Presto

Issue: 1924 1977

PRESTO
SEE HOW PREMIER
GRANDS ARE MADE
June 14, 1924.
SHOWS MAKING OF PLAYER PART

But Excellent Luncheon in Factory Room
Was Also Feature of Pleasures Provided
Visitors to Plant of Premier Grand
Piano Corporation.
Among the numerous social functions associated
with the big music industries' convention in New
York last week the Premier Grand Piano Corpora-
tion's luncheon was especially unique and interesting
from an instructive standpoint. The trip through the
manufacturing plant was much like a lesson in grand
piano construction and was appreciated by every one
of the visitors.
Well Planned Ahead.
About three weeks before the date of the con-
vention invitations were sent out to piano dealers,
and to many piano manufacturers as well, to attend
a luncheon to be given by the Premier Grand Piano
Corporation, at the factory in West Twenty-third
street at noon on Thursday of convention week. Be-
fore noontime the guests began to arrive, many of
them ladies, and many possibly wondering how a
spread worthy of an important piano manufacturing
concern could be given in the workshop of a big
factory. The furnishing of a luncheon, an entertain-
ment and a study in piano making all in a regular,
every day workshop seemed too big an undertaking.
Then the Surprise.
All doubts along this line, however, were soon dis-
pelled for instead of a "buffet eat," standing up
against work benches here and there, a big main
floor of the factory had been transformed into a din-
ing room, or rather, a banquet hall, by skillful hands.
Where a short time before had been the evidences of
the work of the factory, the workmen's benches had
been deftly covered and draped with cloths of varied
hues and appropriate designs made to take the place
of flowers and the like.
Setting Was Unique.
It was not long until the Premier taxis had brought
to this assembling place, upwards of a hundred
visitors. A speakers' table was placed at the north
end of the room and at the extreme east end was an
appropriate stage for the entertainers, with a back-
ground made up of the four ivory white Premier
grands used by the Jerry lady Premier grand quar-
tette in their performance on the Keith Vaudeville
Circuit.
The four performers were at their best for the
The Best Yet
Graceful lines, rugged construc-
tion, moderately priced. It's the
very best commercial piano from
every standpoint.
SHOWING PHASE IN MAKING OF GULBRANSEN REGISTERING PIANO.
In a novel window exhibit shown this week in Chi-
cago, a Gulbransen Registering piano display was fea-
tured by one of the city's greatest public utilities—the
Commonwealth Edison Co.
The display is being made on the Dearborn street
side of the Commonwealth Edison Co., just north of
Adams street. The principal feature is the gluing of
pneumatics used in Gulbransen Registering pianos.
The glue is electrically heated by an International
glue pot, two hundred of which are in use in the Gul-
bransen factories. Miss Mae Waldron, of the pneu-
matic assembly department of the Gulbransen Com-
pany, is at work in the window daily gluing pneu-
matics.
Added interest is given the exhibit by two of the
new moving baby devices, showing the Gulbransen
trade-mark in action. There are also a Gulbransen
electric flasher, two ad enlargements in frames, two
full color oil paintings, assortment of parts, etc.
Every day large crowds are gathered in front of the
window viewing the unusual and interesting display.
Premier guests. They played all manner of eight-
hand selections; sang and whistled to the accompani-
ment of one, two, three and all four instruments, to
the great pleasure of the audience. After their regu-
lar performances on their own pianos, used in their
vaudeville stunts, they played on other Premiers in
different parts of the factory, and then joined those at
the tables in the repast. During the luncheon time
two Premier Reproducing Grands, alternating be-
tween a Welte-Mignon and the Premier Expression,
were playing.
President Hepperla Speaks.
At this period President Walter C. Hepperla ex-
tended to all the visitors the freedom of the factory
and voiced a heartfelt welcome to the guests of the
Premier Grand Piano Corporation, It was a charm-
ing, spontaneous talk in which, at the same time, he
introduced tthe officers, directors and co-workers of
his corporation. Every one was invited to go through
the factories, and Mr. Hepperla and his assistants,
superintendents and foremen, acted as guides in
conducting the visitors, so that all, dealer, player,
piano workman or manufacturer, might see, learn
and know how grand pianos, and especially Premier
Grand pianos, are made.
"We have no secrets to hide about how Premier
Grand pianos are made," said President Hepperla.
