Presto

May 16, 1925.
PRESTO
H. Q. JOHNSON COMPANY
OPENS CHICAGO OFFICE
Instruments Arrive from Bellevue, la., Fac-
tory and Are Exhibited in Wareroom at
20 West Jackson Boulevard.
An announcement of interest to the trade from
the H. G. Johnson Co., of Bellevue, Iowa, is that the
industry has reopened its office in Chicago. It is on
the eighth floor of the same building occupied a year
ago. The office is spacious and will accommodate
sample instruments which will be shown to visiting
dealers while in Chicago.
The office will serve as headquarters of H. G.
Johnson representatives, and an invitation is extended
to all dealers visiting Chicago to call and make them-
selves at home while they inspect the products of the
reconstructed factory at Bellevue, Iowa.
The instruments now at the Chicago office include
several styles of upright pianos and players. The
new style C player has been favored with a heavy
demand. It is a small Colonial style, equipped with
Simplex player action, and has met with approval of
many dealers.
Dan Pagenta, vice-president, will make his head-
quarters at the Chicago office. Mr. Pagenta at pres-
ent is visiting the trade in several states.
RARE FEATURE OF THE
COMING CONVENTION
Queer Musical Instruments of Primitive Peo-
ple, Will Be Exhibited at Music Trades
Convention Next Month.
Nose flutes from the island of New Guinea, native
bells and drums from China and the South Seas, and
a crude harp with which the dusky girls of Java call
their boy friends in the evening, will be features of
the exhibition of hundreds of musical instruments
during the convention at the Drake Hotel June 8
to 11. The instruments have been loaned by the
Society of the Divine Word at Techny, 111., and mis-
sionaries from that institution, who have recently re-
turned from service across the Pacific, will describe
the songs and music of primitive peoples.
The nation's music men have adopted the slogan,
"Make America Musical," but they will learn from
the Techny missionaries that music-loving people the
world over readily learn to play western instruments.
Describing the music of the Malays of Timor, an
island of the Dutch East Indies, the Rev. Simon
Buis says:
"These people have their dramas, dating back
thousands of years, and these dramas are acted and
accompanied with music. The musical effect is called
the Gamalam and is produced by an instrument
somewhat similar to the xylophone. Troops of
troubadors are common in the islands.
"The most interesting instrument used by these
people is a kind of jew's-harp. The instrument is a
tiny wooden affair, played by mouth with the aid of
pulling a string. It is used especially for love-calls.
Brass bands introduced by the missionaries prove
exceedingly popular with the younger members of
primitive tribes."
SCHAFFER PIANO IN
STRONG COMBINATION
Fine Old Instrument Affiliated with Powerful
Financial Organization Will Enter New
Era in Its Career.
A matter of much interest to the piano trade was
this week consummated, by which one of the oldest
and most popular pianos is given a new impetus for-
ward. It is the famous Schaeffer piano, which was
established in New York City more than fifty years
ago and has been controlled in Chicago for more
than half that time.
The important item is that the Schaeffer Piano
Mfg. Company has been reorganized and affiliated
with the powerful Frederick Investment Company,
with combined capital of two millions of dollars. It
is thus one of the strongest of the piano industries
and the purpose of the affiliation is to distribute at
wholesale the entire output of Schaeffer pianos and
players, and also that of the well-known Carleton
pianos and players, not only in the United States,
but throughout the world.
In other words, the already famous Schaeffer in-
struments and the popular Carleton will assume a
place of more importance in the trade than ever be-
fore, and will reach out for a market wherever intelli-
gent music-loving people exist. And it need not be
said that the combination of experience and capital,
indicated by the names, and the capital suggested by
the figures given, will afford every possible means for
th edistribution of a vast number of the instruments
which are already known wherever piano dealers are
located.
As a further guarantee of what the new affiliation
may means to the trade, the following list of officers
of the Schaeffer Piano Mfg. Co. affiliated with the
Frederick Investment Company leave no room for
question or doubt:
W. B. Price, president; A. F. Price, vice-president;
B. J. Heing, treasurer; F. Snider, assistant treasurer;
O. H. Brock, secretary. And the directors are as
follows: W. F. Frederick, W. B. Price, E. B. Heyer,
A. F. Price and F. Snider.
The wholesale offices are located in the Republic
Building, Suite 610, 209 South State street, Chicago.
A. P. GUSTAFSON PLAYER
EXPERT ON TRIP EAST
Superintendent of Player and Reproducing
Piano Divisions of M. Schulz Co., Chicago,
Investigates Latest, in Machinery.
A. P. Gustafson, player department superintendent
for the M. Schulz Co., Chicago, now in the east, is
having interesting and enjoyable experiences. Every-
thing in the line of his work is both interesting and
OPERATORS' ORGAN
SHOWN AT MILWAUKEE
Fine Exhibit at Motion Picture Supply Manu-
facturers' Convention £t Milwaukee Audi-
torium This Week Draws Crowd.
