Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1924 1992

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
PRESTO
E.tabli.hed ISU. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
IO Cent.; $2.00 a Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 27, 1924
NEW ENGLAND
WEEK OBSERVED
Six States Hold Celebration of Industrial Tri-
umphs and Boston Is Radiating Center
of Enthusiasm with Piano Men
Foremost in Spirit.
MUSIC TRADE ACTIVE
Members of New England Music Trades Association,
as a Body, and Individually, Take Notable
Part in Events.
Six states forming New England last week cele-
brated the industrial achievements which began in
Colonial days and continue to make that portion of
the United States busy and prosperous. It was
right in line with the purposes of the New England
Music Trades Association that it should enact a
prominent part in the observance of New England
Week. Piano factories, and retail piano warerooms
everywhere in New England participated in the
proud and joyous celebrations. Factory officials,
factory workers, piano travelers, tuners, repairmen
and salesmen increased their New England spirit
by favoring New England boiled dinners frequently
during the week, ate generously of the best pie in
the world and expressed a physical sympathy with
Boston by making beans and codfish part of the
menu on occasions.
Boston Foremost.
Boston of course was the hub of celebration during
New England week. Piano Row showed wayfarers
the big part that pianos take in giving industrial
prominence to New England. Special decorations
were typical of the occasion and the show windows
were admirably used in impressing the educational
facts about pianos, organs and other musical com-
modities made within the boundaries of the six
states. Veneers, leathers, ivory keys, stools, benches,
scarfs, covers, varnishes and other requirements for
the piano industry, all made in New England, were
shown as parts of the piano house exhibits that drew
eyes to the show windows along Boylston, Tremont,
and other streets.
The Poole Product.
The Poole Piano Company showed participation in
the New England Week proceedings by special ex-
terior and interior decorations and Ava W. Poole,
president of the company, was active in stimulating
the efforts of the trade association towards a success-
ful celebration. The Poole piano has been typical
of the characteristic New England purpose to produce
high quality goods. The history of the Poole Piano
Co., and its participation in the ambitious industrial
efforts of New England were eloquently told in the
exhibit of Poole pianos, grands, uprights, players and
reproducing pianos shown in the factory showrooms
in Cambridge.
Hallet & Davis' Part.
Since the Hallet & Davis Piano Company was es-
tablished in 1839 the Hallet & Davis piano has re-
flected credit upon New England industries and upon
the American field of piano making as well. Natur-
ally the new daylight factory at Neponset, Mass.,
should be represented in the week's displays and the
pianos made therein prominent objects in displays in
music stores in Boston and elsewhere.
Vose Men Helped.
The forward movement of the Vose & Sons Piano
Co., Boston, since it was established close to three
quarters of a century ago, has been of the typical
New England kind that the section is justified in
glorifying. In a part of the country where big and
admirably conducted industries are numerous, the
Vose Company and its wonderful new plant in
Watertown, Greater Boston, stands out in a promi-
nent way that evokes the attention of proud New
Englanders. Willard A. Vose, president, and D. D.
Luxton, vice-president, were among the active busi-
ness men who helped to create the wide interest that
made the New England Week a success, but they
might present the Vose plant and Vose piano tri-
umphs as convincing object lessons in teaching the
world about New England industrial supremacy.
Mason & Hamlin's Part.
It was a pleasant coincidence that the remodeling
plans on the new Mason & Hamlin wareroom at
146 Boylston street were removed in time to make
the new facade finished in bronze, a part of the New
England Week celebration. The timely removal of
the large wooden framework showed the new display
window with the name of Mason & Hamlin promi-
nently displayed.
The Mason & Hamlin Co., is another distinguished
piano house which has convincingly associated Bos-
ton and New England with the production of the
finest type of pianos and it was no surprise that New
England Week speakers in many parts of the six
proud states pointed with pride to the Mason &
Hamlin Co. as a typical industry of the energetic sec-
tion. The company has been making New England
proud since 1854, the year of its founding.
Notable Historic Display.
A notable Boston display in connection with New
England Week was that of Chickering & Sons at the
Tremont street retail warerooms. It was a com-
parison exhibition which showed Chickering piano
history since the founding of the company in 1823.
