July 11, 1925.
PRESTO
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, or
Other Subjects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
writer in order to receive attention. Answers thought
to be of general trade interest will be published. If an
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro-
vided stamp is inclosed.
WURLITZER ROLL FRAMES.
Antigo, Wis., June 15, 1925.
Editor Presto: Wire, collect, address of company
making Wurlitzer roll frames, style S.
J E W E L L MUSIC CO.
It is our understanding that the Rudolph Wurlitzer
Co., Chicago or Cincinnati, can supply the roll frames
you want. The Wurlitzer is an established house
with branches in many cities and a factory at North
Tonawanda, N. Y.
* * *
HIGHEST PRICED PIANO.
Okmulgce, Okla., June 9, 1925.
Editor Presto: What is the largest sum ever
expended for a piano, by whom was it sold, and to
whom, also the make of the piano?
A. A. CORLEY.
A difficult question to answer. One of the most
expensive pianos within our knowledge, if not abso-
lutely the most costly—was a Steinway which had
been especially decorated by a distinguished artist
for some presentation purpose. It was a good many
years back and our recollection now is the cost was
in the neighborhood of $26,000. However, there may
have been still more costly instruments of which we
have no record at hand.
* * *
THE LAWSON PIANO.
Girard, Ohio, June 6, 1925.
Editor Presto: Will you please tell me who has
taken over the Lawson pianos? Or are they being
manufactured now, and by whom?
E. H. LOTZE.
About the Lawson pianos. As you probably know,
Mr. Lawson died something like two years ago. He
was for many years associated with the late William
H. Wheelock. who was an officer of The Aeolian
Co. of New York. We believe the company just
named may be able to give you the information for
which you ask. It is our impression that the Law-
son piano is now made as a trade-mark instrument.
* * *
SALESMEN'S COMMISSIONS.
Taylorville, III, June 6. 1925.
Editor Presto: Can you inform me what com-
mission is paid to good, steady, honest, reliable sales-
men on pianos, players, grands and uprights? Also
on phonographs, by reliable houses, such as The
Cable Co., Lyon & Healy, etc.
W. E. McCAULEY.
The better way would be to ask the big houses
directly. They will probably tell you provided that
they employ salesmen on commission. It is impos-
Schumann
PIANOS and PLAYER PIANOS
GRANDS and UPRIGHTS
Have no superiors in appearance, tone
power or other essentials of strictly
leaders in the trade.
Warning to Infringers
-Piano,
ThU Trad* Mark la eaat
In tha plata and also ap-
pears upon tha fall board
of all genuine Schumann
Pianoa, and all Infrtngera
will be prosecuted. Bvware
of Imltatlona auch aa Schu-
mann & Company, Schu-
mann tt Son, and also
Shuman, as all atencil
shops, dealers and users of
pianoa bearing a name In
imitation of the name
Schumann with the Inten-
tion of deceiving the public
will be prosecuted to {he
fullest extent of th« law.
N«w Catalogue on Request.
Schumann Piano Co.
W. N. VAN MATRE, President
Rockford, 111.
sible for us to answer except in a general way. There
is no fixed commission, and it makes a great differ-
ence, of course, whether the sales are at retail or
wholesale. Of course manufacturers who often sell
on close margin of profit, cannot allow the same
rate of commission that the retail dealer can who
realizes profits in accordance witli the cost of the
instrument and the added expense of selling. As a
rule the wholesale rate of commission is from 3 to
10 per cent.
* * *
WOOD WORKING CONCERNS.
Winona, Minn., June 10, 1925.
Editor Presto: Could you furnish me the names
of some w 7 ood working companies in which I could
obtain panels and other wood for the rebuilding of
piano cases.
D. B. ARMSTRONG.
Tn all probability any of the following may be
able to supply you with such material for piano case
rebuilding as you may need:
Art Novelty Co., Goshen, Ind.; C. H. Bartholo-
mee, 339 South Wabash avenue, Chicago; Frield
Miller & Co., 3767 North Illinois street, Indianapolis,
Ind.; United Specialty Co., Monticello, Ind.
If we had some better understanding of what it is
you are working on we might be able to help you
further.
TRAVELER GEORGE P. BENT
AGAIN ON HIS WAY
Leaves Los Angeles Home for Quick Trip to Meet
Mrs. Bent in New York.
George P. Bent qualifies as the greatest traveler
in the trade. He has traveled from coast to coast
many times and from his home in Los Angeles to
Chicago times almost innumerable. Mr. Bent this
week arrived at the Illinois Athletic Club, Chicago
from California, and continued on to New York,
after a day or two of rest,, to meet Mrs. Bent, who
arrives on the steamer "Mauretania," booked to reach
that port Thursday or Friday, this week.
Mr. Bent says he has had a good "rest" during
his two weeks' stay in California following the
strenuous days of the piano convention and the great
Bent dinner last month.
