Presto

March, 1931
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
Information came in from two sources about Robert
S. Howard in answer to an inquiry in last month's
Presto-Times as to what had become of him. One
answer, from a correspondent in New York, stated
that he is living with his son in California. The other
answer is from John L. Stowers, head of the Stowers
Music House, Havana, Cuba, an old friend, patron
and supporter of Mr. Howard and his enterprises,
who says that Mr. Howard died in Washington,
D. C, on December 23, 1930. Mr. Stowers' letter to
Presto-Times is quite interesting, both as to present-
day business and reminiscently. He said in part:
"In looking over the Presto-Times for February I
noticed 'Where They Are, and Where Are They?' I
find in looking over this list of piano men that I have
had the pleasure of knowing more than 60 per cent
of them. This list has caused me to stop, look and
listen.
"I have been in the piano business for 34 years and
for the past five years my business has been about
90 per cent radio. In looking back over the list of
tine piano men that I have known in the past 34 years,
this piano business reminds me of my boyhood days
when I with other schoolboys would go to a merry-
go-round, each of us with 5 cents, but if a boy was
lucky enough he could ride all day with 5 cents, as
the merry-go-round had a post on the side where
each boy would get a ring as he passed that post,
and if the boy was lucky enough to get the ring for
a free ride each time there was not any end to his
ride.
"In this list are the names of some very fine men
that have dropped out of the piano business, and I
am inclined to think that they were just unlucky and
always passed the post with the ring for a free ride
at the wrong time."
Characterized by its Fine Tone
The
MATHUSHEK
Piano has given Pleas-
ure to Several Gener-
a t i o n s of M u s i c
Lovers, and is Known
and designated
as
"The most Durable Piano
in the World."
JENKINS TO BUILD BIG STORE
The Jenkins Music Co. will soon begin the erection
for its general offices and principal retail store at
Kansas City, Mo., an eight-story building with approx-
imately 100 feet of frontage at 1217-23 Walnut street,
Kansas City. Tied into this structure as an integral
part of it will be the existing six-story building on the
north half of that property, to which a seventh and
eighth story will be added. The Jenkins company
characterizes its construction project as a one-half
million dollar development. Construction is expected
to begin April 1.
Other Jenkins stores include two in Greater Kan-
sas City outside the downtown district and others in
St. Joseph and Joplin, Mo.; Oklahoma City, Tulsa,
Seminole and Bartlesville, Okla.; Wichita, Topeka
and Salina, Kas., and Fort Smith, Ark.
The general offices are at Kansas City, where the
late John Woodward Jenkins established the first
Jenkins music store in the rear of a sewing machine
and wall paper shop at 615 Main street. That location
was retained thirteen years. The company employs
650 persons, more than half of whom live in Greater
Kansas City.
The second generation of the Jenkins family in
the business is represented by J. W. Jenkins, president
of the company; Fred B. Jenkins, Sr., vice-president,
and C. W. Jenkins, secretary and treasurer. Fred B.
Jenkins, Jr., J. W. Jenkins III, son of C. W. Jenkins,
and Paul W. Jenkins, son of J. W. Jenkins, are the
third generation representatives active in the business,
while others, of the fourth generation, are coping with
school-day problems in preparation for similar service
with the company.
Working plans for the new Jenkins building are be-
ing completed by the architectural office of C. W.
Smith.
Space on the first iloor is designed for radio, phono-
graph and band and orchestra instrument displays, as
well as for sheet music and records. A mezzanine
will have waiting rooms, some displaying rare old
musical instruments, and instrument show-rooms.
There also will be rooms for trying out sheet music.
GRINNELL BROS. GIVE INSTRUCTION
T. H. Taylor, vice-president of Grinnell Bros., To-
ledo, Ohio, proposes as a means of advancing music
in Toledo, that his firm will provide free instruction OH
any of 18 types of instrument or in voice culture to
any adult or child who will register for such instruc-
tion. Many schools and teachers in and about Toledo
have agreed to cooperate with the Grinnell Music
House in this move for music instruction.
INTERESTED CREDITORS' MEET
The creditors of the Premier Grand Piano Corpo-
ration appeared in the U. S. District Court of New
York, in the Woolworth building, on March 9 to have
their say about the offer of $145,000 by David S.
Levin (or any better offer that might then be re-
ceived) for the land owned by the piano concern at
514 to 532 West 23rd street, New York (which offer
is subject to brokerage commissions of $1,500).
