Presto
Issue: 1928 2170 - Page 3
MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1928
$2 The Year
ACTIVITIES HELPING SALES PROMOTION
PROMOTING THE
PIANO TOURNAMENT
pronounced favor by the music-loving public. "An-
gry" is perhaps that one given the greatest popular
favor. "If 1 Had My Way, Pretty Baby," was
written in Hamilton and still has quite a vogue.
Many others of his compositions have been well
received.
PACKARD PIANO CO.
DEVELOPS PLAN
April 1 Set by Executive Committee as Official
Starting Date for Preliminary Tests in
Chicago's Second Annual Piano
Playing Contest for 1928.
ESTEY ORGANS USED
IN FINE WINDOW DISPLAYS
Progressive Fort Wayne, Ind., Company De-
vises Potent Method of Proven Value for
Encouraging Interest in Piano Lead-
ing to Present or Future Sales.
April 9 has been set as the official starting date of
the preliminary tests in Chicago's Second Annual
Children's Piano Playing Tournament which has been
made a permanent institution. There is every in-
dication that the total number of children participat-
ing will be far in excess of the very successful 1927
tournament, the first one to be held in Chicago. The
city is particularly fortunate in having an enterprising
newspaper like the Herald and Examiner supporting
the movement.
Practically all of the active members of the music
industry are actively identified with the tournament.
Henry Hewitt is again general chairman of the execu-
tive committee. The other members of the commit-
tee are:
Eugene Whelan, H. H. Fleer, C. G. Steger, Don V.
Steger, Henry Weisert, Roy Cook, George W. Law-
rence, C. H. DeAcres, C. F. Gregory, E. C. Hill,
G. R. Brownell, Walter Kiehn, G. F. McLaughlin,
Peter F. Meyer, Frank J. Alberg, Harry B. Bibb,
Emil Garber, Eugene Farny, Adam Schneider, Roger
O'Connor, B. B. Ayers, A. M. Koch, William Collins,
James T. Bristol, Lathrop Resseguie.
Forceful Men.
With such an array of Chicago's most prominent
trade members back of the movement there can be
no failure. Here is the way the tournament is being
given publicity throughout the city of Chicago and
its neighboring suburbs. Artistic colored show cards
have been distributed to practically every retail music
house in Chicago and these have found their way into
the display windows. Three-sheet posters printed in
two colors have been put upon most of the conspicu-
ous billboards throughout the city's residence districts
calling parents' attention to the advisability of enter-
ing their children in this free tournament. All of the
Chicago Herald and Examiner delivery wagons are
carrying large poster announcements. The vans of
practically every piano moving concern in the city
and suburbs are exhibiting them and the elevated rail-
road platforms carry large streamers calling the pub-
lic's attention to the tournament. Step by step every
corner of the city is being covered with some kind of
notice. With all of this publicity it is no wonder
that even some of the suburbs quite a distance from
Chicago already have a sufficient number of entrants
to assure them of their own preliminary tests.
DUDLEY MECUM OPENS
HAMILTON, 0., MUSIC STORE
Music Studio Operated in Connection with Business
at 226 Main Street.
Dudley Mecum recently opened a new studio sales-
room at 226 Main street, Hamilton, O., which is
announced as an authorized Wurlitzer Co. store.
Mr. Mecum plans to combine with personal instruc-
tion in music and musical instruments by himself and
a staff of competent instructors the sale of musical
instruments, particularly the line of the Rudolph Wur-
litzer Co., band and orchestral instruments, the Wur-
litzer piano and the Orthophonic Victrola.
Mr. Mecum is a native Hamiltonian. After grad-
uating from high school he studied music under
Walter Dellers, one of the most competent instruc-
tors of Chicago. He also spent three years at the
University of Washington.
More recently he has been a member of the Don
Bestor Victor Recording Orchestra of Chicago. Not
a few of his compositions have been received with
Folder of Estey Organ Company, Brattleboro, Vt,
Tells of Opportunities in Handling Line.
The Estey Organ Co., for eighty-two years organ
builders at Brattleboro, Vt., has issued an interesting
folder which shows the work of dealers in success-
fully presenting Estey organs, and suggests to the
trade generally the advantages of representing the
desirable Estey instruments.
The illustrations include show windows featuring
Estey organs made by Grinnell Bros., Detroit; the
Birdel Co., Los Angeles; Grinnell Bros., Detroit, and
the Dreher Piano Co., Cleveland.
"Window advertising is inexpensive and most effec-
tive. With a Duo-Manual Organ your window de-
signer has a splendid background upon which to build.
It is none too early to plan for an Easter window as
that festival occurs on April 8 this year," says the
folder.
NEWS NOTES FROM THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN
A Reproducing Grand Piano Offered as Prize in
Game of Music Contest.
