Presto

Issue: 1923 1941

PRESTO
fied with many pioneer enterprises. Some of the
Vose families, as a venture, migrated to points far-
ther away from the coast, but as a rule they remained
close to Milton and Boston. Many Vose descendants
live today on ancestral estates in that vicinity.
The new Vose factory is conveniently located in
Greater Boston on the New York and Boston Post
Boulevard next to the United States Government
buildings at the entrance of Watertown. This factory
VOS.E OF EARLY DAYS AND VOSE OF
TODAY.
Robert Vose, born 1599, settled in Milton in 1654,
the youngest son of Thomas Vose. Then followed
Edward Vose, 1636; Nathaniel Vose, 1672; Nathaniel
Vose, Jr., 1699; Oliver Vose, 1734; John Vose, 1756;
Whiting Vose, 1789; James Whiting Vose, 1818;
Willard Atherton Vose, 1851; George Atherton Vose,
1876; Atherton Cushing Vose, 1911.
Two direct descendants of Robert Vose, the pioneer
(1654), were Lewis Vose and Whiting Vose, both of
October 6, 1923
factory where Vose pianos are made for the enjoy-
ment of people of refinement and culture.
Letter from Jas. W. Vose.
As a suitable addition to the foregoing, Presto also
presents the following letter which was written to a
member of the editorial staff of Presto by the late
James W. Vose not long before that gentleman's
death. It tells of the taking of the photograph of the
Crehore workshop and home, to which reference is
made and a picture of which appears with this article.
The letter, of which the original is in the files of
Presto, shows that the picture was taken by Mr.
Vose himself. It was suggested by mention in a New
York paper of a book which was at the time in prep-
aration.
Dear Sir:
I have received your prospectus of new book on
the piano. If you are coming to this city soon I
should be pleased to see you.
About a year ago I went to the trouble and ex-
pense of photographing the old building in Milton
where the first piano was made in America. Milton
is a show place among New England's busy plants,
and a monument to the founder, James W. Vose.
As the early settlers and musical people were
welcomed by Mr. Crehore in those days, so today
there awaits a traditional and hearty welcome from
the Vose & Sons Piano Co. Every courtesy is ex-
tended to visitors who are taken through the entire
whom were actively engaged in the business life of
Milton in the latter part of the 18th Century.
James Whiting Vose was the son of Whiting Vose,
a religious and thrifty pioneer who lived in Milton.
James Whiting Vose showed a tendency to the
artistic and was first apprenticed to learn expert
cabinet making.
After acquiring proficiency in that art, Mr. Vose
began to study the interior of the piano, giving spe-
cial attention to action and key making. His ability
to do everything just a little better gave him a repu-
tation for fine workmanship, which encouraged him
to start the building of pianos.
With a ripe experience in both fine cabinet work,
key and action building, he started to manufacture
Vose pianos in 1851, the beginning of the enviable
reputation for the name Vose of today.
The splendid factory in greater Boston, and over
90,000 Vose pianos in use, are tributes to the worthy
ambition of the founder of the Vose & Sons Piano
Co., James W. Vose.
Today, the second and third generations, Willard
Atherton and George Atherton, son and grandson of
James Whiting Vose, are actively engaged in devel-
oping the piano to its present high standard.
DANIEL CREHORE'S SHOP AND HOME, WHERE
FIRST PIANO WAS MADE.
being ray native place, I felt more interest in it than
1 otherwise would, and had made arrangements to
have the cut engraved and published in The Art
Journal. About that time I gave Mr. George Chicker-
mg a photograph, as I supposed he would be pleased
to have one, and informed him that I was about to
make it known to the trade, etc., with a history, in
Art Journal. I was much surprised to see, in your
paper the cut reproduced. Of course "my cake was
dough"—there was nothing more for one to do, as it
would be only second hand, and I have done nothing
since. If you use this in your book I hope you will
get up a better cut. If you wish for a photograph I
will be pleased to furnish you with one.
