April 25, 1925.
PRESTO
WESER BROS. OFFER
NEW PLAYER MODEL
quality pianos and back it up with a policy which
protects the dealer. Zenith offers a music man's
policy backed by a receiving set which meets
expectations."
B. K. SETTERGREN CO.
TO BE ENLARGED
Style 52 Presents Especial Attraction as the
Most Moderate in Price from the Old New
York Industry.
ADVENTURES OF A
"BACON" IN CHINA
Factory at Bluffton, Ind., Has Completed
Plans for Extension and Greatly Increased
Production of Grand Pianos.
Another addition to the already attractive line of
the good old industry of Wesser Bros., New York,
is represented by its new model 52, 4 ft. 4 in. player,
which has been designed to meet the growing demand
for a playerpiano of moderate price. This attractive
little playerpiano is being offered to the dealer at a
price which is surprisingly low for an instrument of
quality.
Through a number of changes in production meth-
ods, also due to the fact that this instrument is being
used as a leader, and manufactured in very large
quantities, a number of substantial economies have
been effected in the matter of handling and also in
the purchase of materials. These savings are being
passed along to the dealers. The result is a player-
piano at a lower price than has ever heretofore been
offered by the reliable old New York industry.
A word as to the matter of quality is in order. The
instrument has been produced under the management
of the new superintendent, J. R. A. Lang, and repre-
sents a wonderful improvement in quality. The case
work is particularly attractive, and gives the impres-
sion of far greater value than the price at which the
new Model 52 Weser Bros, is sold.
CHICAGO PIANO MEN PAY
TRIBUTE TO THEIR CLUB
Monday's Meeting of Piano Club of Chicago
Made Especially Interesting by Intimate
Talks.
During the absence of Harry Schoenwald, president
of the Chicago Piano Club, the noon-day meeting of
Monday was presided over by the vice-president of
the club and there can be no harm in anticipating its
next president, Henry D. Hewitt, who was greeted
with warm applause. Mr. Hewitt was brief and to the
point in his remarks. He made reference to his posi-
tion as presiding officer, and his authority in the
premises, by telling a story of the railroad section
boss who discharged some of his men that he might
make them understand who he was.
After some minor preliminaries, the president called
upon two or three of the Old Guard members to say
a few words on the advantages of membership in the
Piano Club of Chicago. Matt Kennedy, a former
president, told "Why" in a sound and argumentative
manner, and Eugene Whalen, also a past-president,
gave an interesting story of the great good, in a busi-
ness way and socially, the club had been to him—how
he came into the club an entire stranger, compara-
tively; of the many ties of friendship he had formed,
and the benefit, generally, which had come to him
through the club. He ended his talk by confessing
that he prized his membership in the Piano Club of
Chicago the highest of any of his various social
club associations.
After a short talk by ex-president John McKenna
on the same topic and the drive for new members,
the speaker of the day was listened to. The seats
were all taken at the tables and the occasion was
another "grand good time."
PEARSON PIANO CO..
NEW ZENITH DEALER
Big Music House Has Secured Representative of
Favorite Radio at Indiana Capital.
The Pearson Piano Co., of Indianapolis, one of the
oldest and most well known piano houses in the coun-
try, has recently completed arrangements whereby
they are to become Zenith dealers.
The Pearson Co., as one of the outstanding music
houses of the Middle West, has long been prominent
in the piano market of Indianapolis and surrounding
territory. The company has branch stores in Muncie,
Kokomo, Columbus, Anderson and Shelbyville,
Indiana. Mr. Pearson stated at the time he made his
decision to feature Zenith:
"Piano dealers are accustomed to selling high-
priced, quality merchandise, backed by responsible
manufacturers who will protect the dealer. Price
must be maintained, territorial protection must be
given, and quality consistent. The most logical out-
let for high class radio receivers is through the music
dealer, and when other manufacturers come to realize
this fact, the present unrest in the radio industry will
cease. We sell Steinway, Aeolian, Vose, Kurtzmann
and Krakauer pianos because the manufacturers make
Piano Which Endured Abuse En Route and
After Reaching Pekin Proved in Per-
fect Condition Musically.
A Francis Bacon grand piano was shipped during
the latter months of 1924 to the Methodist Episcopal
Mission, Pekin. After shipping and carting, loading
and unloading, the instrument finally found its way
on board a vessel and sailed for the distant shores of
the celectial kingdom.
Arriving in China, it was soon found that the king-
dom was far from celestial. The flood season was at
its height and there was talk of the military seizing
the railroads and confiscating whatever freight that
happened to fall into their hands.
Despite this forboding outlook, the piano was
started on the difficult journey to its final destination.
While the handling which the instrument received en
route from America may have been rough, it was
nothing in comparison to the abuse administered by
the merciless Chinese coolies.
Upon the arrival of the Bacon piano, examination
showed that, with the exception of a few scratches on
the case, the instrument was in perfect condition. Its
tone had suffered not a whit. In the face of such a
severe test only a piano such as the Francis Bacon
could be used for public recitals, where it is subject
to the most exacting service.
