Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American Pianos
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Trade Lists
Three Uniform Book-
lets, the Only Complete
Directories of the Music
Industries.
/• c.nt., $*MH « Tea,
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, DECEMBER 9, 1922
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
France" display more enthusiasm and enterprise than
those of any other nation.
Russia did at one time have some very distin-
guished piano industries, among which the foremost
was that of J. Becker. The pianos of that Petro-
grad manufacturer took prominent part in the Colum-
bian Exposition of 1893, and carried off one of the
awards. Today Russia is not making pianos.
* * *
PLAYER PARTS, TUNERS, ETC.
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
writer 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.
SID SACHS'NOVELTIES.
Baltimore, Md., Nov. 25, 1922.
Editor Presto: Will you be kind enough to send
me address of Sid Sachs, Novelty Co., Chicago, or
forward them this letter. I want some information
concerning the small novelty piano they are turning
out, mentioned in Presto.
FRANK W. ROLLMAN.
The address of Sachs & Co. is 425 South Wabash
Avenue, Chicago. We understand Mr. Sachs has
had remarkable success with the novelty pianos,
of which he makes what may be termed a "full line."
No doubt he will be glad to serve you.
* * *
SACRED SONG WRITER.
Mansfield, Ohio, Nov. 30, 1922.
Editor Presto: Would like to know if you com-
pose sacred music? If so, please write terms, and
particulars.
MRS. ANNA R. ILES.
Composing music to verses is not in our line, but
there is a gentleman in Chicago who makes that his
business and whose efforts seem to have been giving
satisfaction. His name and address are Harry L.
Alford, State-Lake Bldg., Chicago.
Very often it is well to have some local amateur,
or friend, set melodies to words, but perhaps Mr.
Alford can do it for you.
* * *
A POLISH MUSICIAN.
Zlozov, Poland, Nov. 2, 1922.
Editor Presto: In a music room in our country I
become aware your address. I am a musician.
Please send me of your magazine a copy and I will
be your subscriber. Is there room for musicians
in your country?
Truly yours,
JACOB HOCHBERG.
The foreign subscription price to Presto is $4.00.
Should you want both of the papers you may have
them at a club price of $5.00. America is always
musical, and musicians are as welcome here as any-
where in the world. But it is folly for musicians to
come here expecting to win fame and fortune, for
the field is well cultivated and the harvesters are
already many.
* * *
MUSIC ROLL SUPPLIES.
Rushvillc, Ind., Nov. 26, 1922.
Editor Presto: I wish to have a list of all the
music roll manufacturers who are making standard
88 note as well as 65 note rolls. Also supplies of all
kinds for the music roll industries.
Can you supply me with such a list, giving the ad-
dresses of these manufacturers in any one of your
trade lists?
Also wish to know if you have a directory listing
all dealers, both large or small, who sell phonographs
and phonograph accessories, wholesale and retail
dealers. I presume that your Phonograph directory,
referred to in your trades paper, lists only the manu-
facturers of phonographs, and if so this w r ould not an-
swer my purpose, as I want a list of dealers, retail
and wholesale, who handle phonograph accessories!
FRED BOXLEY.
Among the most conspicuous and successful of the
industries about which you ask are:
The United States Music Co., 2934 Lake St., Chi-
cago; Q R S Music Co., Chicago; Clark Orchestra
Roll Co., De Kalb, 111.; Billings Player Roll Co.,
Milwaukee, Wis.; Vocalstyle Co., Cincinnati, Ohio;
De Lux Music Roll Co., New York, N. Y.; Melodee
Music Co., Inc., New York, and Ampico, New York.
Of course the are many more than those whose
names we have given you, and you will find a very
good list on pages 17 and 18 of" PRESTO TRADE
LISTS NO. 3, which is devoted to musical sup-
plies.
PRESTO TRADE LISTS No. 2 is a directory of
the phonograph dealers, accessories and manufactur-
ers. The list is a very large one and, while it is not
of recent compilation, it is still the best in existence.
* * *
EXCHANGE PIANO VALUES.
Dallas, Nov. 20, • 1922.
Editor Presto: Do you have a list of suggested al-
lowances on piano trade-ins?
L E S T E R GUNST CO.
The National Association of Piano Merchants of
America long ago compiled a schedule of allowances
for pianos and playerpianos taken in exchange or as
part payment on new instruments. The figures which
follow are made with the understanding that the in-
struments taken in exchange were in good "second-
hand" condition.
Under
Over
5 5-10 10-20 20
yr. yr. yr. yr.
Upright pianos . .
$ 70 $ 55 ; 40 $ 25
Upright pianos, $200 grade
75
50
45
35
Upright pianos, 300 grade. . . . . . 100
80
60
45
Upright pianos, 400 grade
150 130 100
75
Upright pianos, 550 grade and up 180 150 125
80
Grand pianos, $450 grade
165 125 100
80
Grand pianos, 550 grade
200 170 130 100
Grand pianos, 650 grade
275 225 175 125
Grand pianos, 750 grade and up 300 275 225 150
Player pianos, Stencils (88 note) 145 120 100
Player pianos, $395 grade
160 125 100
Playerpianos, 500 grade
200 165 110
Player pianos, 650 grade
275 225 150
Player pianos, 850 grade
300 260 160
A 65-note Player Piano is worth no more than its
piano value.
