEY
SUCCESSFUL PIANO MFR.
Brother of Chas. Stanley, of Story & Clark Factories,
Passed Away in Toronto.
Charles Stanley, of the Story & Clark Piano Co.'s
manufacturing department at Grand Haven, Michi-
gan, last week, Friday, received a telegram announc-
ing the death of his brother, Frank, at Toronto,
Canada, after an illness of several weeks.
Frank Stanley was born 1870 and has conducted
the Stanley Piano Company in Toronto since 1896.
The business will be conducted by the sons, assisted
by his two nephews, Frank and Wyman Clark.
Frank Stanley leaves a widow and five children, well
provided for.
The Stanley pianos have attained to a good place
in the trade of the Dominion, where Mr. Stanley was
rated as a skillful piano maker and a successful
business man.
For a brief period Chas. Stanley and his late
brother were associated in the piano industry together
in Toronto.
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