February 7, 1925.
13
PRESTO
WAR REPORTED
ON DENVER FRONT
Records Shattered in First Typographical
Barrage, But Noise Is Varied by Wide-
spread Suggestion of Possible Fortune in
Pretty Baby Pipe Organ.
By J. B. DILLON.
Cassell's, 1518 California street, Denver, Colorado,
advertising, says: "Tremendous Price Smashup in
Great Piano War." "Most sensational bargains the
Musical World has ever known. All records shat-
tered."
Ad also offers to send automobile for customers,
sells on time payments, free lessons with every piano
sold, and free membership in "Our 2 for 1 Player
Roll Library."
[Note to Editor.—This is not very cheerful news,
but guess the radio is forcing it, still there is nothing
to prevent the "boys" from stocking up on the radio.
I really believe that a good pipe organ, not too large,
would catch on now as an innovation for the home.
Use a small motor to get the air for the bellows.
Come on, let's you and I get rich on the idea.]
Boy, Page the Piano Tuner.
One of the lady members of the committee whose
duty it is to visit various charitable institutions in
Denver. Colo., in speakiig of the piano at the Neigh-
borhood House, 966 Galapago street, said:
"The piano now in use was given to the organiza-
tion about twenty-five years ago, and now judging
from the tone, it is evident that it came piece by
piece in a covered wagon and was assembled by a
blacksmith."
In that case it ought to render well our old favorite,
"The Village Blacksmith."
The State Historical and Natural History Society,
Denver, has recently received, in memory of the late
Dr. Charles A. Powers, a piano more than one hun-
dred years old.
Here's an Old Time Piano.
This piano has been in the possession of the
Powers family for many generations, Dr. Powers giv-
ing it to a dear friend, but for some reason the name
is withheld. However, Dr. Leroy Hafen, curator of
history for the society, says that the instrument was
made by Alpheus Babcock, at Boston, sometime be-
tween 1810 and 1825. Dr. Hafen says it is certain the
piano was made previous to 182S because it was in
that year Babcock invented the metal frame for the
strings of a piano, using them thereafter. The piano
in question has the wooden frame, is six legged and
rectangular in shape. While much smaller than the
present day instruments, it has a tone of rare sweet-
ness The only similar instrument known is that at
the Metropolitan museum in New York.
Sales Manager Teaches.
Francis D. Wootton, sales manager of the piano
department of Knight-Campbell Music Company,
Denver, Colorado, has been selected by the Denver
Institute of Technology at the Y. M. C. A. to teach
a course in salesmanship. In his opening remarks to
the class Mr. Wootton chose for his subject: "The
Making of a Salesman."
Ben Goodman, of Denver, Colorado, orchestra
leader, has brought suit for $10,000 damages against
Frank Wilkin, Denver society leader, charging that
while riding in an automobile Wilkin's car collided
with his and that his eyesight and efficiency as an
orchestra leader has been impaired.
Wants Addresses.
C. F. Peterson, 524 French street, Bangor, Maine,
h^s written the secretary of the Denver Chamber of
Commerce, Denver, Colo., asking for the name and
address of dealers in music and musical instruments.
M. E. Hanna, of Hanna & Hanna, Inc., Albu-
querque, New Mexico, asks the same favor but
specifies jobbers in radio supplies.
The Baldwin Piano Company, 1636 California
street, Denver, is contemplating a remodeling of its
salesrooms and advertise big reductions in pianos,
piano players and phonographs. Special terms and
railroad fare paid during this sale.
BRITISH PIANO IMPORTS
SHOW STEADY INCREASE
Since Removal of McKenna Duties Considerable,
Expansion of Market Has Taken Place.
Clocks and watches and musical instruments are
among the commodities admitted duty free into Great
Britain as from August 1, 1924, when the McKenna
duties were removed, and a considerable expansion
in the British market for these products has taken
place, according to Assistant Trade Commissioner
William M. Park, London. In the four months.
August to November, 2.306,015 clocks were imported
—nearly twice the total for the previous seven
months of the year. The imports were of the less
expensive varieties of clocks, however, since the
total value of the 2,000,000 sold was but £409,964.
British imports of pianos had been decreasing for
several years prior to the removal of the duties. Since
August, 1924, however, a steady increase has oc-
curred. During August 1,489 pianos were imported,
in September, 1,731; in October, 1,570; and in No-
vember, 1,794, making a total of 6,584 for the four
months, compared with 2,190 in the preceding seven
months. The total value of all musical instruments
imported in August to November amounted to
£722,721, as compared with £313,889 from January
to July. Information as to countries of origin is not
yet available from the customs.
De Vries & Dornbos, Holland, Mich., is erecting a
five-story building.
The LEADING LINE
WEAVER PIANOS
Qrand*. Uprights and Player*
Finest and most artistic
piano in design, tone and
construction that can be
made.
YORK PIANOS
Uprights and Player Piano*
A high grade piano of great
vaiue and with charming tone quality.
Livingston Pianos— Uprights and Player Piano.
A popular piano at a popular price.
LINES MUSIC COMPANY
GIVES UP BRANCH STORE
Improved Methods of Transporting Pianos by Auto
Truck Makes It Unnecessary.
Over 70,000 instruments made by this company are sing-
inn their own praises in all parts of the civilised world.
Write for catalogues and state on what terms you would
like to deal, and we will make you a proposition tf yi-o are
located in open territory-
The Lines Music Co., who has been operating a
branch store in Aurora, Mo., for the past two years,
is moving their stock back to the main store in
Springfield this week. The business is prosperous,
but the necessity for the branch no longer exists since
the automobile trucking transportation of the com-
pany was brought to its present efficiency.
The manager of the Aurora branch has resigned to
give all his attention to the publishing business in
which he and his brother are partners. They are
now furnishing free tourists' maps and guides in nine
states, and will cover 16 more states within the next
eight months. They now have 10 men on the road.
Grand and
Reproducing
Grand Pianos
are the last word in
musical perfection.
Lester Piano Co.
1306 Chestnut St.
Philadelphia
WEAVER PIANO CO., Inc.
Factory: YORK, P \ .
EatablCshud 1870
DECKER
STAMP IN BRITISH TRADE,
The Music Trades Federation of Great Britain con-
siders the movement to procure revenue by ineans of
stamps, the Federation Revenue Stamp Scheme, as it
is called, a success so far. "On the present showing
it will fulfill the best hopes of those who saw in it a
successful method of providing revenue by means of
equitable contributions from all branches of the piano-
forte trade," says a report. "In the four months—
September 1 to December 31—during which it has
operated, stamps to the aggregate value of £2,381 17s
have been purchased by manufacturers and suppliers
respectively—the purchases of the former, of course,
representing dealers' contributions as well as their
own."
m>J EST. 1856 5L SON
Grand. Upright
and
Welte-Mignon
(Licensee)
Reproducing
(Electric)
Pianos and Players
of Recognized
Artistic Character
Made by a Decker Since 1856
699-703 East 135th Street
For QUALITY, SATISFACTION and PROFIT
NEWMAN BROTHERS PIANOS
NEWMAN BROS. CO.
Factories, 816 DIX ST., Chicago, 111.
iUtabli.hed 1870
A QUALITY PROOUCT
FOR OVE R
QUARTER OF A CENTURY
tst. IBy.3
Kindler & Collins
New York
Pianos
520-524 W. 48th S
NEW YORK
When In Doubt See Presto Buyers' Guide
POOLE
—BOSTON—
GRAND AND UPRIGHT PIANOS
AND
PLAYER PIANOS
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