Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1920 1767

Page 10 Text:

PRESTO
10
June 5, 1920.
has grown until it is recognized as the leader in shoe Lake Club, the Merchants' Exchange and
an honorary member of the Chamber of Com-
its line throughout that section.
merce.
His Civic Pride.
When the membership drive of the last named
O. K. Houck had not long been a resident of
Memphis until he was recognized as one of its organization was launched last Tuesday, Mr. Houck
greatest assets. Permeated with civic pride, from was made commander-in-chief of the "armies" en-
the beginning he took an active part in every enter- gaged, but was so seriously ill that he was com-
prise that had for its object the upbuilding of the pelled to direct the campaign from his room. How-
city of his adoption. He was a born leader. When- ever, his advice was gladly received and acted upon,
ever there was a big undertaking contemplated, O. and each day he sent a message of encouragement
K. Houck was always called into consultation and to the various teams.
Remained a Bachelor.
as a rule asked to take the lead. His absolute hon-
esty and his readiness to serve inspired such con-
Mr. Houck was never married, but he enjoyed
fidence in his fellow citizens that few could resist the society of good women and gave unsparingly of
his appeals to lend a helping hand.
his time to aid them in any movement they spon-
In 1910 Mr. Houck was largely responsible for sored. His services were especially helpful in pro-
raising a fund of $50,000 to be used by the Business moting musical affairs. Perhaps it would not be a
Men's Club in advertising Memphis. Some of those misstatement to say that no man in that entire sec-
favoring the project said it couldn't be done, but tion has done more than O. K. Houck to inculcate
Mr. Hoiick said it could—and it was done.
in the masses a love for the best there is in music.
Perhaps his genius for organization and getting The recently launched music foundation which bears
results was best displayed by his patriotic work fol- his name is an instance of this.
lowing the advent of the United States into the
Although a man of mature years and wide experi-
world war. Tn 1918 the committee of Shriners, of ence, O. K. Houck had the heart of a boy. His
which he was ciiairman, sold war savings stamps years rested lightly upon him, and his companion-
aggregating $101,385 from one sunrise to its set- ship was as delightful to the youth of 20 as it was
ting. The same year, as chairman of the feature to the man of three score and ten.
division in the sale of Fourth Liberty loan bonds,
His Father Survives Him.
he introduced to Memphis the big tank known as
His devotion to and care for his aged father and
"Huncrusher," and in 10 daily "raids" on Main
mother was so marked as to attract attention. He
street disposed of bonds amounting to $2 850,000.
looked after their needs as tenderly as a mother
In 1919, under his direction, the Shriners past would care for her babe. His father is 89 years old.
potentate committee secured 411 candidates for the
O. K. Houck died as he had lived—unafraid and
Scottish Rite reunion and 450 members for the
that all was for the best.
Shrine ceremonial, with fees totaling $91,290 added believing
The active pallbearers at the funeral were em-
to the treasury of the organization. When con- ployes
O. K. Houck Piano Company. They
tributions to the Roosevelt Memorial Fund were are: A. of S. the
Seville,
D. Dierdorf, E. L. Jordan, W. S.
called for Mr. Houck was made chairman of the
Shelby county committee, which raised half of the Christian, T. V. Day, W. T. Sutherland, L. U. Pitts
and J. G. McConnell. The honorary pallbearers in-
state's contribution.
cluded many of the leading citizens of Memphis.
Always the Good Samaritan.
The Great Confession.
But not only did O. K. Houck love his nation, his
O,
K.
Houck
had no close church affiliations,
state and his city; in his big heart there was love for though he was a man
unbounded charity and deep
each individual in the commonwealth. He was ever religious sentiment. of Saturday
afternoon, a few
ready to act the part of the Good Samaritan; he
before the end came, he dictated the following
never "passed by on the other side" when he saw a hours
fellow human in trouble. His time and means were beautiful message:
A Message to My Friends.
at the disposal of the unfortunate.
