Presto
Issue: 1927 2132 - Page 10
10
PRESTO-TIMES
MERCHANTS' MEET
(Continued from page; 7.)
Detroit tournament and the trade began to realize
the possibilities that it was really developed.
"The Chicago tournament had its inception in May,
1925, when Mr. Charles E. Byrne, in an address be-
fore the Texas Music Merchants, proposed a national
piano playing tournament and agreed to put up $5,000
if 24 other piano manufacturers would do likewise.
"Last September, after the success of the Detroit
•tournament had been firmly established, Mr. Byrne
consulted with officials of the Chicago Herald and
Examiner with view to putting on a tournament in
Chicago. The Examiner thoroughly investigated the
Detroit tournament, O. K.'d the proposition, and
agreed to act as sponsor for such a tournament in the
city of Chicago.
"The contest was promoted, but the local teachers
did not seem to show any inclination to co-operate
with us. There seems to be more jealousy than I
have ever found among piano men. One music
teacher felt that one of our judges was bribed. One
music teacher felt that a child that could compete in
a tournament paying $550 in cash prizes would never
be able to get out and work again at $15 a week.
What Tournament Cost.
"I have here some figures which will give you some
conception as to the cost of running a tournament
such as the one we have here in Chicago. The total
cost was $71,260. Of this sum, about $14,000 was
contributed by the 53 supporting houses or individuals
connected with music houses in Greater Chicago and
vicinity.
"The Herald and Examiner originally agreed to
back up this tournament if it would cost them any-
where from $50,000 to $100,000, irrespective of
whether they got 50 cents or $1,000 in return. The
newspaper actually spent $26,524."
Mr. Bayley Talks.
In one of his valuable talks on piano contests.
Frank H. Bayley said: "Our idea is that the piano
instruction, group instruction in the schools, is a
corollary to the piano playing contest. We develop
the interest of the parents of the child in playing the
piano and then we come forward and say, 'Here is a
nice, easy way of playing the piano.' We are going
to put forth group instruction in all the schools of
Detroit."
Mr. Miessner Called On.
W. Otto Miessner said: "I shall not talk to you
at any great length this morning, but I shall try to
DECKER
U
EST. 1856 & SON
Grand, Upright
and
outline what has been done in the way of group piano
instruction without going very far back in its history,
because group piano instruction, like contests and
tournaments, and so on, is not a new thing.
"We had group instruction way back in St. Peters-
burg in 1867, and there have been pioneers in ELurope
and in this country who have seen thai it is uneco-
(Continued from page 3)
nomic and anti-social to do individually and privately
what can be best done publicly. It is uneconomic retaining it in our dealer tie-up advertisements, and
because we can teach 20 children the fundamentals in to strike the real keynote of this advertising cam-
any art more effectively, on a sounder educational paign. Almost 3,000 people have written us in re-
basis, and more economically than we can teach one sponse to our coupons requesting information about
child at a time."
group piano instruction. To each of these people
Mr. Werlein's Sugestion.
we sent a folder dealing with the idea in a general
"The piano merchants of America must perfect way.
"Our advertising also invited inquiries from teach-
their organization and function in their respective
states not as individual dealers, but collectively be- ers, and particularly piano teachers, regarding this
hind such plans of piano promotion as they them- new method of piano study. A further result of our
selves adopt and plans approved by the 'parent body'," national advertising were letters from dealers advis-
said Parham Werlein in one of his notable addresses. ing us that they wished to tie up with us, and re-
"I view the subject of organization from two view- questing mats for advertising in their own local
ponts, one local and the other national. The local papers. Also, we received numerous requests for
problem is naturally to be handled by the state asso- permission to reprint Walter Damrosch's statement
ciation, benefiting its membership by handling local about the piano. These were granted at once.
The Results.
problems and directing all kinds of piano promotion,
such as piano playing contests, group instruction,
"The results of these first three advertisements
music pages, etc. The national phase of organization leave no question in my mind but that the general
very naturally falls to the lot of the 'parent body' public is in a frame of mind to take again an active
serving as a headquarters and clearing house for the interest in the piano.
more general application of piano promotion.
