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THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, NOVEMBER, 1UO
20
now amplified electronically. Among these are
guitars, violins, cellos, double basses, clarinets,
(Continued from Page 17)
harmonicas, saxophones, music boxes, stringed
tone quality, and other arrangements were in- tympani, chimes, reed organs, etc.
At present he is working on a new construc-
stalled to control the inception and decline of
each tone, so that organ, piano and short dura- tion 'which not only comprises the electronic
tion tones could all be produced with variable principle, but also a simplified piano action for
colorings. This instrument was publicly dem- this type of instrument which eliminates innu-
onstrated for the first time on February 26. 1932 merable parts which are at present found in
before the American Institute of Electrical Engi- piano actions.
Mr. Miessner has now been steadily at work
neers in New York; WOR broadcast this dem-
onstration played by Hans Barth. He called this in this field of electronic musical instruments
instrument the Polyphon (many tone) and opened (ior music making as contrasted with music re-
a studio in Steinway Hall. New York, where it production) for 10 years. His issued patents on
was heard and played upon by many eminent pioneer inventions in this field will soon number
pianists, such as Hofmann, Bauer. Iturbi and fifty or more and practically all the commercial
others. Anton Rosisky was especially interested instruments now on the market use some of
in it and later played all the demonstration these inventions.
recitals.
FIRST ELECTRONIC PIANO AT 1936
CONVENTION
Later demonstrations were held at N. Y. Uni-
versity and Aeolian Hall, broadcasts were held
over CBS and NBC networks and an exhibit at
the National Electrical Exposition. On De-
The completely remodeled and rebuilt
cember 13th that year Mr. Miessner delivered his
first technical address on the instrument before Wurlitzer store a I 1509 Broadway. Detroit,
the Radio Club of America. Teachers College, Mich., styled "America's Most Complete
Columbia University. New York. The next year,
1934, he appeared before the American Guild Music Center", was opened on October
Organists in Rochester, N. Y., and the Acoustical 21st with a gala celebration.
Present to congratulate George R. Cal-
Society of America at the Bell Telephone Build-
ing, New York. In 1936, he addressed the Insti- lahan, local store manager, were all im-
tute of Radio Engineers. In the same year he portant Wurlitzer executives, as well as
first displayed and demonstrated the instrument
at the Annual Convention of the National Asso- leading officials and civic representatives
of the city of Detroit.
ciation of Music Merchants in Chicago.
Previous to this he had contracted piano man-
A comprehensive advertising and pub-
ufacturers several of whom had taken out license licity campaign drew thousands of people
agreements with him and at that convention to the store during the Grand Opening
there were displayed electronic pianos by Hard-
man Peck <& Co., Krakauer Bros., Story & Clark week. October 21st through October 26th.
Piano Co., Winter & Co., and others. Previous to Outstanding performers of radio and stage
this, in 1935, the Everett Orgatron and the Ham- entertained the crowds several times each
mond Organ, both electronic instruments, had day during the week.
been introduced. Both of these companies became
Highlighting the Grand Opening cel-
Miessner licensees.
In 1937. on January 19th. a concert was held ebration of the Detroit Wurlitzer Music
in Carnegie Hall, New York, in which Mr. Miess- Center, was the awarding of thousands
ner's electronic piano was featured.
of dollars worth of prizes to the public.
Thus came into being the electronic piano as Among the many free gifts dispensed were
it is known today. Besides the Piano, Mr.
Miessner has also applied his devices to numer- a Wurlitzer Spinette piano, a Wurlitzer
able strnged and other instruments which are Accordion, as well as many radio-phono-
Miessner
Wurlitzer Detroit
Store Modernized
graph combinations, band instruments,
phonograph record albums, etc.
The original Detroit Wurlitzer store was
a modest establishment carrying a small
line of pianos and musical instruments.
As business boomed in Detroit, the Wur-
litzer store kept pace. Soon they pur-
chased their own building at 1509 Broad-
way. Rebuilding and remodeling was be-
gun last Spring. It now comprises a spa-
cious new piano salon, tastefully deco-
rated in the modern manner, featuring the
Wurlitzer and other lines.
A radio department, taking up an entire
floor; a musical instrument department in-
cluding the largest collection of fine ac-
cordions in Detroit, as well as all brass,
woodwinds and string instruments, and
accessories; a record department with air-
conditioned, soundproof audition booths
as well as a large library of records.
Three entire floors are given to sound-
proofed music instruction studios, while
one entire floor is set aside for a beauti-
ful theatre auditorium.
The store is managed by George Calla-
han, who started as a salesman for a
small Wurlitzer store in Youngstown.
Colonial Musette
in Color Carpet Adv.
During the past few years the piano
has been prominently displayed in the
advertisements of various national adver-
tisers outside of the piano industry. One
at these
rug values
in Bigelow Beauvais Patterns!
A N S LEY
DYNATONE
the dealer's choke
PACE-SETTER in
the electronic-field,
stanuard ot ex.el-
for prestige . .
the DYNATONE remains
lence in amplified pianos.
for
r r r o a f o r \7A»lno BODY, SOUL and
jor
greater
vaiue
V O I C E ,
the
DYNATONE is the unified effort of skilled craft -
men of electronic and piano fame working to-
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for n a t u r a l rlocirrn
ior n a i u r a i d e s i g n
N O T THREE
d' s
ii
r
instruments
sm> a
Carpet Adv. in Which Musette Is Used
assembled into one; but one skillfully designed
musical instrument with three thrilling voices - -
PIANO, RADIO, PHONOGRAPH.
RETAIL PRICE - - $595
for more features
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FREQUENCY MODULATION (Armstrong Sys-
tem) as optional equipment.
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y
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,
portables, table-models, chair-
ANSLEY RADIO CORPORATION
4377 Bronx Boulevard, New York, N. Y.
of the most recent and striking examples
of this is the advertisement of the Bigelow
Sanford Carpet Co., which appeared in
six of the leading magazines in the
country and in which there appeared in
color a Colonial Musette piano manu-
factured by Winter & Co., New York. The
room setting was arranged by Mrs. Chris-
tine Holbrook editor of Better Homes and
Gardens. Winter
poster, reproducing that part of the adver-
tisement in which the Musette is shown,
for use in dealers warerooms.