Presto

Issue: 1927 2153

November 5, 1927
13
P R E S T O-T I M E S
NEW FORM OF HARPSICHORD
PLAYED AT FESTIVAL
Arnold Dolmetsch, Who Has Developed Model, Ex-
hibits its Possibilities at Old Music Festival.
A new form of harpsichord upon which Arnold
Dolmetsch has been working for several years, was
demonstrated at the Haslemere Festival of Old
Music.
"When the harpsichord was in its heyday it was
the subject of continual experiment," says The Tele-
graph of London. "It possessed a range of tone-
color and a brilliance which the piano, for all its
sonority, cannot equal. At the same time, its limi-
tations are obvious. The ordinary jack which plucks
the strings has a fundamental defect. When the key
is released by the finger the platform, on its way back
to the resting position, must glide upon the string
before the vibrations can be stopped by the damper
attached to the jack. A very noticeable 'jingle' is
thus produced, which impairs the purity of the tone,
especially in rapid passages.
"Harpsichord makers tried in vain for three cen-
turies to remedy this defect. The new Dolmetsch
harpsichord has a device by which the plectrum, in-
stead of going through beyond the strings, returns
whence it came without touching them. The result
is a much purer tone and Mr. Dolmetsch, who was
playing the instrument for the first time in its fully
completed state, declared that it was also more sensi-
tive to the touch than the instruments built upon the
old models.
"The new jack also makes a damper-lifting pedal
possible. This innovation may cause the old-fash-
ioned purist to gasp and start. Yet there is plenty
of evidence that harpsichord makers in the past at-
tempted to fit a damper pedal, and were only pre-
vented by the technical difficulties. The sustaining
pedal was known to piano makers long before the
mechanism was perfected by Broadwood. And there
is much harpsichord music of Bach and Scarlatti
which when played on the piano requires the pedal."
AEOLIAN RADIO POPULARITY.
The Aeolian radio concerts, broadcasted from Aeo-
lian Mall. New York, and received in Chicago as
well as all parts of the country, started this week
EIGHT BALDWINS IN RECITAL
Eight Baldwin grand pianos, played by sixteen
artists, provided a sensational feature at a concert
at the Scottish Rite Temple, St. Louis, recently. In
the picture (left) the Temple interior with the pianos
and players are shown. The other picture shows
the artists who participated. The following letter
was received by the Baldwin Piano Co. from Ernst
C. Krohn, president of the Musicians' Guild of St.
Louis:
"On behalf of the Musicians' Guild of St. Louis, I
wish to express to you our grateful appreciation of
your generous assistance in our recent Music Week
Concert. The loan of eight magnificent Baldwin
grand pianos and your courteous hospitality in pro-
viding practice rooms contributed perhaps more than
you realize toward making the eight-piano ensemble
the outstanding feature of the concert.
It may interest you to know that your idea of a
piano ensemble has resulted in the formation of a
piano ensemble society which will carry on the work
of our pioneer group."
and seem likely to become one of the most popular
VICTOR WORKS OVERTIME.
of the broadcasting programs sent out from New
Advance
orders for instruments and records, for
York. The Aeolian broadcasting station in New
delivery in the next three months, indicate one of
York is known as the NBC studios.
the biggest volumes in the history of the Victor Talk-
Senator Guglielmo Marconi, inventor of the wire- ing Machine Company, according to a statement last
less telegraph, who is now on his way to America night by E. E. Shumaker, president of the compjany.
to attend the International Radio and Telegraph This statement was made by Mr. Shumaker just be-
Conference in Washington, will address a joint meet-
ing of the institute of Radio Engineers and the Amer- fore he sailed for Europe on the Berengaria. "Our
ican Institute of Electrical Engineers on October 17, plants are working overtime with full forces, and
in the Engineering Societies Building at 33 West we are forced to continually increase production
Thirty-ninth street. Senator Marconi will speak on schedules to meet increasing demands."
short wave directional radio communication.