"I do not say that this national advertising will turn
"No piano dealer with any vision, any judgment, your industry upside-down over night, but I do be-
or with any observation can deny that trade promo- lieve that national advertising, combined with all the
tion today depends on state organization. The deal- other agencies you are employing, will bring the
ers in other lines have beat us to it by decades
piano back to a place of prime importance in the
Almost all other lines of endeavor have either 'pooled' American household.
and are active in public propaganda or are rapidly
"There are two or three other things that have
perfecting their organizations."
interested me and that I thought would interest you.
In Memory of Mr. Grinnell.
They have to do with the factors that slow up buy-
Mr. Watkins: "I should like to move that we here ing in this industry: Failure to aim at the right class
adopt by a standing vote the resolution in memory of
of buyers; failure to note exactly what habits of cus-
C. A. Grinnell." The motion was seconded and car- tomers cause sales resistance; failure to correct mis-
ried.
use of product; failure to recognize competition in
fields other than one's own; failure to handle the
problem of second-hand products; failure to carry
NEW CHAMBER PRESIDENT.
Hermann Irion, of Steinway & Sons, New York, on a continuous promotion campaign; failure to cor-
was elected president of the Chamber at the final rect sales and advertising abuses."
meeting on Thursday.
New President Speaks.
On being officially led to the chair by Mark P.
MR. OETTING'S GRACEFUL GIFT.
Campbell, President-elect Guylee said: "I suppose
Among the many interested guests at the conven- every one knows perfectly well that the only reason
tion this week was Philip W. Oetting, head of the I have been chosen for this office is because Mr. de
house of Rhilip W. Oetting & Son, New York felt Rochemont refused to fill the office longer.
jobbers and importers, and his talented and beautiful
"Our association has one principal object now.
wife. By the way, Mr. Oetting did a graceful act in That object is to promote the sale and distribution
furnishing the smokers at the big Monday dinner with
of pianos. We have to have a plan under which our
packages of Oetting-Weickert matches. There were association is united. That work has proceeded very
no less than ten packages of these at each of the
hundred or so tables. It was considered a handsome earnestly. We have in this association a certain
routine to be performed. We have no emergencies
present and a graceful compliment to the trade.
to meet. We are able, therefore, to bend all our
efforts to the promotion of this plan, which we be-
The Sololin is the name of a new musical instru- lieve that just at this junction in American life may
ment, a combination of violin and banjo, invented by not only be the means of greatly promoting the dis-
F. G. Heisler, Fort Smith, Ark.
tribution of pianos, but may confer at the same time
a real boom upon American life."
W. E. GUYLEE HEADS
MANUFACTURERS
Welte-Mignon
Becker Bros.
(Licensee)
Manufacturer a ot
Reproducing
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
(Electric)
Pianos and Players
of Recognized
Artistic Character
June 11, 1927.
The Euclid Music Co.. Cleveland, has opened a
branch store at Euclid Heights.
Factory and Wareroomb
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
Made by a Decker Since 1856
699-703 East 135th Street
New York
The LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Qrand*, Uprights and Players
The Heppe, Marcellus and Edouard Jules Piano
manufactured by the
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that can be
made.
YORK PIANOS
Uprights ard Player Pianos
A high grade piano of great
value and with charming tone quality.
Livingston Pianos— Uprights and Player Pianos
A popular piano at a popular price.
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
are the only pianos in the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented in the United States. Great Britain,
France, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only.
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PIITT.ADETJPHTA, PA.
Over 70,000 instrument! made by thii company are sing-
ing their own praises in all parts of the civilised world.
Write lor catalogues and state on what terms you would
like to deal, and we will make you a proposition il yon are
located in open territory.
JESSE FRENCH & SONS
"Make Homes Happy "
SONS
if *Piaiios/PIai|Qrs &Gm
Write for Catalog*
Castle. Indiana.
WEAVER PIANO CO., Ine.
