Presto

Issue: 1923 1939

PRESTO
September 22, 1923
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
Equipped with the
Action
The most famous of all Electrically
operated reproducing Grands, exempli-
fying the highest achievement in the
piano maker's Art.
Its touch, tone, and artistic qualities
are superlative and will surely appeal
to the true Musician, claims which can
be verified by a personal trial.
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
Only 5 Feet Long
It was the CHRISTMAN GRAND that
first demonstrated the truth that size has
nothing to do with the depth and resonance
of a Grand Piano's tone.
Built with a careful eye to the exacting
requirements of the space at the command
of city dwellers and owners of small houses,
the CHRISTMAN GRAND combines every
essential that wins for the grand piano first
consideration in the mind of the artist.
HEARING IS BELIEVING
It lacks nothing save bulk, and in this
saving of valuable space, it places within
reach of every true musician, however lim-
ited his room, an instrument that measures
up to the most exacting requirements as to
range, richness and tonal qualities.
'The First Touch Tells"
Re K . U S. Pat
Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
this moment I yearned to be a Chauncey Depew, that
I might respond in a manner worthy the occasion
and introduction.
I, however, did the best I knew how and tried to
inspire the young men, so far from home, to remem-
ber their loved ones in America, who were watching
with pride their progress in that far-away country,
from which they would some day return, not as the
"prodigal son," but as well-rounded men of character
and experience, reminding them that, in striving to
do the best he can,
"The youth develops into the man,
And thus unfolds his immortal powers
Like buds when blossomed into flowers."
I learned that Uruguay was the best governed
nation of South America—less in debt and with
money of greater value.
Santos and San Paulos.
We left Montevideo on March 3rd on the palatial
steamer "Almanzora," with five decks and elevators,
for Santos, the nearest port for San Paulos, the great
coffee center of Brazil. The 4th being Sunday, church
services were held, conducted by the captain, from
Episcopalian prayerbook, as is usual on all British
vessels. We had a most delightful trip, arriving at
Santos at 9:15 a. m. March 6th.
This is quite a lively place; houses well kept, with
plenty of flowers. The water front is lined with
coffee warehouses and two-wheeled wagons, drawn
by small but well fed and groomed mules with ex-
pensive harness, many of them with bells on their
collars—all indicative of wealthy ownership. The
city streets are narrow, but outside there were some
fine residences and beautiful drives and lovely
scenery.
At 2 p. m. we took the train for San Paulos, in the
uplands. This is one of the best railroads I have
seen anywhere—part rail and part cable. No money,
it seems, had been spared to make it thoroughly safe,
and at places up the mountainside where there was a
possibility of a slide it was carefully built up the
sides for some distance with smooth-faced granite,
and the beds of mountain streamlets were all lined
with masonry. The scenery along the line is cer-
tainly grand all the way, reaching an elevation of
twenty-five hundred feet.
Chicago of South America.
This is also a lovely and prosperous city, spoken
of by many as the Chicago of South America, owing
to its rapid growth and wealth. This is the center
of the coffee industry, a great source of wealth. It
is also quite a manufacturing center.
Unlike Chicago, however, San Paulos is quite a
health resort, and is a much better climate than the
lowlands.
Like most Latin cities, the streets are
narrow and business somewhat congested; so much
so that on one or two of the main thoroughfares after
4 o'clock all vehicles are forbidden and the street is
lined with pedestrians, reminding one of the busy
scenes in some of our large cities around the Ex-
changes.
There are many magnificent private residences,
beautiful boulevards, public parks, adorned with
statues, flowers, shade trees, etc., all of which indi-
cated a love of the beautiful, and many of the public
buildings would be a credit to any city. They boast
of a snake farm, the only one extant except at Cal-
cutta. Here they have a school for students, hospital
for patients who have been bitten, and a stable for
horses used in experimenting. Extensive laboratories
and museums are situated ten miles from the city.
All this was interesting and instructive, but, as I
never liked snakes, I fear I could not do them justice.
I would not malign even a reptile, but it seems the
scientists are finding out something good in them, if
only to save us from their harmful bites.
Wonderful City of Rio.
While we were charmed with San Paulos we had to
move on. So on the morning of March 8th we left
for Rio de Janeiro.
The descent from these uplands was truly varied
and beautiful, passing many coffee plantations. In
vacant fields we saw many ant hills two to four feet
high. The cattle seen had long horns, and we saw
some white cows with humps on their shoulders, like
the sacred cows of India; passed some orange groves,
but few fine residences, the country being very hilly
and sparsely settled. But the scenery was lovely.
