Presto
Issue: 1929 2232 - Page 9
August 1, 1929
THIRTY=FIVE YEARS AGO
(From The Presto, July 26, 1894.)
The Emerson factory is turning out from thirty-
five to forty pianos a week. Not a bad record for the
dull summer season. Reason: the Emerson is a
seller.
The Story & Clark Organ Company are giving
the British and Continental trade and public a taste
of effective advertising. In one way the burning of
the London factory was of great benefit to them, for
it made them more widely known than before, as the
English journals of the highest class gave illustra-
tions of the ruins in which the name "Story & Clark"
on a wall of the building is the most conspicuous
object.
Some weeks ago we predicted that the attacks of
the boss boodler on the Everett piano and the John
Church Company would cease because they were
ineffectual to accomplish the purpose in view. This
is not the first setback the boodl'ng sheet has re-
ceived, but it is the most serious. Blumenberg has
set his heart on making the John Church Company
accede to his demands and the defeat of his object
was the bitterest disappointment he has had for
some time.
The Bradbury Piano Company, Washington, D. C,
have introduced an easy and novel way whereby
families may purchase an organ for their home, a
description of which is given in their advertisement
under "Pianos and Organs" in the daily papers of
that city. They are presenting all prospective buyers
with a handsome triple-combination savings bank, the
monthly savings of which are to apply to the pur-
chase of a Weaver organ.
We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of an in-
vitation from Charles M. Stieff, Baltimore, Md., to
attend the fifty-second anniversary and picnic of his
employees, which was held on Tuesday, July 24, at
Darley Park, Harford Road, Baltimore.
Mr. Charles Stanley, of A. Reed & Sons, Dixon,
111., was recently the recipient of two handsome
testimonials of appreciation. He received a diploma
from the board of lady managers of the World's
Columbian Exposition for his work in the produc-
tion and perfection of the : r exhibit at the World's
Fair. This was the first. The second was an ex-
pression of esteem from the Reed employees, who
presented him a few days ago with a handsome 14-
carat solid gold-cased watch inscribed "Presented to
C. Stanley in honor of the World's Fair Diploma by
the boys of A. Reed & Sons."
(From The Presto, Aug. 2, 1894.)
One of the mistakes in the piano trade is the re-
tailer who fancies that every neighboring competitor
is a mortal enemy. Such small-minded merchants
not only prove an annoyance to others, but are con-
stantly retarding their own progress. Piano dealers
should cultivate the amenities of trade, and by so
dorng and working together their profits will be bet-
ter and their customers be no less happy because
the customers pay a fair price for what they get.
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Kimball started on Saturday
for Germany.
It should be remembered that the Jacob Doll piano
is being handled by a number of the most enterprising
dealers in the country, and that it is rapidly enlarging
its circle of friends.
From abroad we get news of the increasing suc-
cess of the Packard organs, which is a fitting accom-
paniment to their popularity in this country. The
new styles charm everyone by their handsome appear-
ance and rich tone.
There seems to be no end to the honors falling to
the house of Steinway & Sons. The latest distinction
is in being appointed piano makers to His Majesty,
the King of Italy, and being authorized to exhibit the
royal coat of arms as a trade mark of their manu-
facture. As a matter of fact, honors of this sort
have come so frequently to Steinway & Sons of late
that they receive no more than a passing notice from
the trade.
The editor of an esteemed contemporary, now in
Paris, writes his paper that he played upon a piano
Chopin once used, and "retired from it overawed by
the sacrilege I had committed." Unfortunately, we
cannot secure the sentiments of the piano. He was
also permitted to lovingly caress the keys of an Erard
that Paderewski had used, and he "improvised upon
the same several times." For which we extend
our sympathies to the instrument.
It is pretty difficult to find a piano manufacturer
who is sanguine enough to predict a rousing trade
this fall, but there is not one that does not believe
there will be a marked improvement and is preparing
for it.
