Presto

Issue: 1924 1969

PRESTO
FRANK EDGAR'S
ADVENTURES AFAR
Genial Traveler for The Aeolian Company
Makes "Mauretania" Dip to Larboard
With High Note at Concert on
the High Seas.
MEETS OLD INSTRUCTOR
And Renews Friendship With G. W. Reed of London
Who Years Before Taught Him to "Play
the Pianola."
"Adventuring in Europe" is the title of an illus-
trated story in "The Aeolian"' of New York. The
story is told by Frank Edgar, the well-known Aeolian
traveler.
In addition to his qualifications as a thoroughly
equipped piano man Mr. Edgar has an excellent
baritone voice and for a number of years had a very
successful career as a church and concert soloist. He
told the following to his interviewer:
"On board the 'Mauretania' going over, I was in-
vited to sing at the concert and chose one of the
songs that I sang at the Aeolian entertainment a year
or so ago. This number has a particularly high note
for a climax and just as I had reached for that tone
the ship, which had been rolling in what is known as
a 'following sea,' went over on its side at an angle of
about forty-six degrees. The entire audience of about
two hundred people slid sideways, taking the chairs
and all the furniture with them and were coyly de-
posited in a giggling, laughing group in one corner
of the concert salon.
Meets Famous Politician.
"When the boat righted, Lord Birkenhead, the
famous English politician, who was master of cere-
monies that night said, 'The gentleman evidently
carries some weight as a singer, since with one high
note he nearly tipped the boat over!'
"Two experiences I had in Europe had the effect
of making me realize the smallness of the world,"
continued the Aeolian traveler. "The first was when
upon my arrival in London I renewed my friendship
and acquaintance with G. W. Reed, sales manager of
the Aeolian Bond street organization, and under
whom I studied 'How to Play the Pianola' when I
first entered the Aeolian family twenty-two years
ago. Mr. Reed was then head salesman with M.
Steinert & Sons of Boston.
A Blind Traveler.
"The second experience occurred during a visit to
Glasgow with our representative—J. A. Mclntosh, of
Ewing & Mclntosh, Ltd., who has been stone-blind
from birth. By a queer coincidence his partner is
also blind. Even with this double handicap, together
they developed a most successful piano business.
"In spite of his blindness, Mr. Mclntosh is a great
traveler and entertained me by telling of his travels
in Russia, South Africa, Egypt and other distant
places. He had also 'done America,' visiting Cali-
fornia, all of the Middle West and last but not least,
New York.
"I was curious to find out from him which of the
many places he had visited had impressed him the
most. When I asked him he said, 'You will perhaps
be surprised, Mr. Edgar, when I tell you that of all
QUALITY
in Name and in Fact
TONE, MATERIALS, CONSTRUCTION,
WORKMANSHIP, DESIGN—all in ac-
cord with the broadest experience—are
the elements which give character to
Bush & Lane Products.
BUSH&LANE PIANOS
BUSH & LANE CECILIAN PLAYER PIANOS
take high place, therefore, in any com-
parison of high grade pianos because of
the individuality of character which dis-
tinguishes them in all essentials of merit
and value.
BUSH & LANE PIANO CO.
Holland, Mich.
the-places I have ever been in, the one which appealed
to me the most was a tittle town iit America, of
which you have probably never heard—East Hamp-
ton, Connecticut,-on the shores of Lake Pocatapaug.
There I spent a most wonderful two weeks as the
guest of Mr. Joel Smith, a very good friend of mine,
who is also blind.
His Connecticut Home.
"Needless to say I was astonished, for my own
cottage where my family spends the summer is on
the same lake and immediately next to Joel Smith's!
Th*is bridged the distance in short o refer .between
Glasgow, Scotland, where we were having our con-
versation, and the little village in far-off Connecticut.