Yours Truly,
VOSE & SONS,
Per James W. Vose.
The commemoration of the latest forward step in
the career of the fine old Boston piano industry is
a matter well worth all the space given to it here,
and what is said will be read with interest by every
member of the music trade.
Ernest J. Lavagnino has succeeded the Oakdale
Music Store in business in Oakdale, Cal.
THE LOADER A GREAT HELP TO SALESMEN
'"Normalcy" in the piano business will return when prices are reduced, when we have good crops or prospects of good crops, and
when Salesmen, (The men who actually sell the piano to the user), get to work.
The Bowen Loader will greatly aid any energetic salesman. For Country work there's nothing like it,—for City work it's a help.
$110.00 for the Loader complete, including springs and cover.
Shipped on approval to responsible dealers.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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
October 6, 1923
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
E. H. STORY TELLS OF
LATEST EUROPEAN TRIP
With Mrs. Story, He Visits Sections Laid
Waste in Fierce Battles of the
Big War.
The trip to Europe this year of E. H. Story, presi-
dent of the Story & Clark Piano Co., Chicago, was
the most interesting in some respects of the many
he has made abroad. With Mrs. Story he left New
York without any definite plan of travel or idea as to
what noints would be visited.
of the Piano Club of Chicago to donate cash prizes
every year to the Illinois division of the Women's
Federated Music Clubs, to go to the winners in their
music contests. Two of these winners entertained
the club last Monday. They were Miss Marion Rob-
erts, pianist, and Miss Helen D. Hedges, soprano.
The members were reminded about the annual
meeting on October 10. "It's going to be a scream,"
said R. E. Davis, secretary. "Get your tickets early.
That is not a tip. It's a warning. It's going to be
a get-together meeting of the trade that the trade
would not trade for any other trade function ever
held. And all the trade will be there."
ATTRACTIVE WINDOW DISPLAY
OF PICTURES BY CABLE CO.
Proof of Effective Advertising by Mr. Hadley Shown
in Unique Arrangement and Coloring.
The Cable Co., Wabash Ave. and Jackson Blvd.,
Chicago, has a window display of two beautiful pic-
tures advertising the artistic Mason & Hamlin piano.
The pictures are 7 ft. by 7 and are well decorated,
being trimmed with flowers, which, however, does
not distract attention from the picture itself.
The effectiveness is registered largely in the color
and wording which describes the Mason & Hamlin
as being, "musically the most beautiful piano the
world has ever known." In one picture the artist
is shown at the piano, and the other pictures the
Mason & Hamlin in a studio with artists' painting
and many beautiful colors blended together.
Mr. Hadley is well-known in advertising circles
and the originality and effectiveness of his advertise-
ments has won him much praise. He recently car-
ried away first honors in an advertising contest con-
ducted by the Music Industries Chamber of Com-
merce.
Equipped with the
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
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 wai 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.
t(
The First Touch Tells'
Re K . U S. Pat Off.
Christ man Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
E. H. STORY.
On leaving New York the only immediate objec-
tive was Paris. After remaining there a few days
they went to Southern France, then to Italy, and,
after spending some time in that country set out to
cross the Alps into what was Austria, by way of
the Stelvia Pass. There they found the scenes of
many great battles of the late war. incidents in the
struggle between Austria and Italy.
Things were found about as they were at the close
of the war. Barbed wire fences and entanglements,
much old cannon and army paraphernalia still re-
main to encumber the earth. In France and Bel-
gium these things have been removed, but in this
out-of-the-way section nothing seems to have been
taken away or cleaned up.
Then they traveled north through Switzerland, to
Belgium and to England for a week or two, after
which they took steamer for the wonderful tour of
14 days to North Norway, to the land of the Mid-
night Sun.
Mr. Story and wife left Chicago for their Cali-
fornia home on Wednesday of this week.
