Presto
Issue: 1924 1979 - Page 21
PRESTO
June 28, 1924.
PHONOGRAPH IS STABLE
Instrument in Manufacture and Merchandis-
ing Has Experienced the Transitory Phases
and Now Shows Stability of Volume.
The furor for radio has noticeably affected talk-
ing machine sales with some stores and in others the
talking machine sales have preserved the steadiness
which became an established thing two or three years
ago. The latter condition was and is evidence of a
significant fact. That is something that people in
every phase of the business should consider for the
future—the fact that the talking machine business
has reached practical stability of business.
It is considered unlikely that there will ever again
be an abnormal increase or an abnormal decrease in
the total number of phonographs sold in any year,
barring war inflation in the one case and a financial
panic in the other. During the late great war vast
quantities of talking machines were produced that
should never have been made. They were commodi-
ties frantically turned out to exchange for the easy
money of the free-spending period. Many of the
machines were hurtful to the meritorious ones at the
time and since then have been a detrimental influence
on talking machine sales.
Time, however, has weakened the bad memory and
the talking machine business today is living and pros-
pering on its own inherent strength and the natural
demand for the product. The talking machine has
passed through all the transitory stages, novelty, toy
and then phenomenon, and has experienced the
vicissitudes and the booms of manufacture and mer-
chandising. Today it stands on its undisputed merits
and claims as a musical instrument of standard use
and need. The poor talking machines and the freak
21
ones have been eliminated or have eliminated them-
selves and the survivors through merit have the in-
tellectual claims and in most cases the material back-
ing, that must result in sane and normal growth.
There is no hysterical demand for the talking ma-
chine, but the dealers who consistently appeal to the
prospective buyers and sensibly present the claims
of the machine, continue to build up their businesses.
They see a potential market in the growth of popu-
lation and in the musical needs of social life. There
are a lot of competing attractions and the dealer is
blind who does not note the fact. But that makes
special efforts for the talking machine and the record
all the more necessary. Every talking machine
dealer has his problem. It is not only to sell
phonographs but to arouse the desire for and close
the sales of the particular make of phonograph in
which he is vitally interested. The talking machine
business is a staple one and in it there is no room
for the laggard, incompetent or crooked.
MADE UKULELE POPULAR.
E. S. Hughes, well known as "Ukulele Hughes," is
given credit for making the ukulele popular in this
country. He first gave public exhibitions of his
ability to play the Hawaiian instrument at the Pan-
ama-Pacific Exposition held at San Francisco in
1914-15 and since then has toured the world playing
the uke. At the present time he is broadcasting
from an eastern station.
ASSOCIATION HELPS SOLDIERS' FUND.
The Talking Machine and Radio Men's Associa-
tion has passed a resolution to contribute $50 to the
Soldiers' Radio Fund, which is being sponsored by
S. A. Rothafel, of the Capitol Theater, and which
has already produced more than $75,000 for the pur-
pose of buying radio outfits for wounded soldiers in
hospitals.
"SUPERIOR" PIANO PLATES
CLOSE OF RADIO CONTEST
Set Closing Date of Contest on "Who Will Pay for
Broadcasting and How?"
The American Radio Association, with headquar-
ters at 50 Union Square, New York City, recently an-
nounced the postponement of the contest on "Who
will pay for broadcasting-—and how?"
The postponement came as a result of a large num-
ber of letters seeking information which would en-
able radio fans to formulate workable plans.
"These requests led to an extended survey of the
situation in all parts of the country," said Mr. Cad-
dell, secretary of the association. "The gathering of
this information took considerable time, and in justice
to all who wish to enter the contest it was deemed
advisable to postpone the closing date until Septem-
ber 1st. A prize of five hundred dollars will be
awarded to the winner.
AN ALERT CONN DEALER.
