Music Trade Review -- © mbsi.org, arcade-museum.com -- digitized with support from namm.org
DECEMBER 3, 1927
The Music Trade Review
Sohmer & Co. Announce New Four Feet,
Ten Inch Grand Piano for the New Year
Instrument, Which Will be Known as the Sohmer "Primrose" Grand, to Be in Two-
Tone Mahogany and Antique Walnut as Well as in Three Period Styles
of the important events definitely
O NE scheduled
for the New Year will be the
introduction to the piano trade and piano pur-
chasing public of a new small grand of the
strictly high-grade class coming within the five
feet compass. The new instrument, as a mat-
ter of fact, measures but four feet ten inches in
length and bears the distinguished name of
Sohmer which can be accepted as definite assur-
ance of the soundness of the principles followed
in both its design and construction.
Sohmer & Co. have chosen the name "Prim-
rose" to designate this new addition to their
line. In scale design the instrument is in no
sense a compromise nor an adaptation of a
large scale to meet a market demand. On the
contrary, it is the result of over two years
of careful thought and experiment on the part
of Harry J. Sohmer and his staff of technicians
and factory experts.
His ambition, which a
hearing of the first instruments to come through
more than shows he has achieved, was to de-
velop an entirely new instrument along truly
scientific lines, embodying the recognized
Sohmer tonal and structural standards despite
the limitations which confronted him.
The Primrose grand is almost revolutionary
in the matters of case design, soundboard area,
string lengths, etc., with a tone quality re-
markable for its roundness, smoothness and
depth, coupled with a lightness of touch and
responsiveness which has delighted the pianists
who have tested it. In handling the lines of its
case, an eye effect of length has been achieved
comparable with that of a much larger grand,
thus eliminating that "stubbiness" often found
in small grands where the case has been
widened in the back to take care of string
lengths.
It was in 1884, nearly half a century ago, that
Hugo Sohmer perfected and introduced to the
public the noted Sohmer Cupid grand, said to
have been the first successful small grand pro-
duced and which, both with the musical
authority and layman, has maintained its origi-
nal popularity since that time. The changes
which have taken place in the American home,
with the demand not only for richer furnish-
ings but for home equipment that will go into
more compact spaces, particularly with the
growing popularity of the apartment as a
dwelling place, have naturally been recognized
by Sohmer & Co., as they have been recognized
by others, and in this newest addition to the
Sohmer grand line is the proof of that recog-
nition.
The regular model is beautifully cased in two-
tone mahogany and antique walnut. Prepara-
tions have been made to provide, as soon as
possible, three period styles in the new Prim-
rose model, namely, Queen Anne, Florentine
and Hepplewhite, all designed with character-
istic Sohmer thoroughness so evident in the
larger period styles. As production facilities
for the new model are increased, other period
styles will be added.
replacement parts as may be required for Welte-
Mignon (Licensee) reproducing actions or such
service as may become necessary will be avail-
able to all dealers and owners of reproducing
pianos equipped with our mechanism.
"We are making plans to promote more ag-
The many admirers of the Sohmer will ap-
preciate the opportunity of securing the Prim-
rose grand to meet their present-day require-
ments, particularly as it has been created by the
members of the Sohmer family and by those
a.i>ucia.cd wall and inspired by the ideals from
Hugo Sohmer, the founder of the house and the
creator of Sohmer tonal and structural stand-
ards.
The new Sohmer Primrose grand will be
shipped to dealers soon after the first of the
year. Those who have been privileged to in-
spect the new instruments exhibited privately
at the Sohmer warerooms in West Fifty-
seventh street, New York, are enthusiastic not
only over the beauty of design and performance
but over the sales possibilities as well.
Welte (Licensee) Not
Connected With Welte, Inc.
W. C. Heaton, of Auto Pneumatic Action Co.,
Explains Misapprehension Over Equity Re-
ceivership of Welte Co., Inc.
W. C. Heaton, president of the Auto Pneu-
matic Action Co., New York, manufacturer of
the Welte-Mignon
(Licensee)
reproducing
player-action, stated to The Review this week
that he had received several telegrams since
the "receivership in equity" proceedings of the
Welte Co., Inc., successor to the Estey-Welte
Corp., 695 Fifth avenue, New York, which has
led him to believe that there is some confusion
in the minds of dealers and prospects as to
the relationship the Auto Pneumatic Action Co.
has had with the Welte Co., Inc.
"In order, therefore, to avoid further con-
fusion," said Mr. Heaton, "I wish to state that
the Auto Pneumatic Action Co., of 653 West
Fifty-first street, New York City, is the maker
of the Welte-Mignon (Licensee) reproducing
action, a mechanism installed in the reproducing
pianos manufactured by makers of high-grade
pianos, and that our company has never had
any association or affiliation, either in capital
or management, with any Welte concern ex-
cepting a patent license arrangement on a
royalty basis that provided us with an irrev-
ocable and perpetual license to the unrestricted
use of the basic internationally renowned
Welte-Mignon reproducing piano patents and
devices.
"The Auto Pneumatic Action Co. also con-
trols, in conjunction with its subsidiary, the
DeLuxe Reproducing Roll Corp., the exclusive
right to manufacture Welte-Mignon and De-
Luxe reproducing records, and wishes to give
the wholesale and retail trade full assurance
that the incomparable library of music record-
ings, available exclusively for pianos equipped
with the Welte-Mignon (Licensee), will not
only be maintained, but continually extended,
as in the past.
"There need be no fear or doubt that such
W. C. Heaton
gressively than ever during 1928 the reproducing
mechanism manufactured by our corporation
-and will shortly make announcement of our
promotion plans for the coming year that will
make the Welte-Mignon (Licensee) franchise of
greater importance than ever before to the
dealer."
Greenville Co. Moved
GREENVILLE, O., November 28.—Harry Barry and
Loren Hussey, proprietors of the Greenville
Piano Co., have completed a deal for a new
location at 539 Broadway, which building they
have purchased. After some alterations the
new owners moved their store in to the build-
ing. The two men have been identified with
the piano business here for the past ten years.
When they, together with W. S. Hyer, now
deceased, opened a small piano store in March,
1919, in Broadway, growth of business was
rapid. In 1924 Mr. Hyer retired from the busi-
ness and since that time the store has been
known as the Greenville Piano Co. In the new
location the company has a greatly enlarged
radio section.
Sherman Music Co. Chartered
The Sherman Music Co., Inc., Sherman, Tex.,
has been incorporated recently with a capital
stock of $5,000; the incorporators are S. 15.
Lackland, W. G. Leeman and A. C. Carson, Jr.
Michael Dizinno, prominent local musician,
has opened a new music store in Brookville,
Pa., handling a general line of musical mer-
chandise.
ilk
7.
—-_-—
ESTABLISHED 1862
NEWARK N. J.
^
•I
ONE OF AMERICA'S FINE PIANOS
•T"
GRANDS
UPRIGHTS
THE LAUTER-HUMANA
"EE: