Presto

PRESTO
TUNERS' MEETING
PROVES BIG SUCCESS
Convention at Hotel Wisconsin, Milwaukee,
Opened on Monday with Record Attend-
ance and Much Enthusiasm on Part
of Members Present.
OFFICERS RE=ELECTED
Papers Read Contained Substantial Suggestions for
Further Strength and Prosperity of the
American Harmonizers.
The thirteenth annual convention of the National
Association of Piano Tuners opened at Hotel Wis-
consin, Milwaukee, on Monday of this week. The
attendance was the largest in the history of the asso-
ciation, the registration showing, early on Monday,
191 names. The figures indicate an increase of sixty
over last year's meeting in St. Louis. The officers
elected for the ensuing year are as follows:
President, Chas. Deutschmann, of Chicago; secre-
tary and treasurer, W. F. McClellan, of Chicago;
first vice-president, C. T. Bakus, of Minneapolis; sec-
ond vice-president, Edgar L. Seagrove, of St. Louis.
The re-election of Messrs. Deutschmann and McClel-
lan presents evidence that the splendid work of those
gentlemen in the past is appreciated. They may, in
fact, be given credit for the organization itself, and
for much of the strong place it now holds.
Large Attendance.
The attendance in the executive session, which
opened at 9:30 A. M., was approximately 150, which
is the largest ever had in the fifteen conventions held
by the National Association of Piano Tuners, and
incidentally the largest had at any convention con-
nected with the music industry.
Charles Deutschman, president of the association,
delivered a very fine message to his fellow tuners, in
which he outlined the platform and the duties of the
association.
The annual report of Secretary W. l'\ McClellan
was made during this session. The report was a
complete check-up of the activities of the N. A. P. T.
during the past year. It was considered of special
interest to tuners to acquaint themselves of the finan-
cial standing of the association and in this report the
fact was emphasized that the association, although
growing and making fine progress in its policies, had
not sufficient funds to enable it to enlarge its activi-
ties to its fullest extent.
The discussion and formulation of plans to enlarge
the association's activities, and to increase the mem-
bership, was conducted in a forceful talk by Wil-
liam Baird White, who made several suggestions
that met the approval of the delegates. Mr. White
made a statement to the effect that the best way for
the association to raise more money for expenses
would be the simple way, and that is a drive to
double the membership. Mr. White made the motion
that a man from headquarters should call on division
secretaries every month, and especially those who
arc not showing much activity in membership drives,
etc. The motion .was approved and Mr. Deutsch-
man added that secretaries of divisions report their
activities to headquarters.
Ampico Talks.
An interesting talk was given by Wm. Sigley, of
the Ampico Technical Society, with headquarters at
New York City. Mr. Sigley explained how and
why the society was formed and explained the meth-
ods practiced by the society.
The Ampico Technical Society has contracted to
assume the responsibility of all Ampico instruments
sold in New York City and suburbs, for $50.00 per
instrument per year. This relieves the dealer from
worry and the maintaining of a service department,
and helps the salesman to sell an instrument without
evading the questions pertaining to the piano's care.
According to Mr. Sigley's report, there were 4,000
Ampico instruments sold in New York City and
suburbs last year, and of the thirty-five tuners under
his supervision, twenty-five were assigned to Grand
pianos and ten to uprights, which proves that the
Grand is popular in this localit} r .
After the annual convention at St. Louis, Mo., last
year, the Ampico Technical Society asked the co-
operation of the N. A. P. T. in organizing schools
throughout the country to equip tuners with the
knowledge of reproducing instruments. Eight schools
were organized and graduates from those classes arc
now performing their duties in a most efficient man-
ner.
The Tuesday session came to an end after a talk
by A. V. Simpson, of the Thompson-Unette Piano
Co., Chicago, on grand action adjustment. The en-
tire attendance of convention assembled in front of
the Auditorium at 12 noon and had a group picture
taken.
The Banquet.
The banquet at 6:30 p. m. was the feature of the
day. An excellent dinner was had and also a variety
of entertainment, which was thoroughly enjoyed by
the delegates.
An electric reproducing grand in the Chickering
was at one end of the banquet hall, which was played
by entertainers in the persons of Mrs. Iva Buhrman
Wunderlich and Mr. Alfred Rayhorst. The favorite
compositions of some of the great artists were re-
produced during the showing of a film in which was
shown the construction of the piano from its begin-
ning to its completion, and the parts that directly in-
terest the tuner.. In this film the making of repro-
ducing rolls was also shown.
The Gulbransen Registering Piano was shown in
the various phases of construction, and a fine film
showing the construction of the M. Schulz instru-
ment, and the M. Schulz action was also given.
The exhibits at the Hotel Wisconsin included the
Ampico, Gulbransen, Pratt-Reed Player Action, Q
R S Music Co., Waltham Piano Co., Story & Clark
Piano Co., M. Schulz Co., Simplex Action, Starr
Piano Co., Standard Pneumatic Action, Strauch
Piano Co., and the Welte-Mignon.