Mr. Frank D. Abbott, editor of the well known
American music trade paper, The Presto, who, with
his wife has been making a tour of some of the prin-
cipal points in Europe, is now at the Kaiserhof Hotel,
Berlin, for a few days before returning to America.—
The "New York Herald" of Paris, July 15.
Mr. Carl Fischer, the music publisher and musical
instrument importer of New York, sailed last week
P R K S T 0-T I M E S
for Europe on his annual visit abroad. He will prob-
ably attend the Antwerp Exposition.
The Port Morris district, along the Southern
Boulevard, New York, is fast falling into the hands
of the piano makers. Quite an extensive settlement
of piano factories already looms up there, all within
a stone's throw of each other. Haines Bros., Estey
Piano Co., Doll, Connor, Ludwig & Co., Decker &
Son, and Newby & Evans, are all located on the
Boulevard, the five last named being within calling
distance of one another. And they are all new
factories.
The house of J. W. Martin & Brothers, 73 State
street, Rochester, N. Y., presents a bewildering array
of piano makers. It is questionable whether it is
good policy to carry so great a variety. Here is the
list: Steinway, Chickering, Decker Bros., Ivers &
Pond, Stultz & Bauer, Erie Piano Company, Mathu-
shek, Cable & Son, Needham, Wissner, and Kurtz-
mann. This is an appalling list for one small house
to carry. But the Martins are hustlers, and Mr. Wm.
Martin, son of the late senior partner, keeps things
well in hand. Mr. R. G. Firman, one of the widely
known salesman throughout "York State," is one of
the Martin salesmen.
. . . .There are, however, two of the foremost Amer-
ican houses in the piano trade which have been hon-
ored in this unusual manner. Every member of the
trade will recall the pardonable pride with which the
late Mr. Frank Chickering wore his decoration of
the Legion of Honor, which was conferred upon him
by the French government at the Paris Exposition.
Recently another of America's great piano makers
has been similarly honored by the German empire.
Mr. William Steinway is the possessor of the Cross
of the Order of the Red Eagle, which was conferred
on him by Emperor William of Germany. The Cross
of the Red Eagle, which Emperor William bestowed
on Mr. Steinway, consists of a solid gold cross con-
taining the coat of arms of Germany in gold and
enamel, surrounded by diamonds.
W. C. HEATON NEW ZENITH
SALES PROMOTION MANAGER
Former President of National Piano Travelers' Asso-
ciation Now on Western Trip.
W. C. Heaton, an international figure in the retail
and wholesale music industry has been named sales
promotion manager of the Zenith Radio Corporation
of Chicago, manufacturers of Zenith automatically-
tuned radio receivers, in an announcement issued
from the office of Paul 11. Klugh, vice-president and
general manager.
Mr. Heaton has been identified with the music in-
dustry for more than a score of years having entered
....an all electric set
which features great
range, selectivity and
volume without dis-
tortion in the finest
cabinets offered to the
radio buying public.
Produced by the
manufacturers of the
world renowned
JESSE FRENCH & SONS
PIANO
and worthy of the
" n a m e well known
W. C. HEATON".
the field with The Aeolian Company as retail sales
manager. In 1912 he joined the Kohler Industries,
opening up their Chicago offices as manager in 1914.
The year 1919 saw him vice-president of the Auto
Pneumatic Action Company, New York, and later as
president in 1921.
While in the music industry Mr. Heaton served as
president of the National Piano Travelers' Associa-
tion; chairman of the membership committee of the
National Piano Manufacturers' Association and direc-
tor of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
The radio industry is not by any means new to
Mr. Heaton, who comes to Zenith from a similar posi-
tion of sales promotion manager with one of the other
large radio manufacturers. He contemplates imme-
diately an increase in the Zenith field representation
and the spending of much of his time in actual con-
tact with his field men and Zenith's distributor organ-
ization.
Mr. Heaton is now on an extensive western trip in
the Zenith interests.
since 1875"
THE JESSE FRENCH & SONS
PIANO CO.
NEWCASTLE, IND.
