Music Trade Review

Issue: 1914 Vol. 58 N. 7

Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
J. W. WHEELER BANQUETED.
C. C. HAWES CLOSING OUT STORE.
City Sales Manager of the Starr Piano Co. Re-
signs to Go West and His Fellow Employes
Give Him Pleasing Send-off—A. J. Wathy
Assumes Mr. Wheeler's Position.
Weil-Known Portland, Me., Dealer to Enter
M a n u f a c t u r i n g End of the Business.
(Special to The Review.)
DETROIT, MICH., February 9.—J. W. Wheeler, for
prietor of the Hawes Music Store, in this city, and
who handles the Emerson, Hallet & Davis, Lud-
wig and other makes of pianos, is closing out the
business and will become connected with a piano
manufacturing company in Rochester, N. Y.
Mr. Hawes has conducted the store here for
several years, having taken it over from his
father, who was one of the most prominent piano
dealers in the State at one time.
two years city sales manager of the Detroit branch
of the Starr Piano Co., and for ten years with the
company in other stores, has resigned to go West.
His action is due to the failing 'health of Mrs.
Wheeler. Mr. Wheeler has been succeeded as city
sales manager by A. W. Wathy, a member of the
sales force ever since the Starr retail store was
opened here.
On the evening of February 5 the sales force
of the Starr store, numbering about fifteen, ten-
dered Mr. Wheeler a farewell banquet, at which
Manager Huttie, on behalf of those present, pre-
sented him with a traveling bag as a token of
regard.
The Starr store is undergoing an early spring
housecleaning in preparation for large shipments
of stock now on the way. Business is steadily
increasing.
FALL BOARD F0RJ3RAND PIANOS.
The Subject of a Patent Just Granted to Charles
Mehlin—Its Essential Features.
WASHINGTON,
(Special to The Review.")
D. C, February 8.—Patent No.
1,085,927 for a fall board for grand pianos was
granted to Charles Mehlin, of Fort Lee, N. J., and
which is particularly adapted to be used on grand
pianos. In constructions hitherto employed it has
been found that when a piano is played the finger
nails of the performer strike the fall board above
the black keys with the result that the fall board
is marred and quickly becomes unsightly by rea-
son of scratches thereon for a distance about three
inches above the keys, and the performer's move-
ments are accordingly interfered with.
It is an object of this invention to provide a
fall board such that the finger nails of the per-
former cannot strike the same when the piano is
in use.
In accordance with the invention the lower or
rear portion of the fall board, when the latter is
in open position, is inclined rearwardly from a line
about three inches above the keys leaving a con-
siderable space to the rear of the black keys, so
that the fall board itself is not struck and marred
by the nails of the performer. In this position
the upper or front portion of the fall board stands
in a substantially vertical position, as usual. The
exposed portion of the keys in the open space
between the black keys and the lower edge of the
fall board may be covered by a key rail of at-
tractive appearance which may be formed in the
shape of a convenient rack for pencils, etc., so that
it combines the qualities of ornamentation and
utility, besides performing its usual function of
limiting the upward movement of the keys.
A further object of the invention is to provide
a fall board which may readily be secured to or
removed from the end boards which support the
same, and that too, without removing the key
blocks at the end of the keyboard as is necessary
in constructions now employed.
YACHT "BOHEMIAN" WRECKED.
Trim Craft Owned by J. P. Simmons, Former
Piano Man of New Orleans and Well Known
to Many Piano Men, a Total Loss.
(Special to The Review.)
NEW ORLEANS, LA., February 7.—The hand-
some power yacht "Bohemian," well known to
many piano men who have enjoyed pleasant hours
on the trim craft as the guests of J. P. Simmons,
who recently retired as president of the Junius
Hart Piano House, was completely destroyed last
week while being taken through the channels to
the Mississippi River preparatory to a cruise.
The engineer and captain of the yacht both es-
caped with slight injuries, but the boat was a total
loss. The boat was valued at $6,000.
11
(Special to The Review.)
PORTLAND, ME., February 9.—C. C. Hawes, pro-
LOWER EXPRESS RATES ON PIANOS.
