PRESTO
March 8, 1924.
a so-called "traveling school," fathered by the Ameri-
can Piano Co., which is holding sessions of a few
weeks in the Western cities at this time with the
design of teaching how to repair reproducing pianos.
There has been some talk in Chicago about estab-
lishing some such school as they have in London,
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, or but it has never been very near to materialization.
* * *
Other Subjects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
NO TUNERS' GUIDE.
Burlington, Iowa, February 28, 1924.
for the same money in the Central West, Wisconsin,
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
Editor Presto: Would you send me a copy of
writer in order to receive attention. Answers thought
for instance—that is. as compared with the Atlantic
to be of general trade interest will be published. If an Coast? Should you publish this, please omit my your Presto Tuners' Guide, C. O. D.?
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro- name.
EDWIN HAMILTON.
vided stamp is inclosed.
O. J.
We know of no tuners' guide. The only publi-
About piano actions: There is no question what- cation of the kind pertaining to pianos is Presto
PIANO TRADE "PEAK."
ever about the Wessel, Nickel & Gross, which is dis- Buyers' Guide, which gives complete data concern-
Chicago, February 9, 1924.
tinctly a high-grade action. The same may be said ing all pianos manufactured in this country. A new
Editor Presto: Can you supply us with any data of Strauch Bros.., the factory and office of which is at tuners' directory will appear next fall.
* * *
showing the average sales curve of the piano and 327-347 Walnut avenue, New York. The other
actions about which you ask are considered in the
LIST OF MANUFACTURERS.
playerpiano dealer?
The Seaverns is a fine action which
Whitney Point, N. Y., February 26, 1924.
We should like to obtain some information showing popular grade.
came into the control of Hallet & Davis of
Editor
Presto: Kindly advise if you furnish a list
exactly when the peak seasons appear and what recently
Boston. The Standard Action, of Cambridge, Mass.,
months show the greatest slump in the retail sales is another very good one. There was a Wasle action of piano manufacturers for eastern part of U. S.;
of pianos and piano players. We are in search of industry in New York many years ago.
also list for the entire U. S., quoting price.
this material for a manufacturer of a nationally ad-
The Ampliphone phonograph is, without doubt,
W. S. ALLAN MFG. CO.
vertised line.
one of the best. The office is in Chicago, 209 S.
Presto
Buyers'
Guide
contains the names of every
We are also anxious to learn the total number of State street, and the factory is at Brazil, Ind. It piano manufactured in this
country, as well as data
is
owned
by
Frank
Knight,
a
gentleman
well
posted
pianos and playerpianos that were sold in 1923. If
concerning their manufacturers.
in
that
line
of
industry.
We
would
recommend
the
you haven't data on the volume of 1923 we shall be
We also publish Presto Trade Lists No. 3, a book-
Ampliphone at any time to any dealer.
glad to get that on 1922.
let which contains the names of manufacturers in
About
the
Geo.
B.
Norris
and
the
Fuehr
&
Stem-
CARROLL DEAN MURPHY, INC.
mer pianos; it is our judgment the latter is the more all departments of the music industry. Part 1 of
It is pretty well established that the sales curve salable instrument; it is made by a gentleman with
in the piano business starts at its lowest point with ambition and not as a "second" of any industry. The
January, rising until April, descending steadily until Norris would be classified as medium grade.
Answering your last question about the compar-
June and August, rising rapidly until December,
ative prices of industries of the East and West, there
which is the best month of the year.
The approximate output of pianos during 1923 has is nothing to that. You can find high-grade pianos
been considerably exaggerated in some statistical in both sections of the country and so you can
publications. The figures given are 323,659 uprights; medium grade and commercial instruments.
Pianos and Players
68,726 grands, making a total of 382,385. These fig-
* * *
ures are based upon reports from the foundries from
LIST OF PIPE ORGANS.
which piano plates come, as well as from the piano
Sell readily—Stay sold
Upper Sandusky, Ohio, March 1, 1924.
manufacturers who make their own plates. However,
Great profit possibilities
Editor
Presto.
You
will
confer
a
great
favor
if"
and nevertheless, we have also our own system of
estimating the output and it is our conviction that you can inform me where I can obtain a guide of the
the output of pianos, of all kinds, during 1923 did pipe organs of this country, or at least the addresses
Style E (shown below) our latest 4'6"
not exceed 310,000, and that is a liberal estimate.
of the leading manufacturers of pipe organs.
In 1922 the output was considerably smaller, but
FOSTER SHUMAKER.
the present year promises to be the best since 1904,
Presto Trade Lists contains quite a complete list
which was the most prolific this industry has known.
of pipe organ manufacturers in this country. The
* * *
booklet will be forwarded to you on receipt of 25
DIMINUTIVE PIANO.
cents.
