PRESTO
April 7, 1923
CHRISTMAN
REPRODUCING PIANOS
Remarkable in their distinctive
qualities of master interpreta-
tion, case designs and exclu-
sive features. Made in both
Grands and Uprights.
STUDIO GRAND
Wonderful Little Piano but 5
feet long but as powerful as a
Parlor Grand. Your trade will
be delighted with it.
Enhance Your Future Prosper-
ity By Investigating
the
Irresistible Appeal of
CHRISTMAN
GRAND5, UPRIGHTS
PLAYERS
and
REPRODUCING PIANOS
"The First Touch Tells' 9
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
POOLE PIANO CO.'S LINE
IN PICTURES AND PRINT
Special Booklets of Artistic Kind Designed to
Interest Discriminative Prospective
Customers of Retailer.
Two recent folders issued by the Poole Piano Co.,
Boston, are forceful mediums for a further dissemi-
nation of the knowledge of Poole piano merits. They
are designed for distribution by dealers and this end
was wisely considered by the man who wrote them.
One, a folder, covers the entire Poole line, uprights,
grands, playerpianos and reproducing pianos. The
other, a handsome booklet, is confined altogether to
the Poole reproducing piano which is now winning
additional distinction for the company.
"The Poole piano—an instrument of distinction," is
a phrase that provides the title for the booklet telling
about the general line. Poole piano distinction is a
thing that transmits distinction to the dealers repre-
senting the line. The distinction is no mere phrase.
It is the summing up of the efforts of a great many
years of constructive craftsmanship.
"If we were asked in a word to tell you why the
Poole is eligible to rank with the finest of pianofortes,
we should say, because of the craftsmanship which
has gone into its making. Or, better, perhaps, be-
cause of the individuality of its structure. The Poole
lias a pronounced identity in a distinctively musical
sense. Certainly, the tonal distinction of the Poole,
for instance, is an undeniable quality," is a foreword
in the folder.
Two Poole grands, style G, with a length of six
feet, and style S, measuring four feet in length, are
pictured and described in the general booklet. Four
Poole uprights and a Poole playerpiano are also
pictured and described in a manner to interest the
prospective buyer. Space is also given to the Poole
reproducing piano in the folder.
The little booklet devoted to describing and
illustrating the Poole reproducing piano is an artistic
production appropriate to the topic. Style G grand
reproducing piano and style 22 upright reproducing
piano are shown in admirably printed halftones. In
a pleasant way the prospective reproducing piano
buyer is told the convincing Poole facts.
"To know the Poole is to have formed a musical
friendship. This statement is peculiarly true. For
the Poole is an achievement in pianoforte craftsman-
ship. Tt represents that blend of materials and that
technique of craftsmanship which result in the fash-
ioning of a superior product," is the statement.
"Not alone is the Poole an instrument that com-
mends itself to the artist, to the finished musician,
but it has won for itself a place of highest regard in
the homes of a music-loving public.
"The Poole reproducing piano combines all the
elements of Poole value, its perfection of detail, its
tonal identity, with the world-renowned Welte-
Mignon (licensee) reproducing action. In other
words, the Poole reproducing piano is simply the
Poole piano plus the Welte-Mignon (licensee) re-
producing action.
"The Poole tone, the Poole identity, the standard
and unvarying Poole excellence, are as much and as
vitally ?„ part of the- Poole reproducing piano as they
are of the Poole pianoforte without the reproducing
device."'
PIANO TUNER'S JOKE GAVE
POMEROY, 0., A THRILL
A. L. Fitzgerald Confides in Nosey Porter and Con-
sequences Follow in Order.
At the Remington Hotel, Pomeroy, O., there is a
porter with the nose for news, unaccompanied, how-
ever, by the requisite keenness of scent. He evinces
a curiosity that is amusing to some guests and irri-
tating to others. It all depends upon the size and
quality of the sense of humor in the inquisitive
porter's subject.
Everybody who knows A. L. Fitzgerald, the
Westerville, O., piano dealer and tuner, is aware that
his joy in a joke is as great as his pleasure in doing
a good job of piano tuning or repairing. When Air.
Fitzgerald reached the Remington Hotel at Pomeroy
one night recently his tool bag at once became an
object of suspicion to the porter.