Lyon & Healy Succeed in Securing Lower
Classification for Concert Grand Pianos.
The petition filed on March 1, 1913, with the In-
terstate Commerce Commission by Lyon & Healy,
Chicago, to have the express rates on concert
grand pianos reduced from one and one-half the
merchandise rate to the single merchandise rate,
has been successful in that the express companies
have agreed to lower the classification of the in-
struments, the new ruling taking effect on Feb-
ruary 1. The new classification and consequently
lower rates apply to all sections of the country,
and means a saving of 33% per cent.
FOUR DEALERS IN ONE BUILDING
In Detroit, Which Is Known as the University
Building, Is Becoming Quite a Piano Center.
DETROIT,
(.Special to The Review.)
MICH., February 9.—The
University
Building is becoming known as a good deal of a
piano center. The opening of the Stanley & Sons
store there makes the fourth institution of the
kind- with headquarters there.
The Clough & Warren Piano Co. has the third
floor for its Detroit branch house; the Stanley
house is on the fourth floor; directly above it is
C. W. Marvin, representing the Kranich & Bach,
and on the sixth floor is E. L. Spencer, handling
the Chase-Hackley Co. line. A fifth piano dealer
applied for space there a few days ago, but there
i;, not a bit of room unoccupied.
SHOULD WATCH LETTERS
Sent to South America and Foreign Countries
for Deficient Postage—Warning from Post-
master-General Burleson Is Timely.
Time and time again reference has been made in
The Review to the complaints which are reaching
the Post-Office Department at Washington re-
garding deficient postage on letters and mail mat-
ter generally, sent to Central and South America.
Postmaster-General Burleson Monday sent out
a warning to postmasters to give widest publicity to
rates of postage and conditions applicable to let-
ters and other articles of Central and South Ameri-
ca and other foreign countries.
Also to regulations requiring collection on de-
livery of short-paid articles of double the amount
of deficient postage.
OTT PIANO CO. IFTNEW QUARTERS.
(Special to The Review.)
AKRON, O., February 9.—The Ott Piano Co.
moved recently into its handsome new quarters
at 190 West Market street, where it has leased
the entire dwelling at that number. The
lower floor of the house has been given over to
attractive piano and player-piano parlors and an
entire new stock of instruments has been in-
stalled.
INCORPORATED. ** ? ^ :
The Storage House Exchange, Chicago, has
been incorporated, with' capital stock of $10,000, to
deal in musical instruments, furniture and other
merchandise. The incorporators are: H. H. Van
Sweringen, IX J. McElherne and J. H. Lewis.
THERE IS!
NO' MYSTERY
about the
Success off
Connorized
Music Rolls
It is simply the re-
sult of the satis-
faction which a
perfected product |
has given the piano
merchant a n d
player p i a n i s t
since its inception.
Our Dealers
realize this.
Become one
of them and
you will, too
Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
12
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
Christman Business Built Up by Originality
Many Achievements of the Christman Piano Go. Have Brought Them Enviable Success—The Remarkable Studio Grand,
Attachable Player Action and Non-Blockable Action Are Christman Creations—How the
Company Has Progressed and Achieved Success.
One of the New York piano manufacturing
houses in which originality has been the watch-
word since its inception is that of the Christman
Piano Co., 597-601 East 137th street. Since the
founding of the Christman business in 1855 by
George J. Christman, President.
Peter Christman, father of the present members
of the firm, there has been a constant development
along individual lines, which has kept the Christ-
man pianos and player-pianos in the front rank
and established for the house a prestige which has
attracted a large following.
The company has been manufacturing pianos and
player-pianos at the present address since 1902,
when it built the extensive factory it occupies.
Tt is here that many of the distinctive achievements
which has been accomplished by the company were
planned, and nursed into reality. At the outset the
standard of quality which was determined for the
manufacturing of the Christman instruments was
one of the highest, and to-day this same standard
is strictly adhered to, and the Christman pianos
and player-pianos are as well known throughout
the country for their tone quality, artistic appear-
ance and superior workmanship as they are for
their unique and individual features.