* * *
GREAT FOREIGN PIANOS.
Boston, Mass., November 25, 1922.
Editor Presto: I find pleasure in remitting my
subscription for 1923 to Presto. I find Presto a very
reliable music journal. It is on time with all news
of the music trade world.
I have run across a G. A. Miller. Not the Milwau-
kee Miller, nor Boston's famous H. F. Miller, but a
stencil "G. A. Miller." The lady thought it the orig-
inal H. F., but I told her "No.' 18736 is number on
pin block. Painted on front fall-board was "G. A.
Miller." Xote the number. Now, no firm anywhere
in L T . S., has made so many "G. A. Millers." This is
what one bumps into, even in Boston, where many
of our finest and oldest firms have been for 100 years.
The Wm. Bourne Co., of Boston, has moved to
Amesbury, Mass.
What German pianos compare with America's
concert pianos? Name, say, three of Germany's best
makes or of England's, France and Russia—if any
manufactured in Russia at present. What is Canada's
leading piano, also Canada's leading pipe organ.
Tremont Temple has just put in a Canadian pipe
organ, 88 stops, 4 manuals.
OBERA W I L L MORAN.
There are stencil pianos everywhere, and Boston
has produced its full share of them. Miller is a
name which has played a large part in the American
industry, though we do not recall any "G. A." in the
business.
There have been a number of very famous German
pianos. Among them are: Bechstein, Schiedmayer,
Ronisch and Bluthner, which have been used in the
concert work of great pianists. The Bechstein con-
templated establishing a branch factory in this coun-
try, but finally abandoned the project.
England also has some distinguished pianos, among
them the Broadwood, Challen and Brinsmead. The
last-named, however, ceased operations a year or
two ago.
In France the great pianos, often used by artists,
are Erard, Pleyel and Gaveau. A good share of the
fine character of the French instruments is credited
to the great action industry of J. Herrburger, Paris.
It is a somewhat remarkable condition that at this
time the musical instrument industries of "bleeding
Indianapolis, Ind., Dec. 2, 1922.
Editor Presto: We are just starting a business
here and want to get in touch with the small-town
piano stores; also the piano tuners, especially in
Indiana, Illinois, and Kentucky, to start.
Also names of houses that specialize in playerpiano
parts and materials of every kind.
INDIANA PLAYER ACTION CO..
While there are a number of industries which
make a specialty of player parts and materials, we
believe that the largest are;
Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co., New York; Piano
& Organ Sup. Co., Chicago, 111.; C. F. Goepel & Co.,
New York; Cornwall & Patterson, Bridgeport,
Conn.; Motor Player Corpn., Chicago, and American
Piano Supply Co., New York.
We suggest that on pages 19 and 21 of PRESTO
TRADE LISTS No. 3 you will find a very complete
list of the industries about which you ask. A list of.
piano dealers throughout the country may be found
in PRESTO TRADE LISTS No. 1. For a good
list of Piano Tuners we suggest that you apply to
Mr. McClellan, secretary of the National Association
of Piano Tuners, Chicago.
* * *
GRAND PIANO CO.
Syracuse, N. Y., Dec. 1, 1922.
Editor Presto: In a recent issue of Presto I saw
notice where the Grand Piano Co. had been incorpo-
rated for $100,000. I wrote them a letter which has
been returned. What information can you give the
writer in reference to same?
H. C. POLHAMUS.
We have no further information about the Grand
Piano Co. than appeared in the item to which you
draw our attention. One of our correspondents sent
in the paragraph just as we published it to the effect
that the Grand Piano Co. of Wilmington, 111., had
been organized. We have since tried to secure some
particulars but without success.
FIRST PIANOLA PRESENTED
TO NATIONAL MUSEUM
Edwin S. Votey, Distinguished Inventor and
Vice-President of the Aeolian Company,
Is the Donator.
Edwin S.Votey, vice-president of the Aeolian Com-
pany, of New York, pioneer in the manufacture of
playerpianos, and one of the inventors of the pilot-
less aeroplane, last week Friday presented the orig-
inal Pianola to the National Museum at Washington.
The instrument was accepted for the Museum by
Dr. Walter Hough, chief of the Musical Instruments
Section of the Institute.
Mr. Votey, who is widely known in the music in-
dustry, and is the author of many war-time inven-
tions. The principle of flying by automatic control
without the aid of a pilot was worked out by Mr.
Votey and Mr. Kettering, chief engineer of the Gen-
eral Motors Company, during the war. Pilotless
aeroplanes, carrying huge loads of explosives, would
have been used against the German army if the war
had continued.
The great organ used for concerts at the Colum-
bian Exposition in Chicago, in 1893, was built under
Mr. Votey's direction. At that time the distinguished
inventor was a member of the Farrand & Votey Or-
gan Company, of Detroit, Michigan.
A CHRISTMAS WINDOW SIGN.
The Chase-Hackley Piano Co., Muskegon, Mich.,
has prepared and distributed a handsome window
sign suggestive of the desire to buy pianos. The
"Make This a Musical Christmas" sign is intended
for use in windows.
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