Presto

Issue: 1924 1985

PRESTO
August 9, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells"
The
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
U 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*
The Famous
Studio Grand
(only 5 ft. long)
has won its fame by its unique chal-
lenge of all larger Grands in tone vol-
ume, richness of quality and beauty
of case outline.
No Other Small Grand
has attained to equal distinction or
won better demand by dealers who
value permanency above temporary
profit.
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 it with whatever competitor
may be winning local trade.
"The First Touch Tells"
R«C. U S. P»t. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
DON'T PAY COLLECTORS
EDUCATIONAL FILM TO BE
OLD "JEWELRY TAX" SHOWN AT TUNERS'MEET
Treasury Department Instructs Agents Re-
garding Exemption of Musical Instruments
from Jewelry Tax.
Construction of the Piano and Effect of At-
mospheric Conditions Will Be Shown to
Tuners at Convention.
The Music Industries Chamber of Commerce re-
cently called the attention of the Commissioner of
Internal Revenue to the fact that collectors in dif-
ferent parts of the country were attempting to apply
the "jewelry tax" to musical instruments, in spite of
the express exemption secured for such instruments
in the Internal Revenue Act of 1924. In reply, the
following letter has just been received from the
Treasury Department:
"Reference is made to your letter under date of
July 22, with respect to the apparent misunderstand-
ing of local deputy collectors concerning the exemp-
tion of musical instruments and of the provisions of
section 604 of the Revenue Act of 1924.
"This office appreciates your co-operation in this
matter, and ^ou are advised that proper steps will
be taken to see that all collectors of internal revenue
are furnished with correct information with respect
to the exemption provisions of the Revenue Act of
1924 in the case of musical instruments."
If further demand is made by Revenue Collectors
for the payment of the "jewelry tax" on musical
instruments, by members of the industry, they are
requested to communicate with the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce, 45 West Forty-fifth street,
New York City, so that the matter may be adjusted
through the Treasury Department.
One of the features of the tuners' convention, at
Hotel Wisconsin, Milwaukee, Wis., Aug. 11, will be
the showing of a film dealing with the construction
and delicate nature of the piano. The announcement
of this event was made by W. W. McClellan, secre-
tary of the National Association of Piano Tuners,
Inc., at his Chicago office this week.
The film will show the construction of the piano,
from the first step to its completion, and how each
part functions with other parts. The action will be
shown with a great deal of prominence, as it is one
of the fundamental parts of the instrument and one
which piano tuners come in contact with in the
course of their work.
The feature of the film, however, is in the illustra-
tion of the nature of the tension of the piano in cer-
tain climatic conditions. The expansion and con-
traction of the sounding board will be shown and the
effect of too much heat and too much cold and the
effect of humidity on the sounding board will be of
unusual interest to the attending tuners.
A FEW PERSONALS OF
THE STORY & CLARK CO.
F. E. Story Returns to Chicago Office from Wiscon-
sin Home and E. M. Love Leaves for Michigan.
F. E. Story, vice-president of the Story & Clark
Piano Co., returned to the Chicago office last week
from a vacation to his summer home at Green Lake,
Wis., which is located about thirty miles west of
Fond du Lac. Mr. Story will resume his duties as
active head of the Chicago office.
E. M. Love, secretary and treasurer of the com-
pany, has taken a leave of a month, which will be
spent at his summer residence at East Tawas Beach,
Mich. Mr. Love plans to return to Chicago about
Sept. 1.
R. A. Burke is making preparations for an exten-
sive road trip beginning in September.
DOLL & SONS GRAND IN
ESTATE OF VICTOR HERBERT
Interesting Fact Is Disclosed that Late Composer
Used Doll Piano in His Work.
It is an interesting fact that among the property
of the estate of the late Victor Herbert, celebrated
American composer, whose effects were sold at
public auction at his late residence, 321 West 108th
street, New York, by the Embassy Art & Auction
Galleries, Inc., there is a Doll & Sons Grand piano,
No. 24,210.
This Doll & Sons Grand was a cherished posses-
sion of the late eminent composer, and a prominent
feature of his music room for a number of years.
There is no doubt that some of the beautiful,
haunting melodies of Victor Herbert—melodies
which will live indefinitely, were composed with the
aid of the Doll & Sons Grand, which fhus was a
factor in the marvellous creative side of the com-
poser-musician, by many critics regarded the first
in his class in this country.
COMMON STOCK DIVIDEND
PIANOS IN LITIGATION
DECLARED BY GULBRANSEN CO.
SEIZED IN DISTRESS CASE
Alleged That Musical Instruments Are Being Ille-
gally Detained.
