Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1925 2041

September 5, 1925.
PRESTO
SAN ANTONIO MUSIC
HOUSE CELEBRATES
Stapleton Music Co. Holds Formal Opening of
Its Fine New Quarters at Broadway
and Travis Street.
The formal opening of the new quarters of the
Stapleton Music Co., San Antonio, Tex., recently
was an opportunity for showing the admirable char-
acter of the line of music goods carried. The facil-
ities in the remodeled store at Broadway and Travis
street for displaying, demonstrating and storing the
goods were well impressed on the numerous visitors
on opening day.
About three times the space occupied in the old
quarters is now enjoyed by the progressive San An-
tonio tirm. The commodious basement has been
handsomely decorated and furnished for the piano
department and special rooms for demonstrating the
pianos, players and reproducing pianos have been
provided.
The opening event, with a history of the Staple-
ton Music Co., were well written up by the San
Antonio dailies and in the Sunday edition of the
San Antonio Light an entire section was devoted to
the growth and future purposes of the house.
THE MAN WHO KNOWS IT ALL.
This life is full of troubles.
From cradle to the grave,
It swells and fairly bubbles,
And seldom will behave;
And not the least offender
In ways that oft appall.
Appears that mild pretender—
The man who knows it all.
Perhaps you tell so gaily
Of scenes you know so well—
In youth you've seen them daily—
The times you could not tell;
And then butts in another.
Whose face you can't recall,
Who says "You're all wrong, brother,"—
The man who knows it all.
You've worked out, near completely.
Some new devise of trade,
And hold it quite discreetly
Till all your plans are made;
When, lo. some wise go-getter
Comes, putting up some stall.
To show you something better—
The man who knows it all.
Some time, with fortune smiling,
When dawns the final day,
Perhaps, the fates beguiling
May keep that man away;
And then, our sweet harps finding
Far from this earthly ball,
We'll choose our own, not minding
The man who knows it all.
—CAD.
The Ohio Musical Sales Co., Cleveland, Ohio, lias
been chartered with an authorized capital of $100,000
to manufacture and deal in pianos, phonographs and
musical instruments.
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.
CORRECTION.—In a recent issue of Presto this
department said that the Raudenbush & Sons Piano
Co., of St. Paul, Minn., had discontinued the manu-
facture of pianos. We are informed by the industry
named that only the "Garland" piano was withdrawn
from the line, and the correction is here made. The
"Raudenbush" piano is still produced for the trade of
its manufacturers.—Ed. Presto.
* * *
THE BEST REED ORGAN.
Zumbrota, Minn., August 16, 1925.
Editor Presto: Would you let me know who is
at present manufacturing the best reed church organ
outside the "Estey"?
J. A. BORAAS.
We do not know of any "best" reed church organ
that is any more so than the Estey. The Aeolian Co.
also makes an organ and a number of manufacturers
are making small pipe organs, but we do not know
of anything better than the Estey in the line of reed
organs.
* * *
THE "EVERETT" PIANO.
Columbus, Ohio, August 28. 1925.
Editor Presto: Is the Everett piano still made
and, if so, is it under the control of John Church, of
Cincinnati? Please give me the address of John
Church. Any information will be gratefully received.
CHAS. HUNTER.
It is our understanding that at least a part of the
output of Everett pianos comes from the factory of
the John Church Company, at Dayton, Kentucky,
across the river from Cincinnati.
The address of the John Church Company is 109
West 4th street, Cincinnati, Ohio. The house also
has a branch at 421 South Wabash avenue, Chicago.
The name of "Everett" as applied to pianos is owned
by the Cincinnati house of the John Church Com-
pany. If your request refers to Mr. Church person-
ally, we regret to say that the gentleman passed
away in Boston in the prime of his career more than
thirty years ago.
* * *
THE "KRAUSE" PIANO.
Salem, S. D.. August 20, 1925.
Editor Presto: Can you tell me the manufactur-
ers of the Krause piano and their address? I would
like that information so I can get some repairs.
