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The Music Trade Review
OCTOBER 27, 1928
First Public Presentation of the
Welte-Mignon Musicalle Made in New York
closing of the session of the Heppe Piano Co.
the stockholders of the Philadelphia retail
house of C. J. Heppe & Son also held their an-
nual meeting and re-elected the present officers.
New Product of the Welte-Mignon Corp.Presented Before Distinguished Audience at
the Wehe-Mignon Studios and Enthusiastically Received
Cleveland Association
Discusses Bad Advertising
Topfer, director of the retail sales division of
the company, assisted by John Hanley, manager
of the music roll division. The instrument used
was the Welte-Mignon reproducing piano in
the Louis XVI style.
At First Meeting of Season Local Organization
Condemns Sensational Offerings of Pianos
and Particularly Player-Pianos
' T ' H E first public presentation of the new
Welte-Mignon Musicalle, by means of
which it is possible to play eight selections on
the Welte-Mignon piano without changing rolls
and by means of remote control, was made on
Monday of this week at the Welte-Mignon
Studios, 665 Fifth avenue, New York. The in-
terest aroused by the new invention was em-
phasized by the crowd that packed the recital
hall throughout the afternoon.
The Musicalle, which has been demonstrated
to the trade on various occasions during the
past few months, consists of a special cabinet
placed at some distance from the Welte-Mignon
Reproducing piano and containing eight music,
rolls. By means of a small tablet equipped
with buttons and connected electrically with
the cabinet, it is possible for the owner to enjoy
a full hour's program of piano music without
going near the instrument.
In a sense the new invention is weird. Tablet
in hand, anyone desiring to play the piano sim-
ply touches a button alongside of the desired
selection. Immediately a small light appears
at the top of the tablet to show that the
mechanism has been put into operation, and
another light appears at the side of the selec-
tion to indicate the number to be played. As
soon as the mechanism in the cabinet has placed
the desired record in proper position it begins
to play. As a matter of fact, the piano may be
operated from a distant room, the remoteness
of the control depending only upon the length
of the cable connecting the tablet with the
Musicalle cabinet. The eight rolls may be
played in sequence or in any order desired.
It was a noteworthy audience who visited
the Welte Studios on Monday to inspect this
new invention at close range. There were musi-
cians and music critics, the elite of society and
theatrical stars from Broadway, to say nothing
of many members of the trade both in New
York and out of town who found much to
warrant their attention. The program offered
during the afternoon was as follows:
1 —Nocturne Xo. 3
By D'Albert
2—Valse de Concert. Op. i
By Kirsch
3—(Joyescas
By Granados
4—.Staccato Caprice
]ty Meru
S—Ballet .Music, Wedding March
By Samaroff
6 -Rondo Caprictioso
By Hofinann
7—-Turkish March
By Rubenstein
8- -Smoke Wreaths
By Perella
Liszt
Wieniawski
Granados
Vogricli
Rubinstein
Mendelssohn
Beethoven
Frinil
A particularly impressive feature was the
appearance of Harry Perella, who recorded
Friml's "Smoke Wreaths" for the Welte-
Mignon, while that selection was being played
through the medium of the Musicalle. At its
conclusion Mr. Perella took occasion to explain
to the audience his impressions of the perform-
ance, and the emotions aroused by hearing the
piano reproduce so faithfully his own playing.
Among those who attended the presentation
recital were John Barclay, Mrs. Fenton Taylor,
Judge Blau, Harry Perella, Vee Lawnhurst,
Mrs. Mabel'Wagnalls Jones, Lady Armstrong,
Dorothy Miller Duckwitz, Gloria Sayeles, Ray
Perkins, Loretto O'Connell, Emil Belazee,
Richard Singer, E. H. Smith, W. A. Behr, Miss
Harriette Cady, Mrs. Dorothy Schmitz, Dr.
Preston P. Satterwite, Mrs. John Martin, Mrs.
Lucy C. Anient, Mrs. Ariadne H. Edwards,
Mrs. L. L. Bell, and many members of the
music trade itself.
