April 1, 1929
PRESTO-TIMES
18
R A D I O
RADIO=PIANO PRESENTED
The S. W. Miller Company, Sheboygan, Wis.,
Uses Its Best Piano for the
Combination
The S. W. Miller Piano Company of Sheboygan,
Wis., has placed on the market a combination piano
and radio. The radio built into the piano requires no
aerial, for this is provided for in the piano strings to
which the radio set is attached.
The receiving set is placed inside the upright piano
above the keyboard and the loud speaker is concealed
in the instrument directly below the keyboard. The
combination has two outstanding features, namely,
the elimination of added furniture in the room and
the fact that the radio can be played separately, the
piano played separately, or the two in unison if so
desired.
Commenting on the new achievement, John F.
Schwerin, head of the S. W. Miller Piano Company,
stated that the combination includes one of the com-
pany's best grade pianos and also one of the highest
class radio sets. The radio receiving set may be
attached to any upright piano provided the instrument
has a top spacious enough to accommodate the equip-
ment.
R.C.A. COMMUNICATIONS, INC.
NEW MAJESTIC ENGINEER.
The Grigsby-Grunow Company, Chicago, has en-
gaged the services of Prof. Reginald A. Fessenden as
consulting engineer. He is one of the pioneers in
the radio industry, and his work in the art of radio
circuits, tubes, etc., occupies a very important place
in the development of radio to its present state. While
it is expected that Prof. Fessenden's work for the
company will be directed mainly towards develop-
ment of television apparatus, his experience in radio
tube manufacture and receiving set design will un-
doubtedly prove of great value.
RADIO RECEIVING SETS
RADIO PARTS
RADIO-PHONOGRAPHS
HOME MADE SETS DECLINE
Radio receiving sets have become standardized and
interest in home-made sets has waned, according to
the daily mail bags of the Bureau of Standards. When
the home construction of receiving sets was in vogue
and broadcasting had reached a crest of popularity,
the Radio Laboratory of the Bureau of Standards
was the recipient of five times more mail inquiries
than the combined volume of letters addressed to the
other eight scientific and technical sections.
That was five or six years ago, and at the peak of
RADIO EXPORT RECORD.
radio interest the flood of inquiries addressed to the
At least 1,000.000,000 people live within constant Bureau of Standards relating to "how to build" receiv-
receiving distance of radio broadcasting stations. ing sets and other radio equipment totaled as many
Over 20,000,000 radio receiving sets are in use in as 400 letters a day. This same class of inquiries in
the world. During the seven years in which radio 1929—that is, letters pertaining to the structural
broadcasting has been developed publicly, over $50,- phases of radio equipment—has dwindled to insignifi-
000,000 worth of radio goods has been sent by the cance—averaging about six inquiries a day. This
United States to foreign countries. In 1928 a new apparent decline in radio interest, froin the construc-
record was established, with exports valued at tion standpoint, may be accepted as a reliable index
$12,061,410.
since the Bureau of Standards is frequently referred
to as "Lhicle Sam's Question-and-Answer Box" and
The Munson Music Store, Lanesville, O., is holding "The Thermometer and Yardstick of American
Industries."
a closing out sale.
SCHILLER IN WINDOW DISPLAY
Announcement was made last week of the election
of officers and directors of R. C. A. Communications,
Inc., a new subsidiary, wholly owned by the Radio
Corporation of America, with offices at 66 Broad
street, New York City. General James G. Harbord,
in addition to his duties as president of the Radio
Corporation of America, was elected president of R.
C. A. Communications, Inc. The other officers are:
W. A. Winterbottom, vice-president in charge of
communications; C. H. Taylor, vice-president in
charge of engineering; Col. Samuel Reber, vice-
president and general foreign representative; George
S. De Sousa, treasurer, and Lewis MacConnach, sec-
retary. The directors are: Cornelius N. Bl : ss, Paul
D. Gravath, H. P. Davis, Col. Manton Davis, Gen.
James G. Harbord, E. W. Harden, Edward J. Nally,
David Sarnoff, James R. Sheffield, and Owen D.
Young. R. C. A. Communications, Inc., it was an-
nounced, is taking over the transoceanic and other
point-to-point communications interests of the Radio
Corporation of America.
UTICA RADIO ASSOCIATION
The Utica Radio Association of Utica, N. Y., has
been re-organized, with Walter T. Langden as presi-
dent, succeeding A. C. Stiefvater. Other officers
elected were: Vice-presidents, W. T. Conlon, Ben-
jamin Harris, A. C. Stiefvater; secretary and treas-
urer, H. J. Benner. The directors include the fore-
going and E. Schwenden, Harold Goodman, Lee Ray-
mond, Ray Hill, Morris Squires, J. C. Drummond,
Walter Schiller and John Lockner. The association
will attempt among other things to educate the radio-
using public to an appreciation of the effect of the
weather upon reception from time to time. It also is
planning ways and means whereby Utica may have
an interference investigation similar to the plan
adopted by the Electric League of Syracuse, N. Y.
The association is composed of local utility company
men, radio dealers and distributors.
ILLINOIS DEALER'S VIEWS.
W. J. Dick, dealer at Watseka, 111., was visiting
the Chicago trade this week and made some purchases
of small grands. Mr. Dick, in speaking of the falling
off of the piano trade, notably in the agricultural dis-
tricts such as in his section, attributes a decrease in
sales more to shortage of money than to the desire
for musical instruments. Farmers have not been
able to lay aside money and consequently not able
to buy as they would like to. Expanses are much
greater and income apportionately less. With the
improved conditions so that the farmers and others
living in country places can earn more money busi-
ness will improve.
The accompanying cut shows the Schiller piano in
The Schiller exhibited in the Ensenberger & Sons'
a window display of Ensenberger & Sons, Blooming- window so interested a prominent business man of
ton, 111. The Ensenberger & Sons store was spe- Bloomington—Clay Dooley, leading tire merchant—
cially planned and built to carry one of the most that he was sold on sight.
complete lines of house furniture in the Middle West
"He had investigated nearly every high grade make
and the presentation of a line of fine pianos adds to of piano, but was so impressed with the individuality
FRANK M. HOOD ON ROAD.
Frank M. Hood, sales manager for the Schiller its attractiveness. H. Otto Mueller, manager of the of tone in the instrument .because of the Schiller
Piano Co., Oregon, 111., with offices in the Republic piano department, who formerly was with J. O. Suspended Construction that he made the Schiller his
Building Chicago, is now on a road trip which will Twitchell in Chicago, operates an active sales system choice," said Mr. Mueller. The window show was
cover all the important cities of the middle west and that shows results. He is an enthusiastic proponent arranged by Russell Smith, whose displays always
of the
Schiller.
bring
results
in sales.
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