During the convention of the Motion Picture Sup-
ply Manufacturers at Milwaukee, this week, the
Operators Piano Co., of Chicago, had a fine exhibit of
its large reproducing organ. Space for exhibition
purposes was limited to two firms, the Operators
Piano Co. being given a fine location in the wing of
the auditorium where most of the interesting ex-
hibits were seen.
The auditorium was filled with visitors during ex-
hibiting hours and many entertaining features were
put on by exhibitors. The Operators Piano Co. Re-
producing Theater Organ was given no little atten-
tion and many spectators were impressed by its per-
formance.
A. P. GUSTAFSON.
GOOD PUBLICITY AID
FOR WEAVER DEALERS
Excellent Series of Newspaper Advertisements
Prepared by Weaver Piano Co.,
York, Pa.
Arguments for musical training for the young char-
acterize an effective series of advertisements of
Weaver pianos, prepared for use of dealers by the
Weaver Piano Company, Inc., York, Pa. The ads,
supplied in one or two column electros or mats, are
embellished with a well-drawn illustration suggested
by the theme.
"Will your boy be just one of many?" is the ques-
tion asked in one of the series and a good sample of
the argumentative style. This follows:
"They both came to college from the same town—
both were good, clean-cut fellows. But Jim was ex-
ceedingly popular, whereas Frank was just one of
many. There was no marked difference in person-
ality—but Jim could play the piano. It was Jim who
was the life of the crowd—it was he who was re-
membered for his leadership and his inspiring influ-
ence, long after he had left college.
"Every child should have an opportunity to learn
to play the piano. It is an accomplishment that will
be of real value in after life. Neither is it too late for
you to learn—just because you are grown up. Choose
a piano that will be a constant source of pleasure to
you—a Weaver—and find a good teacher.
"At the first touch you immediately will be struck
with the musical richness and deep sonority of the
Weaver's tone. This beautiful tone is one of the
noted characteristics of the Weaver. It remains rich
and full throughout the years. Even though you may
know little of pianos, you will be impressed by the
delicate sensitiveness of the keyboard. The wonder-
ful action is instantly responsive to the lightest touch
—and yet has exceptional strength and endurance."
WOMEN TUNING PIANOS.
The ladies are doing a good deal of the piano tun-
ing. In some localities they are in such demand that
there is room for more. At Centerville, la., a favorite
piano tuner is Miss L. Gertrude McClaskey, who has
a large clientele. Her work is said to be of a very
high order, and it is whispered that as a piano sales-
man she is "not to be sneezed at." Polk's College of
Piano Tuning, La Porte, Ind., is turning out a good
many lady tuners who prefer the pleasant work to
that of doing housework and waiting for detained
members of the downtown clubs.
A music department has been added to the jewelry
business conducted by E. Fry & Son at Belleville,
Kansas.
joyful to Mr. Gustafson. Mr. Gustafson is investigat-
ing special machinery required in making players and
reproducing pianos.
The mission of Mr. Gustafson in the east is char-
acteristic of his alertness in finding the best and new-
est ways for producing the M. Schulz instruments.
In the M. Schulz players and reproducing pianos are
special mechanism devices which distinguish the in-
struments which not only have original features
but are combinations of parts designed for each other
from the first and in perfect harmony throughout.
WILL DISCUSS BUDGET OF
ASSOCIATION FOR YEAR
On Sunday Night Before Convention Begins Cham-
ber Will Meet and Fix Assessments.
The Board of Directors of the Music Industries
Chamber of Commerce will hold their final session
of the year previous to the convention at the Drake
Hotel, Chicago, at 7 o'clock, Sunday evening, June
7th. Prior to the meeting the directors will be the
guests of President Richard W. Lawrence at dinner.
The chief business of the meeting will be the dis-
cussion and action upon the annual reports which
will lie presented on Thursday morning, and the rec-
ommendation of a report from the Financial Com-
mittee to the various member associations of the
Chamber with respect to the budget and assessments
of each association for the coming year.
The annual meeting of delegates and election of
directors to fill unexpired terms will take place at
10 a. m., Thursday morning and will be followed
immediately by the meeting of the new Board of
Directors, the chief business of which will be the
election by the Board of the officers for the coming
year.
HALLET & DAVIS IN TEXAS.
H. C. Collier is manager of a fine display of Hallet
& Davis instruments, notably the Angelus players,
at Tyler, Tex. Mr. Collier is a former Smith County,
Texas, citizen, having been born and raised there.
Speaking of Tyler Mr. Collier said he was glad to
be back in his old home town again and added:
"Tvler is the best town for its size I know of."
STARR IN BOSTON.
The Starr Piano Co. will move its offices and
showrooms in Boston in a few weeks from 221
to 223 Columbus avenue, where more commodious
quarters have been secured. A fine show window
will be available in the new location, and the facil-
ities generally will be improved by the change, ac-
cording to J. R. Fales, manager.
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