June 13, 1925.
PRESTO
CHRISTMAN
The First Touch Tells
t f
See Them
At The DRAKE
During The
CONVENTION
One of the Features
Will Be The
Christman Electric
Grand
Many Live Dealers
Know and Sell The
Studio Grand
(only 5 ft. long)
It will Fascinate any Discriminat-
ing Customer and Insure the Sale.
It is this Test that Makes the
Christman the
Dealer's Best Choice
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
Equipped with
Action
Has advantages for any Dealer or
Salesman. It is a marvel of expressive
interpretation of all classes of compo-
sition, reproducing perfectly the per-
formances of the world's greatest
pianists.
"The First Touch Tells'*
IUf. U. S. Pat. Off
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
PERSONAL GLIMPSES AT
THE BIG CONVENTION
Some of the Prominent Men of the Indus-
try and Trade Who Seemed to Be
Enjoying the Warm Week at the
Drake.
Arthur Wessell, of Wessell, Nickel & Gross, New
York, was at the piano convention, as was to be ex-
pected. But Fernando Wessell, his brother, who has
not attended so many of the conventions, attended
this one also, and for the very reason that he had
remained away from so many, his right hand was
in constant action, shaking hands with his many
greeters. These genial brothers are always made
welcome in any group of piano men.
Gordon G. Campbell at Drake.
Gordon G. Campbell, vice-president of the Bram-
bach Piano Co., New York, was in Chicago for the
convention and daily in attendance at the Brambach
exhibit in Parlor 467 at the Drake Hotel, where Mr.
Campbell was registered.
Mark Campbell Arrived.
Mark P. Campbell, president of the Brambach
Piano Company, New York, has cut short his trip
to Europe in order to attend the convention at the
Drake Hotel in Chicago. The Brambach exhibit this
year was one of utmost interest to the trade, and Mr.
Campbell felt the need of being on hand to super-
vise it personally. In the exhibit was one of the two
Brambachs that recently made the air journey from
New York to Washington by airplane. The other
Brambach that made the same journey is now in the
possession of Friendship House, in Washington, a
charitable institution for children, and was given to
that institution by Mrs. Coolidge.
Autopiano People.
Among the many persons in the Music Industry
whose lines of travel converged toward Chicago for
the convention this week was Corley Gibson, presi-
dent of the Autopiano Company, of New York. Mr.
Gibson took an active part in the Autopiano display,
which was an interesting one.
A feature of special interest at the display of the
Autopiano Co., New York, was a showing of the
prizes for the recent Autopiano Window Display
Contest, beautiful silver plate made by the Gorham
Company of New York. Along with the prizes were
shown photographs of the windows that have cap-
tured them. Mr. Gibson will stay at the Drake Hotel
while in Chicago.
Kohler & Campbell.
Conspicuous among those at the convention at the
Drake Hotel, Chicago, this year was Herbert Simp-
son, president, of Kohler & Campbell, Inc., New
York. Mr. Simpson and Mrs. Simpson were guests
at the Drake Hotel.
Wm. C. Heaton, president of the Auto Pneumatic
Action Company, of New York, and Mrs. Heaton
were at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, during convention
week. They went direct to Chicago after a pro-
longed tour of Europe, during which Mr. Heaton de-
voted a large part of his time to business affairs.
Mr. Heaton's itinerary took him into Italy, France,
Germany and Spain, and thence to England, where he
attended the annual convention of the British Music
Confederation at Llandudno, North W'ales, in May.
The Welte-Mignon (Licensee) display this year was
an important exhibit, and Mr. Heaton has made it a
point to be on hand to take an active part in it.
Milton President.
George W. Allen, president of the Milton Piano
Company, New York, was in Chicago for the con-
vention brimful of his usual vim and ardor. The
Milton had a live and significant exhibit that meant
much to fhe trade. Besides the business reasons that
made Mr. Allen feel the urgency of going to the con-
vention, his strong social nature made him feel the
urge of seeing his many friends there.
Bacon Exhibit.
Wm. P. H. Bacon, president of the Bacon Piano
Company, New York, was in attendance at the Bacon
exhibit at the Drake Hotel, Chicago, during conven-
tion week. He found delight in meeting many of
his business and personal friends there. The Bacon
exhibit afforded ample food for thought to all visitors
in the business of selling pianos.
* * *
Robert Mallonee, of El Reno, Okla., who attended
the convention, says trade in Gulbranson playerpi-
anos in his section is good. He also sells Edison and
Victrola phonographs. The principal sources of in-
come at El Reno are cotton and corn.