'"While traveling in Wales on the way to Cardiff
with George Brooke, wholesale representative for our
London house, we went into the dining-car for lunch-
eon only to find that the only seats vacant were at a
table occupied by David Lloyd George and his
daughter. They very kindly invited us to share it
with them and we had the pleasure of an interest-
ing luncheon with these celebrated people. During
my conversation with Mr. Lloyd George, upon learn-
ing that he too was going to Cardiff, I reminded
him that we had a great deal in common, as he was
to speak in that city at four o'clock in the afternoon
and I was scheduled to talk on the Duo-Art at the
Music Hall at six the same evening! This eminent
statesman is a delightful man to meet and we had
a very interesting conversation together en route."
JACOB DOLL & SONS, INC. ADDS
SKINNER TO ITS SALES FORCE
Widely Known and Experienced Traveler and Man-
ager Joins Selling Organization of Big Industry.
Otto Doll, president of Jacob Doll & Sons, Inc.,
Cypress avenue and Southern boulevard, New York,
has made the announcement that William S. Skinner
has been added to the sales force of the Doll organi-
zation. Mr. Skinner is an experienced sales execu-
tive in the piano industry, and was for twelve years
associated as sales manager with the Malcolm Love
and Vough Changeable Pitch Pianos.
Later, for five years, he was associated with the
sales staff of B. Shoninger Company, New Haven,
Conn., and several years with the Wegman Piano
Company, Auburn, New York, as sales manager. In
addition, Mr. Skinner was for two years in the sales
division* of the Estey Piano Company, New York.
During the World War he was stationed at Brest,
France, as a distributing agent for the Young Men's
Christian Association.
Mr. Skinner's many years of experience in the sales
departments ot the piano manufacturers mentioned
demonstrates his credentials for his present sales
position, and predicts his being a useful and impor-
tant member of the Doll & Sons sellingorganization.
April 19, 1924.
ODD DEMONSTRATION AT
CABLE PIANO CO'S. WAREROOMS
Methods of Group Instruction in Piano Playing
Shown by Lincoln, Neb., Pupils.
A demonstration given last week at the Cable Piano
Co., Chicago, showed the method of group instruc-
tion, originated by Hazel Gertrude Kincella, of Lin-
coln, which has made pianists out of the children,
giving the demonstration in the course of a few
months' public school classwork.
The ten children, whose ages range from 7 to 12
years, were guests of Mrs. C. E. Jackson, wife of the
sales manager of the firm, and Mrs. F. H. Grier.
They are en route to their home city from the con-
vention of music supervisors at Cincinnati, where, as
the youngest members of the conference, they ap-
peared with other Nebraska youngsters in an en-
semble number in which ten pianos were used, with
two children at each instrument.
''In our classwork, cardboard keyboards are used,"
explained Mrs. H. E. Jackson, head of the public
school music department of the State Teachers' Col-
lege in Kearney, who is chaperoning the children.
"But that isn't to avoid din and discords, so much
as because there aren't enough pianos to go around."
OPENS COLORADO AGENCY.
Guy Greenley and Oscar Meyers, well known Long-
mont, Colo., musicians, have taken the agency for the
Chas. E. Wells Music Co., of Denver, and have
opened up piano show rooms at the Wide-Awake,
630 Main street. A complete line of musical instru-
ments is carried in stock.
Schumann
PIANOS and PLAYER PIANOS
GRANDS and UPRIGHTS
Have no superiors in appearance, tone
power or other essentials of strictly
leaders in the trade.
Warning to Infringers
This Trade Mark la cast
In the plate and also ap-
pears upon the fall board
of all genuine Schumann
Pianos, and all Infringers
will be prosecuted. Beware
of Imitations such as Schu-
mann & Company, Schu-
mann & Son, and also
Shuman,
as
all
stencil
shops, dealers and users of
pianos bearing a name in
imitation
of
the
name
Schumann with the inten-
tion of deceiving the public
will be prosecuted to the
fullest extent of the law.
GULBRANSEN BABIES IN
BIG PIANO STORE WINDOW
New Catalogue on Request.
