Presto
Issue: 1924 1959 - Page 8
PRESTO
presto
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY.
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT
• Editors
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234.
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan, 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4.
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
application.
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if
of general interest to the music trade will be paid for
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen
in the smaller cities are the best occasional corre-
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
Frrms dose at noon every Thursday. News mat-
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current
week, to insure classification, must not be later than
Wednesday noon.
Address all communications for the editorial or business
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1924.
FROM 407 TO 417.
The offices of Presto Publishing Co. have been re-
moved just one door south of former location on
South Dearborn street, Chicago. The new number
is 417 South Dearborn street, and only change of the
0 to 1 is required to have it correct. Presto has been
within fifty feet of its present location for nearly
thirty-five years. In its new and larger quarters it
will be better than ever equipped to meet the require-
ments of a steadily increasing business. Remember
to change your records to—
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.,
417 South Dearborn Street, Chicago.
PRIZE PROBLEMS
Emulating the example of another distin-
guished journalist with advertising instincts,
the publishers of a New York trade paper have
offered a cash prize for the best solution of a
vexing problem. The purpose of Mr. Bok's
prize offering of $100,000 is well known to
everyone. The aim of the trade paper's $500
bait for intellectual straining is to discover the
best disposition of the trade-in by retail piano
dealers.
Both propositions are profoundly impor-
tant. One has in view the peace of the world;
the other the peace of the piano trade. And, to
follow the analogy further, both are about as
impractical as possible. But the trade-in
piano is the proposition which directly con-
cerns this writing.
No one can hope to earn the $500, even if
any one gets it, unless it be on the basis of
literary attainment, for no one can settle the
trade-in problem for the whole trade any more
than any one can decide upon a world-peace
plan acceptable to the nations by which war
may be brought about. But the contests are
interesting and the results must have some
bearing upon the conditions by which they are
suggested.
This week's Presto contains the solution of
the trade-in problem which, had it been pre-
pared for the piano trade and submitted for
the purpose of capturing the trade paper's
prize, should carry off the five hundred bones.
It is the article bv an automobile distributor
who said that the "value of a used car is what
the buyer will pay for it." And he might have
added that he had never heard of a buyer pay-
ing too much for a car that was good enough
to demonstrate and sell at all. This may be
an insecure rule, but it seems to fit the piano
as well, if not better, than the automobile.
The trade-in's value depends upon what the
dealer puts into its repairs, and other items,
plus what he allowed for it. And usually he
doesn't allow very much.
The problem of the trade-in is too large for
any $500 solution. It cannot be made the sub-
ject of a creed or fixed equation. Seldom does
the same estimate apply to two old pianos
alike. It must remain a question of the deal-
er's honesty, and the buyer's intelligence, until
the time comes when the scrap-heap gets its
due and the too-much traded-in meets its well-
deserved doom.
THE GULBRANSEN COMPANY
The story of the increased power of the Gul-
bransen Company, which appeared exclusively
in last week's Presto, was one of the most im-
portant announcements of recent trade signifi-
cance. It showed that the Chicago industry
continues to grow and that it is now stronger
financially and better than ever prepared to
keep abreast with every possible facility for
continued progress, and the kind of service by
which customers of the "nationally priced"
may also keep moving ahead.
The story of the Gulbransen industry, from
its beginning to the present-day giant dimen-
sions, would make an instructive and absorb-
ing chapter in American industry. It is not
known to very many, and there may come a
time when it can be told in a way to inspire
other and lesser spirits than that of the man
who, from a very small start, has created a
name as well as a towering industry of unique
character.
In the report of the change from the old cor-
porate name to that of the man who has, above
all others, been instrumental in the upbuilding
of the big Chicago industry, there was a great
deal of intimate material reflecting not only the
largeness of the factory, and its importance in
productiveness, real assets and future proba-
bilities, but equally a note which appeals to the
retail piano merchants who have profited by
Mr. Gulbransen's genius and persistent en-
deavor.
There have been few parallels in any line of
industry to that of the Gulbransen, which to-
day stands a tower in the department of indus-
trial and musical life of the nation. It is, to
employ a commonplace simile, a monument to
the man who has built it, of which any trade,
or any department of business might be proud.
