Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1923 1916

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.
/• cm., nj$m. r ~
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1923
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
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.
BUFFETT CLARINETS.
Harrisonville, Mo., April 6, 1923.
Editor Presto: I would like very much for you to
inform me of the names of the firms that are im-
porters of the genuine BufTett Clarinets. Also the
August BufTett clarinets.
MRS. O / C . ATTERBURY.
A number of large music houses import the Buffett
instruments. You can secure the genuine BufTett
clarinets and also the August Buffett clarinets of
either Carl Fischer of New York or Chicago, or
Lyon & Healy, Chicago.
* * *
THE "VOIGHT" PIANO.
Alva, Okla., April 7, 1923.
Editor Presto: I would like to be placed in com-
munication with the Voight Piano Manufacturer. I
wish to buy a steel frame for one of these instru-
ments and I will greatly appreciate your assistance
in helping me locate the proper manufacture.
J. W. MONFORT.
We do not know the "Voight" pianos, but there
was an instrument known as the Vough piano, which
was made by the Malcolm Love Piano Co., Water-
loo, N. Y. The industry named retired from busi-
ness a number of years back and the scales and pat-
terns were later secured by the Wegman Piano Co.,
of 26 Tenth Avenue, New York City.
It is possible you may receive what you want
by addressing the industry named.
* * *
C. F. GOEPEL & CO.
Picayune, Miss., April 9, 1923.
Editor Presto: When I was in Ohio, taking Presto,
there was a series of articles running in the paper
telling of playerpiano troubles and how to remedy
them. If they were collected in book form or so
they could be had I should like them. I want some-
thing to deal with player problems.
Are C. F. Goepel Co. still doing business? If so,
what is the address?
H. H. LABDELL.
While there have been a number of articles, such
as you mention, appearing in Presto, we can not now
recall just when they were published. Certainly these
articles were not put in book form. However, we
suggest that if- you write to any, or all, of the fol-
lowing you may receive some booklets upon this
subject:
Kohler Industries, Inc., New York; M. Schulz Co.,
Chicago, 111.; Gulbransen-Dickinson Co., Chicago.
C. F. Goepel & Co., the old and reliable manufac-
turers and wholesalers of piano supplies, are still
doing business, as they have for so many years past.
Their address is 137 East 13th street, New York.
You will find their standing advertisement in every
issue of Presto.
* * *
WOOD WORKING MACHINERY.
Wabasso, Minn., April 2, 1923.
Editor Presto: I have addressed a letter to C.
Christansen, 792 Grand avenue, Chicago, which is
listed in Presto Trade List No. 3, page 95. My letter
was not delivered. Would like to get present ad-
dress of the above firm, or some other that deals in
wood-working benches and tools, such as are used
in manual training classes.
J. J. HOFFMAN.
The Christansen concern seems to have retired
from business since the directory was printed. The
following wood working and machinery industries
may be able to furnish you with what you want:
Acme Wood Turning & Novelty Co., 730 W. Ran-
dolph St., Chicago; American Wood Working Ma-
chinery Co., 565 W. Washington Blvd., Chicago;
Rockwell Mfg. Co., 1334-6 South Rockwell street,
Chicago.
Of course there arc very many others located here
in Chicago, and should those named not be able to
supply you we will be glad to try again.
* * *
MUSIC PUBLISHING.
Eldred, Penna., April 7, 1923.
Editor Presto: Am writing you concerning an
article I saw in Presto of March 17th on "Seeking
Undiscovered Composers," and would like to enter
that contest. Would you kindly advise me where
to address them? Also, would like to ask you if
you could tell me as to reliability of the Keith's
Music Publishing House, of Long Branch, N. J. I
had an offer from them and didn't know if it was ad-
visable to accept.
Does "Presto Buyers' Guide" deal in sheet music
concerns? I take it that it is just for pianos and
musical instruments.
Could you also tell me where to address the
Billboard, as I now have my orchestrations about
ready for my new ballad.
MRS. MAY BELL ANDREWS.
All the information within our possession on the
contest subject was given in the article to which you
draw attention. As we understand it, the composi-
tions wanted are designed to be performed at the
stadium concerts at the College of the City of New
York. The manuscripts should be sent to Mrs. Wm.
Cowen, chairman, in the Fisk Bldg., New York City.
About Keith's, of Long Branch, we have no infor-
mation. We might be able to advise you if we could
see the proposition made by that concern. As a rule
we do not advise composers to deal with any but the
standard publishers.
Presto Buyers' Guide relates to pianos only.
The address of the "Billboard" is Cincinnati, Ohio.
* * *
MINIATURE PIANO.
Oconto, Wis., April 4, 1923.
