10
PRESTO
August 21, 1920.
ADDITION TO BIG PLAYER ACTION FACTORY
Several weeks ago A. W. Johnston, vice-president
of the Standard Pneumatic Action Co., New York,
promised the trade that their new 55th street branch,
Factory B, would be in operation on August 1. Some
manufacturers who were acquainted with the new
tactory considered that it would be a human im-
possibility to organize and equip this five-story
building, comprising nearly 60,000 square feet of
floor space, and get it in running order in such a
short length of time. In fact, it was generally con-
ceded by some skeptical persons that the plant
would not be in running order before January 1,
1921.
But the accompanying pictures will prove that the
Standard has made good its promise, and that Mr.
Johnston knew just what the Standard was capable
of doing when he made this seemingly rash promise.
These pictures were taken early Monday morning,
August 2, and they illustrate very clearly that the
plant was not only running on that date, but that
work was being carried on very systematically and
efficiently.
Factory B will be used solely for manufacturing
the bottom action of the Standard Player Action, and
is a complete organization in itself. Two immense
modern drying kilns have been installed to cure all
the necessary lumber. Formerly, this lumber had to
be cured at Factory A.
Picture 1 illustrates the wind chest and valve de-
partments where the wind chest is valved. The
governor box and gate box are also assembled here.
Picture 2 illustrates the pump reservoir department.
Picture 3 shows the mill where the best quality of
lumber is cut into sizes necessary for the construc-
tion of the action.
Factory B will comprise nearly 60,000 square feet
of light, airy, floor space. The building is equipped
with the most modern machinery to be had, and the
departments are systematically laid out, which dis-
penses with unnecessary handling of the work.
A trip through this modern factory, certainly
would prove a revelation to an outsider. Perhaps
the work which would interest the visitor most,
would be the careful manner in which the action is
tested. Special testing departments are arranged so
that each part of the action may be inspected and
tested before it leaves its respective department to
become a part of the unit.
While increasing production, the Standard Pneu-
matic Action Co. has not spared time or expense to
keep up the high quality of the product.
Commenting on the new addition, Mr. Johnston
said: "Since Feb. 1, 1919, we have added over 75,000
square feet of floor space for the manufacture of
Standard Player Actions. This does not include the
extra space required for yard and storage room, etc.
With this increase in floor space, we soon hope to be
able to catch up with and keep astride of the ever
increasing demand for Standard Player Actions."
NATIONWIDE ADVERTISING
OF THE Q R S MUSIC ROLLS
The company sent to all of its dealers this week
a postal card reading:
"Pages 112 and 113 this week's Saturday Evening
Post will help stimulate player sales for you.
"Have your salesman take a copy with them.
THE Q R S MUSIC CO.
August 18, 1920."
FIRMS WRITE COMMENDING
NATIONAL PLAYER WEEK
Double-Page Spreads Open Greatest Fields for the
Central Links of Music.
, The music roll is the central or connecting link
in everything that pertains to the production or sale
of music or musical instruments. It is like the spirit
in a man which animates both his physical and
nervous system.
,
That's the reason why the Q R S advertising men
are broadly advertising their product—there is
nothing narrow about Q R S management or Q R S
views. They believe that what helps on the sale
of music rolls helps also the sale of pianos, player-
pianos, phonographs and sheet music.
An evidence of this is seen in the double-page
display in this issue of Presto and also in this week's
issue of the Saturday Evening Post. A picture of
a piano keyboard is displayed at the bottom of the
design, and some fine piano veneer appears in the
front of the piano above. In future ads. the Q R S
company intends to refer to talking machines and
playerpianos, broadly, just as it says in this ad.:
"A playerpiano with a hundred well-selected Q R S
rolls will make you happy for life."
L. M. FRENCH LEAVING VIRGINIA.
L. M. French, formerly for many years salesman
in the piano department of the John Church Com-
pany, Chicago, has written to a Chicago friend, Mr.
Lord, of Lyon & H^aly's, that he and his son-in-
law are giving up their old home at Gordonville,
Va., where Mr. French has lived since he retired
from the piano business. And he is leaving those
Virginia hills, which he has learned to love, with
regrets. He will return to hfijT home at Brown's
Lake, near Burlington, Wis. His son-in-law has
purchased a beautiful home at Whitefish Bay, Wis.,
eight miles north of Milwaukee on the Lake Mich-
igan shore. Mr. French has been missed along
piano row in Chicago, and when he returns his
many friends will welcome him gladly.
Arleigh C. Dom, whose headquarters are at New
Orleans, La., southern traveler for the Q R S Com-
pany, was in Chicago this week and called at the
Q R S main offices.
In Spite of Many Unlooked for Delays Plans of
Committee Are Progressing.
The plans of National Playerpiano Week are
making progress in spite of vacation season and
resulting delays. It is reported by the Publicity
Committee that fully 50 per cent of the many whose
co-operation is expected have pledged their support
to the movement.
The meeting of Western manufacturers planned
in Chicago for last week was postponed to await
the return of manufacturers who were out of the
city. Even with the handicap of the summer sea-
son, replies are coming in steadily so that the suc-
cess of Playerpiano Week is assured. It is ex-
pected that before September 1 the committee will
have its pledges well in hand and the work under
way. The following firms wrote last week com-
mending the movement:
Cornwall & Patterson Mfg. Co.,; Butler Bros.
Piano Mfg. Co.; Hallet & Davis Piano Co.; Holland
Piano Co.; the Udell Works; Jesse French & Sons
Piano Co.; Cable & Sons, Behning Piano Co.* Iver-
son Piano Co.; Straube Piano Co., and B. H.
Janssen.
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