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/
THIRTY=FIVE YEARS AGO
(From The Presto, July 26, 1894.)
The Emerson factory is turning out from thirty-
five to forty pianos a week. Not a bad record for the
dull summer season. Reason: the Emerson is a
seller.
The Story & Clark Organ Company are giving
the British and Continental trade and public a taste
of effective advertising. In one way the burning of
the London factory was of great benefit to them, for
it made them more widely known than before, as the
English journals of the highest class gave illustra-
tions of the ruins in which the name "Story & Clark"
on a wall of the building is the most conspicuous
object.
Some weeks ago we predicted that the attacks of
the boss boodler on the Everett piano and the John
Church Company would cease because they were
ineffectual to accomplish the purpose in view. This
is not the first setback the boodl'ng sheet has re-
ceived, but it is the most serious. Blumenberg has
set his heart on making the John Church Company
accede to his demands and the defeat of his object
was the bitterest disappointment he has had for
some time.
The Bradbury Piano Company, Washington, D. C,
have introduced an easy and novel way whereby
families may purchase an organ for their home, a
description of which is given in their advertisement
under "Pianos and Organs" in the daily papers of
that city. They are presenting all prospective buyers
with a handsome triple-combination savings bank, the
monthly savings of which are to apply to the pur-
chase of a Weaver organ.
We acknowledge with thanks the receipt of an in-
vitation from Charles M. Stieff, Baltimore, Md., to
attend the fifty-second anniversary and picnic of his
employees, which was held on Tuesday, July 24, at
Darley Park, Harford Road, Baltimore.
Mr. Charles Stanley, of A. Reed & Sons, Dixon,
111., was recently the recipient of two handsome
testimonials of appreciation. He received a diploma
from the board of lady managers of the World's
Columbian Exposition for his work in the produc-
tion and perfection of the : r exhibit at the World's
Fair. This was the first. The second was an ex-
pression of esteem from the Reed employees, who
presented him a few days ago with a handsome 14-
carat solid gold-cased watch inscribed "Presented to
C. Stanley in honor of the World's Fair Diploma by
the boys of A. Reed & Sons."
(From The Presto, Aug. 2, 1894.)
One of the mistakes in the piano trade is the re-
tailer who fancies that every neighboring competitor
is a mortal enemy. Such small-minded merchants
not only prove an annoyance to others, but are con-
stantly retarding their own progress. Piano dealers
should cultivate the amenities of trade, and by so
dorng and working together their profits will be bet-
ter and their customers be no less happy because
the customers pay a fair price for what they get.
Mr. and Mrs. W. W. Kimball started on Saturday
for Germany.
It should be remembered that the Jacob Doll piano
is being handled by a number of the most enterprising
dealers in the country, and that it is rapidly enlarging
its circle of friends.
From abroad we get news of the increasing suc-
cess of the Packard organs, which is a fitting accom-
paniment to their popularity in this country. The
new styles charm everyone by their handsome appear-
ance and rich tone.
There seems to be no end to the honors falling to
the house of Steinway & Sons. The latest distinction
is in being appointed piano makers to His Majesty,
the King of Italy, and being authorized to exhibit the
royal coat of arms as a trade mark of their manu-
facture. As a matter of fact, honors of this sort
have come so frequently to Steinway & Sons of late
that they receive no more than a passing notice from
the trade.
The editor of an esteemed contemporary, now in
Paris, writes his paper that he played upon a piano
Chopin once used, and "retired from it overawed by
the sacrilege I had committed." Unfortunately, we
cannot secure the sentiments of the piano. He was
also permitted to lovingly caress the keys of an Erard
that Paderewski had used, and he "improvised upon
the same several times." For which we extend
our sympathies to the instrument.
It is pretty difficult to find a piano manufacturer
who is sanguine enough to predict a rousing trade
this fall, but there is not one that does not believe
there will be a marked improvement and is preparing
for it.
