Presto

Issue: 1929 2226

11
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
May 1, 1929
CHRISTMAN
STUDIO PIANOS
appeal to exacting and appreciative buy-
ers because of their fine musical qualities.
A great leader is the
CHRISTMAN
STUDIO
GRAND
"THE FIRST TOUCH TELLS"
An instrument of marked tonal power
and beauty.
Three generations of Christmans have
put their life work into the Christman
piano and the result is a dependable
instrument.
Christman Piano Co., Inc.
597 East 137th Street
NEW YORK CITY, U. S. A.
Schumann
PIANOS and PLAYER PIANOS
GRANDS and UPRIGHTS
Have no superiors in appearance, tone
power or other essentials of strictly
leaders in the trade.
Warning to Infringers
Tbii Trade Mark li cast
In the plate and also ap-
pears upon the fall boar*
of all genuine Sckumaan
Pianos, and all infringe™
will be prosecuted. Beware
of Imitations suck as Scan
mtiD A Company, Schu-
mann A Bon, and also
Shuman.
as
all
steadl
shop*, dealers and users of
pianos bearing a name tn
Imitation
of
the
name
Schumann with the Inten-
tion of deceiving the public
will i s %- M «»»*.^ , i ««,
fullest extent of th« law
ew Catalogue oa Reqoest.
Schumann Piano Co.
W. N. VAN MATRE, President
Rockford, I1L
IANO
Renowned for excellence of workman-
ship and material, is made by the old
and distinguished house of
present to them reliable counsel, advice and service
for profitable merchandising of both pianos and radios,
as they have for so long past done in the field of
piano distribution.
THE CABLE CO. SELL
CHICAGO FACTORY
SCHILLER GRAND
FOR STATION KFNF
Transaction Carried Out This Week by Which
Electrical Research Laboratories, Inc.,
Acquire Cable Plant at Paulina
and 22nd Streets.
Negotiations which had been in progress for some
time resulted, late last week, in the sale by The Cable
Company, Chicago, to the Electrical Research Labor-
atories, Inc , of its entire Chicago manufacturing prop-
erty, situated at Paulina and West 22nd streets.
This unit of the Cable manufacturing system has in
recent years been employed largely in the manufac-
ture of players, reproducers, and various piano parts
in which The Cable Company's operation has always
been very complete and extensive. Originally, too,
this plant was the seat of the manufacture of The
Cable Company's grand pianos. With the expansion
of that branch of the business in recent years, a grand
factory was developed in the St. Charles group which
has been steadily expanded, and parts operations have
also been gradually shifted to the St. Charles works.
This policy of concentration had proceeded to a point
where, with the additional buildings already designed
and authorized for the St. Charles group, it permits
the consolidation of the piano manufacturing opera-
tions of The Cable Company at that center without
interruption or diminution. Many and highly impor-
tant benefits will accrue from this consolidation of
effort, avoiding as it will duplication of inventories,
supervision, and overhead expenses.
The Conover Plant.
Plans for a new Conover factory at St. Charles
were prepared over two years ago and have been held
in readiness for this occasion. Coincident with the
closing of the present transaction, the Board of Direc-
tors authorized the construction of such additions to
the St. Charles plant and equipment as may be neces-
sary to effectively and efficiently house the entire
piano production of The Cable Company. How T ever,
manufacture of the Conover grands and piano actions
will continue in Chicago until the new and better
facilities have been fully completed.
Cable Contact with Radio.
This transaction, substantially on a cash basis, puts
these manufacturers of radio receiving sets and pho-
nograph combinations in unencumbered possession of
a large and efficient plant while, at the same time,
The Cable Company, by purchase of a substantial
amount of the common stock of the Erla Company,
comes into close and practical contact with radio,
both by reason of its ownership of Erla stock and as
a source of supply for the growing radio operation?
developing in Cable's large and widespread retail
stores organization.
Long in Radio Manufacturing.