Please find 50 cents enclosed for one of the latest
Presto Buyers' Guides.
CASH GALVIN.
Piano Supply Co., New York. Perhaps any good
tuner in your vicinity may assist you.
+
*
*
PLAYER ACTION BOOKS.
Frederick, Okla., August 17, 1925.
Editor Presto: Have you a guide to the different
player actions? What""I want is something explain-
ing the player actions and their differences. Send
C O.D. if you can secure this book. Send me a Presto
Buyers' Guide also.
M. C. HULLENDER.
A good way to find out all about player actions
would be to write to the following: Kohler Indus-
tries, New York, N. Y.; Gulbransen Co., Chicago,
111 ; Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati, Ohio; M. Schulz
Co., Chicago, 111. In fact, any of the large concerns
who are now making the player piano a specialty will
advise you. Also a new book on the subject of
player actions was recently issued by the Edward
Lyraan Bill, Inc., of New York City.
* * *
ABOUT "STARCK" PIANOS.
Rockvale. Colo., August 18, 1925.
Editor Presto: Please find enclosed 50 cents, for
which please send me the Presto Buyers' Guide for
1925. Meanwhile please let me know how P. A.
Starck pianos rate; also "Ellington," Cincinnati and
Baldwin pianos.
Please say how these pianos rate and in what man-
ner. Would be much obliged for answer, as I had
piano agent tell me Starck pianos were like pianos
of Montgomery Ward & Co.; also that Starck pianos
do not stand difference of climates.
J O H N B. SCAVARDA.
It is a pity that any piano salesman should make
the statements you have repeated. It is untrue that
the Starck is any more "like" instruments produced
by or for the great mail order house than any other
good pianos are like them. The P. A. Starck Piano
Co. has a tine factory in Chicago and produces all of
the instruments which bear the Starck name, and the
piano is a distinctly good one.
The Baldwin piano is a fine instrument and is the
leader of the large line produced by the house of
Baldwin, Cincinnati. The Ellington is the second, or
popular, piano produced in one of the great Baldwin
factories.
We believe that you will find such information
concerning all the instruments named by you as may
help in Presto Buyers' Guide.
* * *
WANTS SMALL UPRIGHT.
Wayne, Nebr., August 23, 1925.
Editor Presto: 1 want to ask you to send me one
Presto Buyers' Guide at once. Do you know of a
company that makes small pianos like the Miessner
The entire edition of Presto Buyers' Guide for 1925 piano and like the Cable and the Baldwin? I cannot
has been exhausted. The new edition will be out late sell either one of them, as they are handled in Omaha
in October. We are now presenting a copy of the and Norfolk, Nebr. The house there controls this
new edition to all new subscribers to Presto. If you part of the country.
are not a regular reader of this paper will be glad
Do you think that it pays the piano makers to give
to have you become one. The cost is but $2 per year. Omaha houses such large territory? We found that
Answering your question about the "Krause" piano, it doesn't, and an industry that used to sell to A.
we are not certain as to where that instrument is now
Hospe, of Omaha, found it out, too. When the house
made. It is a trade name. We suggest that you can
secure piano repairs by addressing the Piano Repair in mind got our first letter they wrote us that Hospe,
Shop, 3395 Wabash avenue, Chicago, or the United of Omaha, was selling them in this part of Nebraska.
I wrote them that A. Hospe hasn't sold a piano out
Specialty Co.. Monticello, Ind.; or the American
THE BEST PIANO SEASON
is with us. Dealers and salesmen who take advantage of it—and most agree that this season will be a good one—
must have the proper facilities for displaying" and delivering- the instruments. The only complete equipment is the
latest fool-proof Loader. It may now be had for only $95. Satisfaction guaranteed.
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.,
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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/
September 5, 1925.
PRESTO
CHRISTMAN
"The First Touch Tells"
It Will Pay You to Feature
the Famous
Studio Grand
in this neighborhood for two years. The industry
waited five months and then asked me to sell their
pianos, and T have sold fifteen of them.
