Presto

September 3, 1927
PRESTO-TIMES
The American Miuic Trade Weekly
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT -
- Editors
Telephones. Local and Lonfl 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 ; year; 6 months, $1; Foreign. $4.
Payabia, 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.
ment is for. Piano lessons in the schools will
have the double effect of expanding the art
of piano playing and, at the same time, of
causing the player-piano to be used more in-
telligently, which means with more artistic
effects.
It is one of the mistakes that the average
music teacher seems to think that, because
there is a player piano in the house there is
no room there also for the professional in-
structor. The buyer of a playerpiano is often
as susceptible to musical instruction, espe-
cially piano playing as any other, or more so.
The playerpiano stimulates the love of mu-
sic, and the ambition to actually produce it
should accompany that love. Operated with-
out understanding, the playerpiano is as apt to
produce mere noise as music, notwithstanding
the now obsolete assurance of some manufac-
turers that their instrument could be used by
a child and by impressing the public with the
notion that the best part of the playerpiano
is "automatic" instead of the fact that it re-
quires musical intelligence to create music
whatever the medium of expression.
ligent music loving public. If it signifies an
instrument of quality it is a helper in com-
petition. If it is something altogether strange
the prospects will shy—or ought to.
* * *
Formerly the gospel of standardization of
products was preached as offering to manu-
facturers salvation from the evils of waste;
but now a step beyond that is taken and Sim-
plified Practice is the watchword.
JUST ABOUT SOME
MUSIC TRADE FOLK
J. A. G. SCHILLER.
When J. A. G. Schiller had finished school in his
native New York City, quite a few years ago, he
Payment is not accepted for matter printed in the
hopefully and systematically set out to find a job.
editorial or news columns of Presto-Times.
Among other places visited was the Aeolian Com-
Where half-tones are made the actual cost of pro-
pany where he was politely told to '"call again." Mr.
duction will be charged if of commercial character,
Schiller was young but bright, understood the office
or other than strictly news interest.
amenities and took "call again" at its courtesy value.
When electrotypes are sent for publication it is
But he did call again, although not until twenty
requested that their subjects and senders be carefully
years had elapsed. When he walked out of the
indicated.
Aeolian offices he sought elsewhere for an open-
ing and got it. In search of a better job he traveled
Forms close at noon every Thursday. News mat-
ter should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the
to the Pacific Coast, where, for the last fifteen years
same day. Advertising copy should be in hand before
be has been accumulating fame as an organ man.
Tuesday, five p. m., to insure preferred position. Full
THE DESIRABLE ATTITUDE
A little while ago when he gave up the represen-
page display copy should be in hand by Monday noon
tation of several organ lines in the western states he
The
advertising
of
the
music
dealers
plainly
preceding publication day. Want advs. for current
week, to insure classification, must not be later than suggests a changed attitude in the presenta- visited the offices of the Aeolian Company. Instead
of telling him to call again they told him to hang
Wednesday noon.
up his hat and take a job in the wholesale sales divi-
Address all communications for the editorial or businps* tion of the goods. It is clear they have for-
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.. 417 South
sion.
gotten
the
old
idea
that
music
is
a
luxury
and
Dearborn Street, Chicago. III.
* * *
that musical instruments are purchased only
JAMES MONROE HEDGES.
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 3, 1927.
when all other appropriations are made. Cir-
The transfer of James Monroe Hedges, manager
cumstances prove that music is a necessity in of the Louisiana and Fulton links in the chain of
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press the daily lives of the people and their willing- stores of the Parks Music Co., Hannibal, Mo., is a
of the closing of the Louisiana and Fulton
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring ness to buy shows that it is something they resuH
stores in carrying out the new policy of largely con-
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur- must have.
centrating the business of a wide territory in the
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that
main store of the company in Hannibal. The Louisi-
An
old
fallacy
that
permeated
the
music
in-
is not strictly news of importance can have
ana store of the Parks Music Co. was one of the
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they dustry is no longer an influence. It no longer oldest business institutions in the city.
concern the interests of manufacturers or considers itself a purveyor of luxuries sought
Mr. Hedges goes to Hannibal this week to become
dealers such items will appear the week follow- by the comparatively few. Today everybody general sales manager and head of sales promotion,
ing. Copy for advertising designed for the is the music dealer's prospect and the music but he regrets the termination of thirteen years of
enjoyable work and residence in Louisiana where he
current issue must reach the office not later
goods advertiser's task is confined to talking had become closely associated with business, civic
than Wednesday noon of each week.
and social affairs. He was a member of the Rotary
for specific instruments.
