Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2010

January 31, 1925.
PRESTO
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells"
If You Have Started
the Year with
NEW STORY & CLARK
HOME IS DESCRIBED
January Issue of Story & Clark House Organ
Contains Interesting Facts About Pur-
chase on North Michigan.
A general announcement of the new move made
by the Story & Clark Co., 315 South Wabash avenue,
Chicago, in purchasing a beautiful new home on
North Michigan avenue, was made in the January
issue of the Story Book, which has this to say about
the conveniences of the building:
For many, many years Story & Clark have been
located in the heart of Chicago's "loop" in the midst
Studio Grand
(only 5 ft. long)
You are sure to build your business?
larger and better. There is no other
like it.
From plain Upright to the phenomenal
NEW STORY & CLARK BUILDING.
Reproducing Grand
These artistic instruments present
Special Advantages for any Dealer
or Salesman.
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.
Christ man Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
POOLE PIANOS FOR
AUSTRALIAN COLLEGE
C. J. Graf, California Dealer, Fills Order for
Fine Instruments for widely Known Mis-
sionary School.
More testimony from abroad for Poole pianos has
been received by the Poole Piano Co., Boston,
through C. J. Graf, a Pacific Coast representative of
the fine line. Mr. Graf, whose store is in Loma
Linda, Calif., received an order for several Poole
instruments to be shipned to Australia for use in the
Australian Missionary College located at New Castle,
New South Wales, Australia.
The Australian Missionary College is conducted by
the Seventh Day Adventist denomination. Its pri-
mary purpose is to train missionaries, and its gradu-
ates go into all parts of the Orient and the islands
of the Pacific to engage in missionary work. The
president of the college is Lynn Wood, who was
formerly president of the Southern Junior College
of Oo'tewah, Tenn.
That the manner, of conducting this college is of
(he highest order is widely known and its existence
for a noble cause has been strongly evidenced. It has
become well known to those who have interested
themselves in missionary work, and to those in par-
ticular will it be pleasing to learn that a piano of
high quality reputation such as the Poole has held
from its introduction to the American piano industry
over thirty years ago, a high place in the opinion of
the trade and of musical folk at home and abroad.
The favor of the college authorities for the Poole
indicates the important part that music plays in
missionary work.
The Poole Piano Company should naturally feel
proud in this latest addition to a long list of institu-
tions that have selected its instruments, and likewise
in having representatives such as Mr. Graf, who
from personal knowledge of piano construction and
piano values desires to and does recommend the
Poole where high quality will receive its just con-
sideration.
The Famous .
CHRISTMAN
completed is now being handsomely decorated, and
when decorated will be the most artistic piano house
in Chicago.
1924 saw the opening of a new store in New York—
a store so beautiful in both architectural design and
interior decoration that the whole musical world ad-
mired it, and is still talking of its beauties. 1925
will see the opening of the new Story & Clark store
in Chicago, and it, too, will be a home of beauty and
distinction.
of busy Piano Row. For many years Story & Clark
have been identified with the growth of Chicago, and
as Chicago has grown, Story & Clark, too, have
grown and expanded their business, now foremost
in the manufacture of beautiful pianos.
Now they have bought one of the most beautiful
buildings in Chicago as the new home for their Chi-
cago store and general offices. They are the piano
pioneers in leaving old Piano Row for the more
aristocratic and artistic environs of North Michigan
avenue. Their new building and location is in keep-
ing with the prestige of their product and their con-
structive policy in building for the future.
Nowhere in the world is there a more beautiful,
more stately street than Michigan avenue. New
York, London, Paris have their streets of beauty and
character, but those who have traveled the world over
come home to "Boul Mich" and declare it the most
beautiful street of all the world. With blue Lake
Michigan skirting its shores on the one side, buildings
of dignity and stately beauty soaring skyward on the
other, at night almost a fairy street in its white
illumination—where could be a more ideal location for
a piano company of prestige? Michigan avenue will
be the leading thoroughfare of the world.
