Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
The Music Trade Review
SEPTEMBER 4, 1926
Musical Instrument Firms Exhibiting
at the Sesqui-Centennial Exposition
These Include the J. P. Seeburg Piano Co., Chicago; the Estey Piano Co., of New York; M.
Hohner, Inc., and the Theodore Presser Co.
P H I L A D E L P H I A , PA., August 31.—Relief
from the torrid weather and the return of
cooler days brought about a slight spurt in the
demand for musical instruments and particularly
in the piano stocks. This interest while demon-
strated in a few actual orders was also marked
by frequent inquiries for instruments for Fall
deliveries and presaged a brisker business as
soon as the Summer days have passed.
Those dealers and manufacturers having
piano and other musical instruments on display
at the Sesqui-Centennial are beginning to reap
a harvest for their efforts in the interest that is
now being shown by the thousands of visitors
to the exposition grounds in South Philadelphia.
Last week was a particularly good one for the
exhibitors of pianos and other musical instru-
ments. Not only were actual orders listed but
many follow-up prospects were noted for the
coming Fall. The exposition now is practically
completed and the influx of visitors from all
parts of the world is swelling the admissions
to the grounds so that the exhibitors are now
profiting by a lively demand for their wares
featured in the industrial displays in the Palace
of Liberal Arts or in other buildings on the
grounds.
One of the most attractive points in the
Palace of Liberal Arts is the exhibition staged
by the J. P. Seeburg Piano Co., of Chicago, 111.,
The wonderful tones of the newest of organs,
the Celesta de luxe pipe organ, has attracted
crowds to the handsome booth erected for the
displays of the Seeburg organs, orchestrions
and automatic pianos and organs. A fitting
place for the demonstration and exhibition of
the Seeburg instruments is that of the beautiful
booth with its tapestry walls, velvet draperies
and home comforts where visitors may rest
while enjoying the music of the new Cclestra,
or the other types.
The Seeburg exhibit is being conducted by
the local representatives, the Penn Music Co.,
with offices at 1915 Spruce street. The Penn
Music Co. has been especially organized to han-
dle the Seeburg organs and pianos. Its pro-
prietors are M. Greenberg and Joseph S. Ers-
ner, who recently engaged in business for the
purpose of taking over the Philadelphia distribu-
tion of the Seeburg instruments and who arc-
planning to open a display room and local salts
store within the near future. For the present
the displays will be made at the Scsqui-Ccn-
tennial, with Messrs. Greenberg and Ersner in
attendance. The Seeburg instruments formerly
were represented in this city by the firm of
Julius Wellner, whose death several years ago
brought about the changes in the firm. Under
the new representation the territory in south
New Jersey, Delaware and Philadelphia will be
taken care of through the Penn Music Co.
A profitable exhibit at the Sesqui-Centennial
is being conducted by the Estey Piano Co., with
its prominent booth near the entrance to the
Liberal Arts Building exploiting the Estey
pianos and the Welte-Mignon (original). Man-
ager H. J. Skidmore has been credited with the
planning of the attractive and artistic booth.
The booth has been closed in with glass so that
it is made sound proof when a demonstration
is given and is fitted with overstuffed furniture
and harmonizing rugs and draperies. There arc
on exhibition the Estey Queen Anne grand.
Estey miniature upright, in an attractive green
Attract the
Most Critical
Customers
to harmonize with the present-day home fur-
nishings, and the Welte-Mignon (original) re-
producer. Each week a member of the Estey
Philadelphia branch sales organization is in at-
tendance, so that all the staff will be given an
opportunity of demonstrating their sales ability.
