Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
PRESTO
EttabliMhed 1884.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
iO Cents; f2.00 a Year -
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, OCTOBER 4, 1924
TRAGIC DEATH OF
ERNEST KNABE
Former Head of Old Baltimore Piano Indus-
try Died of Monoxide Gas Poisoning in
His Garage at His Home in
Baltimore.
AMERICAN PIANO CO. HEAD
His Wife Had Passed Away the Day Preceding
and the Late Piano Man Had Long Been
Out of the Industry.
One of the most startling deaths associated with
men of the piano industry was that of Ernest J.
Knabe, whose body was found in the garage of his
home, in Baltimore, on Saturday last, September
27th. The circumstances surrounding Mr. Knabe's
' ERNEST J. KNABE.
death were peculiarly pathetic. His wife had died
the day before, in a Baltimore hospital. It was but
a few hours thereafter that the former piano manu-
facturer's body was found beside, his automobile,
which he seemed to have been preparing for a trip to
meet his daughter, who was expected from her home
in Dayton, Ohio, that they might arrange details for
his wife's funeral.
Body Found by Gardener.
When he did not appear with the automobile with-
in a reasonable time the gardener was sent to investi-
gate. When the gardener threw open the garage
door he was driven back by stifling gas. When he
entered the engine was still running.
A call was sent for a resuscitating apparatus and
the physicians found Mr. Knabe dead. Naturally
considering the circumstances rumors were started.
Mr. and Mrs. Knabe are survived by a daughter,
and three grandchildren, and his brother, William
Knabe, of New York, who is equally well known in
the piano trade.
Double funeral services for Mr. and Mrs. Knabe
were conducted on Monday last by the Rev. Dr. H.
P. Almon Abbott, rector of Grace and St. Peter's
Protestant Episcopal Church.
Ernest Knabe, grandson of William Knabe 1st,
founder of the firm of William Knabe & Co., piano
manufacturers, with his brother, William Knabe 2nd,
acquired control of the business three years after
the death of his father, Ernest J. Knabe, Sr., in 1894.
When the company was absorbed in the big piano
merger which resulted in the- birth of the American
Piano Company he became president of that cor-
poration. He resigned in 1909, and until recently
was president of the William Wilkens Company, chair
manufacturers, in Baltimore.
Born in Baltimore.
Born in Baltimore July 7, 1869, Mr. Knabe received
his early education at Scherb's German School, at
that time located on Gay street, near Lexington, and
reputed to be one of the finest schools of its kind
in the south. He then spent three years as a student
at the Baltimore City College, going thence to the
Pennsylvania Military College, where he was gradu-
ated in 1886 with the degree of bachelor of science.
He aspired to become a mining engineer. His
father, however, apprenticed him to a leading cabinet-
maker of Baltimore. In this capacity he earned $2
a week and began his business career. After a nine-
month apprenticeship he was taken into the Knabe
piano factory as a common laborer. Here he learned
every detail of piano making. In 1892 he was made
superintendent of the plant.
Soon Acquired Business.
When his father died in 1894, Charles Keidel, Sr.,
became president of the company. He held this post
until 1897 when Mr. Knabe and his brother bought
out his interest in the business'and acquired control.
Mr. Knabe is said to have been the first Balti-
morean to purchase an automobile—an electric-driven
car referred to at the time as a horseless carriage.
He traveled abroad extensively, was a patron of art
and music, and a member of many clubs including
motor and yachting organizations. For many years
it was his custom to have musical recitals at his
home with only his friends as. guests. At such re-
citals were heard Ysaye, Satfer, Hambourg, Tschai-
kowsky, Grunefeld, Scharwenka, Schumann-Heink,
Sliviski, von Buelow, Nikisch and others equally fa-
mous.
After leaving the American Piano Co., Mr. Knabe
went to Cincinnati, and, with his brother William,
organized the Knabe Brothers Company, taking over
the old Smith & Nixon Piano Co., with a new fac-
tory at Norwood, a suburb of the Ohio city. There
a very fine line of instruments was made until lack
of capital forced failure and the business was bought
by the Morrison & Waters Piano Company. That
industry was in turn disposed of because of the im-
possibility of producing pianos bearing a name so
similar to the leader of the American Piano Co. Mr.
Knabe soon thereafter entered the ordnance depart-
ment at Washington, where he remained until after
the world war.