Retail Department Maintained.
Besides the factory, the company maintains a
wardroom at 35 West Fourteenth street, under the
name of Christman Sons, which has been located
there for many years, and to-day ranks among the
foremost of artistic piano warerooms in New York.
The Christman Piano Co. was the first concern
to put on the market a five-foot 'baby grand piano.
This instrument, which has many distinctive fea-
tures, has become well known throught the trade
as the Christman Studio Grand. For many years
this piano held the distinction of being the smallest
grand piano on the market, and has been a favorite
with dealers, who have found a ready market for
John Christman, Treasurer.
an instrument of this size. This instrument is also
made as a player-piano, in which is incorporated
the Christman player action, which is one of the
most unique actions of its kind.
The Attachable Player.
It is known as the Christman attachable player
action inasmuch, unlike other player mechanisms,
it is constructed for use in any piano, regardless
of shape or size, and can be placed in an old piano
as well as a new one. Dealers all over the country
have found it a most satisfactory mechanism in
many respects, and it has been installed in many
pianos of the highest grade and best-known makes,
some of these having been shipped from the West
to the factory and reshipped to the customers
after installation of the player.
The patents on this action are exclusively con-
trolled by the Christman Piano Co., and it has many
distinctive merits which are individual to that in-
strument. It is equipped
with an automatic music
roll adjuster, resilient at-
tachment and the doors
open, and the pedals
drop into place automat-
ically when the spool
box is placed in position
for playing.
Besides,
there are the usual sus-
taining pedal, soft and
loud buttons and tempo
lever. The mechanism
is compact and can be
easily installed in any
piano without altering
the case.
This house also takes
great pride in its art
cases in Circassian wal-
nut. The designs of the
instruments, which are
original with the house,
have always been attrac-
tive, and in the finishing
of these Circassian wal-
Superintendent Breitenbach Demonstrating Christman Player Grand. nut instruments great care
and time have been devoted to the selection of
veneers, which are beautiful in effect when matched.
On many of these instruments figures of dogs, bears,
rabbits and even human features have been seen,
owing to the peculiar and artistic matching of the
veneers. The finish, the process of which has been
studied for sometime by the members of the firm,
has been mastered to such a degree that it brings
out these figures in strong relief and renders the
case more beautiful, while the finish itself is ab-
solutely permanent.
The Christman Non-Blockable Action.
The latest accomplishment of the members of
the company has been the perfecting of the Christ-
man Non-Blockable Piano Action, which is now
being used in Christman pianos and player-pianos.
This action is constructed without bridle wire or
Henry Christman, Secretary.
tape, and takes up less space in the piano than the
ordinary action. It is made strongly for the hard
use actions are subjected to when used in a player-
piano, and permits of greater repetition. This ac-
tion has been on the market but a few months, but
has become a success with rapidity, dealers having
been strong in their demand for it in the Christman
pianos and player-pianos owing to its many salient
features. In one of the accompanying illustrations
is shown the action as it appears in the piano.
Standing at the left, Louis H. Brietenbach, super-
intendent of the Christman factory, is explain-
ing the merits of the new action. This is the lat-
est achievement of the house of Christman, and is
fast progressing in the same manner as the many
other individual characteristic products of the com-
pany.
The Personnel of the Company.
The executive heads of the company are men who
have been students of the piano manufacturing-
business since their boyhood. George J. Christman,
president of the company, has for many years had
under his supervision the retail department, and
makes his headquarters at the Fourteenth street
store. In the accompanying illustration he is seen
seated in his private office, which has just been
newly fitted up during the last month. The retail
business has always been kept under the name of
Christman Sons, which was the original name of
the company when the present generation took hold
of il. and until they incorporated in 1911. George
Christman is a man of keen business foresight, and
under his wise supervision his department has
progressed with rapidity.
John Christman, treasurer of the company, de-
votes his interests to the factory, and is considered
one of the shrewdest financiers in the piano indus-
try. A man, quiet in nature, his decisions are al-
ways, respected owing to his farsightedness. He,

Download Page 11: PDF File | Image

Download Page 12 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.