Presto

PIANO SHIPMENTS
ANNIVERSARIES
TARG & DINNER INC., TWENTIETH
ANNIVERSARY
A Splendid Record
IN MAY OF 1920, three genial young men, Samuel Targ, Max
Targ, and Solomon Dinner, having some experience in the
retail music business, humbly began in a modest way, to
serve the music dealers. Being rather shy of resources, that
is financial ones, the line of merchandise they had for sale
was comparatively small and their efforts were confined to
Metropolitan Chicago.
Started With Phonographs
At the beginning, they wholesaled only phonographs and
phonograph accessories. Later they secured the distribution
of Emmerson phonograph records and within a few years be-
came acknowledged factors in the distribution field. With the
advent of radio, the phonograph business saw a rapid decline.
Being young, progressive, forward looking businessmen with
some dealer following by this time they were urged to take
on a line of musical merchandise. Soon their industriousness
and advancement became known in the industry. Manufactur-
ers and importers offered various lines to them for distribution.
This expansion caused them to move from small quarters
on Chicago Avenue to the Loop on Randolph and Franklin,
where they occupied a loft of about 3000 sq. ft. Shortly after
this they issued their first catalogue consisting of 32 pages.
Soon they extended their sales efforts to include all central
western states. All three members of the firm and a salesman
covered the territory. That salesman, Mr. David Wexler, and
the original trio are still actively engaged in the firm.
Now Do National Business
In about 1928 Targ & Dinner moved to their present loca-
tion at Wabash Avenue occupying the second and third floors.
For the past several years their business has extended all
over the United States with a sales force of six men. The mem-
bers of the firm still retain small territories. The company is
quite crowded now for space. Their last three or four cata-
logues set the standard for cataloging in the music industry.
Regular bulletins and circulars are issued periodically.
The stock of musical merchandise is as complete as that
of any wholesaler in the United States. Targ & Dinner have
the distribution of nationally prominent lines. They enjoy a
good business on their exclusive trade mark products.
PIANO SHIPMENTS FOR MARCH
The following information has just been received from Mr.
W. A. Mennie, secretary of the National Piano Manufacturers
Association of America. The piano industry is showing con-
tinued increases.
GRANDS
UPRIGHTS
8,592 (83.96%)
7,796 (82.05%)
1940
1939
1,641 (16.04%)
1,705 (17.95%)
TOTAL
10,233
9,501
Shipments for March 1940 were:
732 or 7.70% more than March 1939
3,143 or 44.33% more than March 1938.
At the end of March 1940, Unfilled Orders on Hand as
compared with the same time in 1939 and 1938 were:
UPRIGHTS
1940
1939
1938
3,502
3,242
1,692
GRANDS
831
502
591
TOTAL
4,333
2,744
2,283
This shows an increase in orders of 57.91% over one year
ago.
NEW GRAND OPERA IN CHICAGO
THERE HAS BEEN an important reorganization in grand opera
in Chicago. The Civic Grand Opera Company has a new name
and new officers. The new name is the Chicago Opera Com-
pany. The new officers are Chauncey McCormick, Chair-
man; Mayor Edward J. Kelly, honorary chairman; and Walter
R. Kirk, president.
Mr. McCormick, who heads the new board, is a newcomer
to the opera house; in an official capacity, that is. He long has
been a noted patron of the arts and now is vice-president of
the Art Institute of Chicago. As such, he succeeded single
handed in bringing the Italian art masterpieces to Chicago
recently. That is the $18,000.00 exhibit, one of which was the
original of the picture on the front cover of this number of
Presto Music Times.
He also was one of the original eight founders and trustees
of A Century of Progress.
Officers of the Corporation
The officers of the firm are Samuel Targ, President, Max
Targ, Treasurer, and Solomon Dinner, Secretary. The firm's
name was changed in 1930 from Targ & Dinner Music Co., a
partnership, to a corporation, and is now known as Targ &
Dinner Inc. The company employs 26 people. The position of
this corporation in the music trades is one of first rank. Mr.
Max Targ says: "We are dedicated with unceasing effort to
maintain our reputation. In all modesty and sincerity, we are
crediting our success to 1 hard work; 2 tireless effort and
timeless devotion; 3 the sincere desire to serve the dealers
better; 4 a fair and honorable attitude to the sources of supply;
5 foresightedness, ability, and readiness to seize upon innova-
tions."
PRESTO MUSIC TIMES extends its heartiest congratulations
to Targ & Dinner Inc. and wishes the Corporation continued
business success and each individual member of it health and
happiness in his work.
PAGE
FOURTEEN
M. STEINERT
& SONS 80th
ANNIVERSARY
A New Steinert Hall in Springfield
The following announcement was just received by air-
mail as we were going to press.
"On Wednesday, May 1, 1940, we propose to celebrate the
80th anniversary of our entrance into the piano business and
the 50th year of our Springfield, Massachusetts, establish-
ment, by dedicating a new Steinert Hall building at 1233 Main
Street, Springfield, devoted exclusively to the music business.
" 'Open House' will be held at the new store on that day
and festivities will close with a stag dinner at the Long-
meadow County Club in the evening."
Jerome F. Murphy.
PRESTO MUSIC TIMES
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