PRESTO
Dresden (Court Theater), Breslau (City Theater),
etc.
Miss Da Costa is now located in New York, where
she is hard at work in the preparation of her concert
program for the coming season, which proves to be
a busy one for this young singer. Thus, the Milton
Expert in the Work of Harmonizing Contrib- piano takes another stride forward as the favorite in-
strument of many famous artists. Some other artists
utes to Discussion of Interesting Subject
who have praised the Milton in glowing terms are
of General Trade Interest.
Marie Rappold, Johanna Gadsky, Josephine Lucchese,
Stella de Mette, Fortune Gallo and Carlo Peroni.
Grandview, Indiana, February 9, 1924.
The Milton is not living on past honors. On the con-
Editor Presto: I noticed an article in last week's
trary, it is gaining a wider circle of friends day by
issue of Presto about pitch. This has been the sub- day among the world's best artists.
ject of discussion among tuners and musicians every-
where.
J. C. Deagan, who is probably the greatest author-
ity on pitch in this country, gives A-440 as the stand-
ard pitch. All horn factories build horns to this
pitch; also all manufacturers of flutes, xylophones
and bells build their instruments to this standard.
Slight Increase for That Month Over Preceding One
This pitch was adopted by a congress of scientists
Is Noted by Bureau.
in 1834, and is known as "Scheibler's Stuttgart Stand-
ard."
According to recent figures made public by the
The only organizations of any repute using the
U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, employment in the
R435 pitch are the bands of the U. S. Army.
piano and organ manufacturing industry in Decem-
As most tuners start at C instead of A, we have to
ber showed an increase of 2.4 per cent over the pre-
figure the the vibration number of C from A at 440,
ceding month, while the weekly payroll showed an
which is 523.3, and not 517, as is commonly supposed
increase of 1.5 per cent. The increase in employment
by some musicians.
was somewhat above the average of two per cent
A at 435 gives the C pitch at 517, which is too low for the entire country, but the payroll increase was
for orchestral instruments. Therefore any tuner de- below the country's average.
siring to tune to standard pitch, the pitch instruments
Returns from thirty-four establishments in the in-
are built at, should tune to the C 523.3 pitch. I am
dustry showed 7,906 persons employed in December,
writing this for the benefit of some tuners and musi- against 7,720 in November, the weekly payroll being
cians who are confused about this matter.
$253',316 in December, as compared with $249,458 in
Yours truly,
November. As compared with last year, however,
JAMES C. GABBERT, JR.
the industry is still employing 8.5 per cent fewer
workers and the weekly payroll is 4.7 per cent less.
Per capita earnings of workers in the industry in De-
cember, while eight-tenths of one per cent below
those of November, were 4.1 per cent greater than in
December, 1923, the report shows.
STANDARD PITCH FOR
USE OF PIANO TUNERS
February 14, 1925.
NEW "BUNGALOW" STYLE
KREITER PLAYER-PIANO
Graceful Little Instrument Is Known as Style 25 and
Has Already Won Popularity.
The Kreiter Manufacturing Company, of Milwau-
kee, with factory at Marinette, Wis., has won new
favor in the trade with the Style 25 "Bungalow" piano
and playerpiano. The instrument is of graceful de-
EMPLOYMENT IN PIANO
FACTORIES FOR DECEMBER
NOTEWORTHY TRIBUTE
TO THE MILTON PIANO
A New Star on the Horizon, Blanche Da Costa,
Favors Popular Instrument.
DEALERS AID CONTEST.
The music dealers of Minneapolis and St. Paul are
The Milton piano has won a new advocate. This interested in the Music Memory Contest which will
time it is Blanche Da Costa, one of the younger of
be concluded March 29. Fifty prizes have been don-
the coming stars. This tribute to the Milton is par- ated, many of them by music houses. The various
ticularly noteworthy because Miss Da Costa is a
women's clubs, the American Legion, Kiwanis and
pianist of unusual ability as well as a charming singer. other organizations are taking an active part. The
She is a graduate of the Chicago Musical College,
contest has stimulated the sales of player music rolls
having studied under Rudolph Ganz.
and talking machine records as well as sheet music.
