Presto

October, 1930
PRESTO-TIMES
OTTO HEATON ON
MUSICAL TRAINING
The Builders' Bulletin, published monthly at Co-
lumbus, O., has an interesting interview with Otto
B. Heaton, piano dealer of that city, in its August
number. Mr. Heaton, president of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants and president of the
Radio and Music Merchants' Association of Ohio,
in that interview said in part:
"Every feeling except fear finds relief in music.
The piano, violin, and all musical instruments should
be taught in the public schools. I am told by educa-
tors that 90.3 per cent of all the honor students play
some musical instrument. Whereas, my investigation
leads me to believe that less than 5 per cent of the
criminals in our penal institutions play any musical
instrument. Teach a boy to blow a horn and he won't
blow -a safe. Musical training adorns riches and
ameliorates poverty. Music in the home puts sun-
shine in the heart.
"Quoting from Henry T. Finck, positive proof
that music is the best mind trainer comes from Ox-
ford University. Only 10 per cent of the students
there take music; yet this 10 per cent takes 75 per
cent of all the school prizes and scholarships. This
not being the record of a single year, but the average
over a period of 30 successive years.
"Government statistics indicate that there are in
the United States now more musicians than there are
preachers or lawyers, and five times as many as
there are journalists. This, of course, does not take
into consideration the thousands of amateur and semi-
professional musicians."
OPEN FORUM
ADVISES DEALERS TO
PRIME THEIR ENERGIES
Minot, N. D., Sept. 27, 1930.
Editor Presto-Times.
Chicago, 111.
My dear Sir:
In your valued issue of September were many inter-
esting and instructive articles, one specially interest-
ing to me, that of Fred Gennett of the Starr Piano Co.
about destroying or wrecking worthless trade-in
pianos, referring to that system being followed by
manufacturers T5f automobiles, and 1 might add of
sewing machines but in this the analogy ends, for
while they wish to destroy those products to get them
off the market to be replaced with the sale of new
ones, the high aim of the Starr Piano Co. and others
whose vision senses the benefit to children of develop-
ing music should wish to destroy pianos after they
will have outlived their usefulness that they may not
become a detriment to that great ambition, as such
pianos do.
One of my regretted sales was that of an old Kurtz-
mann, ebony case with much hand carving. As is my
habit 1 asked a bright little girl [ met on the street
if they had a piano and she was very enthusiastic
over the prospect of learning music but when the
piano was delivered she took such a dislike to its
appearance that she would not practice and while a
used piano was all her father felt able to buy, the
COL. HOLLENBERG BACK HOME.
old piano blocked her musical ambition and I fee!
Col. F. B. T. Hollenberg, of Little Rock, Ark., and
to blame for that loss to her.
for many years president of the Hollenberg Music
When Charles K. Harris' "After the Ball" came
Co.. now capitalist and prominent citizen of that city,
with offices in the Hollenberg Building, has left his out a merry-go-round located in our town and played
summer cottage at Epworth Heights, near Luding- that air, but where the beautiful minor comes in with
the trio they played it a natural, and every boy who
ton, Mich., for the winter season. He entertained
many of his friends at the cottage in the summer heard it whistled it the same; so with a faulty, worn-
season, and he writes a friend in Chicago that he out piano, possibly with loose ribs or cracked sound-
strained his eyes looking for more—bon homrae that board, felts worn and strings so stretched that they
have lost their musical quality, that their music is dis-
he is.
cordant, what they do for the musical education of
is a serious detriment, so by distroying pianos
CHICAGO HOME OF THE CHICKERING. children
that are worse than worthless a favor is done to the
Lyon & Healy, announce the addition of the Chick- musically ambitious children who would try to "get
ering piano to the distinguished list of instruments along to practice on" such a discordant instrument.
that make up the Lyon & Healy piano family, and
The apparently good profit in pianos too often leads
advertise in the daily papers "Nothing we say can
add to the high name which the Chickering possesses, salesmen to make too liberal offers for trade-ins, as
for the lovely tone of the Chickering has long been this morning I was quoting $400 to a friend, allowing
an ideal. The Chickering of today has added out- $125 for a used radio, and frankly admitting that I
had sooner give him a-flat friendly discount of $75
standing beauty of design to age-old brilliancy of
than to take the racffo in.
tone."
Destroying worthless pianos is going a long way
further than destroying sewing machines or automo-
HELP THE MAIL-CARRIERS.
biles; it is taking away from people pianos of no
Postmaster Arthur C. Lueder of Chicago has asked musical value and preventing them from developing
Presto-Times to urge its readers who move to notify a wrong perspective in music; so 1 would suggest,
the postoffice, giving the old and new addresses. may that plan be generally adopted.
Blanks for this purpose may be obtained from the
Kindly pardon my quoting from the press: "Rig-
carrier, or an ordinary post card or letter may be
used. Roomers should have mail addressed in care business wonders how to get buying started again.
of the person whose name appears upon the mail box. Well, when a pump won't pull up water, we prime it,"
It is particularly desirable that those who move notify so, if piano manufacturers began a system of priming
instead of confining their energies to getting all the
publishers of the change of address.
money in, the piano trade would soon be back to
where it was when they were building.
Yours very truly,
D. ERNEST HALL.
derstood alike by every race and creed—the language
of the soul.'
"On the statistical side, he alleges that more than
2,500,000 children in America are learning to play the
piano, under the instruction of 240,000 teachers. In
many states, piano music has now received a place
in the curricula of the public schools. All of which
seems to prove that the pessimists who think they see
the doom of this noble instrument are deceived as to
their supposed facts and astray in their logic."
