Presto
Issue: 1923 1947 - Page 4
PRESTO
radio. However, music still reigns supreme among
our people as the great source of entertainment and
education, particularly in the home. As a matter of
fact, the movie and the radio have themselves con-
tributed in many ways to an increased appreciation
of and demand for music, as music has been in-
separably connected with the development of the
Manager of Music Industries Chamber of Com- motion picture and radio industries.
During the past few years there has been a very
merce Points Out to Newspaper Editor
apparent wave of musical appreciation in this coun-
Erroneous Thought Created by Head-
try, which, has necessarily had quite the opposite
lines of News Story
effect on the music, business from that which is indi-
cated in your story about the Alphonso Smith Piano
House failure.
FACTS TOLD HERALD EDITOR
People Desire Music.
By this, I do not refer so much to increased at-
Mr. Smith Conclusively Proves Condition of Retail tendance at the opera and concerts, which has been
Music Trade Directly Contrary to View Sug-
great, as to the fact that music has become a more
initial factor in the lives of the rank and file of our
gested by Foolish Head Statements.
people as shown by the increased use of pianos and
Alfred L. Smith, general manager of the Music phonographs in the home, the greater number of
Industries Chamber of Commerce, in a letter of No- children learning to play band and orchestral instru-
vember 7 to the editor of the New York Herald, ments, the increased study of music by children both
in the home and in the school, group singing and
takes excepton to the reasons given by the Herald
for the failure of the Alphonso Smith Piano House, band concerts in industrial plants and the practical
and states facts which prove the healthy condition of
use of music as a therapeutic agent, especially in
the retail music business today. Mr. Smith's letter institutions for delinquents and the insane.
follows:
Very truly yours,
Dear Sir: My attention has been called to an ar-
ALFRED L. SMITH
ticle in the New York Herald on Sunday, November
4, about the insolvency and receivership of the Al-
phonso Smith Piano House, in which the headlines
state that "Jazz knocks out old piano house," "Radio
completes insolvency of Alphonso Smith firm" and
"Flivver and movie do their part." What would
otherwise be a commonplace news account of a pe-
Nashua Country Club Scene of Contest in Which
tition in bankruptcy has been made an important
New England Dealers Were Victors.
story and given news interest by describing as a
reason for the failure "the hopelessness of the strug-
Harry Holmes and Billy Bowles, travelers for the
gle against an era of jazz and speed and joys less
Kohler Industries, New York, recently had the hardi-
subtle" than those of music.
hood to challenge W. L. Nutting and R. G. Knuepfer,
Headlines Are Surprising.
the well-known New England music dealers, to a
Knowing the interest of your paper in music, as round of golf.
Mr. Nutting selected his home grounds, the links
evidenced by its treatment of musical topics in your
of the Nashua Country Club, for the match. It was
news columns and by frequent editorial comment on
musical development, and likewise knowing of the a merry party that teed off, and Messrs. Holmes and
Bowles were the merriest members. What happened
reliability of your paper in the matter of stories and
on the links no one who was there will tell. The
editorial comments relating to business conditions, I
victors merely smile and the vanquished become in-
venture to call your attention to the inaccurate im-
articulate and red in the face when asked. Even the
pression of conditions in the music industry which
score is withheld. Suffice it to say that the team of
the ordinary reader would get from this story.
Holmes and Bowles is not issuing any more chal-
Newspaper Corrected.
lenges.
I am not personally familiar with the circumstances
After the match, Mr. Nutting entertained the party
surrounding the failure of the Alphonso Smith Piano
at
dinner at the Nashua Country Club.
House, but I know from close contact with condi-
tions in the music business that it cannot have been
due to competition from such industries as automo-
MOVES IN WASHINGTON, D. C.
biles, movies, and radio. Of course, failure to under-
Loenberger's Music Shop, for many years located
stand and master new conditions brought about by
automobiles, movies, and radio may possibly have at 3329 Fourteenth street northwest, Washington,
D. C , was recently removed to a new location at 926
played a part, although this is doubtful.
New York avenue. The new store occupies a space
The retail branch of the music business today is
twenty-five
by ninety feet on the ground floor, and
in a very sound condition. Retail sales of musical
has an exceptionally large showcase at the front of
instruments of all kinds during the past summer
the store. Starr pianos and phonographs are car-
have been far ahead of records for several years.
ried, and an extensive piano repair department is also
Fall retail sales are heavy, and the outlook for holi-
maintained in charge of Fred Loenberger, owner of
day business is exceedingly good. The demand for
the establishment. A complete line of sheet music
band and orchestral instruments has taxed manu-
and teachers' supplies is also carried.
facturing capacity for several years. There were
probably as many pianos made and shipped to re-
tailers during the month of October as in any month
F. J. RAGATZ, SECRETARY.
in the history of the industry, which reflects the good
Fred J. Ragatz of Bellevue, la., formerly a resident
piano business which retailers are enjoying.
of Dubuque, la., has been named secretary of the
Music Always Wanted.
