August 1, 1925.
PRESTO
12
FINDLAY, 0., MANAGER
IS PACKARD ENTHUSIAST
Chas. W. Bell, of Trout, Cheseboro & Bell,
Points to Fort Wayne Instrument as
Result of Evolution.
Considerable success in sales of Packard pianos
made by the Packard Piano Co., Fort Wayne, Ind.,
are rewarding- the vigorous efforts of Charles W. Bell,
manager of the piano department of Trout, Chese-
boro & Bell, piano and furniture dealers, Findlay,
Ohio.
"In addition to actual sales we are having many in-
quiries for Packard pianos daily," said Mr. Bell this
week, "and our success in placing one after another
of them iri appreciative homes the county over, and
farther away, is rapidly spreading the fame of the
Packard products hereabouts, and adding immeasur-
ably to the prestige of Trout, Cheseboro & Bell, as
dependable dealers in fine musical instruments.
"Evolution" was a timely topic in Findlay last
week and Mr. Bell gave a reporter of the Findlay
Republican an appropriate talk on niano evolution
from the monichord through various forms to the
grand piano.
"And" he said, "in its yet more refined super-con-
ception, the reproducing piano, it has become the
acme of instrumental musical means, bringing into
thousands of homes the opportunity of hearing the
compositions of every land, by the world's great vir-
tuosos, and every ringing melody and each popular
dance or song.
"The Packard grand reproducing piano," Mr. Bell
continued, "is the standard of perfection among in-
struments of this character. And our firm lias had
the good fortune to deliver a large number of them
hereabouts."
KNABE GRAND IS PRIZE
Doris Maclean, sixteen-year-old Los Angeles pian-
ist, has just been declared winner in the Fitzgerald
piano trophy contest, sponsored by the -Fitzgerald
Music House of Los Angeles. Mr. Fitzgerald, head
of the concern bearing his name, presented Miss Mac-
lean with a Knabe grand piano, valued at $1,700.
The exceptional talent and ability displayed by Miss
Maclean places her on the honor roll of our most
promising young artists. She is a puyil of Yernon
Spencer.
The judges of the contest, which has attracted
nation-wide attention, comprised such well known
Each contestant played three compositions, Grieg's
"Concerto A Minor," Yon Weber's "Perpetual Mo-
tion," Rondo from Sonata, and Liszt's "Liebstraum"
Nocturne No. 3. Three separate recitals were given
and the winner was judged by the elimination method.
Mr. Fitzgerald said:
"We were deeply gratihed in the interest and the
exceptional talent shown by the music students of
the Southwest in our first annual piano trophy con-
test.
"We believe a contest of this kind will greatly
stimulate the desire for personal study and practice.
GEORGE LIEBLING MAKES
WELTE=MIGN0N RECORDS
Artist of Remarkable Powers, Is Recording Exclu-
sively for Auto Pneumatic Action Company.
Last year, George Liebling came to the United
States, from Kurope, where critics acclaimed him a
musician of highest rank. His technique is brilliant,
he plays the most difficult passages with fluent ease,
and his interpretations set a standard for appealing
beauty and commanding eloquence.
Mr. Liebling's first recordings were made in the
Welte-Mignon (Licensee) Laboratory shortly after
his arrival here, and he is under contract to record
exclusively for The Auto Pneumatic Action Com-
pany. He was amazed, upon listening to his first
recordings, at the accuracy with which his playing
was reproduced, even to the elusive feeling he im-
parts to his playing.
Mr. Liebling looms large as an important factor
in the Welte-Mignon (Licensee) Library. In a long
list that bristles with a host of great names of piano-
forte virtuosi, his is an outstanding name. His play-
ing is marked by profound individuality and the
utmost knowledge and command of his instrument
and its possibilities.
Those who attended the banquet of the National
Association of Music Merchants during the conven-
tion at the Drake in June witnessed a demonstration
of the captivating power of Liebling's playing. He
was recalled again and again, and after he finished
each number there was a spontaneous burst of ap-
plause. There are but a few artists of Liebling's
magnitude alive today, and it is most fortunate that
his playing is preserved in all its beauty for the pres-
ent and future generations to enjoy.
Contestants in Kitzgerald-Knabe Piano
contest. Winner, Miss Doris Maclean, is at
the extreme right of picture.
At l-ight: .T. T. Fitzgerald uresenting the
Knabe Grand Piano to Miss Maclean.
Below — The judges: Modest Altschuler,
Carl Bronson, Charles Waken 1 eld Cadman,
O.ige Christopher. Mrs. Susan M. Dorsey,
Mrs. Wm. I. Hollingsworth, Hugo Kirch-
holer. Florence J-awrenoo. Kenneth MeGaf-
fey, Jose Rodriguez. Walter Henry Roth well,
Edwin Sehallert. Alexander Stewart, Kuth-
ryn A. Stone and David Bruno Ussher.
GERMAN PIANO DEALERS' UNION.
They call the piano merchants' association in Ger-
many a "union," but in its purposes it does not differ
from our own national association. At the general
meeting of the German Piano Dealers' Union re-
cently, Otto Krause said of the piano business in
1924: It had suffered severely early in the year, which
the Union greatly assisted to withstand; but much
remained to be done. The membership of the Union
had risen in the year from 1,030 to 1,135 and the
organization has been extended and strengthened.
NEW OMAHA MANAGER.
A. W. Fischer is the new retail sales manager of
the piano and talking machine departments of the A.
Hospe Company, Omaha, Neb. Mr. Fischer, who
has been with the company for the past fourteen
years, knows every phase of the music business. He
started in as a tuner, but the selling end of the piano
business lured him, and in time he became expert at
closing sales as well as locating prospects.
critics and musicians as: Modest Altschuler, Carl
Bronson, Gage Christopher, Mrs. Susan M. Dorsey,
Mrs. W r m. L. Hollingsworth, Hugh Kirchhofer,
Florence Lawrence, Walter Henry Rothwell, Edwin
Sehallert. Alexander Stewart, Kathryu Stone, David
Bruno U'ssher. They were unanimous in their opin-
ion that it was one of the fairest and the most suc-
cessfully executed contests that they had ever par-
ticipated in. Each contestant was announced by a
number and no spectators were allowed entrance.
This eliminated the personal element and allowed no
demonstration from friends and teachers.
Naturally Mich a valuable prize will lead to the best
work of which the talented pupil is capable.
"We are glad of an opportunity to do our share in
developing future concert artists, who will eventually
take their nlace in spreading the message of culture
with music. Our main purpose, however, is to fill
11 Ie- heart and soul of the young men and women of
today with the spirit and love of the beautiful, that
they may live more abundantly and seek wholesome
and attractive entertainment in their leisure hours. To
this end we have decided to make the Fitzgerald
piano trophy contest an annual event."
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/