March 15, 1929
R A D I O
PIANO INDUSTRIES
MAKING RADIOS
Enterprising Companies Which Had Achieved
Success in the Manufacture of Pianos
Find Their Factory Facilities Serve
Well in Production of Radios.
A notable feature in the radio industry is the num-
ber of important piano industries which have actively
entered into the manufacture of radio sets. And to
utilize the years of effective publicity for the piano
products they havg applied the name well known in
connection with pianos to the new radio products.
In every case, the piano manufacturers entering the
radio industry have gained a character for progres-
siveness in their piano, activities. So that they have
acquired an asset in character that should be richly
realized upon in the radio field.
Well Prepared.
Some of the piano manufacturers had long utilized
their ability to make cabinets for the radio industry
before they became active makers of radios under
their own names. In fact, many of the piano manu-
facturers were eagerly requested by the earlier radio
makers, to employ the tastefulness shown in piano
cases, in giving an artistic appearance to radio cabi-
nets.
But it is the character for research in the produc-
tion of pianos that is a prime assurance of similar
purposes in the production of radios by the piano
manufacturers. Those who have already entered the
radio field have always striven to produce commodi-
ties certain to give satisfaction to customers.
Jesse French Radios.
The appearance of a line of Jesse French Radios
a little while ago did not come as a surprise to quite
a number of people in the trade. The Jesse French
& Sons Piano Co., New Castle, Ind., had been pre-
paring for actual manufacture in the thorough way
that distinguishes the house before the trade was
apprised of its purpose. Specialists on radios were
added to the company's own force of experts and the
first Jesse French radios shown justified the trade's
expectations of scientifically made and salable receiv-
ing sets.
Bush & Lane Strong in Field.
The Bush & Lane Piano Co., Holland, Mich., one
of the earliest piano industries to enter the new field
of radio, is now well along in ability to produce its
admirable range of receiving sets in quantities. The
factory is one of the finest of its kind in equipment
and its ability to produce fine cabinets was eagerly
sought by radio manufacturers long before it con-
sidered making radios itself.
Gulbransen Receivers.
With its splendid facilities for manufacturing, the
Gulbransen Company, Chicago, created no surprise
when it announced its purpose to manufacture radios.
It was an assurance, too, in the trade that the radio
product would be something the dealers could back.
The tasteful cabinet work of Gulbransen radios is
an appreciated feature that further strengthens the
influence made by the other desired radio qualities
possessed by the Gulbransen set.
Enter the Straube.
Although the Straube Radio is one of the newest
in the field the Straube Piano Co., Hammond, Ind.,
has successfully gained for it an assured position in
the regular radio stores as well as in the music
stores with a radio section. The trade expected a
radio with the characteristics of thoroughness of the
Straube piano and it has not been disappointed.
17
PRESTO-TIMES
cabinets. A page ad in another part of the paper
shows some of the salable models of the Starck radio
line.
The Waltham Product.
The Waltham Piano Co., Inc., Milwaukee, makes
a line of Waltham Radios that has gained a strong
foothold in the trade. The desirability of the Wal-
tham radios was a fact accepted by the trade at their
first appearance, by reason of the excellent character
for dependability of the Waltham pianos. The Wal-
tham Piano Co., is another successful piano manu-
facturer who, in its new radio commodity, is "cash-
ing in" on its piano making reputation. The great
manufacturing capacity of the Waltham plant and
the admirable cost reducing systems developed there
assure dealers of economical radio production. A big
seller in the Waltham line is combination electric
radio and phonograph.
Jacob Bros. Radio.
Jacob Bros., New York, was early in the field of
radios. It was a natural expansion of a great piano
industry serving great numbers of music dealers.
The entry of the company in the radio field was an
observance of the economic principle underlying the
business publicity of Jacob Bros. The motive of this
principle is factory production under systemat : c cost
reduction methods.
Presenting a line of radios of a scientifically perfect
type, the company also assures dealers and ultimate
consumers that reasonable prices are assured by the
economical system of manufacture that distinguishes
the Jacob Bros. Co.
Everett Facilities.
The association of the Everett Piano Co., South
Haven, Mich., with the Howard Radio brings the
company into the ranks of piano industries manufac-
turing radios. The Howard Radio gained in many
ways by its association with the piano industry. For
one thing the splendid abilities of the Everett Piano
Co. in its South Haven factory to make radios eco-
nomically in large quantities is an asset in the sales
field.
SELLSJSPARTON RADIO
G. L. Goodsell, well-known Sparton radio repre-
sentative in Syracuse, N. Y., has assumed the direc-
tion of the radio and phonograph departments of Dey
Brothers & Company, Syracuse department store
which recently acquired the Sparton agency in that
city. Mr. Goodsell was connected with the Sparks-
Withington Company at Jackson, Michigan, at the
time this organization sponsored the electric radio.
Mrs. Florence B. Goodsell, wife of Mr. Goodsell, is
in charge of the phonograph and record division of
the Dey store. The firm has a complete stock of all
kinds of reproducing musical instruments. Mr.
Goodsell at one time was New York district manager,
his territory covering parts of Pennsylvania and
Ontario, Canada, for the Sparton Company.