The Chickering piano dating back a hundred years
was something that New England Week speakers at
municipal celebrations and school lectures particu-
larly singled out to illustrate the excellences of the
products of the section.
Heriry F. Miller's Part.
A convincing New England Week exhibit in B-os-
ton showing the supremacy of that section in the
manufacture of pianos was that of the Henry F.
Miller Store Co.'s array of Henry F. Miller uprights,
grands and playerpianos. The Continental Piano Co.,
of which the Henry F. Miller Stores Co. is the retail
distributor in Boston, can point with pride to the
Henry F. Miller piano's asset of deserved promi-
nence in the industrial productions of New England.
From the first the ambition of the makers was to
make the Henry F. Miller piano one of high attain-
ments. Pride in the instrument was shown by dealers
throughout New England last week.
Effects of Estey Organ.
The Estey Organ Co., Brattleboro, Vt., has an
emblem, "Seventy-eight Years of Success," which last
week might be made to read, "Seventy-eight Years of
Effort to Make New England Industrially Greater."
For over three quarters of a' century the Estey organ
has been a big factor for the encouragement of
music in and out of the six states which so proudly
celebrated the perpetuation of successful manufactur-
ing. The Estey organ has been satisfying musical
desires for a great many years and carrying the man-
ufacturing fame of New England near and far in
America and distant places abroad. The Estey Organ
Co. has been making the name of Estey on an organ
the synonym of musical satisfaction.
In Boston last week C. E. Briggs, manager of the
Estey Studios in the Park Square Building had a
celebration which provided most satisfying proof that
the Estey organ has been a highly appreciated object
in churches, schools and homes throughout the coun-
try in the past seventy-eight years, thereby daily
bringing honor to New England.
The Week in Ivoryton, Mass.
Ivoryton, Mass., is a town qualified to feel the
thrill of pride during a week devoted to telling the
world about New England's industrial prominence.
Note that the world needs to be reminded of the
place possessing one of the most interesting indus-
tries in the six states—Comstock, Cheney & Co., ivory
cutters and manufacturers of commodities essential
to the music trade. Few New England industries are
as widely known as the company named, and the
unique character of its products makes it of general
interest to people in and out of New England and
of particular interest to piano trade folk everywhere.
Knowing the extent and high character of the
products of Comstock, Cheney & Co. is knowing an
important unit in the sum of New England's indus-
trial greatness. All over the country are piano man-
ufacturers, piano dealers, salesmen, tuners and re-
pair men to whom Ivoryton suggests dependable
ORGAN CENSUS FIGURES
ARE INTERESTING
Government Return Also Gives Comparative
Figures of 1923 and 1921 in Recent
Report.
The Department of Commerce announces that, ac-
cording to data collected at the biennial census of
manufacturers, 1923, the establishments engaged pri-
marily in the manufacture of pipe and reed organs
reported for that year an output of 1,465 pipe organs,
valued at $8,335,091, and 5,641 reed organs, valued
at $389,970, together with other products and repairs
to the value of $867,500, making a total of $9,592,561,
a decrease of 5.8 per cent as compared with $10,184
in 1921, the last preceding census year.
In addition, 236 pipe organs, valued at $1,307,656,
and 2,131 reed organs, valued at $148,644, were re-
ported by establishments engaged primarily in the
manufacture of pianos. Thus the total production of
organs in 1923 was as follows: pipe organs, 1,701,
valued at $9,642,747, and reed organs, 7,772, valued at
$538,614.
Of the 58 establishments reporting for 1923, 12
were located in New York, 8 in Illinois, 6 in Massa-
chusetts, 5 each in California, Ohio, and Pennsyl-
vania, 4 in Wisconsin, 3 in New Jersey, and the
remaining 10 in Connecticut, District of Columbia,
Kansas, Kentucky, Maryland, Missouri, Vermont and
Virginia.
• The statistics for 1923 and 1921 are summarized in
the statement published. The figures for 1923 are
preliminary and subject tb such correction as may be
found necessary upon further examination of the
returns.