The E. B. Guild Music Co., Kansas City, Mo., is
one of the enthusiastic representatives of C. G. Conn,
Ltd., Elkhart, Ind., and it never lets pass the oppor-
tunity to call the public's attention to the merits of
the Conn band and orchestra goods. Recently special
window displays and forceful newspaper advertising
provided a tie-up with the appearance at the Main
Street Theater of the Isham Jones Orchestra which is
a 100 per cent Conn equipped organization.
The Only
Completely
Equipped
School in the
United States
Twenty-Third Year of Successful
Operation — 20,000 Graduates
Every branch taught, including Repairing,
Regulating and Voicing—All Player Actions,
with Demonstrating Specimens to work with.
Diplomas awarded and positions secured. Pri-
vate and class instructions. Both sexes.
School all year. Catalogs on request
POLK'S TUNING SCHOOL
WHX.ABD R. POWELL,, President
VALPARAISO, IND.
Manufactured by
SUPERIOR FOUNDRY CO.
Cleveland, Ohio
The Piano Repair Shop
TRAVELPHONE PORTABLE
The outstanding phonograph for any occasion. Enables
you to retail a PORTABLE of QUALITY as low as $25.00.
Size Ilj-4xl4; weight 13 pounds.
Built of QUALITY and SERVICE
There will be a. greater demand for Portables this season
than ever before. Don't delay in sending in your orders.
The Specialty Phonograph and Accessories Company
210-212 East 113th Street, NEW YORK, N. Y.
Pianos and Phonographs Rebuilt by
Expert Workmen
Player-actions installed. Instruments
refinished or remodeled and actions and
keys repaired. Work guaranteed. Prices
reasonable.
Our-of-town dealers' repair work solic-
ited. Write for details and terms.
THE PIANO REPAIR SHOP
425 South Wabask Ave.
Chicago
PERFECTION
Benches and Cabinets
The line that sells on sight and satisfies always.
The only solid walnut benches built and sold at
regular prices.
Send for catalog and price list,
No. 25
Perfection Benches with Smith's Patented Interlock-
ing mitre joint.
PERFECTION PIANO BENCH MFG. COMPANY
1514-1520 Blue Island Ave.
Chicago, 111.
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/
June 28, 1924.
PHONOGRAPH IS STABLE
Instrument in Manufacture and Merchandis-
ing Has Experienced the Transitory Phases
and Now Shows Stability of Volume.
The furor for radio has noticeably affected talk-
ing machine sales with some stores and in others the
talking machine sales have preserved the steadiness
which became an established thing two or three years
ago. The latter condition was and is evidence of a
significant fact. That is something that people in
every phase of the business should consider for the
future—the fact that the talking machine business
has reached practical stability of business.
It is considered unlikely that there will ever again
be an abnormal increase or an abnormal decrease in
the total number of phonographs sold in any year,
barring war inflation in the one case and a financial
panic in the other. During the late great war vast
quantities of talking machines were produced that
should never have been made. They were commodi-
ties frantically turned out to exchange for the easy
money of the free-spending period. Many of the
machines were hurtful to the meritorious ones at the
time and since then have been a detrimental influence
on talking machine sales.
Time, however, has weakened the bad memory and
the talking machine business today is living and pros-
pering on its own inherent strength and the natural
demand for the product. The talking machine has
passed through all the transitory stages, novelty, toy
and then phenomenon, and has experienced the
vicissitudes and the booms of manufacture and mer-
chandising. Today it stands on its undisputed merits
and claims as a musical instrument of standard use
and need. The poor talking machines and the freak
21
ones have been eliminated or have eliminated them-
selves and the survivors through merit have the in-
tellectual claims and in most cases the material back-
ing, that must result in sane and normal growth.
There is no hysterical demand for the talking ma-
chine, but the dealers who consistently appeal to the
prospective buyers and sensibly present the claims
of the machine, continue to build up their businesses.
They see a potential market in the growth of popu-
lation and in the musical needs of social life. There
are a lot of competing attractions and the dealer is
blind who does not note the fact. But that makes
special efforts for the talking machine and the record
all the more necessary. Every talking machine
dealer has his problem. It is not only to sell
phonographs but to arouse the desire for and close
the sales of the particular make of phonograph in
which he is vitally interested. The talking machine
business is a staple one and in it there is no room
for the laggard, incompetent or crooked.