The life of the recluse did not appeal to Mr. I have been brought face to face with the supreme
Houck and he was affiliated with many civic and issue of life—my preparedness for the great sum-
fraternal organizations. He had been a Mason for mons.
My physician has advised me to put my house in
30 years, his membership being with De Soto
Lodge. He was also a life member of St. Elmo order, and just as it would be with you, I have been
Commandery, K. T., and a past potentate of Al spending much of the time in restrospection.
Chymia Temple. At the session of the supreme
My moral code has always called for a square deal
council of the Scottish Rite, held last October in in every sort of relationship. Just the common call
Washington, he was honored by having the "Knight of humanity demanding relief to the distressed and
Commander of the Court of Honor" conferred upon a helping hand to the weak and overburdened.
him. Just two weeks ago the Masonic Veterans' Meeting in a small way these obligations has con-
Association at its annual meeting elected him as tributed most of the pleasure I have had in living.
their master. He was also a member of the Knights I have been trying to work at what I liked to call
of Pythias, Odd Fellows, Elks, Woodmen of the practical Christianity.
World and other fraternal orders. He was actively
Along with most folks, I believed in the existence
identified with the Rotary and City clubs, a of a Supreme Being and had recognized, in an im-
member of the Colonial Country Club, the Horse- personal sort of way, the importance of getting in
ARTISTIC CARVINGS
closer touch some time with Jesus Christ. I have
had friends say: "O. K., you have tried to do all
the good you could; what else is expected of a
man?"
In searching for an answer to this, the greatest
problem of my life, I have been driven to the con-
viction that no man has ever been saved by works
alone. I had never been able to make the surrender
and forego some of the liberties which seemed so
necessary to my happiness, and with this notion was
coupled a belief that if I tried to make a stand I
would probably stumble and be made ridiculous.
But it is all right now. All of my doubtings are
over. I have no fear of the future. I have turned
the whole record over to Jesus, and while I have
missed the joy of working in His name, while I have
missed the happiness and thrill of an extensive
Christian experience, yet I love to go back along
the road with Him and watch Him transform my
humble acts into deeds of Christian citizenship and
Christian charity.
It is never easy to separate from friends, but the
sorrow is greatly lessened when you are certain you
will see them again.
An Editorial Tribute.
The Commercial Appeal, of Memphis, in an edi-
torial on Monday said, in part:
O. K. Houck died on the morning of Sunday, a
holy and a serene day. Just as the dawn came over
the earth he journeyed into the light of the presence
of the Lord.
O. K. Houck's monument is in the business and
ethical progress of Memphis. For more than 30
years he gave the best that was in him for this city
and its people. His handiwork is in our Chamber of
Commerce, in our better knowledge of music and
art, in our kindliness towards one another and in
the higher ideals we now have as to our duty to-
wards the state, the city and one another.
He found time;, out of his regular business to do
as much for Memphis as any two of its other citi-
zens.
Charity appealed to him, suffering appealed to
him, and fun appealed to him.
He loved the world and all that was in it. He
loved life. He loved to be busy.
It is said that strong men must have enemies.
That is not always true.—If O. K. Houck ever had
an enemy it was because that man did not under-
stand. He was a strong character. In his convic-
tions he was as firm as a rock. But there never was
a more generous or a more charitable man. He
hated deceit because it is ugly. He loved truth and
honor because they are beautiful.
O. K. Houck has been a big brother to men at-
tached to The Commercial Appeal for a period of
30 years. He had the run of this office. He knew
everybody in it. He never asked this paper to do
anything and met with a refusal. He never asked
anything to be done that was not for the good of
Memphis or some one in Memphis.
This can be put down as the measure of the man:
Memphis lost its most useful citizen when O. K.
Houck died Sunday morning.
THE ORIQINAL RELIABLE
for PIANO and PHONOGRAPH
Manufacturers
HIGH-GRADE CARVED
NOVELTIES
Lamps, Wall Brackets, Book Ends,
Pedestals, etc.
