Presto

f»REI
January 22, 1920.
STO
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, or
Other Subjects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
Correspondents addressing any manufacturers named
in this' department will help themselves and favor
Presto if they will mention this paper when writing.
PRESTO TRADE LISTS.
Lima, Ohio, January 12, 1920.
Editor Presto: I have Presto Buyers' Guide for
1918-1919. According to your latest offer, I am en-
closing herewith postal money order for $2.00, for
which please enter my subscription to The Amer-
ican Music Trade Weekly for one year, beginning
with the first issue in January; also furnish me with
your 1920 edition of Presto Buyers' Guide.
I presume you can furnish me with information
as to whether or not there are publishers of trade
newspapers or magazines who publish a guide simi-
lar to Presto Buyers' Guide, or which could furnish
a classified list of the talking machine, band and
orchestra instrument manufacturers of the country.
It may be that you have this information which I
am after in your possession.
Yours very truly,
J. D. COX.
About a Talking Machine Guide, such as you de-
scribe, we are glad to say that the forthcoming
Presto Trade Lists will embrace such a publica-
tion. In the Phonograph Directory and Guide there
will be a chapter devoted to descriptions of talking
machines, together with trade names, etc., much
after the.plan of Presto Buyers' Guide. That book
is now in the course of preparation and will be out
in a very short time. We believe that it is the only
publication of the kind.
Another of the Presto Trade Lists will contain
complete addresses of the manufacturers of small
instruments and supplies.
* * *
THE "ELECTROVA."
Lake Benton, Minn., Jan. 9, 1920.
Editor Presto: Will you please give me the firm
that makes the electric player named as follows—
this is as near as I can get it: "Eleclcoba," New
York? It may be C or G. The letters are quite
hard to understand.
It is a very good instrument about six or seven
years old. I want to get some repairs for it.
Thanking you for your favor, I remain,
Yours resp'y,
W. W. DAVEY.
The instrument about which you ask is without
doubt the Electrova. The Electrova Co. is now
a division of Jacob Doll & Sons, whose large fac-
tory is at 117-124 Cypress avenue, New York City.
The Electrova was one of the first of the coin-op-
orated electric pianos.
We believe if you will write to Jacob Doll & Sons
you will receive whatever information you may de-
sire.
* * *
PHONOGRAPH LETTER HEADS.
Haddam, Kans., Jan. 12, 1920.
Editor Presto: I wish you would send me sam-
ple of your letter-head work, if you have samples.
I would like to see a letterhead with phonographs
printed on in colors, etc., something nifty. Some
publishing houses have such matter ready to print
in the dealer's name, etc.
Quote prices on 1,000 lots—both envelopes and
letterheads—and send samples.
Yours truly,
MRS. BERTHA ROSAMOND.
Some of the larger phonograph manufacturers
supply printed stationery of the kind about which
you ask. We believe that the Magnola Co., Chi-
cago, has done this and Weser Bros., New York;
the Sonora Co., New York, as well as others.
We can recommend you to well equipped print-
ing houses which make a specialty of that kind of
printing, if you wish, but we do not do general
printing of any kind.
* * *
PLAYER CABINETS AND ACTIONS.
Mowrystown, O., Jan. 14, 1920.
Editor Presto: Please inform me, if you can, if
there is such a thing as a player action made that
can be set up to, or in front of, a common or
"straight" upright piano. If so, please give me the
name of the firm that makes them.
Also, can you give me the names of some indus-
tries that install player actions in the ordinary up-
right piano?
Very resp'y yours,
T. H. RECORDS.
The original player action was in cabinet form,
designed to roll up to the key-board where the au-
tomatic fingers actuate the keys. At present that
style of "piano player" is practically obsolete. How-
ever, until withjn a very short time back they were
manufactured by the Wilcox & White Co., Meriden,
Conn. They were called the "Angelus" and it is
quite likely the Meriden industry may still have
some on hand, even though they are not now man-
ufacturing them..