In Milwaukee, Wis., judges have been named in
the Game of Music contest for a $1,500 reproducing
grand piano and $200 in gold, the money to be divided
into forty prizes of $5 each which the Kesselman-
O'Driscoll Co., and the Wisconsin News have been
staging. The judges are W. T. Lazar, Francis H.
Schmitt and A. B. O'Connor, vice president of the
Music Arts corporation. The judges are confronted
with a huge task since the final returns in the contest
resulted in about three thousand entries.
Work on the $100,000 factory addition to the Wal-
tham Piano Co. plant in Milwaukee has been post-
poned for the present. Plans call for a four-story
addition measuring 80x250 feet. Paul F. Netzow is
president of the company.
The Paulus Music Co., which has been in business
in Manitowoc, W r is., for the past thirty-two years, re-
cently staged a formal opening in its new quarters
two doors south of the old location in the Wood
Block. The company, which is owned and managed
by Herman C. Paulus, featured a special display of
pianos, radios and phonographs during the opening.
DISCONTINUES PIANO MAKING.
The George P. Bent Co., Louisville, Ky., which
manufactures the "Crown" line of pianos as well as
phonographs and radio, will discontinue the manu-
facture of pianos and devote all the factory space to
the production of phonographs and radio. The names
Geo. P. Bent and "Crown," however, will be con-
tinued on the phonograph and radio products. The
Geo. P. Bent Co., was established in Chicago in 1870
by Geo. P. Bent and was sold some years ago to the
present owners.
W. N. VAN MATRE PLAYS GOLF.
W. X. Van Matre chairman
Schumann Piano Co., Rockford,
Mrs. Van Matre, returned from
at Del Mar, California, where
perfecting his golf game.
of directors of the
111., accompanied by
Hawaii and are now
Mr. Van Matre is
SECRETARY LOOMIS IN CHICAGO.
Among visitors to Chicago this week was Delbert
B. Loomis, executive secretary of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants.
The Packard E J iano Co., Fort Wayne, Ind., is de-
veloping a forceful agency in piano promotion in
its plan of group piano instruction. It is really the
application of the system devised by Miss Helen Cur-
tis of Chicago and which the Packard Piano Co. is
applying in a practical and successful way. It recog-
nizes the fact that music can be taught best when
there are a number of students in a class, rather than
under the old method of private tutoring to indi-
viduals.
At a recent ensemble piano recital in the auditorium
of the Mclntosh High School, Auburn, Ind., the suc-
cess of the system adopted by the Packard Piano Co.
was proved. Miss Mildred Balow of the Packard
Piano Co., Fort Wayne, who has charge of extension
of group teaching in the schools, explained that the
purpose of the work is to offer the opportunity for
piano instruction to the largest number of children.
She also explained the method by which the group
instruction is given,
System Is Tried One.
The system lias been arranged by Miss Helen Cur-
tis, director of group piano instruction in the Bush
Conservatory of Music at Chicago. Through her
method hundreds of children have been given the
chance to start piano instruction by the group method.
It is not her intention to compete in any way with
the private teachers but rather to give the children
their first chance along this line.
The assistance of the Packard Piano Co. in furnish-
ing the instructor and the necessary instruments has
made it possible for the Auburn school to carry on
this work.
At the recital in Auburn President Albert S. Bond
of the Packard Piano Co. was present and spoke
interestingly on the influence of music in the home
and on child character. He also congratulated the
boys and girls in the classes on the good beginning
that they have made in their music.
The activity in promoting group piano instruction
is a response to the action of a special committee of
the National Music Supervisors' Association which
met January 23 in New York.
This committee, which really dictates the policy
relative to the teachings of instrumental music in the
public schools throughout the country, decided to
appear before the Board of Control of the National
Music Industries Associations who held their semi-
annual meeting on the 26th and 27th of January.
As a result of this joint meeting of these national
committees more intensified musical development of
our American children, featuring the teaching of
the piano as the fundamental instrument in the musi-
cal advancement of our American boys and girls,
was then decided upon.
Packard Company Acts.
The Packard Piano Company accepted the chal-
lenge and set an example for all the manufacturers,
educators, music dealers, music teachers and support-
ers of the art and selected Auburn, Ind., as the city
in which to put the first recital.
The effects of the group system of piano instruction
on sales are assured, according to the belief of C. R.
Moores of the sales department of the Packard Piano
Co., who says it is the biggest and best merchandis-
ing policy that has ever been presented to the piano
dealers, either large or small, and which has been
tried and tested by the Packard Piano Co. Mr.
Moores recommends it as a dignified proposition, that
commands the consideration of any dealer and his
salesmen, who if they religiously follow up the plan
(Continued on next page.)
