July 21, 1928
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
MIDGET EXHIBIT
OF THE CABLE CO.
Large and Appreciative Attendance Signal-
izes the Piano Fashion Show in the Cable
Building, Chicago, When Thirty-six
Distinctively Varied Models
Are Shown.
The Piano Fashion Show of The Cable Co., Chi-
cago, for the new Cable Midget was opened July 2
and continued to July 21. Something so unusual has
been achieved by the factories of The Cable Com-
pany that it inspired a piano style show which was
absolutely unique. It was more than the assembling
of the various type instruments that make up a com-
plete line—it was one instrument in thirty-six differ-
ent conceptions.
The Cable Midget Upright, the outstanding Cable
innovation, was chosen for this demonstration of
Cable creative genius. It was presented in thirty-six
distinctly varied models, each one novel and indi-
vidual. All are products of the most modern and
expert craftsmanship—the latest in design, color, and
finish.
These very wonderful instruments proved to
everyone who saw them that piano making is artistry
in the true sense of the word. Th pianos shown are
fitting examples of the standard of excellence of the
great Cable factories.
The Midget Design.
This is said in a statement by The Cable Company:
"The idea that animated the designer of the Cable
Midget Upright was to build a small piano that
would possess every virtue of the best standard
upright pianos. And this is the secret of the success
of the Midget. By means of many ingenious methods
a way was found by which all the essential qualities
of the best upright pianos, regardless of size, could
be built into a case that is small and dainty.
"The scale of the Cable Midget is a new, scientific
cally formed scale structure that has been developed
as the result of years of experience gained in making
small pianos for export. Before the war the pianos
we were building for foreign use were much smaller
than those manufactured for the domestic market.
The Cable Midget possesses proportionately the
longest string length and the largest sound board
area of any piano in existence.
"The strings in this piano are longer than those
found in two of the popular baby grands of the day.
The longest bass strings in the Midget are as much
as two inches longer than the corresponding strings
in these grands.
Greater String Length.
"Many ingenious methods have been employed in
securing greater string length and sound board area
and some of them you can easily point out to your
customer. Fully 5 3 ^ square inches of sound board
area have been gained by extending the frame plate
and sound board structure an inch below the bottom
of the case.
"The Cable Midget Upright was originally designed
for use in public places. It has proved so popular,
however, that almost as many have been bought for
homes as for public use. Last year we were com-
pelled to double production schedules at the factory
and the first half of this year has required another
doubling of the Midget output.
"In the school room, in public halls and in the
many places where it has been so popular, the Cable
Midget is given harder usage than a large piano
ordinarily receives. It is pushed across thresholds,
and over uneven floors, when a large piano is often
not moved from one position during the greater part
of its lifetime."
MORE A. P. CO. DEALERS
Supplementing the list published last week of
dealers who have been appointed sole agents for the
American Piano Company lines are the following:
Maynard Music Co., Salisbury, N. C ; J. R. Reed
Music Co., Austin, Texas; Forbes-Meagher Music Co.,
Madison, Wis.
SELLS "BABY BEHR"
Philip Werlein, Ltd., New Orleans, La., "The Larg-
est Music House South," has launched a most success-
ful campaign with the "Baby Behr" piano, made by
Behr Bros., New York. This music house made good
use of the radio to capitalize on the children's interest.
Miss Marcella Roth, "The Twilight Hour Girl," of
radio station WSMB, New Orleans, has been the
means of attracting the wide attention of children to
the art of piano playing in general and to the "Baby
FEATURES STRAUBE STYLE "L"
At the Capitol Theater here recently, Herbie Koch
and Dell Wright, two of Iowa's most highly talented
musicians and stage entertainers, furnished a unique
and delightful program that will long be remembered
by the music-loving people of Des Monies and vi-
cinity. Appearing as a part of the regular program
of the Capitol Theater, these artists won the enthu-
siastic admiration of the audience with their unusual
presentation of a piano and pipe organ novelty. The
mit. We have had a good deal of comment about
the musical eloquence of the Style 'L' used at the
Capitol Theater. It is a full scale, ample string length
piano and has successfully passed every musical test
that we have ever made upon it."
Inquiries are now on file from such distant coun-
tries as Italy, Greece, Portugal, Ireland, the Isthmus
of Panama, Japan, China, and the Philippine Islands,
H. A. Stewart, sales manager, announced this week.
Shipments have already been made to Australia,
HERBIE KOCH AT STRAUBE PIANO AND DELL WRIGHT AT ORGAN.
blending of the tones of the two instruments played
simultaneously was an innovation to the audience and
demonstrated a new form of artistic musical accom-
plishment.