FADA IN SYRACUSE
Among the prominent music stores in Syracuse,
N. Y., handling the Fada Radio, which the H. J.
Gorke Estate has taken over for distribution in Cen-
tral and Northern New York, is the Godard Music
Stores of 436 South Warren street and 113 East
Washington street. The Gorke Estates as succes-
sors to the W. D. Andrews Company, the control of
which company recently passed into the hands of
interests closely allied with the Victor Phonograph
Company, and their business limited to the distribu-
tion of Victor recording instruments, the Gorke
Company obtained the Fada distributorship, and has
53 associated dealers, many of whom are among the
leading music stores in the territory.
NATIONAL RADIO SHOWS
RADIO RECEIVING SETS
RADIO PARTS
RADIO—PHONOGRAPHS
AT THE BALDWIN
RADIO MUSIC HOUR
Every Succeeding Program Sponsored by the
Baldwin Piano Co. Over a Nation-Wide
Chain Increases the Number of Lis-
teners-in and Aids Piano Cause.
In the At the Baldwin program Sunday, March
17th, over the national WJZ radio network John
Corigliano, young Italia^ violinist, will be featured.
Mr. Corigliano has delighted blase New York audi-
ences with his genius and versatility. He has ap-
peared as soloist with the New York Philharmonic
and other Symphony Orchestras, and has achieved
success in concert recital in many cities.
Harry Perrella, popular pianist and a leading ex-
ponent of the ultra-modern in music, will also appear
on the radio program. Purella formerly was soloist
with Paul Whiteman's orchestra and is credited with
making Gershwin's "Rhapsody in Blue" famous. He
toured Europe with great success.
Kathryn Meisle, contralto of the Chicago Civic
Opera Company, was the featured artist of the "At
the Baldwin" radio program Sunday, March 10, over
the nation-wide chain.
Miss Meisle is one of the best known of American
singers. She made her debut in 1921 with the Minne-
apolis Symphony Orchestra and in 1923 was engaged
by the Chicago Civic Opera to sing leading contralto
roles. Since she has been re-engaged for successive
seasons, and also has appeared with great success in
concert and as soloist with the Symphony Orchestras
of New York, Philadelphia, San Francisco, Los An-
geles, Detroit, Cleveland, Chicago, Cincinnati and
Boston. She also has appeared with the Los Angeles
and San Francisco opera companies.
The Baldwin Piano Company, Cincinnati, Ohio, has
prepared a circular which is being sent to the music
trade, calling attention to the nation-wide interest
in the Baldwin radio broadcast. The circular is unique
in the fact that it has numerous miniature reproduc-
tions of newspaper articles of all the leading papers
in the country on the Baldwin program.
The music trade press is presented in a similar
manner and the comment of dealers everywhere is a
big feature. The many famed artists are also pic-
tured.
Merit in Presentation.
The unique manner in which the "At the Baldwin"
hour is presented over the radio is particularly pleas-
ing to the radio audience. There is a social, sociable
spirit which invites people of all degrees of musical
taste. And while the star artists taking part in the
programs are among the highest in the musical
world, the events have nothing of the "highbrow"
character that might repel some people who really
are music lovers.
The Sociable Feeling.
Listeners-in at the "At the Baldwin" hour are
given the feeling that they are taking part in informal
events of a particularly pleasing character, in which
they enjoy cultural companionship with really great
artists who themselves enjoy the soc'able delights.
The newspapers praise it as a worthwhile contri-
bution to the realm of better music and give it pref-
erence on their news pages. Music critics, who usu-
ally write only on personal appearances, departed
from their custom to comment enthusiastically on
the Baldwin program.
Dealers Benefit.
The "At the Baldwin" hour on radio every Sunday
evening vastly increases the value of the Baldwin
agency to dealers and the artistic event in which the
Baldwin piano is a central object, is beneficial to the
piano cause generally.
The radio programs are but a part of the Baldwin
sales promotion and publicity campaign for 1929,
which includes nationwide presentation of the Bald-
win piano on the concert stage with famous Baldwin
artists, national magazine advertising, local prestige
newspaper advertising, increased co-operation with
teachers and musicians, and many other merchan-
dising helps.
The 1929 national radio expositions at New York
Starck Radio Wins.
and Chicago will provide radio-set owners with a
To the music trade which knows the progressive
liberal education in modern manufacturing methods.
character of the A. P. Starck Piano Co., Chicago, the
In addition to the million dollars' worth of receivers,
entry of the company in the field of radio was a speakers and accessories on display, there will be
natural expectation, and aggressiveness being a exhibited the raw materials which enter into the
marked complementary feature to progressivenes^
apparatus and the machinery and precision instru-
the Starck Radio was not long in attaining a leading ments skilled labor employs in various processes of
place in the radio field. The new phase in the manu-
manufacture. The two expositions are the sixth
facturing activities of the company engrossed P. A. annual Radio World's Fair, to be held in New York,
A device called a "hum eliminator," for use with
Starck, president of the company, from the moment September 23 to 28, inclusive, and the eighth annual dynamic speakers operated from light-socket alter-
the company determined to manufacture radios to the Chicago Radio Show, to be held in the Coliseum, nating current, has been announced by the Sterling
appearance of the earlier models in the perfected Chicago, October 21 to 27, inclusive.
Manufacturing Company of Cleveland, Ohio. The de-
state which he demanded. The Starck Radios are
vice is a filter condenser connected across the field
beautiful in tone and added to that desirable quality
Walter Damrosch hailed radio as bringing in a coil terminal or the low-voltage output side of any
is that of Enhanced
taste in content
the design
and construction
of MBSI
the - The
rectifier
rated at
less than twelve volts.
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new
era Box
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