You see Hospe has about twelve different makes
of pianos, and they must sell a lot of pianos if they
want to sell some of each. They can't push so many
kinds, and to push only one or two would let the
other makes out. If they had only half as many
different makes, they would sell more of one kind.
I would like the new Buyers' Guide, but it comes
out too late. I need one now, so send any edition
you have on hand.
ERNEST VOGET.
About small pianos; we believe that it may be
well for you to write to the Packard Piano Co., Ft.
Wayne, lnd.; also Story & Clark Piano Co., Chicago;
the Continental Piano Co., of Boston; the Starr Piano
Co., Richmond, lnd.; Bush & Lane Piano Co. All
of those industries produce small uprights and there
are others about which Presto Buyers' Guide will tell
you.
* * *
PORTABLE ORGANS.
Newton, Kans., August 25, 1925.
Editor Presto: Please tell me what you can con-
cerning the Billhorn portable organ, which, I under-
stand, is made in Chicago. I would like to know the
address of the makers of this organ and a little infor-
mation about prices, etc.
HENRY B. GEPHARDT.
(only 5 ft. long)
This little Grand has no superior and it
presents the very qualities that win the
prospect and makes the sale.
If you have a trade for Reproducing
Grands we ask your particular
notice to the
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
Billhorn portable organs are made by Billhorn
Bros., with offices at 132 West Lake street, Chicago.
Perhaps you are also familiar with the portable
folding organs produced by the A. L. White Mfg.
Co., 215 Englewood avenue, Chicago. Mr. White's
instruments are, in our opinion, the best of the kind
manufactured, and we suggest you write to the ad-
dress named.
MAKING MUSIC FOR
AUTOMATIC PIANOS
Admirable Characteristics of Timeliness and
Snappy Recording Make Sales Easy for
Dealers and Preserve Interest of Pa-
trcns in Coin-Operated Instruments.
GREAT FIELD TODAY
Rolls That Command Appreciation of Patrons Add
to Possibilities of Pianos, Organs and
Orchestrions.
Equipped with
A marvel of tone and expressive
interpretation of all classes of com-
position, reproducing perfectly the
performances of the world's great-
est pianists.
"The Ftnt Touch Tells"
lUg. U. t. P«t. OS.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
The growth of the sale of rolls for automatic
pianos has kept pace with the business in the in-
struments. The necessities of the automatic instru-
ment users naturally provide a stimulus to the pro-
viding of fresh music, but the makers of the rolls
deserve considerable commendation for the variety
and up-to-the minute character of their productions.
The attention of the manufacturers of the rolls to
newness and novelty in the continuous flow of rolls
from the factories is also an urgent necessity. With-
out a constant renewal of interest in the electric
pianos, organs and orchestrions, their receipts would
fall away and of course the failure to reap profits in
the instruments already sold would naturally have a
deterrent effect on new sales. To keep up the inter-
est the roll makers do their part by giving the char-
acter of timeliness to the numbers in the monthly
bulletins and the special releases.
The Popular Tunes.
Because of the transient nature of popular music
the producers of the music in roll form for the auto-
matic pianos, and other electrically-operated instru-
ments, must present the new popular rolls at the
very dawn of their popularity. The new popular
music must be in position in the instruments at the
earliest possible time after the introduction of the
songs and dances. The patrons of the automatic in-
struments in the cafes and other places in which they
usually are found are generally of the class that de-
mand up-to-dateness in the programs for which they
drop their nickels in the slots.
But the character of the recording is by no means
disregarded by the rolls manufacturers. The patrons
of the slot music like their music pepful. A roll of
music recorded without spirit, no matter how cor-
rectly played, would prove a dud for profits in the
slot. That is why automatic piano music today is of
the particularly lively kind that draws the nickels
from the pockets of the patrons to the inviting slots
in a continuous stream.
Helpful to Dealers.
The roll productions today are forceful helps to the
dealers active in the sales of automatic instruments,
THE M. SCHULZ GRAND.
Olar, S. C, August 25, 1925.
Editor Presto: Please write in detail all you know
about the "Schulz" piano. Is it a standard piano?
