Presto

Issue: 1924 1973

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their 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.
U> Cents; t2.00 « Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, MAY 17, 1924
POOLE PIANO CO. PLANS
BIG CONVENTION DISPLAY
Great Line of Grands, Uprights, Players and
Reproducing Pianos on View at 8-12
East 34th Street.
The fine line of grands, uprights, players and re-
producing pianos of the Poole Piano Company, Bos-
ton, will be on display during the week of the trade
convention in New York, June 1 to 7, at the ware-
rooms of C. H. Ditson & Company, 8-12 East 34th
street. The array of Poole instruments in the special
show will prove their character for distinction in
appearance and pleasing tone. The Poole Piano Com-
pany makes "one grade only'' and that the best that
can be produced by artistic piano builders equipped
with the most approved' methods and with selected
materials of the highest quality.
The demonstrations of Poole instruments for the
benefit of visiting dealers will be a feature of the dis-
play that will carry conviction as to the meritorious
character of the pianos, players and reproducing
pianos. The tone of the Poole piano is a recognized
fact with the musical profession. It has stood the
test for over thirty years and today enjoys an enviable
quality reputation.
Poole officials and travelers will meet visitors at the
display and dealers will be provided with information
of all kinds about the line.
STORY & CLARK SHOW
READY FOR DEALERS
Big, Special Display of Grands, Uprights,
Players and Repro-Phraso in Warerooms
on 57th Street.
The dealers visiting New York during convention
week will find an unusually pleasurable sight in the
special displays of pianos, players and the Repro-
Phraso at the New York headquarters of the Story &
Clai w Piano Co., on 57th street. Complete details of
the display will be printed next week. George H.
Beverly, eastern wholesale manager, and Louis
Schoenewald, general manager of the New York divi-
sion have prepared plans for a showing of the line
that will interest the trade from all sections of the
country attending the convention.
The new headquarters of the Story & Clark Piano
Co. in New York is a pleasant place for visiting
dealers and interesting in a great many ways. It
presents the ultra-modern methods of piano presenta-
tion by an efficient force and possesses the most de-
sirable facilities for caring for the comfort of visiting
dealers.
The remodeled building on 57th street is located in
the music center of the city, and all around it are other
big piano concerns,- studios and halls. Carnegie Hall
is within one block.
With the plans for the most approved means of
showing the Story & Clark piano, playerpiano and
the Repro-Phraso carried out and all the details con-
ducive to efficiency attended to, the Story & Clark
Piano Co. is ready to formally receive the visiting
dealers and its friends generally.
are set forth in a clever retail advertisement of the
company:
"It plays automatically, with beautiful tone-shad-
ing. 'Reproduces' the music of famous pianists. But
the U'nette also allows you to get into the music
yourself. It isn't just a piano to be listened to. Alone
among Reproducing
Grands, the tone-shading
U'nette is specially equipped, and specially built, for
personal playing in addition to automatic playing.
"On the U'nette the music roll is in its natural
position (not in a drawer), therefore easily read.
There is plenty of knee-room under the keyboard;
comfortable for pianist or player-pianist. The player-
pianist sits close to the piano, and may use the lyre
pedals. Then there is a wonderful copyrighted sys-
tem of Tone Buttons-^—called the "You-in-It System"
—that gives you control of all the effects used by the
electric 'reproducing' mechanism itself; so, when you
want to, the motor does the work and you put in the
expression.
"The U'nette also is made as a footpower Grand,
for the 'player fan' who prefers pedals. Plays any
make of music roll. All models are the 'honeymoon
flat' size. Handsome brown mahogany or walnut.
No need, now, to buy an Upright Player when you
want a Grand."
BUSH & LANE PIANOS
AT HOTEL McALPIN
Great Array of Grands, Uprights, Reproducing
Pianos and Duo-Vox Phonographs to
Occupy Three Rooms.
Three large rooms at the Hotel McAlpin, New
York, have been engaged for convention display pur-
poses by the Bush & Lane Piano Co., Holland, Mich.
One of these will be devoted to the fine array of
grand pianos made by the company, another for up-
rights and playerpianos and the third for showing and
demonstrating the Bush & Lane Duo-Vox Phono-
graphs.
The convention days from June 1 to 5 will be
made interesting and instructive ones for the trade in
the display rooms of the Holland industry. The
Multi-Reproducing equipment of the Bush & Lane
Welte Grand Piano will be a feature of the presen-
tations.
