PRESTO
December 20, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells 9 t
THREE generations of Christmans
* have made the Christman Piano
what it is today—one of the world's
truly great pianos.
FINE TRIBUTE TO GEORGE
BURT FROM CANADA
Trade Story Recalls Part Newman Bros.'
Superintendent Played in First Factory of
Williams Piano Co., Ltd., Oshawa.
The recent celebration of the seventh-fifth anniver-
sary of the foundry of Williams Piano Co., Ltd.,
Oshawa, Canada, recalled incidents in the progress of
the factory in which George Burt, now in charge of
the plant of Newman Bros., Chicago, was the first
superintendent.
Mr. Burt's activities in the Williams Piano Co. are
recounted in a flattering way in the report of the
Studio Grand
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
the most satisfactory both in imme-
diate profits and in building more
business.
, i
Many More Dealers Have
Arranged to Start the New
Year with the Entire Line of
CHRISTMAN
Players and Pianos
"The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U. S. Pat. Off.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
EXTRA! EXTRA! HERE'S YOUR
LATEST PIANO CLUB NEWS
Very Latest News Is the "News," First and Only
"Organ" of Any Piano Club.
The first journal devoted exclusively to a piano
club came out this week. It is the "Piano Club Now
Organized to Promote Music," and the first column
is the "Deep Stuff," by Ed. Davis. The deep stuff is
really good stuff, and it has appeared from week to
week in Presto. Old Doc Bundesen's portrait shines
on the front page, and the whole of the second is de-
voted to the official roster of the club.
There are "notes"—none past due—pertaining to
members of the club and the blessed "trade press."
Then this gossipy item:
"Each oat-going president takes his gavel with
him and each year Phil Boiler presents the new
president with a beautiful new gavel, which is a work
of art."
The back page tells "why you should spend $10
and join the Piano Club—a first-class reason. The
application blank, all ready to fill in, with check
pinned securely, is also there. Harry B. Bibb is
custodian of the cash and Presto gives to it the O. K.,
including the b.f. assertion that, "The only way to
have a friend is to be one."
The Famous
(only 5 ft. long)
This dainty little instrument is pre-
ferred by many of the foremost piano
houses and by its remarkable beauty
of design and tone quality it remains
the favorite w i t h discriminating
customers.
piano salesrooms as elaborate as modern ingenuity
can devise.
The enterprise of the old Chicago piano house just
described marks one of the important changes in
Chicago's piano row and suggests the gradual move-
ment of business northward. There are many who
believe that many more stores in other lines will
follow the trend, and that the already impressive
business part of Michigan boulevard will soon blos-
som into the most imposing retail thoroughfare in the
world. It is in some respects matching New York's
new piano row in 57th street near Fifth avenue.
GEORGE BURT.
anniversary proceedings. In 1889 a large addition
was built to the John Hall agricultural implement
factory in Oshawa, and the whole equipped for the
manufacture of pianos. Robert Williams, who was
head of the firm, looked about for the man for first
superintendent.
He picked George Burt, a practical piano man, who
trained many apprentices, a number of whom are still
with the Williams organization, and among whom are
many who have gone out to take important positions
in other piano plants throughout Canada and the
United States.
The Williams Piano Co., Ltd., was founded in 1849
by the late R. S. Williams, who began business in
Kingston. In 1850 he removed to Hamilton, and two
years later "he came to Toronto, and established a
s'.ore for the repair of pianos and organs on Yonge
street, just above Queen street. Not long afterwards,
Mr. Williams bought property at 143 Yonge street,
where in addition to repair work, manufacturing was
carried on. The manufacturing of square pianos and
melodeons required more room than the Yonge street
premises provided, so the Williams business moved
to a small factory on Hayter street. The manufac-
turing business some time later removed to Oshawa.
STORY & CLARK PIANO CO.
WILL MOVE IN THE SPRING
Old Chicago House Buys New Building on
Michigan Boulevard and Will Soon
Take Possession.
One of the important items of news in the piano
trade this week was the purchase by the Story &
Clark Piano Company, of a prominently located
building on Michigan avenue, the Fifth avenue of
Chicago. The Story & Clark Piano Co. has been at
its present location, 317 South Wabash avenue, for
a good many years, and before taking possession of
its present building was on the same street and block,
almost directly across on the west side of the avenue.
The new location is at 173 North Michigan boule-
vard, a short distance from Randolph street and just
two blocks from the famous Link Bridge over to the
North Side, where Chicago's most beautiful business
buildings tower skyward.
The Story & Clark Piano Co. purchased the build-
ing for $525,000. The building is a new one, and the
piano company will occupy the entire structure. The
moving will take place next spring and, when com-
pleted, the new location will be one of the finest
piano establishments in the world. Nearly $50,000
will be expended in interior decorations to make the
SEARS, ROEBUCK CHAIN OF
RETAIL STORES LAUNCHED
First Unit to Be Opened in Chicago by Big Mail
Order House.
Plans for the launching of a chain of retail stores
by Sears, Roebuck & Co., Chicago, the mail order
house, which handles a line of pianos, phonographs
and radio, were announced this week by C. M. Kittle,
president of the company.
The first store of the chain will be opened in Chi-
cago about February 2, and will be housed in the
Merchandise Building, at Homan avenue and Arthing-
ton street. It will be operated as a department store.
An entire block across from the establishment will
be reserved as parking space for automobile shoppers.
Other stores will be opened later by the company
in Philadelphia, Dallas, and Seattle. It is estimated
bby Mr. Kittle that through the operation of the
stores the number of customers now served by cata-
logue sales will be increased from 9,000,000 to
12,000,000.
PIANIST WRITES APPRECIATION
LETTER ABOUT INSTRUMENT
Washington, Pa., Music House Receives Gratifying
Evidence of Result of Its Courtesy.
Ben Reynolds & Co., of Washington, Pa., received
a letter from Stewart Wille, pianist, who recently
appeared in that city with Rhys Morgan, the noted
Welsh tenor, in a benefit concert for the Washington
Hospital. Mr. Wille enjoys a wide reputation as an
accompanist and is a judge of pianos. His letter
follows:
"Steubenville, Ohio, December 12, 1924.
"Gentlemen: The first opportunity I have had to
write you, but it is better late than never, for what
I want to tell you, how much I appreciate your cour-
tesy in sending the beautiful little Haines Grand
piano for me to use in Mr. Morgan's recital last
Monday evening.
"The beauty and size of the tone in the piano sur-
prised Mr. Morgan and me. A piano of that size has
a severe test to go through when it is used in con-
cert, but the Haines you sent me came through that
test with flying colors.
"Again let me thank you for your courtesy and I
hope when I return to Washington I may be able to
do some comparison playing with my 'Ampico' rec-
ords for you.
'
"With my best good wishes for the continued suc-
cess in your fine pianos, I am,
"Most sincerely,
(Signed) "STEWART W I L L E . "
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