October 31, 1925.
arranged with the natural keys close together in one
line. The sharps and flats are in their natural posi-
tion in an adjoining line. Printed letters appear be-
tween the lines showing the notes as an aid to
beginners.
The committees that will have charge of the vari-
Hedge on Factory Property of the Cornell & ous phases in connection with the First Annual Radio
Exposition have been appointed and are getting things
Patterson Mfg. Co., at Bridgeport,
in shape for the opening on November 7th.
Conn., in Piano Form.
Max Haas is chairman of the entertainment com-
Pleasant surroundings help the workers in the mittee; H. Lesser, chairman of advertising and pub-
great industries. Some of the piano factory owners licity; R. G. Sidnell, chairman on lighting and deco-
and managers know this, and exercise their art in- rations, and Warren Cox, chairman of committee on
stincts to decorate the grounds by which the plants programs.
The new remote control studio, owned by the city,
are surrounded. An instance is presented by the
Cornwall & Patterson Mfg. Co., at Bridgeport, Conn. will be used in connection with broadcasting the con-
certs to be given each afternoon and evening by
famous artists.
The Starr Piano Co. is showing a very attractive
window trim of Vocalstyle rolls and portraits of
Vocalstyle artists. It was trimmed by Mr. Nussly,
sales manager, and few people pass it without stop-
ping to take a second look.
FINE LANDSCAPE EFFECT
AT SUPPLY INDUSTRY
REFORMS IN CONVENTION
METHODS DISCUSSED
Changes Leading to Transaction of More As-
sociation Business and Simpler Social
Functions May Be Result.
And there could be no better way to describe the
decorative effects there, than to present the follow-
ing letter recently received by that industry:
October 9, 1925.
Cornwall & Patterson Mfg. Co.,
Bridgeport, Conn.
Dear Sir: I visited in Westport, Conn., this sum-
mer, and we drove to Bridgeport, past your place
most every day. I so admired your pretty hedge and
piano in the center out of hedge. I tried to get a
postcard of it, but was unable to. I think it is one
of the prettiest places we saw—and we saw a good
many.
I have been telling my friends about it and would
like to have a picture of it if you have any—if that is
not asking too much.
Please oblige,
MRS. E. J. LOTT.
305 S. Chelsea St.,
Kansas City, Mo.
A photographic reproduction of the really remark-
able hedge also accompanies this article. While the
picture can not give the beautiful green coloring of
the hedge, it does show the ingenuity of the landscape
gardener whose work has trained the plant to repro-
duce the lines of an upright piano. All will agree
with the writer of the letter, that "it is one of the
prettiest places we saw."
TRADE ACTIVITIES IN
CITY OF CLEVELAND
Correction About Local Representation of the
A. B. Chase; Another Song Infringement
Case; Some Good Show Windows.
By A. E. DIHM.
In last week's Presto an item appeared regarding
Robt. L. White taking on the A. B. Chase line.
This was an error, for I sent the item in at least a
month ago, and last week the Reliable Music House,
one of Mattlin's houses, was appointed by the United
Piano Co. as representative for Cleveland.
M. GHck, until a week ago sales manager of the
White Co., gave me the item which I sent in a month
ago, but it appears that the deal was never consum-
mated. White is handling the Poole line only in
pianos.
William Silverberg, of the Ball Park Theater, has
been sued for infringement of copyright in the United
States District Court by the Leo Feist Song Publish-
ing Co., of New York. It is alleged he played the
song "I'll See You in My Dreams" without per-
mission.
The Dreher Piano Co. had a very interesting ex-
hibit in their show windows, of a melodeon, which
was purchased from a music dealer in 1841, and as a
contrast they also showed a modern reproducing
piano. The melodeon is played by holding it on the
knees and working the entire instrument up and
down, which produces the air supply through a
double bellows arrangement.
Instead of the usual keys, round ivory posts are
15
PRESTO
Changes in the methods of annual conventions of
the National Association of Music Merchants are pos-
sible if the tentative plans, disclosed at the recent
meeting in New York of the executive board, are
carried out.
Throughout the discussions of the merchants'
board meetings, there were suggestions of changes
in convention plans which would permit of the trans-
action of more actual association business and sepa-
rate the exhibits by manufacturers, although the idea
of a trade mart in relation to the convention was
approved.
