PRESTO
July 31, 1920.
Glidden Co.'s most active directors and was the
leader in the campaign carried on to get a share of
the piano trade business. He was instrumental in
having the varnish company attend the piano man-
ufacturers' conventions for the past fifteen years,
and the extravagant Glidden entertainments have
gone down into history. It is also rumored that the Denver Representative Tells of the Remarkable
Powers of the Reproducing Instrument.
Fine New Plant Now Ready for Occupancy annual attendance of Chief Skin-Cote at these con-
ventions was one of the clever ideas for which he
Will Enable the Famous New York Piano
Presenting the merits of the Art-Apollo Grand,
is noted.
Action Industry to Double Output and
Last year Mr. Phillips became greatly interested the electrically-controlled grand playerpiano man-
ufactured-by the Apollo Piano Company at DeKalb,
Fill Orders Promptly.
in the invention of Tolbert F. Cheek, the widely
111., the Denver Music Company, Denver, Colo., says
known
player
authority,
and
the
Phil-Har-Chee
Co.,
One of the important events in the piano industry
in an advertisement:
—and collaterally equally so to the retail trade of 738-748 E. 136th street was formed and he be-
At the touch of a button this beautiful grand by
everywhere— is the removal of Strauch Bros., Inc., came its president.
itself, and of itself, yields music that is a true and
to the new factory of that great piano action in-
exact reproduction of the emotion, the feeling and
BUSY BJUR BROS. CO.
dustry in New York City. The new factory is a
the expression of the great pianists of the world
six story building of reinforced concrete at 327 to
One of New York's busiest piano factories is that
who have played their compositions for exclusive
347 Walnut avenue at 141st street. In dimensions of the Bjur Bros. Co. at 705-17 Whitlock Avenue. reproduction on the Apollo.
the new plant covers 60 by 200 feet—an immense A Wisconsin dealer told a Presto representative in
The action itself is well nigh invisible and in no
industry devoted to the same high class actions for
Milwaukee that he had never known an instrument
which Strauch Bros, became famous almost at the that gave better satisfaction than the Bjur Bros. He way interferes with hand playing when desired.
very outset of the business, more than a half cen- had just returned from New York where he had vis-
Without question it is the greatest step forward in
grand player piano construction.
tury ago.
ited the factory.
Will Insure Prompt Supplies.
The new factory contains nearly double the space
which has been occupied for so long on Tenth av-
enue at 13th street, and will place the industry of
Strauch Bros., Inc., in a position to take care
promptly of all orders during the coming fall, which
promises to be one of the busiest in the history of
the piano industry and trade.
There are few chapters in the history of the
American piano that present so much interest, or
that lend a greater inspiration to the makers of
thoroughly fine instruments than that of Strauch
Bros. It would require more space than can be
given to it here to even touch upon all of the at-
tainments of the members of the family whose
skill, integrity and perseverance, along artistic
lines, have made the name of Strauch Bros, famous
wherever pianos are made and sold.
Over Fifty Years Old.
The industry of Strauch Bros, was established in
1886 by Peter D. Strauch, one of the real nestors
of the modern piano industry, and it has been con-
ducted by that gentleman's two sons ever since the
founder retired, nearly twenty years ago. And of
late a member of the third generation has also been
active in the house—the son of Albert T. Strauch.
It is interesting to note that the factory now re-
linquished by Strauch Bros., Inc., has been occupied
by the piano action industry ever since 1883. The
building was erected by the founder of the house
for the purposes to which it has been devoted, and
it has served these purposes perfectly until now,
outgrown, the change is necessary.
The present managers of Strauch Bros., Inc.—
Albert T. and William E. Strauch—were admitted
to their father's business in 1890. They have sus-
tained the highest ambitions of the founder of the
business, »nd there has never been a blot, however
faint, upon the escutcheon of their house. It is by
their energies and skill, both as piano action experts
and business men, that the present large increase in
-Dami!cz/*d Player Action cVckool
the facilities of the industry have been made pos-
sible—even necessary.
Busiest Fall Ahead.