The number of establishments in 1923 was 58 com-
pared to 56 in 1921. In 1923 the wage-earners, not
including salaried employees and firm members, num-
bered 1,928. In 1921 it was 2,346. The wages paid
in 1923 were $2,661,004; in 1921 they were $3,342,795.
But contract work was $18,253 in 1923 compared with
$6,985 in 1921.
The total value of the organ products in 1923 was
$9,592,561. Organs numbered 7,106, of which 1,406
were pipe and 5,641 were reed. In 1921 the number
of organs was 5,532, of which 1,300 were pipe and
4,232 reed.
FORMS SALES FORCE.
Roy S. Dunn, a former piano traveler, will repre-
sent the new radio organization for the distribution
of radio material to music merchants known as the
Music Trade Radio Corp., located at 328 North Mich-
igan avenue, Chicago, in the state of Wisconsin.
J. E. Gerlick, another well-known piano man, will
travel Indiana, and Fred Aylesworth, a prominent
talking machine man, will travel the state of Illinois.
The company will distribute the Zenith radio among
other radio commodities.
GOLF GAME FOR ANNIVERSARY.
A. Hospe, head of the A. Hospe Company, Omaha,
Neb., will provide a golf tournament for his trafle
friends who will attend the golden anniversary of the
founding of the Omaha house on October 23. A
special car has been engaged for the Chicago con-
tingent, which, headed by Matt J. Kennedy, secretary
of the National Association of Music Merchants, will
arrive in Omaha on October 22.
SPEAKERS AT PIANO CLUBS.
At the Chicago Piano Club's annual meeting and
dinner at the Edgewater Beach hotel Wednesday
night, Oct. 8, Fred P. Watson, president of the Illi-
nois Music Merchants' Association and Rexford C.
Hyre, secretary of the Ohio State Association, have
accepted invitations to be present and to each give a
short talk.
things essential to their business. They do not need
a special week to glorify New England's industries;
they do so every time they think of the Ivoryton
company which furnishes piano keys, actions and
hammers.
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/
September 27, 1924.
PRESTO
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, or
Other Subjects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
writer in order to receive attention. Answers thought
to be of general trade interest will be published. If an
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro-
vided stamp is, inclosed.
AUTOMATIC CARDBOARD.
Amsterdam, Holland, September 3rd, 1924.
Editor Presto: I would be much obliged to you if
you would be so kind to let me have some addresses
of manufacturers of mechanical organs, as I am in
a position to make an advantageous offer for card-
board to be utilized for these organs.
C. G. A. CORVEY.
Some of the automatic, or mechanical organ indus-
tries of this country are as follows:
American Photo Player Co., San Francisco, Calif.;
Frank Beman, Binghamton, N. Y.; Lyon & Healy,
Wabash avenue and Adams street, Chicago; Mol-
linari & Sons, 112 32nd street, Brooklyn, N. Y.; Mar-
quette Piano Co., 2439 Wallace street, Chicago; Na-
tional Electric Piano Co., St. Johnsville, N. Y.; Oper-
ators Piano Co., 715 North Kedzie avenue, Chicago;
J. P. Seeburg Co., 419 West Erie street, Chicago;
Nelson-Wiggen Piano Co., 224 North Sheldon street,
Chicago; Rudolph Wurlitzer Co., Cincinnati, Ohio;
Gabel's Entertainer Co., 210 North Ann street, Chi-
cago; Mills Novelty Co., Jackson boulevard and
Green street, Chicago, 111.
While there are still more, the industries named are
among the foremost.
*
*
•
THE BACON PIANO.
Kiawa, Kans., Sept. 19, 1924.
Editor Presto: I would like to know if the Francis
Bacon Piano Co. is, or is not, controlled by some
concern other than Francis Bacon Co.
S. CHAPMAN.
The Francis Bacon piano is manufactured by a
thoroughly reliable and responsible industry of New
York City. While it is true that the Bacon Piano
Co. may be controlled by the same interests that
own other strong industries, its production is indi-
vidual and the instrument is characterized by quali-
ties peculiarly "Bacon."