Is it in the same class as Ivers & Pond? Do you
consider it just as good? Is piano pedal squeaking a
serious objection, or can it be stopped. If so, how?
Which is the proper way to clean a piano, dust and
spots, so not to leave any bad after effects?
In asking about the Schulz piano I have reference
to the Grand. Let me know all about the Schulz
Grand. Also send copy of your latest Presto Buy-
ers' Guide.
(MRS.) JAMES CHILTY."
Concerning the M. Schulz grand piano, we say
without hesitation that the instrument is in every
way a fine one and the product of one of the strong-
est industries, financially and otherwise, in the United
States.
So far as concerns the artistic merits of the two
pianos which you ask us to contrast, we do not be-
lieve there is a great difference. We prefer to say,
briefly, that should you purchase a Schulz grand you
will have reason to be proud of your instrument and
will never have occasion to regret your choice.
About squeaking piano pedals, we suggest the bet-
ter way is to secure the services of a competent tuner.
Usually a little black lead is all that is required, and
sometimes not even that—depending upon the cause
of the noise. It is not a serious matter.
As to cleaning a piano of dust, etc., it is well to use
a piece of soft cloth, perfectly clean—cheese cloth is
often used. It is not wise to try to oil an instrument
or to use any of the so-called "liquid cleaners." A
tuner can instruct you in this, also, or perhaps the
local dealer. Should you buy an instrument we sug-
gest that the dealer from whom you purchase it may
be able to give you all necessary advice.
The 1926 edition of Presto Buyers' Guide will not
be ready until late in October, and the 1925 edition
has been entirely exhausted.
electric pianos, organs and orchestrions in that they
are recorded with the pep and snap that brings the
nickels in a profitable stream into the instruments.
Marches, waltzes, jazz gems, dance favorites and cab-
aret hits and the very latest songs made familiar to
the public over radio are found cleverly grouped in
the new rolls.
The makers of the automatic music rolls are frank
in confessing that their vigilance in watching the
musical requirements of the patrons of the instru-
ments is a selfish response to a demand. In the old
days, time was no object in the production of rolls
for automatic instruments nor was the character of
newness in the repertories a thing to worry about.
It was easy to supply the nickel-dropping public in
the matter of selections. The public was not discrim-
inative and satisfied with almost anything that a
nickel started in the coin-operated instruments.
Now It Is Different.
Within the past five or seven years, however, there
has come a tremendous change in the attitude of
the people and the causes have been various. Phono-
graphs, theater orchestras, dance orchestras, bands,
vaudeville artists, and radio have all contributed to
the education of the people who listen to the music
of the automatic instruments. The result is that the
public must be provided with the latest, produced in
the best style when the nickels are dropped in the
slots. The necessity of the automatic roll makes is
the same as that of the playerpiano, and reproducing
piano music roll maker and the maker of phonograph
records—get 'em out quickly.
Must Keep Ahead.
The automatic music roll man must keep abreast
and in some instances ahead of the times; must be
alert so that he can put out hits when they are
hits. There is nothing so dead as a has-been hit in
a roll of music for an automatic instrument. A
playerpiano or phonograph owner may treasure an
oldtimer for musical or sentimental reasons and play
it over and over, but it is "can it!" for the passe
popular with the patrons of the nickel-in-the-slot ma-
chine.
The big list of review rolls every month provided
for the automatic instruments is a recognition of the
demands of the public, which pays readily for what
it wants. The hit review rolls have increased the
sales of the rolls and have aided in the further sales
of the automatic instruments. By combining all the
big musical hits on one roll the dealer sells more
rolls and the coin-operated instruments take in more
nickels.
ARKANSAS DEALER MOVES.
The Seale Music Shop, Ouachita avenue, Hot
Springs, Ark., has moved into a newly remodeled and
larger building, several doors from the former place
of business. Besides holding a remodeling sale in
the old store, it has had phonographs on exhibition
in one completed show window at the new store.
These instruments were labeled with cards bearing
a special remodeling sale price.
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/

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