Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
10
reaching the point where speed and accuracy are so
vital in mastering snappy concertos and heavy ma-
zurkas," says the spirit in the ingeniously conceived
and worded booklet.
The front cover of this little pamphlet contains a
visionary illustration of the thought. Iwantakno is
Demonstrations Recently Given in Chicago poised upon the top of a Schumann Grand, sketched
in X-ray to exploit the violin-like feature of its con-
Will Be Repeated in New York, Worces-
struction. He is starting a young lad down a smooth
ter and Other Musical Centers.
path of musical accomplishment, promising him in
B. B. Ayers, chairman of the Chicago Player Piano later years the goal of talent and depicting him play-
Committee of the Piano and Organ Association, has ing in the midst of a circle of friends who are listen-
been devising plans for a repetition in the east of the ing with admiration to his performance. The back
concerts given in Chicago featuring the playerpiano of the pamphlet shows a cut of one of the new Schu-
as an instrument of artistic capabilities. In a recent
mann Period Grands with space reserved for the
interview with a Presto-Times representative, Mr. dealer's imprint.
Ayers said that good progress is being made in New
Iwantokno is also the name of Schumann's monthly
York and Worcester, Mass., where recitals will be house organ to dealers which has caused a lot of
given.
nice comment among the trade.
W. Braid White, who visited those places for Mr.
Ayers, has returned and says that concerts will take
place in due time. There is some delay at Worces-
ter on account of the recent illness of Mr. Tunslall,
of the Simplex Player Action Co. and who has had
much to do in furthering the Worcester demonstra-
tions. Mr. Timstall is much interested in the move- Recent Tr.'p of President Jones Resulted in Probably
ment to give the playerpiano its proper place in musi-
Largest Single Order of Year.
cal development and is quoted as saying that he be-
lieves the big Mechanic's Hall in Worcester, can be
Car-load shipments have been the prevailing con-
filled to hear what the foot pedal player is capable of
dition at the Schiller factories at Oregon, 111., during
being made to do.
the past month. Good-sized orders, and a consid-
Mr. Ayers is holding fast to the proposition of ren- erable number of them, came in the first few days
dering music of a high order; giving genuinely clas- of the month and were followed daily all through
sical programs and appealing to the lovers of good April so that May comes in full of activity and with
standard music. "But alas," says Mr. Ayres, "it is un- many orders unfilled.
fortunate that fine compositions in music written for
Toward the latter part of March President E. B.
the piano—really worth while music—require such Jones made a trip eastward to meet the head of a
years of hard and constant labor to educate the fin- prominent music house, which visit resulted in the
gers. But even the player, while doing away with this, placing of perhaps the largest order for pianos given
has to be rehearsed with strings and the second by any music house this year. This contract repre-
piano, and that requires mighty careful work to be sented a long string of car-loads of grands, and many
sure and please a critical audience."
uprights, made up of all of the five or six different
upright models now in vogue at the Schiller fac-
tories, including the two new designs being made
ready for the forthcoming music merchants and in-
dustries convention at Chicago in June.
FINE PLAYER PIANO
CONCERTS IN THE EAST
ALMOST PHENOMINAL ACTIVITY
OF SCHILLER PIANO COMPANY
CONVINCING THOUGHT
IN SCHUMANN LEAFLET
Iwantokno, the Spirit of Inquiry Into Schu-
mann Piano Merits, Uses Odd Compari-
son in Interesting Way.
A new folder for the use of dealers, just issued
by the Schumann Piano Co., Rockford, 111., has the
odd title "Sea Legs," the very oddity of which, in a
bit of piano publicity, is an inducement to keep on
reading.
There is made the comparison of the sprinting abil-
ities of an old tar fresh off the ship and those of
Charlie Paddock, the sprinting wonder. The old tar
steps upon land after a rough voyage. His feet
don't track. He has as much muscular development
in his legs as Paddock, but is handicapped because
of a different kind of habit he has formed. It is
the "sea legs" gait.
Opposed to him is the famous hundred yard dash
man, who has spent hours and hours in diligent
effort to clip small fractions off his time by smoothing
out a pace that notices even the smallest groove or
unevenness on a cinder track.
The reader realizes the disadvantages of the deck
gait in comparison with the trained method of the
track athlete and grasps the application of supposed
situation which follows.
"While this is rather an exaggerated comparison,"
says Iwantokno, "nevertheless it brings out an im-
portant point for parents to consider when buying a
piano. The habits little fingers and ears acquire
when young either promotes or limits their sphere of
musical accomplishment. To me there is nearly as
much difference in pianos as there is between the
jerky old schooner and the smooth cindered race
track when you intelligently analyze 'touch' and 'color
of tone.'
"Yet how often you hear parents say, 'Oh, well,
what's the use of putting so much money into a piano
just now? My little boy is just beginning to take
lessons and this old instrument is good enough for
him to practice upon until he gets a little older and
more experienced!'"