The Milton is Miss Da Costa's constant com-
panion in her home. She uses it for her own re-
OLD FIRM DISCONTINUED.
hearsals, as well as in connection with her profession
The Hager Music Store, 2019 Main street, Niagara
of voice culture. Miss Da Costa is one of the best
vocal instructresses in the metropolitan district. Her Falls, N. Y., will be discontinued in a few months
when the building occupied by the company for fifty
letter follows:
"Mr. George Allen, President of the Milton Piano Co. years will be torn down to provide a site for a sky-
scraper. Louis Kraege, manager of the business for
"My Dear Mr. Allen: The little Milton upright
which I am using has been a real joy to me this win- the past twenty years, will retire at that time.
ter, not only in my singing but in my teaching. I
find it a most satisfactory instrument.
FAILURE IN CLEVELAND.
"Cordially yours,
An involuntary petition in bankruptcy has been
"BLANCHE DA COSTA."
filed against Nathan Spielman, of 3739 Woodland
Blanche Da Costa has studied with various masters avenue, Cleveland, a music dealer, and the United
of Europe. She first attained success in concert
States District Court has appointed Charles I. Russo
work, then launching into the operatic field with tre- receiver.
mendous success she was given a contract by the
management of the New City Theater Chemnitz, a
The Adler Mfg. Co., Louisville, Ky., maker of the
contract which permitted her to accept engagements Adler-Royal line of phonographs, radio-phonograph
as visiting guest in the other principal theaters of
combinations, radio sets and loud speakers, held a
Germany, more especially Berlin (Court Theater),
conference at the factory last week.
sign, of the semi-colonial order. It is handsomely
finished and is just what is needed for apartment
houses and small homes.
A good illustration of the new Kreiter "Bungalow"
style appears herewith. It will at once attract the
attention of dealers, and the demand already reported
by the Milwaukee warerooms of the manufacturers
presents ample proof that this new style is to be a
winner.
EMPLOYES' ASSOCIATION
HOLDS ANNUAL MEETING
Organization of Workers in Sherman, Clay & Co.,
San Francisco, Elect Officers.
At the recent annual meeting of the Employes' As-
sociation of Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, on
the roof garden of Hotel Whitcomb over one hundred
members attended. Nine directors for the ensuing
year were chosen and they in turn elected the fol-
lowing officers: President, William Morton; vice-
president, Frank Bates; treasurer, Ed. Carberry (re-
elected); corresponding secretary, Mrs. Laura Cahill;
and recording secretary, Miss Marion Flannigan.
The treasurer read the financial report, which
showed that over $3,000 had been expended during
the past year for the benefit of members who had
been suffering from accidents or sickness, and that a
sum of $3,750 remained in the treasury. The evening
ended with a dance to music supplied by the orches-
tra of Carl Lemont, manager of Sherman, Clay &
Co.'s professional department. A cash prize given
by Fred Sherman, vice-president of the company, for
the prize waltzers, was won by Miss Eggleston and
James O'Leary.
MRS. OTTO HIGEL DIES.
Mrs. Otto Higel, wife of Otto Higel, president of
the Otto Higel Music Co., Toronto, Canada, died
recently after a brief illness.
THE BOWEN LOADER
makes of the Ford Roadster the Ideal piano truck,—most Convenient, most Economical and most Efficient.—Goes anywhere, over any
kind of roads, and distance makes no difference.
It will greatly assist any energetic Salesman, City or Country, but is indispensable for successful country work.
It's the best outfit for making collections and repossessions.
'•. r ,'
Our latest model is fool-proof and indestructible, and the price has been reduced to $95.00 including an extra good water-proof
moving cover. Satisfaction guaranteed or money refunded.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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