GOOD SALE, DESPITE DEPRESSION
Lawrence, Kan., Oct. 5.
Presto-Times, Chicago.
Gentlemen:
Henry Ford in an article copyrighted 1930 by
North American Newspaper Alliance and in Kansas
City Star and other newspapers dated Sept. 5, offers
some good stuff that could be used against the piano
situation of critics "dubbing" pianos down and out.
Certainly, blame is placed on radio, just as once on
the phonograph, automobile and other products, but
we also overlook our stock crash and bank failures,
and least of all our manufacturers, with the exception
of a very few for their neglect to improve inside
construction and tone quality so much demanded.
Also the dealers in general have not given the piano a
loyal support, as many may be disgusted at the fact
that no visible inside improvements have been made,
and the public must be shown something new.
But, even with our general depression, there has
been a fair piano sale and many people have pur-
chased used pianos, not recorded, due to the fact they
could not reach the price of a better-toned piano.
Many of us may be spoiled in quantity sales and
hard to become used to our former normal business,
as formerly done. It has proved that our production,
especially in cheap, worthless pianos, was not a
desired advantage and of these many concerns for-
merly operating, onl_\ about one-third of the best are
exhibiting and making good, and this is no reflection
on future piano business.
We notice many new people entering into the piano
business, which is substantial proof that the piano is
by far a long way from being done for, especially
the late purchases by schools, colleges and musical
organizations, who lately made good-sized purchases.
Why. does not some one or other manufacturer
secure new achievements to be had and get the cream
be "ore it sours Get the Ford article, Detroit, Sept. 4,
1930; it gives the key and facts, and is a good story
to read.
A. WEBER.
LETTER FROM CHARLES STANLEY
A letter received late last month from Charles
Stanley, Grand Haven, Mich., well-known piano man,
showed how much he appreciated the battle in the
interests of a square deal for the piano as an instru-
ment of music, as waged by John J. Glynn and C.
Albert Jacob, Jr., of the Mathushek Piano Co. and
of Presto-Times' aid in the matter.
Mr. Stanley says in that letter:
"I want to tell you how much I appreciate the
The Chicago Civic Opera Co. will again issue cou-
first page regarding the piano and its status in the
pon books, but instead of coupons being exchange-
pages of the New York Times. While the stuff is not
able only for special performances, they will lie ac-
new, I am glad that Messrs. Glynn and Jacob have
cepted for all performances, including the opening
The Columbus, Ohio, Dispatch has enlisted in the reached out after it.
night and New Year's Eve.
The books are, as heretofore, in two sizes. The army of those agencies that are fighting for a square
"Calling on the trade as I do, one frequently finds
small book contains $36 in coupons and sells for deal" in publicity for the piano. Tn the following a dealer who lends himself to the most unreasonable
$34.25. while the larger book holds $72 in coupons and editorial, which appeared in that paper on Septem- arguments in belittling the pianos of the piano-makers
ber 7, the correspondence in the New York Times today—contrasting this instrument most unfairly with
sells for $68.50.
A considerable advantage accrues to coupon-book referred to is undoubtedly that of C. Albert Jacob, the radio, which should really be a help to the selling
Jr., and John J. Glynn of the Mathushek Piano Co., of the piano from both a musical and educational
holders in that they are given a day in advance of
the public box-office sale to select their seats. There whose letters were printed in the New York Times standpoint, as the piano is about the only thing worth
and repeated in the September issue of Presto-Times: studying and an uplift to both child and adult in the
is a financial saving, too.
"The Piano Again.
Coupon books went on sale Monday morning, Octo-
home as well as in the school.
"We cited evidence, recently, to show that in Ohio,
ber 13. Seats for the first week's performances will
"I am sure the dealer would profit very much if
be on sale to guarantors and coupon-book holders on at least, the radio and other such reproducers of
he gave the piano a little consideration when airing
Monday, October 20. The general sale opens to the music are not driving* t"he piano into exile. A corre- his piano pouts, for both the piano and the radio are
spondent of the New York Times, who states that twin products of music-minded men.
public on Tuesday, October 21.
Mail orders for the first week of t'.ie 1930-31 season he has been actively engaged in the piano industry
"Yours sincerely,
of opera are now being received at the Civic Opera in New York for more than 30 years, scoffs at the
"CHARLES STANLEY."
House.
idea that the piano has been doomed bv the popu-
larity of the radio, and that good pianos are being
STORY & CLARK GETTING ORDERS. abandoned as junk, when their owners change thtir
FRIDE IN OWNING A GRAND.
R. A. Burke, secretary of Story & Clark Piano Co., place of residence.
The Aeolian Co., 689 Fifth avenue, New York, in
"On the contrary, says this writer, the radio has
is now on the road and is turning in orders from
various piano dealers. President F. F. Story, who actually helped the piano, 'the basic musical instru- advertising its recent successful fall sale, used a large
was called upon by a Presto-Times representative ment of yesterday, today and tomorrow.' The great picture of a beautiful woman gazing at her new grand
last week, says trade is gradually increasing. The musical composers of the future will use it as their piano—the chief article in a pretty room, and the
radio end of their business is very much on the gain. indispensable aid in shaping their masterpieces, just text said: "There is no thrill to match her glow of
as the great composers of the past and the present pride when she sees her living room touched with the
There are no pianists listed as killers in gangland. have used it. 'It speaks the universal language, un- glory of a grand piano."
CIVIC OPERA COUPON BOOKS
A SMASH AT PIANO PESSIMISM
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