16
August 20, 1927.
PRESTO-TIMES
SMALL OOODS, MUSIC ROLLS AND SHEET MUSIC
button; the purfling is let in, three strips of plane
wood set edgeways, the outer two stained black. Pine
is used for the belly, bar, blocks, linings and sound-
Any one of the Seventy Parts of the Fiddle Has posts. The finest glue and invisible joining are de-
manded for putting together the parts. The wood
Effect on the Others.
is important in the resultant tone. It must be well
A thriving industry centers around the purchase, seasoned, cut for at least five years, but not so old
restoring and resale of old violins. Choice specimens that it has lost its elasticity. Pine and maple are
are eagerly sought, cherished and repaired and as sought as white as it is possible to procure, the grain
much care and effort lavished upon them as if they moderately wide and very straight. This is the rule.
were examples of the goldsmith's or lapidary's art.
A slightly curving grain, however, has been known
While the violin as we have it today is only about to produce a violin of exceptional power of tone.
three centuries old, of all musical instruments it is
The varnish has always been considered very im-
1he only one that has survived unchanged. It is con- portant. Oil varnish, it was thought, should be
ceded that it cannot be improved upon, that the best
favored because of the "soft" texture which pene-
violin has been made. It therefore constitutes a trated and "solidified" the wood, without hardening
challenge to musicians, says the New York Times.
the tone. Varnish was important, but, in studying
While the piano has remained for more than three the origin of the wonderful tone of the Cremona in-
hundred years the same, and is probably destined to struments, authorities have had to admit that no var-
remain so while the music lasts, its early contempo- nish could make an inferior instrument sound well,
raries, such as the lute and the harpsichord, have while a superior violin would still be good even if
entirely disappeared, and wind instruments generally badly varnished.
have been completely revolutionized. Numberless at-
ZENITH SALES MANAGER BECOMES
tempts to improve the violin have been made.
The reason for this situation is thought to lie in
CLEVELAND JOBBER.
the fact that all the details of the violin were settled
The
registration
of N. A. Fegen as Secretary and
gradually in strict accordance with the requirements
Sales Manager of the Zenith Radio Corporation has
of tone and execution. Students of the instrument
can find that the total normal length was determined been announced by Paul B. Klugh. Mr. Fegen
by the length of the average human arm when bent. leaves the Zenith Radio Corporation to take up a
Similarly the length of the violin's neck was fixed by wholesale distributorship for Zenith in northeastern
the space necessary for the average hand to manipu- Ohio, having his place of business in Cleveland.
Under the Zenith exclusive franchise method of
late the finger board. So w 7 ith the length of the reso-
nant box, breadth and height of bridge, thicknesses distribution, the wholesaling of Zenith has proven
and curves of belly, the incisions called the sound- such an attractive business propostion that prominent
holes. The bridge, really the tongue of the violin, distributors in all parts of the country seek the Zenith
the action of which depends upon the sound post and line. This year the Zenith line comprises sixteen
the bass bar, was perfected last.
models with three different circuits, divided into 6-
Those interested in figures may like to know that tube, 8-tube and 10-tube sets. There are antenna
the violin is made up of seventy different parts, all of sets, loop sets and sets w r hich do not require either
which, except the strings and loop, are of wood. The antenna or loop, but work from a concealed plate.
'cello is twice as large as the violin and the double Several models are equipped with power speakers.
bass about twice the size of the 'cello. Of the
No greater testimonial could be paid to the value
violin's seventy parts, there are fifty-seven separate of a Zenith wholesale distributing franchise than to
pieces of wood which are glued together for the fixed have its own Sales Manager take up a distributing
structure, to make the back, belly, blocks, ribs, lining, contract and organize a company for the purpose of
bar, purfling, nut, fingerboard, neck and lower nut wholesaling Zenith.
(rest). The thirteen additional parts, the movable
fittings, are the tailpiece, loop, button or tailpin,
BROADCASTERS' PROGRAM.
screws, strings, sound-post and bridge.
