Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1929 2219

PRESTO-TIMES
BRECKWOLDT BACKS
FOR FINE PIANOS
How Product of Julius Breckwoldt & Son, Inc.,
Conduces to Permanence of Piano Tone
and Policies of Industry Assure
Safety to Piano Buyers.
The great plant of Julius Breckwoldt & Son,
Inc., Dolgeville, N. Y., is remarkable for the
comprehensive character of the line manufac-
tured, which includes piano backs, boards,
bridges, bars, traplevers and mouldings. But to
the piano industry the fame of the progressive
industry at Dolgeville arises from the merito-
rious nature of its products. This great supply
house has achieved a reputation for products
that assure the character of reliability in the
pianos in which they are employed.
Piano Requirements.
Every manufacturer and dealer knows the
importance of the piano back in assuring the
quality of sturdiness that conduces to the dura-
bility so desirable in a piano. The intelligent
customer, too, realizes that a dependable piano
back is an assurance that the tone quality which
is admired when the piano is new, will remain
a permanent attribute of the instrument. The
piano backs made by Julius Breckwoldt & Son,
Inc.. are chosen by manufacturers of fine pianos
because they have the quality of preserving the
beauties of tone in the instruments.
Julius Breckwoldt & Son, Inc.. practically
commences the constructive work of the builder
of fine pianos by providing piano backs pos-
sessing the most desirable attributes conducive to
splendid tone of a permanent kind. Manufacturers
proud of their pianos admit the great extent to
which their pianos are indebted for fine musical
results to the Breckwoldt piano back and the import-
ant advantage of being enabled to match this up with
a perfect sounding board and set of ribs.
The Breckwoldt Policy.
Julius Breckwoldt, Inc.. has always aimed to pro-
duce the best possible piano backs and other sup-
plies, regardless of cost and the best proof of that
policy is in the circle of its customers, which are the
best in the piano manufacturing industry. The com-
pany is enabled to better serve its customers by rea-
son of its own strong position in the manufacturing
field. Practically all of the lumber required by the
great plant at Dolgeville is produced by the com-
February 9, 1929
pany, and it can continue to call on an amazing sup-
ply of the linest timber standing in its own forests.
Its Manufacturing Advantages.
The advantages of this are obvious. Julius Breck-
woldt & Son, Inc., has unlimited lumber resource**
which enables the company to select more carefully
for quality than if it had to buy on the outside Member of Firm of J. D. Weickert, Great
Piano Felt and Action Supply House,
market.
Breckwoldt for Strength.
Victim of Apoplexy.
The Breckwoldt piano back provides the strength
Philip W. Oetting & Son, Inc., of New York city,
in construction which is a vital necessity for lasting
qualities in the tone of the piano. Strength in the announces with deep regret that Fritz Weickert, Sr.,
back is not only important but is absolutely essential. died suddenly of apoplexy, in Leipzig, on January
10. The first news, via cable, has just been confirmed
by mail from J. D. Weickert to Philip W. Oetting
& Son, Inc., their United States agent.
Mr. Weickert had been a partner in the firm of J.
D. Weickert since 1901 and served his firm with
marked distinction, devoting the best years of his life
and all his productive talent toward the progress of
the business.
Mr. Weickert made several visits to America,
where he had a host of friends, the last visit being in
April, 1926. During one of his earlier and longer
stays in New York he met Miss Alice Beinecke whom
he afterward married. His son Edwin has traveled
widely in America and in 1928 he made an extensive
trip throughout the piano trade, making his head-
quarters at Mr. Oetting's office and attending the
convention in New York before returning to Ger-
man}'.
FRITZ WE1CKERT, SR.,
DIES IN LEIPZIG
0. K. HOUCK, NASHVILLE,
ACQUIRES MUSIC FIRM
The Store and Interests of the Elliott-Ritten-
berry Piano Co. Acquired by Progressive
Breckwoldt backs are solid foundations for the finest
Southern Music House.
pianos. Their use obviates that weakness in con-
THE BRECKWOLDT PIANO BACK
struction which disappoints many a customer who
purchases a piano, seemingly with many features of
the strictly high grade instrument, but which lacks;
the rigidity that makes tone permanent. Purchasers
of pianos with Breckwoldt back do not have this
risk.
The policy of Julius Breckwoldt & Son, Inc., to
accept important responsibilities in the production of
piano supplies is a continuous source of assurance
of piano merit which dealers and their customers
appreciate.
Alfred E. Lippold has succeeded to the music
goods business of the Record Exchange Company,
111 Sixth street, San Francisco.
ZENITH IS STORE ATTRACTION
The O. K. Houck Piano Company, Nashville, has
purchased the Elliott-Rittenberry Piano Company,
in the same city, another incident in the plan of the
Houck firm to expand. The company has stores in
Memphis, Little Rock, Ark., Shreveport, La., as
well as the Nashville store. The principals in the
Elliott-Rittenberger firm arc Floyd Elliott and Nat
Rittenberry.