WESSELL, NICKEL & GROSS
Manufacturers of
MOVING TRUCKS
for
PIANO ACTIONS
HIGHEST GRADE
PIANOS
ONE GRADE ONLY
The Wessell t Nickel & Gross action is a
guarantee of the grade of the instrument
in which tt is found.
FACTORIES:
MFW
45thSt.. 10th A»e. 4W46ih H E - • •
YORK
1 WIXIV
Orthophonic Victrolas
Electric Refrigerators
OFFICE;
457 w # 4 5 | h S | r e e l
vv n xe ior catalog ana prices lor Urtiu lrucKS, oin
JULIUS BRECKWOLDT & SON, INC.
DOLGRVILLE. N. Y.
Trucks. Hoists, Covers and Special Straps.
Manufactured by
Self-Lifting PianoTruck Co.
Manufacturers of
FINDLAY, OHIO
Piano Backs, Boards, Bridges, Bars,
Traplevers and Mouldings
J BRECKWOLDT. Prea.
W. A. BRECKWOLDT. Sec. & Tr«a».
THE! O S. KELLY CO.
Manufacturers
PRESTO BUYERS' GUIDE
TELLS ALL ABOUT ALL PIANOS
of
Hlghi Grade
PIANO PLATES
SPRINGFIELD
-
-
OHIO
TH E CO MSTOCK, C HENTE" Y & CO.
IVORYTON, CONN •
IVORY CUTTERS SINCE 1834
MANUFACTURERS OF
Grand Keys, Actions and Hammers, Upright Keys
Actions and Hammer , Pipe Organ Keys
Piano Forte Ivory for the Trade
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/
November 5, 1927
PRESTO-TIMES
quebille," "Nanook of the North," and "Chronicles
of U-Boat 35." Crainquebillefi or "Old Bill," as it
has been translated in America, is based on Anatole
France's thrust at blundering justice. "Nanook of
These Are for Essays Prompted by the Series of
the North," which was produced with a native cast
Radio Concerts Over KYW.
in the Arctic regions by Robert J. Flaherty, is one
Broadcasting concerts are given over the radio from of the greatest films ever produced by an American
KYW, Chicago, each Sunday afternoon, 3:30 to 4:00 and "Chronicles of U-Boat 35" is probably the only
o'clock, by C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind. In all, film in America showing German methods during
twenty-six concerts have been scheduled, two of the World War. The film was taken aboard the
which have already been given. The object is that
German U-Boat 35 and used for propaganda pur-
we have one celebrated artist on each program, poses in the Fatherland during the war to bolster
assisted by other artists of national consequence.
up the morale of the masses. This U-boat, which
The demonstrations of the instruments are accom- was manned by Count Locknow, was the scourge of
allied vessels and the film shows the sinking of
panied by a short lecture, etc., and it is really an
educational proposition. The company offers prizes eighteen of them.
to the radio fans who write the best essays on each
series of nine concerts.
WHY COLLECTIONS ARE GOOD.
Roy A. Forbes, manager of sales and merchandising
UNUSUAL FILMS AT PLAYHOUSE.
The Playhouse, Chicago's little cinema movement for the Victor Talking Machine Company, was one
theater at 410 South Michigan boulevard, announces of the principal speakers at the luncheon to 1,200
a program devoted to various phases of man's strug- welfare workers which opened the Philadelphia Wel-
gle for survival. Beginning this week and contin- fare Federation's seventh annual drive for funds on
uing up to and including Friday, October 28, the October 24 In preparing for the drive this year Mr.
Forbes said the Federation had employed all the
Playhouse presents a program composed of "Crain-
principles of good merchandising. Markets were an-
alyzed, a special advertising campaign prepared and
promotional work formulated to appeal to every class
in the citv.
CONN PRIZES FOR RADIO FANS
Worry Over Player Details
is avoided by the manufac-
turer who uses the
A. C. Cheney Player Action
in his products. He knows
everything is all right and
that the best musical quali-
ties of his pianos are develop-
ed by the use of this player
mechanism.
