Presto

Jan.-Feb., 1933
PRESTO-TIMES
THE NEW FINE ARTS BUILDING AND SCHOOL OF MUSIC OF THE LOUISIANA STATE UNIVERSITY, BATON ROUGE,
LA., WHERE BALDWIN AND BALDWIN-MADE PIANOS ARE USED.
PRECEPT AND ADVICE WORTH FOLLOWING
OHIO MUSIC MERCHANTS' ASSN.
FIGHTS TO UPHOLD OHIO LAW PRO-
HIBITING SALE BY TEACHERS
BALDWIN MAXIMS INSPIRE COURAGE
At a called meeting of the officers, executives and
advisory committees of the Ohio Music Merchants'
Association the following officers were elected:
President—Carl E. Summers, Jackson, Ohio.
Vice Pres.—Harry R. Valentine, Cleveland, Ohio.
Treasurer—Marie C. Addleman, Akron, Ohio.
Secretary—Clark F. Gross, Springfield, Ohio.
Executive Committees: Leslie Stewart, Columbus,
Ohio, Chairman; F. W. Troty, Kent, Ohio; Philip
Wyman, Cincinnati, Ohio; Howard W. Smith, East
Liverpool, Ohio; Omer E. Westerfield, Greenville,
Ohio.
Portsmouth, Ohio, was selected for the 1933 con-
vention to be held on Monday and Tuesday, Septem-
ber 11 and 12, 1933.
The Ohio Association has been working strenu-
ously to uphold the Ohio state law prohibiting the
sale of musical instruments, publications, by school
authorities or by teachers, to their pupils. This stat-
ute, section 7718, bearing the caption, "Who Shall
Not Be Sales Agent for Text Books or Supplies,"
reads as follows:
"A superintendent, supervisor, principal or teacher
employed by the board of education in the state shall
not act as sales agent, either directly or indirectly, for
any person, firm or corporation whose school text
books are filed with the superintendent of public in-
struction as provided by law, or for school apparatus
or equipment of any kind for use in the public schools
of the state. A violation of this provision shall work
a forfeiture of their certificates to teach in the public
schools of Ohio."
In accordance with this statute the following reso-
lution was passed and a copy sent out by Secretary
Charles F. Gross to all teachers, supervisors, princi-
pals and superintendents in all state controlled in-
stitutions of Ohio.
At a meeting of the officers, executives and advisory
committees of the Music Merchants Association of
Ohio, held at the Deshler-Wallick Hotel in Colum-
bus, Ohio, it was unanimously voted that a copy of
the Ohio law prohibiting the sale of musical instru-
ments by school authorities or teachers as per Section
7718, School Law of Ohio, that a warning should be
issued to every teacher, superintendent, supervisor
and principal in all state controlled institutions in
Ohio. Further advising their secretary to thoroughly
investigate every complaint and receive affidavits from
the purchaser and start proceedings for the immediate
forfeiture of the certificates to teach in the public
schools of Ohio, for any infraction of the law as above
stated.
Former Attorney General Bettman, in a recent rul-
ing, has held that this law is constitutional. Also the
State Board of Education agrees to exercise every
effort to prosecute those guilty of any infraction of
this code.
The Baldwin Piano Company in advices and sug-
gestions to its own dealers in particular and of like
import to the piano trade in general presents in suc-
cinct form a bulletin of advice containing food for
thought and which, "taken to heart," is an inspiration
to any salesman or merchant who is aiming at suc-
cess.
One of these trite sayings is:
And another:
"From today's plans come tomorrow's business."
"Successful selling today is to a great extent a
job of personal selling."
Then this story to the dealer goes on to say that
newspaper advertising, direct mail advertising and all
similar advertising are quite necessary to one's busi-
ness but personal contact is an achievement worth
striving for. "Selling yourself personally to people
who are most likely to know of or to hear of pro-
spective customers and who are in a position to in-
fluence their choice is," they say, "vital to the success
of one's business."
Undoubtedly this friendly advice from headquarters
has been an inspiration for Baldwin dealers to do the
things they are doing, that is to say, "DO THINGS,"
and keep in the van of piano selling activities.
Recently Presto-Times invited two or three of its
correspondents to give special reports on any impor-
tant piano selling movement that might come to
their attention and as far as such information might
be obtainable.
