Presto

21
PRESTO
December 19, 1925.
CONN SUPREMACY SHOWN
Oboes and Bassoons Made by C. G. Conn, Famed for
Their Perfection Among Band Men.
The growth of the band movement all over the
United States naturally has increased the desire for
information about the lesser known instruments like
the oboe and the bassoon, usually not included in the
equipment of the smaller bands and orchestras.
These instruments are the aristocrats of the wood
wind family and pride in making fine models of the
kind is natural in C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind.
While the Conn factories did not build these par-
ticular instruments during their earlier days, the pre-
vious experience gained in solving problems per-
taining to other instruments, was of inestimable value
when work was started on them. Today, oboes and
bassoons stand with older products of the Conn fac-
tory and are recognized as the choice of discriminat-
ing artists.
Perfect equality of tone, faultless mechanism, in-
spection and adjustment by expert musicians, are the
reasons for Conn supremacy in oboes and bassoons
as in brass instruments. James B. Spear, formerly
first oboe with the Third, Tenth and Eleventh U. S.
Infantry bands, now first oboe with the Sahara
Grotto Band, Indianapolis, writes about his Conn as
follows:
"It is as nearly perfect an instrument as I ever hope
to see, and C. G. Conn, Ltd., is to be congratulated
upon the production of such a marvelous oboe."
BUYS FOUR STRADIVARI
Violins of the Master to Be Played in New York and
Philadelphia.
Four Stradivari violins, one of which is called "The
Swan" because it was the last instrument made by
the master in 1737, the year of his death, when he
was ninety-three years old, have been acquired by
Rodman Wanamaker. They will be played in New
York and Philadelphia in concerts in the auditoriums
of the Wanamaker stores in combination with the
Wanamaker organs.
"The Swan" and the three other Stradivari, it was
said, headed a notable collection of rare Italian
stringed instruments assembled by Mr. Wanamaker
in Europe. The three other violins are "Conte La
Chesnale" (1687), when Stradivarius had "just lib-
erated himself" from the Amati school; "Dancla"
(1710) and "Joachim" (1723), when he was in the
"heydey of his golden period." "The Swan," how-
ever, with its inscription, "In my ninety-third year,"
is considered the best of his instruments, for, it was
said, "he bridged the handicaps of his feebleness by
carving on freer lines. Where he could not trust
himself to consummate delicacy of carving he substi-
tuted powerful simplicity. The result is an amazingly
powerful and sonorous violin."
In addition to the Stradivari Mr. Wanamaker
acquired a Montagnana (1727) and one made by
Tecchler in 1722. Two violas, a Guadagini (1780)
and a Goffriller (1727) are complemented by a Rug-
geri (1675) 'cello and a 'cello which left Tecchler's
hands in 1701. The ten instruments, with ten Tourte,
Voirin, Vuillaume, Lamy and Peccard bows, are said
to compose one of the most notable collections in
America.
PANATROPE IN PORTLAND
Dealers of Oregon and Southwestern Washington
Hear New Model of Brunswick Phonograph.
The Brunswick Panatrope was demonstrated at the
Hotel Multnomah in Portland, Ore., recently, for the
benefit of the Brunswick dealers of Oregon and
Southwestern Washington. The demonstration was
conducted by C. D. McKinnon of the Chicago head-
quarters of the company and w r as attended by over
one hundred and fifty dealers from Portland and
vicinity.
Mr. McKinnon was introduced by M. Davis and
proceeded in a few words to tell the dealers just what
the Panatrope was, and followed his explanation by
putting on records. The dealers listened very atten-
tively but after a few notes had been rendered and
they realized what they had as a selling proposition
they all commenced to talk and express their ap-
proval and admiration of the new instrument. Mr.
McKinnon gave an excellent sales talk to the dealers
and instilled in them great enthusiasm.
UKELELE IS BIG SELLER
At Least It Is So in Cincinnati, According to
Statement from Wurlitzer House Head-
quarters in That City.
ACCORDION SALES GROW
Native American Customers for Instrument
Increase in Numbers and Interest Contin-
ues Strong with Those of Foreign Birth.