There is an element of sentiment in the transac-
tion. Mr. Elliott and Mr. Rittenberry are returning
to old associates. They were with the O. K. Houck
Piano Company for many years before entering busi-
ness for themselves.
The Elliott-Rittenberry Company has specialized
in the handling of the C. Kurtzmann piano and other
good instruments, and on last week Saturday and
Saturday night an effort was being made to move
their stock to Houck's, but there wasn't room, hence
the result is the clearance offering of many line
pianos, beginning Monday.
O. E. Furner is manager of the O. K. Houck
Piano Company and invites all friends of that firm
and everybody in general to visit the store. Both
Houck's and the firm that Mr. Elliott and Mr. Rit-
tenberry have operated are known for their complete
and congenial service, hence it is natural that these
two men should join with the organization that they
were formerly with.
The O. K. Houck Piano Company is one of the
most important music businesses in the southwest
and has friends all over the state. The business pol-
icy established by the late O. K. Houck was designed
to instil the feeling of friendship in every customer.
The feeling was created by an unswerving trust in
O. K. Houck Piano Company's methods of doing
business.
THE USED PIANO.
An extremely attractive window trim was used by
the Stetson Shoe Company in their Chicago store at
Dearborn and Adams streets during the Retail Shoe
Merchants' Convention held recently, tying up with
their National Broadcast program, the "Stetson Shoe
Parade." The Zenith Radio Corporation co-operated
in the window display by installing one of the auto-
matically tuned Zenith console models which occupied
center position in the window. Out of the loud
speaker marched the Stetson parade of soldiers while
across a dark blue background flared prominently the
words "Tune in Stetson Shoe Parade," with call let-
ters of the various national chain stations dotting the
background. Miniature broadcasting towers added
to the striking effect.
Joseph Hopfenberg, general manager of the Max
Glucksmann Company, Central and South American
distributors of Zenith radio, paid a visit to the Zenith
plant in Chicago last week, going: over Zenith's
special advertising and sales plans, also making a
tour of the factory. Mr. Hopfenberg recently re-
turned from South America and reports an ever in-
creasing market from Zenith radio due to an excep-
tional demand for products of high quality. He pre-
dicted 1929 will be a banner year in the marketing
of Zenith receivers in Uruguay and Argentina. A
recent consignment of Zenith radios to South Amer-
ica comprised two carloads.
The Chicago Tribune this week carried a four-inch
display advertisement for "men to sell used pianos
on full or part time—25 per cent commission. Ex-
perience unnecessary. Big money can be made on
this proposition." The general understanding in the
trade is that the used piano stocks are pretty low,
owing to steady sales by dealers everywhere. Ex-
perienced travelers who have specially studied that
phase of the business concur in that belief.
PIANO LESSONS FOR BOYS.
Regular piano lessons are taught in Girard College,
Philadelphia. The college is a school for poor white
male orphans, founded in 1833-48 by a large bequest
from Stephen Girard. The founder made the city
of Philadelphia trustee and stipulated that the boys
should enter between 6 and 10 j - ears old and should
leave between 14 and 18. The college occupies exten-
sive buildings and owns property to the total of
$22,294,551.
A new music store was opened recently in Estel-
line, S. D., by Eliot A. Parker.
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).
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P R E S T 0-T I M E S
February 9, 1929
FIRST BALDWIN RADIO PROGRAM
The "At the Baldwin" weekly period over radio
was inaugurated last Sunday over the associated sta-
tions of the National Broadcasting Company and the
first incident of the progressive scenario was hailed
as another of the radio events for which radio owners
watch and wait with pleased expectancy. It was
splendidly staged and acted and of course the musical
famous vocalist or instrumentalist and the Baldwin
Singers in a varied program of standard composi-
tions, old favorites and popular selections.
The favorable reaction of the listeners—the ardent
response to the works of the masters, the frank en-
joyment of selections of lighter vein—will be brought
out in the conversation between numbers.
The scheme was admirablv carried out at the first
A. C. BECKMAN PROMOTED
BY M. SCHULZ COMPANY
Widely Known and Experienced Man Ap-
pointed to Fill Position Left Vacant by
Death of R. K. Maynard.
The M. Schulz Company, Chicago, announces the
appointment of A. C. Beckman to represent the com-
pany in the Pacific Coast territory, beginning Feb-
ruary 1.
Mr. Beckman has been associated with the com-
pany as superintendent in one of the piano divisions
for the past five years. Following the policy of the
concern, to give to men of the organization advance-
ment whenever possible, he has been given the posi-
tion left vacant by the sudden death of R. K. May-
nard.
Mr. Beckman is well known in the trade; he has
traveled extensively from coast to coast and had ex-
periences in all branches of manufacturing from ap-
prentice to superintendent.