FMAINO
E. KOPRIWA CO.
(STRICTLY HIGH GRADE)
Sure Sellers.
Certain Satisfaction
When in Chicago visit our showrooms
at the Factory
2220 Ward Street, near Clybourn Ave,
Tel. Lincoln 2726
TWO TRADE WINNERS
HARTFORD
I CHURCHILL
If you want Good Goods at Right Prices, here are two
that will meet your requirements—Players and Pianos.
RELIABLE — FINE TONE — BEAUTIFUL
Made By
HARTFORD PIANO COMPANY
1223-1227 MILLER STREET. CHICAGO
[jThirty years of satisfactory service in American homes.
QBNEHAL OFFICES AND FACTORY
WEED and DAYTON STREETS
KROEGER
(Establ!«hed 1552)
The name alone is enough to suggest to dealers the Best
Artistic and Commercial Values.
The New Style Players Are Finest Yet. If you can
get the Agency you ought to have it.
KROEGER PIANO CO.
NEW YORK. N. Y.
and
« *
STAMFORD. CONN,
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

Page 11 Text:

11
PRESTO
June 5, 1920.
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
factories. Every manufacturer follows a system of
his own. Presto, and also such other publications
as System, of Chicago, and the Bookkeeper, of De-
troit, have published articles from time to time on
cost accounting systems for this, that, and the other
line of business, but no book of standardized costs
A REVISED ANSWER.
in the piano business has ever been issued.
Harvard University sought some time ago to
In the "Where Doubts Are Dispelled" depart-
ment in Presto of May 22nd, an inadequate reply standardize costs in some lines. But nothing has
was made to N. V. M. Witsenburg, Jr., of Amster- been done in piano manufacture as to standardizing
dam, Holland, concerning the matter of some in- costs. In the retail piano business it is easy to es-
formation for which he asks regarding instruments tablish a cost-accounting system; every good house
in which phonographs are made part of pianos. In does it. No two alike. But in manufacturing, so
the reply to Mr. Witesenburg a list of the newest de- many new conditions are constantly arising that it
velopments of the piano-phonograph was given. takes daily attention, and no two houses do it alike.
But, so far as concerns the reference to motive Emergencies of every kind have to be grappled with
power in the combined instrument it should have as they arise. A book of thousands of pages could
been said that there is no instrument outside of the be written on the subject; and then every piano
Apollo that has a spring motor, or that has an manufacturer would have to do his cost-accounting
air motor for which the claim is positively made in his own way, despite the book.
that it will not be affected by loud pedaling in the
* * *
matter of tempo. In answering Mr. Witsenburg it
THE "PEERLESS" ELECTRIC.
would have been fair to add that there are no other
Woodbine, Iowa, May 21, 1920.
spring motor players.
Editor Presto: Will you please inform me who
manufactures the electric "Peerless" player? and
* * *
oblige
Yours,
MANDOLIN ATTACHMENTS.
BEN YAGER.
Chicago, May 5, 1920.
The Peerless electric instruments are manufac-
Editor Presto: Can you please inform me as to
where I can buy ready-made-up mandolin attach- tured by the National Electric Piano Co., St. Johns-
ville, N. Y.
ments for any ordinary piano?
Yours truly,
* * *
GEO. E. SCHULZE.
THE "BAUMEISTER" PIANO.
Athens, Ga., May 24, 1920.
We do not know of any concern that is now manu-
Editor Presto: Please advise us where, and by
facturing mandolin attachments for pianos. The
Price & Teeple Piano Co. produce something of the whom, the Baumeister piano is made, and oblige
JAMES MUSIC CO.
kind for their own purposes. Of course it would be
impossible to make attachments for miscellaneous
For a good many years the instrument was man-
instruments, because, if made to fit one scale, the ufactured by a company known as the Baumeister
attachment would not serve the purposes of some Piano Co., whose factory was, and we believe still
other piano.
is, at 518 E. 73rd St., New York City. The factory
is a small one which had its origin in 1894. H.
