October 27, 1928
PRESTO-TIMES
cess is much less mysterious when once the reasons
are understood. The story starts with a slim, yellow-
haired Norwegian boy in Oslo. His father was a
master cabinet maker, owning his own shop, and the
boy's early memories were associated with skillful
working. The shop failed and the family came to the
United States to make a fresh start in Mendota, Illi-
Writer in Chicago Daily News Finds Wealth nois.
"Young Axel Gulbransen went to work at the age
of Material for Interesting History in
of thirteen, sandpapering pieces of wood in an organ
Events in Life of Successful Chi-
factory. Under his father's tutelage, he became a
cago Piano Man.
good all-around cabinet maker. At the same time he
was learning his trade, he studied music in his leisure
The Chicago Daily News, on October 10, published
the life story of A. G. Gulbransen, president of the hours. Every instrument attracted him, but the violin
most of all. At 19 he went to business college and
Gulbransen Company. Under his picture appeared
stayed there as long as his money lasted, using up all
his savings in making up defects in his early edu-
cation.
His Ambitions.
"Gradually he worked up in the piano business, first
to foreman and finally to factory superintendent. By
this time he was forty years old. With an interest
in the business and complete charge of manufacturing,
he still was not satisfied with the way affairs were
being handled. Yet when he started for himself many
friends expected him to fail. But looking back, it is
obvious that he had every needed quality. He had
woodworking skill, fair education, determination, and
a love for the business.
"The quiet, white-haired head of the company is so
enthusiastic about music that he has sponsored Christ-
mas Carol singing and has tried to promote opera in
English. He believes that good music is a wonderful
help to children, stabilizing their emotions, giving
them poise and culture, preventing nervousness and
improving their work in their other studies.
" 'Shouldn't every man who hopes to succeed be so
enthusiastic that his business seems to be the most
important in the world?" he was asked.
" 'Not only seems,' he answered seriously, 'in the
case of music, when you realize what it can mean in
the way of true culture, it IS the most important."
Then he smiled."
ROMANCE IN LIFE OF
A. Q. QULBRANSEN
A. G. GULBRANSEN.
the following caption: "Axel G. Gulbransen, Heads
World's Largest Piano Factory." Following is the
article as it appeared in the News, written by Royal
F. Munger, who has been doing a very wonderful
series of human interest stories for the Daily News:
"If the average man were told that an investment
of $1 would yield him $1,000 a few years later, he
would think that the day of miracles had arrived.
Yet that is just what has been done during the career
of Axel Gustaf Gulbransen. quiet-mannered maker of
fine pianos, in building up, on the west side of Chi-
cago, the largest piano factory in the entire world.
Early Successes.
"At 45 years of age Mr. Gulbransen was making
$4,000 a year, had a marvelous background of training
in the making of pianos, and had saved $5,000 out of
his salary. With his savings, and with additional
funds from a partner and from friends, he went into
the playerpiano business. Today the Gulbransen
Company has a net worth of around $5,000,000.
"Like a sleight-of-hand trick, the Gulbransen suc-
ARMSTRONG HARPSICHORD
GRAND FOR COLLEGE
Letter from Director of Music Department to
Snyder Music Co., Wilkes-Barre, Pa.,
Appreciates Its Fine Qualities.
The Snyder Music Co., Wilkes-Barre, Pa., repre-
senting the lines of the American Piano Co. in that
city and surrounding territory, recently sold an Arm-
strong Harpsichord grand piano to the State Teach-
ers' College of Bloomsbury, Pa. The director of the
department of music in the college, who is a noted
musician and a teacher of acknowledged ability, re-
cently wrote the following letter to the Snyder
Music Co.:
"STATE TEACHERS' COLLEGE,
"Bloomsburg, Pa.
"September 12, 1928.
"Department of Music,
"Mrs. John K. Miller, Director.
"My Dear Mr. Snyder: Just a word of apprecia-
M. SCHULZ FOLDERS
BIG SALES WINNERS
Effective Aids to Sales Provided by M. Schulz
Co., Chicago, for Use of Dealers
and Salesmen.
"Period Styles," "Keep Youth at Your Home,"
"Music and Her Happiness," and "Now, Dad Plays
the Piano" are four booklets of great potency in
stimulating the piano sales desire in the public, just
issued by the M. Schulz Co.
"Period Styles" is an artistic bit of printing and
as appropriate in design as in its response to a
national demand for the handsome styles. Lombardo,
the Jardine and the Louis XIV grands are shown in
halftones. This is said: "From the famous artistry
of the ages came the inspiration for these new Period
Casements in Grand Pianos purposely created by the
M. Schulz Company to impart a new distinction to
your home."
"Keep Youth at Home," is a clever booklet that
has obvious relation to a condition of society today.
"Keep Youth at Home That Character May Be
Moulded," is the full title of this clever booklet. The
booklet says:
"Many are the inducements that constantly attract
modern youth from the fireside. Unless the home
provides sufficient entertainment to satisfy youth's
quest for amusement, it cannot expect to successfully
compete against the outside attractions.
"The solution to this problem is to give youth what
it seeks; to provide youth with those things that it is
often forced to seek elsewhere; to make home life
more interesting and entertaining. The sensible way
to do this is to provide your children with a Schulz
Piano and a musical education."
"Dad Plays the Piano Now," is the suggestive title
of an M. Schulz folder that appeals to a large class
of prospects.
Dad experiences no difficulty in playing the Schulz
Playerpiano. Through the controls and pedals he
can give his individual interpretation of each selection.
"Music and Her Happiness" is illustrated with a
picture of fond mother and baby on the cover and
halftones of three M. Schulz small style on the
inside. Style 10, upright, Marionette Grand, and style
30, upright, are shown.
The Fuller Musical House, Defiance, Ohio, moved
to larger quarters this week.
tion of the Armstrong Harpsichord grand piano. We
like it very much as to tone and action. The case is
very attractive. Thank you! Very truly yours,
"MARION E. A. 'MILLER."
The Armstrong piano has always been noted for
refinement in case design, great durability and beau-
tiful tone quality. The quality of the instrument is
best described by the slogan applied to the piano:
"Sound in body and musical in soul." Armstrong
pianos have been used in Rochester, N. Y., public
schools with practical exclusiveness for the past
eighteen years, and are appreciated for their merits
of tone and endurance in many schools elsewhere.
QUICK WAY TO PIANO SALES
The best method of reaching the piano prospects in order to show and demonstrate the
pianos is the BOWEN PIANO LOADER way. A Bowen One-Man Loader and Carrier at-
tached to a Ford roadster enables the dealer to bring the store to the customer. The combina-
tion also provides the quickest, safest and best delivery system for music dealers in city or
country. Write for particulars to
BOWEN PIANO LOADER CO.
Winston-Salem, N. C.
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/