Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
PRESTO
E.tabu.hed 1884. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
to Cent.; si.oo a y««r
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MAY 10, 1924
CAREER OF A BIG
PIANO INDUSTRY
Small Factory, Started April, 1884, on Indiana
Street, Chicago, Was the Foundation of
Smith, Barnes & Strohber Co., Which
Is One of the Largest of Today.
portant step taken by the company, in connection
with the purchase of the new factory on Superior
street. At that time just nine years after the first
Smith piano appeared, a good steady growth had
been effected, the foundation being built upon sound
business judgment, and this policy has been carried
on for 40 consecutive years and is now practiced by
the Smith, Barnes & Strohber Company.
Consolidated with Strohber.
In the year 1907 a consolidation was made with
the Strohber Company, also of Chicago, and the
factory, which had been changed from Superior
street to the present site at 1872 Clybourne avenue,
became one of the most modernized in the piano in-
dustry. The Clybourn location was purchased shortly
after the Smith & Barnes Company had been formed
Smith & Barnes, Formed in 1893, Followed by Con- in 1893, and after the Strohber interest had been
acquired in 1907, it became known as the Smith,
solidation with The Strohber Company, 1907,
Barnes & Strohber Co., and the activity in producing
Completed Present Organization.
fine instruments for a particular trade was greatly
increased. The business, which had grown from a
Looking hack over a period of 40 years, some of us, small workshop, on Indiana street, Chicago, to the
who have been associated with the piano industry large substantial industry on Clybourn avenue, has
that long, may recall to mind how a small piano fac- seen and participated in the evolution of the piano,
tory sprang into existence on Indiana street, Chicago. from the small reed organ to the square piano, then
This was one of the pioneer piano industries in the to the upright, the player and the reproducing piano.
west, and it marked an epoch in the City of Chicago,
During this progress in piano invention and devel-
which since that time has grown to be one of the opment, the Smith, Barnes & Strohber Co. has main-
world's largest music centers.
'
tained a place at the peak in quality and quantity,
This small workshop was owned and operated by and its expansion, which is attributed to its excel-
the late C. A. Smith, and was the foundation upon lent policies, has been of unusual interest. In addi-
which the great industry of the present-day Smith, tion to its Chicago factory, branches have been es-
Barnes & Strohber Co. was built. Mr. Smith was rec- tablished.
ognized throughout the entire music industry as a man
Milwaukee Expansion.
of determination and ingenuity, who contributed
The
most
prominent
addition is the Milwaukee fac-
very largely to the wonderful progress which has
been made in the piano industry during the past forty tory, which was purchased by the Smith & Barnes
Company, in 1903. It is equally as modern and com-
years.
plete as the Chicago plant, being fully equipped in all
The First Location.
departments. It has been of great service to the com-
The first pianos manufactured by Mr. Smith came pany, as its location enables it to conveniently supply
from the establishment on Indiana street, Chicago, all points northwest, and its transportation service
which was started in April, 1884. At that time the is free from congestion. The output of the Milwau-
location was near the manufacturing district of Chi- kee branch has been in accord with that of the Chi-
cago, and the little factory thrived. From this work- cago factory and the same policies which have actu-
shop the Smith piano made its first showing in the ated the industry for 40 years are in practice.
trade. There was originality in the designs and from
C. H. Smith, President.
the very first they proved so generally successful
that their growth was rapid. The construction was • C. H. Smith, son of and successor to the late C. A.
durable and the tone of such pleasing character that Smith, is president and directs the activities of the
immediate recognition was won. For in the piano of
Smith, Barnes & Strohber Co. Mr. Smith is well
C. A. Smith was embodied the thoughts and ideals schooled in the art of fine piano manufacturing, and
of a man who had made the construction of pianos a is a strict adherent to the policies on which the
study and whose ambitions were boundless.
company was founded 40 years ago. Mr. Smith has
surrounded himself with expert assistants and the
First to Commercialize.
output of the two great factories is larger today than
At the time of the production of the first Smith in- ever before in the long and successful career of the
strument a mild prejudice was fostered by many who industry.
were directly, or indirectly, associated with the piano
At this time the instrument of special interest and
industry at that time. This was directed against the
western manufacturer who, it seems, was thought demand, aside from the playerpianos, is the Strohber
incapable of producing an instrument that would com- Diminutive, one of the most compact, and yet tonally
pare favorably with those manufactured in Boston, powerful, of the modern style of pianos in cases so
New York and other eastern cities. People who small as to find room in apartments and school rooms.
nought pianos were skeptical about instruments that
did not have Boston or Xew York on the fall-board.
