Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
king, president of the piano house at Indian-
apolis, bearing his name, contains a choice
sentiment of friendship and good will. Frank
says: "In my book of life are choice pages
marked of those I esteem and wish to remem-
ber. And so to you I wish you prosperity and
happiness."
* * *
Dr. Win. H. Johnson, superintendent of Chi-
cago Public Schools, has put into effect new
plan, beginning with the February term, when
students will be given credit for music toward
graduation, formerly done without credit.
* * *
There has been coming to Presto-Times for
a long while a holiday check. The one this
year is number 1937, and calls for "365 days of
health, happiness and prosperity." Presto-
Times feels very grateful to get this remit-
tance, because we know that, coming from
one of the finest houses in the trade, it will be
followed during the year by other checks,
which, although they represent the "filthy
lucre" will also be acceptable. But this one
stands out to represent those good things that
are priceless, for money cannot buy them.
Jan.-Feb., 1937
inspected and some piano manufacturers insist pretty strongly that, as one manu-
facturer says, "not one but several of their instruments should be on display in
the store of every dealer.'*
* * * *
Referring back to the use of the word "grand" in advertising the vertical scale
pianos and applying the word to this type of piano it is supposed that had the manu-
facturers who were cited defended the use of the term and not have compromised
with Federal Trade Commission authorities then all manufacturers could have so
described other pianos of their manufacture beside the triangular, then vertical
grand, then upright grand, then minuet grand, etc., as they have been described
for years past.
The Federal Trade Commission assumes that the word "grand" is regarded as
meaning the triangular instrument, having horizontal scale or of similar construc-
tion as the triangular shape instrument.
The piano and general musical instrument manufacturing and retail business of three
years ago offers a contrast to the years following. Three years ago faint rays of better con-
ditions in the business began to glimmer through. Two years ago more sunshine brightened
things up. One year ago the piano and general music industry started the real upward move,
which today has reached a level equal, with some of the houses, to the "prosperity days," and
with several exceeding those days; such houses having been in position to take up and develop
businesses neglected by others that did not keep up in the forward march.
*
*
*
•
The exceptionally successful concerns that are still going today are manufacturing better
pianos than ever; many of their instruments are of new design and equipped with improve-
ments, as befits musical requirements. They are going concerns because they were stronger,
Let any one in or out of the trade try to purchase more vigorous and had the ability to carry on. Not only did they have greater resources, but
a small used upright piano ; a model of a height they were manned by men of greater resourcefulness and persistence. Men of intense con-
so it could be called a fairly modern instrument. centration. The excellence of their products shows that.
1 le will discover that it is almost impossible to
Now with the depression gone, and better wages in many lines of work, the outlook
purchase such an instrument in Chicago and the improves from week to week. For buying power is in proportion to the incomes of men and
rule probably holds good in other metropolitan women.
cities and in fact all over the country. A prospec-
tive buyer is told that there are really no small
Closing the sale is the big thing in piano sell- trade in general. It is an appeal to dealers to join
uprights like the studio and other models of the
ing
; the main stunt, so to speak. The price of the the Association and the arguments for member-
4' 3" to 4' 6" height. There are uprights of the
old type 4' 8" and on up to 5 feet and more but if instrument should be an incident proposition ship are many and forceful. Mr. Mennie has
one must have a small upright you will probably which should not be allowed to stick out promi- done a remarkable piece of work in behalf of
have to be put on the waiting list. With a good nently until the deal is practically a "foregone the Association in this effort.
* * *
many prospective piano purchasers the new model conclusion."
* * *
The story of the career of David Sarnoff.
consoles and verticals do not meet just the fancy
If you have a piano in stock on the floor which president of the Radio Corporation of America,
of these other customers who are looking for a
has been there longer than the rest of the instru- is interesting and inspiring. Mr. Sarnoff began
small upright.
ments, that is the one to sell first. If it is a good his radio career in 1906 as an office boy with the
* * *
one. so much the more reason and the easier you American Marconi Company, predecessor of R.