Simpler forms of entertainment and more attention
to business, with less stress on the social features,
were advocated.
It is likely that committee appointment for the
various association activities will be announced by
President Weisert within the next two or three
weeks.
OLD WATERBURY HOUSE
CLOSES ITS DOORS
Skinner Music Co. Ceases to Exist When
Interests Are Consolidated with Those
of McCoy's, Inc.
The Skinner Music Co., Waterbury, Conn., closed
its doors this week, the incident following the pur-
chase of a controlling interest in the business recently
by McCoy's, Inc., the progressive firm in the same
city. The transfer of stock was in the nature of a
consolidation. A. P. McCoy took the stock of the
Skinner estate as well as that of Mrs. Francis Bacon
and Harty Smith.
Recently McCoy's, Inc, which operates stores in
Hartford, took over the business of Sedgewick &
Casey in that city and one of the eldest and most
important music houses there.
Immediately after the purchase of the Skinner in-
terests the new owners met and elected a board of
directors consisting of A. P. McCoy, Charles D. Nye
and Henry Dunn.
McCoy's, Inc., had a beginning under the name of
the Fulton Music Co., but soon became Driggs &
Smith. Then it became McCoy's, Inc., after which it
acquired the New York Piano Co. of Hartford, J. H.
Ketcham and Lewis Mattoon, who have been con-
ducting the Skinner business since the death of Mr.
and Mrs. Skinner, will be associated with McCoy's,
Inc.
NEW MANAGER TAKES CHARGE.
D. A. LaBaw, of Muncie, Indiana, has taken over
the Hoopestown, 111., agency of the Cable Piano Com-
pany, succeeding Mr. McQueen, who has had charge
of the agency for the Danville branch of The Cable
Company for some time. Mr. LaBaw is an experi-
enced piano man, and he expects to move his family
to Hoopeston and make his home there. The Cable
Company's headquarters are in the Kimberlin sales-
rooms on West Main street.
L. G. and James Culver have taken over the busi-
ness formerly conducted by E. D. Chelpley on Main
street, Oneida, N. Y.
QUALITY FIRST and FIRST QUALITY
WHAT A DIFFERENCE ONE
LITTLE SYLLABLE MAKES
President Jacobson, of the Straube Piano Co., Cor-
rects a Slip in Last Week's Presto.
It is generally understood that when the proof-
reader nods the compositor is liable to be blamed for
it. Last week's Presto contained an article in which
a New York address by President E. R. Jacobson,
of the Straube Piano Co., was freely quoted. In
the paragraph introducing Mr. Jacobson's remarks
the word "optimist" was printed, whereas "pessimist"
had been dictated. As a consequence, this genial,
well deserved and cheering "call down":
Dear Presto: I am interested in the item in the
issue of October 24th, pertaining to my New York
visit. Just one point I hardly think did me justice,
and that is where you state as follows:
"He warned his hearers at the start that he was not
an optimist."
"I want to be an optimist and with the optimist
stand," and believe this has been misquoted.
I see no reason for pessimism at this time, as I
look forward to a long period of good business for
the industry as a whole.
Yours very truly,
STRAUBE PIANO COMPANY,
E. R. JACOBSON, President.
JESSE FRENCH. & SONS
A
GOOD
PIANO
FOR
YOU!
JESSE FRENCH
& SONS
New Castle, Indiana
FEATURES THE AMPICO.
McCoy's, Inc., Hartford, Conn., is featuring the
Ampico in its newspaper advertising. A recent ad-
vertisement used by this house to feature the^Vmpico
stressed the advantages of the instrument in the musi-
cal home. Frank A. Sedgwick, formerly of Sedg-
wick & Casey, Inc., which was merged with McCoy's
recently, is in charge of the Ampico division of the
concern.
GEO. GROSVENOR'S SISTER DIES.
George B. Grosvenor, until recently active in the
Chicago piano trade, went to New York last Sunday
in response to news of the death in that city of his
only sister. The message brought sorrow to the
popular piano man, whose sister was Mrs. Abbie
Farwell, formerly of Dubuque, Iowa. Mrs. Farwell
was a lady of wealth who had been a widow for
many years.
"A name well known since 1875'
Becker Bros.
Manufacturer* of
HIGH GRADE PIANOS
and PLAYER PIANOS
Factory and Warerooma
767-769 Tenth Avenue, New York
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