62
May 26, 1923
PRESTO
CHOOSES CONN. INSTRUMENTS
Famous San Francisco Symphony Orchestra Proud
of Its Fine Equipment of Brasses.
Among the musical organizations which possess a
national reputation for the highest work is the San
Francisco Symphony Orchestra, of which Alfred
Hertz is conductor. Mr. Hertz, like all enthusiastic
leaders, is very particular in the matter of his or-
chestra's equipment, and that his choice of instru-
ments is for those made by C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elk-
hart, Ind., is not surprising. In a recent letter to a
musical publication he wrote: "I have selected Conn
instruments as the only make for my entire brass
section, an indication of my regard."
The San Francisco Symphony Orchestra has had a
healthy existence for a number of years, but its most
successful period has been enjoyed under the direc-
tion of Conductor Alfred Hertz. This eminent direc-
tor was a prime favorite in New York ere he was
engaged b ythe San Francisco society. The tours
of his orchestra through the western and middle
states have made Mr. Hertz and his orchestra ex-
ceedingly popular and the organization stands today
among the highest class symphony orchestras in the
world.. Individual members of the orchestra are as
enthusiastic as the leader. Here is what Fred Tait,
the famous trombonist now with the San Francisco
organization, says:
"There is no question in my mind as to the supe-
• riority of the Conn trombone regardless of the model.
They are all fine, exceedingly fine, in fact, and I have
tried many other makes but have never found at any
time the wonderful playing qualities possessed by
those of your manufacture."
SCHAFF BASS STRINGS.
There are certain commodities that always come
to the niind of the piano man when he tells over
the admirable parts of a good piano. The staunch
frame, the sounding board, the action, the felt ham-
mers and other important things, not forgetting the
bass strings. And these latter, the experienced piano
man, whether manufacturer, dealer, tuner or repair
man, concede to be of prime importance. A great
number of piano manufacturers, too, rely solely on a
bass string product and dependability of which they
have proved in what might be called a lifetime of
testing. Such a bass string product is that of the
Schaff Piano String Co., 2009 to 2021 Clybourn ave-
nue. Chicago. The art of string making, as practiced
at the plant of the Schaff Piano String Co., is based
on experiments and tests in amplifying the sonorous
quality in bass strings. In fact, the artist mechanic
in the Schaff factory winds tone and vibrancy into the
strings in the making.
GRADING JAZZ.
Jazz—the jazz particularly to be found in art,
music and literature—far from being deeply sympto-
matic of American life as a whole, is merely a surface
rash, Mrs. James W. Parker, chairman, this week in
Chicago told members of the P'ine Arts Committee
of the Illinois State Federation of Women's Clubs at
luncheon. "These tendencies represent but a very
small portion of our people," said Mrs. Parker. '"They
are no more serious than futuristic art. It is as un-
fair to judge American life by this passing develop-
ment as it would be to judge all of art by the work of
the futurists and the post impressionists. It is not
representative and really is indulged in by but a very
small proportion of our population."
IMITATION MAHOGANY STOCK.
Buyer for piano and phonograph factories are ac-
tice in the market for plain and quartered sap gum,
and in consequence of an active demand prices are
exceptionallq firm, the tendency being upward. The
request is chiefly for the inch plain .and the quartered
in all thicknesses. Sap gum is one of the most staple
of the woods used in the manufacture of the dark
finish, imitation mahogany, medium priced furniture,
and the increase in the demand for the raw material
indicates a brisk demand for the finished products in
that particular line. The wholesale market for inch
sap gum in the F. A. S. grade is from $48 to $50,
and the quartered in the same grade and thickness is
selling at 558 and $60, straight cars mill shipment.
CONCERT SELLS RECORDS.
The eight famous Victor artists gave a concert re-
cently in the City Hall, Bangor, Me. The sale of
tickets was conducted at the stores of the local Vic-
tor dealers, the Andrews Music House Co., Otis
Skinner Optical Co., and M. Steinert & Sons Co.
MAKING RECORDS BY RADIO
The Success of the Wireless Concert Suggests Won-
derful Possibilities to Record Makers.
Concert managers of the future may demand a
"good radio voice" in the applicants for positions.
The long distance wireless concert has already been
produced, but the artists had to have what is
technically known as the "wireless voice." In a
radio concert arranged by the San Francisco Call
last April, Frieda Hempel, singing in the California
Theater was clearly heard over 2,000 miles away. It
was reported that in no place were her tones heard
with more clarity than in Honolulu, 2,100 miles
away. Others in the long distance audience were
Magdalena Bay, Lower California; Guaymas, in Mex-
ico; Point Loma; and several stations in southern
Alaska.
The success of radio concerts has suggested pos-
sible developments of wireless singing. That is the
making of long distance talking machine records
by the same agency. It may become an aid to the
"scouts" of the recording companies who are con-
tinually alert for attractions.
The activities of the popular song scouts of the
talking machine record makers may not long be
confined to Broadway and the song factories of
Hit Alley. The international scout may grab his
"find" any old part of the world, yank him or her
to a radio station to sing for the works in New
York City, Orange, N. J., or Richmond, Ind. In
this way it would be only a few days instead of a
few weeks or months between the discovery of a
song attraction in Paris, London or elsewhere, and
the issuing of the completed record to record dealers
on this side.
DRUMS IN SAN FRANCISCO.
Henry Grobe, 135 Kearney street, San Francisco, is
a musical merchandise dealer who takes a particular
pride in the musical merchandise manufactured in
this country. Among the native products which par-
ticularly evoke his approbation are the drums and
drummers' traps of Ludwig & Ludwig, 1611 North
Lincoln street, Chicago. "The actual merits of the
Ludwig drums are the determining factors that in-
fluence the choice of professional drummers," said
Mr. Grobe last week.
Piano Dealers!
Put in a side line of Drums and Watch your Profits Grow
WILSON DRUMS AND ACCESSORIES
POPULAR
UP-TO-DATE
PRACTICAL
REASONABLE
The addition of a line of quality drums and traps means no extra room or unnecessary expense and
it does mean more customers and more sales. Every little bit helps these days and you can never tell
when this small goods customer will be in the market for a piano or phonograph. Drums are now
holding first place along with saxophones and banjos in sales records and there is no good reason
why every piano dealer should not get some of this business along with the regular trade. More-
over, drum sales are cash, which means that you'turn over your money more rapidly and hence
make a greater percentage. Write in today for our dealers' proposition and get in on some of this
extra business.
QUALITY
WELL ADVERTISED
GOOD DISCOUNT
Send For Dealer's Price List
WILSON BROS. MFG. CO.
Fine Drums and Accessories
218-22 N. May St.
CHICAGO
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