It is an ordinary tuner's bag fitted with a special
lock, but it seemed a very questionable object to his
nosiness. When opportunity offered the porter took
a close-up of the bag, sniffed at it, hefted it and gave
it a most elaborate O. O. But it was unsatisfying, and
maddened by the pangs of curiosity he pointblank
asked Mr. Fitzgerald to explain the contents.
'"Why, sure," smiled the amiable tuner. "Because I
know you won't breathe it to a soul. In that bag is
the best set of safebreaking tools you ever clapped
an eye on. If I had the key handy I'd show you.
Believe me, the beauties in that bag can gouge a
way into any old safe in Safetyville."
Within five minutes all the town banks had re-
ceived an anonymous tip to look out for bank robbers.
Chief Belcher also warned, was on the qui vive for
suspicious characters all afternoon and evening.
Sheriff Swanson walked up and down street fully
armed. The town was thrilled with anticipation,
until Mr. Fitzgerald, encountered coming out of a
house where he had performed a good tuning job on
a piano, explained to the sheriff his business in town
and showed the innocent contents of the bag.
OLD MISSOURI MUSIC FIRM
ENDS EXTENDED CAREER
McQueen Bros. Sells Stock and Closes Doors After
Fcrty Years of Successful Trading.
One of the oldest and most familiar businesses in
Carrollton, Mo., has been discontinued. McQueen
Bros., music dealers for over forty years, no longer
exists. The stock has been sold, the doors closed,
and J. W. McQueen, last of the three brothers to be
associated with the business, has formally retired.
McQueen Bros, was established in 1885 by three
McQueen brothers, one of whom remained with the
business only a short time following its founding.
Another brother, George H., resigned from the firm
in 1905, leaving J. W. McQueen in sole possession of
the business. J. W. McQueen at one time had hopes
that his sons would carry on the music business but
one by one as they grew to manhood they were
attracted to other activities. J. W. McQueen's motto,
"A satisfied customer with every sale," voiced the
spirit of the firm from first to last.
SOME REDEEMING JOYS
IN THE DAILY GRIND
W. R. Shutes, El Paso, Tex., Said It with Roses to
Gulhransen's."
"Under the pressure of trying to fill orders and
keeping dealers satisfied with fewer Gulbransens than
they have a demand for, business becomes a stern,
serious matter with little time or few occasions for
levity," said an official of the Gulbransen-Dickinson
Co., Chicago, this week.
"Once in a while, however, an incident bobs up
that sends a smile all along the line in an organiza-
tion, and helps to lighten the day's tasks."
Such an incident came up recently following the
interchange of telegrams between W. R. Shutes, of
the El Paso Piano Co., of El Paso, Texas, and the
Gulbranscn-Dickinson Co. of Chicago.
The first
telegram, dated March 27, read as follows: "We are
out of Players d'd you ship our car today we sure
would love you if you did."
This was answered on March 2
wire: "Your car loaded Monday now come on with
the roses."
And on the very same day a florist's messenger
walked into the Gulbransen-Dickinson Co. offices
with a box of beautiful American Beauty roses. Mr.
Shutes had "made good!"
SEEBURG CO. FINDS MARCH
BUSY MONTH FOR PIANOS
J. P. Seeburg Coin-Operated Instruments Find Ready
Sales in First Quarter of Year.
The office and factory of the J. P. Seeburg Piano
Co., at 1510 Dayton street, Chicago, are being kept
busy by the incessant orders for the coin-operated
instruments which are produced by this company.
The business in the J. P. Seeburg automatic pianos
has held up steadily during the month of March, and
makes a total of three months—the first quarter—of
this year, which have been marked with unusual
activity.
The growing popularity for this type of piano and
the ability of the j . P. Seeburg Piano Co. to meet the
growing demand and fulfill the requirements, makes
it a fortunate season for this Chicago industry. The
instruments which are made include 88-note player-
pianos, electric pianos and orchestrions, pipe organ
orchestras and unit pipe organs. The styles which
are adapted to use in theaters have been exceptionally
popular, and managers of theaters take justifiable
pride in advertising the fact that they use J. P. See-
burg automatic instruments.
The Piano Repair Shop, 425 South Wabash avenue,
Chicago, presents a scene of activity now, and a con-
siderable number of instruments are being handled.
The piano repair business is made better because of
the di..culty in getting a new piano in a hurry, ac-
cording to Manager Bartholomee.
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/