Presto

PRESTO
July 26, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
(<
The First Touch Tells"
SAFETY IN THE
PIANO FACTORIES
Review of Efforts to Prevent Accidents in
Music Goods Plants Suggested by Publi-
cation of Accident Figures in the
Industries Generally.
VIGILANCE PAYS
Accidents in Piano Plants Fewer Than Elsewhere in
Manufacturing Industry, Thereby Reducing
Waste in Costs.
The Famous
Studio Grand
(only 5 ft. long)
John Barrymore,
America's Foremost Actor,
Says in a Recent Letter:
"The best wishes for the success of
the CHRISTMAN PIANO. M r s .
Barrymore and I are delighted with it.
I want to express my thanks and ap-
preciation of the way in which my
ideas regarding the finish and design
were carried out."
The
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
is admittedly the most responsive and
satisfactory instrument in the repro-
duction of the performances of the
great pianists. In the words of a
prominent critic,
"IT IS PERFECT"
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
tf
The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
One out of every twenty persons at work in the
United States last year met with a serious accident,
according to official estimates. These accidents
caused a loss of 227,000,000 working days. Figured
at $4.50 a day, the loss in wages alone reached $1,022,-
000,000. Of course, the piano factories had a pro-'
portion of the accidents, but it is good to consider
that many of the prominent manufacturers of pianos
and piano supplies have adopted efficient means to
protect their employees.
If ever it was true that "America puts money above
human life," it is not true today. No other country
in the world now spends as much money as Ameri-
can business concerns of all kinds now spend not only
to prevent accidents but to take the most scientific
care of those sustaining injuries. Many of our indus-
trial plant hospitals are as efficiently equipped as the
best of our large city hospitals.
Kohler Service.
It is well known to the trade that the piano indus-
try has performed its part to reduce this shocking
record of the whole country. The service department
of the Kohler Industries, New York, for instance, has
been emulated in its methods and the thoroughness
of its prevention aims by scores of industries in the
piano and other lines of industry.
For Accident Prevention.
The American Piano Company, New York, is an-
other industry where prevention of accidents is a
leading thought with the officials of the big plants.
The error of carelessness is continually pointed out
to the employes and the difference between frantic
haste that causes accidents and sane activity is made
clear. But when the regrettable accidents occur a
thorough first aid service provides the means for
safeguarding the injured employe against more seri-
ous consequences.
Packard Plans.
It is only natural to find prevention of accidents
and first aid service for those unfortunately injured
in the plant of the Packard Piano Co., Fort Wayne,
I'nd., an industry in which the co-operative system
of labor has been brought to the point of perfection.
The factory is one where the safety of the employees
is made as secure as possible, a fact which tends to
preserve the character of harmony which distin-
guishes the big Fort Wayne plant. It is the firm
belief of A. S. Bond, president of the Packard Piano
Co. that a keen interest of the house in the safe
working conditions of the workers begets a propor-
tionate degree of loyalty.
Vose Safety.
The effort to prevent accidents in the well-managed
piano factories is accompanied with an equally seri-
ous one to otherwise safeguard the physical health of
the employes. Lighting, heating and sanitation are
foremost considerations in the providing of the best
conditions conducive to health. The completion of
the new factory of the Vose & Sons Piano Company,
at Watcrtown, Greater Boston, a few months ago
provided another ideal plant for the manufacture of
pianos as regards the conditions of working of the
employes.
The new Vose & Sons Piano Co.'s plant is not only
one of the biggest, but a model of its kind in equip-
ment. And in equipping its factories and yards with
the latest and best devices for performing work the
company also gave conscientious attention to provid-
ing surroundings conducive to pleasant employment,
in short, the healthfulncss of its workers. The com-
pany's effort is to prevent the piano makers from
getting sick as well as to prevent them from getting
hurt.
The Gulbransen Way.