* * *
B. Platt, of Los Angeles, Cal., well-known music
dealer, arrived earlier than most of the conventioners,
coming in Sunday morning from New York where he
went two or three weeks ago. Mr. Platt is accom-
panied this time only by Mrs. Platt, his wife. On
former trips he had with him, in addition to Mrs.
Platt, several bright young sons.
* * *
W. G. Karmann, southwestern traveler for the
Gulbranson playerpianos, was in attendance at the
convention.
*
*
*
W. A. Giles, of Quincy, 111., whose store there
is an old-time institution, when introduced to a
Presto representative by Will H. Collins, of Chicago,
was asked by the newspaper man, "Giles, of Quincy?"
"No, Quincy, of Giles," said Mr. Collins, laughing.
* * *
A. M. Sweetland, general eastern representative
of the Starr Piano Company, was about the floors of
the Drake Hotel hobnobbing with several of the
experts, superintendents and men from the Starr
piano plants at Richmond, Ind.
* * *
Many old-timers in the piano trade were pleased
to see Harry Freund at the convention. Mr. Freund
is remembered as the publisher of one of the pioneer
weekly trade papers devoted to the piano industry
and trade, but at present he is in '"the advertising
game."
* * *
T. Linton Floyd-Jones, of New York, was seen at
the Drake with his co-partner, Mr. Carter, of W. P.
Haines & Co. Mr. Floyd-Jones spoke of the excellent
business the house is doing with the Bradbury Grand.
This house has recently had a good foreign trade; it
has sold a good many instruments to dealers in
Honolulu.
* * *
George T. Smith, of Smith Special Sales Service,
532 Republic Building, Chicago, and 1906 Dime Bank
Building, Detroit, was at the convention. Mr. Smith
had just closed a sale at Grand Rapids, and from
Chicago he goes to Los Angeles to conduct a sale
for the Wurlitzer Company.
* * *
R. J. Geyer, salesman with the John Turner Com-
pany, Tampa, Fla., was among the trade conven-
tioners. He says conditions are fair in Florida.
* * *
R. D. Gaston, of Hastings, Neb., attended the con-
vention. He gave up the several-stores-in-several-
cities idea some time ago and says he finds plenty to
do in conducting his one larger store in Hastings.
* * *
George W 7 hite, of Fairbury, Neb., who has sold
Brinkerhoft pianos ever since the factory was started,
"ever since Bill made them" as he puts it, was at the
Drake Hotel convention all this week.
* * *
L. S. Lanz, who has sold Brinkerhoff pianos on
the road for many years, had the pleasure of meeting
many of his regular customers at the convention.
* * *
G. B. Hall, of the Hall Music Company W'arren,
Ohio, who has been in business over twenty years
at that city, was among the conventioners. He has
two sons who were amply able to take care of the
business while he was away.
FROM THE COAL FIELDS.
E. A. Hall is a piano dealer at Beckwith, W. Va.,
who sells the M. Schulz pianos as part of his line.
Beckwith is about 58 miles from Charleston and
is in the heart of the bituminous coal fields. He
says considerable coal is being mined at the present
time. There are 58 operations within ten miles of
Beckwith.
Mr. Hall rode all the way to Chicago with Adolph
M. Hediger, vice-president of the Jacob Best Coal
Company, who had been down there buying coal for
Chicago delivery. The new River Smokeless Fuel
Company is probably the biggest concern operating
in the vicinity of Beckwith.
CHARLES JACOB'S FRANKNESS.
When the piano manufacturers at the opening of
the afternoon session Tuesday sang "Love's Old
Sweet Song" and "Long-Long Trail" in response to
the request of President Jacobson, Charles Jacob
said: "That was very nice, but I don't think it will
go very far toward making America musical."
HARRY SIPE CAME.
Harry T. Sipe, traveler for the Adam Schaaf cor-
poration, who had -been "laid up" with a severe cold
and a touch of influenza, made his real getaway from
his siege by coming to the convention. He was seen
hobnobbing with several piano merchants, and among
them was Mr. Nelson, of the Adam Schaaf factory.
CONRAD KREITER OFF FOR EUROPE.
Conrad Kreiter, of Milwaukee, accompanied by his
wife, sails for Europe on the 16th of June to spend
most of the summer visiting his old home scenes in
the south Rhineland country. Mrs. Kreiter's rela-
tives over there, not very far away, will also be vis-
ited.
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