At 173 North Michigan avenue is the beautiful new
building recently purchased by Story & Clark. It
has just been finished and has never before been
occupied. And the move of Story & Clark into this
building marks a new era in their progressive march
forward.
This building is one of the finest examples of
Gothic architecture in the country, and is of the very
highest type of construction with ornate terra cotta
front. The entrance is of exquisite imported marble.
The dignified architecture and the snowy terra cotta
front make this building stand out prominently on
Michigan avenue. For in individuality and beauty of
design it has no peer.
Its location is strategic. Just a stone's throw from
the loop, near the North Shore district, the store will
stand in a position, a location for business, accessible
from all parts of the city.
It is destined to be a fitting Chicago home for a
house that has been making fine instruments since
1857, and is now noted for beautiful pianos, player-
pianos, and grands. The building just erected and
NEW OFFICERS OF THE
CLEVELAND ASSOCIATION
Banquet Set for February Tenth, When Matt Ken-
nedy Is Expected to Speak.
The Cleveland Music Trades Association, at their
annual meeting on January 13th, elected the following
officers:
Henry Dreher, president; Dan Nolan, vice-presi-
dent; F. L. Stelker, secretary and treasurer.
The meeting was held at the Hotel Statler and
there was a fair attendance. The following were ap-
pointed a committee to arrange for the annual ban-
quet to be held February 10th, at the Hotel Statler:
Mr. Bowie, of the Dreher Co., chairman, Eugene
Hale and Otto Muelhauser.
From all indications the affair will be not only an
elaborate one but a successful one, as well. It is
hoped to have, for the principal speaker of the eve-
ning, Matt Kennedy, Chicago, secretary of the Na-
tional Association.
FIRE DESTROYS BUILDING.
The three-story building of the Windsor branch of
the Grinnell Bros., 124 Ouellette avenue, Windsor,
Ont., was almost destroyed by fire, which broke out
in the rear of the first floor recently. The loss is esti-
mated at $80,000. Harry Ross, manager of the Wind-
sor branch, estimated the damage to the stock at
more than $50,000, and to the building at about $30,-
000. The entire stock, Ross said, was valued at
about $100,000.
RICHMOND BUYS PAULL CATALOG.
The Richmond Music Supply Corp., New York City,
has bought the E. T. Paull Music Co., in the same
city, and had moved it to the Richmond headquarters,
where it will be incorporated and operated as a sepa-
rate unit. The Paul catalog is considered a valuable
asset, and agencies are found in European countries,
England and all the British possessions.
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).
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January 31, 1925.
PRESTO
TRANSFER OF
CHICKERING BROS.
Official Announcement Made January 20 of
Purchase of the Acoustigrande Name,
Scales and Good Will by American
Piano Company, New York.
INTERESTING HISTORY
C. C. Chickering, Becoming Vice-President of
Chickering & Sons, Will Return to Early
Scenes of Activity.
While the intended transfer of the business of
Chickering Brothers, Chicago, to the American Piano
Company, New York, has been generally known in
the trade for some time past, it was only on January
20 the actual purchase by the American Piano Com-
pany was made. This sale includes the trade name
"Acoustigrande," good will, scales, patterns—in fact,
everything pertaining to the Chickering Brothers
business except accounts receivable and real estate
holdings.
C. C. Chickering, sole survivor of the brothers com-
prising Chickering Brothers, who received his train-
ing while a young man in the old Boston factory of
Chickering & Sons, now returns to that company as
vice-president. Mr. Chickering was the dominant fac-
tor in establishing and developing the business of
Chickering Brothers and the Acoustigrande piano. An
important feature of this transfer is the assuming by
the American Piano Company of all printed and
signed warranties accompanying Acoustigrande
pianos.
C. C. Chickering Speaks.
In an announcement of its retirement from the
piano manufacturing business Chickering Brothers
wish to "express our deep appreciation for the enthu-
siastic support of our many personal friends and
patrons," and adds:
"Mr. Chickering feels that in going back to these
early associations he is, in a way, returning to his
alma mater, and is gratified to be again affiliated with
the distinguished house of Chickering & Sons."