Factory: YORK. PA.
Established 1870
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-TIMES
MERCHANTS' MEET
(Continued from page; 7.)
Detroit tournament and the trade began to realize
the possibilities that it was really developed.
"The Chicago tournament had its inception in May,
1925, when Mr. Charles E. Byrne, in an address be-
fore the Texas Music Merchants, proposed a national
piano playing tournament and agreed to put up $5,000
if 24 other piano manufacturers would do likewise.
"Last September, after the success of the Detroit
•tournament had been firmly established, Mr. Byrne
consulted with officials of the Chicago Herald and
Examiner with view to putting on a tournament in
Chicago. The Examiner thoroughly investigated the
Detroit tournament, O. K.'d the proposition, and
agreed to act as sponsor for such a tournament in the
city of Chicago.
"The contest was promoted, but the local teachers
did not seem to show any inclination to co-operate
with us. There seems to be more jealousy than I
have ever found among piano men. One music
teacher felt that one of our judges was bribed. One
music teacher felt that a child that could compete in
a tournament paying $550 in cash prizes would never
be able to get out and work again at $15 a week.
What Tournament Cost.
"I have here some figures which will give you some
conception as to the cost of running a tournament
such as the one we have here in Chicago. The total
cost was $71,260. Of this sum, about $14,000 was
contributed by the 53 supporting houses or individuals
connected with music houses in Greater Chicago and
vicinity.
"The Herald and Examiner originally agreed to
back up this tournament if it would cost them any-
where from $50,000 to $100,000, irrespective of
whether they got 50 cents or $1,000 in return. The
newspaper actually spent $26,524."
Mr. Bayley Talks.
In one of his valuable talks on piano contests.
Frank H. Bayley said: "Our idea is that the piano
instruction, group instruction in the schools, is a
corollary to the piano playing contest. We develop
the interest of the parents of the child in playing the
piano and then we come forward and say, 'Here is a
nice, easy way of playing the piano.' We are going
to put forth group instruction in all the schools of
Detroit."
Mr. Miessner Called On.
W. Otto Miessner said: "I shall not talk to you
at any great length this morning, but I shall try to
DECKER
U
EST. 1856 & SON
Grand, Upright
and
outline what has been done in the way of group piano
instruction without going very far back in its history,
because group piano instruction, like contests and
tournaments, and so on, is not a new thing.
"We had group instruction way back in St. Peters-
burg in 1867, and there have been pioneers in ELurope
and in this country who have seen thai it is uneco-
(Continued from page 3)
nomic and anti-social to do individually and privately
what can be best done publicly. It is uneconomic retaining it in our dealer tie-up advertisements, and
because we can teach 20 children the fundamentals in to strike the real keynote of this advertising cam-
any art more effectively, on a sounder educational paign. Almost 3,000 people have written us in re-
basis, and more economically than we can teach one sponse to our coupons requesting information about
child at a time."
group piano instruction. To each of these people
Mr. Werlein's Sugestion.
we sent a folder dealing with the idea in a general
"The piano merchants of America must perfect way.
"Our advertising also invited inquiries from teach-
their organization and function in their respective
states not as individual dealers, but collectively be- ers, and particularly piano teachers, regarding this
hind such plans of piano promotion as they them- new method of piano study. A further result of our
selves adopt and plans approved by the 'parent body'," national advertising were letters from dealers advis-
said Parham Werlein in one of his notable addresses. ing us that they wished to tie up with us, and re-
"I view the subject of organization from two view- questing mats for advertising in their own local
ponts, one local and the other national. The local papers. Also, we received numerous requests for
problem is naturally to be handled by the state asso- permission to reprint Walter Damrosch's statement
ciation, benefiting its membership by handling local about the piano. These were granted at once.
The Results.
problems and directing all kinds of piano promotion,
such as piano playing contests, group instruction,
"The results of these first three advertisements
music pages, etc. The national phase of organization leave no question in my mind but that the general
very naturally falls to the lot of the 'parent body' public is in a frame of mind to take again an active
serving as a headquarters and clearing house for the interest in the piano.
more general application of piano promotion.