I h e Erla Company are experienced manufacturers,
not only of radio receiving sets and phonograph com-
binations, but reproducers, electric pick-ups, and many
other essential radio parts which they have long man-
ufactured and distributed to the radio manufacturing
trade. In possession of many important patents,
themselves, and fully licensed to manufacture under
the patents of the Radio Corporation of America and
allied companies, acquiring with the present transac-
tion large manufacturing facilities and equipment with,
which to speedily obtain mass production, and with
the possibilities of special and exclusive Cable receiv-
ing sets and combinations procured from this source
and marketed through Cable stores and Cable deal-
ers, interesting possibilities lie ahead.
Cable Radio.
The Cable Company will lie able to supply its
dealers with radio, as well as piano merchandise, and
Music of Fine Piano Noticeably Improves
Tonal Character of Musical Numbers on
Programs of Shenandoah Radio
Programs.
Every radio owner in a wide radius of the United
States is familiar with Station K F N F of Shenandoah,
la. This broadcasting station, operated by the Henry
Field Seed Co., is one of the most important in the
West and recipients of radio programs are particu-
larly pleased with the delightful musical programs.
They have had a Schiller upright in this studio for a
long time and now supplement the upright with the
newly constructed Schiller grand.
Recently listeners-in have noticed a pleasantly
different sound on the studio piano. That is ex-
pressed by the letter to the Benedict Piano Company,
Shenandoah, from the owners of Station KFNF. A
Schiller grand made by the Schiller Piano Company,
Oregon, 111 , is now in use in the studio. The letter
follows:
"Henry Field Seed Company,
"Office of Henry Field, President.
"Shenandoah, Iowa, April 18, 1929.
"Benedict Piano Company,
"Shenandoah, la.
"Gentlemen: I am more than pleased with the
Schiller grand piano purchased from you last month.
I am particularly pleased with the tone and touch
of this instrument which compares most favorably
with any piano I have ever used.
"The new construction now being used in the
Schiller piano gives it a tone quality I have never
found before in a piano of this size.
"I shall be glad, indeed, to recommend the new
Schiller grand to any of my radio friends.
"Sincerely yours,
"CLARENCE CRAVEN,
"Director KFNF" Studio Orchestra, Henry Field Sta-
tion, Shenandoah, Iowa.
GEORGE W. LAWRENCE
NEW BALDWIN MANAGER
Recently Appointed Chief of St. Louis Divi-
sion of Baldwin Piano Co. Has Training
and Experience for Duties.
George W. Lawrence of Chicago, for many years
in the Chicago Division of The Baldwin Piano Com-
pany, has been appointed the head of the St. Louis
Division of that company.
Mr. Lawrence brings a wealth of experience to his
new responsibilities. He has for many years been
closely associated with the wholesale and retail rep-
resentation of The Baldwin Piano Company in Chi-
cago and the northwest and the success and develop-
ment of The Baldwin Piano Company organization in
that territory is glowing testimonial to his many
abilities.
LETTER FROM WEICKERT HOUSE.
The great piano felt house of J. D. Weickert, Ran-
statte Steinweg 38, Leipzig, C-l, Germany, of which
Philip W. Oetting & Son are the American repre-
sentatives, have sent out a letter acknowledging con-
dolences on the death of Herren Edwin Weickert of
that house. The letter is signed by Herren Otto
Weickert, Max Weickert, Herbert Schmidt, and Fritz
Weickert.
WILLIAM TONK & BRO.,'-
The Tonk Piano is reliable in every
way and Tonk Dealers enjoy the quick
profits assured by its Dependability.
WILLIAM TONK & BRO.
Tenth Avenue, 35th and 36th Streets
NEW YORK CITY
U. S. A.
Refer to Presto Buyers' Guide for in-
formation about all Pianos, Players and
Reproducing Pianos.
PRESTO
BUYERS'
GUIDE
Indispensable to
Dealers and
Salesmen
Price 50 cents
iartk
Grand, Upright and Player-Pianos
Strictly High Grade. Many Exclusive Selling Points.
