Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2012

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.
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/
PRESTO
February 14, 1925.
HENRY BEHNINQ DIED
LAST TUESDAY NIGHT
President of Behning Piano Co., New York,
and Namesake of His Famous Father,
Passes Away.
every dealer
knew what
successful
SEEBURG
dealers know
about conduct-
ing and oper-
ating auto-
matic piano
businesses,
every dealer
would be en-
gaged in the
business!
J. P. SEEBURG
PIANO CO.
CHICAGO
"Leaders in the
Automatic Line"
General Offices: 1510 Dayton St.
Factory 1508-16 Dayton St.
Henry Behning, president of the Behning Piano
Company, of New York, died on Tuesday midnight,
this week. He had been ill for about three weeks,
his life having been despaired of since Sunday last.
He was the eldest son of the late Henry Behning,
founder of the piano industry which has borne his
name since 1850, and the Behning family has been
identified with several of the progressive industries
ever since the year named.
After attending school in his native city of Bridge-
port, Conn., Henry Behning entered the factory of
his father in New York City and in 1880 was ad-
mitted to partnership. In 1894 the firm was changed
to a corporation and Henry Behning was made presi-
dent, with his younger brother, Gustav, as secretary
and treasurer. The company controlled many pat-
ents, as the results of the skill of the elder Behning
and his two sons.
Henry Behning was a skilled piano maker and he
was among the first to take up the manufacture of
playerpianos. He was of quiet disposition, but al-
ways popular and reliable in every way. He was
related by marriage to William Tonk of New York,
and also to William Bauer of Chicago, his sisters
having been the wives of the two gentlemen named.
Percy Tonk, of Chicago, was also not only cher-
ished by Mr. Behning because of the relationship,
but by reason of lifelong friendship.
Henry Behning was born in Bridgeport, Conn., in
1859, and was therefore in his sixty-sixth year. His
death is a distinct loss to the piano industry.
JOHN POWELL, PIANIST
AND HIS STEINWAY
Famous Artist Is New Subject for Notable Line of
Illustrations for Steinway & Sons Ads.
John Powell and his Steinway is the subject of the
artistic picture accompanying the page advertisement
of Steinway & Sons, New York, in the current num-
ber of the Saturday Evening Post. The picture adds
another interesting subject to the list of Steinway
ad portraits. This is said in the text:
"No matter where the Steinway goes it carries with
it the very essence of the great and subtle art of
music. Its response to the hand and spirit of the
musician is unequaled. Through its miraculous sing-
ing tone the most exquisite passages and the most
profound measures of the great composers attain their
full significance. It was chosen by Liszt and Rubin-
stein. It is the choice of such pianists as Paderewski,
Rachmaninoff and Hofmann. But the greatest tribute
to its excellence is this—that the overwhelming major-
ity of Steinway pianos have been bought by people
of moderate means, who have realized the true
economy that lies in buying the best. Always the
most satisfactory. Always the cheapest in the end.
"To this public the Steinway is sold, as a matter of
principle, at the lowest possible price, and upon terms
that keep it well within the reach of every true lover
of music. Some one of the numerous styles and sizes
will fit your home and your income. Each is a true
Steinway. Each embodies all the Steinway principles
and ideals. And each returns, year after year, a full
dividend of delight. You need never buy another
piano."
NORDLUND GRAND PIANO CO.
IS THE NEW STYLE NAME
Chicago Piano Industry, Formerly Known as The
Columbian Grand Piano Co., Is Changed.
The name of Nordlund has become familiar to the
trade and with a good share of the piano buying
public. Nordlund small grands have been made by
the Columbian Grand Piano Co. of Chicago until
the president of that company decided that it would
be better to adopt his own name, not only on the
fall-boards, but elsewhere. Consequently the Colum-
bian Grand Piano Co. has been changed to the Nord-
lund Grand Piano Company.
The Nordlund factory, at 400 West Erie street,
Chicago, is a busy place, and the demand for the
Nordlund grands is better now than ever before. The
little grands seem to please the public, for the dealers
often have difficulty in getting them as fast as they
want them.
COMPLAINT COMMITTEE APPOINTED
John J. Glynn, George A. Schofield and Milton
Weil constitute a special committee of the New York
Piano Merchants' Association recently appointed by
President Calvin T. Purdy.
The committee will
handle complaints of association members about mis-
representations in piano advertisements and unfair
competition in the local trade. At the regular monthly
meeting of the association recently Mr. Scofield sug-
gested the naming of such a special grievance com-
mittee to prepare presentation of complaints before
the Better Business Bureau of New York. A meeting
of the Executive Board of the Bureau was held Feb-
ruary 6, for the purpose of organizing to meet the
requirements of the newly formed merchandising sec-
tion, and definite action on complaints of misleading
advertising will be taken after this date.
TO INCREASE STOCK.
Amendment 1o the articles of incorporation of the
Stahlschmidt Piano Company, of Evansville, Ind.,
provides for additional capital stock to the amount of
$50,000 in common stock and $100,000 in preferred
stock. Preferred stock is to be redeemed at the end
of ten years, according to provision of the articles.
BALDWIN GRAND FOR SCHOOL
The Bradbury School of
Music, Duluth, Minnesota, es-
tablished in 1900, is the oldest
school of music in Northern
Minnesota. The faculty consists
of twenty-five instructors and
the students of the school are
taking a leading part in musical
activities. A $1,000 Baldwin-made
Grand piano is presented to the
student of the piano department
making the greatest progress for
the school year, and a $100 violin
to the student in the violin
classes making the greatest
progress.
There is a fine recital hall in
connection with the school where
many concerts on the Baldwin
are given by the students and
the faculty and where the two
large student orchestras of the
school hold their rehearsals. In
a recent communication to the
Boston Music Company, Bald-
win dealers in Duluth, Fred G.
Bradbury, president of this insti-
tution, explains the choice of the
Baldwin as the official piano,
concluding with the following words:
"Experience covering many years has brought out
the point both from the artistic and practical side,
that the selection of pianos for a school of music is
of utmost importance. After giving many instru-
ments from different makers exhaustive trials we
finally adopted the Baldwin."
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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