Alleging that pianos and phonographs were being
detained unlawfully, the Starr Piano Co. filed suit in
Kenton county, Kentucky, Circuit Court against
Edward Moss and Richard Edmonds of Covington
for damages and custody of the musical instruments.
It is further alleged that Edward Moss, a con-
stable, seized the instruments on a distress warrant
issued against Lloyd Kidwel, proprietor of the Kid-
wel Music Store, 710 Madison avenue, Covington,
and ordered them stored in a warehouse owned by
Edmonds.
Plaintiff asserts that the instruments are their prop-
erty and were placed by them in Kidwel's shop.
LEM KLINE SELLING "NORDLUNDS."
Lem Kline is on a trip for the Columbia Grand
Piano Co., of Chicago. He has established a good
demand for the little grand piano and dealers who
are handling it express themselves as well satisfied
in every way. Alex. Nordlund, head of the Chicago
small grand industry, has greatly improved his
instrument. It promises to win great favor, and
Mr. Kline has the credit of having been first to
introduce it to the trade more than a year ago.
FAILURE AT UTICA, N. Y.
The Boucher Piano Company of Utica, N. Y.,
filed a petition in bankruptcy on Wednesday of this
week with liabilities of $10,069 and assets of $5,503.
The house is an old one and has stood well in every
way. No cause for the failure is given.
Chas. J. White, at one time treasurer.of the old
Brockport Piano Co., at Brockport, N. Y., died on
the 22nd ult. He was the last of the Brockport Com-
pany, which included Messrs. Capen, Metcalf, Wit-
ney and others.
The Gulbransen Company has declare! a dividend
of 2 per cent on common stock, payable Aug. 15.
This announcement was made by President A. G.
Gulbransen following a meeting of the directors Mon-
day, Aug. 4. The payment of a common stock divi-
dent at this time reflects a splendid financial con-
dition and a steady business done by the Gulbransen
Company this year.
THE
W. P. HAINES & COMPANY
PIANOS
THE PIANOS OF QUALITY
Three Generations of Piano Makers
All Styles—Ready Sellers
Attractive Prices
GRANDS
REPRODUCING GRANDS
UPRIGHTS and PLAYERS
AVAILABLE TERRITORY OPEN
W. P. HAINES * CO, Inc.
lSSth St. and Waltoi AT*.
N.w York City
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
August 9, 1924.
state Commerce Commission from forcing the acts
of the senate and congress, which were passed al-
most unanimously, and have made the National
Council party to the suits.
They have carried their hearings all over the U.
S.—to Washington, Boston, Portland, Me., Chicago,
San Francisco—to all of which the council had to at-
An Admonition from Braunsweig and a Justi- tend or let the case g o b y default.
The railroad people could ride there on railroad
fiable Rebuke by a Prominent Piano Man
and Pullman passes, while the council attorney and
Who Detected Presto Taking Wrong
witnesses must pay the extortionate fares.
All of this, apparently, to exhaust the meagre re-
Side of the Fence.
sources of the council. I am sure if you knew these
things you would not have given publicity to the
statements above referred to, which must be mis-
leading, to say the least.
Just now the council is notified of a hearing to be
Eastern Representative of Haddorff Piano Co. Cor- held in St. Paul, which could just as well be held in
rects Mistaken Premise in Presto Article.
Washington or New York. But the point is the date,
which is August 26th—the date of the council's annual
New York, July 31. 1924.
Editor Presto: My attention was called to an arti- convention in New York. These annoying tactics are
Yours very truly,
cle in Presto of July 19th, giving statements from being used continually.
W. B. WILLIAMS.
E. L. Bevington, chairman of the Transcontinental
Passenger Association.
We think you can not have kept up with this fight
of the railroad resisting the removal of the only re-
maining war tax (which they have succeeded in di-
verting to their own treasury).
Letter from Grotian, Steinweg Nachf, Urging
In the first place the railroads give no service of
Against Confusion of Registered Trade
any kind for the 50 per cent they collect on the
Mark Names.
Pullman fares.
The statement that it amounts to one-third of
Editor Presto: It was with pleasure we noticed
one cent per mile needs scrutiny. For instance, the that you have published an article concerning our
distance from New York City to Washington, D. C , Quarter Tone Piano. We thank you for the inter-
is 225 miles. Pullman charge is $2.50, and the added est you show in this matter and perhaps it will be
surcharge is $1.25, making a total charge of $3.75. allowed to draw your kind attention to one point:
Has it occurred to you that practically all the
Our registered trade-mark is "Grotrian Steinweg,"
passengers who ride in Pullman cars are furnish- and not Steinweg only. The proprietors of our firm
ing additional business, so far as the regular fare are the two Messrs. Grotrian, who are the successors
is concerned, and that they do not furnish anything of Messrs. Steinweg. We are sending you this in-
in expense for coaches, as the Pullman company formation because another firm of a similar name is
does this?