Attractive Proposition for Dealers. Send for Catalog.
. ;.*nufacturers, CHICAGO, ILL.
New York Warerooma: 112-114 West 42nd St.
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/
May 1, 1929
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
12
Alfredo Casella, one of the most remarkable person-
alities in the musical world, appeared "At the Bald-
win" Sunday, April 28. The distinguished Italian
composer, conductor, pianist and critic has come to
the United States to conduct the Boston Symphony
Orchestra during the months of May and June.
Casella's Genius.
Baldwin Piano Co. Advises That, Owing to
Casella is a many-sided genius and one of the most
talked-of figures in the musical world of today. He is
Overwhelming Expressions of Satisfaction
a brilliant pianist. As apostle of the Italian modern-
from Public, Baldwin Hour Over
ists, he has had a strong influence on contemporary
Wide Chain, Will Be Continued.
music. Of all modern composers, his work has been
The following telegram from the Baldwin Piano characterized by the most tonal freedom and daring.
Casella's first visit to the United States was in
Co. is of interest to the piano trade and the entire
1921-22 and was the outstanding event of that musical
public:
season. Both as guest conductor of symphony or-
"Response to original plan for thirteen Baldwin chestras and in piano recital, he was received with
radio programs presenting importance of piano in great acclaim. Among symphony orchestras with
home so overwhelming we have decided to continue which he appeaerd are those of New York, Boston,
programs. This significant decision of particular in- Philadelphia, Cincinnati, Chicago, Minneapolis and
terest to Baldwin dealers and of great importance Detroit. His "Scarlattina," a combination of the
to entire piano industry whose appreciation of our Scarlatti themes, was arranged and rewritten for piano
piano propaganda is most gratifying."
and orchestra at the request of the New York Sym-
The action of the Baldwin Piano Company is a phony Orchestra.
result of the great flood of messages congratulating
His compositions are highly original, mostly
the company on the great success of the radio pro- marked by a rich coloring sprung from the sunny
grams and their influence on listeners. The Baldwin soil of Italy. In addition to orchestral works, he has
programs are so distinctive in their planning and so written many compositions for instruments and voice.
pleasing to music lovers the favor they invoked is
deep and widespread. Not only are the programs
highly artistic, but they are carried out in an uncon-
ventional way that gives the radio audiences a
friendly and sociable feeling. The "At the Baldwin
Hour" on Sunday evenings is looked forward to by
a great host of listeners-in in the United States and
Canada.
Influence of Musical People of That City in
Wagner Program.
Determining Favor for Various Instru-
An all-Wagnerian program was presented on the
ments Is Expressed by Him.
"At the Baldwin" radio program Sunday, April 21,
over WJZ and associated NBC stations, when Ralph
Rembert
Wurlitzer, a director of the Rudolph
Leopold, distinguished American pianist, was the fea-
Wurlitzer
Co.,
Cincinnati, is visiting in Los Angeles
tured artist. He was assisted by the Baldwin Singers.
Mr. Leopold is regarded as the greatest living inter- to study the sales trend of a new style instrument
preter on Wagner's music on the piano. His Bald- recently marketed.
win program was made up entirely of his own Mr. Wurlitzer calls Los Angeles "music wise."
Waguerian transcriptions, while the Baldwin Singers "We have found," he declares, that "musical innova-
tions that meet with success here, are assured of
offered arias from the works of the old master.
success in other parts of the country.
"And similarly if an offering 'flops' here it is
almost surely destined to 'flop' elsewhere."
Popularized Saxophone.
To Los Angeles goes the credit of the present pop-
ularity of the saxophone and ukulele, he says. "They
were, of course, in vogue in the East and elsewhere,
too, but it was not until they were definitely estab-
lished here as musical instruments that their greatest
popularity was attained in other sections."
The theater organ was cited as a particular ex-
ample of his point, by Mr. Wurlitzer. The Los An-
geles theatergoer for the last ten years probably can
remember the sweeping success of this type of enter-
tainment, and now in the East it has become as popu-
lar as in Los Angeles.