We would suggest that you apply to the Wilcox
& White Co. Should you not be able to secure a
cabinet pianoplayer of the concern named it is cer-
tain that you can find one by applying to some of
the large piano houses who sometimes take them
in exchange for new playerpianos. Last Sunday's
Chicago Tribune had an advertisement of Lyon &
Healy offering a second-hand Pianola Player Cab-
inet. Why not write to that house?
About the installation of player actions in upright
pianos: There are several industries now engaged
in that branch of the industry. One of them, and
a very active one, is a department of the Schumann
Piano Co., of Rockford, 111.; the Lindenberg Piano
Co., Columbus, Ohio, is also doing that work.
* * *
THE ATTACK ON TUNING SCHOOLS.
Lawrence, Kans., Jan. 3, 1920.
Editor Presto: I have read with much interest
an article which appeared in the Presto, entitled
"Out of Tune." This article seems to refer to an
article published in a pamphlet by the National As-
sociation of Piano Tuners.
As yet, I have been unable to get hold of one of
those booklets. Will you be kind enough to send
me one, or let me know where I can secure it.
There is no way of offering successful defense un-
less you know something of the attack.
Sincerely yours,
P. A. GANT.
The Presto editorial was prompted by what
seemed to us an unfair reference to tuning schools
which appeared in the latest pamphlet by the Na-
tional Association of Piano Tuners. We have re-
quested Secretary W. F. McClellan, of the organ-
ization named, to mail a copy of the article to you.
It is well to add that Mr. McClellan, noticing the
Presto article, wishes to say that his charge against
the tuning school was not meant to be so general
in its character as it may seem. He recognizes that
good teachers, and competent as well as honorable,
may be in charge of some of the institutions criti-
cized in his pamphlet. And Mr. McClellan is him-
self a square man and an accomplished acoustician
and tuner.
* * *
MASON & RISCH ORGAN.
Gregory, S. Dak., Jan. 5, 1920.
Editor Presto: As I am not able to find required
organ information or any factory that would have
charge of it, I wish you would let me know.
I have a pipe organ to fix from Mason & Risch,
Worcester, Mass., but can not find any such indus-
try mentioned in Presto Buyers' Guide.
Yours very truly,
H. R. SIEGRIST.
The Mason & Risch organ was, and we think still
is, manufactured by the Mason & Risch Co. of To-
ronto, Canada.
Many years ago the industry named had a fac-
tory at Worcester, Mass., and, without doubt, the
instrument about which you write was produced
about that time. We believe if you will address the
Mason & Risch Co. at Toronto you will receive
prompt consideration.
* * *
WANTS CONSIGNED PIANOS.
Cape Girardeau, Mo., Jan. 8, 1920.
Editor Presto: I inclose my personal check for
$2.00 for which please send me Presto for one year,
together with Presto Buyers' Guide.
Will you kindly advise me of a good, reliable
piano firm that will do a partial consignment busi-
ness, we to give gilt-edge security and bank refer-
ence?
Respectfully,
G. W. GIBSON.
We suggest that perhaps if you write to Mr. Lera
Klein, Republic Bldg., Chicago, he may be able to
give you the address of some piano industries who
are still making consignment basis a part of their
activities. As a rule manufacturers just now are
finding it so difficult to handle their cash, or short-
time, orders that they have discontinued the con-
signment method of doing business.
However, if your paper is negotiable you may
have little difficulty in finding what you want.
* * *
PHONOGRAPH MANUFACTURERS.
Texarkana, Ark., Jan. 4, 1920.
Editor Presto: Please furnish us the address of
a publisher who publishes a complete and up-to-
date list of every phonograph and talking machine
13
made in the United States, with the address and
rating of each factory, etc.
Yours truly,
GEO. H. SMITH PIANO CO.