A. C. CHENEY
PIANO ACTION COMPANY
A BRUNSWICK DIVIDEND.
The Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co., Chicago, has
sent the following announcement to holders of the
common stock:
"We are pleased to notify you that the directors of
this company have authorized a dividend of 75 cents
per share on the outstanding common stock of this
company to stockholders of record at the close of
business on November 5, 1927, and payable Novem-
ber 15, 1927. Remittance will accordingly be sent
vou on that date."
Greater Beauty
and Greater
SCARFS,
GUSH-
IONS,
COVERS
CASTLETON, N. Y.
SCHAFF
Piano String Co.
Manufacturers of
Comfort
Bench Cushions, Piano Throws, Bags
for Small Instruments, Upholstered
Bench Tops.
Illustrated Foldsr* On Request
SUPPLY PRICES RISING
Possibilities of Lower Piano Prices by Reason of
Cheaper Materials Are Negligible, Says Buyer.
There is practically no reduction in prices of mate-
rials entering into piano construction this season, so
that dealers need hardly hope for any cuts in prices
at the factories anywhere. In conversation with D. G.
Keefe, buyer for The Cable Company, Chicago, and
with other buyers a Presto-Times reporter learned
that lumber is maintaining its own level, and would
even be much more expensive if the manufacturers
had to depend upon local production of wooden ma-
terial. Southern yellow pine now has for a rival
the cedar of the Pacific Northwest.
Metal has taken the place of wood in many lines
of construction, and is coming more and more into
use year after year. Business is undergoing many
changes, and the betterment of pianos by allowing
nothing but the best materials and supplies to enter
into their construction is one of the advantageous and
approvable changes.
STRAD FOR BOY VIOLINIST.
A violin bearing the name of Antonio Stradivarius,
the date 1691, and purchased for $10,000, has been
presented to Harry Braun, 18-year-old violinist of
New Haven, Conn., by August Heckscher, philan-
thropist, in recognition of his proficiency on the in-
strument. "The "Strad 1 " was formerly the property
of Mischa Elman, who purchased it from the family
of an Italian noble for use on his tours.
ED. JOHNSON GOES TO NEW YORK.
Lul. Johnson, president of the Schaaf Piano String
Company, 2011 Clybourn avenue, Chicago, spent this
week in New York City. He intends to be back at
his office in Chicago on Monday of next week. Both
the Chicago and New York factories of the company
are very busy at present.
GENERAL PIANO KEY
REPAIRING
24-HOUR
SERVICE
RECOVERING
BUSHING
SHARPS
E. A. BOUSLOG, Inc.
2106 Boulevard Place
INDIANAPOLIS, IND.
Period Drapery and Mfg. Co.
NEW ALBANY, IND.
The Piano Repair Shop
PIANO KEYS RECOVERED
Piano Bass Strings
2009-2021 CLYBOURN AVENUE
Cor er Lewis Street
CHICAGO
Heaviest grade Pyralin Ivory, beveled
and polished to look like the finest ivory
keyboards built. Beautiful work, guaran-
teed. Sharps ebonized, bushings, etc.
We begin work on your keys the minute they
arrive. Write for Nev) Price List.
McMACKIN PIANO SERVICE
Factory: 1721-3 Mondamin Avenue
DES MOINES, IA.
Pianos and Phonographs Rebuilt by
Expert Workmen
Player-actions installed. Instruments
refimshed or remodeled and actions and
keys repaired. Work guaranteed. Prices
reasonable.
Our-of-town dealers' repair work solic-
ited. Write for details and terras.
THE PIANO REPAIR SHOP
339 Jcutb Waba.h A™
Chicago
FOR REAL QUALITY
PERFECTION
Benches
There is no piano built so fine that we cannot make a bench
of equal quality.
STYLE 25
urniture &,
om
Send for Catalogue
1514-20 Blue Island Ave.
Chicago
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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