Presto

PRESTO
UNCLE SAM'S MUSIC
SALESMEN ABROAD
Department of Commerce Not Only Performs
That Important Function But Also Serves
Music Goods Manufacturers in Buying
Raw Materials in Remote Places.
GATHERING INFORMATION
How the Constant Accumulation of Valuable Facts
for Exporters and Importers Are Collected
Makes Interesting Reading.
For the American manufacturer who wishes to sell
his line of pianos in Persia, his talking machines in
Timbuctoo, his saxophones in Salonika, his banjos in
Basutoland or his music rolls in Munich, his Uncle
Sam provides a salesman—the Department of Com-
merce—which is a representative covering the world.
And no matter whether the manufacturer is a wet
or a dry, a tariff stand-patter, or a free trader, a
devout church goer or a citizen of .easy conscience,
the service of the department is open to him.
But it is not alone in selling that the department
offers help. It also provides valuable information for
the buyer. It knows all the foreign sources of sup-
plies of raw materials for the piano supply house.
Ivory Key Facts.
For instance the ivory market of the African Congo
develops nothing of interest to the ivory buyer but
big users of ivory, like Comstock, Cheney & Co.,
Ivoryton, Conn., or the Brunswick, Balke, Collender
Co. are soon made aware of the facts.
From the character of fine ivory for which there
can be no satisfactory substitute, the locating of sup-
p'ies at the source constitutes important information.
The fine pianos must have their real ivory keys of the
best kind, so the supply and demand for ivory, the
fluctuations in price from one cause or another, are
matters of particu!ar interest to the makers of piano
keys and the piano manufacturers who buy them.
The habitat of the ivory bearing elephant of Africa
is becoming of more circumscribed dimensions every
year, so the results of the ivory hunters become of
keener interest as the wild herds become smaller.
Fine Leather Materials.
The interest of T. L. Lutkin, Inc., New York,
extends to raw pelts of certain animals found in out-
of-the-way corners of the earth. In remote "places in
Asia, Europe and Africa, the big specialty leather
company finds some of the most desirable skins to
be converted into fine pneumatic leathers for the
playerpiano and organ manufacturer. When the buy-
ers of organs estimate the value of the various
parts, few are aware of the interesting incidents con-
nected with the procuring of the skins from which
T. L. Lutkin, Inc., manufactured the specially
tanned bellows leather on which the efficacy of the
instrument in a great measure depends. The com-
pany has its own scouts abroad but it is indebted for
much valuable information to Uncle Sam's active
agent—the Department of Commerce.
Sending Ukes to Hawaii.
Carrying ukuleles to Hawaii sounds like shipping
coal to Newcastle, flivvers to Detroit or brass instru-
ments to Elkhart, Ind. But shipping fancy ukes to dis-
criminating ukulele players in the birthplace of the little
stringed instrument is a rather frequent incident in
the business of the Slingerland Banjo Co., 1815 Or-
chard street, Chicago. While the sales department of
the company is indefatigable in looking for new
customers for Slingerland banjos, it frankly admitted
that the first intimation, coming from the Department
of Commerce, that Hawaii was a promising field for
ukulele sales, came as a glad surprise.
Makes Romantic Reading.
But the incidents of buying the materials for many
musical instruments and selling them abroad are
among the romantic incidents of business. The
thrill of it is well suggested by Frederic J. Haskin in
a new book called "The American Government."
Describing the procedure in the Department of Com-
merce, Mr. Haskin writes in a revised edition, in a
chapter of which, reproduced as an article by the Chi-
cago Daily News, this is said:
"In the office of the secretary there is a huge map
of the world, which covers the entire side of a wall.
From the spot which marks Washington on this map
there radiate scores of spidery threads, which extend
for greater or lesser distances to every part of the
map. At the end of each of these lines is a colored
button. By reference to this code it is learned what
this colored button represents. Yellow ones are for
trade commissioners, blue ones for consuls and so on
down through a rainbow of designations for commer-
cial attaches, special agents and district offices of the
bureau of foreign and domestic commerce.
"Each button means that the Department of Com-
merce has stationed at the place where the point is
inserted a source of commercial information. Many
of them represent permanent assignments, but some
represent roving agents, and their buttons are moved
when the cables advise that a new field is being
visited. News of commercial developments is sent
in by cable, radio and mail from these outposts of
American trade.