The Exhibits.
Naturally, the special exhibits attracted a great
deal of attention. They were located conveniently in
rooms of the hotel and were in charge of men who
understand their business and the instruments in
which they are interested.
The Starr Piano Co. made a fine display, and the
Q R S Music Co. had been added to the list of
exhibitors since last week's Presto called the roll.
The M. Schulz Company also afforded interest to
visitors, and the Story & Clark Piano Co. presented
the advanced ideas of the Repro-Phraso in good
style.
The White House Model of the Gulbransen was
the center of a group all of the time, and the Strauch
Bros, player action, as demonstrated by William
Strauch, added very much to the interest. The
Ampico division of the American Piano Co. was
looked after by a staff of skilled gentlemen who cap-
tured a good share of attention.
There is no question about the attractiveness of
the exhibition features of the conventions, and this
one in particular pertained largely of the educational
side of things.
State Representatives.
The new state representatives of the Tuners' Asso-
ciation arc:
Fred Sweetman, Indiana; A. V. Minnife, Michigan;
John Evans, Nebraska; E. Koll, Ohio; Charles
Merkle, Wisconsin; E. H. Bacon, Rochester, N. Y.
(Eastern representative).
NOTES ON TUNER'S CONVENTION.
Milwaukee was well aware of the presence of the
tuners and some of the retail establishments adver-
tised in local papers for first class piano tuners. A
large electric sign displayed the words, "Welcome
National Association of Piano Tuners," and was
visible from Milwaukee's busiest streets.
* * *
There was much controversy on the question of
issuing cards that would deprive delinquent members
of using them. Many suggestions were submitted,
but Mr. Deutschmann declared that it was impossible
to decide at the present convention and referred it to
a committee, to be settled next year.
* * *
Three large busses, each seating about thirty-five
and with .signs of welcome by the Waltham Piano
Company, carried a good number of the visitors to
that company's factory. A lookout was posted on
top of the factory, and when the busses were sighted
the big whistle boomed a welcome and the same per-
formance took place when the bunch took leave.
* * *
The free lunch at the Waltham factory was appre-
ciated, as it was lunch time for the tuners. There
was not much left after each visitor had satisfied his
appetite and replenished his stock of cigars.
* * *
A most tempting array of eats was laid before the
delegates; each had a whole chicken stuffed with
dressing, also a watermelon cocktail. The cocktail
was all right, but it was a small per cent.
* * *
After the last course had been served a joke was
played and a few bit. Sandwiches stuffed with
pepper and what not was placed before the diners in
elaborate fashion. Mr. Gustafson, of the Simplex
Action Company, bit and got bit by pepper. The
aforesaid gentleman will inspect sandwiches in the
future.
* * *
Mr. Deutschmann, president, urged delegates to
attend executive sessions promptly in order to finish
August 16, 1924.
NEW COMMITTEES IN
PIANO TRAVELERS' ASS'N
Delegates to National Council of Traveling
Salesmen's Assn., and Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce Also Named.
President Chas. J. Cunningham of the National
Piano Trades Association, has named the member-
ship of three committees as follows:
Grievance Committee: Roger S. Brown, chairman,
Henry F. Miller Piano Co., Boston, Mass.; W. B.
Marshall, Krakauer Bros., 136th street and Cypress
avenue, New York City; Gordon G. Campbell, Bram-
bach Piano Co., 639 West 49th street, New York City.
Hotel Committee: Geo. E. McNally, chairman,
Estey Piano Co., 397 East 133rd street, New York
City; W. F. Keogh, Ricca & Son, 79 Southern Boule-
vard, New York City; George H. Beverly, Story &
Clark, 33 West 57th street, New York City.
Railroad and Water Ways Committee: Gust.
Adolph Anderson, chairman, Van Wert, Ohio;
Thomas J. Mercer, Guibransen-Dickinson Co., Chi-
cago; B. P. Sibley, Kohler Industries, San Francisco,
Cal.; H. D. Hewitt, M. Schulz Co., Chicago, 111.
The following are the delegates to National
Council of Traveling Salesmen's Association as ap-
pointed by President Cunningham: W. C. Heaton,
Geo. W. Allen, Chas. McConville, W. B. Williams,
Albert Behning, Roland L. Stratford.
Alternates: D. D. Luxton, Kenneth W. Curtis,
Raymond E. Briggs, F. E. Edgar.
Delegates to Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce: W. C. Heaton, F. E. Edgar, W. B. Wil-
liams, G. H. Bliss, M. J. Kennedy, Albert Behning,
Frank M. Hood.
Harry Voss, of the Stahlschmidt Piano Co., Evans-
ville, Ind., took a leading part in arranging the re-
cent annual outing of the Evansville Association of
Credit Men.
all business as soon as possible. Probably Mr.
Deutschmann was thinking about the Democratic
convention in New York recently.
* * *
Between technical classes, speeches and discussions
the tuners were busier than a traffic cop on a busy
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