Editor Presto: The school here has asked me for
a miniature piano—one made especially for schools,
that can be moved by boys from one room to an-
other. The teacher can look over it when playing.
If you know of such a piano factory, or house,
please forward this letter to them as this is very
urgent. They want the piano in a hurry.
W. L. LOYD.
There are a number of small pianos which are
made with reference to the needs of schools. We
suggest that among these industries are the Smith,
Barnes & Strohber Co., Chicago, who manufacture
the Strohber Diminutive; the Miessner Piano Co.,
110 Reed street, Milwaukee, Wis., which industry
produces the well-known "Little Piano With the
Big Tone" which was devised by Mr. Otto Miessner
especially for school purposes; the Chase-Hackley
Piano Co., Muskegon, Mich., and The Cable Co.,
Chicago, the latter great concern having recently put
out an especially made piano for the purpose in ques-
tion called the "Midget."
There are a number of others, but the ones named
are certainly admirable and we believe it would pay
you to write to them.
* * *
TWO GOOD PLAYERS.
Syracuse, Kansas, April 5, 1923.
Editor Presto: I have been figuring on a player-
piano for quite a while, and there are two dealers that
are offering to fix me out with an instrument.
One has Smith & Barnes and the other a Kimball,
and they both seem to be good instruments, although
I can own the former player for a little less money
and I can't see the difference in them—and I would
like to have your confidential advice in this matter
so that I will know what to do—as I don't want to
have anything on hand that I may not be satisfied
with.
Please let me know which of these to buy, or
would it be best for me to buy some other kind?
C. B. ARNOLD.
Both of the instruments are in every way admir-
able and the products of 'responsible industries.
There can be no doubt about the desirability of the
instruments you name, though we do not see why
BEGINNING OF A NEW
NEW YORK PIANO CENTER
The Sohmer and Chickering Will Have Head-
quarters on 57th Street, North of Present
Piano Zone.
The building which has become known as "Knabe
Hall." will not much longer be the New York home
of the Chickering & Sons instruments, of Boston.
New Yorkers see in the move, the starting of a new
Piano Row, for the building will be on 57th street,
which is considerably further north than the present
music trade center in the metropolis. And the fa-
mous Sohmer piano will also have a new building on
the same street.
A twelve-story building is to be erected at 27 and
29 West Fifty-seventh street for Chickering & Sons.
The Phipps estates bought the property recently for
the purpose of making the improvement for the piano
concern, which had agreed to pay $1,400,000 for the
use of a structure to be erected for them, for the next
twenty-one years.
The advance of another piano company to the
north side of Fifty-seventh street, which has been
rumored for several days, has also been verified. It is
that Sohmer & Co. will have a better home on Fifty-
seventh street. The Chickering building will be erected
on the forty-eight feet of frontage now covered by
two four-story dwellings. The architects estimate
that $500,000 will be the cost of the structure. The
property is just west of the chateau-like residence of
Mrs. Cornelius Vanderbilt on Fifth Avenue, from
Fifty-seventh to Fifty-eighth street.
Bainbridge Colby is erecting a tall building on the
north side of the Fifty-seventh street block. When it
is ready, some time next month, Sohmer & Co., piano
manufacturers, will take possession of part of it.
Since the shitting of art to this section of Fifth ave-
nue it was expected that music concerns would soon
follow.
The development of a new music center has been
started. Other musical instrument manufacturers and
dealers will seek locations in Fifty-seventh street, it is
believed.
the price should be quoted any lower on the one
you say is so cut than the other instrument.
As we have said, both are admirable in every way
and whichever you buy would probably give you
perfect satisfaction.
* * *
THE OSBORN GRAND.
Wausa, Nebr., April 6, 1923.
Editor Presto: Enclosed find 50 cents for which
please send me the latest "Presto Buyers' Guide."
Will you please tell me if the Osborn Grand is a re-
liable piano to buy.
A. F. W I T T .
The Osborn piano is no longer being manufac-
tured. Since Mr. Osborn's death the industry went
into bankruptcy and the assets were recently sold at
auction; consequently, the Osborn piano is practic-
ally extinct and in buying one it is necessary to as-
sume all the responsibility yourself.
There are other small grand pianos which may
be had for little more than the amount of money
the Osborn was sold for, which are giving the best
of satisfaction. As you know, however, the Osborn
was made and sold for the lowest priced grarid ever
produced.
* * *
THE CHICKERING CENTENARY.
Clovis, New Mexico, April 6, 1923.
Editor Presto: Understanding that you are going
to get out a Chickering Edition, I am enclosing an
article that was published in our local paper that
would possibly be of interest to the public. I have
mislaid the original letter from the Chickering Divi-
sion, but this article is an exact copy.
