Presto

P R E S T 0-T I M E S
The American Music Trade Weekly
Published Every Saturday at 417 South Dearborn
Street, Chicago, Illinois.
PRESTO P U B L I S H I N G CO., Publishers.
F R A N K D. A B B O T T - - - - - - - - - -
Editor
(C. A. D A N I ELL—1904-1927.)
J. FERGUS O'RYAN
- - - - -
Managing Editor
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 0234.
Private Phones to all Departments. Cable Address (Com-
mercial Cable Co.'s Code), " P R E S T O , " Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, 111., under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1.25; Foreign, $4.
Payable 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 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 other
than strictly news interest.
When electrotypes are 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. FuH page display copy
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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, NOVEMBER 24, 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
of the sails for Christmas. Would those who
bought because of politics be in the market at
Christmas time had it not been for the presi-
dential contest ?
Inquiry among leaders indicates that Christ-
mas radio sales will be large despite politics,
because there are millions of homes still with-
out receiving sets. The outlook is bright for
Christmas. Electric sets and dynamic loud-
speakers are expected to lead the sales.
FAVOR FOR PIANO RECITALS
The revived interest in piano playing is made
particularly noticeable by the eager desire of
the musically inclined public to attend recitals
by pianists of note. The favor of the invisible
radio audiences for piano numbers, expressed
in letters to radio station managers, is another
cheering sign of the claim of the piano on the
people, but the evidence of the piano concert
promoters is, for obvious reasons, the most
convincing.
Observers of conditions governing the sale
of pianos, reporting frciiii many cities, convey
facts similar to those gathered in Chicago.
Concert promoters find that the piano num-
bers on programs are considered the most im-
portant. And this applies particularly to con-
cert troupes routed over the established
circuits.
An incident of the. concerts in Orchestra
Hall, Chicago, this week by Vladimir Horo-
witz, playing the Steinway piano, in a marked
way, illustrates the warmth of the public de-
sire to hear good piano music. The concerts
were scheduled for Friday afternoon and Sat-
urday night, but at nine o'clock on the pre-
vious Monday not a ticket was left unsold at
Orchestra Hall or at any of the ticket agencies
in the Loop.
RADIO IN ELECTIONS
YOUR OWN SLOGAN
The more exciting the recent presidential
campaign became, the greater was the stimu-
lus noted in radio sales. Interest in radio sets
showed an increase every day since the nomi-
nation at Kansas City of Secretary Hoover as
head of the Republican ticket. And when
Governor Smith was made the presidential
candidate by the Democrats at Houston and
began to broadcast his campaign speeches, becom-
ing the radio headliner, the grand rush for radio
sets was begun. The sales clue to the election
were enormous and actual figures of their extent
are pleasant surprises yet to be disclosed.
The presidential elections have been good
boosters of radio for four campaigns. The
first election returns to be broadcast were
those of the Hughes-Wilson contest in 1916,
sent out from the De Forest High Bridge Sta-
tion in November. A New York newspaper
ran wire lines into the radio office so as to have
the up-to-the-minute reports. Dr. De Forest
served as one of the announcers. At 11 o'clock
that night the station signed off, assuring the
invisible audience that Hughes had been elect-
ed. The next morning they learned of the
error—Wilson had won the election.
And who forgets the big advertising for
radio occasioned by the long-drawn out con-
vention struggle over the Democratic nomina-
tion in Madison Square Garden in 1924? The
oft-repeated roll calls of states with their
unvarying result, until the deadlock was
broken by the nomination of John R. Davis,
intensified the interest in radio.
But now the radio interests are wondering
if this election stimulus will take the wind out
A forceful and continuous reminder of the
dealer's business is a good slogan in which the
words bristle with meaning. Of course, the
slogan is equally efficacious for the manufac-
turer.
There is nothing like a good slogan with
which the manufacturer or the dealer can cre-
ate remembrances of their commodities in the
minds of the people. For the piano manufac-
turer it establishes characteristics that make
for appreciation ; for the dealer the slogan es-
tablishes permanent value with every adver-
tisement. No matter what the type, or what
it points to. the music merchant should adopt
a slogan early in his career.
There are rules how to proceed when adopt-
ing a slogan, but the don'ts are really just as
important. The slogan must convey an idea
of something that is permanent, otherwise
there are no cumulative effects from its use.
