Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
PRESTO
E«abiuhed 1884. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
to ce n t. : 92.00 a Year
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 7, 1925
TONK PIANOS DRAW
FAVORABLE COMMENT
Discriminating Dealers in Both This Country
and Abroad Express Preference for New
York Instruments.
A letter recently appeared in Presto from a dis-
criminating piano merchant who commented upon the
fine qualities of the Tonk pianos. And not long ago
a letter came to this paper from a foreign buyer of
pianos in which reference was made to his success
in sale of the instruments from New York.
There are piano industries the progress of which
has been of a kind to seem almost unique. They have
moved forward with a fixed principle of thorough-
ness and dependability which no consideration of
commercial kind could alter. And the Tonk piano is
one of them. There has never been an '"ordinary"
instrument issued from the factory of William Tonk
& Bro. Nor has there ever been a serious thought
given to any suggestion by which the least deteriora-
tion might be permitted to interfere with the aim to
produce, in the Tonk, as refined and meritorious a
piano as possible. Tonk pianos have been uniformly
good, and they have steadily advanced in the refine-
ments of quality, as they have grown in their years
of production.
It is probable that, without being "high priced," in
the sense that they might be made prohibitive to the
average dealer, no Tonk piano has ever appeared in
which there was any material or any part of the
construction that represented any other than the
desire to improve and to present the highest example
of attainment.
The fact that for many years Tonk pianos have
been considered as among the leaders in the Ameri-
can exportation of musical instruments, and that
they have been giving satisfaction in all parts of the
world, is the highest possible testimony to the scien-
tific basis of their construction, and the thorough-
ness with which every part is planned and carried out
to a rare degree of musical excellence. Just now
Tonk pianos are having a share in the trade revival
which has become manifest in the piano trade, as
elsewhere, in nearly all sections of the country.
MORE FACTORY SPACE
FOR CABLE=NELSON CO.
two hundred and fifty friends to a piano recital by
Sergei Rachmaninoff, for which Mr. Junge made the
arrangements.
At the musicale last week the artists were Silvia
Lent, violinist, and Emilio Gogorza, baritone. Other
artistic musical events of the kind will follow.
STRAUCH PIANO COMPANY
INCORPORATES IN BRONX
AMERICAN PIANOS
AND GERMAN TRADE
The Piano Industry in Wurtemberg Showed
Decline Last Year as Compared with
Two Years Preceding.
Information regarding the piano manufacturing in-
dustry in Wurtemberg is issued by the LI. S. Bureau
Albert T. Strauch, Formerly of Famous Piano Action of Foreign Commerce. The report indicates a fall-
ing off in production since 1913, with some improve-
Industry, Embarks Again in the Trade.
An item in the list of new corporations, which ap- ment, however, in 1924. The figures given are as
follows:
pears in this issue of Presto, includes that of the
"The output of 1923 in Wurtemberg is given at
Strauch Piano Co., of New York. It will be a source
of satisfaction to friends of Albert Strauch and his 6,300 instruments, a decrease of 5,500. The produc-
tion of 1924 estimated by the president of the Wur-
son to know that the plan of those gentlemen in
temberg
Piano Manufacturers' Association, is placed
withdrawing from the distinguished piano action in-
dustry founded by the late Peter D. Strauch did not at 8,000. During the period of inflation the export
trade flourished and the home demand was about nil.
mean giving up the piano business.
"Wurtemberg's foreign trade statistics record an
The new company is formed to conduct a retail
business, but eventually the name of Strauch will export of 68,122 pianos during 1922, and 67,614 dur-
probably appear upon a line of good pianos—that is ing 1923. In the period January 1, 1924, to and in-
the report from the Bronx, New York. And, with cluding September 30, 1924, 38,821 pianos were ex-
a lifetime of experience with pianos there can be no ported. Taking the same ratio for the remaining
question of the success of the new company, which three months of the year, the exports during the year
1924 will amount to 51,762 pianos, a decrease of 15,852
consists of Albert Strauch, Albert Strauch, Jr., and
M. Strauch. Members of the trade everywhere will in comparison with 1923. Great Britain, the Nether-
wish the enterprise all possible success, for the mem- lands, Australia, Argentine, British South Africa and
Italy received the greater part of the exports during
bers of the company deserve it.
1924.
"American manufacturers are stated to be the
EXPANDS IN PHILADELPHIA.
strongest competitors, and it is further stated that
When the building at 2140 Ridge avenue, Phila-
during the war American manufacturers succeeded
delphia, has been remodeled for the Lang Piano Co. in entering the markets previously held by German
it will be given over to the sale of pianos. The manufacturers of pianos. Local manufacturers com-
company, of which Max Lang is proprietor, now plain that their American competitors are swamping
operates a string of three stores. The main store foreign markets with low-priced pianos. Notwith-
is at 1204 Columbia avenue. The third store is lo- standing strong American competition the local man-
cated at 1514 South street and is devoted to the sale ufacturers claim that they are still able to ship to
of musical instruments and talking machines. The South America, the British Colonies, and Australia,
Columbia avenue store also carries a line of pianos. due to the good quality of their products. The high
Associated with Max Lang in the business are his rates of duty, however, are keeping exports within
sons, Myer and Samuel Lang.
comparatively modest limits."
AEOLIAN CO.'S WINDOW DISPLAY
New Room for Grand Construction Now Being
Added to Factory Will Increase Output.
An important step towards making 1925 a big
production year has been taken by the Cable-Nelson
Piano Co., South Haven, Mich., which has announced
that an addition is being added to the factory that
will facilitate production to a large extent.
The new, wing to the factory will be used for a
grand room exclusively, thereby allowing more space
in the main factory for other styles. The measure-
ments of the addition are 175 by 200 feet, and the
room will be put in use at an early date.
"Everything is ready except the machinery, which
is expected to be installed in a very short time," said
Salesmanager Carlson this week.
HENRY JUNGE PLANS
WHITE HOUSE MUSICALES
Excellent Programs Make the Events Notable Occa-
sions in the Social Life of Washington.
The special White House Musicale given on Thurs-
day of last week, when the members of the Supreme
Court were entertained at dinner, was arranged by
Henry Junge, of Steinway & Sons. For years Mr.
Junge has had charge of the artistic musical events at
the White House at which noted artists participated.
On Mr. Junge's program recently when President
and Mrs. Coolidge entertained the Diplomatic Corps
at dinner were Beniamino Gigli, the noted tenor, with
Vito Carnevali at the piano and Magdaliene Brard,
pianist. On another occasion Mrs. Coolidge invited
The influence of an artistic window display is not
doubted by observing business men. The public is
led by what it sees, to investigate beyond the object
of first vision. And some of the piano houses have
of late years given great care to their attractive win-
dow opportunities.
One of the most compelling of recent window dis-
plays, by the larger piano houses, was the one which
is reproduced above. The photograph was taken by
a Presto representative in New York City during the
last holiday season. It is an Aeolian Company dis-
play, showing the "dressing" of the great center win-
dow of the Aeolian Hall building on West Forty-
Second street.
Of course the Aeolian Company possesses every
possible facility, in equipment, instruments and loca-
tion, with which to make an effective window display,
and the one here reproduced gives a good idea of the
way it looked, although the window itself is so
large that it might contain the entire stock of some
of the smaller stores.
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