The National Council of Traveling Salesmen is understanding amongst the public if our name is
the only organized body which has put the public's not written in the exact way. Therefore, we state
rights before the committees inquiring into these emphatically that we have not at least the intention
matters.
to have our products compared or confounded with
The council has been making a fight for years to any other make of the world. A "Grotrian Steinweg"
secure a mileage book, available to any citizen who instrument is a "Grotrian Steinweg," and cannot be
compared with other products because of its special
buys transportation wholesale.
The railroad companies have enjoined the Inter- character, which is not to be found in any other in-
strument throughout the world.
We should be very thankful to you for kindly pub-
lishing a short notice in this sense in your paper.
It has been with great interest that we took no-
tice of the other contents of your paper and enclosed
you will find price of subscription beginning with
August, 1924.
Yours faithfully,
GROTRIAN, S T E I N W E G NACHF.
TRADE LETTERS OF
UNUSUAL INTEREST
UNFAIR RAILROAD TACTICS
GERMAN QUARTER TONE PIANO
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.
Good Crops and Fair Prices Are Factors in
Stimulating Conditions and Piano Trade
Particularly.
The piano trade throughout the West made a no-
ticeable increase during the past month. Activity
along general business lines and big crops has
effected a r>ick-up in the piano trade and dealers are
elated over the welcome change.
The trade, which is rounding into line shape, has
also been a source of gratification to the manufac-
turers who are receiving many orders from the pro-
gressive western merchants and are filling them
promptly.
The changing condition is a result of the fine crops
of the farmers, and the opportunity to push the sale
of musical instruments was not overlooked by the
dealers, who immediately started a sales campaign to
revive the trade which unfortunately was at a stand-
still during the early summer months.
The report is made that the wheat crop, which is
already harvested, is the heaviest in several years.
The recent jump in wheat prices has brought pros-
perity to the farmer's door and that is of great sig-
nificance to the piano trade at the present time and
in the future.
The number of western dealers who have recently
availed themselves of the Chicago market prices indi-
cates that they are stocking up their warerooms in
anticipation of a greater demand for pianos. The
optimism among this category of dealers is character-
istic of their progressive attitude towards the buying
public.
The music dealers of Denver, Colo., are in the
midst of a piano sales campaign and the instrument
which occupied their warerooms during the early
summer have been disposed of and new orders have
been sent to headquarters.
SALE OF MUSIC STORE IS
THE BASIS OF LAW SUIT
Buyer Charges that Value of Stock Was Misrepre-
sented and Inventory Is Missing.
Tony Sandi, who recently purchased the E. F.
Watkins Music Store on Pearl street, Logansport,
Ind., has tiled suit in Circuit Court against Mr. Wat-
kins asking that he be given judgment of $1,000
against him, that the judgment be made a lien against
the 66-acre farm traded to Watkins in the deal
and that the farm be sojd to satisfy the judgment.
Mr. Sandi in the complaint alleges that he paid
$4,000 cash and traded in a 66-acre farm for the
stock of the store, and that Watkins misrepresented
the value of the stock and has failed to provide
a manufacturer's statement of its value as required
by the terms of purchase. The deal was made on
the 14th of July.
ijiardman
BRINKERHOFF
The Yardman Jzine
Player-Pianos
and Pianos
"Built on Family Pride"
The Line That Sells Easily
and Satisfies Always
Doll & Sons
BRINKERHOFF PIANO CO.
Represent the Artistic
in Piano and Player Piano
Construction
Tw
is a complete line
It comprises a range of artisti-
cally worthy instruments to
please practically every purse:
The Hardman, official piano of
the Metropolitan Opera House;
the Harrington and the Hensel
Pianos in which is found that in-
built durability thatcharacterizes
all Hardman-made instruments;
the wonderful Hardman Repro-
ducing Piano; the Hardman
Autotone (the perfect player-
piano); and the popular Playo-
tbne.
c
(, /
DEALERS REPORT BETTER
TRADE CONDITIONS
J
OFFICES, REPUBLIC BLDG.
209 State Street
The Sprinkle Piano Co., of Norfolk, Va., which
assigned for the benefit of creditors, had made the
mistake of adding furniture to its music business.
CHICAGO
Becker Bros.
JACOB DOLL & SONS
STODART
WELLSMORE
Manufacturer* of
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
Factory and Warerooms
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
Jacob Doll & Sons, Inc.
Southern Boulevard, E. 133rd St.
E. 134th St. and Cypress Ave.
NEW YORK
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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