With the largest number of harmonicas ever
assembled at a single showing M. Hohner, Inc.,
has a most comprehensive display of its mouth
organs and other musical merchandise. As a
unique feature of the exhibit there is shown the
largest harmonica ever built and measuring four
feet in length with eight keys of various pitches,
and the smallest harmonica measuring a single
inch. A larger corner booth has been secured
in a well-traveled isle of the Liberal Arts Build-
ing. Here are assembled 600 different styles of
harmonicas designed for use by thirty nations
scattered over the globe. Under the direction
of Sales Manager Sydney J. Winfield these are
featured most prominently for public exploita-
tion and advertising for the dealers. These har-
monicas are displayed along with the Hohner
accordions, the Hohner sax and organette, the
latter a combination of accordion and har-
monica, all produced in the mammoth factories
of the Hohner firm at Wurtemberg, Germany.
One of the interesting musical organizations at
the exposition is the Official Harmonica Band
directed by Albert M. Hoxie, and sponsored by
the Philadelphia Music League, with its 1,000
boys who render concerts for various features
of the Sesqui program.
The Theodore Presser Co. is exhibiting its
various musical publications adapted for the
educational side of music. There also are
shown the numerous musical compositions pub-
lished under the Presser name in the Philadel-
phia headquaretrs. An Ivers & Pond piano is
used for demonstration of the Presser music
and daily concerts are given inconjunction with
the exhibition.
Important Patent Decision
on Radio Tuning System
U. S. District Court in Trenton Finds That
Splitdorf Electrical Co. Has Infringed Patent
Granted Alexanderson
TRENTON, N. J. August 25.—A decision of wide-
spread interest to the radio industry was
handed down to-day by" Judge Joseph L. Bodine,
of the United States District Court here, re-
straining the Splitdorf Electrical Co. from using
a patent tuning system in the manufacture of
radio receiving sets and ordering the defendant
concern to make an accounting of profits. The
plaintiffs in the action were the Radio Cor-
poration of American; the General Electric Co.,
and the Western Electric Mfg. Co.
It was claimed by the complainants that they
held exclusive patent rights to the tuning system
through the assignment of the patent granted
on October, 1913, to Ernest F. W. Alexander-
son. The Radio Corporation was licensed to
use the patent by the General Electric Co. The
Splitdorf Co. held that their system was in use
prior to the Alexanderson patent, that the
patent did not comply with the Federal regula-
tions and that the company was licensed to use
the system by the United States Navy Depart-
ment. The court held that the Navy Department
license did not void infringement of the patent
in suit.
It is believed that the decision of Judge Bod-
ine will have a. wide effect on the radio trade
generally, and further moves will be watched
with considerable interest. No notice of appeal
was given.
Sir Henry Hears Vitaphone
Sir Henry Wood, the prominent English or-
chestra leader, who sometime ago gave very
successful concerts at Queens Hall, London,
featuring the Duo-Art piano, and who sometime
ago presented several concerts at Hollywood,
Cal., passed through New York recently on his
way home, and while here was a guest of Her-
man Schaad, of the Aeolian Co. While in New
York Sir Henry was taken by Mr. Schaad to
witness the first presentation of the Vitaphone.
Change in Fond Du Lac
Arnold E. Knop has purchased the interest
of J. A. Sandee in the Badger Music Co., 109
So. Main street, Fond Du Lac, Wis., and will
have associated with him J. C. Turner, well-
known piano and radio artist of Chicago. The
new interests plan to remodel the present store
;md increase the stock. The Brunswick line of
phonographs and records will be featured.
New Repair Firm in Miami
The Miami Piano Rebuilding factory has been
opened at 644 N. E., Second avenue, Miami,
Fla. Members of the company have had long
experience in the work and will specialize in
the repair of pianos and pipe organs, including
voicing, regulating, etc.
The
leased
which
cupied
Densberg Music Shop, Camden, N. J., has
a new and larger building in that city
is now being remodeled and will be oc-
on or about October 1.
The Finest
The World's Leading
Automatic Piano
Considered by
Automatic Piano Dealers as
Containing the Most Highly
Developed Mechanical Con-
struction.
Write for Particulars to
Western Electric
Piano Company
429 W. Superior St.
CHICAGO
AMCO BENCHES
411
SQMTIW Stmd
Cklcac*
:•_
Give the
Best
Satisfaction