That sprightly little publication, "The Gulbran- can make it move. Don't be too anxious to earn- C. A. Quickly mastering the telegraph code he
scn Monthly Bulletin" pertinently asks, "What over an instrument because you think it is an was made a junior operator the following year,
are the dealers doing for publicity in cooperation adornment to the stock.
and in 1908 he was placed in charge of the com-
with the l^awrence Selz Agency? which is car-
* * *
pany's wireless station on Nantucket Island.
rying on a piano publicity program in which the
Speaking of ideals in the field of manufactur- While there, young Sarnoff, then only 17, studied
music dealers are asked to contribute and do their ing and industry, Mr. Karl Shinkman, president every book in an extensive radio library and be-
share. Hence the bulletin asks the question, "What of the York Band Instrument Company, Grand came so proficient in his work that the next year
are the dealers doing for publicity?" The Bulle- Rapids, Mich., says: "Ideals get into manufac- found him as manager of the Marconi station at
tin has taken this subject seriously and devotes turing the same as in other human activity. And Sea Gate, New York.
about a page to analyzing the proposition, the it is right that they should! For instance, the
* * *
final conclusion being that there must be coopera- YORK IDEAL is NOT to build MORE instru-
The American Library Service. 133 W. 47th
tion between dealer and the source of supply ments, but rather to build BETTER instru-
St., New York City, specializes in rare and out
which furnishes the piano publicity wherewithal ments."
of print books on the piano such as, for instance.
to carry on the campaign.
* * *
"Technical Study in the Art of Pianoforte Play-
Why could not a piano savings receptacle : a ing," by C. A. Ehrenfechter. published in Lon-
* * *
piano savings bank be used in the music trade :
An interesting syndicate story is going the a little money box similar to those put out by don in 1890; "Technique and Expression in Pi-
rounds of the press about Gilbert White the noted savings institutions, noticeably at Holiday time. anoforte Playing," by F. Taylor, London, 1900;
artist and mural painter who was living at Ma- These money saving boxes could be marked "The History of the Pianoforte—With an Ac-
drid, Spain, at the outbreak of the Civil War in "Piano Money" or "Payment Money" and left count of the Theory of Sound," by Edgar Brins-
that country and who continued to reside there with prospective customers. The first contents mead; Alfred Dolge's volume. "Pianos and Their
during most of the war. Gilbert White is a brother could be used as a first payment and subsequent Makers." and the late Daniel Spillane's "History
of the author and novelist. Stewart Edward monthly savings as specified installment payments. of the American Pianoforte," are listed as entire-
ly out of print and scarce.
White, and of the violin virtuoso. Julian White.
If
the
purchase
is
postponed
until
some
future
These three eminent personages have had for a
long time close and intimate friendships with period a good sized first payment could be made. THE WORLD'S LARGEST PIANIST AT THE
WORLD'S SMALLEST PIANO
men associated with the music industries. They Even if a bank would occasionally fall into the
are nephews of the late C. A. Daniell, for many hands of some rival house the concern furnishing
Under the above caption. London papers gave
years one of the editors of this paper. Incidental- the little bank would get the bulk of the trade
stories
of the playing by Vladimir Cernikoff at a
thus
created.
ly the birthplace of Stewart Edward White,
piano
playing
exhibition given at the Olympia. at
* * *
the elder of the three brothers, is the house
London. Pictures were taken of this eminent piano
An
interesting
assortment
of
printed
matter
on
now owned and occupied as the home of
player showing his immense size and avoirdupois
Charles Stanley at Grand Haven. Mich., which the activities of the National Association of Mu- performing at a Minipiano at this exposition. Nu-
city was the early home of Mr. White, the sic Merchants prepared by W. A. Mennie, exec- merous other artists of fame appeared at this enter-
lumberman, who later moved to Grand Rapids, utive secretary, comes to us from his office. tainment, playing and using the Minipiano in song,
Along with this is a circular letter to the music chorus and recital.
Mich.
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