Henry G. Johnson Piano Manufacturing Company,
located in the former town. Mr. Ragatz, who also
It is trne that people of this country have new
has been selected as a director, succeeds E. E. Dona-
forms of education and amusement which were hither-
hue, resigned.
to unknown, such as the movie, automobiles, and
A. L. SMITH CORRECTS
WRONG IMPRESSION
November 17, 1923
THE
W. P. HAINES & COMPANY
PIANOS
THE PIANOS OF QUALITY
Three Generations of Piano Makers
All Styles—Ready Sellers
Attractive Prices
GRANDS
REPRODUCING GRANDS
UPRIGHTS and PLAYERS
AVAILABLE TERRITORY OPEN
W. P. HAINES & CO., Inc.
138th St. and Walton Ave.
New York City
KOHLER TRAVELERS LOSE
TO NUTTING AND KNUEPFER
WESER
Pianos and Players
Sell readily—Stay sold
Great profit possibilities
Style E (shown below) our latest 4'6"
Order a sample to-day.
Liberal advertising and
cooperative arrangements
Write for catalogue
and price list
Weser Bros., Inc.
Manufacturer!
520 to 528 West 43rd St.
New York
ELLINGTONS FOR BAYLOR COLLEGE
The Lyon & Healy
Reproducing Piano
Baylor College, at Belton, Texas, is the third larg-
est college for women, and the largest denomina-
tional school for women, in the world.
Recently an order was placed with the Baldwin
factories in Cincinnati for four of the new Style 391
Ellington grand pianos, which are to be used exclu-
sively in the instruction and education of advanced
pupils.
A moderate priced reproducing piano,
beautiful in design and rich in tone.
Write for our new explanatory Chart,
the most complete and simple treat-
ment of the reproducing action.
Wabash at Jackson - - - Chicago
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/
radio. However, music still reigns supreme among
our people as the great source of entertainment and
education, particularly in the home. As a matter of
fact, the movie and the radio have themselves con-
tributed in many ways to an increased appreciation
of and demand for music, as music has been in-
separably connected with the development of the
Manager of Music Industries Chamber of Com- motion picture and radio industries.
During the past few years there has been a very
merce Points Out to Newspaper Editor
apparent wave of musical appreciation in this coun-
Erroneous Thought Created by Head-
try, which, has necessarily had quite the opposite
lines of News Story
effect on the music, business from that which is indi-
cated in your story about the Alphonso Smith Piano
House failure.
FACTS TOLD HERALD EDITOR
People Desire Music.
By this, I do not refer so much to increased at-
Mr. Smith Conclusively Proves Condition of Retail tendance at the opera and concerts, which has been
Music Trade Directly Contrary to View Sug-
great, as to the fact that music has become a more
initial factor in the lives of the rank and file of our
gested by Foolish Head Statements.
people as shown by the increased use of pianos and
Alfred L. Smith, general manager of the Music phonographs in the home, the greater number of
Industries Chamber of Commerce, in a letter of No- children learning to play band and orchestral instru-
vember 7 to the editor of the New York Herald, ments, the increased study of music by children both
in the home and in the school, group singing and
takes excepton to the reasons given by the Herald
for the failure of the Alphonso Smith Piano House, band concerts in industrial plants and the practical
and states facts which prove the healthy condition of
use of music as a therapeutic agent, especially in
the retail music business today. Mr. Smith's letter institutions for delinquents and the insane.
follows:
Very truly yours,
Dear Sir: My attention has been called to an ar-
ALFRED L. SMITH
ticle in the New York Herald on Sunday, November
4, about the insolvency and receivership of the Al-
phonso Smith Piano House, in which the headlines
state that "Jazz knocks out old piano house," "Radio
completes insolvency of Alphonso Smith firm" and
"Flivver and movie do their part." What would
otherwise be a commonplace news account of a pe-
Nashua Country Club Scene of Contest in Which
tition in bankruptcy has been made an important
New England Dealers Were Victors.
story and given news interest by describing as a
reason for the failure "the hopelessness of the strug-
Harry Holmes and Billy Bowles, travelers for the
gle against an era of jazz and speed and joys less
Kohler Industries, New York, recently had the hardi-
subtle" than those of music.
hood to challenge W. L. Nutting and R. G. Knuepfer,
Headlines Are Surprising.
the well-known New England music dealers, to a
Knowing the interest of your paper in music, as round of golf.