February 9, 1924.
portion to the quantity, or number, of copies pur-
chased of jiny piece of music. Thus, if the
"marked price' was indicated by a figure 6, the
wholesale price would be one-half off on a single
copy, with an extra discount of ten per cent on
orders of five copies, and a special discount of
five per cent—a kind of surplus to encourage
larger orders.
The custom of marking sheet music in the man-
ner indicated wis designed to permit of a good
profit upon publications which attained to popu-
larity. If a song, or piece, met with such general
approval that it was ordered in great numbers,
the publisher had his discount price based upon
large orders, and the retailer had the full sum
per copy which was indicated by the numeral upon
the title page.
Of course, the large majority of publications
are not expected to do much more than pay for
the plates, paper and printing. And it was cus-
tomary, in times past, for even the most reputable
publishers to put forth the efforts of amateurs
who aspired to fame as composers, upon some
basis of so much for one hundred copies, by which
to give the song or piece a start.
The new plan of marking music at the price
for which it is to be sold is, no doubt, a good one.
But it will require some time for the trade and
public to get used to it. And, even then, there
is little probability of the retailers selling for just
the prices indicated upon the title pages. But
everything that changes old mistakes in business
must be commended, and the publishers of sheet
music need corrective suggestions as badly as
those in any other line of good business.
NEW BUFFALO STORE
OPENS WITH GENERAL LINE
Owners of Escher Music Shop, 17 E. Mohawk
Street Are Clever Musicians.
The Escher Music Shop, a completely stocked
music store, opened February 1st at No. 17 East Mo-
hawk street, Buffalo, N. Y., opposite Loew's State
Theater. A general line of music goods and sheet
music is carried. Teachers' supplies in sheet music
and music books are featured. The store also carries
a fine assortment of instruments, including violins,
banjos, saxophones, drums and ukuleles.
Mr. Escher, who is a violinist of note, being a
product of the Vienna Conservatory of Austria, will
have charge of the violin music and instrument de-
partments. Hobart R. McCoy, the manager of the
departments for pianos, etc., is a clever pianist,
also a very promising young teacher, he having
turned out some pupils of note at Pittsfield, Mass.,
and vicinity. These two capable managers will have
complete charge of the store, and will assure the
people of Buffalo intelligent and courteous service
in music.
MUSIC SOOTHES TOILERS.
An Indianapolis item says that acting on the theory
that music has a soothing and restful effect and that
clerks and other toilers would be able to perform a
better afternoon's work after hearing a few musical
numbers, Mayor Lew Shank, of Indianapolis, has
suggested that plans be made for concerts to be
given at the noon hour each day during the summer.
OLD CUSTOMS CHANGE
From almost the very first publication of sheet
music in this country, it has been customary to
mark the retail prices by figures indicating dimes.
If a piece of music was intended to carry the retail
price of fifty cents, a figure 5 would appear within
a diamond, or circle, usually at the right side of
the title page. The idea was to fix the maximum
selling price of the sheet, and from that price it
has always been customary to predicate the whole-
sale price by a uniform discount, agreed upon by
the trade, or publishers.
For many years it was customary to allow teach-
ers a discount of one-third off the marked price.
The dealers have been accorded discounts in pro-
ACCIDENT TO C. E. LUCORE.
Friends of C. E. Lucore, manager of Xeal-Clark-
Neal, of Buffalo, will be sorry to learn of an acci-
dent which befell that gentleman recently in New
York City. During the recent cold snap, Mr. Lucore
slipped and fell during a visit to Manhattan and has
been confined to his room most of the time since.
He expects to be about again soon.
ADOPTS NEW NAME.
D. M. Hooker, the Hoopeston, 111., music dealer,
now confines his line of pianos to the Baldwin prod-
ucts, and styles his business, ''The House of
Baldwin."
The Heifetz Music Co., on North Broadway, Los
Angeles, Cal., has been added to the list of agencies
of the Wiley B. Allen Co.
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
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY.
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT
• Editors
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234.