* * *
Baumeister was engaged in the business before he
CYLINDER RECORDS.
went to California a good many years ago.
Medford, Wis,, May 6, 1920.
* * #
Editor Presto: Just an inquiry as to where can we
procure a cylinder record outside of the Edison Am-
"MARSHFIELD" PIANO.
brola? There are several made. Hoping to hear
Odon, Ind., May 25, 1920.
from you on this question, we are,
Editor Presto: I have Presto Buyers' Guide. I
Yours very truly,
do not find the Marshfield piano described in it.
DROST BROS.
Please tell us about it.
Respectifully,
LEMUEL GADBERRY.
Cylinder records are now almost extinct, except-
ing- for special purposes, such as Dictaphone and toy
Pianos bearing the name of "Marshfield" are pro-
machines
duced by the Marshall Piano Co., of Chicago. They
We know of but two industries that are still mak- are well-made, popular-grade instruments. The
ing these cylinders, though there may be more. The name does not appear in Presto Buyers' Guide be-
two alluded to are Thos. A. Edison, Inc., West cause the manufacturing concern named is a new
Orange, N. J., and the Columbia Graphophone Co., one the products of which have but recently beer
Woolworth Building, New York City. The latter placed upon the market. The "Marshfield" is what
concern has a Chicago branch at 323 W. Jackson is usually termed a trade-mark piano.
boulevard.
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
zvriter in order to receive attention. Answers thought
to be of general trade interest will be published. If an
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro-
vided stamp is inclosed.
• #
*
*
THREE GOOD PIANOS.
Arcadia, Nebr., May 28, 1920.
Editor Presto: Which is the better piano, Mathu-
shek or Jvers & Pond, and they are in the same class
with the Steinway?
Yours truly,
MRS. W. L. CRAMER.
We can safely say that both the Mathushek and*
the Ivers & Pond are well-made instruments, having
been in the market for a very long time. They arc
the products of perfectly reliable and responsible in-
dustries. The Mathushek piano has some feature-;
which, in our judgment, are of special merit and it
is an instrument which we always feel inclined to
recommend.
Of course, there can be no question about the
artistic "Steinway" piano, and it is safe to say that
all three of the instruments named by you are de-
sirable and will give satisfaction to the purchaser.
* * *
PIANO COSTS SYSTEMS.
Newark, N. J., May 25, 1920.
Editor Presto: At the Business Branch of the
Library we have had a request for a cost accounting
system for the piano trade. We do not find this
information listed in any of the books or indexes
at the Branch.
We would appreciate it if you could give us any
information that you may have on this subject.
Yours truly,
J. C. DANA, Librarian.
There is no printed matter in existence within our
knowledge on cost-accounting systems for piano
TROUBLES NEVER COME ALONE.
The friends of Thomas Flynn, of the retail de-
partment of Julius Bauer & Co., Chicago, will sym-
pathize with him when they read this account. He
had been obliged to move and pay higher rent. As
if that were not enough, his wife fell while hang-
ing a curtain the other day and broke one of her
legs below the knee. She was taken to the Robert
Burns Hospital for an X-ray of the broken part,
and is now at home. Mr. Flynn was obliged to
hire a trained nurse to care for his wife; and the
little children also require care.
Q R S IN CANADA.
Gordon Laughead in charge of the Canadian
branch of the Q R S Music Co., at 79 Wellington
street, West, Toronto, is particularly enthusiastic
over the growth of the player trade in Canada.
That he considers an assurance of a corresponding
increase in the demands for player music rolls. Mr.
Laughead is especially familiar with the require-
ments and demands of the Canadian trade at the
present time and able to form a reliable opinion as
to the character of the business there in the future.
WOOD FROM INDIA.
The Bombay blackwood, or rosewood (Dalbergia
latifolia) of southern India, and its export supply
is described in a new Government bulletin, priced at
10 cents (international money order) by the "Super-
intendent of Government Printing, 8 Hastings street,
Calcutta, India." The average prices realized at
some India government sales of this blackwood is
65 cents per cubic foot for dressed logs.