FRANK WEISER TALKS
ON PIANO CONDITIONS
Observant Representative of Wickham Piano
Plate Co., Springfield, O., Points Out New
and Cheering Aspects of Trade.
One of the trade visitors to Chicago this week was
Frank Weiser, traveling representative of the Wick-
ham Piano Plate Co., Springfield, O., and Mr.
Weiser's words to a Presto-Times man reflected his
firm opinion of piano trade possibilities.
The supply industry is considered an unfailing in-
dex of business anticipations and when they are
voiced by such a conservative observer as Mr. Weiser
they are considered particularly dependable.
For purposes of comparison, the alert traveler for
the Wickham Piano Plate Co.. cited some figures
that were surprising until they were explained. For
instance the number of pianos sold last year was
greater than the number manufactured by American
piano manufacturing industries.
"This is explained by the unusually active effort of
dealers to sell used pianos taken in trade," said Mr.
Weiser. "Some of these were really not so old and
possessed a musical appeal to customers and nearly
all instruments were reconditioned in some shape.
Vigorous advertising of the used and reconditioned
pianos did the selling job."
"The accumulations of used pianos, or the most
salable among those presented last year, are sold and
the circumstance favors the consideration of new
stock by the dealer. That attitude is reflected in
the increase of activity in piano factories and the
preparations to meet the constantly growing demands
for the instruments. The tendency of the times to
favor pianos of the better grades is marked. That
raises the standard of the piano product for this year
and provides a cause for more stimulation in the sales
departments. The discrimination of buyers in favor
of the finer kinds simplifies the piano sales situation,
which in turn is reflected in piano factory activities
and of course in the plate foundries."
WALTER GIESEKING-
CLARENCE H. POND ENJOYS
ANNUAL PARIS VACATION
features contributed by Mint 1 . Maria Carreras, at
the Baldwin; Sascha Jacobsen, violinist, and the
Baldwin singers, were calculated to add the artistic
strength to the period.
The first program presented the scheme of the gen-
eral plan. The scenario, written by a New York
dramatist, places the scene in a music-loving home.
Each Sunday, a noted artist will be present at dinner
as the guest of honor. Dinner over, the guests will
assemble in the living room to enjoy an informal
half-hour of music—at the Baldwin.
The pianist of the occasion will be assisted by a
program of the "At the Baldwin" period. The unseen
audiences were made to feel the sociable air of the
music loving home and Mme. Carreras showed admir-
able genius in acting her part in the scene. Mr.
Jacobsen was equally happy in displaying talent out-
side of his rare musical ones.
Gertrude Wicks, the prominent young actress, was
the charming hostess. To New Yorkers she is known
as the creator of the part of Lou in "The Barker,"
which had such a long run on Broadw r ay. The an-
nouncer was Alvis Havrilla, a well-known figure in
the radio world.
AUG. GROSS PIANO CO.'S
GROUP PIANO CLASSES
piano music and incidentally increasing the demand
for pianos. It is a noteworthy fact that the group
piano instruction recently adopted by the Chicago
Board of Education and used in many of the schools,
lias been used with considerable success by the com-
pany for the past three years.
The August Gross Piano Co. gave a recital of a
Curtis class group of students February 9, directed
by Miss Ellen Munson, the class instructor. The
recital was given at the store, 3932-5 North Kedzie
avenue, before a large and appreciative audience.
The classic character of the program shows the abil-
ity of the students.
Progressive Chicago House a Pioneer in Piano
Teaching Methods That Result in Con-
tinuously Lively Sales.
The August Gross Piano Co., 3933-5 North Kedzie
avenue, Chicago, is one of the alert piano houses
which has showed its realization of the potency of
group piano instruction in furthering the cause of
President of Ivers & Pond, Boston, Is Guest of His
Brother, Dana Pond, the Artist.
Clarence 11. Pond, president of the Ivers & Pond
Piano Co , of Boston, sailed at midnight Friday, Feb-
ruary 1, for his annual vacation in Paris. As usual
he is taking the French line sailing this time on the
"He de France," and plans to go directly to Paris
where be has many friends acquired during his
numerous visits to that city.
A considerable part of Mr. Pond's time will be
spent with his brother, Dana Pond, the American
artist, who for years has made his headquarters in
Paris. Dana Pond is a frequent exhibitor in annual
picture exhibitions in the United States and, in the
opinion of artists and critics, his work places him
very high among the young group of artists.
"THE MUSIC TRADES" CHANGE.
An arrangement by the Music Trades, New York,
this week supplies details of a course of action by
the Music Trade Journal of which its contemporaries
in the trade had become aware some time ago. It
is the change, beginning February 15. from a weekly
to a monthly publication and the use of standard size
pages instead of the dimensions with which the trade
has been familiar.
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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