GULBRANSEN PIANOS
AS DESCRIBED IN C0M=
PANY'S NEW CATALOG
The Gulhransen Co., Chicago, has just issued one of
the finest and most instructive catalogs ever put out
by any firm in the piano industry. Its cover is in
shades of purple (the royal color) and the lettering is
in gold (representing wealth and prosperity). The
stock used is the best paper the mills can produce,
the printing is artistically done and there is a pocket
in the back cover containing slips bearing pictures and
descriptions of the different Gulbransen styles.
In the new Gulbransen catalog the chapter on "The
Piano as an Educational Factor—Its Valued Place in
the Home—Musical Expression as a Character
Builder"—treats in a broad and human way of the
piano, as a vital factor in the lives of the children,
and makes the interesting statement that over 1,000,-
000 children in the public schools of the United States
are taking group and class piano instruction, in addi-
tion to those children who are being taught piano
playing in other schools, musical colleges and by
private teachers.
The story of the Gulbransen piano, the creation of
a standard of piano value, the adoption of the Golden
Rule principle, the one price system, the musical ex-
cellence of the Gulbransen piano are all set forth in
a most telling manner in another chapter. A. G. Gul-
bransen's over fifty years of experience in the musical
industries is an outstanding feature in the new
catalog.
The remarkable spirit and broad purpose of A. G.
Gulbransen's leadership in musical activities, with a
full recognition of the home as the foundation of the
nation is a recital of Mr. Gulbransen's national and
international sponsorship and interest in the develop-
ment and progress of the divine art of music. The
growth of the Gulbransen, a $5,000,000 corporation, is
the founder's vision realized.
The progressive step of the Gulbransen Co. in
issuing this new catalog is a reflection of the improved
quality, now readily apparent in Gulbransen pianos,
such as artistic exterior and the highest musical excel-
lence. The Gulbransen styles and models of pianos,
both upright and grand, are shown in a series of fine
illustrations.
In the catalog the Gulbransen modern and model
plant, occupying two six-story and two three-story
factories with 400,000 square feet of floor space and a
ground area of four and one-half acres, has an effec-
tive illustration, and special reference is made to the
use of the latest and most up-to-date machinery,
manned by skilled craftsman to produce a piano
worthy of the name of Gulbransen.
AMERICAN PIANO CO.
CREDITORS PAID IN FULL
No Concern is Better
Equipped to Meet
the Requirements of
Dealers and no Piano
is More Adaptable to
the Climate of any
Country; Due to its
Unique Features of
Construction.
For Particulars, Write to
MATHUSHEK PIANO MFG. CO.
Alexander Ave. and 132nd St.
NEW YORK, N. Y.
The Irving Trust Co., of New York, has mailed
checks to all creditors of the American Piano Co.
for the final dividend, representing payment in full
of their claims. The receivership had lasted for
approximately one year.
The recent order made by Judge Coxe, authorizing
a third and final payment of 25 per cent in addition to
the 75 per cent already paid, constitutes a record in
receivership administration by the Irving Trust Co.
in that it is the first case handled by that company as
official receiver for the United States District Court
for the Southern District of New York in which cred-
itors have received 100 cents on the dollar in cash.
It is believed that not only were the moneys in
the hands of the receiver sufficient to pay all the
claims in full and expenses of administration, but
that there will be a surplus remaining which will be
turned over to the American Piano Corporation to
which such surplus is payable in accordance with the
offer made for the purchase of the assets of the Amer-
ican Piano Co. in June, 1930.
Moneys for the payment of creditors of the Ameri-
can Piano Co. resulted largely from the sale in June,
1930, of assets of that company to the reorganized
company, the American Piano Corporation, for $1,-
423,167 in cash and assumption by the latter company
of liabilities aggregating in the neighborhood of $3,-
000,000. These liabilities assumed by the American
Piano Corporation were classified as over $2,000,000
for pending lawsuits, miscellaneous liabilities in excess
of $700,000 and liabilities for a considerable amount
for lease contracts alreadv made.
THE NEW LYON & HEALY PIANO
Full-page advertisements in the great Chicago
dailies with artistic lay-outs tell the public about the
advent of the new Lyon & Healy piano—is advertised
as new in scale, new in models and new throughout.
These announcements are really the baptism of the
present Lyon & Healy instrument, which is expected
to create a furore in sales at all Lyon & Healy stores.
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