Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2013

Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Their Makers.
PRESTO
E*abit.hed iM4.
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
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CHICAGO, SATURDAY, FEBRUARY 21, 1925
of his piano period," as he terms it, and will sell his
grand scales at a greater bargain than any advertised
by the fire sale promoters, or any carload lot magician
in the business. In fact, he will part with what cost
him thousands for hundreds—again his own words.
So here is a real opportunity. Manufacturers who
are wise will not permit it to pass. They all know
what Geo. P. Bent has done in piano manufacture,
and what he doesn't know about grand production is
hardly worth discussion. It is too little.
Mr. Bent is in New York this week, but may be
back in Chicago any time; or he may be in Los
Angeles at any time. No one can keep accurate tab
on his movements, but he is "there" at all times. He
may be addressed in care of Presto or at his Los
Angeles home, or at the Illinois Athletic Club, Chi-
cago—or almost anywhere else, but his mail will get
him, and the first piano man to speak for his grand
scales will have a good chance to become lucky.
Seriously, there is an opportunity afforded by Mr.
Bent's desire to dispose of the grand piano scales.
It will be the biggest "bargain" in many a year, for
Mr. Bent is desirous of closing his old affairs and get
busy with the new.
N. A. P. T. INC., SET DATE
FOR ANNUAL CONVENTION
Will Meet at Hotel Statler, Detroit, August
3rd to 6th, in Sixteenth Annual
Convention.
The National Association of Piano Tuners, Inc.,
made the announcement at its headquarters, 22
Quincy street, Chicago, this week, that its sixteenth
annual convention will be held at Hotel Statler, De-
troit, Mich., August 3rd, to August 6th, inclusive.
At the coming convention it is hoped that a record
will be established in attendance, as the last conven-
tion at Milwaukee showed a material increase over
previous conclaves of the association.
The estimation of at least a third more in attend-
ance at Detroit, in August, is conservative in the fact
that many new members have added their names to
the lists of the association. The new members are
enthusiastic to be affiliated with the N. A. P. T., Inc.,
and they will be present at the Detroit event to take
part in the live meetings that always mark the annual
conventions of the association.
CHICAGO TUNERS TO
BANQUET ON FEB. 24
Event Expected to Be Bigger Than Ever in
View of Increased Membership and
Fine Program.
The Chicago division of the National Association of
Piano Tuners will hold its annual banquet at Hotel
LaSalle on Tuesday evening, February 24, is the
announcement made at the headquarters of the asso-
ciation at 22 Quincy street, Chicago, this week.
The officers of the Chicago division have expressed
their desire to make the affair bigger and better by
an unusually fine program that will offer a variety
of entertainment for the members and their guests.
The event is scheduled to get under way at 6:30
p. m. with a charge of $3' per plate. Arrangements
have been made to accommodate the entire Chicago
membership, which has been largely increased since
the drive for more members was started last Novem-
ber. The new tuners who have joined the associa-
tion are especially urged to attend the banquet.
GRAND PIANO SCALES
OFFERED AT BARGAIN
Geo. P. Bent Will Dispose of Valuable
"Remnants" of His Former Industry on
Excessively Advantageous Terms.
As is told elsewhere in this issue of Presto, George
P. Bent has associated himself with one of Chicago's
solid and wide-reaching piano industries. He is there-
fore disposing of the remaining belongings of his
former manufacturing assets. And among them is
that very essential factor in good piano production,
the grand piano scales. And in this there is a large
item of interest to many manufacturers who contem-
plate going into the grand piano part of the business
—a vitally important part just now.
Mr. Bent's grand scales have been so thoroughly
tested that there can be no question as to their scien-
tific precision or the musical results of their applica-
tion. They are as good as piano scales can be, and
the character of the instruments to which they may
be applied will be just what the manufacturer may
want them to be. But, in any event, the pianos based
upon these scales must be good ones from the
acoustic point of view, whatever their material or
grade of construction. But they should be secured
by some ambitious manufacturer. There are a num-
ber of that kind who need grand pianos, and the basis
of the good grand is in the scale.
Mr. Bent is desirous of closing out the "remnants
CONTINENTAL PIANO CO.
WORKERS' ACTIVITIES
North Milwaukee Factory Facilities to Be Doubled,
and Chicago Representatives Visit Trade.