German music dealers have accomplished for the
accordion what enterprising dealers here have done
for the ukulele, saxophone and other instruments and
with somewhat similar methods. Organizing cus-
tomers into groups and thus forming accordion bands
has made the accordion a most important instrument
in the German trade. By illustrated news features
in the newspapers here we have been made familiar
with the marching accordion bands at public events
in Germany.
The accordion formerly had a sale only to individ-
uals in Germany where it was thought of merely as a
solo instrument. Among the musical drawbacks fol-
lowing the close of the Great War was the scarcity of
band instruments. But it was a misfortune which
proved a fortune for the accordion makers. In the
gloomy days following the close of the great struggle
the necessity for cheerful outdoor music was keen.
Band organization had been broken up and band in-
struments were scarce and impossible to procure.
Then the lone accordion player stepped out of the
seclusion of his home and headed parades and with
his good music brought a spirited element into events.
A unit was good, so why not add other units, was the
thought which resulted in the German accordion
bands of today.
The accordion has had a steady sale in this coun-
try for a number of years. In fact the instrument is
one of the old ones in the musical merchandise
Ukuleles are the most popular Christmas musical dealer's stock. Its sale, however, has been limited to
gifts in Cincinnati, if the sales records of the Wur- customers of foreign origin and its sale is greatest in
litzer store in that city are to be taken as indicative communities of a cosmopolitan kind. It takes the
of the general trend, and officials of the Rudolph place of the piano in the homes, provides music for
Wurlitzer Company believe they are. Sales records dances and occasionally is used for sacred music in
compiled in the Cincinnati store, the national head- the humbler churches.
quarters of the company, reveal some interesting facts
Now, however, musical merchandise jobbers and
concerning Christmas buying of musical goods.
dealers say that interest in the accordion is noticeably
For instance, while women shoppers trend in their extending to native Americans for social events. The
tastes toward stringed instruments of all kinds, male accordion can be as jazzy as the player wants to
shoppers register strongly for the radio. A major make it. It is loud, lively, and not difficult to learn.
part of the radio sales are made on Saturday after- Dealers by special featuring and demonstrations are
noons, when the men are enjoying their half holidays. increasing interest in the instruments, but there seems
Men, shopping alone in search of Christmas gifts for no excuse for the accordion band here. An accordion
wives and daughters, will always pay more attention band, however, would be a good advertising feature
to sales talks about the radio than about any other and should result in sales of the instruments.
product in the store, and the records prove that most
of the unaccompanied men think so much of the argu-
ments advanced for the radio that they end up by
SAILSTADS QUIT WISCONSIN.
buying them.
Executive permission to leave the state of Wiscon-
It has been noticed that both husbands and wives, sin has been granted to E. J. Sailstad and his wife,
when shopping alone, buy musical products ranging principals in a death hoax case three years ago, A. W.
in price from $1 to $100, but rarely in excess of the
latter sum. It is almost always when married couples Bayley, secretary of the Wisconsin state board of
come in pairs that Christinas musical instruments ex- control at Madison, revealed last week. Mr. Bayley
ceeding $100 in price are bought, store officials say. could not confirm the reports that the coupIcThad
This is thought to account for the popularity of the gone to Florida. Sailstad was in the music trade
ukulele and the radio as surprise gifts within the some years ago as a traveler and phonograph man.
He and Dorothy Anderson, his "sunshine girl," were
family circles.
married recently, with permission of the board of
control. They are under parole after having been
Charles Cadman's new opera, the "Witch of Salem," convicted in the case, in which Sailstad was alleged
now in preparation, is to be produced by the Chicago to have burned a cottage containing the body of a
Civic Opera Company this season.
man and then fled with Miss Anderson.
FAIRBANKS
PIAN0 PLATES
THE FAIRBANKS CO., Springfield, Ohio
P
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Player Actions
Embody Five Cardinal Features*
"SUPERIOR" PIANO PLATES
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Write for Prices and Territory
We Have Something of Interest for You
Peerless Pneumatic Piano Action
Co., Inc.
Manufactured by
SUPERIOR FOUNDRY CO.
TOLBERT F. CHEEK, Pre.id«n»
Cleveland, Ohio
469-485 East 133d Street
NEW YORK
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