NOTED GOLFER TALKS TO
PIANO CLUB LUNCHEONERS
And Clever Pianist and Sweet Singer Also Add to
the Gaiety of Weekly Meeting.
At the luncheon of the Piano Club of Chicago, on
Monday, of this week, Chicago's most popular ath-
lete and golfer, Bob Gardner, spoke about golf and
other interesting things. It was a very enjoyable
talk for all members, whether they play golf or near-
golf. J. T. Bristol, the president, in his notice to
members, said:
"Robert A. Gardner, or 'Bob Gardner,' as he is
familiarly known throughout the world of clean
sports, as a boy and a man, has been an honor and
a credit to Chicago. In college he held high marks
in his studies and was a record breaker in athletics.
In golf he is president of the U. S. Golf Association,
has held two national championships, and was in the
semi-finals in the last one. In business he is treas-
urer of Mitchell, Hutchins & Co., one of our best
security houses. A real fellow, Bob is, and it is a
great pleasure to have him with us."
This was a week for winners. It is the custom
New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
Places.
Walter H. Sturgis, Inc., Quincy, Mass., $50,000;
Walter H. Sturgis, Jr., and Anna Sturgis.
Glidden-Marsh Music Co., Denver, Colo.; $25,000;
E. M. Glidden, Maude Glidden and W. F. Marsh.
Edward Strauss, 187 Court street, Brooklyn, N. Y.;
$50,000; E. Strauss and others.
Henry J. Krier Co., Watertown, Wis.; $36,000;
Edward C. Wolfram, Edward McAdams and Harry
J. Krier.
Columbia Phonograph Co., Wilmington, Delaware;
$5,000. Corporation Trust Co. of America.
The Clicks Talking Machine Shop, Inc., of 2100
West Division street, Chicago, has announced an in-
crease in its capital stock from $100,000 to $200,000.
Music Service Co., Dover, Del.; to deal in phono-
graphs.
Hudson Music Co., Hastings-on-Hudson, N. Y.;
$10,000; A. Barchas, R. Lurie, P. Block. Attorneys,
Kaplan, Kosman & Steusand, 1540 Broadway.
Eastern Kentucky Music Company, Pikeville, Ky.;
capital, $25,000; H. M. Hoskins, G. W. Hoskins and
S. H. Hoskins, all of Pikesville.
Automatic Repeating Phonograph Co., Wilming-
ton, Delaware; radio transmission; $1,000,000. Cor-
poration Service Co.
Equitable Music Corp., Wilmington; $1,000,000.
Franklin L. Mettler, Wilmington, Delaware.
Grand Rapids Phonograph Co., Manhattan; $10,-
000; C. Stein, M. Lefkowitz, M. Kaplan. Attorney,
M. Popper, 51 Chambers street, New York City.
The Century Piano Co., Atlantic City, N. J.;
$100,000; Morris Bloom and others.
MELVILLE CLARK'S WIDOW DIES.
Mrs. Elizabeth Clark, 2830 Sheridan road, Chicago,
widow of Melville Clark, founder of the Melville
Clark Piano Company and originator of the Apollo
piano, died at her home last Wednesday of heart dis-
ease. She was 71 years old. Mr. Clark was well
known as an inventor of piano improvements, having
built the first 88-note playerpiano. He died in 1918.
Mr. and Mrs. Clark were married in 1873. Funeral
arrangements have not yet been made.
CHANGE IN WARREN, PA., FIRM.
The controlling interest in the H. L. Greenlund
Furniture & Music Store, Warren, Pa., has been
purchased by Charles Lutz of Girard, Pa., and Ed-
ward Lutz of Emlenton, Pa. H. L. Greenlund will
retain an interest in the business which is one of
the most important in that section of the state. The
old name of the firm, too, will be retained.
Taylor Bros, is enlarging and remodeling its Provo,
Utah, store. The alternations will enable the firm to
increase the stock of music merchandise.
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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