21
PRESTO
May 19, 1923
NEW COLUMBIA ROLL IS OUT
The June Release for 65-Note Electric Pianos Con-
tains Ten "Hot Ones."
Columbia Music Roll Co., Chicago, announces the
release of Roll No. 1755, the new June roll for 65-note
electric pianos. The new Columbia roll includes the
following ten "very latest hot ones":
Swingin' Down the Lane, Fox-trot; Don't Think
You'll Be Missed. Fox-trot; I'm Drifting Back to
Dreamland, Waltz; Beside a Babbling Brook, Fox-
trot; Down By the River, Fox-trot; Who's Sorry
Now, Fox-trot: River Shannon Moon, Waltz; Think
of Me, Fox-trot; Baby Buntin', Fox-trot; Wet Yo'
Thumb, Fox-trot.
T. WILSON'S NEW MACHINE
Wilson Bros. Mfg. Co. Introduces New Process of
Manufacturing Fret Wire.
A new departure in the manufacture of fret wire
for stringed instruments is being introduced by Wil-
son Bros., Chicago drum manufacturers. A new
machine, invented by Tom Wilson, head of the .firm,
some years ago, is now being used by Wilson Bros.
Mfg. Co. with decided success.
The new process is revolutionary. It is a distinct
contribution to the trade, in that it remarkably im-
proves the quality and reduces the cost of fret wires.
It is claimed that the Wilson process increases the
footage per pound from ten to thirty per cent. This,
of course, means a sharp reduction in the cost of
manufacturing.
The new wire is also claimed to be much improved
in quality over the ordinary kind. The Wilson in-
vention guarantees a more uniform wire, and elimi-
nates the filing which ordinary fret wire requires. A
special head, with barbs which are guaranteed to
hold equally well in hard or soft wood, are also
features. The barbs on both sides of the wire, tightly
held in place by a "fish-hook" principle in construc-
tion, explain why the new wire has been named the
"Hold-fast Fret Wire."
Samples of the new product have been sent to six
of the leading manufacturers of stringed instruments
in the country. From these six, Wilson Bros, have
received orders for more than a ton of "Hold-fast"
wire.
And if the bigger manufacturers adopt it, believe
the Wilson officials, the smaller firms must come to
use it, for they have no cheaper or better method than
those used by the larger houses. In short, the Wilson
Bros. Mfg. Co. see a brilliant future for their new
product.
The machine which manufactures the "Hold-fast"
wire was invented by Tom Wilson almost twenty
years ago, when he was with Lyon & Healy of Chi-
cago. The drum business, however, kept him too
busy to fully work out the process, and the invention
was left idle until lately. The present popularity of
the ukelele and banjo, however, led the firm to take
up the idea. Now they have perfected it, put it into
operation and have jumped with both feet into the
fret wire manufacturing business.
This is not the first contribution that Tom Wilson
has given to the trade. He has already four or five
inventions in connection with drums to his credit. This
latest promises to be one of the most important of
his successful productions. The new process is, nat-
urally, a secret one. It is not sold, and is used
solely by the Wilson Bros. Mfg. Co.
TALKING MACHINE MEN MEET.
A meeting of Talking Machine Men, Inc., was held
on Wednesday, May 16, at the Cafe Boulevard, 41st
street, near Broadway, New York City, when an
election of officers for the coming year took place.
The final reports of the entertainment and other
committees were presented and matters relating to
several events were discussed. What the association
has done in connection with Music Week and the
Music Memory Contest was told and in five minute
talks from dealers, ways to improve our business were
suggested. There also was a demonstration of new
songs by two popular composers, Louis Breau and
Charles Tobias.
FACTS FOR WOOD USERS.
Another valuable piece of research work for the
benefit of wood using factories has been started by
the Forest Products Laboratory, Madison, Wis., in
which the Government institution will study the
proper methods of filing the common cabinet woods.
This will involve the study of methods and materials.
The necessary information is being got together by
means of questionnaires and by special visits to wood
using plants.
