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Hospe Piano Co. Has Handled Kimball
Pianos Since Opening 77 Years Ago
A unique sign is displayed over the
doorway and display windows of the
Hospe Piano Co., Omaha, Nebr. The
sign states: "77 Continuous Years a
Kimball Piano Dealer." It was 77 years
ago this year that the Hospe Piano Co.
was formed. The W. W. Kimball Co..
however, was founded 94 years ago. Ac-
cording to these figures, therefore, the
Kimball piano was chosen for repre-
sentation by the Hospe company when
it opened 77 years ago. It is, therefore,
interesting to note that these two com-
panies for several generations have
faced and solved the problems which
arise in maintaining an amicable and
profitable manufacturer-dealer rela-
tionship.
Such an instance proves beyond
doubt that the Hospe Piano Co. has
been conducted on a high plane for
over three-quarters of a century,
strictly adhering to the basic princi-
ples of the Kimball Co. laid down by
its founder and maintained for these
many years.
Today, Henry E. Pusch is President
of the Hospe Piano Co. and Richard H.
Walter is Vice-President, both long-
experienced in the merchandising of
musical instruments.
Harry V. Williams w'rfh Lester;
Other Territories Reassigned
Announcement has been made of the
appointment of Harry V. Williams as
representative of the Lester Piano
Manufacturing Co., Philadelphia, Pa.,
in the states of North Carolina, South
Carolina, Alabama, Tennessee, Missis-
sippi, Georgia and Florida. Mr. Wil-
liams was formerly with the Story &
Clark Piano Co., Chicago which he rep-
resented in the south and southeast as
well as covering the east, middle west
and southwest at various times.
Mr. Williams is now covering the
territory formerly covered by Woody
Miller, who has been transferred to
Pennsylvania, Maryland, West Virginia
and Virginia. The territory was for-
merly covered by Herbert Fritz who is
taking over special assignments in the
Lester sales department.
In the territory of Wisconsin, Min-
nesota, North Dakota, South Dakota,
Montana and Wyoming is David Hen-
nings who is experienced in the whole-
sale merchandising of pianos.
96-Bell Deagan Carillon
For School of the Ozarks
J. C. Deagan, Inc., Chicago has re-
ceived an order to erect a 96-bell Dea-
gan carillon at the School of the Ozarks
located near Hollister, Mo., fifty miles
south of Springfield, Mo. According to
Jack C. Deagan, Vice-President of the
company, this carillon will be the larg-
est in the world from the standpoint of
the number of bells, 96 bells being the
greatest number ever assembled in a
single playing unit.
The carillon will have a scale range
of 21/2 chromatic octaves, from C to G.
There will be three identical bells for
each note and they will be sounded
simultaneously. The bells will be of the
modern and efficient tubular type in-
stead of the heavy, cumbersome cup-
shaped cast bells of a bygone era. The
bells will be tuned by an exclusive
process known as Harmonic Tuning.
As a result of this tuning process
which is patented by the Deagon Com-
pany, the carillon can be played with
full harmony instead of with only one
note at a time. They will be electri-
cally operated and will be played man-
ually from a small keyboard console
with less effort than is required to play
a piano. While manual playing will be
restricted to special occasions, the caril-
lon will also be played automatically
by means of an electric player which
uses perforated music rolls, and which
is started by a clock-controlled program
mechanism. Thirty music rolls, each
containing six selections, will be sup-
plied for use on the electric player.
The carillon will weigh 27 tons and the
cost is $90,000. It was donated to the
school by an anonymous donor.
Seals Piano Co., Birmingham
Moves to Larger Quarters
The Seals Piano Co., Birmingham,
Ala., has moved from 1721 Third ave-
nue, N.. to 2225 First avenue, N.
The new store gives the company an
additional 7,000 square feet of floor
space. Seals Piano Co.'s managership
includes R. H. Seals, president; Jack
R. Seals, vice-president; and John A.
Seals, secretary-treasurer.
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW, NOVEMBER, 1951