Presto

May 1, 1929
PRESTO-TIMES
ISSUED THE FIRST AND THIRD
SATURDAY IN EACH
MONTH
The American Music Trade Journal
F R A N K D. A B B O T T - - - - - - - - - -
Editor
(C. A. DAN I ELL—1904-1927.)
J. FERGUS O'RYAN
- - - - - Managing Editor
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 qest occasional correspondents, and
their assistance is invited.
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.
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 preceding date of
publication. Latest news matter and telegraphic com-
munications should be in not later than ll o'clock on
that day. Advertising copy should be in hand before
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the
Post Office, Chicago, III., under Act of March 3, 1879.
Subscription, $1.25 a year; 10 months, $1.00; 6 months,
75c; foreign, $3.00. Payable in advance. No extra charge
in United States possessions, Cuba and Mexico. Rates
for advertising on application.
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
Publishers
417 So. Dearborn St.
Chicago, III.
Tuesday, 5 p. m., before publication day to insure pre-
ferred position. Full page display copy should be in hand
by Tuesday noon preceding publication day. Want ad-
vertisements 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.
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press at 11 a. m.
Thursday preceding publication day. Any news trans-
piring after that hour cannot be expected in the current
issue. Nothing received at the office that is not strictly
news of importance can have attention after 9 a. m. of
Thursday. If they concern the interests of manufactur-
ers or dealers such items will appear the issue following.
CHICAGO, MAY 1, 1929
CONVENTION ANTICIPATIONS
T
HE conventions in Chicago, June 3 to 7. of the music trade
associations and those of the radio industry, will be the greatest
in their history, both in the number of attendants and the im-
portance of the proceedings. Officials of the music trade organiza-
tions have such cheering assurances of a big attendance that they
are warranted in their anticipations of successful meetings. The
confidence of the radio association officials in the success of the con-
vention events is a natural conclusion from reports from radio manu-
facturers, jobbers and retailers.
The exhibit feature of the music trade and radio gatherings alone
will have an unusual element of allurement. The showing of music
goods at the Drake Hotel and the extensive radio exhibition spread
over space in the Stevens, Congress and Blackstone Hotels will eclipse
in interest all previous convention displays. The practical nature
of the exhibits will show the music and radio dealers the purposes
of the manufacturers and plainly determine the extent of the research
quality in their activities.
The unusual interest expressed by music dealers in the con-
vention at the Drake Hotel shows a realization of the critical char-
acter of the music business at this time. The convention sessions
will be occasions for review and discussion of problems faced by
every phase of the music business. The 1929 convention is the busi-
ness of everybody in the music trade and industry. It will be an
opportunity for enlightenment that no music goods manufacturer,
jobber or dealer can afford to miss. A potent reason for the con-
vention is its necessity.
TRANSITION ON BUSINESS
T
HE various aspects of mass merchandising in music goods are
familiar to the music trade and few men are indifferent to the
important changes that have taken place in the distributing field
during the last few years, and which are still going on. Economists
point out that the changes are inevitable. An announcement by the
Chamber of Commerce of the United States pointed out that "'the
whole business life of the nation is found in the transition from the
ways of the peddler to the ways of Woohvorth's or Wanamaker's
modern mass merchandising."
The change has been gradual, to be sure, but it is still going
on. No thinking person can ignore the significant tendencies, many
of them conflicting, which make for mass distribution. Mass dis-
tribution has a definite meaning for every citizen and business, the
music and radio business included. The distribution economics will
continue to be affected by mergers and consolidations. In the cir-
cumstances these are inevitable today, even though the purposes of
the mergers be to sometimes attain economies and other advantages
in production.
The retailer is not the only one affected by mass distribution ;
the chain organizations which involve mass buying also affect the
manufacturer. New policies are a natural consequence in manufac-
ture to meet new conditions of distribution. What policies are neces-
sary in selling both to mass distributors and to small units, provide
a problem for manufacturers.
In a letter to the music trade, C. D. Bond, president of the Na-
tional Piano Manufacturers Association, says that every manufac-
turer, every dealer and everybody interested in the music trade should
attend the convention at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, week of June 3.
More especially he expects every manufacturer in the industry to
be there to co-operate with the dealers, whom he is sure will be
present in large numbers. Mr. Bond emphasizes the necessity for
discussion of conditions and problems by manufacturers and dealers.
Ihe gravity of a condition is always minimized by examining it in
the light of intelligent discussion. All phases of a question can be
presented at a convention and the circumstances of such meetings
usually make those interested more alert for discussion. In his own
business, Mr. Bond sees the advantages of the joint consideration
of problems by the representatives and the house.
THE AUTOMOBILE CUSTOMER
A
PROBLEM for the retail music trade has grown out of the
rapid growth and development of American cities. How to
operate a store in a central part of the city and preserve his
business and the extent of his sales there, has been a consideration
with the music merchant in many places. Many, too, have acted upon
the necessities of the problem.
The store location in the busy downtown sections of growing
cities is not as advantageous as it used to be. The automobile cus-
tomer naturally succeeded the carriage customer and the automobile
brought a big volume of trade to the downtown dealer until street
congestion naturally resulted in new traffic rules. The suburban
customer is averse to rides down town to shop if there is no con-
venient parking places.
That decision of the automobile owner necessitated a new course
of action with downtown retailers. The operation of branch stores,
easily reached by automobile became essential and the progressive
dealers are providing shopping places in the outlying districts where
there are no prohibitions to parking.
All the plans for increasing the interest in piano playing are based
on the hopes of increased piano sales. The promoters look upon those
induced to study the piano as possible prospects for piano sales, now
or in the future. It is the main purpose that induces the piano dealers
to become active participants in the piano promotional schemes. The
'phases of the activity are varied, but the object of all of them is
identical. To promote and encourage the means to furthering piano
study, for therein is the source of future piano sales; the assurance
of a revival of the piano business and its ultimate permanence.
This year it is estimated by observant ones that more than a
million children will be enrolled as pupils in the piano classes in the
public schools. The number in the parochial and private schools will
also be large.
How the music trade individually and collectively in any com-
munity may further the cause of music in the schools is shown in
the activity that has produced such beneficial results in Chicago.
It is a tribute to the wisdom of the Baldwin Piano Co. and a
proof of the public's appreciation for real musical art, that the radio
program, "At the Baldwin," is to be prolonged beyond the scheduled
number of broadcastings. The decision of the Baldwin Piano Co. is
a gracious response to the request of the music-loving radio fans
who asked for a continuance of the Baldwin Hour.
The decision of the Ohio Music Merchants' Association to join
the National Association of Music Merchants is one that pleases the
greater number of Ohio dealers.
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/