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/
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1881
Established
1884
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
10 Cents a Copy
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MARCH 3, 1928
$2 The Year
ACTIVITIES HELPING SALES PROMOTION
PROMOTING THE
PIANO TOURNAMENT
pronounced favor by the music-loving public. "An-
gry" is perhaps that one given the greatest popular
favor. "If 1 Had My Way, Pretty Baby," was
written in Hamilton and still has quite a vogue.
Many others of his compositions have been well
received.
PACKARD PIANO CO.
DEVELOPS PLAN
April 1 Set by Executive Committee as Official
Starting Date for Preliminary Tests in
Chicago's Second Annual Piano
Playing Contest for 1928.
ESTEY ORGANS USED
IN FINE WINDOW DISPLAYS
Progressive Fort Wayne, Ind., Company De-
vises Potent Method of Proven Value for
Encouraging Interest in Piano Lead-
ing to Present or Future Sales.
April 9 has been set as the official starting date of
the preliminary tests in Chicago's Second Annual
Children's Piano Playing Tournament which has been
made a permanent institution. There is every in-
dication that the total number of children participat-
ing will be far in excess of the very successful 1927
tournament, the first one to be held in Chicago. The
city is particularly fortunate in having an enterprising
newspaper like the Herald and Examiner supporting
the movement.
Practically all of the active members of the music
industry are actively identified with the tournament.
Henry Hewitt is again general chairman of the execu-
tive committee. The other members of the commit-
tee are:
Eugene Whelan, H. H. Fleer, C. G. Steger, Don V.
Steger, Henry Weisert, Roy Cook, George W. Law-
rence, C. H. DeAcres, C. F. Gregory, E. C. Hill,
G. R. Brownell, Walter Kiehn, G. F. McLaughlin,
Peter F. Meyer, Frank J. Alberg, Harry B. Bibb,
Emil Garber, Eugene Farny, Adam Schneider, Roger
O'Connor, B. B. Ayers, A. M. Koch, William Collins,
James T. Bristol, Lathrop Resseguie.
Forceful Men.
With such an array of Chicago's most prominent
trade members back of the movement there can be
no failure. Here is the way the tournament is being
given publicity throughout the city of Chicago and
its neighboring suburbs. Artistic colored show cards
have been distributed to practically every retail music
house in Chicago and these have found their way into
the display windows. Three-sheet posters printed in
two colors have been put upon most of the conspicu-
ous billboards throughout the city's residence districts
calling parents' attention to the advisability of enter-
ing their children in this free tournament. All of the
Chicago Herald and Examiner delivery wagons are
carrying large poster announcements. The vans of
practically every piano moving concern in the city
and suburbs are exhibiting them and the elevated rail-
road platforms carry large streamers calling the pub-
lic's attention to the tournament. Step by step every
corner of the city is being covered with some kind of
notice. With all of this publicity it is no wonder
that even some of the suburbs quite a distance from
Chicago already have a sufficient number of entrants
to assure them of their own preliminary tests.
DUDLEY MECUM OPENS
HAMILTON, 0., MUSIC STORE
Music Studio Operated in Connection with Business
at 226 Main Street.
Dudley Mecum recently opened a new studio sales-
room at 226 Main street, Hamilton, O., which is
announced as an authorized Wurlitzer Co. store.
Mr. Mecum plans to combine with personal instruc-
tion in music and musical instruments by himself and
a staff of competent instructors the sale of musical
instruments, particularly the line of the Rudolph Wur-
litzer Co., band and orchestral instruments, the Wur-
litzer piano and the Orthophonic Victrola.
Mr. Mecum is a native Hamiltonian. After grad-
uating from high school he studied music under
Walter Dellers, one of the most competent instruc-
tors of Chicago. He also spent three years at the
University of Washington.
More recently he has been a member of the Don
Bestor Victor Recording Orchestra of Chicago. Not
a few of his compositions have been received with
Folder of Estey Organ Company, Brattleboro, Vt,
Tells of Opportunities in Handling Line.
The Estey Organ Co., for eighty-two years organ
builders at Brattleboro, Vt., has issued an interesting
folder which shows the work of dealers in success-
fully presenting Estey organs, and suggests to the
trade generally the advantages of representing the
desirable Estey instruments.
The illustrations include show windows featuring
Estey organs made by Grinnell Bros., Detroit; the
Birdel Co., Los Angeles; Grinnell Bros., Detroit, and
the Dreher Piano Co., Cleveland.
"Window advertising is inexpensive and most effec-
tive. With a Duo-Manual Organ your window de-
signer has a splendid background upon which to build.
It is none too early to plan for an Easter window as
that festival occurs on April 8 this year," says the
folder.
NEWS NOTES FROM THE
STATE OF WISCONSIN
A Reproducing Grand Piano Offered as Prize in
Game of Music Contest.