G. C. FALKNER.
The article appeared in last week's Presto. An
editorial in this issue covers the subject of the cen-
tenary celebration quite fully, and the great adver-
tising publicity of the American Piano Co.'s agents
throughout the country, together with the trade paper
announcements, covers the matter so fully that no
special edition seems necessary. There is history in
this week's editorial which must be of interest to all
piano dealers.
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/
PRESTO
The American Music Trade Weekly
PUBLISHED EVERY SATURDAY AT 407 SOUTH DEAR-
BORN STREET, OLD COLONY BUILDING, CHICAGO, ILL.
C. A. DANIELL and FRANK D. ABBOTT
Editors
Telephones, Local and Long Distance, Harrison 234. Private Phones to all De-
partments. Cable Address (Commercial Cable Co.'s Code), "PRESTO," Chicago.
Entered as second-class matter Jan. 29, 1896, at the Post Office,
under Act of March 3, 1879.
Chicago. Illinois,
Subscription, $2 a year; 6 months, $1; Foreign, $4. Payable In advance. No extra
charge In United States possessions, Cuba and Mexico.
Address all communications for the editorial or business departments to PRESTO
PUBLISHING CO., 407 So. Dearborn Street, Chicago, III.
Advertising Rates:—Five dollars per inch (13 ems pica) for single insertions.
Complete schedule of rates for standing cards and special displays will be furnished
on request. The Presto does not sell its editorial space. Payment Is not accepted for
articles of descriptive character or other matter appearing In the news columns. Busi-
ness notices will be indicated by the word "advertisement" In accordance with the
Act of August 24, 1912.
Photographs of general trade interest are always welcome, and when used, if of
special concern, a charge will be made to cover cost of the engravings.
Rates for advertising in Presto Year Book Issue and Export Supplements of
Presto will be made known upon application. Presto Year Book and Export issues
have the most extensive circulation of any periodicals devoted to the musical in-
strument trades and industries in all parts of the world, and reach completely and
effectually all the houses handling musical instruments of both the Eastern and West-
ern hemispheres.
Presto Buyers' Guide is the only reliable index to the American Pianos and
Player-Pianos, it analyzes all instruments, classifies them, gives accurate estimates
of their value and contains a directory of their manufacturers.
Items of news and other matter of general Interest to the music trades are in-
vited and when accepted will be paid for. All communications should be addressed to
Presto Publishing Co., 407 So. Dearborn Street. Chicago, III.
SATURDAY, APRIL 14, 1923
PRESTO CORRESPONDENCE
IT IS NOT CUSTOMARY WITH THIS PAPER TO PUBLISH REGU-
LAR CORRESPONDENCE FROM ANY POINTS. WE, HOWEVER,
HAVE RESIDENT REPRESENTATIVES IN NEW YORK, BOSTON,
SAN FRANCISCO, PORTLAND, CINCINNATI, INDIANAPOLIS, MIL-
WAUKEE AND OTHER LEADING MUSIC TRADE CENTERS, WHO
KEEP THIS PAPER INFORMED OF TRADE EVENTS AS THEY HAP-
PEN. AND PRESTO IS ALWAYS GLAD TO RECEIVE REAL NEWS
OF THE TRADE FROM WHATEVER SOURCES ANYWHERE AND
MATTER FROM SPECIAL CORRESPONDENTS, IF USED, WILL BE
PAID FOR AT SPACE RATES. USUALLY PJANO MERCHANTS OR
SALESMEN IN THE SMALLER CITIES, ARE THE BEST OCCA-
SIONAL CORRESPONDENTS, AND THEIR ASSISTANCE IS INVITED.
ADVERTISING INFORMATION
Forms close promptly at noon every Thursday. News matter for
publication should be in not later than eleven o'clock on the same
day. Advertising copy should be in hand before Tuesday, five p. m.,
to insure preferred position. Full page display copy should be in
hand by Monday noon preceding publication day. Want advs. for cur-
rent week, to insure classification, must be at office of publication not
Later than Wednesday noon.
INSTRUMENT OF IMMORTALS
Whether it came as the suggestion of one of the numberless
pianists who have expressed their admiration for the Steimvay piano,
or whether it was an inspirational flash of the publicity department,
it is certain that "The Instrument of the Immortals" perfectly fits the
famous piano from New York. Any one interested in pianos may
easily realize just why the descriptive phrase seems to belong- to the
Steinway. The list of great artists who have flashed across the mus-
ical firmament seems to embrace a majority of such as have left
undying" memories. From Liszt to Godowsky, from Rubinstein to
Paderewski, on through the list of immortals, past and present, there
is the entwining- of the name of Steinway. It is a marvelous record,
and one in which every possessor of a Steinway piano has a share, and
every piano dealer a substantial interest.