The showing of grands by the company will be a
delight to the visiting dealers who realize that this is
a grand piano day. The Bush & Lane five-foot grand,
style 50, in walnut case, and one of the great suc-
cesses of the company, will be shown and demon-
strated.
A new player with the Cecilian action, differing
from any Cecilian action heretofore shown to the
trade, will be a notable exhibit in the room devoted to
players. Walter Lane has proved his ability as a
piano builder by his compact manner of incorporat-
ing the pneumatics in so small a piano as that to be
exhibited at the convention.
The company will be represented at the Hotel Mc-
Alpin by Mr. Lane, who is president; C. L. Beach,
secretary; William F. Clevey, sales manager; F. J.
Congleton, Eastern representative and Charles PL
Kennedy and W. D. Montgomery, representing the
Bush & Lane line of phonographs in the east.
EDWARD C. CARR RESIGNS.
Peculiar Features of Instrument to Be Shown in
Room 368 During Convention Week.
Edward C. Carr, for seventeen years manager for
Charles M. Stieff, Inc., at its Boston store, has re-
signed. Mr. Carr will be greatly missed from his
accustomed post as head of the Boston warerooms,
where in his years of service he has made a host of
friends. For the time Mr. Carr's place has been filled
by Meyer Levy, who has been on the sales staff of the
warerooms for a long time.
U'nette Player Grands, made by the Thompson
U'nette Piano Co., 2652 West Lake street, Chicago,
will be on display at Room 368, Hotel McAlpin, New
York City, during the National Music Trades
Convention, June 2-9.
''Music With You in It," is the phrase which sug-
gests the characteristic of the U'nette player grand
and which is considerably used in the publicity of the
company. The merits most appreciated by buyers
L. A. Murray Music Co. has purchased the entire
stock of Baxter Music Co. at Davenport, Iowa.
Manager Hoffman, of the Murray business, will de-
vote his time to the Hoffman Music Co. at Clinton,
Iowa. The Baxter Music Co. has been established
for many years and has made a place among the
active affairs of Davenport.
U'NETTE PLAYER GRAND
DISPLAY AT McALPIN
A CHANGE AT DAVENPORT.
PREMIER GRAND PIANO
CORPORATION LUNCHEON
Trade Invited to Mid-Day Function, Which
Includes Close-up of Processes of Baby
Grand Making.
The Premier Grand Piano Corporation, 510-532
West 23rd street, New York, will give a luncheon
Thursday, June 5, to dealers visiting the city during
the convention. The following invitation has been
sent to the trade:
'You are cordially invited to be our guest on
Thursday, June 5, 1924, at twelve-thirty o'clock noon.
"We will conduct a mid-day luncheon for our
friends during that time, and earnestly hope that you
will give us the pleasure of your company.
'Your visit here will enable you to be personally
conducted through the wonder plant of the small
grand industry and secure a 'close-up' of the Premier
Baby Grand in the making.
"We are very anxious to meet and greet you. We
extend the right hand of fellowship and hope that
you will be able to say, 'I will be with you.' Sin-
cerely yours,
" P R E M I E R GRAND PIANO CORPORATION.
"Walter C. Hepperla, President."
The following note is added:
' T h e Premier Grand Piano Corporation, 510-532
West 23rd street, New York, is but ten minutes from
the Hotel Waldorf-Astoria—1924 National Conven-
tion headquarters. Special Premier taxi service will
convey you direct from convention headquarters to
the Premier plant."
BALDWIN PIANO CO.'S
INVITATION TO DEALERS
Trade Apprised in Special Folder of Conven-
tion Week Displays in Company's Ware-
rooms at 58 West Fortieth Street.
School special pianos, small grands, and reproduc-
ing pianos are to be special convention features in
the New York warerooms of the Baldwin Piano Co.,
58 W r est Fortieth street. Important facts about the
Baldwin piano and the factory in which it is made
are printed in a striking folder serving as an invita-
tion to stop off in Chicago and Cincinnati, mailed to
the trade this week. This is said:
On your way to the National Music Industries
Convention in New York City, June 2-7, you are cor-
dially invited to stop over in Cincinnati and Chicago
and visit the great factories of the .House of Bald-
win.
Your trip to our factories will be a liberal educa-
tion—an opportunity to see with your own eyes, just
how we build quality into pianos, playerpianos and
reproducing pianos.
You will be able to tell your prospects with abso-
lute authority how Baldwin craftsmen prepare selected
seasoned lumber for piano cases, build backs, manu-
facture piano actions, player action, piano hammers,
strings, sound boards and hardware; and observe
these many parts assembled, installed, regulated and
prepared for the final inspection.