On approaching Rio the scene was similar to Switzer-
land without its beautiful lakes and charming villages
nestled on the hillsides and valleys.
I would advise my friends going to Rio not to
miss this beautiful trip to San Paulos. After a day's
most delightful ride we reached Rio at 6:45 p. m.,
and rejoined our party at the Palace Hotel in first
class condition for a good night's'rest.
So much has been written of Rio that I hesitate
to enlarge upon it. I have seen many large and
beautiful cities, but to me the setting of Rio, nestled
at the foot of the mountains, fronting the ocean, with
numerous islands and a fine harbor, with vessels
from all parts of the world, is the most lovely I have
ever seen.
(To be continued.)
THE. LARGEST LETTER
EVER IN THE MAILS
Mammoth Communication on Big Subject
Sent Out by Cable-Nelson
Piano Co.
Have you received a letter, typed in regulation
style, on paper 19 inches by 24? If you haven't you
have been overlooked. A good many dealers have
received it and wondered if novelty in the piano in-
dustry has no end. They probably also thought that
it was about the right size, considering that it came
from a very large piano industry.
The letter was sent out by the Cable-Nelson Piano
Co., of Chicago. It carried the regular letter-head
of that company, but enlarged to fit the mammoth
sheet, and it bore the facsimile signature of President
T. L. Powell. Here is the way the giant letter reads,
under date of September 1st:
To the Music Merchant Who Is Not in Business for
Fun Alone:
Maybe this is the biggest letter you ever got. Well,
it's about a big subject.
Suppose you handled a piano that was $50 better
than anything your competitor handled at the same
price wholesale.
You might sell it at the same price your com-
petitor sells his and make more sales, or you might
mark yours $50 higher—its real worth by compari-
son.
In either case you are going to make more money
than your competitor—you can't help it.
There is such a piano. It is made at South Haven,
Michigan, in the world's finest piano factory. It is
chock full of quality, class, genuine sales-making
value. It bears the name Cable-Nelson.
These are broad claims. They should interest you.
You can establish their truth when you see and hear
a Cable-Nelson—and know the price. You must be-
lieve the evidence of your own eyes and ears. We
may be able to tell you where you can examine a
Cable-Nelson in your vicinity, and we will glarly
give you the price. There are lots of good pianos,
but there is only one Cable-Nelson. A letter today
will enable you to determine quickly whether or not
it will definitely increase your profits.
Yours very truly.
CABLE-NELSON PIANO COMPANY.
T. L. Powell. President.
It's a safe wager that a lot of the piano dealers—
especially those who sell the Cable-Nelson line—
have that letter hanging up in their warerooms—and
what a window novelty it makes, too!
WILLIAM V. CROWE CO.,
OPENS IN COLUMBUS, 0 .
Progressive Firm Formerly at 80 East Town Street
Moves to 112 South High.
The William V. Crowe Piano Co. held the formal
opening recently of its new store at 112 South High
street. In the invitation printed in the newspapers
this cheery message was conveyed:
"We take justifiable delight in asking you to drop
in Saturday to view our new store. Time, effort and
expense have not been spared to create a music store
that would not only be satisfactory to us but would
meet the requirements of a discriminating public.
We think that you will approve of it. At any rate,
nothing would please us more than to have you come
and see."
Those interested in the William V. Crowe Piano
Co. are William V. Crowe, for 17 years engaged in
the piano business in Columbus and proprietor of his
own store, 80 E. Town street, for last seven and a
half years; Mrs. Wm. V. Crowe has been actively
associated with Mr. Crowe in their establishment at
80 E. Town street; and H. C. Hoeflich, a resident of
Columbus for 25 years, who has been connected with
one of Columbus' largest industrial plants, from
which he severed his connection to take an interest in
the Wm. V. Crowe Piano Co.
L. E. Shira, who has been identified for many years
with the music business in Columbus and elsewhere,
will serve the Wm. V. Crowe Piano Co. in the capac-
ity of salesman.
Walter Lynas, well known Columbus musician and
teacher, will have charge of the William V. Crowe
Company's small goods department.
Mrs. Win. V. Crowe will have charge of the floor
sales.
J. T. LEIMERT BACK.
Joseph T. Leimert, well known in the retail piano
trade of Chicago, announces his association with the
Baldwin Piano Company, specializing in the artistic
presentation of the Baldwin reproducing piano. Mr.