* * *
Stillwater, Okla., February 29, 1924.
Editor Presto: We are unable to find a diminutive
F. J. WALSH & CO.
piano except the Miessner of Milwaukee, and we
Franklin, Ind., March 1, 1924.
cannot get the agency for this because the territory
Editor Presto: Enclosed letter is the second we
is taken.
sent to you to forward to the F. F. or F. J.
Can you give us the name of some firm in Chicago, have
Walsh
& Co. They are people that have attachments
or elsewhere, who makes such pianos?
for playing lateral-cut records on Edisons, etc.
HOLMES MUSIC HOUSE.
Please forward this to this company and also send
Diminutive upright pianos are also manufactured us the address of the company.
by the Smith, Barnes & Strohber Co. The Cable
J. E. NASH & SON.
Company's Midget is another very beautiful little
Order a sample to-day.
We have no record of the location of the concern
upright which it may pay you to investigate. The
Liberal advertising and
Packard Piano Co., of Fort Wayne, Ind., makes a you ask about. It is our understanding such a con-
very fine little upright. In fact, a good many of the cern did exist, with headquarters at Cleveland, but
cooperative arrangements
large piano manufacturers are now producing small that it discontinued sometime ago. We may be wrong
instruments and if any further information is desired about this, but what we have said is in accordance
with our records.
we will try to let you have it.
Write for catalogue
* * *
* * *
and price list
JIGS AND HORNPIPES.
THE "MARSHALL" PIANO.
LaGrange, Mo., February 28, 1924.
Fort Wayne, Ind., March 1, 1924.
Editor Presto: I have one of your "Presto Buyer's
Editor Presto: Have you any old-fashioned Irish
jigs, hornpipes, reels, etc.? If you have haven't, Guide," 1913 edition. I fail to find the Marshall
piano listed in it. Will you please give me the com-
could you inform me where I could find them?
parative qualities of the Werner player and the Mar-
CLYDE MOWERY.
Manufacturer*
Any music dealer can supply you with the kind of shall player. Can I secure an up-to-date Presto
music for which you ask. Certainly, if you care to Buyer's Guide?
520 to 528 West 43rd St.
New York
D. W. RIGG.
address Lyon & Healy, Chicago, or Willis & Co.,
The Marshall piano did not exist in 1913. It was
Cincinnati, Ohio, you can get all the Irish jigs or
hornpipes now in print. We are not engaged in established, by J. P. Seeburg, president of the J. P.
Seeburg Company, Chicago, in the summer of 1919,
the handling of sheet music.
and in 1920 it was consolidated with the big industry
* * *
named. The Marshall piano was a well made and
SEVERAL INTERESTING QUERIES
very attractive popular instrument.
California, February 28, 1924.
We do not make comparisons between well known
Editor Presto: Can you give me information re- instruments, but will say that both the pianos you
garding the Wasle piano action? I am altogether un- name are reliable and well worth what is asked for
familiar with it but know the Seaverns and the Wessel, them. The price of Presto Buyers' Guide for 1924
Nickel and Gross? Will you kindly compare this is 50 cents. It has been out since last December
action with these two and give me your opinion of it? and is very complete.
* * *
I would also like information concerning the Piano
PIANO MAKING SCHOOLS.
& Organ Supply Company action and the Theyer
action. How do the latter two compare with the
New York, February 25, 1924.
Seaverns?
Editor Presto: Will you kindly inform me whether
The Lyon & Healy
Do you consider that the Ampliphone phonograph there is a piano makers' industrial school in Chi-
actually has a superior tone to other phonographs or cago? If so, please give me the name and other
Reproducing Piano
is the extra tone chamber just a talking point? Would particulars as are conveniently at your command.
also like your opinion of the Geo. B. Norris piano
If trjere is any other such school, that you know
A moderate priced reproducing piano,
as compared with the Fuehr & Stemmer. From your of, in the Middle West, I should also be glad to be
beautiful in design and rich in tone.
description and their literature I would classify the informed.
Write for our new explanatory Chart,
. Norris in the medium grade. Is this correct? Can
MANUFACTURER.
the most complete and simple treat-
you give me the name of a piano made somewhere
ment of the reproducing action.
There is no well-equipped piano makers' school in
in the Central West that would wholesale for about Chicago,
though there are several small institutions
Wabash at Jackson - - - Chicago
the same price as the W. P. Haines and be of similar teaching tuning. Nor is there any such industrial
quality? Is it true that one can get a better piano school in the United States. There is, as you know,
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED
WESER
Weser Bros., Inc.
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