We will do all we can to make your visit to our
Cincinnati and Chicago factories instructive and en-
joyable and place our entire facilities at your dis-
posal. If we can do anything for you in advance,
please do not hesitate to write us.
The following Baldwin facts are printed:
Baldwin business founded 62 years ago. Total fac-
tory floor space 14% acres: Cincinnati, 461,580 sq. ft.,
or .10.7 acres: Chicago Heights. 166,972 sci. ft. or 3.8
acres. Number of buildings: Cincinnati, 7; Chicago
Heights, 5. Average number of employes, 1,800.
Manufacturing capacity (all plants), 30,000 instru-
ments: 24,000 Uprights, 6,000 Grand Pianos. Fifty
per cent of output of Uprights are Playerpianos;
average time required to complete an Upright Piano,
8 months; average time required to complete a Grand
Piano, one year. The factories cover all steps in the
manufacture of a piano and its*parts.
Edward W. Knight, son-in-law of William. H.
Sterchi, president of the Knoxville Outfitting Co.,
Knoxville, Term., has been appointed assistant to
John A. Gentry, department manager.
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
INVENTOR EXPLAINS
HIS NEW PIANO KEY
Piano Man in Nebraska Claims to Have Per-
fected Something Which Is Vital to Per-
fection in Piano Manufacture.
A communication from W. F. Leonhardt, of Kear-
ney, Nebraska, gives some particulars of an inven-
tion which he believes may be essential to piano per-
fection in the near future. It is a piano key so con-
structed as to do away with some of the annoyances
which beset the harmonious lives of tuners, regula-
tors and others. Following is Mr. Leonhardt's de-
scription of his invention:
"My invention, for which patent is pending, re-
quires three different parts to complete the working
key. It must have a center key-rail, a center key-
pin, and a key-button, all of which I incorporate with
the following improvements:
"The key-rail has a groove, full length, also seats,
full length; either, or both, may be adopted, to re-
ceive a new improved key-pin, which contains a wood
screw, cone collar, and a slit for a screw-driver, all
cast in one piece, by which the key is either raised
or lowered without disassembling the keyboard, in
order to remove, or add a punching to level the key,
or give more or less dip. All this above is accom-
plished by a slight turn of the center key-pin, with-
out removing the keyboard.
"The key button, which can not be dispensed with,
in all pianos, is a guide for the key. Yet it is one of
the most aggravating troubles to control. Why? Be-
cause the bushing is glued in, from the beginning to
end. The glue seeps into the bushing in a short time
and becomes harder than wood. This condition com-
ing in contact with the center pin causes the keys
to rattle, squeak, and evoke other noisy tones, which
mingle with the piano, with the result that many beau-
tiful toned pianos are injured in quality.
"The new key button, which I have invented, has
been tested and found beyond my expectation. It is
made of spun aluminum, in one piece. It w r ill not
contract, or expand, in climatic changes. It is the
smallest, the lightest, and is 100 per cent stronger
than any button in the world. It will not separate
from the key. Weight, four pennyweight (bushed).
It is the only button that contains a regulator to
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 1B 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.
New Catalogue on Request.
Schumann Piano Co.
W. N. VAN MATRE, President
Rockford, 111.
PIANO TUNING
PLAYER PIANO REPAIRING
Taught by tnmn of mxperlonce
In 8 WEKKS
Complete Course $75.00
SALESMANSHIP included.
Also NIGHT COURSES
Piano Merchants Supplied With Reliable Tuners
and Repairmen
WRITE FOR FURTHER INFORMATION
St. Louis Piano and Player Repair School
1514 Franklin Ave.
ST. LOUIS, MO.
take up lost motion, or wear. Also contains a new
form of bushing—reliable, yet the whole construction
does not contain one drop of glue. Button is very
quiet. Being dead metal, it kills that hollow symbol
tone in keys when they become very dry.
"My invention does not change the present system
of piano manufacturing. Tuners, regulators, repair-
men, can install the whole, or in part, on any piano,
in less time than you can re-bush, or repair, the old
buttons, at about the same cost."
BEER AND BOOZE FOE
TALKS TO PIANO CLUB
Rev. Williams Reviles Horrid Stuff While Members
Sip Lake Michigan Chloride Cocktails.
Beer, Booze and Bombs were rousing topics of
Rev. Elmer L. Williams, "The Fighting Parson,"
director of law enforcement of The Better Govern-
ment Association, who was the guest of honor and
speaker of the day of The Piano Club of Chicago at
the luncheon of this week. Dr. Williams is a favorite
speaker before organizations in and out of Chicago
because of the pep, humor and startling facts he
brings. His subject was "The Big Game."