Th* Happe, Marcellua and Bdouard JuUa PUno
Has Old Violin.
manufactured by tb«
Mr.
Wurlitzer
brought
to Los Angeles with him a
HEPPE PIANO COMPANY
$12,000
violin—a
Francesco
Gobetti—that was made
ar« the only pianos In the world with
in
1714
in
Venice.
The
Wurlitzer
family has always
Three Sounding Board*.
—for more than 200 years—collected rare violins and
Patented In the United States, Great Britain,
the Gobetti is one of the finest in their possession. It
France, Germany and Canada.
Liberal arrangements to responsible agent! only.
was played at the Shrine Auditorium by the violinist,
Main Office. 1117 Chestnut St.
Angersmyer, during the C minor Bach mass, which
PHILADELPHIA. PA.
was held for the first time in the West.
EXTENDS BALDWIN
RADIO PROGRAMS
REMBERT WURLITZER
VISITS LOS ANGELES
XH E
WESSELL, NICKEL &
GROSS NAILS A RUMOR
The Following Telegram from Arthur L. Wes-
sell Gives Emphatic Denial to Baseless
Story Going the Rounds and Adds
Statement.
"Presto-Times,
"417 South Dearborn Street,
"Chicago.
"There is a rumor being circulated by persons in
the supply trade that Wessell, Nickel & Gross is ne-
gotiating to sell its plant and product to another
concern. As this rumor is general throughout the
trade at the present time I wish to take this oppor-
tunity to emphatically deny this sinister report by
saying that we do not intend to sell our business and
have had no thought of it. We are very proud of
the position we occupy in the piano industry. My
brother and myself are very optimistic concerning the
future of the piano business and with the great repu-
tation we have built up and the time we have spent
to maintain this reputation and improve on our
product, we consider these assets invaluable and
above all money considerations.
My brother Fer-
nando and myself will be in the piano action business
as long as there is any business and piano manufac-
turers demand good actions. After we pass on we
hope our sons will continue with the same policy
that has been our motto from the foundation of this
firm and T wish you would deny these rumors and in-
form the trade on how my brother and myself feel
about them.
"ARTHUR WESSELL,
"Vice-President,
"Wessell, Nickel & Gross,
"New York City."
"April 24, 1929."
The very groundlessness of the rumor which Mr.
Wessell so emphatically denies, naturally increases
the vehemence of his words. The house has an ac-
knowledged position as the maker of piano actions of
the finest type and a clientele of manufacturers who
make an appeal to discriminative buyers on the high
character of their products and the fine quality of the
materials that compose them.
Wessell, Nickel & Gross has built up a reputation
for fine actions that is of an enduring character and
a matter of the deepest pride to the Wessell family.
That pride is forcibly expressed in the assurance in
Mr. Wessell's telegram, that the sons of the present
principals now active in the business would continue
the industry along the lines laid down by the widely-
known policy of the house expressed in the phrase,
"Highest Grade, One Grade Only."
NEW CAPEHART MANAGER.
K. F. Valentine has been appointed manager of
the Denver district by the Capehart Automatic
Phonograph, comprising the entire state of Colorado
and portions of the states of Nebraska, Wyoming and
New Mexico The company feels its dealers are par-
ticularly fortunate that this district has been placed
under the supervision of Mr. Valentine. Mr. Valen-
tine has made an outstanding success in the sales field
previous to his connection with the Capehart Corpora-
tion and is well qualified for his present position.
CO MSTOCK, C HENE 1 Y
IVORYTON, CONN •
& CO.
IVORY CUTTERS
SINCE 1834
MANUFACTURERS OP
Grand Keys, Actions and Hammers, Upright Keys
Actions and Hammer , Pipe Organ Keys
Piano Forte Ivory for the Trade
Coin Operated and Selection Controlled Pianos
MECHANICALLY PERFECT
Music That Pays as It Plays
WESTERN ELECTRIC PIANO CO., 832-850 Blackhawk St., Chicago, in.
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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