George H. Hill, production manager of the Con-
tinental Piano Company, returned to the Boston of-
fice this week. He reports the demand for the Con-
tinental line has increased so rapidly that it has be-
come necessary to double the production facilities
at the North Milwaukee factory.
J. B. Heckler and A. H. Westin from the Chicago
branch of the Continental Piano Company are visit-
ing the wholesale trade along the lake district.
DEALERS SHOW KEEN INTEREST
IN POOLE GRAND PIANOS
Lively Orders Considered Best Proof of Trade Favor
for Instruments.
The Poole Piano Co., Boston, report excellent
orders which bear out the company's expectations of
a lively business for spring. Ava W. Poole, president
of the company, says the dealers' interest in the
Poole grands assures satisfactory business in the
models for several months. The fine Poole grands
are being prominently featured by representative
music houses and the increase in grand sales is con-
sidered by Mr. Poole to be due to the activity of the
enegretic dealers in properly presenting the merits of
the instruments.
Dan Fabyan, general road representative for the
Poole Piano Co., started out this week on his first
trip of the season. As usual Mr. Fabyan keeps close
touch on the retail trade, and his optimistic views of
the music dealers' opportunities this spring are very
cheering to the people at headquarters.
SEND-OFF FOR W. C. DIERKS.
An affectionate send-off was given recently to
W. C. Dierks, general manager of the C. C. Mellor
Co., Pittsburgh, Pa., on his departure for a European
trip. Au revoir was said at a dinner at the Pitts-
burgh Athletic Club by members of the Piano Mer-
chants' Association of Pittsburgh, of which organi-
zation Mr. Dierks is a director and former treasurer.
The committee of arrangements consisted of Wm. C.
Hamilton, Arthur O. Lechner and Theodore
Hoffmann.
DEATH OF W. J. SIMONSON.
William J. Simonson, long associated with the piano
trade in Kansas City, Chicago and Detroit, died last
week Thursday in the latter city. Mr. Simonson was
manager of the Smith, Barnes & Strohber Co. store
in Kansas City. He later came to Chicago, but soon
went to Detroit, where he organized the Wolverine
Piano Co., at 2325 Woodward avenue. Mr. Simonson
was a thorough piano man of fine characteristics. His
son is engaged in business in Detroit.
BUYS INTEREST IN
PRICE & TEEPLE CO.
Geo. P. Bent Secures Block of Stock and Is
Made a Director In the Strongly Estab-
lished Chicago Piano Industry, But
Will Remain In Los Angeles.
ALBERT PRICE RETIRES
Mr. Bent Withdraws from Louisville Concern and
His Sons Will Be Active in Price &
Teeple Piano Company.
At the annual meeting of the stockholders of the
Price & Teeple Piano Company, held at the com-
pany's offices in Chicago last week, two of the former
directors of that corporation handed in their resigna-
tions. They are Thos. E. Dougherty and Albert F.
Price. The new board of directors is as follows:
Geo. P. Bent, James Pringle, John Vennema, W. R.
Smith and W. B. Price.
At the meeting of the directors held on the same
day the following officers for the current year were
elected: W. B. Price, re-elected president; Jas.
Pringle, re-elected vice-president; B. J. Heineg,
secretary-treasurer; O. H. Brock, assistant secretary.
Mr. Bent's Announcement.
In connection with George P. Bent's association
with Price & Teeple Co., he makes the following
statement, under date of February 16:
"Announcement. I have resigned from all place
and position in the George P. Bent Company, of
Louisville, Ky., and recently acquired 'a- block of
stock in the Price & Teeple Piano Company, of
Chicago.
"I was also recently elected a director of the Price
& Teeple Piano Company.
"Living in California, as I do, I cannot be very
active in the affairs of the company, but my sons
can be, and it was for their especial benefit that I
made this investment.
"Yours very truly,
Geo. P. Bent."
A. F. Price's Change.
Albert F. Price resigns his position with the Price
& Teeple Piano Company, and his activities in the
piano business, to become the general western man-
ager of the Frederick Investment Company, the gen-
eral offices and headquarters of which are. at Pitts-
burgh.
W. F. Frederick, head of the music house in Pitts-
burgh which bears his name has important business
interests in that city, where Mr. Frederick and some
of his associates and business acquaintances, organ-
ized the investment company. Its purpose is to pur-<
chase first class receivables from reliable merchants
in good financial standing, making a specialty of
paper in the music trades and industries.