Plans for the fifth annual convention of the Na-
Maple is used for the back, handle, ribs and bridge,
ebony for the fingerboard, nuts, screws, tailpiece and tional Association of Broadcasters, to be held during
the week of September 19 at the Hotel Astor, New
York city, are announced as follows:
Monday, September 19—Luncheon meeting of the
board of directors; committee meetings. Tues-
day, September 20—General session, to be ad-
dressed by authorities on radio legislation; musical
copyright; field of broadcasting in sales promotion
"Carolina" (I'm Coining Back to You.) "Mem-
and merchandising. At 8 p. m. the convention will
ories Dream," "Supposing," "Yes, Dreams Come
be given over to a social meeting of all station own-
True," "The Man That Catches Me Must Have
ers and members of their staffs attending. Wednes-
the Good Hard Cash," "Your Arms Are Home
day, September 21—Election of officers and business
Sweet Home to Me," Etc.
session; 1 p. m., luncheon and joint business meeting
Exploited nationally by hundreds of the leading stars
in all part* of U. S. A. Special prices for a STARTER
of the boards of directors of the N. A. H. and
to DEALERS, 10c each.
(Unsold copies can hs
R. M. A.
exchanged.) Sell for 25 to 35c net. Big profit, no risk.
EFFORTS TO IMPROVE VIOLIN
SONGS THAT LIVE AND SELL
CONTINUOUSLY
ORDER
NOW—Offer
good for a
limited
time
only.
J. S. Unger Music House, Pub., Reading, Penn.
The Coker Music Store has been opened on Third
street, Chico, Cal.
IN SMALL GOODS DEPARTMENT
Growth of the Musical Merchandise Business Shown
by New Stores and Extensions.
Charles Brawn, who has been a piano merchant
in Gardiner, Me., for several years, has opened a
new branch store there.
Summer provides probably the best season to
spread music appreciation to the larger groups of
passive listeners, is the experience of Glenn M. Tin-
dall, supervisor of music in the department of play-
ground and recreation of Los Angeles. Orchestras,
bands and similar organizations that have spent the
winter rehearsing in halls and auditoriums are glad
to play in the open and are given renewed enthusi-
asm in the increased size of their audiences.
The Vincennes Phonograph Company, Vincennes,
Ind., is operating in full capacity and has a weekly
payroll of $6,000. The Vincennes Phonograph.^Com-
pany has shown a thriving record of produ
ing the few years it has been in operation.
' "
Plans for the National Radio Week that will mark
the annual Radio World's Fair, beginning on Septem-
ber 19 in Madison Square Garden, New York, are
being rapidly rushed to completion. One of the
most important events will be the forum to be con-
ducted by noted leaders in the field of radio research
and merchandising.
This country's union of its male choruses, the
Associated Glee Clubs of America, has just made
public another of its common-repertoire lists of
music for men's voices. The chief purpose of that
list is to provide a mutual repertoire to be used in
joint concerts of clubs in contiguous localities.
Leading community singing over the radio has
been proved a practical thing in Cedar Rapids, Iowa.
The plan was worked out by the Playground Com-
mission and was in charge of its song leader, Mrs.
Clare Nichols.
!
NEW SONG BOOK ISSUED.
This booklet, "Camp Songs," has just appeared,
and is being distributed by the bureau from the Na-
tional Bureau for the Advancement of Music, 45 West
45th street, New York City. The leaflet is intended
not only for summer camps but for vacation homes,
hiking clubs, Boy and Girl Scouts, Camp Fire Girls,
Girl Reserves and other groups carrying on an active
outdoor program. Besides the general camp songs,
the leaflet contains nature songs, rounds, stunt songs,
greeting tunes and songs for part singing. This pam-
phlet is expected to remedy a situation caused by the
fact that there has been no standardization of camp
songs.
CREMONA MUSICAL CENTER.
The reason for the concentration of fiddle-making
at Cremona, Italy, appears to lie in the fact that
Cremona was a great musical center. The Cremona
violin is considered to have been carried to its high-
est point of perfection by Antonio Stradivari, pupil
of Amati. After Cremona, among the Italian towns,
Venice produced the finest violin makers, then Milan,
then Naples.
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CLARK
ORCHESTRA ROLLS
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\
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Conn Instruments are noted for their ease of playing, light and reliable valve or key action;
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beautiful finish and reliable construction.
Conn Instruments ire sent to atiy point in the U. S. subject to ten days free trial. Branch stores
*r agencies will be found in all large cities. Write for catalogues, prices, etc.
C. G. CONN, Ltd.
DEPT. MS.
ELKHART, IND.
The Best for Automatic Playing Pianos
Organs and Orchestrions
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CLARK ORCHESTRA ROLLS
Monthly bulletins of new records. Write
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Clark Orchestra Roll Company
Manufacturers — Originators — Patentees
De Kalb, Illinois
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