Ernest Knabe was considered one of the most
expert of American piano manufacturers. He was a
scientific scale draughtsman, and to his skill the one-
time fine character of the Knabe piano was attributed.
He was an affable gentleman, modest of his attain-
ments and as generous as he was broad of mind.
BALTIMORE HOUSE FINDS
READY "TONK" SALES
Hildebrandt & Sons Overcome Competition with the
Famous Pianos from New York City.
Albert Hildebrandt, sole proprietor of the old and
well known firm of C. H. Hildebrandt & Son, 417
St. Paul's Place, Baltimore, Md., recently sold two
Tonk Grands to influential prospects. One to the
editor of the Baltimore Sun, and the other to the
Sparrows Point high school. The sales were made
in spite of considerable competition, establishing the
fact that the Tonk was sold purely on its merits.
Mr. Hildebrandt himself is a musician of no mean
ability. The Sparrows Point school is an institution
of high standing and influence, the faculty of which
includes musicians of discrimination. Naturally the
house of Hildebrandt considers the two sales'referred
to in the light of a victory for the Tonk piano and
in this they have plenty of company in other music
centers throughout the, country.
PLANS FOR MEET
IN SPRINGFIELD
Exhibits of Music Goods Are Among Prom-
ised Attractions for the Third Annual
Convention of the Illinois Music Mer-
chants' Association Oct. 6 and 7.
BIG PROGRAM INSTRUCTIVE
But Events of a Social Character Will Vary the
Doings Next Week at the Leland
Hotel.
Big plans that insure the greatest convention in
the history of the Illinois Music Merchants' Asso-
ciation have been perfected for the third annual meet-
ing at the Leland Hotel, Springfield, October 6 and
7. Apart from the fraternal character of the conven-
tion of Illinois men of the music trades it will be
of the instructive character that carries out the main
purposes of the organization.
Fred P. Watson, president, and his able associates
among the officers and in the executive committee,
have taken a personal interest in the success of the
convention next week in.Springfield and their joint
and individual efforts now seem assured of a largely
attended meeting.
In a message this week President Watson pointed
out the attractive business program which included
many men prominent in the Illinois music trade.
"While it does not show many nationally known
speakers, to those of us who are acquainted in the
state, it seems pretty well balanced with dealers
who are to assist in making this a businesslike, con-
structive convention, as well as an interesting one,"
said Mr. Watson.
"The topics chosen for discussion by questionnaires
mailed to our members were, in their order, selected
as follows: Collections, Overhead, Selling Terms,
Interest on Time Sales, Credits, Advertising.
"In addition to the above topics, those that seemed
next in importance were, as indicated from the ques-
tionnaire answers: Trade-Ins, Nationally Priced
Goods, Mark up Percentage of Profit, Co-operative
Insurance.
"There were two or three important topics that
were left out of our questionnaire which will no
doubt be talked upon. The Selling of Radio, Ethics,
Successful Selling of Records and Rolls, Price Main-
tenance, The General Selling Game, and one or two
others."
Among prominent trade personages invited and
expected to be present are: W. W. Smith, the new
president of the National Association of Music Mer-
chants; Otto Grau, president of the Ohio Music Mer-
chants' Association; Robert N. Watkin, and J. Edwin
Butler, past presidents of the National Association
of Music Merchants; John McKenna, president of the
Piano Club of Chicago; Charles Deutschmann, presi-
dent of the Piano Tuners' Association, the president
of the Music Teachers' Association, C. J. Cunning-
ham, president of the National Piano Travelers' As-
sociation, and Matt J. Kennedy, secretary of the
National Association of Music Merchants.
Expect Many Exhibits.
Assurances of attendance have been received from
a number of the presidents and other representatives
of music goods manufacturing establishments, many
of whom have taken especial interest in the Illinois
Music Merchants Association. Invitations have gone
to the majority of the manufacturers and wholesalers
to be present or send a representative, and make ex-
hibits if they desire.,
It is the desire and expectation of the officers that
the convention will be different from others in that
the members and dealers are going to be urged to
take active part in the discussion of the topics
selected, as shown by the program.
O. F. Anderson, of the Anderson Piano Company,
Springfield, and the chairman of the Convention
Committee, will be very glad to assist intending visi-
tors in making reservations for space or hotel accom-
modations.
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/