The tour of the great Premier factory was made
with profit to themselves and became a delightful
reminder of convention week.
COOPS & SONS PIANO CO.
EXPANDS IN PASADENA
Old California Music Firm Opens New Branch Store
in Promising Location.
Increasing business of the Coops & Sons Piano
Company, Pasadena, Calif., has opened a new branch
store at 16 South Raymond avenue. The new head-
quarters have been remodeled and were open for
business last week. A full line of pianos, including
both players and grands, phonographs, radios and
also small musical instruments, rolls, records, sheet
music and other musical supplies are handled.
The Coops & Sons Piano Company, 1160-90 South
Fair Oaks avenue, is one of Pasadena's most inter-
esting institutions and the oldest, and is still operated
and controlled by the originator and founder. C. W.
Coops, president of the company, states that his one
object in the beginning was "quality" and it has been
his effort to maintain this idea in the many years he
has been in the business.
Mr. Coops moved his business to Pasadena in 1913,
and in 1914 incorporated under the laws of California
for $75,000, taking his two sons, F. W. Coops and
Morton Coops, into the company. The company has
made wonderful strides since coming to Pasadena,
regardless of the war.
NEW ILLINOIS STORE.
Style 32—4 ft. 4 in.
WESER
Pianos and Players
The P>ungalow Music Co. has leased a room in
Taylorville, 111., and has opened a music store, sell-
ing pianos, talking machines, etc. The room has
been fixed up very attractively and the store was
opened for business last week. The owner, Wm.
Fowler, well known there, is a piano man of long
experience and is pricing his merchandise to appeal
to the thrifty customer who appreciates a good in-
strument at a reasonable price. It has been some
time since Taylorville had an exclusive music house,
and the company has been cordially welcomed.
Sell Readily—Stay Sold
OWENSBORO, KY., STORE SOLD.
Send to-day for catalogue, prices and
details of our liberal financing plan
Weser Bros., Inc.
520 to 528 W. 43rd St., New York
Mrs. Charles Irwin, Owensboro, Ky., has sold her
Playmore Music Shop to Mrs. Woodson Binion and
Miss Helen Binion, who took charge last week. They
expect to eventually expand the business. Mrs. Ir-
win will continue her studio at her home, 319 East
Fifth street. She will also continue her orchestra,
the Harmonizers. She has been proprietor of the
Playmore shop for the past three and one-half years.
KURTZMANN
Grands—Players
Manufactured by
C. KURTZMANN & CO.
Factories and General Offices
526-536 Niagara Street
BUFFALO, N. Y.
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
June 14, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells"
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
The very highest type of piano attainment
is exemplified in this remarkable instru-
ment. It is as perfect in operation, repro-
duction and in volume of tone, and as
reliable in every detail of construction, as
skill and flawless materials can create.
WINNERS DECLARED IN
ADVERTISING CONTEST
Awards in Two Classes in Interesting Event
Made Public at Session of Music Mer-
chants Convention.
The Otto Grau Piano Co., Cincinnati, won the first
award, a cup, in Class A, for independent music mer-
chants in the recent contest decided and announced
at the convention of the National Association of Mu-
sic Merchants in New York last week. Joseph A.
Jacober is the advertising man of the winning con-
cern. Class A distinguishes the individual stores from
the group stores and factoi*y warerooms coming
under Class B.
The winner of the first award in Class B was
Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, and the adver-
tising man of the concern is Neil C. Wilson.
The other awards in Class A are as follows: Sec-
ond, J. L. Hudson Music Co., Detroit; third, G. A.
Barlow & Sons, Trenton, N. J.; fourth, Heaton's
Music Store, Columbus, O.; fifth, Geo. J. Birkel Co.,
Los Angeles; sixth, the Miekeljohn Co., Providence,
R. L.; seventh. The Tusting Piano Co., Asbury
Park, N. J.; eighth, Will A. Watkin Co., Dallas,
Tex.; ninth, C. J. Heppe & Sons, Philadelphia,; tenth,
Chickering Warerooms, Baltimore; eleventh, Gewher
Piano Co., Wilmington, Del.
In Class B, the second aw T ard was given to Wm.