Knabe and Edison Warerooms, at 228 S. Wabash
Ave., Use Nationally Known Figure in Display.
Schumann Piano Co*
A good number of the famous Gulbransen babies
may be seen in the elaborate window display of the
Knabe and Edison warerooms, 228 S. Wabash ave-
nue, Chicago, this week. The babies are arranged in
most attractive fashion, a row being placed in front
of the Gulbransen piano, and another leading to the
instrument.
The Gulbransen registering piano itself is a strong
advertisement in any window, but the babies are so
popular that they deserve a place in the window
wherever the Gulbransen piano is shown.
W. N. VAN MATRE, President
Rockford, 111.
GUY W. DEETZ, MANAGER.
Guy W. Deetz, formerly connected with the Emer-
son Piano House of Decatur and later manager of a
chain of music stores in Pennsylvania, has been ap-
pointed manager of the Wiswell Music Co., Aurora,
111. The company is owned by Mr. Wiswell, for-
merly manager of the wholesale and retail Victrola
departments of Lyon & Healy, Chicago, and Mr.
Wiswell also has several stores in that section of the
country. The Aurora store has just been acquired
and Mr. Deetz took charge at the opening of the
establishment on April 1.
JOINS INDIANAPOLIS STAFF.
Ed Stout, for several years a well-known member
of the piano fraternity of Indianapolis, has joined the
sales force of the Christena-Teague Piano Company.
Mr. Stout is a specialist in sales of reproducing pianos
and is thoroughly familiar with the instruments car-
ried by the Christena-Teague Piano Company, which
has succeeded the E. L. Lennox Piano Co. at 237 N.
Pennsylvania street.
ESTABLISHED 1854
THE
BRADBURY PIANO
FOR ITS
ARTISTIC EXCELLENCE
FOR ITS
INESTIMABLE AGENCY VALUE
THE CHOICE OF
Representative Dealers the World Over
Now Produced in Several
New Models
WRITE FOR TERRITORY
Factory
Leomintter,
Mats.
Executive Offices
138th St. and Walton Ave.
New York
Division W. P. HAINES & CO., Inc.
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/
April 19, 1924.
PRESTO
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells"
Only 5 Feet Long
No Instrument is Better Known for
its Distinguishing Features than the
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
MANY COMPOSERS AMONG
THE TONK PIANO USERS
Publishers and Prominent Artists Voice Their
Appreciation of the Meritorious Qualities
of the Instrument.
Among the owners and constant users of Tonk
pianos, made by William Tonk & Bro., Inc., New
York, are some of the best known composers and
publishers. As a keen business action the people
who require reliable services from their pianos turned
to the Tonk, a piano of sweet-toned characteristics,
as durable as it is musical. Of course the music pub-
lishers and the composers, knowing the history" of the
piano manufacturing industry are familiar with the
claims of William Tonk & Bro., Inc., to a proud
place in the annals of American piano manufacture.
That is why the following composers and publishers
have chosen Tonk pianos, which are valued for their
high grade tone qualities and durability in the daily
work of their studios and in their homes:
Waterson, Berlin & Snyder, Stark & Cowan, Kall-
mer Puck, Broadway Music Corporation, Van Al-
styne & Curtis, Richmond Music Corp., B. A. Music
Co., Scheib-Bernard Music Co., Henry Waterson Sr.
(at his home also), Henry Waterson Jr. (at his home
also), Ted Snyder (at his home also), Al. Jolson, Con
Conrad, Gus Van and Joe Schenk ("Van & Schenk"),
Herman Ruby, Pete Wendling, W. C. Rumsey, Mai
Hallett, Al. Jockers, Sophie Tucker, Harry De Costa,
Ernest Brewer, R. E. Hall.
The Tonk piano is used and appreciated by Cin-
derella Dancing Academy, Morris & Bernard, Punch
& Judy Theatre, Eltinge Theatre, and many of the
Keith Vaudeville Houses.