The boastful slogan is to be condemned. It is
usually unconvincing and negative in its ef-
fects. The use of the word "greatest" is just
as well avoided because it suggests too many
bases for comparison. Many superlatives in
the language, hackneyed by frequent use, no
longer convey the dictionary meaning.
There are different types and styles of slo-
gans, each designed to influence the reader in
a particular way. When, for instance, a firm
title does not definitely denote the nature of
the business, a slogan completes the job. And
even where the firm name does make clear the
character of the business, the slogan may be
made to still further impress it.
The age of a business may be made the
November 24, 1928
theme of a slogan that will mean more than
the duration of time. It is a justifiable mat-
ter of pride when a house has given good serv-
ice to the public for a good number of years.
Half a century or so of service denotes the in-
tegrity and efficiency that made possible the
existence of the business for that period of
time.
The month of August proved the biggest for
exports of music goods thus far in 1928. More
than three-fourths of this was in phonographs
and records, a total of $993,000, which shows
that the phonograph is holding its own in a
radio era. Playerpianos to the amount of
$195,000 were exported.
THIRTY-FIVE YEARS AGO
(From The Presto, Nov. 23, 1893.)
The enterprising young firm of Strich & Zeidler
is turning out an instrument of which many older
and more famous makers might well be proud.
Herr Arnold N. de Lewinsky, the pianist who made
such a success during the Exposition, is in Chicago
still. He is very much delighted with a Mason &
Hamlin grand upon which he is practicing for his
concert tour.
The statement already made concerning the attrac-
tiveness of the new Needham warerooms at 14th
street and University Place, New York, needs no
repetition. These offices and salesrooms are so light
and cheerful that it is very much of a delight to pay
a visit there: and then Mr. Parsons' presence adds
much to the brilliancy of the surroundings.
Active men were railed upon to do their duty in
New York last week for the strong arm of the law
reached out and gathered two of them in to do jury
duty. The two who were fortunate or unfortunate
enough to be called upon to pass on the merits of
certain cases and see that justice was evenly handed
out, were Mr. Peter Strauch of Strauch Bros., and
Mr. William Tonk of William Tonk & Bro., Ameri-
can representatives of the Herrburger-Schwander
piano actions.
Mr. Edward F. Droop, the well-known piano dealer
and steamship agent, today celebrates the thirty-sixth
anniversary of his entry into the music business in
Washington. Early in 1857 Mr. Droop arrived there
and entered the store of W. G. Metzerott as clerk.
His ability and steadfastness won the confidence and
esteem of his employers, and it was not long before
Mr. Droop became junior partner in the firm, contin-
uing in this capacity until the death of Mr. Metzerott
in 1884, when he embarked for himself.
The house of Weser Bros, has, since beginning
business, always been progressing. The members of
the firm, pushing and energetic, have always found
a demand for their goods and they have been spared
the idleness of so many firms during the past dull
season.
Mr. Karl Fink, who certainly should be well-
informed on the subject, pays the Boston manufac-
turers a great many compliments for their prompt-
ness in payments during the past dull season. They
have been remarkably punctual, and collections in
that city have not diminished to any noticeable degree
in regularity.
Mr. Alvin Kranich, Sr., a brother of Mr. H. Kra-
nich, Sr., of Kranich & Bach, died at his residence
in Brooklyn, November 12.
Kurtzmann fr. Co. of Buffalo, announce that the
recent death of their Mr. Cordes will make no differ-
ence in the future connduct of their business.
Messrs. Sohmer & Co. have donated the Golden
upright niano, which created such a furor at their
World's Fair exhibit, to the Conservatory of Catholic
Church Music.
The World's Fair Award to the Hardman piano is
announced:
"First—The tone quality is full, sonorous, yet musi-
cal in the greatest degree.
"Second—The duration and singing qualities of the
tones are of the very highest order.
"Third—The scale is even with no break in the
transition from one part to the other.
"Fourth—The action is completely satisfactory,
prompt and with excellent repeating properties.
"Fifth—The touch is elastic, firm and well bal-
anced.
"All materials used are of the best quality and only
the best workmanship is admitted. The cases are
especially remarkable for the beauty and artistic ex-
cellence manifested in their design. New features of
great excellence are the iron key-bed and resonating
case of the upright pianos."
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