A Flourishing Concern.
The Frederick Investment Company is known as
a conservative and safe investment concern. It has
already entered the western field and in Chicago it
is establishing a clientele.
Mr. Price is a young man admirably adapted to thej
line of work in which he has started, and his many
friends in the music trade, and other walks of life,
will wish him the abundant success he deserves.
PIANOS AT EXHIBITION.
-
Music goods will be among the exhibits at the
Home Complete Exposition of 1925, to be held in
the Manufacturers' Building at the state fair grounds,
in Indianapolis, from April 6 to 11. The Carlin Mttsi6
House, the Baldwin Piano Co., Christena-Teague
Piano Co. and the Rapp & Lennox Piano Co. are
among the music houses planning exhibits.
. : i
PAUL H. SCHMIDT IN CHICAGO.
Paul H. Schmidt, of Steinway & Sons, New York,
was in Chicago the early part of this week. He
spoke of the piano industry and trade in unmistakably
sanguine manner. Mr. Schmidt was the guest of
Lyon & Healy during his short Chicago visit.
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
M E E T M E A T T H E FOUNTAIN
February 21, 1925.
PRE=CONVENTION FROLIC
OF CHICAGO PIANO CLUB
Interesting Details of a Busy Piano Manufacturer's Vision of a Village
Beautiful, as Seen in the Latest Decorative Fancy of William
Tonk, and Described by Himself
During the period in which I was engaged prepar-
ing matter for my 1923 Christmas Decoration, I had
no idea that another would follow. It required time
to chronicle the matter I had in hand and to prepare
for a large number of cuts; the reason for this was
that I had to do all work after business hours. It
was during this time that the picture for 1924 came
to my mind, which I have named "Meet Me At The
Fountain," although it really represents a town,
which appears in the background, a park with a large
fountain in the foreground, and a playground between
the two.
I am often asked "Where do you get your ideas?"
Well, some have come to me while resting before
retiring; others from observation of park scenes, and
they would be hard to obtain even at a considerable
higher cost. This particular one is about twelve feet
long; the others mentioned are about the same
length; the part of the picture not appearing is rolled
up on both sides, and forms the two columns which
are covered with green paper, and which are
crowned by gilt balls; the latter are of rubber, such
as children play with. The columns are decorated
to take away their plainness.
The decorations over the picture are made of
crinkled paper rope, alternating in red and green and,
furthermore, ornamented with poinsettias.
Finding the Parts.
The table, upon which the objects are placed, is
of wood about eleven feet long and from three to
Event at Trocadero Gardens Is First of a
Series of Entertainment Features
Prior to the Convention.
The Piano Club of Chicago staged a frolic at the
celebrated Trocadero Gardens on Monday evening,
February 16th, which was the first of a series to be
given by the club prior to the coming convention
of the music trades in Chicago in June.
If the convention will be a follow-up of the pre-
convention frolic there will be no question about the
entertainment features of that big event.
Anyone who has ever attended any function given
under the auspices of the Piano Club realizes the
contact of this organization with artists in all music
lines, and the party last Monday evening was no
exception. Artists appeared from leading theaters,
and music publishing houses, who gave their time
and talent in entertaining the guests of the club,
numbering about two hundred.
SENATE COMMITTEE FAVORS
SIMPLIFYING PATENT LAWS
Measure, if Passed, Would Make Procedure Easier
in Securing Trade-Marks.
A favorable report has been made by the patents
committee of the Senate on a bill to simplify the
trade-mark laws. The bill if passed would modernize
procedure in the Patent Office and reduce the time
required for that operation.
Under the bill a certificate would be issued to an
applicant within three days after the filing of his
application, which would be valid until the full regis-
tration is accomplished. The measure also would
greatly facilitate the registration of American trade-
marks in such foreign countries as we have trade-
mark treaties with. The legislation would make
trade-marks more effective in protecting their regis-
trants from infringement and make litigation less ex-
pensive and more speedy by reducing the number of
legal moves which now are possible under the present
statutes.
ANGELUS WEEK PLANNED.
An "Angelus Week" will be celebbrated in Cleve-
land, O., beginning March 6, according to plans an-
nounced by the Muehlhauser Bros. Piano Co. A con-
cert by the Cleveland Symphony Orchestra will begin
the series of events. A guest soloist will be Beryl
Rubenstein, the concert pianist, who will use the
Angelus reproducing piano. Miss Hernia Menth will
also be heard in Angelus concerts throughout the
week.