TUNERS'
Here are
BASS STRINGS
Special attention given to the needs of the tuner and
the dealer
OTTO R. TREFZ, Jr.
2110 Fairmount Avenue
PHILADELPHIA, PA.
The Piano Repair Shop
Get Our New Cir< ulati and Price*
Pianos and Phonographs Rebuilt by
Expert Workmen
Player-actions installed. Instruments
rehnished or remodeled and actions and
keys repaired. Work guaranteed. Prices
reasonable.
Our-of-town dealers' repair work solic-
ited. Write for details and terms.
PIANO MOVERS SUPPLY COMPANY
THE PIANO REPAIR SHOP
PRACTICAL PIANO MOVING SUPPLIES
INCREASE SELLING POWER
One-Man Steel Cable Hoist; Two-in-One
Loaders, Trucks, Covers, etc.
BUCKINGHAM, PA.
425 South Wabash Ave.
Chicago
AN ERRONEOUS UKULELE IDEA
Not Ancient as Commonly Stated, But Had Origin
Less Than Fifty Years Ago.
Occasionally daily newspaper writers, more im-
aginative than correct, allude to the ukulele as "the
ancient instrument of the Hawaiians." It is an erro-
neous bit of description because you could hardly
call a thing invented about 1879 ancient. But, al-
though the origin of the ukulele is comparatively re-
cent, it is interesting. It really represents the musi-
cal birth of the Hawaiian people.
The so-called ukulele craze may be said to have
its beginning in 1901. when "The Bird of Paradise,"
Tully's poignant drama, began to tour this country.
Then people began to ask what were those little
guitar-like instruments used in several of the scenes
whose haunting strains provided accompaniments to
characteristic songs. Now Hawaiian music is com-
mon, Hawaiian orchestras familiar everywhere,
Hawaiian records and rolls are among the popular
things, and the ukulele itself one of the easy-selling
instruments in the musical merchandise stock.
The original ukulele was but a strip of bamboo
with two or three strings of cocoanut fiber. From
this developed the tarpotch, invented about 1879,
which had the shape of a guitar and was equipped
with five strings. Then followed the modification,
the present ukulele, which reduced the number of
strings by one and reduced the length from twenty-
five to seventeen inches.
Conn band goods are featured by the L. A. Taylor
Co., Davenport, la.
LEATHER
FOR
PLAYERS
ORGANS
PIANOS
PNEUMATIC LEATHERS A SPECIALTY
Packing, Valves, All Special Tanned
Bellows Leather
T. L. LUTKINS, Inc.
40 Spruce Street
NEW YORK
DEALERS AND TUNERS!
Big Cut in Prices Piano Key Repairing
Celluloid, Complete Tops, Set Keys
$7.00
Ivorine (grained), Complete Tops, Set Keys 8.00
Composition, Complete Tops, Set Keys... 10.00
Sole manufacturers and distributors of H. P.
& O. K. Co. famous Ivory White Glue. Needs
no Heating. Applied Cold. Sent anywhere in
U. S. P. P. $1.00 can.
HARLEM PIANO & ORGAN KEY CO.
121-123 E. 126th St.
New York Cits', N. Y.
MAGOSY & BUSCHER
PERFECTION
PLAYER ROLL CABINET
Furnished in 5 ply veneered 13/16 stock in
Mahogany, Oak and Walnut
Designed and
Manufactured
By
Perfection Piano Bench Mfg. Co.
Capacity, 150 Rolls
614-618 So. Canal St.
CHICAGO
First Class
OVAL AND ROUND METAL
SPINNERS
Makers of high-grade hammered Cym-,
bals in Brass and German Silver, from 2
to 18 inches; Brass Mutes for Cornets,
Trombones, French Horns.
Our Hammered Cymbals are as Good as Turk-
ish Cymbals in Sound, and they don't cost as
much.
Drum Major Batons in Wood and Metal.
Makers of the BESTONE Banjo Reso-
nators
We Can Manufacture Any Specialty in
Our Line to Order.
232 Canal St. and 118 Walker St., NEW YORK
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