Mr. Frank D. Abbott, editor of the well known
American music trade paper, The Presto, who, with
his wife has been making a tour of some of the prin-
cipal points in Europe, is now at the Kaiserhof Hotel,
Berlin, for a few days before returning to America.—
The "New York Herald" of Paris, July 15.
Mr. Carl Fischer, the music publisher and musical
instrument importer of New York, sailed last week
P R K S T 0-T I M E S
for Europe on his annual visit abroad. He will prob-
ably attend the Antwerp Exposition.
The Port Morris district, along the Southern
Boulevard, New York, is fast falling into the hands
of the piano makers. Quite an extensive settlement
of piano factories already looms up there, all within
a stone's throw of each other. Haines Bros., Estey
Piano Co., Doll, Connor, Ludwig & Co., Decker &
Son, and Newby & Evans, are all located on the
Boulevard, the five last named being within calling
distance of one another. And they are all new
factories.
The house of J. W. Martin & Brothers, 73 State
street, Rochester, N. Y., presents a bewildering array
of piano makers. It is questionable whether it is
good policy to carry so great a variety. Here is the
list: Steinway, Chickering, Decker Bros., Ivers &
Pond, Stultz & Bauer, Erie Piano Company, Mathu-
shek, Cable & Son, Needham, Wissner, and Kurtz-
mann. This is an appalling list for one small house
to carry. But the Martins are hustlers, and Mr. Wm.
Martin, son of the late senior partner, keeps things
well in hand. Mr. R. G. Firman, one of the widely
known salesman throughout "York State," is one of
the Martin salesmen.
. . . .There are, however, two of the foremost Amer-
ican houses in the piano trade which have been hon-
ored in this unusual manner. Every member of the
trade will recall the pardonable pride with which the
late Mr. Frank Chickering wore his decoration of
the Legion of Honor, which was conferred upon him
by the French government at the Paris Exposition.
Recently another of America's great piano makers
has been similarly honored by the German empire.
Mr. William Steinway is the possessor of the Cross
of the Order of the Red Eagle, which was conferred
on him by Emperor William of Germany. The Cross
of the Red Eagle, which Emperor William bestowed
on Mr. Steinway, consists of a solid gold cross con-
taining the coat of arms of Germany in gold and
enamel, surrounded by diamonds.
W. C. HEATON NEW ZENITH
SALES PROMOTION MANAGER
Former President of National Piano Travelers' Asso-
ciation Now on Western Trip.
W. C. Heaton, an international figure in the retail
and wholesale music industry has been named sales
promotion manager of the Zenith Radio Corporation
of Chicago, manufacturers of Zenith automatically-
tuned radio receivers, in an announcement issued
from the office of Paul 11. Klugh, vice-president and
general manager.
Mr. Heaton has been identified with the music in-
dustry for more than a score of years having entered
....an all electric set
which features great
range, selectivity and
volume without dis-
tortion in the finest
cabinets offered to the
radio buying public.
Produced by the
manufacturers of the
world renowned
JESSE FRENCH & SONS
PIANO
and worthy of the
" n a m e well known
W. C. HEATON".
the field with The Aeolian Company as retail sales
manager. In 1912 he joined the Kohler Industries,
opening up their Chicago offices as manager in 1914.
The year 1919 saw him vice-president of the Auto
Pneumatic Action Company, New York, and later as
president in 1921.
While in the music industry Mr. Heaton served as
president of the National Piano Travelers' Associa-
tion; chairman of the membership committee of the
National Piano Manufacturers' Association and direc-
tor of the Music Industries Chamber of Commerce.
The radio industry is not by any means new to
Mr. Heaton, who comes to Zenith from a similar posi-
tion of sales promotion manager with one of the other
large radio manufacturers. He contemplates imme-
diately an increase in the Zenith field representation
and the spending of much of his time in actual con-
tact with his field men and Zenith's distributor organ-
ization.
Mr. Heaton is now on an extensive western trip in
the Zenith interests.
since 1875"
THE JESSE FRENCH & SONS
PIANO CO.
NEWCASTLE, IND.
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).