NEW COLUMBUS MANAGER.
THE VILLAGE BEAUTIFUL.
the idea of the picture entitled "Village Beautiful"
came to me from an article which appeared in one
of the daily papers. The idea of the columns, used
in the present picture, I copied from those adorning
the Plaza at the entrance to Central Park at Fifth
avenue and Fifty-ninth street, New York.
Realization of the Dream.
I first made a drawing of one of them, from which
a carver, John Mauer, who at the time did the piano
carving for my firm, made a wooden pattern which
was used in casting a number of the columns in
plaster-paris.
The brackets on the sides, which hold the electric
lamps, are metal tubing taken from the mechanism
of a playerpiano action; the lamps, which are wired
for electric lighting—done by my son, William H.—
I have used on several occasions, and they produced
a charming effect.
The Picture Described.
Thinking it may be of interest, I will make a brief
description of the principal parts of the pictures
which will, at the same time, in a measure serve to
briefly describe the construction of some of my other
productions of similar nature.
The background is a "frieze"; an oil print on
heavy paper, done in imitation of oil painting called
"Chromo," and represents the Church of St. Trinity
in Rome. I bought this and two others (The "Bay
of Venice" and the "Rocky Mountains") from the
firm of Thibout, a prominent wall-paper manufac-
turer in New York, some time before the world war.
I was told they were made in Germany. Today
four feet wide. It is covered with green plush to
represent sod, except the walks, for which coarse
sand-paper is used. The bases, or pedestals, upon
which the "Statue of Liberty" and bisque figures rest,
are of wood ornamented with embossed wall paper
selected so as to represent panels, moulding, bases,
etc. The settees, benches, etc., are ornamented in the
same manner. The residential buildings came partly
from Germany and partly from Japan (the latter
are far inferior to the other).
The trees are partly taken from toy sets, but most
of them are pine-cones painted green and fastened to
a base to keep them erect. The cones were gathered
by me during outings, principally in the Adirondack
Mountains; they make quite a nice little tree when
colored. The square flower pots are of porcelain and
are marked as coming from France; I bought a
number of them at a bargain, for they are indeed
very fine. The large flower vases are of plaster-
paris, which I caused to be cast from a porcelain
sample to which I had taken a fancy.
Building the Fountain.
The fountain, prominently in the foreground, is
made in parts; the base is of wood; the upper mem-
bers are pie-plates and cake-forms, capable of hold-
ing water, which may be carried to the top basin and
then made to overflow, so as to produce a miniature
water falls, and the effect is very pretty. I am not
using the water this year because of the extra
work its preparation entails. The small figures and
statuary are of bisque, and come from several parts
of Europe (I would say this class of art objects are
J. E. Baldwin is the new general manager of the
Columbus, O., branch of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Co.,
succeeding Roy Riegler. Mr. Baldwin was formerly
general sales manager for the Smith Piano Co., in
Chicago, and just prior to joining the Wurlitzer Co.
was retail manager for Steger & Sons Piano Co.
MRS.
SOELTER IN CHARGE.
The W. C. Munn Company, of Houston, Texas,
has transferred its music department to Mrs. Isabelle
H. Soelter who had been running that branch of
the business for over a year previously. Mrs. Soelter
is determined to make her department a music center
in Houston.
not made in this country); the stairways, swings, etc.,
are made of wood and are of my own making.
Last, but not least, I would describe the flower
beds. The large ones, in front and rear of the foun-
tain, I made for table decorations for Mrs. Tonk, and
find them very appropriate for the present picture;
the flow T er beds proper are made of wood, colored
brown, convex in form and pierced with small in-
dentations into which the stems of artificial flowers
may be placed; the base, also of wood, about one
inch in thickness, is covered with green plush, except
the path, or walk, around the bed, which is covered
with flint sand-paper; and on the end of the green
plush, small pebbles are placed, so as to outline the
path. The effect is very pretty.
There are other unimportant details, but it is fair
to add that if it is a good investment for every man
to indudge in hobbies—as we are so often told—
then this one of mine may interest many others
whose love of music and art has led them into the
various lines to which my own life has been so
largely devoted. And this is excuse enough for the
space which, at the request of Presto, is given to
details of my latest Christmas decoration fancies.
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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