The publishers of Presto have now in course of
publication a Phonograph Directory and Guide in
which will be the names and addresses of all of
the talking machine manufacturers and dealers in
this country. The book will be ready within the
next 30 days.
* * *
'
SCHMOLLER & MUELLER.
Devils Lake, N. D., Jan. 2, 1920.
Editor Presto: Kindly give us information re-
garding the Schmoller & Mueller piano, especially
as to whether it is a stencil, commercial or a stand-
ard piano, and what is the name of the factory
which makes then, and what is its standing as a
piano.
Very truly yours,
E. W. GILBERTSON.
For a great many years there has been a piano
house at Council Bluffs, la., which bears the name
about which you ask. It is very well known in the
piano trade. For a time the concern conducted a
piano factory, but we understand it was discon-
tinued some time back.
Pianos bearing the name have been made by one
of the large and highly responsible Chicago indus-
tries, and it is our judgment that the instruments
still come from that factory. The piano is what
may be termed a good "trademark" instrument. If
you have a copy of Presto Buyers' Guide you will
find in that book definition of the various qualities,
or grades, of instruments.
* * *
ROLLS FOR HAND ORGANS.
Newton, Kans., Jan. 9, 1920.
Editor Presto: Where can I order rolls for a
hand organ from? The rolls have points on (same
kind as a blind man uses). I have a party who
wants me to get some rolls for him.
Sincerely yours,
H. S. DICKEY.
There are many kinds of hand-organs and blind
men are apt to use any of the varieties. If you
mean the Celestina, which used paper rolls, none
of those rolls have been made for years. Lyon &
Healy, of Chicago, say they can not buy them.
If you mean little roller organs with wooden
cylinders, your answer simplifies. The Gem con-
cert organ is listed in Montgomery Ward & Co.'s
catalogue, Chicago. Sears, Roebuck & Company,
of Chicago, also list the Gem organs in their cata-
logue.
* * *
ABOUT PIANO ACTIONS.
Wabasso, Minn., Jan. 10, 1920.
Editor Presto: Enclosed find P. O. order for 50
cents for a copy of the 1920 Presto Buyers' Guide.
Would like to learn who makes the piano action
with the tall wood capstans.
If you know, would do me a great favor, and
thank you in advance for the information.
Yours truly,
J. J. HOFFMAN.
There are so many piano manufacturers who use
tall wood capstans that we might refer you to al-
most any or all of the makers. The Cable Com-
pany formerly used a long abstract but not the
dowel. The tall capstan of wood is used by the
Steinway, by Lyon & Healy and scores of other
manufacturers.
The action manufacturers, who specialize in mak-
ing actions for piano manufacturers, use their own
styles of capstans, and change them when they
can be improved. If you will send in the name of
the piano you want the action for we will try to
answer your question more fully.
E. O. SCHMIDT PARDONED.
Emil O. Schmidt, who on April 11, 1919, was sen-
tenced to serve one year in the Milwaukee House
of Correction upon being found guilty of the charge
of forgery, was granted an unconditional pardon by
Gov. E. L. Philipp following a hearing held in the
executive chambers at the state capitol in Madison
on Jan. IS. Mr. Schmidt for many years was prom-
inent in the Milwaukee music trades, retiring a year
and a half ago after being convicted and fined on a
charge of fraudulent advertising in connection with
the disposition of a bankrupt phonograph stock.
PIANO MAN'S AIRPLANE TALK.
E. A. Francis of Mankato, Minn., widely known
for his activities in the piano business, was in Kan-
sas City to attend the annual convention of the
Business Men's Accident association recently. Mr.
Francis, in a speech at the convention, exhibited the
tip of a broken propeller blade and the air gauge of
the ill-fated airplane in which Mayor John Purroy
Mitchel of New York crashed to earth and was killed
at Gerstner Field, Louisiana, in July, 1918. Mr.
Francis used the souvenir to illustrate the constant
danger of accidents.
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