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PRESTO-TI MES
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1TOTXME!
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Editor
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 0234.
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Entered as second-class matter April 9, 1932, at the
Post Office at Chicago, 111., under act of March 3, 1879.
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Jan.-Feb.. 1934
PRESTO PUBLISHING CO.
Publishers
417 So. Dearborn St.
Chicago, 111.
lication day to insure preferred position. Full page dis-
play copy should be in hand three days preceding publi-
cation day. Want advertisements for current issue, to
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Address all communications for the editorial or business
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Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
The last form of Presto-Times goes to press at 11 a. m
three days 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
that date. If they concern the interests of manufactur-
ers or dealers such items will appear the issue following.
CHICAGO, JAN.-FEB., 1934
FEDERAL ACTION FOR DISPOSAL OF LEISURE TIME
J he momentous question of what the great mass of people in this country are going to do
with their leisure time, on account of the short work day, is now before the Nation.
Many valuable suggestions have been made by competent authorities who have studied this
subject
and given serious thought to a solution of an important problem. Among- these author-
Copies of the codes submitted governing music
trades industries: piano manufacturing, musical in-
ities Presto-Times cites Harry Edward Freund, publicist of national and international reputa-
struments, supplies, etc., music publishing, music mer-
tion who is well known to members of the music industries and the musical profession and
chants, may be had so far as already prepared or in
who
has submitted his views and suggestions to President Franklin D. Roosevelt to be car-
type by addressing either the Superintendent of Docu-
ments, Room 3316, Dept. of Commerce, or National
ried out when the New Deal is in full swing. Here is Mr. Freund's suggestion :
Recovery Administration for attention of A. R. For-
"Establish a department of education at Washington with a special division de-
bush, Chief of Correspondence Division, Washington,
voted to music and the appointment of a Minister of Fine Arts in the President's Cab-
D. C.
inet. This action would develop education and culture on a federal scale and would
improve conditions for leisure and learning and will tend to formulate and carry out a
The current issue of the Presto Buyer's Guide will
be of great aid and value to dealers, in keeping them
vital step for the real happiness of the Nation."
posted concerning changes in own factory production
From the White House at Washington, Mr. Freund has received this acknowledgment:
brought about by economic conditions.
Competition is keen and the status of name, loca- "The President has received your letter. He has asked me to thank you for writing and to
tell you of his appreciation of your kindness in sending your views and suggestions to him."
tion and origin of production is undergoing such
drastic changes, that it behooves every dealer to keep
Presto-Times is of the opinion that now is the opportune time for members of the music
posted.
Industry to interest their senators and congressmen in this proposal and to use all possible in-
fluence for the successful consummation of the idea.
Some say the family reed organ will begin coming
into use and there are indications of this in various
sections of the country. There are localities where
this once popular instrument, a splendid preludio to WILL GOVERNMENT CONTROL LIMIT NUMBER OF PIANO PLANTS?
the acquirement of a piano in a home, is being sold
to some considerable extent and many families pos-
Presto-Times has been informed that the Government under the NRA code has had a
sessing pianos have added organs to their homes;
some placed in the studio, others in the nursery, and research, made among other industries, of the piano industry, in which as being one of the
the playing of an organ as a change in recreation to
plants where the capacity of output far exceeds the volume of business and the demand.
piano playing is always pleasant and profitable.
The natural result is that several plants are operating at a loss, more or less serious, and
profit under this condition with the losing factories is impossible, ruinous competition is forced
A writer to a daily newspaper makes this inquiry:
and as report says, "the industry is in real danger of financial collapse," to loss of all con-
"How about price cutting and even offering goods at
cerned.
a price known to be less than cost, by NRA mem-
The report goes on further to say:
bers?"
Applying this inquiry as if it were addressed to one
"The result of this national action will be to eliminate certain plants and lead to a
in the piano business it will be observed that the
concentration of others, but not along the lines of a merger."
NRA code permits dealers to advertise and sell pianos
at cost and even at less than cost if the instruments
they so advertise are becoming unsalable and are dif-
ficult to move; instruments that have been on their
The piano holds its own in radio broadcasting and continues to maintain the position as
floors for a great length of time. In other words
the central and dominating figure in musical expression and on musical programs. Even the
there is nothing in the NRA code, in act or in princi-
other features on the air: the drama, stories, recitations, speeches, do not seem to be complete
ple nor in any law, that can prevent a dealer from
selling slow moving merchandise at a sacrifice, provid-
without music and musical rendition not complete and satisfying without the piano. Yes, the
ing he first takes it up with the code authority.
piano aids radio.
* * * *
Presto-Times has already referred to the condition
of great disparity in the losses of radio companies as
Jt seems to be an undeniable statement to say that the radio has aided the sale of phono-
compared with piano manufacturing and other musical
graph records, and also the sheet music business, though in perhaps a less degree. One hears
instrument businesses, but it might be emphasized
that piano manufacturers ought to feel a sort of con- a song, an instrumental composition broadcast, and if the selection pleases, a copy of the pub-
contentment when they realize that such great radio
lication or the record, so that it may be listened to at leisure and perhaps committed to mem-
concerns as the RCA report a loss of over one and ory, will be purchased. Here, then, again the radio serves a good purpose.
three-quarters million dollars for nine months or well
over two million dollars for the year. No regular
musical instrument manufacturing industry can com-
pare with this tremendous loss.
*=#—*•-
When Jose Iturbi played the Liszt Concerto on
the program of the Detroit Symphony Orchestra re-
cently he was introduced by the conductor of the
Orchestra as "one of the great and outstanding
pianists of the day." Certainly a remarkable tribute
to Senor Iturbi!
With the Century of Progress Exposition to be re-
peated this year and the effort to still keep Chicago
the great convention city of the country through 1934,
what will be the decision on the 1934 Music Trade
A prominent piano man—conservative and far-sighted, is
quoted as saying:—
"The piano business has been thru hell, but we are
on the eve of a great revival"!
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