The piano trade is as familiar with the perfection
of the factories of the Gulbransen Co., Chicago, as
it is with the Baby-at-the-Pedals. The baby signi-
fies ease in operation of the Gulbransen Registering
Piano; the word ''model" applied to the Gulbransen
plant is comprehensively eloquent. A visit by a
dealer to the big factories at Kedzie and Chicago
avenues discloses something more than the produc-
tion of reliable players. It shows the visitor that
working conditions there have considerable influence
in the achievement of success for the Gulbransen
product. President A. G. Gulbransen and his corps
of piano experts worked out the mechanical problems
applying to the machinery, but Mr. Gulbransen left
a lot to his architects when he said: "Plan me a
building where the working conditions will be the
best," or words to that effect.
The Haddorff Plant.
Of course one would expect a systematic effort to
prevent accidents in such an extensive and progres-
sive industry like the Haddorff Piano Co., Rockford,
111. The excellent working conditions in the plant
are a matter of pride to President P. A. Peterson, and
that neither the company nor the employes shall dis-
regard the requirements of the accident protective
system is consistently made sure by the factory
superintendent, Chas. A. Haddorff.
Mr. Haddorff has devoted his entire life to the
piano and its development and ranks among the
foremost piano makers of the country. But in his
painstaking efforts for the improvement and develop-
ment of the piano he always includes a thought for
the welfare of the workers. He believes that a happy
and healthy worker i? a good one. But the humane
thought, the prompting of the feeling of fellowship
with his factory associates, has more to do with pro-
ducing admirable working conditions in the factory
of the Haddorff Piano Co. than anything else.
Serious accidents to workers in the United States
last year increased the cost of living for everybody.
Something last year caused loss of working hours
equal to 757,000 men being out of work for the whole
year. The distressful possibilities from accidents in
the piano factories make the earnest men at their
head insist that the accident prevention methods in-
augurated be observed.
Premier Object Lesson.
An object, lesson in accident prevention is seen in
the plant of the Premier Grand Piano Corporation,
New York, the largest piano factory in the world
producing grand pianos exclusively. Walter C. Hep-
perla, president of the corporation, realized that to
produce a small grand piano of undeniable quality
and value with a strong price appeal, he should
standardize the piano parts, but also should stand-
ardize the pleasure of working in the Premier fac-
tory. Providing pleasurable conditions in the plant
meant the elimination of all thought of drudgery in
the tasks of the Premier workers.
Prevention of accidents and care for the physical
wellbeing of the operatives are leading phases in the
progressive methods employed in the roomy Premier
factory covering nearly a city block and with an area
of more than 100,000 square feet.
Teaching Cable Workers.
In the factories of The Cable Company, Chicago,
systematic efforts are continually made to teach all
workers the importance of avoiding accidents. It is
the object in its two great factories, one in Chicago
and one in St. Charles, 111. The safety campaign is
continuous in the two modern plants, and the careful-
ness spirit is instilled in every new hand arriving in
any department. Carelessness in handling material
and absentmindedness in operating a machine are
grievous faults discouraged by the superintendent in
the great factory at St. Charles.
Many Products, One Cure.
The Starr Piano Co., Richmond, Ind., is. remark-
able not only for the size and completeness of its
factories, but. for the admirable employment condi-
tions. The factories are varied in the character of
their products, but whether a department turns out
(Continued on page 8.)
B0YER=R0SE MUSIC CO.
IS INCORPORATED
South Bend, Ind., Firm, Issues Five Hundred Shares
of Stock.
Articles of incorporation of the Boyer-Rose Music
Co., South Bend, Ind., were filed Friday in the office
of the County Recorder. The firm was organized
for the purpose of wholesale and retail sale of musi-
cal instruments and supplies pertaining to the busi-
ness. It is incorporated for $50,000.
James P. Boyer, of Elkhart, Henry Rose, of South
Bend, and Emaline Nye, of Elkhart, were named as
incorporators and officers of the concern.
The articles stated that Boyer and Rose, in con-
sideration for capital stock in the company, turned
over to the new concern the store at 201 South Main
street, now operated as the Boyer Music Store, to-
gether with the good will and leases. Stock of 500
shares at $100 a share is to be issued.
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