Public places which use the Tonk are Woodmansten
Inn, Monte Carlo Restaurant, Silver Slipper Restau-
rant, Exclusive Supper Club, Shore Inn, Buchanan
Restaurant Co., Stanley Food Co., Hotel Breakers.
FRENCH PIANIST AMAZED
AT BIG GRAND LINE
Nor is there a More Remarkable
Development of Power, Expression
and Absolute Accuracy of Interpre-
tation than is found in the
find in your establishment ten makes of the best grand
pianos in America.
"I do not believe such an aggregate of grands can
be found anywhere else under one roof.
"The last fifteen years I have been using what I
thought were the best pianos in this country, but
when I touched your line of Artists' Grands, I felt
that I must buy them for my school, and immediately
made the exchange.
"I consider the Moist Grand Piano 1 louse a won-
derful asset to the musicians of Chicago.
"Yours very truly,
"ALBERT LABARTHE."
B. C. BECKMAN, WERNER
FACTORY SUPERINTENDENT
Former Piano Traveler, Widely Known in Trade,
Well Qualified for Responsible Position.
B. C. Beckman, formerly a piano traveler, has ac-
cepted the position as factory superintendent of the
Werner Piano Co.'s factory, Morgan and Superior
streets, Chicago. He comes to this responsible posi-
tion well qualified, having spent many years in the
piano business and other lines affiliated with the
industry.
Mr. Beckman's experience in the piano factory has
been of the most unusual and valuable kind. Start-
ing at the bottom, he worked himself up to the high-
est degree of skilled workmanship. The new Werner
superintendent accepted the position shortly after the
resignation of Hugo George, which was announced in
last week's Presto.
MARSHALL FIELD CHORAL SOCIETY.
The Marshall Field & Company Choral Society
will give its 18th annual concert the evening of April
23rd at Orchestra Hall, Chicago. The 225 members
of the Society, recruited from the ranks of the or-
ganization, will be assisted by solo artists of national
note in singing Max Bruch's "Lay of the Bell."
Mina Hager, contralto; Anna Burmeister, soprano;
Richard Crooks, tenor, and Howard E. Preston, bari-
tone, with Mr. Thomas Pape conducting. Fifty-live
members of the Chicago Symphony Orchestra will
furnish the accompaniment.
Extent of Range of Artists' Instruments Evokes Ex-
pression from Albert Labarthe.
BUYS CLEVELAND BUILDING.
The extent of the line of grand pianos presented by
the Moist Piano Company, Chicago, was an agree-
able surprise to Albert Labarthe, eminent French
pianist, president of the Labarthe Pianoforte School,
Chicago, as expressed in a letter to the company this
week:
"Gentlemen: I was very agreeably surprised to
The McMillin Co., Cleveland, O., has purchased
the two-story building at 1351 Superior avenue, N. E.,
which will be remodeled to suit the purposes of a
progressive music business. The building has a foun-
dation for an additional story on land 27 by 168 feet,
and was secured for a consideration of about $65,000.
The former quarters in the Anisfield Building will be
occupied by the Euclid Music Co.'s retail store.
SHOWING Q R S IN IOWA STORE
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
THE FULL LINE OF
CHRISTMAN
Uprights and Players
Are favorites with dealers who sell fine
instruments. They are as Perfect in
Operation as can be made, and they
are the True Christman in Tone and
Construction.
We Will be Glad to Send Particulars, Prices
and Terms to Live Piano Merchants
ft
The First Touch Tells"
Reg U S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
Here is the way Hoffman Piano Company of Clin-
ton, Iowa, likes to dress up a window. It "sure
does" say Q R S, and it doesn't whisper either.
"The Dixie Stars"—viz., Russell Robinson, who
records exclusively for Q R S player rolls, and A)
Bernard, plus the clever advertising of Mrs. Helen
Coombs, manager of the roll department, and the
attractive window—jammed the store.
Of course, to Mr. Hoffman is due most of the
credit, but he is too modest to admit it.
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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