Iwantokno (pronounced "I Want to Know") is the
energetic spirit conceived by the Schumann Piano Co.
to personify the interest of prospective piano buyers
in the hair-fine evenness of touch and color of tone
that he finds in Schumann pianos. The folder ex-
plains that the spirit was prompted to use the "sea
legs" thought in pointing out a common fallacy of
parents in relation to the playing abilities of the
pianos provided for children learning to play.
Iwantokno was inspired as he watched seasoned arti-
sans putting the finishing touches to Schumann action
installations, the fitting of dampers and the accurate
weighing of keys.
"The child who takes his or her training upon a
Schumann piano will never have 'sea fingers' when
STOCK ADDITION OF
AMERICAN PIANO CO.
April 30, 1927.
For a
Bigger and Better
Business
There is nothing to compare
with the complete line ot
M. SCHULZ CO.
The Players are RIGHT in
everything t h a t means
money to the dealers and
satisfaction to the public
You wilt never do anything better
than when you get in touch with
M. SCHULZ CO,
711 Milwaukee Avenue
CHICAGO
SOUTHERN BRANCH: 730 Candler Bldg., ATLANTA, GA.
All Interested In
PIANOS, PLAYER-PIANOS
and All Other
MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Should Read
Fortunate Stockholders of the Powerful New York
Industry Approve of Recapitalization Plan.
Stockholders of the American Piano Company at
a special meeting this week approved the proposed
recapitalization plan by which five shares of new
no par common stock will be exchanged for one of
the present $100 par stock. The company will issue
300.000 shares of the new stock.
The plan also provides for the issuance of $4,000,000
of additional 7 per cent cumulative preferred stock,
bringing the total authorized to $10,000,000.
STORM HITS DE KALB PLANT.
The plant of the Wurlitzer Grand Piano Co., De
Kalb, 111., was injured when a cyclone struck the
town last week. The damage caused by the wind
and the rain will total about $15,000; it was stated by
one of the officials. Six sections of roofing at the
plant were ripped off during the storm. The greater
share of the damage was confined to piano parts
ruined by water coming through the unprotected
roof. The American Steel & Wire Co. plants, at
De Kalb, especially the West and North works, also
suffered damage that will exceed $50,000, it is ex-
pected.
NEW YORK MERCHANTS ELECT.
L. Schoenwald was elected president of the New
York Piano Merchants' Association at the annual
meeting last week. Other officers elected were Mil-
ton Weil, vice-president; Albert Behring, secretary,
and Valentine J. Faeth, treasurer. The executive
committee is composed of E. J. Winteroth, George A.
Pelling, Jerome Ackley, J. Pettinato and Charles H.
Jacob. It was voted to appoint a committee to con-
sider plans for promoting group piano instruction
terminating in a contest.
Jgnace Paderewski, noted pianist and statesman,
on a visit to Adelaide, Australia, is off the air. "I
am an enemy of broadcasting," he declared. "It is
demoralizing to artists. 1 tried it once, but never
again. One performs under conditions not conducive
to best expression."
The American Music Trade Weekly
A ( omlt!mitlnn of Presto, K-tnl>M*h< and Musinil Tlm.H, EHtuhlUlifri
lf.t.l.
Published Every Saturday
PRESTO-TIMES is the most widely read of
any journal devoted to Music and Musical
Instruments in their industrial and commercial
phases.
PRESTO-TIMES is an illustrated paper,
giving the complete news of the Music Trades
and Industries in all their branches. It con-
tains in every issue practical suggestions for the
Betterment of Business and the Success of
Piano Merchants and their Salesmen.
One of the regular features is the "Where
Doubts Are Dispelled"' department, in which
i;uestions relating to the manufacture, purchase
and sale of pianos are plainly and satisfactorily
answired. This department is alone worth
many times the subscription price.
Another department of PRESTO-TIMES
covers the Phonograph and Radio in popular
and practical manner.
Subscription Price $2 a Year Which Includes
a Copy of
"PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE"
The Book That Sells Pianos
Sample On Request
Presto Publishing Co.
417 So. Dearborn Street
CHICAGO, ILL., U. S. A.
The Original Small Piaon
Made and marketed by specialists in small
pianos. Valuable territory still open.
Write for our effective sales plan.
TOO LATE TO BE CLASSIFIED.
CREW MANAGER A N D S A L E S M A N .
WANTED—Exceptional opportunity for A1 capable man
to sell pianos and manage crew of solicitors and
junior salesmen. Must be strong closer and thor-
oughly experienced in handling outside force. House
of established reputation. Complete line of players,
grands and reproducers. Good salary and commis-
sion. Address "Crew Manager." Box 6, PRESTO-
T I M E S , 417 S. Dearborn St., Chicago.
THE LITTLE PIANO WITH THE BIG TONE
MIESSNER PIANO COMPANY
126 Reed St.
Milwaukee, Wis.
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