It was against these conditions that Mr. Smith put
his pianos on the market. Eastern establishments, of
known reputation and prestige, were the only ones
to huild and commercialize pianos, but Mr. Smith
was determined to direct attention to a different angle, Samuel O. Dunn, Editor, Speaks on Constructive or
and that determination was exemplified in the ex-
Destructive Legislation at Luncheon.
cellent instrument he produced at the little factory
on Indiana street. And the good impression which
Samuel O. Dunn, editor of Railway Age, eminent
almost at once greeted the Chicago instrument soon
gained for its originator the distinction of being the authority on railway matters and eloquent speaker
first to build and commercialize pianos of fine char- whose services are eagerly sought by business organ-
izations, was the guest of honor and addressed the
acter in the western city.
Piano Club of Chicago at the Monday luncheon this
Smith & Barnes Formed.
week on "'Constructive or Destructive Railway Legis-
"~
Soon after the C. A. Smith instruments had won a lation."
good following in the trade, a larger force of skilled
Ruth Oswald, prima donna in "Earl Carroll Vani-
artisans was employed, and increased producing ties," now playing at the Colonial Theater, paid the
capacity was attained with which to meet the insistent club a return visit.
demand. This also necessitated the acquiring of
A secret was whispered by John McKenna, presi-
larger quarters and more capital, and in 1893 the
Smith & Barnes Company was formed and the loca- dent: "The wonder of this year's membership drive
tion of the factory was changed from Indiana to which is now on is this: Every member is trying to
get a new member rather than to be unfair and expect
Superior street.
The installation of new machinery for the efficient a few to produce all. Have you produced one new
production of steadily growing numbers was an im- member? We're counting on you.''
HISTORY OF GROWTH
CHICAGO PIANO MEN
HEAR RAILROAD AUTHORITY
ALL READY FOR
TUNERS' MEETING
Biggest Attendance in History of the National
Association of Piano Tuners Assured for the
Annual Convention at Hotel Wisconsin,
Milwaukee, August 11 to 13.
PLEA TO NON=MEMBERS
Invitation and Welcome Extended to Every Piano
Technician and the Advantages of Joining Na-
tional Association Made Plain.
The official plans for the "annual convention of the
National Association of Piano Tuners to be held at
the Hotel Wisconsin, Milwaukee, August 11, 12 and
13. Without detailing the program it is safe to say
that the meeting of 1924 will excel in interest, instruc-
tiveness and social pleasures any previous gathering
of the association. While the officials believe that the
membership will rally to a man to the convention in
Milwaukee, they are anxious to induce- unaffiliated
piano technicians to attend.
In the convention announcements they make the
advantages of attending the convention plain to the
non-member. For instance the opportunity of asso-
ciating with several hundred men from different parts
of the country engaged in the same line of work has
a tendency of broadening one's viewpoint on the
tuning proposition as a whole. Valuable instruction
is afforded in the discussions of technical problems in
the business sessions. At these sessions the tuner
picks up many ideas on securing business. In fact
they show him how the association helps its mem-
bers.
Other Advantages.
A most important advantage of the association
meeetings is the realization of the proper tuner atti-
tude on matters concerning his daily work. By as-
sociation with his fellows in convention the tuner
learns to talk to dealers on the subject of higher
tuning rates, higher salaries, less free tuning and other
matters on which the tuner should take a decided
stand.
The tuner at the convention will meet the represen-
tatives of many manufacturers, will see the displays
of piano players and piano parts and generally will
enjoy an unusual opportunity seeing new instru-
ments and materials and talking with interesting men
from the factories.
The Object Stated.
The National Association of Piano Tuners, Inc., is
devoted to maintaining the highest technical and
moral standards in the profession of piano tuning.
And because a number of tuners throughout the
country are more or less under the impression that
the association is conducted for the financial benefit
of certain individuals, the officials of the organization
have prepared a statement of receipts and disburse-
ments. Only the national secretary and his sten-
ographer receive salaries, and these total only $230
a month. They declare the books are at the dis-
posal of any doubting Thomas who will be shown
how every cent received is spent.
SEE ORGAN CONSTRUCTION.
During a recent trip to the W. W. Kimball Com-
pany's factory at Chicago, the sales force of the
Paige Music Co., Terre Haute, Ind., witnessed a very
unusual sight—that of a monster orchestra in process
of construction. The party included Warner Paige,
Edw. H. Critchlow, John F. Patton and W. Lloyd
Woodard. The orchestra organ under construction
is intended for the Forum Theater, Los Angeles. This
organ represents one of the largest and most expen-
sive instruments that the W. W. Kimball Company
has ever built. It has been under construction over
a year and has occupied two-thirds of the floor space
in the large assembling room when all parts were
there af one time.
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