"I do not say that this national advertising will turn
"No piano dealer with any vision, any judgment, your industry upside-down over night, but I do be-
or with any observation can deny that trade promo- lieve that national advertising, combined with all the
tion today depends on state organization. The deal- other agencies you are employing, will bring the
ers in other lines have beat us to it by decades
piano back to a place of prime importance in the
Almost all other lines of endeavor have either 'pooled' American household.
and are active in public propaganda or are rapidly
"There are two or three other things that have
perfecting their organizations."
interested me and that I thought would interest you.
In Memory of Mr. Grinnell.
They have to do with the factors that slow up buy-
Mr. Watkins: "I should like to move that we here ing in this industry: Failure to aim at the right class
adopt by a standing vote the resolution in memory of
of buyers; failure to note exactly what habits of cus-
C. A. Grinnell." The motion was seconded and car- tomers cause sales resistance; failure to correct mis-
ried.
use of product; failure to recognize competition in
fields other than one's own; failure to handle the
problem of second-hand products; failure to carry
NEW CHAMBER PRESIDENT.
Hermann Irion, of Steinway & Sons, New York, on a continuous promotion campaign; failure to cor-
was elected president of the Chamber at the final rect sales and advertising abuses."
meeting on Thursday.
New President Speaks.
On being officially led to the chair by Mark P.
MR. OETTING'S GRACEFUL GIFT.
Campbell, President-elect Guylee said: "I suppose
Among the many interested guests at the conven- every one knows perfectly well that the only reason
tion this week was Philip W. Oetting, head of the I have been chosen for this office is because Mr. de
house of Rhilip W. Oetting & Son, New York felt Rochemont refused to fill the office longer.
jobbers and importers, and his talented and beautiful
"Our association has one principal object now.
wife. By the way, Mr. Oetting did a graceful act in That object is to promote the sale and distribution
furnishing the smokers at the big Monday dinner with
of pianos. We have to have a plan under which our
packages of Oetting-Weickert matches. There were association is united. That work has proceeded very
no less than ten packages of these at each of the
hundred or so tables. It was considered a handsome earnestly. We have in this association a certain
routine to be performed. We have no emergencies
present and a graceful compliment to the trade.
to meet. We are able, therefore, to bend all our
efforts to the promotion of this plan, which we be-
The Sololin is the name of a new musical instru- lieve that just at this junction in American life may
ment, a combination of violin and banjo, invented by not only be the means of greatly promoting the dis-
F. G. Heisler, Fort Smith, Ark.
tribution of pianos, but may confer at the same time
a real boom upon American life."
W. E. GUYLEE HEADS
MANUFACTURERS
Welte-Mignon
Becker Bros.
(Licensee)
Manufacturer a ot
Reproducing
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
(Electric)
Pianos and Players
of Recognized
Artistic Character
June 11, 1927.
The Euclid Music Co.. Cleveland, has opened a
branch store at Euclid Heights.
Factory and Wareroomb
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
Made by a Decker Since 1856
699-703 East 135th Street
New York
The LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Qrand*, Uprights and Players
The Heppe, Marcellus and Edouard Jules Piano
manufactured by the
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that can be
made.
YORK PIANOS
Uprights ard Player Pianos
A high grade piano of great
value and with charming tone quality.
Livingston Pianos— Uprights and Player Pianos
A popular piano at a popular price.
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
are the only pianos in the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented in the United States. Great Britain,
France, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only.
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PIITT.ADETJPHTA, PA.
Over 70,000 instrument! made by thii company are sing-
ing their own praises in all parts of the civilised world.
Write lor catalogues and state on what terms you would
like to deal, and we will make you a proposition il yon are
located in open territory.
JESSE FRENCH & SONS
"Make Homes Happy "
SONS
if *Piaiios/PIai|Qrs &Gm
Write for Catalog*
Castle. Indiana.
WEAVER PIANO CO., Ine.
Factory: YORK. PA.
Established 1870
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).