Presto
Issue: 1927 2158 - Page 5
December 10, 1927
PRESTO-TIMES
Ready
For the
Rush
D
ECEMBER is here. The real
Harvest Time in the Retail
Piano Business is at hand and be-
cause every Piano must have a
bench, s h o u l d have a TONK
BENCH, and you will probably find
yourself short of benches at the last
minute . . . We have tuned up the
entire Tonkbench Organization to
meet vour Rush Demands.
Reasonably Priced
TONKBENCHES
may be had, to match practically any
Piano, in style, color or finish, at a
moment's notice. Wire us, giving
full specifications, and we will not
fail you.
Upright Style
TONKBENCHES
may be had, to match practically
any Regular or Period Style Piano;
in Oak, Mahogany or Walnut; for
Straight or Player Models; in any
color or shade; dull, polished or
highlight finish.
Grand Style
TONKBENCHES
may be had, in Mahogany or Wal-
nut; with straight or beveled edge
tops; plain or brass feet; to match
practically any Regular or Period
Style Piano; in any shade, color or
finish.
Write . • . Wire . . . Phone
ny
1912 Lewis St.
•
CHICAGO
Pacific Coast Factory
4627 E. 50th St., Los Angeles, California
SOME MUSIC TRADE
ITEMS FROM WISCONSIN
Interesting Incidents in the Music Business
of State Gathered from Many
Points.
Edmund Gram of the Edmund Gram Piano Com-
pany, Milwaukee, Wis., recently addressed more than
60 members of the Scandinavian Club at their annual
dinner on the subject, "Norway." Mr. Gram spent
vSeveral months touring Europe during the past sum-
mer.
The M. J. Gummer Music Company at Oshkosh,
Wis., furnished the two Baldwin grand pianos for
the beautiful new Fischer Theater which opened in
Oshkosh recently.
The Badger Music Shop at Fond du Lac is staging
a removal sale preparatory to moving into the new
quarters out of the high rent district at 15 East
Second Street.
The Mason Music Shop at 206 Gibson Street, Eau
Claire, handling the Gulbransen line of pianos, is
offering a piano free to the person suggesting the
best name and slogan for the new combination regis-
tering and reproducing Gulbransen.
Preliminary steps toward the selection of an official
state band are being taken by the state university
at Madison, Wis. At the demand of the last legisla-
ture the department of music of the state school was
to conduct an annual contest to select a state band.
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT
GIVEN PLAYING CONTESTS
Chicago Trade at Second Meeting Sets Out Many
Reasons for Encouraging Children.
The second meeting this fall of the leaders in the
Chicago piano trade for the purpose of setting in
motion all the elements that contribute to selling more
pianos and interesting more people in this basic in-
strument of music, was held in the Great Northern
Hotel, Chicago, on Thursday night of this week,
Herman Fleer, president of the Illinois Music Mer-
chants' Association, presiding.
Several enthusiastic speakers expressed eagerness
to assist in any way they might be appointed to help
in the children's piano playing contests which are to
be continued after the manner of last year's methods
with 1928 improvements. The budget committee re-
ported that it could get along with a total contri-
bution from the trade of $15,000 to $20,000 if more
could not be raised. Last year's contribution was less
than $1 per child, and 15,000 childre ntook part.
INDIANAPOLIS TRADE
IN CHEERFUL MOOD
Frank Carlin Proud of Fine Cable Midget Sale
—Interest in Pianos Grows According to
H. G. Hook—Other News.
Frank Carlin of the CarUtt-Miisic Company is very
proud that, he was the fortunate salesman .that suc-
ceeded in selling the Ball Teachers' Institute at Mun-
cie, Ind., a Cable Midgetr. The sale was made in
competition with .every piano house within a radius
of many miles, but the instructor, of .the.music depart-
ment decided that the Cable Midget was the instru-
ment the college wanted and needed, and purchased
it over the telephone.
Mr. Carlin reports that the Cable Period Models
are meeting with much success, and believes the day
of the older styles of pianos has faded from the pic-
ture. "People want something new and different
from what they had twenty^..$fears. ago," said Mr.
Carlin. ' One of the sales of the past week was a
Kingsbury Grand Style "BB" in mahogany. The
piano was sold to a customer who purchased a Weg-
man piano thirty years ago. It was one of the first
sales the company had made. The parties turned it
in on the sale of the new Kingsbury grand.