The Facts Gathering Process.
"In addition to the general information, the agents
send in statements of opportunities to sell American
goods in distant ports. This process of gathering
general and specific information is going on constant-
ly. When the information reaches Washington it is
transmitted in various ways to American manufac-
turers, dealers, exporters and buyers interested. A
constant stream of circulars is being sent out by mail
to business men; in addition, the department pub-
lishes a weekly magazine called Commerce Reports.
"Foreign agents of the department also give per-
sonal assistance to American salesmen abroad. Lo-
cated at strategic points in various countries, they
know the language and are familiar with the local
laws and business customs and to some extent with
the credit of prospective customers. No charges of
any sort are made for such service, nor is any charge
made for the information disseminated by the de-
partment.
"In order better to serve the needs of American
business men the department has established branch
offices in important American cities. Such offices
are located at St. Louis, San Francisco, Chicago,
Boston, New York, Philadelphia, Seattle, Atlanta and
New Orleans. In twenty-five other cities there are
co-operative offices where the department has a man
in charge of its information in connection with the
offices of chambers of commerce, commercial clubs
or boards of trade. Files of information valuable to
business men are maintained at all these offices."
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
Places.
The Tune-House, Inc., New York City, $25,000; to
deal in sheet music and phonographs; William Web-
ber and others.
The L. A. Russell Piano Co., 666 Broad street,
Augusta, Ga., $10,000; L. A. Russell.
The Fayette P'iano Co., Cleveland, O.; $1,000; to
deal in pianos and all kinds of musical instruments;
Julius Bloomberg, Eugene E. Wolf, M. G. Sloss, J.
W. Shanker and F. Friedman.
October 25, 1924.
LATE NEWS ITEMS FROM
THE PORTLAND FIELD
Music Houses Are Active and Some of the
Foremost Pianos Are Having Steady
Sale Throughout Western Territory.
Collins & Erwin, "Upstairs Piano Store," has in-
stalled a Henry F. Miller grand piano in the audi-
torium of the Portland, Ore., Y. M. C. A., which is
located in the heart of the business district of that
city and is the scene of many musical events during
the year.
Phil Lasher, Q R S representative for the Pacific
Coast and the states of Nevada, Utah and Montana,
after completing a trip over his entire district, dropped
into Portland, Ore., and visited the trade there and
said that he found business conditions very good
over his entire district and all of the dealers placing
big orders anticipating a large volume of fall and
winter business.
The Moore's Music House of Salem, Ore., had an
attractive display at the Oregon state fair September
22 to 27 inclusive, featuring the Duo Art and the
Victrola. Daily concerts were given, with Miss
Leona Mourten, contralto and Duo Art demonstra-
tor of the Portland, Ore., Sherman, Clay branch as
assisting artist. On September 25 a special Duo Art
concert was given in the auditorium of the fair, with
Selge Halman, head of the piano department of the
Portland store in charge, assisted by Miss Mourten.
This concert was given to a capacity audience who
were loud in their appreciation of the instrument.
STREATOR, ILL, MUSIC FIRM
CELEBRATES ANNIVERSARY
Twentieth Year in Business Sees Continued Observ-
ance of W. B. Meil's Policies.
The Meil's Piano Company, 315 Main street,
Streator, 111., is celebrating the twentieth anniversary
of its formation by W. B. Meils, and interest in the
event is augmented by a lively celebration sale which
has been widely advertised.
Twenty years ago W. B. Meils opened his store at
its present location. Adherence to correct business
policy has achieved success and today the store ranks
among the best in the state. Only in the largest
cities can such a comprehensive stock be found.
Among the instruments carried are Packard, Cable-
Nelson and Brinkerhoff pianos and playerpianos.
The Danbury, Conn., store of Heim's Music House
will be located in new quarters this week.
Q R S ROLLS AT STATE FAIR
1 or clever window decorations there are a few past
masters in the art, and Mrs. Roussellot, of the Lyric
Music Co., 88 Wisconsin St., Milwaukee, Wis., is one.
The above window, featuring the Q R S roll of the
Animal Fair, is a regular Noah's Ark and still is
original and most interesting.
It was a big hit during the State Fair and sold
many rolls, records and copies of sheet music, not
only of this particular number, but others as well.
Roll departments are at liberty to copy this window
and many will take advantage of it.
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