W. Wallace Kimball furnished an interesting pro-
gram and justified his ability to arrange this phase at
the luncheon pleasures.
The president, John McKenna, announced another
big evening meeting May 27th at the Hotel Sherman,
in the Tiger Room. The annual pre-convention and
membership stag dinner. Details will be published
later.
HEAD OF CHICAGO STARR
COMPANY RETURNS FROM EAST
Manager Wiggins Optimistic Over Conditions and
Reports a Stir in Trade in Eastern Cities.
Manager Wiggins, of the Chicago Starr Piano Com-
pany, South Wabash avenue, returned early last week
from a visit to New York and other points east. Dur-
ing this tour Mr. Wiggins had the pleasure of calling
on a few of the Starr representatives and found the
trade in fair shape. Mr. Wiggins was especially
pleased with the fine showing of the Gennett records
in Pittsburgh and Philadelphia, as well as New York.
"The New York branch of the Starr Piano Com-
pany is doing a good business in all departments,"
said Mr. Wiggins shortly after his return, and the
large territory which it supplies keeps it unusually
busy."
W. F. FREDERICK IS RECENT
VISITOR TO CHICAGO
President of Live Chain of Piano Stores in Pennsyl-
vania Makes Call on Manufacturers.
W. F. Frederick, president of the W. F. Frederick
Piano Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., was an important visitor
to the Chicago trade last week. Mr. Frederick, who
owns and operates a number of live piano stores in
the East, of which Pittsburgh is the center, is an
enthusiastic representative of the Price & Teeple
Piano Co.'s line, including the Schaeffer piano, which
he has been selling with good results for a number of
years.
Mr. Frederick's visit to Chicago's wholesale piano
offices is largely to place orders in anticipation of a
good summer business. This is based on the fact
that Mr. Frederick's music establishments sales man-
agers have the knack of creating interest in the piano
when the other fellow is complaining about the so-
called summer dullness.
*
AN EXPERT'S OPINION
At a recent meeting of the Thos. Cusack Com-
pany's salesmen, the president of that company,
Thomas Cusack, told his staff that in his opinion the
most beautiful advertising bulletin in America at the
present time was the new Lyon & Healy display on
north Michigan Avenue at the intersection of Erie
Street. This display has attracted widest attention
by reason of its charm and originality, and has
brought to Lyon & Healy many unsolicited expres-
sions of approval.
May 17, 1924.
THREE KRAKAUER BROS.
GRANDS FOR THEATER
One of the First Play-Houses in New England
Buys Instruments From Famous New
York Industry.
Charles S. Norris, representative of Krakauer
Bros., in Boston, has just installed, in the Magnifi-
cent new "Gordon's Olympia Fields Corner Theatre,"
two style 16 Krakauer Grand pianos, thus adding to
the already large number of Gordon Theaters, in
which Krakauer pianos are used.
This particular theater has just been completed and
is, without question, one of the finest buildings de-
voted to theatrical enterprises in the New England
states.
Krakauer Bros, are rightly pleased at this mani-
festation of the satisfaction that these instruments
are giving in actual service in the theaters.
THE CONVENTION TRAIN.
The transportation committee of the National Asso-
ciation of Music Merchants announces that reserva-
tions in the compartment car of the special train to
leave Chicago for the convention are all taken. Reser-
vations in regular sleepers are going fast. About
sixty in one of the cars have been reserved. The
latest plan suggested is to unite all the state associa-
tions of music merchants in one body including piano
clubs and the like.
MUSIC SHOP REOPENS.
The Music Shop, Connersville, Ind., formerly owned
by the late William M. Heermann, Jr., has been re-
opened by the Star Piano Company, of Richmond,
with F. C. Templin, of Richmond, as temporary man-
ager of the establishment.
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.
BUSHcScLANE 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.
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
R. A. BURKE IN FLORIDA.
R. A. Burke, traveler for the Story & Clark Piano
Co., Chicago, is at present enjoying the sunshine of
Florida. Mr. Burke left the Chicago office of the
Story & Clark Piano Co., 315 S. Wabash avenue, re-
cently to make a tour of the South. His schedule
included Florida, where he will be busy viewing trade
conditions until his return to Chicago probably the
latter part of this month.
WRITE FOR TERRITORY
Factory
Leominster,
Mat*.
Executive Offices
138th St. and Walton Ave.
New York
Division W. P. HA1NES & 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/

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