Leimert was a prominent factor in piano sales for
many years and was at one time manager of The
Cable Piano Company before he switched his activi-
ties to the retail automobile trade.
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/
September 22, 1923
PRESTO
MEISTER PIANOS ARE
OUT OF THE RUNNING
Chicago Department House of Rothschild
Closes Manufacturing, and the Factory at
Monroeville, Ohio, has Been Sold.
not have made if I had not had it to demonstrate
piano with. My Ford car carries it splendidly and
stands the work, and I have never had any injury to
a piano as a result from hauling it on its back.—E.
K. Watson, Macon, Ga."
"There must be some magic about the loader, for
we got it installed about 12 o'clock Monday and by
Tuesday night, the salesman had found prospects and
sold THREE pianos. We are very much pleased
with the loader.—A. J. Kirby & Co., Gastonia, N. C."
•=•=•;«:•:•=•:•=•=•:•=•=•:•=•=•=
l
i
S
ii
•i
STARTED IN YEAR 1903
R. K. Maynard Was First Manager of Distribution
and the Name of Meister Was Blumenberg's
Little Trade Joke.
"Old Man 'Meister'" has sold his factory. The
piano has been promoted in a retail way, by the de-
partment house of Rothschild & Co., which made and
sold it for a good many years. It has never had any
wholesale trade, but for a time it was a thorn in the
flesh of the retailers in Chicago. The factory at
Monroeville, Ohio, has been sold, and Rothschild &
Co. has withdrawn from the list of piano manu-
facturers.
When the late Marc Blumenberg was actively en-
gaged in editing a music trade paper in New York,
he found a great deal of play for his wit in the
"Meister" name. "Old Man Meister" was an appela-
tion which tickled him most, and he never tired of re-
ferring humorously to what that imaginary individual
was doing to "imbrove de bianno." But since Mr.
Blumenberg's death the name of "Meister" has sel-
dom appeared in the trade papers, and the sale of
the instruments which bore the name has been con-
fined to the big general store at Van Buren and
State streets, Chicago.
When the Rothschild piano department was opened
it was in charge of R. K. Maynard, who put in a
great deal of ingenuity to making the upper floor
of the big building bright and attractive. He fixed
up a pretty concert room and gave recitals. He an-
nounced special events and put in a large stock of
other pianos of standing with which to soften the
"Meister" influence and kill the old idea of a "sten-
cil," which the name originally implied. But Mr.
Maynard didn't like it for long, and the Rothschild
piano department has suffered many changes since
he abandoned it.
The Meister factory, at Monroeville, Ohio, has
quite a history. It was originally put to purposes of
reed organs. Then the Burdett Piano Co. took it
and produced a good line of pianos. After financial
difficulties had gripped the plant the Martin Piano
Co. tried it, but with indifferent success, and then the
Rothschild house purchased the factory and the
"Meister" appeared.
And now the experiment of a department store
running a piano factory remains for the Blooming-
dale and Wanamaker houses to solve. For some
reason not clear the Rothschild piano department
manager refused any information as to why the Mon-
roeville factory had been sold and told a Presto rep-
resentative that he would prefer that nothing at all be
said about it.
DEALERS' TESTIMONY FOR
BOWEN ONE-MAN LOADER
Once a User Always a User Is Determination of
Those Who Have Bought Device.
GULBRANSEN REGISTERING
PIANO AT CHURCH FUNCTION
ARTISTIC
Delighted Audience in Chicago Hear Demonstration
of "Country Seat Model" in Concert.
The Gulbransen registering piano made another
triumphant appearance in public Wednesday night,
September 12, being used in solo numbers in connec-
tion with a musical program presented at the North
Austin English Lutheran Evangelical Church, Mason
and LeMoyne streets, Chicago. The numbers played
were "Stolen Inspirations," by Davis; "Pearls," by
Moret, and "In the Garden," the Billy Sunday hymn.
The instrument was a Country Seat model Gul-
bransen.
There were 300 persons in the audience. Many of
them remained after the concert to get closer to the
instrument in order that they might see how pedal-
ling accomplishes the results it does in the Gul-
bransen.
There were many queries as to the "registering"
features of the Gulbransen, and how it is possible to
make melody notes sing out in such a pronounced
manner over the accompaniment notes. Comment
was also freely heard as to the splendid tone of the
Gulbransen.
IN EVERT
DETAIL
HADDORPF PIANO CO.
ROCKFORIMLL.
Wholeaale Office*:
Naw T«fk Cm
I t o f t .