The piano used was a Straube Style "L" Upright,
only 3 feet 7 inches high, which in comparison with
the mammoth pipe organ furnished a contrast so
noticeable as to emphasize the skill of the artists
and the unusual musical excellence of the piano. The
Straube Style "L," made by the Straube Piano Co.,
Hammond, Ind., was furnished through the cour-
tesy of the Des Monies Music Company. In speak-
ing of the performance, Theo. Hohtanz, head of the
Des Moines Music Company, stated:
"We used the Straube Style 'L' to demonstrate the
volume and richness of tone of that particular piano.
Although it is only 3 feet 7 inches high, it contains
the Duplex Overstrung scale which Straube invented
so that the piano has a string length about 10 inches
longer than ordinary piano construction would per-
Nova Scotia and Jamaica in the West Indies, Mr.
Stewart said.
"Our domestic trade is also showing a decided im-
provement," he added, "particularly from the agri-
cultural districts. In fact, that phase of our business
is more promising now than it has been in the last
several years."
E. R. Jacobson, the president, explained that if the
present rate of advance booking continues, the com-
pany will have sufficient orders on hand by this fall
to justify capacity operations for some time.
The grand piano department, according to Mr.
Jacobson, is showing the most decided improvement
in its production output. Recent orders for grands
from the United States and foreign countries have
increased the production schedule to a material
degree, he said.
The company employs a very high degree of skilled
labor and loyalty to the company is expressed in
their work.
Behr" in particular. Broadcasting at the "Twilight
Hour," she has become one of the most popular artists
of the younger generation in the south and is now
preparing to broadcast over station WDSU of New
Orleans, the newest and most powerful radio station
in that district.
NEW INCORPORATIONS
IN MUSIC GOODS TRADE
MADAME STURKOW-RYDER ON TOUR
Claypool-Lacey Music Company, Crawfordsville',
Ind.,; increasing the capital from $25,000 common and
$15,000 preferred to $25,000 common and $50,000 pre-
ferred, and also filed amendment changing the pre-
ferred stock preferences.
The Edwards Music Company, Inc., of Lockport,
N. Y., to manufacture radios, pianos, etc.; with a
capital stock of $50,000. Frank J. Waddell, Edward
H. Waddell, and Arthur F. Walders.
The Super Radio Laboratories, Inc., 3109 West
Montrose avenue, Chicago; capitalized at $20,000.
The Music Shop, dealing in music instruments and
radios, at 20 East Main street, McLeansboro, 111., has
been incorporated with a capital of $8,000.
Sterchi Music Company, Terre Haute, Ind., with
$5,000 capital. Merle Sterchi, Terre Haute, Arba
Anderson of Robinson, 111., and Victor Harkness of
Libertyville, Ind., incorporators and directors.
The Chiquelin-Platter Company, Louisville, Ky.;
$5,000. W. H. Chiquelin, William D. Platter and
C. D. Platter. The company will manufacture radios
and musical instruments.
The Honolulu newspapers recently gave Mme.
Sturkow-Ryder's appearances liberal space, and from
the clippings received, it is apparent that the audi-
ences hugely enjoyed her work. The Honolulu Star-
Bulletin in a long story devoted to her concert at
Bishop Hall before the 1,360 students of the Punahou
High School, said: "'The Hungarian Dance,' by
Brahms, which she does as a duet with the Ampico,
was brilliantly played and the manner of its rendition
a novelty which had an appeal for the youthful audi-
ence." In addition to various comparison numbers
played with the Ampico, these including such well-
known favorites as "Chopin's Waltz in E Minor,"
Mme. Sturkow-Ryder introduced several of her own
compositions. One of these, "The Zoo," a descriptive
piece, modern in harmony and vivacious in melody
and rhythm, seemed be be an especial favorite.
TEXAS DEALER IN CHICAGO.
One of the music trade visitors to Chicago last week
was B. F. Garst, music dealer of Stratford, Tex., who
was accompanied by Mrs. Garst. An incident of their
visit was a side trip to the factory of the Story &
Clark Piano Co., at Grand Haven, Mich., where Mi
Garst selected a shipment of pianos.
Leo Bacheller has been made office manager of
the Sherman, Clay & Co. store at Stockton, Cal.
New and Old Concerns Secure Charters in Various
Places.
RENEWS LEASE.
Sherman, Clay & Co., San Francisco, has renewed
its lease on the site at Sutter and Kearny streets,
occupied for more than half a century, and have made
extensive improvements on many of the floors.
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