A very interesting article touching on the subject
of the Bacon Piano appears in the October number
of the monthly publication, "Musical Times," to
which we refer you. Also see PRESTO BUYERS'
GUIDE, pages 17 and 140.
* * *
THE ADJUSTABLE KEY.
Hastings, Nebr., September 19, 1924.
Editor Presto: I hear a great deal of the adjustable
piano key. Will you please inform me if this key
is being manufactured; also the inventor's name and
address?
• . R. L. MAY.
While we are not certain that we understand
whether or not you have reference to a movable key-
board or a device used for regulating keys, we as-
sume that the latter is what you asked about.
An adjustable keyboard device is owned by the
Apollo Piano Co. of De Kalb, 111., or its manager.
It is a patented device and so far as we know, the
only other manufacturer using it for adjusting the
keyboards of new pianos is the Schumann Piano Co.,
of Rockford, 111.
* * *
AN OLD "LOUD" PIANO.
Iowa City, Iowa, September 15, 1924.
Editor Presto: One of my customers has recently
come into the possession of a very old piano. From
what I have gathered, it is one of the earlier pianos
of the square type. It is made by Loud Brothers, of
Philadelphia, dated Nov. 1, 1832, and, according to
the owner, is called a "gold string stencil" piano.
A part of the lower treble and bass strings might be
called gold strings, having that color. It is not a
heavy instrument, since it can be easily carried by
two men. It has about six octaves.
The owner would like to have the instrument put
back in playing condition. To do this it w T ill be nec-
essary to replace some of the strings. I am applying
to you for information as to where strings of this
material and weight can be obtained. The strings are
rather light and too brittle a string might result in
an inferior tone. Also the owner would appreciate
any information you may have concerning the manu-
facturers of this piano.
HAROLD J. HEBBELN.
The old piano was, in all probability, made by
Loud Brothers, of Philadelphia at the time mentioned
in your letter. A firm of that name existed as far
back as 1825 and continued for a great many years.
Mr. Robt. Loud, who conducted a piano wareroom
in Philadelphia until very recently, and we believe
that the store is still in existence, succeeded to the
name and fame of the old industry. The so-called
"gold strings" have been common from the first—
the copper wound base strings.
About putting the instrument back into condition,
we suggest that any good tuner may be able to do
that or, if the owner cares to ship the instrument to
the Piano Repair Shop, 339 South Wabash avenue,
Chicago, without doubt the work could be done as
satisfactorily as could be possible with an instrument
of that age. Of course nothing better than the tinkling
tone of the ancient piano scale could be expected,
at best.
* * *
"WALTHAM" AND "WING."
Rockvale, Col., Sept. 15, 1924.
Editor Presto: I have a letter from Wing & Son,
New York, that their attention was called to an in-
quiry I wrote to the Editor of Presto regarding their
pianos and another according to "PRESTO BUY-
ERS' GUIDE." I find you commend the Waltham
piano about which I asked. Instead, this letter
from Wing & Son gives me to understand that trade
papers recommend pianos according to the money
paid in advertisements.
This letter also states as to comparison, that
Wing & Son's low-price Style 19 piano is as good as
most expensive pianos the other house has to offer
but, of course, they allow us to decide.
Also please let me know if difference of climate
would affect a piano bought of Waltham Piano Co.,
as altitude here is 5560 ft.
I am taking your recommendation of Waltham
pianos.
J O H N B. SCAVARDA.
What you say about the New York industry and
its judgment of the trade papers is neither new nor
impressive. If it were true it might be important,
however, but it isn't. In short while we know
little of the methods of other trade papers, in our
line, it is certainly not true that our judgments are
influenced by any advertising stipulations, and were
the terrible charge true we couldn't live very long
on what the Waltham manufacturers pay for adver-
tising in Presto. We told you plainly that the Wing
& Son piano is a reliable one, as is also the Waltham.
If we have reasons for preferring one of these instru-
ments to the other, that does not mean that we are
discriminating either way, and our judgments need
not be accepted as against the assurances of manu-
facturers themselves.
If you have bought a Waltham we believe you will
be satisfied; if a Wing, ditto. And you asked about
no others. We do not believe that the high altitude
will have any special effect upon the instrument—
not more than upon any other well-made piano.
