Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
is assigned an effective part. Piano sales pro-
motional plans are the means of conveying ad-
vertising ammunition and wise plans of cam-
The American Music Trade Weekly
paign to the merchants doing effective com-
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn batant's parts in the fight all along the line.
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
It is the plain duty of every music mer-
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., Publishers.
chant to belong to his local, state and national
Editor
FRANK D. ABBOTT
- - - - - - - -
trade association. In that way he heartens his
(C. A. DANIELL—1904-1927.)
Managing Editor
J. FERGUS O'RYAN
neighbors, helps to raTse the prestige of his
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 0234. trade, gives practical application to the spirit
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
of cooperation, adds to the numerical and
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the financial strength of the associations and gives
l'ost Office, Chicago, 111., under Act of March 3, 1879.
greater power to the representative punch of
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1.25; Foreign, $4.
Payable in advance. No extra charge in United States the Chamber.
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 correspondents, and
their assistance is invited.
Payment is not accepted for matter printed in the edi-
torial or news columns of Presto-Times.
Where half-tones are made the actual cost of produc-
tion will be charged if of commercial character or 1 other
than strictly news interest.
When electrotypes afe sent for publication it is re-
quested that their subjects and senders be carefully indi-
cated.
Forms close at noon on Thursday. Late news matter
should be in not later than 11 o'clock on that day. Ad-
vertising copy should be in hand before Tuesday, 5 p. m.,
to insure preferred position. Full page display copy
should be in hand by Tuesday noon preceding publication
day. Want advertisements for current week, to insure
classification, should be in by Wednesday noon.
Address all communications for the editorial or business
departments to PRESTO PUBLISHING CO., 417 South
Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
SATURDAY, APRIL 21, 1928.
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press
at 11 a. m. Thursday. Any news transpiring
after that hour cannot be expected in the cur-
rent issue. Nothing received at the office that
is not strictly news of importance can have
attention after 9 a. m. on Thursday. If they
concern the interests of manufacturers or
dealers such items will appear the week follow-
ing. Copy for advertising designed for the
current issue must reach the office not later
fhan Wednesday noon of each week.
UNITE TO WIN
One thing military men learned in the Great
War was the absolute necessity for unified
action. No matter how strong, purposeful and
well supplied with resources combatants may
be, their powers to win are minimized in pro-
portion to the absence of cooperation among
the units. The expensive lesson learned by the
Allies in the early years of the stupendous
struggle suggests to business groups the wis-
dom of cooperation in efforts to interest the
public in a particular commodity.
If the music trade associations do nothing
more than to develop the spirit of cooperation
among their members, they will have accom-
plished something of great potentialities. In
itself the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce is an evidence of a desirable spirit in
the music trade. It is in the organizations
composing it the application of the spirit is
revealed.
When the National Association of Music
Merchants teaches a new meaning- for the
word competitor it is a sign of the working of
the Chamber spirit. The music dealer's com-
petitors are not his fellow dealers. They are
the merchants in other lines whose competitive
strength is measured by the extent of the
allurement in the commodities they present.
Realizing which facts the necessity -for unified
action is obvious.
Facing giant competitors in the field of trade
is no longer the task of the lone dealer. The
best means for winning is cooperation among-
all the dealers. The unified and intelligent at-
tack is best made by the associations, and in
such cooperative action the individual dealer
April 21, 1928
ing generation. The pupil today is the piano
buyer of tomorrow.
The causes of the decrease in piano sales
during the recent years are important to note
for the proper understanding of the piano sit-
uation. Rivals are many and each one is a
strong competitor of the piano in equal ratio
to its ability to give comfort and pleasure to
the buyers. The piano salesman is more pow-
erful in attaining results when he properly
understands the strength of the resistance to
his appeal.
The National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music, 45 W T est 45th street, New York, has
issued a "Guide for Conducting Piano Classes
MUSIC SUPERVISORS MEET
in the Schools," the latest publication on the
The Music Supervisors' National Confer- piano prepared by the bureau. The booklet
ence at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, this week should prove of very great value to those con-
signified the energy and spirit in the develop- ducting piano classes throughout the country
ment of music study in the schools and was and will therefore stimulate the movement.
more than a suggestion of helpfulness in sales There are many points brought up which may
of pianos and other musical instruments. The seem trivial in themselves but the piano
number of organizations besides that of the classes have failed many times because of the
school supervisors and the widespread char- teachers' neglect of these points. The ultimate
acter of the activities are assurances of a na- success of the piano class movement must, of
tional phase in the scheme.
course, depend upon proper teaching.