The presentation was in charge of Geo. E.
Improvement Noted in
Trade in Pittsburgh
Increased Demand for Better Grades of Pianos
and Reproducers—Welte-Mignon Line for
S. Hamilton Co.
PITTSBURGH, PA., October 22.—Marked improve-
ment is noted in the piano trade in this city,
according to managers of the leading music
stores. The outstanding feature is the demand
for high-grade instruments such as grand pianos
and reproducing instruments. At the C. C.
Mellor Co., W. Barry Hamilton, general man»
ager, stated that sales of Steinway pianos were
quite satisfactory and that sales for the month
of September showed a gratifying increase. The
firm had a display of two handsome Steinway
grand pianos in their show window, which were
much admired. Mr. Hamilton stated that the
outlook for the Fall trade was excellent.
Arthur O. Lechner, of the firm of Lechner &
Schoenberger, Ampico dealers, stated that busi-
ness for the past two weeks had shown a
marked improvement and that a decided in-
terest was being shown by buyers in high-
grade pianos. The firm handle the Mason &
Hamlin, Knabe, Chickering, Fischer and other
makes of the American Piano Co.
The S. Hamilton Co. has announced the in-
troduction of the Welte-Mignon reproducing
piano. The firm made a special advertising fea-
ture of the new instrument in the local Sunday
newspapers. Manager E. M. Lannis expressed
keen delight at the installation of the new
Welte-Mignon line and stated that there was
every reason for the piano to meet with popular
demand. The Welte-Mignon pipe organs are
also sold by the S. Hamilton Co. Branch stores
are operated in East Liberty, 6008 Penn ave-
nue, Wilkinsburg, Homewood, Ambridge afid
Greensburg.
In the W. F. Frederick Piano Co.'s piano
salon on the fifth floor of the Oppenheim Col-
lins Building, 525-29 Penn avenue, an assort-
ment of Everett pianos is on display in the
conventional models and the art or period
models. Sales were reported as brisk.
Theodore Hoffmann, of the J. M. Hoffmann
Co., Gulbransen dealer, said, "There is every
indication that there will be a decided revival
in piano sales this Fall, due to the improved in-
dustrial conditions here. This, coupled with the
passing of the Presidential election, should be
a factor in improving business. Our sales for
the past month have proven very satisfactory
and we are looking forward to a brisk Fall and
Winter season."
Heppe Firms Hold
Their Annual Meetings
PHII.ADI-;LPH.IA, PA., October 22.—-With the an-
nual meeting of the Heppe Piano Co., held in
the office of the corporation, Sixth and Cooper
streets, Camden, N. J., the following officers
were elected for the coming year—President
and treasurer, Florence J. Heppe; vice-presi-
dent, M. F. McDowell Heppe, and secretary
and assistant treasurer, George W. Witney.
The semi-annual dividend of 3 per cent was
declared bv the directors. Shortly after the
CLEVELAND, O., October 22.—The first meeting
of the Fall and Winter season of the Cleveland
Music Trades Association was held at the Hotel
Winton on Wednesday evening with only a fair
attendance as the weather was decidedly unpleas-
ant. A L. Maresh, president, presided, and fol-
lowing dinner there was a discussion of the ad-
vertising situation in Cleveland as regards pi-
anos, particularly players. The sentiment was
expressed by some that the houses using the
sensational type of advertising would be the
sufferers eventually as the public was be-
ginning to ignore this form of publicity.
The piano dealers in the foreign sections of
the city were said to be hurt more so than the
downtown -houses. George Ott, of the G. M. Ott
Piano Co., spoke on the piano advertising through-
out the state, and said that he felt that Cleveland
was one of the worst offenders. A committee was
appointed by President Maresh to call an the piano
houses under discussion and urge them to discon-
tinue the objectionable form of advertising.
The Maynard Music Co., of Greensboro,
N. C, has moved into its new four-story build-
ing on West Market street, and will occupy the
entire structure.
Pratt Read
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