* * *
USED PIANO HOUSE.
O'Neill, Nebf., September 16, 1924.
Editor Presto: Please send us one PRESTO BUY-
ERS' GUIDE, which lists all the different standard
instruments and their makers.
We would also like to get the name and address
of the company at Brooklyn, N. Y., that wholesales
used pianos. They claim to be the only company in
the United States that do this. We have had their
name and address but have lost it.
A. E. BOWEN.
The wholesale dealers in second hand pianos to
whom you allude are Hill & Son, 909 Hart street,
Brooklyn, N. Y. But there are many other con-
cerns who supply their customers with used instru-
ments. We suggest that The Cable Piano Co., Chi-
cago, sometimes have a surplus stock; also Lyon &
Healy, Chicago.
We assume that you carry a good stock of new
instruments. They are the ones that build business
and win profits, of course.
The price of PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE is 50c.
Just now we are presenting a copy without charge to
new subscribers to PRESTO at $2.00 per year.
* * *
WANTS RADIO LINE.
Mangum, Okla., Sept. 16, 1924.
Editor Presto: I am in the music business here
and I have been informed you could give me the
name of the best radio line for me to handle. I
want a line that will handle the paper on machines
sold on credit.
J. H. DOOLEN, Mgr.
The radio industry has developed so rapidly that it
isn't easy to advise as to the "best" line to handle.
Good ones are as follows:
Freshman Company, 106 Seventh avenue, New
York; Philmore Mfg. Co., 105 Chambers street, New
York; Radio Industries Corp., 131 Duane street, New
York; Zenith Mfg. Company, McCormick Bldg., Chi-
cago; Yaxley Mfg. Co., 217 Desplaines street, Chi-
cago; Brunswick-Balke-Calender Co., Chicago; Eagle
Radio Co., Newark, N. J.; Crosley Mfg. Co., Cin-
cinnati, Ohio; Operadio Corp., Chicago; Triangle
Radio Co., 120 West 23rd street, New York. The
list is becoming endless. Perhaps the better way
would be to write to Lyon & Healy, or to the Cable
Company, both of Chicago.
* * *
A CALL FROM JAPAN.
Kobe, Japan, August 27th, 1924.
Editor Presto: Kindly send us a ocpy of your
publication together with annual foreign subscription
rate. What American music instruments are good
for export?
T H E MUTUAL TRADERS, INC.
The subscription price to P R E S T O is $4.00 per
year, to foreign countries, for which sum we also
send a copy of P R E S T O BUYERS' GUIDE, the
book which analyzes all American pianos. Presto
ftself answers your question fully.
OPENS IN SPARTANBURG, S. C.
A branch store of the S. W. Gardner Music Co.,
Inc., of Gastonia, N. C, has been opened on Morgan
square, Spartanburg, S. C. Demonstration booths for
phonographs have been constructed in the new store,
which also handles pianos and sheet music.
A GULBRANSEN DEALER.
G. S. Stark, of the Stark Piano Co., Belling-
ham, Washington, came east this week to place his
son, Lawrence, in St. John's Military Academy at
Delafield, Wisconsin. Thursday he tailed at the big
Gulbransen factories, leaving Chicago the same day
to make the return trip.
PIANO MAN IN PARIS.
Lionel Tompkins gave an interesting talk at the
Piano Club Monday-illustrating his descriptions of
Paris and Paris life, with moving pictures taken by
himself with his little "movie camera." His talk
was unusually interesting and instructive.
MOVES IN ARKANSAS.
The Bensberg Music Co., now in Smackover, Ark.,
was formerly located in Stephens, in the same state.
The firm has leased a store in a prominent position
opposite the Post Office. W. W. McAnulty is man-
ager of the new branch.
r
"' fflardman
The ^Hardman <£me
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-
builtdurabilitythatcharacterizes
all Hardman-made instruments;
the wonderful Hardman Repro-
ducing Piano; the Hardman
Autotone (the perfect player-
piano); and the popular Playo-
tone.
^fiardmanfpeck &Co,
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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