After the California music merchants' convention
at Los Angeles, he and friends motored to Red-
lands, where the temperature was 109, and from
there to Lake Arrowhead and back to Los Angeles
the last day of June, where he attended a patriotic
picnic and was on the program for a speech.
"But," says Mr. Bent, "I like this sort of 'resting,'
and I'm happy when I'm moving, so you see I am
happy very much of my time."
NEW STEGER FACILITIES.
Facilities for the sale of taken-in-exchange pianos
and players in the Wabash avenue store of the Steger
& Sons Piano Mfg. Co., Chicago, have been greatly
improved by completed remodeling plans in the base-
ment, where used instruments are segregated. On
the third floor is a reproducing piano exhibition
room, where only Steger pianos, grands, or uprights
with the Weltc-Mignon player mechanism, arc shown.
Three new glass sound-proof demonstration rooms
have been installed for players, and also on this floor
a new wholesale room showing upright styles only,
has been created.
TO AID HARDMAN DISPLAY.
Additional space for displaying Hardman Period
models is provided in the main piano salon on the
ground floor of the building of Hardman, Peck &
Co., 433 Fifth avenue. New York, by remodeling
plans now being carried out. The main change con-
sists in the removal of the demonstration booths
along the right wall at the rear, giving an unimpeded
view from the entrance through the entire length of
the store. Calvin T. Purdy, retail manager, who
formerly made his private office in one of the booths
at the right, will occupy the first booth on the left.
NEW OREGON BRANCH.
A new branch store of Sherman, Clay & Co., Port-
land, Ore., has been opened in Bend, Ore.. The new
branch is at 904 Wall street, where a full line of
music goods will be handled. Improvements on the
property, including a separate entrance and numer-
ous furnishings, have already been made. The Stein-
way piano and the Duo-Art will be featured in the
piano department. A. R. Bailey is manager, assisted
by J. M. Howard,
BUSH & GERTS PIANO CO.'S
AFFAIRS LIQUIDATED
Announcement by W. S. Miller This Week
States that Creditors' Committee Have
Cash Available for Final Dividend.
Concerning the affairs of the late Bush & Gerts
Piano Co. and the liquidating of that concern's assets
and settling up of the business at Chicago, W. S.
Miller, vice-president of that corporation, announces
that it was considered by the officers and directors
of the company and the creditors' committee that
the creditors' interests would be best served if the
company would sell these remaining assets for cash
to the highest bidder at an advertised sale.
Accordingly the company published notice of such
sale in a Chicago newspaper, June 25, 1925, and the
company held the sale June 30. The highest bidder
was Howard S. Camp, and the amount received was
$3,525.28. This amount was paid over to the cred-
itors' committee for disbursement along with the
cash balance on hand which amounted to $1,941.08,
making a total cash available for distribution of $5,-
466.86.
This amount enables the creditors' committee to
pay a final dividend of 3 per cent, making the total
dividend paid on creditors' claims 81 per cent. The
affairs of the company have now all been liquidated,
and there remains on hand no further assets of any
kind whatsoever.
MARYLAND STATE NORMAL
SCHOOL BUYS YORK PIANO
Instrument Made by Weaver Piano Co., York, Pa.,
Highly Appreciated by Principal Dunkle.
The Frostburg, Md., State Normal School has just
selected a Style 15 York piano, made by the Weaver
Piano Co., Inc., York, Pa., to add to its teaching
equipment. The sale was made by H. H. Trader,
manager of the piano department of The Holland
Co., distributor of Weaver and York pianos in Cum-
berland, Md.
The satisfaction of the school heads is expressed
in a letter to the Weaver Piano Co. from Prof. John
L. Dunkle, principal of the school, stating. "The
York piano has given entire satisfaction. I feel sure
it is going to live up to its reputation."
The selection of the York piano by the Maryland
school is another evidence of preference of the piano
by discriminating school boards and college heads.
It will be remembered that about a year ago the
West Chester, Pa., state normal school purchased
seventeen Weaver pianos and one York for its music
department, which have been in use constantly since
that time.
STUDENTS MAKE DU0=ART
PAY FOR ITSELF
Maxwell Training School for Public School Teachers
in New York Set Precedent in Purchasing.
The Maxwell Train School, New York, for public
school teachers during the past year inaugurated a
series of Duo-Art and pupils' recitals that has en-
abled them to pay for the Duo-Art they purchased at
the beginning of the year. An admission fee was
charged students, parents, etc.. and the concerts have
completely paid for the payment of the instrument
which appears in the recitals as accompanist, soloist
and as supporting instrument with the school orches-
tra.
The originator of this novel scheme for buying the
Duo-Art was Miss Emma B. Johnston, principal of
the school. The last in the series of recitals was
given on June 15. the splendid program testifying
to the high standard of excellence required by the
school in the musical courses in which the Duo-Art
figures in so many different roles.
Becker Bros.
Manufacturer*
of
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
Factory and Wareroomi
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
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