One of these correspondents relates an interesting
story of the purchase by the Louisiana State Univer-
sity, Baton Rouge, Louisiana, of a "battery of Bald-
win-made instruments" in which institution about one
hundred Baldwin grands and Hamilton uprights are
in use, seventy of which have been sold to the Uni-
versity within the last eighteen months. These in-
clude fifty Hamilton uprights, eighteen Baldwin
smaller grands and two Baldwin concert grands. This
sale was made through the Baldwin piano shop of
Baton Rouge and mainly through the personal efforts
of J. T. Middleton and his brother, known as the
"Middleton Boys" and who are proprietors of the
business at Baton Rouge.
Mr. J. T. Middleton informs the Presto-Times cor-
respondent that the Louisiana State University has
just completed a $650,000 building to house their
school of music. An illustration of this building ap-
pears above on this page of Presto-Times.
This building is conceded to be one of the most
complete school structures in America and that the
Music School of this University is a very important
institution, having at the present time approximately
three hundred and fifty music students, one hundred
of which are working for a degree in music this year,
it is plain to be seen that this celebrated Louisiana
institution will send out many teachers of music for
the public schools and other educational institutions
of the country.
"The history of this school of music is exceedingly
interesting," says Mr. Middleton. "In 1915, Col.
Thomas D. Boyd, then President of the University,
whose long and able administration is a tradition in
the state, decided to establish a Department of Mu-
sic."
The organization and development of this depart-
ment was entrusted to Dr. Henry Wallace Stopher,
of Indiana, whose picture is shown in the illustration
herewith. As Director of Music, Dr. Stopher"s duties
were to take charge of the university band, organize
an orchestra, train and conduct the glee club, conduct
the music in chapel three times a week, and organize
classes in public school music.
The Louisiana State University is a grand institu-
tion and its music department one of the most thor-
ough and up-to-date of any institution of the kind
anywhere, at home or abroad.
The illustrations accompanying this story show, in
the upper view the magnificent Fine Arts Building
and School of Music of which Professor Carleton
Liddle is the head of the piano department. Of the
tw r o lower views, the one at the left illustrates a row
of Hamilton uprights used in the practice rooms of
the music school; on the right three Baldwin grands
are shown with Professor Liddle seated at one of
them on the occasion of his visit to the Baldwin fac-
tories at Cincinnati, where he went to select two
Baldwin concert grands for the school. The center
photograph is that of Dr. Henry Wallace Stopher,
head of the department of music.
Certainly the Middleton brothers must be credited
with having done an outstanding piece of piano sell-
ing in their territory; a piece of work that piano men
everywhere will congratulate them upon.
NO OCCASION FOR ALARM
PRESIDENT WEEKS HONORED IN HIS
HOME TOWN
Presto-Times has received several letters from
dealers through the country denouncing the so-called
purchase of foreign-made musical instruments, more
particularly the Bechstein instruments containing the
John Hays Hammond patents for use at the great
New York City Radio Center playhouse. One of
these communications is from a well known expert
piano builder and piano technician whose article
throughout is severe against the purchase in this
country of foreign made goods at a time when the
"Buy American" slogan stares us in the face on all
sides.
Presto-Times will not publish this interesting com-
munication at this time because, evidently, there is no
reason for alarm over the Bechstein radio tryout.
Edwin R. Weeks, President of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants has been knighted—at
least he has been honored by receiving the highest
decoration which is within the power of the mayor
of the city of Binghamton, New York, to confer.
It appears that recently on the birthday anniver-
sary of Miles M. Smith, Mayor of Binghamton, Mr.
Weeks extended birthday greetings to him in his
daily broadcast from station W N B F in the form of
an original ode.
Mayor Smith made proper acknowledgment. The
following excerpt is quoted from a letter addressed
to Mr. Weeks by the Mayor under date of February
10. 1933:
"I am of the opinion that your wit, wisdom and
pleasant verse have earned for you the exalted title
of Poet Laureate of Binghamton, and while my power
of appointment is limited, I do make this appoint-
ment, firm in the belief that it will not be annulled.
Your credentials will follow in due time.
"Again I wish to express my appreciation of the
honor you have done me, and thank you for your
sincere good wishes, which are reciprocated by
"Your good friend,
"(MILES M. S M I T H ) "
THE EMICON ON THE AIR
The Emicon, the mono-tone key board instrument
produced by Pratt Read & Co., Deep River, Conn., is
featured through station WENR, Chicago, by Whit-
ey Berquist and Harry Buddinger, who use the in-
strument in association with an orchestra conducted
by Morgan L. Eastman.
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