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan, 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, Illinois, under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4.
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States
possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates for advertising on
application.
Items of news and other matter are solicited and if
of general interest to the music trade will be paid for
at space rates. Usually piano merchants or salesmen
in the smaller cities are the best occasional corre-
spondents, and their assistance is invited.
Frrms dose at noon every Thursday. News mat-
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current
week, to insure classification, must not be later than
Wednesday noon.
Address all communications for the editorial or business
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 9, 1924.
FROM 407 TO 417.
The offices of Presto Publishing Co. have been re-
moved just one door south of former location on
South Dearborn street, Chicago. The new number
is 417 South Dearborn street, and only change of the
0 to 1 is required to have it correct. Presto has been
within fifty feet of its present location for nearly
thirty-five years. In its new and larger quarters it
will be better than ever equipped to meet the require-
ments of a steadily increasing business. Remember
to change your records to—
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.,
417 South Dearborn Street, Chicago.
PRIZE PROBLEMS
Emulating the example of another distin-
guished journalist with advertising instincts,
the publishers of a New York trade paper have
offered a cash prize for the best solution of a
vexing problem. The purpose of Mr. Bok's
prize offering of $100,000 is well known to
everyone. The aim of the trade paper's $500
bait for intellectual straining is to discover the
best disposition of the trade-in by retail piano
dealers.
Both propositions are profoundly impor-
tant. One has in view the peace of the world;
the other the peace of the piano trade. And, to
follow the analogy further, both are about as
impractical as possible. But the trade-in
piano is the proposition which directly con-
cerns this writing.
No one can hope to earn the $500, even if
any one gets it, unless it be on the basis of
literary attainment, for no one can settle the
trade-in problem for the whole trade any more
than any one can decide upon a world-peace
plan acceptable to the nations by which war
may be brought about. But the contests are
interesting and the results must have some
bearing upon the conditions by which they are
suggested.
This week's Presto contains the solution of
the trade-in problem which, had it been pre-
pared for the piano trade and submitted for
the purpose of capturing the trade paper's
prize, should carry off the five hundred bones.
It is the article bv an automobile distributor
who said that the "value of a used car is what
the buyer will pay for it." And he might have
added that he had never heard of a buyer pay-
ing too much for a car that was good enough
to demonstrate and sell at all. This may be
an insecure rule, but it seems to fit the piano
as well, if not better, than the automobile.
The trade-in's value depends upon what the
dealer puts into its repairs, and other items,
plus what he allowed for it. And usually he
doesn't allow very much.
The problem of the trade-in is too large for
any $500 solution. It cannot be made the sub-
ject of a creed or fixed equation. Seldom does
the same estimate apply to two old pianos
alike. It must remain a question of the deal-
er's honesty, and the buyer's intelligence, until
the time comes when the scrap-heap gets its
due and the too-much traded-in meets its well-
deserved doom.
THE GULBRANSEN COMPANY
The story of the increased power of the Gul-
bransen Company, which appeared exclusively
in last week's Presto, was one of the most im-
portant announcements of recent trade signifi-
cance. It showed that the Chicago industry
continues to grow and that it is now stronger
financially and better than ever prepared to
keep abreast with every possible facility for
continued progress, and the kind of service by
which customers of the "nationally priced"
may also keep moving ahead.
The story of the Gulbransen industry, from
its beginning to the present-day giant dimen-
sions, would make an instructive and absorb-
ing chapter in American industry. It is not
known to very many, and there may come a
time when it can be told in a way to inspire
other and lesser spirits than that of the man
who, from a very small start, has created a
name as well as a towering industry of unique
character.
In the report of the change from the old cor-
porate name to that of the man who has, above
all others, been instrumental in the upbuilding
of the big Chicago industry, there was a great
deal of intimate material reflecting not only the
largeness of the factory, and its importance in
productiveness, real assets and future proba-
bilities, but equally a note which appeals to the
retail piano merchants who have profited by
Mr. Gulbransen's genius and persistent en-
deavor.