In Milwaukee, Wis., judges have been named in
the Game of Music contest for a $1,500 reproducing
grand piano and $200 in gold, the money to be divided
into forty prizes of $5 each which the Kesselman-
O'Driscoll Co., and the Wisconsin News have been
staging. The judges are W. T. Lazar, Francis H.
Schmitt and A. B. O'Connor, vice president of the
Music Arts corporation. The judges are confronted
with a huge task since the final returns in the contest
resulted in about three thousand entries.
Work on the $100,000 factory addition to the Wal-
tham Piano Co. plant in Milwaukee has been post-
poned for the present. Plans call for a four-story
addition measuring 80x250 feet. Paul F. Netzow is
president of the company.
The Paulus Music Co., which has been in business
in Manitowoc, W r is., for the past thirty-two years, re-
cently staged a formal opening in its new quarters
two doors south of the old location in the Wood
Block. The company, which is owned and managed
by Herman C. Paulus, featured a special display of
pianos, radios and phonographs during the opening.
DISCONTINUES PIANO MAKING.
The George P. Bent Co., Louisville, Ky., which
manufactures the "Crown" line of pianos as well as
phonographs and radio, will discontinue the manu-
facture of pianos and devote all the factory space to
the production of phonographs and radio. The names
Geo. P. Bent and "Crown," however, will be con-
tinued on the phonograph and radio products. The
Geo. P. Bent Co., was established in Chicago in 1870
by Geo. P. Bent and was sold some years ago to the
present owners.
W. N. VAN MATRE PLAYS GOLF.
W. X. Van Matre chairman
Schumann Piano Co., Rockford,
Mrs. Van Matre, returned from
at Del Mar, California, where
perfecting his golf game.
of directors of the
111., accompanied by
Hawaii and are now
Mr. Van Matre is
SECRETARY LOOMIS IN CHICAGO.
Among visitors to Chicago this week was Delbert
B. Loomis, executive secretary of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants.
The Packard E J iano Co., Fort Wayne, Ind., is de-
veloping a forceful agency in piano promotion in
its plan of group piano instruction. It is really the
application of the system devised by Miss Helen Cur-
tis of Chicago and which the Packard Piano Co. is
applying in a practical and successful way. It recog-
nizes the fact that music can be taught best when
there are a number of students in a class, rather than
under the old method of private tutoring to indi-
viduals.
At a recent ensemble piano recital in the auditorium
of the Mclntosh High School, Auburn, Ind., the suc-
cess of the system adopted by the Packard Piano Co.
was proved. Miss Mildred Balow of the Packard
Piano Co., Fort Wayne, who has charge of extension
of group teaching in the schools, explained that the
purpose of the work is to offer the opportunity for
piano instruction to the largest number of children.
She also explained the method by which the group
instruction is given,
System Is Tried One.
The system lias been arranged by Miss Helen Cur-
tis, director of group piano instruction in the Bush
Conservatory of Music at Chicago. Through her
method hundreds of children have been given the
chance to start piano instruction by the group method.
It is not her intention to compete in any way with
the private teachers but rather to give the children
their first chance along this line.
The assistance of the Packard Piano Co. in furnish-
ing the instructor and the necessary instruments has
made it possible for the Auburn school to carry on
this work.
At the recital in Auburn President Albert S. Bond
of the Packard Piano Co. was present and spoke
interestingly on the influence of music in the home
and on child character. He also congratulated the
boys and girls in the classes on the good beginning
that they have made in their music.
The activity in promoting group piano instruction
is a response to the action of a special committee of
the National Music Supervisors' Association which
met January 23 in New York.
This committee, which really dictates the policy
relative to the teachings of instrumental music in the
public schools throughout the country, decided to
appear before the Board of Control of the National
Music Industries Associations who held their semi-
annual meeting on the 26th and 27th of January.
As a result of this joint meeting of these national
committees more intensified musical development of
our American children, featuring the teaching of
the piano as the fundamental instrument in the musi-
cal advancement of our American boys and girls,
was then decided upon.
Packard Company Acts.
The Packard Piano Company accepted the chal-
lenge and set an example for all the manufacturers,
educators, music dealers, music teachers and support-
ers of the art and selected Auburn, Ind., as the city
in which to put the first recital.
The effects of the group system of piano instruction
on sales are assured, according to the belief of C. R.
Moores of the sales department of the Packard Piano
Co., who says it is the biggest and best merchandis-
ing policy that has ever been presented to the piano
dealers, either large or small, and which has been
tried and tested by the Packard Piano Co. Mr.
Moores recommends it as a dignified proposition, that
commands the consideration of any dealer and his
salesmen, who if they religiously follow up the plan
(Continued on next page.)
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).