CU*«t»
410 S. Mhb%aa AT*.
8 u fmacmat
311 CaUtamfc Si.
=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•=•;•=•=•=•»=•=»
THE AUTOPIANO AGENCY
FOR BIG NEWARK STORE
Fact, Impressed on Public by Newspaper Announce-
ments and Notable Window Display.
Hahne & Co., a leading department store of
Newark, N. J., has taken the agency for the Auto-
piano for that territory. Space was recently used in
the newspapers, inviting readers of the Hahne & Co.
advertising to visit the piano department to see and
hear the various models representing the complete
line of Autopianos. The r publicity together with a
special window display w as very effective.
The window display itself is well calculated to
create interest. It featured a large, framed card
which showed pictures of famous musicians, Euro-
pean kings and queens, popes and cardinals, and other
celebrities who own, use and enthusiastically endorse
the Autopiano; the card also indicated the popularity
of the Autopiano in the United States army and navy.
An impressive display of pianos lent reality and
weight to the legend on the card. The results en-
tirely justified the infraction of one of the window
decorator's cardinal rules. The foreground, the cen-
ter of attraction, was the world-wide prestige of the
Autopiano, and the background, impressive, distinc-
tive, unobtrusive but inescapable, was the Autopiano
itself in various models. Hahne & Co. are to be con-
gratulated both on the window display and on the
acquisition of so valuable a franchise as the autopiano
agency.
Cincinnati Factories of The Baldwin Piano Company
SUCCESS
is assured the dealer who takes advantage of
THE BALDWIN
CO-OPERATION
PLAN
which offers every opportunity to represent
under the most favorable conditions a com-
plete line of high grade pianos, players and
reproducers
For b\forma,ion wrttt
Wf)t Palbtoin
$tano Company
Incorporated
CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS
LOUISVILLE
CHICAGO
ST. LOUIS
DALLAS
NEW YORK
DENVER
SAN FRANCMCO
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
There is one thing you never find in the piano trade
and that is a dealer returning to the old primitive
ways of handling pianos after once using the Bowen
One-Man Loader and Carrier. The first aid to sales
in the piano business is providing the means for New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
bringing the prospect and the piano face to face.
Places.
And that is a successful function performed by the
Rosenthal-Low, New York City; $40,000; to make
Bowen One-Man Loader and Carrier.
musical instruments; S. N. Rosenthal, J. Low and
For the out-of-door salesman who values his time N. Weiss.
the Bowen Loader is the most desirable acquisition.
Hudson Music Co., Hastings on Hudson, N. Y.;
With the greatest ease he can load or unload his $40,000.
piano and show and demonstrate it on the road or in
Automatic Repeating Phonograph Co., Inc., Wil-
the prospect's yard. There is no strenuous lifting
mington, Del., $1,000,000.
when the Bowen Loader is employed.
G. Leblanc, orchestra instruments, $1,000; E. I.
Here is what the Rosenblatt Co., Greenville, Tenn.,
says about the Bowen Loader: "We find the Bowen/ Unger, J. C. McGowan. (Attorney, L. C. Wills, 32
One-Man Piano Loader and Carrier satisfactory in Court street, Brooklyn, N. Y.).
every way. We have had no injury to any piano
Leaders Music Store, Liberty, N. Y., $20,000; H.
handled in this way. Our Ford will go where any Cohen, H. J. Steinbrink. (Attorney, H. Kaufman,
truck will take a piano. One man is all that is neces- 215 Montague street, Brooklyn, N. Y.).
sary to handle a piano. Wish you much success with
Gaiety Talking Machine Co., Manhattan; $5,000;
the loader."
A. Markowitz, H. Gellman, W. Haines. Attorney,
Here are other testimonials for the Bowen Loader: S. E. Miller, 99 Nassau street, New York.
"I think the One-Man Piano Loader and Carrier
Edward Straus, Brooklyn; pianos; $50,000; E.
is the greatest thing yet for a Piano Salesman. It Strauss, E. Satlien, C. Cartoon. Attorneys, Korn-
has been the means of me making sales that I would blueh & Hutter, 154 Nassau street.
The Beppe, Marcellus and Edouard Jules PfaOO
manufactured by the
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
are the only pianos In the world with
Three Sounding Boards.
Patented in the United States, Great Britain.
Prance, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agents only*
Main Office, 1117 Chestnut St.
PHILADELPHIA. PA.
When in doubt refer to
PRESTO BUYERS GUIDE
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/

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