Club, Chamber of Commerce and other active organ-
There is a healthy demand on the part of the izations;
representative of his ward in the City Coun-
ASSURING PIANO SALES
public for musical instruments, and the ob- cil for several years; secretary of the Louisiana
Efforts to get the piano lessons into the servant dealer's belief is that musical instru- Building and Loan Association and president of the
Board of Education.
schools as a means of promoting piano sales,
ments have no competition with automobiles,
is a course followed by active men of the radios, clothing or any other commodity, be-
trade. No reason is required to prove its ef- cause the desire for music exists everywhere.
fectiveness. When a speaker at the recent The automobile industry is selling transpor-
trade convention in San Francisco said: "The tation, the radio industry selling entertain-
piano classes in the schools will assure piano ment and the music industry is selling cultural
sales to future generations," he overlooked enjoyment that makes living more worth
the possibilities of the present day, the time while. That is the basic thought on which all
in which most of us are most deeply'con- slogans are founded.
cerned,
The speaker might also have said that the
The Farmers' Band of Shelby County, Ind.,
study of music by the school children would is one of those definite instances of the growth
equally make the piano trade grow right away. of the musical desire. It is composed of real
For with the study of the instrument the de- "dirt farmers," competent to turn a hand to
mand for the piano would instantly increase. any chore or big task required in efficient op-
In days past, the piano was the study of a eration of the farms. It is planned to make
very large proportion of the children in fami- the organization the largest musical body ever
lies possessed of ambition, and the sound of formed in the county, but will not depend on
the wholesome, if not especially melodious, its size for recognition among prominent
"exercises and scales" floated from home win- bands.
dows in every city block, through the open
* * *
doors in the quiet villages and even gave vari-
Standardization in the piano industry is the
ety to the sounds on the farms. The sound of engineering term for co-operation. It means
tlie piano is no less familiar today, but often it adopting for the common good the accepted
is the result of foot power and not particularly experience of the majority expressed, to avoid
suggestive of study.
misunderstanding, in basic technical termin-
There can be no denying the advantages of ology.
the player-piano, and the music roll has be-
* * *
come as essential to the happy home as the
In the days now almost forgotten there used
instrument itself. But even the playerpiano to be such things as "stencil" pianos. Today
is all but meaningless to the young person pianos are pianos, and the only stencil that
who has no understanding of what the instru- counts is one that is recognized by the intel-
•
*
*
A. S. CALLEY.
A. S. Calley is a man prominently associated with
the distribution of pianos in the Southern states. He
has wide experience as a music store manager and •
in his interesting experience has gained fame as a
sales expert. For twenty-two years Mr. Calley has
sold pianos in Chicago, Cleveland, Atlanta, and other
places. His years of experience in the South, how-
ever, outnumber those spent elsewhere.
Thus it is not surprising that be has been ap-
pointed general manager of advertising and sales for
the Ludden & Bates Co., Atlanta, Ga.. in which city
he is greatly appreciated for bis musical abilities.
His thorough knowledge of the local requirements of
the music business makes him of the greatest value
to Ludden & Bates Co., which in addition to the large
store in Atlanta has branches and agencies in live
southern states.
* * *
JOHN J. GLYNN.
A new lieu law, applicable only to New York City,
and which became effective September 1, makes it
unnecessary for music dealers to give rive days' no-
tice of intention to start replevin proceedings for
merchandise on which installments have not been
made as per contract.
The enactment of this law may be largely cred-
ited to John J. Glynn, president of the New York-
Piano Merchants' Association, when action for the
passage of the measure by the Legislature was most
effective. Others who greatly aided its enactment
were Albert Behning, its secretary, and Irwin Kurtz,
president of the Talking Machine and Radio Men,
Inc.
Cooperating with them was Assemblyman
Meyer Alterman, who introduced the bill for the re-
peal of the law he bad previously '"fathered."
After September 1 music dealers in New York City
may inaugurate replevin proceedings under the same
conditions they did before a law was passed requiring
five days' notice.
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