PROHIBITION BRINGS
BIGGER MUSIC CALL
Music Instrument Makers' Point of View Pre-
sented by Duane Sawyer of Detroit,
Mich., in New York.
Prohibition has brought the musician into his
own, and singly and collectively he is busy to the
point of being over-worked. The musical instrument
maker, music schools, phonograph and piano fac-
tories are working at high pressure, and in most
cases are months behind in production, according to
Duane Sawyer of Detroit, Mich., who gave an inter-
view to a reporter for the New York Times, at the
McAlpin Hotel, last week.
"Although I am a 'wet' and believe that prohibition
is a measure aimed at personal liberty, yet I must
confess that since the Eighteenth Amendment went
into effect the musician has become a much sought
after individual," said Mr. Sawyer, who specializes on
the saxophone. "There is a great wave of dancing,
small and large affairs, in the hotels and in the homes.
This is quite true of Detroit, and in my travels I
have learned that the condition is general almost
everywhere. The demand for musicians is so great
that all could work twenty-four hours each day and
not fill the requests for pianists, drummers, violinists
and saxophone players coming from every little vil-
lage and crossroads hamlet daily.
"It is the same with the makers of every sort of
musical instrument, and they are months behind on
their orders. Phonograph records, which always
sold well with an average order of perhaps 10,000 for
a popular number, are now being made in 100,000
lots, and none of the big companies can keep pace
with the demand in the United States. Their busi-
ness in South America and Europe, too, has in-
creased almost in the same proportions. The phono-
graph men will tell you that there is an increasing
demand for good music, which they are much grati-
fied to see.
"This should be a good time for young men and
women to study instrumental music, for there is no
reason to believe that the demand for dance and
concert orchestras will fall off, and the field is a very
interesting and lucrative one. Personally, I would
recommend the study of the saxophone, as in the
scores of inquiries I have had in Detroit for dance
orchestras the great majority have asked for the
saxophone and it has been the hardest for me to
supply."
PIANO MAKING IN
BIRMINGHAM, ENGLAND
Disappearance of German Pianos Encourages
English City to Develop the Industry.
Birmingham is endeavoring to develop the piano
industry in an effort to seize the opportunity of-
fered by the disappearance of German pianos from
the British market, writes Consul Wilbur T. Gracey,
Birmingham, England. One local manufacturer has
reorganized his factory and states that his weekly
output now is, roughly, one piano to each seven men
employed. It is understood that the employes are
being encouraged by an output bonus and by a
system of co-operation based on regular consulta-
tions with their own representatives in the factory.
The different departments work with each other in
securing the best from the elaborate and scientific
equipment that has been installed.
The firm manufactures only three models—a
large and a small upright and a baby grand. All
parts are being standardized. A timber-seasoning
plant on the American system has been introduced,
and the wood is now prepared in weeks where it
formerly took years. Most of the metal parts are
manufactured in Birmingham. Prior to the war
piano castings were imported largely from Ger-
many, but the iron frames are now made in South
Staffordshire. Piano wire of an especially good
quality is being made in Birmingham. The great-
est drawback at the present time is said to be the
shortage of ivory necessary for the keys.
INTERESTING THE COLLEGE.
Among the organizations and institutions through
which the National Bureau for the Advancement
of Music is working to spread the interest in music,
colleges and universities hold an important place.
Contact with a large number of professors and ad-
ministrative officers has been established and these
already have been of material help in fostering
some of the special movements the Bureau is pro-
moting—music memory contests and school credits
for private music study, to mention but two. Di-
rector C. M. Tremaine, of the Bureau, is now giv-
ing particular attention to the extension depart-
ments of the institutions of higher learning.
Enhanced content © 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The Musical Box Society International (www.mbsi.org) and the International Arcade Museum (www.arcade-museum.com).
All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
Additional enhancement, optimization, and distribution by the International Arcade Museum. An extensive collection of Presto can be found online at http://www.arcade-museum.com/library/

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