Mr. Cheek is enthusiastic auout me success of
The special summer course in player action in-
this special summer course and announces that it
struction recntly announced by Milton Cheek, chief
Business with Strauch Bros., Inc., today is greater
than ever before in the history of the house. The instructor of the Danquard Player Action School, will be continued throughout the entire summer
demand for Strauch Bros.' actions has grown with has met with especial favor. The accompanying until possibly September 15. On this date he plans
the steady improvement of the American piano, photograph illustrates one of the largest classes ever
to institute a special twelve-day course, which is a
which improvement may fairly be said to be due attending the school. These students are drawn trifle over two weeks in duration, and which will
in no small degree to the quality of the Strauch from all the states in the country and the majority cover practically the same field as does the summer
of them are taking advantage of the special two- course with the addition of a few days of practical
Bros.' actions.
It now appears, furthermore, that the coming weeks' summer course offered by the school.
demonstration of the mechanism of the various
fall trade will be the largest in the annals of the
This short term course gives the student the op- player actions which should enable him or her to
piano and, with this prospect in view, it was deemed portunity to acquire a thorough knowledge of the make all customary repairs, regulations and adjust-
wise last spring to prepare plans by which
theory of player actions. While it does not go into ments that ordinarily will present themselves.
Strauch Bros., Inc., would be placed in position to details, as does the longer course of the school, it
Well-Arranged Courses.
take care of the expanding trade. The result is permits the student attending this special course
The longer usual courses of the Danquard Player
the new building, which is large enough, it is be- to equip himself with a wealth of knowledge which
lieved, to meet every requirement for some years will be exceedingly beneficial to him in the general Action School will be continued for students who
to come. Detailed particulars of the new factory sense. The course consists of a series of daily lec- have more time to attend to their studies and desire
of Strauch Bros.. Inc., will appear in an early issue tures, each covering a particular topic of the prin- to get a more minute knowledge of player mechan-
isms. The special three weeks' course on the repro-
of Presto.
ciples of the pneumatic action. The motor is dis- ducing actions is still available for prospective
cussed in one; the tracking device in another; the
action of the pneumatics in another; the governor students. The course for the coming fall has been
and accenting device forming topics for other lec- planned to cover additional ground in the time
tures. Thus during the course of two weeks the im- specified. Whenever a student finds it possible to
portant sections of the player action is discussed in take this post-graduate course it will be to his ad-
lecture form, enabling the student to collect in notes vantage to do so, for this course presents to him an
President of the Phil-Har-Chee Co. Long Prominent much valuable data which will be of use to him later opportunity to become acquainted with the mechan-
in Glidden Company.
on by application. A special note-book is furnished ism, operation, regulation and care of the latest
In the supply field that caters to the music indus- to each student which offers a neat way for him to work in automatic pianos and re-producing pianos.
Models of all the leading makes of reproducing ac-
try few men are better known than Clarence Irwin compile his notes.
tions are used in the school course, permitting
Phillips, who for twenty-one years was associated
Different Actions Used.
students to find out by actual comparison the differ-
with the Glidden Varnish Company, and manager
In addition to the lectures the students spend the ence in mechanism of these actions.
of its New York branch for sixteen years. When
The special summer course mentioned in this arti-
Mr. Phillips first became associated with the Glid- intervening time in the study of the player action
den Co., its local business was less than $50,000 a parts having the opportunity to disassemble and re- cle will continue until September and students will
year, but under his judicious management it had assemble the various sections discussed in the lec- be accepted for this course on every Monday morn-
increased to over $1,000,000 in December, 1919, when ture. Models of all player actions manufactured in ing. Application may be made direct to Mr. Cheek,
he severed his connection with that company.
the United States are used for the purpose of in- chief instructor, Danquard Player Action School, 609
W. 51st street, New York.
For many years Mr. Phillips had been one of the struction, at this school.
NEW FACTORY
OF STRAUCH BROS.
SOME FEATURES OF
THE ART=AP0LL0 GRAND
DANQUARD CLASS OF 1920
WELL KNOWN VARNISH MAN
ENTERS PIANO INDUSTRY
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