H. G. Hook, manager of the Starr Piano Company,
Indianapolis, anticipates a very good holiday busi-
ness. In fact things have opened up considerably in
the last ten days, and there seems to be more than
the usual amount of interest displayed in pianos, as
well as phonographs. "The last half of November
showed some increase over the first half, and business
has increased gradually, until I am convinced we are
going to have a very good Christmas trade," said
Mr. Hook.
Frank Davis, manager of the House of Baldwin,
returned from Detroit, elated over the fact that the
Baldwin concert grand piano will be used in the audi-
torium of the Detroit Art Institute during the winter
season.
John Pearson of the Pearson Piano Company is
very well pleased with the way business is opening
up for the holidays, and says that it is somewhat
beyond his expectations. Mr. Pearson believes that
the several new industries coming to the city will
help business conditions. The fifty-fourth anniver-
sary sale went big, and the majority of sales were of
the better grade of pianos, with substantial down
payments.
The last meeting for 1927 of the Indianapolis Music
Merchants was held in connection with a noon-day
luncheon at the Indianapolis Board of Trade Novem-
ber 30. H. G. Hook, second vice-president by resig-
nation of O. W. Williams of the Pettis Dry Goods
phonograph section, and president of the organiza-
tion, accepted the presidency.
Visitors during the past week in Indianapolis were:
H. Edgar French of the Jesse French & Sons Piano
Company, New Castle, Ind.; George Schaffer of the
Lester Piano Company; Mr. Huber of the American
Piano Company; Clarence Gennett of the Starr Piano
Company, Richmond, Ind.; Leon Steele of the Everett
Piano Company, South Haven, Mich.; A. S. Ziesler
of the Aeolian Company, New York; J. R. Dunlop
of the Cable Company, Chicago, and Ted Perkins
of the Gulbransen Company, Chicago.
KNABE AMPICO GRAND
FOR PHILADELPHIA OFFICIAL
Prominent Man of City Is Presented with Instrument
at Testimonial Dinner.
George H. Biles, director of the Department of
Public Works, Philadelphia, will always count Novem-
ber 14 his lucky day. And with good reason, too, for
on that date a committee representing the depart-
ment which he heads, tendered him a surprise testi-
monial dinner at the Manufacturers' Club in his city,
the real surprise of the evening being the presenta-
tion to him of a beautiful Knabe Ampico grand.
At the dinner were over four hundred of Phiadel-
phia's most representative citizens, including the
mayor, two state senators, and the mayor's entire
cabinet. One of the most enjoyable features of the
evening's entertainment was the rendition on the
Ampico of several scintillating numbers by Madame
Volavy.
CHURCH ORGAN TRADE
CAUSES MUCH ACTIVITY
Lyon & Healy Rushes Work on Organ—Many In-
stallations for Christmas.
With Christmas near at hand, the Estey organ de-
partment of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, finds itself in
full activity. • Anxious to complete the installation
of the many organs sold in time "for the Christmas
season, extra crews of workmen have been engaged.
Mr. Dolbeer, manager of the organ department of
Lyon & Healy, says "the organ business was never
better."/This is easily attested by the following list
of Estey organs now in process of installation by
Lyon & Healy.
. Four-manual with echo in the Broadway M. E.
Church,"Indianapolis; large two-manual in the Merid-
ian Heights Church, Indianapolis; large three-manual
in the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Evans-
ville, Ind.; two-manual in the St. Joseph Church,
Dearborn, Mich.; large two-manual in the Christian
Church, Laporte, I n d ; large three-manual in the
Grace Episcopal Church, College Hill, Cincinnati;
large two-manual in the First M. E. Church, Charles
City, Iowa; two-manual in the First M. E. Church,
Eagle Grove, Iowa; and a large three-manual with
echo in the Hyde Park M. E. Church, Hyde Park,
Cincinnati.
• • ^ -...,, ...
A PORTLAND OPENING.
Olds, Wortman & King of Portland, Ore.,'had a
most auspicious opening of a music department'which
they have established in their large department store,
November 29, under the management of Ed. A. Bor-
gum, well known to the music trade of the Pacific
Coast. The department is located on the fourth
floor taking up nearly the entire floor, which covers
a city block. The demonstration rooms are large,
light and airy, handsomely and artistically furnished.
On the opening day thousands thronged the depart-
ment to enjoy the musical program which was put
on by Mr. Borgum from 12 m. to 4 p. m.
CHICKERING
GRAND FOR LEAGUE.
Checkering & Sons, Boston, report the sale of a
Style " I " Chickering grand piano to the League of
Catholic Women for use at their headquarters, No. 1
Arlington street, Boston, Mass.