MADE UKULELE POPULAR.
E. S. Hughes, well known as "Ukulele Hughes," is
given credit for making the ukulele popular in this
country. He first gave public exhibitions of his
ability to play the Hawaiian instrument at the Pan-
ama-Pacific Exposition held at San Francisco in
1914-15 and since then has toured the world playing
the uke. At the present time he is broadcasting
from an eastern station.
ASSOCIATION HELPS SOLDIERS' FUND.
The Talking Machine and Radio Men's Associa-
tion has passed a resolution to contribute $50 to the
Soldiers' Radio Fund, which is being sponsored by
S. A. Rothafel, of the Capitol Theater, and which
has already produced more than $75,000 for the pur-
pose of buying radio outfits for wounded soldiers in
hospitals.
"SUPERIOR" PIANO PLATES
CLOSE OF RADIO CONTEST
Set Closing Date of Contest on "Who Will Pay for
Broadcasting and How?"
The American Radio Association, with headquar-
ters at 50 Union Square, New York City, recently an-
nounced the postponement of the contest on "Who
will pay for broadcasting-—and how?"
The postponement came as a result of a large num-
ber of letters seeking information which would en-
able radio fans to formulate workable plans.
"These requests led to an extended survey of the
situation in all parts of the country," said Mr. Cad-
dell, secretary of the association. "The gathering of
this information took considerable time, and in justice
to all who wish to enter the contest it was deemed
advisable to postpone the closing date until Septem-
ber 1st. A prize of five hundred dollars will be
awarded to the winner.
AN ALERT CONN DEALER.
The E. B. Guild Music Co., Kansas City, Mo., is
one of the enthusiastic representatives of C. G. Conn,
Ltd., Elkhart, Ind., and it never lets pass the oppor-
tunity to call the public's attention to the merits of
the Conn band and orchestra goods. Recently special
window displays and forceful newspaper advertising
provided a tie-up with the appearance at the Main
Street Theater of the Isham Jones Orchestra which is
a 100 per cent Conn equipped organization.
The Only
Completely
Equipped
School in the
United States
Twenty-Third Year of Successful
Operation — 20,000 Graduates
Every branch taught, including Repairing,
Regulating and Voicing—All Player Actions,
with Demonstrating Specimens to work with.
Diplomas awarded and positions secured. Pri-
vate and class instructions. Both sexes.
School all year. Catalogs on request
POLK'S TUNING SCHOOL
WHX.ABD R. POWELL,, President
VALPARAISO, IND.
Manufactured by
SUPERIOR FOUNDRY CO.
Cleveland, Ohio
The Piano Repair Shop
TRAVELPHONE PORTABLE
The outstanding phonograph for any occasion. Enables
you to retail a PORTABLE of QUALITY as low as $25.00.
Size Ilj-4xl4; weight 13 pounds.
Built of QUALITY and SERVICE
There will be a. greater demand for Portables this season
than ever before. Don't delay in sending in your orders.
The Specialty Phonograph and Accessories Company
210-212 East 113th Street, NEW YORK, N. Y.
Pianos and Phonographs Rebuilt by
Expert Workmen
Player-actions installed. Instruments
refinished or remodeled and actions and
keys repaired. Work guaranteed. Prices
reasonable.
Our-of-town dealers' repair work solic-
ited. Write for details and terms.
THE PIANO REPAIR SHOP
425 South Wabask Ave.
Chicago
PERFECTION
Benches and Cabinets
The line that sells on sight and satisfies always.
The only solid walnut benches built and sold at
regular prices.
Send for catalog and price list,
No. 25
Perfection Benches with Smith's Patented Interlock-
ing mitre joint.
PERFECTION PIANO BENCH MFG. COMPANY
1514-1520 Blue Island Ave.
Chicago, 111.
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).