Interesting History.
In the transfer of the business of Chickering
Brothers to the American Piano Co., an interesting
incident concerning the destiny of C. C. Chickering
and his brother Fred is disclosed. They were pledged
to the piano industry as far back as 1876, long before
they were of an age to pick a career. While on a
fishing trip in that year with George and Frank
Chickering, the father of the Chickering boys ar-
ranged to furnish a couple of sons to learn the piano
business in the Chickering & Sons factory when they
had acquired a proper education.
The arrangement was carried out when C. C.
Chickering entered "the Chickering & Sons factory
in 1881, to be followed by Fred about a year later.
Both were put at the bench at the start, and under
experienced mechanics taught the use of tools. From
a beginning in the case-making department they went
through the various departments, learning sound-
board construction, action finishing on squares, up-
rights and grands in turn and so on to the regulation
of grands and uprights. This was followed by a
couple of years of work as tuners. The apprentice-
ship period of the brothers consumed close to eight
years.
Sees His Opportunity.
Then came the period in which C. C. Chickering
had an opportunity to develop the genius that later
gained him an enviable reputation as a designer of
pianos of highly artistic merit. Completing his work
in the factory in Boston he went to New York, and
for an interesting, enjoyable and valuable time was
taken into Frank Chickering's scale drafting room
and taught scale drawing according to that expert's
ideas. Mr. Chickering recalls with pride that he was
Frank Chickering's only pupil.
Start in Chicago.
Mr. Chickering came to Chicago in 1890 to do
some repair work for the business then known as
the Chickering-Chase Brothers Company, and the in-
cident was a decisive factor in his career. After the
death of Frank Chickering, the brothers, C. C. and
Fred Chickering, joined forces in Chicago and com-
menced the manufacture of pianos of vertical and
horizontal construction which in time attained high
distinction in the American piano industry. Their
lives were devoted to working out the secrets of tone
production in the art of piano manufacture. The
C. C. CHICKERING.
Acoustigrande is the admirable result of their indus-
try and genius. The dominating characteristic of the
instrument is its tone.
In the fall of 1920 Fred Chickering died and in 1923'
Wallace Chickering, who had joined the company in
1907, died after a short illness. In 1923 the company
received notice from the city that the site of the fine
factory on South Park avenue had been condemned
for street widening. The incidents combined had a
determining influence on Mr. Chickering's decision
subsequently when the proposal to affiliate with
Chickering & Sons was made.
H. C. DICKINSON TO START ON
JOURNEY TO FAR COUNTRIES
friends can believe that he will not have at least a
part of an eye open to export possibilities and the
world trade in pianos generally.
H. C. Dickinson will sail from New York Febru-
ary 7 on the S.S. Conte Roso, for the lands bordering
on the Mediterranean. He will be accompanied by
his wife and the first point of destination will be
Algiers, in Northern Africa, where an extensive
motor tour has been planned.
A large motor coach operated by the French will
be used with an accompanying guide and will traverse
the mountains and plains of the Northern African
province. The first night a camp will be pitched in
the Algerian mountains and the following night on
the Northern African desert. Accommodations fur-
nished by the French are above the ordinary for a
trip of this nature, said Mr. Dickinson, this week.
A moving picture camera will be taken on the trip
and many unusual landscapes will be photographed.
The mountains of Algiers are noted for their wonder-
ful scenery.
Vice-President of the Baldwin Piano Co. Has
Planned to Make Long Voyage.
Mention has already been made of the proposed
trip of H. C. Dickinson, vice-president of the Bald-
win Piano Co. Chicago headquarters. He expects to
visit the cities of Europe and later to invade Algeria
and others of the African states. Mr. Dickinson is a
trained traveler and must go pretty far to find any-
thing wholly new to him. His present trip will, he
believes, accomplish this end.
As one of the hardest workers among the piano
men of Chicago, Mr. Dickinson seems to have earned
a long rest. He expects to make the trip one of
recreation and sight-seeing, although few of his
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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