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
Ready
For the
Rush
D
ECEMBER is here. The real
Harvest Time in the Retail
Piano Business is at hand and be-
cause every Piano must have a
bench, s h o u l d have a TONK
BENCH, and you will probably find
yourself short of benches at the last
minute . . . We have tuned up the
entire Tonkbench Organization to
meet vour Rush Demands.
Reasonably Priced
TONKBENCHES
may be had, to match practically any
Piano, in style, color or finish, at a
moment's notice. Wire us, giving
full specifications, and we will not
fail you.
Upright Style
TONKBENCHES
may be had, to match practically
any Regular or Period Style Piano;
in Oak, Mahogany or Walnut; for
Straight or Player Models; in any
color or shade; dull, polished or
highlight finish.
Grand Style
TONKBENCHES
may be had, in Mahogany or Wal-
nut; with straight or beveled edge
tops; plain or brass feet; to match
practically any Regular or Period
Style Piano; in any shade, color or
finish.
Write . • . Wire . . . Phone
ny
1912 Lewis St.
•
CHICAGO
Pacific Coast Factory
4627 E. 50th St., Los Angeles, California
SOME MUSIC TRADE
ITEMS FROM WISCONSIN
Interesting Incidents in the Music Business
of State Gathered from Many
Points.
Edmund Gram of the Edmund Gram Piano Com-
pany, Milwaukee, Wis., recently addressed more than
60 members of the Scandinavian Club at their annual
dinner on the subject, "Norway." Mr. Gram spent
vSeveral months touring Europe during the past sum-
mer.
The M. J. Gummer Music Company at Oshkosh,
Wis., furnished the two Baldwin grand pianos for
the beautiful new Fischer Theater which opened in
Oshkosh recently.
The Badger Music Shop at Fond du Lac is staging
a removal sale preparatory to moving into the new
quarters out of the high rent district at 15 East
Second Street.
The Mason Music Shop at 206 Gibson Street, Eau
Claire, handling the Gulbransen line of pianos, is
offering a piano free to the person suggesting the
best name and slogan for the new combination regis-
tering and reproducing Gulbransen.
Preliminary steps toward the selection of an official
state band are being taken by the state university
at Madison, Wis. At the demand of the last legisla-
ture the department of music of the state school was
to conduct an annual contest to select a state band.
ENTHUSIASTIC SUPPORT
GIVEN PLAYING CONTESTS
Chicago Trade at Second Meeting Sets Out Many
Reasons for Encouraging Children.
The second meeting this fall of the leaders in the
Chicago piano trade for the purpose of setting in
motion all the elements that contribute to selling more
pianos and interesting more people in this basic in-
strument of music, was held in the Great Northern
Hotel, Chicago, on Thursday night of this week,
Herman Fleer, president of the Illinois Music Mer-
chants' Association, presiding.
Several enthusiastic speakers expressed eagerness
to assist in any way they might be appointed to help
in the children's piano playing contests which are to
be continued after the manner of last year's methods
with 1928 improvements. The budget committee re-
ported that it could get along with a total contri-
bution from the trade of $15,000 to $20,000 if more
could not be raised. Last year's contribution was less
than $1 per child, and 15,000 childre ntook part.
INDIANAPOLIS TRADE
IN CHEERFUL MOOD
Frank Carlin Proud of Fine Cable Midget Sale
—Interest in Pianos Grows According to
H. G. Hook—Other News.
Frank Carlin of the CarUtt-Miisic Company is very
proud that, he was the fortunate salesman .that suc-
ceeded in selling the Ball Teachers' Institute at Mun-
cie, Ind., a Cable Midgetr. The sale was made in
competition with .every piano house within a radius
of many miles, but the instructor, of .the.music depart-
ment decided that the Cable Midget was the instru-
ment the college wanted and needed, and purchased
it over the telephone.
Mr. Carlin reports that the Cable Period Models
are meeting with much success, and believes the day
of the older styles of pianos has faded from the pic-
ture. "People want something new and different
from what they had twenty^..$fears. ago," said Mr.
Carlin. ' One of the sales of the past week was a
Kingsbury Grand Style "BB" in mahogany. The
piano was sold to a customer who purchased a Weg-
man piano thirty years ago. It was one of the first
sales the company had made. The parties turned it
in on the sale of the new Kingsbury grand.