"The Instrument of the Immortals"—the term would seem al-
most grotesque if applied to some other pianos. The piano manu-
facturers themselves will admit that. There are- many fine instru-
ments produced in this country, by progressive and successful in-
dustries. Some of them have gained descriptive symbols and phrases
not unlike that of the Steinway, and yet not just like it. "The In-
strument of the Immortals" is based upon the facts that are unde-
niably associated with the artists whose lives and genius entitle them
to immortality, as we mortals recognize it. Follow the names of the
great pianists by that of a piano by which the interpretative genius
was given expression. What piano is it? There is the test of the
April 14, 1923
fitness of the suggestive, almost daring Steinway phrase. It has be-
come so closely associated with the Steinway piano as to seem almost
a part of it and inseparable from it.
The Steinway piano is not yet quite three-quarters of a century
old. But it is probably the most famous instrument in the world, and
years do not always make a man or his works great. But years do
build up experience, and the accumulated results of seventy-six years
in the perfecting of the Steinway piano is what we have today in
"The Instrument of the Immortals." And a really fine consideration in
this connection is that the Steinway has no jealous rivalries, and no
competitors who would refuse their indorsement or withhold their
approbation.
CONVENTION FEATURES
The June convention will be marked by several unusual features.
One will be the High School band contests. It will draw an im-
mense number of people from outside the immediate ranks of the in-
dustry and trade. Another is the advertising contest. Nothing has
deeper interest to business than advertising.
The style of piano advertising has changed greatly of late years.
The old time schemes for winning publicity have passed, and a better
system now prevails. Today many bright minds and able executives
are busy with exclusive problems of piano publicity. Mr. Dennis, who
largely fashions the enterprises of the National Bureau of.Music In-
dustries, is a former advertising man.
He knows what is needed to draw public attention. Mr. Byrne,
of the largest "combination" of piano "divisions" in New York, is a
trained advertising expert. He has "made" more "artists" in a public
way than any impressario. Mr. Vogel, the advertising man of the
Kohler Industries, is one of the recognized experts in publicity work.
Mr. Stein is doing the publicity work for several New York pianos,
including the Hardman, the Premier Grand and the Jacob Doll lines.
He knows all about the convention work, also.
In Chicago several of the foremost piano industries have advertis-
ing specialists who know what the trade and public need. Mr. C. E.
Byrne and Mr. Murphy of the Steger interests; Mr. Hadley, of The
Cable Company publicity department; Mr. Kiehn, of Gulbransen-Dick-
inson Co.; Mr. John Rayborne Bayley, of the Story & Clark Piano
Co. publicity; Mr. Jones, of the j . P. Seeburg Piano Co., and a num-
ber of others, represent good examples of what the large manufactur-
ers are doing.
The retailers usually prepare their own "copy." It is for them
that the advertising feature has been injected into the Convention
programme. And there are other good special features which will
help to brighten things at the Drake, in Chicago, the first week in
June. Any piano dealer—any member of any branch of the trade who
can get to Chicago, and doesn't, will make a big mistake.
OLD PIANO INDUSTRIES
There are no really old piano industries in this country, in the
sense of things that are old in lands across the sea. England has in
active operation today piano industries the beginnings of which date
back two hundred years. By a coincidence the Broadwood piano, of
London, celebrates its two hundredth anniversary this year, making
a record just twice that of the dickering, of Boston, which, on the
very day of this Presto's issue, passes its one hundredth birthday.
The Broadwood is by far the oldest of all existing piano indus-
tries. The next in line is also an English instrument—that of Collard
& Collard, founded in 1760 and still an active reality.
In Germany there is a record running back to 1794—that of the
famous Ibach & Sohn piano, and in France the proud record of the
Erard dates back to 1779.
So that, like the nation itself, we of the piano can not make much
of a boast of running back into the centuries. And it is this fact that
prompts the Boston industry to consider this a red-letter year, and to
celebrate its passing with rather elaborate demonstrations. For, if
all the records are correct, the Boston instrument may date back to,
with a'single exception, the earliest beginning of all existing Ameri-,
can pianos. The exception, if the traditions and historical researches
of experts are reliable, is the Bacon piano, of New York. For that
instrument has been credited with having been established in 1789, or
just thirteen years after the birth of the nation.
However correct, or otherwise, the records of American piano
making may be, it is certain that the Chickering has made history, not
only for longevity but in the inventive spirit by which its career has
been marked. Its founder is given credit for the introduction of the
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/

Download Page 3: PDF File | Image

Download Page 4 PDF File | Image

Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).

Pro Tip: You can flip pages on the issue easily by using the left and right arrow keys on your keyboard.