Mr. Nutting selected his home grounds, the links
evidenced by its treatment of musical topics in your
of the Nashua Country Club, for the match. It was
news columns and by frequent editorial comment on
musical development, and likewise knowing of the a merry party that teed off, and Messrs. Holmes and
Bowles were the merriest members. What happened
reliability of your paper in the matter of stories and
on the links no one who was there will tell. The
editorial comments relating to business conditions, I
victors merely smile and the vanquished become in-
venture to call your attention to the inaccurate im-
articulate and red in the face when asked. Even the
pression of conditions in the music industry which
score is withheld. Suffice it to say that the team of
the ordinary reader would get from this story.
Holmes and Bowles is not issuing any more chal-
Newspaper Corrected.
lenges.
I am not personally familiar with the circumstances
After the match, Mr. Nutting entertained the party
surrounding the failure of the Alphonso Smith Piano
at
dinner at the Nashua Country Club.
House, but I know from close contact with condi-
tions in the music business that it cannot have been
due to competition from such industries as automo-
MOVES IN WASHINGTON, D. C.
biles, movies, and radio. Of course, failure to under-
Loenberger's Music Shop, for many years located
stand and master new conditions brought about by
automobiles, movies, and radio may possibly have at 3329 Fourteenth street northwest, Washington,
D. C , was recently removed to a new location at 926
played a part, although this is doubtful.
New York avenue. The new store occupies a space
The retail branch of the music business today is
twenty-five
by ninety feet on the ground floor, and
in a very sound condition. Retail sales of musical
has an exceptionally large showcase at the front of
instruments of all kinds during the past summer
the store. Starr pianos and phonographs are car-
have been far ahead of records for several years.
ried, and an extensive piano repair department is also
Fall retail sales are heavy, and the outlook for holi-
maintained in charge of Fred Loenberger, owner of
day business is exceedingly good. The demand for
the establishment. A complete line of sheet music
band and orchestral instruments has taxed manu-
and teachers' supplies is also carried.
facturing capacity for several years. There were
probably as many pianos made and shipped to re-
tailers during the month of October as in any month
F. J. RAGATZ, SECRETARY.
in the history of the industry, which reflects the good
Fred J. Ragatz of Bellevue, la., formerly a resident
piano business which retailers are enjoying.
of Dubuque, la., has been named secretary of the
Music Always Wanted.
Henry G. Johnson Piano Manufacturing Company,
located in the former town. Mr. Ragatz, who also
It is trne that people of this country have new
has been selected as a director, succeeds E. E. Dona-
forms of education and amusement which were hither-
hue, resigned.
to unknown, such as the movie, automobiles, and
A. L. SMITH CORRECTS
WRONG IMPRESSION
November 17, 1923
THE
W. P. HAINES & COMPANY
PIANOS
THE PIANOS OF QUALITY
Three Generations of Piano Makers
All Styles—Ready Sellers
Attractive Prices
GRANDS
REPRODUCING GRANDS
UPRIGHTS and PLAYERS
AVAILABLE TERRITORY OPEN
W. P. HAINES & CO., Inc.
138th St. and Walton Ave.
New York City
KOHLER TRAVELERS LOSE
TO NUTTING AND KNUEPFER
WESER
Pianos and Players
Sell readily—Stay sold
Great profit possibilities
Style E (shown below) our latest 4'6"
Order a sample to-day.
Liberal advertising and
cooperative arrangements
Write for catalogue
and price list
Weser Bros., Inc.
Manufacturer!
520 to 528 West 43rd St.
New York
ELLINGTONS FOR BAYLOR COLLEGE
The Lyon & Healy
Reproducing Piano
Baylor College, at Belton, Texas, is the third larg-
est college for women, and the largest denomina-
tional school for women, in the world.
Recently an order was placed with the Baldwin
factories in Cincinnati for four of the new Style 391
Ellington grand pianos, which are to be used exclu-
sively in the instruction and education of advanced
pupils.
A moderate priced reproducing piano,
beautiful in design and rich in tone.
Write for our new explanatory Chart,
the most complete and simple treat-
ment of the reproducing action.
Wabash at Jackson - - - Chicago
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).