The practical nature of the work of the con-
Everybody in the trade can take a hand at
ference is proven by the personnel of the
slogan
making and in that way do a bit for
standing committees. The committees on In-
the
promotion
of sales of music goods. The
strumental Music, Piano Class, and Music Con-
Music
Industries
Chamber of Commerce has
tests are particularly encouraging from the
appointed
a
Slogan
Committee which will best
music trade point of view. Among the nu-
fulfill
its
purpose
by
working hard at selecting
merous features of the week was a contest on
suitable
ones
from
the
slogans submitted. Cash
Thursday for pianists under the auspices of
prizes
are
offered
for
the best ideas but the
the Society of American Musicians, with the
best
reward
for
a
winner
will be the assurance
cooperation of The Cable Company, Chicago,
that
his
phrase
will
be
a
means of promoting
at Fullerton Hall, Chicago Art Institute.
musical instrument buying thought.
An attractive feature of great instructive
* # #
value was the exhibit of pianos and other mu-
All signs warrant the pleasant anticipations
sical instruments, sheet music and music teach- of the music trade that the convention to be-
ing systems made possible by the activity of gin June 4 at the Commodore Hotel, New
the Music Education Exhibitors' Association, York, will be the greatest in numbers attend-
of which E. L. Hadley of The Cable Company ing, and of more instructive value, than any
is president. The exhibition was divided into previous annual meeting of music trade folk.
eight sections comprising displays of musical New methods will be applied in arrangements
instruments, piano class instruction, sheet mu- for the business sessions and the spirit of nov-
sic and music books and other phases interest- elty will pervade the big range of exhibits in
ing to those attending the conference.
the headquarters hotel and elsewhere in New
York.
RECOGNIZING A FACT
The energy expended in getting piano classes
established in the schools and the efforts of
individuals dealers in forming piano classes in
their stores, clearly point to the recognition
of an important fact—that the great hope of
reviving the favor for the piano is in the com-
ing generations. The standing of the piano in
the community is only equal to its standing in
the home. To increase its desirability for the
home is the purpose of all activities for piano
promotion.
Consideration of the problem of increasing
piano sales through inculcating the love of
piano music and the desire to learn to play
involves the study of child psychology and
the laws governing the relation of mind and
body. From observations of children it has
been discovered that the desire to play the
piano is instinctive with very few children;
that less than ten per cent of children want to
learn the piano. Piano class instruction evokes
an enthusiasm that increases the percentage in
any community. Group classes and the glamor
of the piano playing' contest certainly tend to
increase the number of those desiring to learn
to play the piano. Those facts have an influ-
ence on the processes of all the piano promo-
tion plans which mainly appeals to the grow-
AWAY BACK_IN PRESTO
From Presto of April 19, 1890, the following under
the head of "Trade Items" are reproduced:
I. N. Rice, of the new Chicago manufacturing con-
cern, the Rice-Hinze Piano Company, has secured a
residence on Ogden avenue, facing Union Park, and
will bring his family from Des Moines within a few
days.
Will L. Bush has recently made a successful west-
ern business trip of about thirty days' duration.
Jas. F. Broderick, of the B. Shoninger Co., has
just returned from a very satisfactory business trip
through Ohio and Indiana. James has built up a
splendid Shoninger trade.
The Chicago Music Co. may not get located in its
new quarters, corner Adams street and Wabash ave-
nue, before about June 1, as Mr. Gibbs will have a
good deal of remodeling to do before the building is
ready for occupation.
E. H. Story, president of the Story & Clark Organ
Co., is making the rounds of a number of agencies
in southern Iowa and northern Missouri.
The Rice-Hinze Piano Company has removed from
Des Moines, Iowa, to Chicago, where it will continue
the manufacture of the Rice-Hinze pianos. It was
established in Des Moines in March in 1889, and has
since done a steadily growing business. The object
in removing to Chicago is t6 secure greater manufac-
turing facilities and advantages of a great trade cen-
ter. The factory is located at West Washington and
Desplaines street.
The wholesale and retail business of the W. W.
Kimball Company is steadily on the increase. The
steady progress of this house has often been alluded
to in Presto. It sold during the month of March,
244 Kimball pianos and 296 Hallet & Davis, Emerson
and Hale pianos.
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