There have been few parallels in any line of
industry to that of the Gulbransen, which to-
day stands a tower in the department of indus-
trial and musical life of the nation. It is, to
employ a commonplace simile, a monument to
the man who has built it, of which any trade,
or any department of business might be proud.
February 9, 1924.
portion to the quantity, or number, of copies pur-
chased of jiny piece of music. Thus, if the
"marked price' was indicated by a figure 6, the
wholesale price would be one-half off on a single
copy, with an extra discount of ten per cent on
orders of five copies, and a special discount of
five per cent—a kind of surplus to encourage
larger orders.
The custom of marking sheet music in the man-
ner indicated wis designed to permit of a good
profit upon publications which attained to popu-
larity. If a song, or piece, met with such general
approval that it was ordered in great numbers,
the publisher had his discount price based upon
large orders, and the retailer had the full sum
per copy which was indicated by the numeral upon
the title page.
Of course, the large majority of publications
are not expected to do much more than pay for
the plates, paper and printing. And it was cus-
tomary, in times past, for even the most reputable
publishers to put forth the efforts of amateurs
who aspired to fame as composers, upon some
basis of so much for one hundred copies, by which
to give the song or piece a start.
The new plan of marking music at the price
for which it is to be sold is, no doubt, a good one.
But it will require some time for the trade and
public to get used to it. And, even then, there
is little probability of the retailers selling for just
the prices indicated upon the title pages. But
everything that changes old mistakes in business
must be commended, and the publishers of sheet
music need corrective suggestions as badly as
those in any other line of good business.
NEW BUFFALO STORE
OPENS WITH GENERAL LINE
Owners of Escher Music Shop, 17 E. Mohawk
Street Are Clever Musicians.
The Escher Music Shop, a completely stocked
music store, opened February 1st at No. 17 East Mo-
hawk street, Buffalo, N. Y., opposite Loew's State
Theater. A general line of music goods and sheet
music is carried. Teachers' supplies in sheet music
and music books are featured. The store also carries
a fine assortment of instruments, including violins,
banjos, saxophones, drums and ukuleles.
Mr. Escher, who is a violinist of note, being a
product of the Vienna Conservatory of Austria, will
have charge of the violin music and instrument de-
partments. Hobart R. McCoy, the manager of the
departments for pianos, etc., is a clever pianist,
also a very promising young teacher, he having
turned out some pupils of note at Pittsfield, Mass.,
and vicinity. These two capable managers will have
complete charge of the store, and will assure the
people of Buffalo intelligent and courteous service
in music.
MUSIC SOOTHES TOILERS.
An Indianapolis item says that acting on the theory
that music has a soothing and restful effect and that
clerks and other toilers would be able to perform a
better afternoon's work after hearing a few musical
numbers, Mayor Lew Shank, of Indianapolis, has
suggested that plans be made for concerts to be
given at the noon hour each day during the summer.
OLD CUSTOMS CHANGE
From almost the very first publication of sheet
music in this country, it has been customary to
mark the retail prices by figures indicating dimes.
If a piece of music was intended to carry the retail
price of fifty cents, a figure 5 would appear within
a diamond, or circle, usually at the right side of
the title page. The idea was to fix the maximum
selling price of the sheet, and from that price it
has always been customary to predicate the whole-
sale price by a uniform discount, agreed upon by
the trade, or publishers.
For many years it was customary to allow teach-
ers a discount of one-third off the marked price.
The dealers have been accorded discounts in pro-
ACCIDENT TO C. E. LUCORE.
Friends of C. E. Lucore, manager of Xeal-Clark-
Neal, of Buffalo, will be sorry to learn of an acci-
dent which befell that gentleman recently in New
York City. During the recent cold snap, Mr. Lucore
slipped and fell during a visit to Manhattan and has
been confined to his room most of the time since.
He expects to be about again soon.
ADOPTS NEW NAME.
D. M. Hooker, the Hoopeston, 111., music dealer,
now confines his line of pianos to the Baldwin prod-
ucts, and styles his business, ''The House of
Baldwin."
The Heifetz Music Co., on North Broadway, Los
Angeles, Cal., has been added to the list of agencies
of the Wiley B. Allen Co.
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).