H. G. Hook, manager of the Starr Piano Company,
Indianapolis, anticipates a very good holiday busi-
ness. In fact things have opened up considerably in
the last ten days, and there seems to be more than
the usual amount of interest displayed in pianos, as
well as phonographs. "The last half of November
showed some increase over the first half, and business
has increased gradually, until I am convinced we are
going to have a very good Christmas trade," said
Mr. Hook.
Frank Davis, manager of the House of Baldwin,
returned from Detroit, elated over the fact that the
Baldwin concert grand piano will be used in the audi-
torium of the Detroit Art Institute during the winter
season.
John Pearson of the Pearson Piano Company is
very well pleased with the way business is opening
up for the holidays, and says that it is somewhat
beyond his expectations. Mr. Pearson believes that
the several new industries coming to the city will
help business conditions. The fifty-fourth anniver-
sary sale went big, and the majority of sales were of
the better grade of pianos, with substantial down
payments.
The last meeting for 1927 of the Indianapolis Music
Merchants was held in connection with a noon-day
luncheon at the Indianapolis Board of Trade Novem-
ber 30. H. G. Hook, second vice-president by resig-
nation of O. W. Williams of the Pettis Dry Goods
phonograph section, and president of the organiza-
tion, accepted the presidency.
Visitors during the past week in Indianapolis were:
H. Edgar French of the Jesse French & Sons Piano
Company, New Castle, Ind.; George Schaffer of the
Lester Piano Company; Mr. Huber of the American
Piano Company; Clarence Gennett of the Starr Piano
Company, Richmond, Ind.; Leon Steele of the Everett
Piano Company, South Haven, Mich.; A. S. Ziesler
of the Aeolian Company, New York; J. R. Dunlop
of the Cable Company, Chicago, and Ted Perkins
of the Gulbransen Company, Chicago.
KNABE AMPICO GRAND
FOR PHILADELPHIA OFFICIAL
Prominent Man of City Is Presented with Instrument
at Testimonial Dinner.
George H. Biles, director of the Department of
Public Works, Philadelphia, will always count Novem-
ber 14 his lucky day. And with good reason, too, for
on that date a committee representing the depart-
ment which he heads, tendered him a surprise testi-
monial dinner at the Manufacturers' Club in his city,
the real surprise of the evening being the presenta-
tion to him of a beautiful Knabe Ampico grand.
At the dinner were over four hundred of Phiadel-
phia's most representative citizens, including the
mayor, two state senators, and the mayor's entire
cabinet. One of the most enjoyable features of the
evening's entertainment was the rendition on the
Ampico of several scintillating numbers by Madame
Volavy.
CHURCH ORGAN TRADE
CAUSES MUCH ACTIVITY
Lyon & Healy Rushes Work on Organ—Many In-
stallations for Christmas.
With Christmas near at hand, the Estey organ de-
partment of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, finds itself in
full activity. • Anxious to complete the installation
of the many organs sold in time "for the Christmas
season, extra crews of workmen have been engaged.
Mr. Dolbeer, manager of the organ department of
Lyon & Healy, says "the organ business was never
better."/This is easily attested by the following list
of Estey organs now in process of installation by
Lyon & Healy.
. Four-manual with echo in the Broadway M. E.
Church,"Indianapolis; large two-manual in the Merid-
ian Heights Church, Indianapolis; large three-manual
in the Holy Trinity Roman Catholic Church, Evans-
ville, Ind.; two-manual in the St. Joseph Church,
Dearborn, Mich.; large two-manual in the Christian
Church, Laporte, I n d ; large three-manual in the
Grace Episcopal Church, College Hill, Cincinnati;
large two-manual in the First M. E. Church, Charles
City, Iowa; two-manual in the First M. E. Church,
Eagle Grove, Iowa; and a large three-manual with
echo in the Hyde Park M. E. Church, Hyde Park,
Cincinnati.
• • ^ -...,, ...
A PORTLAND OPENING.
Olds, Wortman & King of Portland, Ore.,'had a
most auspicious opening of a music department'which
they have established in their large department store,
November 29, under the management of Ed. A. Bor-
gum, well known to the music trade of the Pacific
Coast. The department is located on the fourth
floor taking up nearly the entire floor, which covers
a city block. The demonstration rooms are large,
light and airy, handsomely and artistically furnished.
On the opening day thousands thronged the depart-
ment to enjoy the musical program which was put
on by Mr. Borgum from 12 m. to 4 p. m.
CHICKERING
GRAND FOR LEAGUE.
Checkering & Sons, Boston, report the sale of a
Style " I " Chickering grand piano to the League of
Catholic Women for use at their headquarters, No. 1
Arlington street, Boston, Mass.
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).