Knabe & Co., New York City; third, Chickering &
Sons, Boston; fourth, Sohmer & Co., New York City;
fifth, the Aeolian Co., New York City; sixth, Kohler
& Chase, San Francisco; seventh, M. Steinert &
Sons, Boston; eighth, Southern California Music
H^ouse, Los Angeles; ninth, Chas. M. Steiff, Balti-
more; tenth, Henry F. Miller, Boston; eleventh,
Story & Clark Piano Co., New York City.
PROGRESSIVE INDIANA
FIRM EXPANDS BUSINESS
Korn Music House, Michigan City, Opens Grand
Piano Display Room.
The Korn Music House, Michigan City, Ind., has
leased a store on East Seventh street and will occupy
this additional space, which is being connected with
their other large quarters, as soon as alterations are
completed. The 600 feet of additional floor space will
be used for the display of grand pianos, grand repro-
ducing pianos and phonographs.
It is intended also to use it for recitals, as such a
place has long been needed by Michigan City talent.
The display room formerly used for grand pianos will
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
Some of the Greatest Pianists have pro-
nounced this instrument the peer of any
produced. It is powerful and yet it is but
five feet long. It is a veritable "little giant"
among pianos, and its artistic qualities
command attention in any dealers' ware-
room.
No ambitious Piano Merchant can
be sure that he has the best, most
profitable and satisfactory Line until
he has examined the Christman and
compared with whatever competitor
may be winning local trade.
INQUIRIES INVITED
(€
The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
be made into booths for playerpiano demonstrations.
Twelve years ago it was Mr. Korn's ambition to
give Michigan City the best and most up-to-date
music store possible and with the acquisition of the
additional space he will be in a position to realize
this ambition. He will have one of the most com-
plete music stores to be found anywhere in a city of
the size of Michigan City.
Mr. Korn has built up a splendid business and will
continue to grow with Michigan City. Miss Frieda
Timm is in charge of the record department at
Korn's; Neil Lauman, formerly with the Cable-Nel-
son piano factory handles the tuning and repairing
of instruments and A. W. Tilt, with Mr. Korn, han-
dles the sales of instruments.
WELL=KNOWN ORGANIST
COMMENDS TONK PIANO
H. A. Sjolander, of New Britain, Conn., Writes to
Local Agent for New York Industry.
The representative of the Tonk piano at New
Britain, Conn., recently received the following letter
which w r as written by a local musician. It is a very
unusual and valuable tribute:
My Dear Mr. Ostlund: Recently I had the pleas-
ure of' playing on an instrument made by the cor-
poration of William Tonk & Bro., Inc., for which
you are an agent.
The beautiful tone and workmanship, added to a
most responsive action, makes it an ideal piano, and
it is my sincere hope that more such instruments
will be found in the homes of the Swedish people.
1 take the liberty of writing you this note un-
solicited, as an expression of my keen delight in
playing the above mentioned piano.
Wishing you all possible success, I am,
Very cordially,
H. A. SJOLANDER, Organist,
The Swedish Lutheran Maria
Church, of New Britain.
CLOSING OUT STOCK.
B. J. Powell, who has been connected with the
Kokomo, Ind., store of the Pearson Piano Company,
Indianapolis, for the past five years, has been placed
in charge of the Logansport, Ind., store of the com-
pany. Mr. Powell is conducting a big sale because
the lease on the st6re has expired, and the company
means to close out its local business as soon as pos-
sible.
HAVE TWO STORES.
The Fenton Music Co., besides having a store at
East Fifty-third street and Lake Park avenue, Chi-
cago, is doing some lively business at their other
store at Broadway and Lawrence avenue, Chicago.
These stores are considered among the most complete
music shops in Chicago.
EFFECTIVE DISPLAY OF BALDWINS
The two-week San Fran-
cisco Industrial Exposition
held recently in the Civil
Auditorium was a splendid
opportunity
for
effective
showing of goods of all khids.
The Baldwin Piano Co.'s ex-
hibit in the San Francisco
store of the company was one
of the most notable in a week
of great shows. It is shown
in the accompanying cut.
Each week, in connection
with the display, a grand
prize was given away and
every evening a musical pro-
gram with singers and instru-
mentalists was arranged to
show the superior qualities of
the pianos.. The publicity ob-
tained was splendid, worth
several times the cost.
Twenty-five thousand peo-
ple registered to secure free
chances on the prizes—the
first week a coffee percolator
set and the second week a
lady's toilet set.
Eleven sales were actually
closed during the exposition
and enough good prospects
secured to provide working
material for the next six
months.
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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