That the industry founded at Bluffton, Indiana, by
B. K. Settergren, has become a fixture in that com-
munity, and that it is appreciated as a valuable ad-
junct to the community's growth, is shown by the
action of business men in retaining the factory per-
manently in that city. It has been an open secret,
for some time, that the B. K. Settergren Co. had not
been perfectly satisfied with its manufacturing facili-
ties in the original plant. Growth of the demand for
Settergren Grands has been rapid, and the instru-
ments have given such satisfaction that dealers who
secured samples ordered more, until the capacity of
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
Places.
The E. Morris Music Co., 1658 Broadway, New
York City; $550,000; Edward Morris, Frederick T.
Kelsey and Eugene T. McQuade.
The Brunswick Piano Co., of New York, with no
listed par; E. F. Adams, A. K. Bough and R. M.
Clearwater.
The Portable Music Corp., Binghamton, N. Y.;
L. S. Greenmun, R. C. Pugh, D. E. Carr, R. L. Mills
and Robert Carr.
Hofferbert's Music Store, 3133 Grcenmount avenue,
Baltimore, Md.; $25,000; J. Louis Hofferbert, Ben-
jamin Dobson and George Eckhardt, Jr.
The Wright Music Co., Cleveland, Ohio; $50,000;
Jerome M. Friedlander.
Phonograph Co., New York; increase of capital
from $325,000 to $500,000.
E. T. Paull Music Co., New York City; composi-
tions and instruments; $30,000; M. Richmond, M.
Mayer.
O'Connell Pianos, Inc., Lowell, Mass., to engage in
the retail piano business; $25,000.
The Capital Piano Company, Paterson, N. J.;
$25,000.
The Sterling Piano Corporation, Brooklyn, N. Y.,
has increased its capital from $1,500,000 to $3,000,000.
HENRY F. MILLER IN CONCERTS.
A Henry F. Miller concert grand from the Smith-
Reis Piano Company, St. Louis, was used Saturday
evening, April 18, at a concert given by the Univer-
sity of Missouri Glee Club held in Odeon Hall. One
of the special features of the evening's program was
a piano solo, the Chopin Etude, Opus 10, No. 3,
played by the leader of the club, Tillman Merritt.
On April 25 a Henry F. Miller concert grand from
the Smith-Reis store will again be used at the dedica-
tion of one of the big new Ford buildings in St. Louis.
FEATURES STARR GRAND.
In the Chicago store of the Starr Piano Co., Rich-
mond, Ind., a noticeable increase in demand for the
Starr grand is a notable feature. This instrument is
designed to meet the requirements of the small apart-
ment and home, but at the same time has the tone
quality of a larger sized instrument. The Starr Piano
Co. has prepared some very attractive colored litera-
ture, featuring the instruments, which it has just sent
to the trade.
NEW OHIO VENTURE.
The Paul Winter Piano Co. has been opened on
West Fair street, New Philadelphia, O., handling
Sohmer, Bush & Lane, Cable, Conway, Story & Clark
and Brambach pianos. A line of musical accessories
and small goods is also carried. Paul Winter, pro-
prietor of the business, is widely known in that
section.
B. K. SETTEKGUEX.
the Bluffton factory became taxed to the extreme of
production. And then Mr. Settergren decided that it
would be necessary to provide for expansion.
It is understood that Bluffton business men offered
to buy a good-sized block of participating preferred
stock in the Settergren factory and thus insure
against moving from that city.
The action of the Bluffton business men means that
the B. K. Settergren factory in Bluffton will be
greatly enlarged and every recent improvement in-
troduced for the speedy production of high-grade
grands in quantities. It is planned to put in the
sprinkler system and to build an addition to the plant
at once.
It was found that business men who had already
taken their allotment of stock were more than willing
to add more money to put the deal through, showing
the value placed upon the piano industry in Bluffton.
According to B. K. Settergren, president of the
company, the new addition to the present plant will
be in running order in less than sixty days. Com-
menting on the fact, a local authority in Blufftou
said:
"It will mean more men employed, more pianos
manufactured, and more wages paid. This means
property values kept where they are, if not increased
and that Bluffton, especially at this time, when so
many nearby cities around are in need of just what
Bluffton now has, is to be congratulated. There never
was any doubt of the success of the effort to keep
the piano plant in Bluffton and from this time for-
ward the piano industry will be a busier place than
ever before."
Mr. Settergren deserves the good-will which has
been so clearly evidenced by the action of Bluffton,
and the start which he had made in the manufacture
of attractive grands was all the incentive required
to insure for him the same confidence at home that
has been extended to him by the trade throughout the
country. His associate, Mr. Woods, also has proved
a man of force, and a great aid to the founder of the
B. K. Settergren Company.
AMPICO IN VANCOUVER.
Bowes Music House, of Vancouver, B. C, has been
awarded the contract for an Ampico grand supplied
to the Commercial Radio, Ltd., of Vancouver. This
instrument, which is in the Willis piano, is to be used
in connection with their broadcasting work.
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