Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1929 2227

Page 9 Text:

May 15, 1929
PRESTO-TIMES
THIRTY=FIVE YEARS AGO
(From The Presto May 10, 1894.)
This paper has had occasion more than once to
refer to Mr. Curtis Kimball, a nephew of Mr. W. W.
Kimball, who has been with the W. W. Kimball Co.
for the past four or five years. He has, in the time
he has acted for the house as traveling representative,
proved himself a very valuable man, and one of whom
his uncle may well be proud. We feel sure that some
of these days Curtis Kimball will play a very im-
portant part in the affairs of the W. W. Kimball Co.,
and his training now going on will enable him to play
that part successfully.
Mr. Melville Clark, of the Story & Clark Organ
Co., will sail for England the first of next month.
We called up the Story & Clark Organ Co. yes-
terday and asked "What's new?" Mr. E. H. Story
said it looked like rain and supplemented it with the
words "and we are very busy." That was all we
could get, no news, for everybody knows that the
Story & Clark Organ Co. is always busy.
At last purchasers who are able to carry out their
contracts have been found for the remaining World's
Fair buidlings. They have been re-sold for $80,000.
We have an idea that the recently organized Bur-
dett Organ Co., at Freeport, 111., will have a rather
difficult time of it when its products come in compe-
tition with the other organs made in Chicago and
vicinity. No matter how good the product may be,
it will have to enter the field aaginst the Story &
Clark, Kimball, Chicago Cottage, Newman Bros.,
and a number of others that are so well known and
so firmly established that their position is practically
unassailable.
Mr. Edward Lyman Bill, editor of the Music Trade
Review and Mr. Graff, of the American Art Journal,
are among Chicago's visitors this week. Mr. Bill
has visited many of the most important piano manu-
facturing cities between New York and Chicago.
The proposed tax on pianos in Germany is meeting
with strenuous opposition there by people and press,
the musical and trade papers, particularly, presenting
exhaustive articles against the scheme.
FOR THE MONEY,
THE BEST IN THE U. S.
SeHILLER «
it
PIANOS.
Such expressions come from numerous dealers all over the
country who are acquainted with the merits of the
SCHILLER.'
It is estimated that 70,000 pianos are manufactured
yearly in Germany, about one-half for export.
It is well known that the New York warerooms
of Sohmer & Co., are as successful as any retail ware-
rooms in the country—perhaps more so—and that the
Sohmer piano has a hold on public favor that is very
gratifying to the house. Not alone in New York,
however, is the Sohmer in great demand. Sohmer
agents the country over have the same story of suc-
cess to tell and the instrument ranks as one of the
most popular in the country.
Mr. I. N. Rice was in the city the first of this
week making preparations for another trip in the in-
terest of the Hallet & Davis Co.
Several weeks ago, the firm of William Knabe &
Co. addressed a communication to President Gilman,
of Johns Hopkins University, in which they said:
"In view of the fact that McCoy Hall is approaching
completion, it occurred to us that it might be a use-
ful addition to the equipment of your new building
if we placed one of our best Concert Grands at your
disposal, and that we hereby beg to do that free
of charge."
It was a trade paper men's day at the Wellington
on Monday, when the local contingent was reinforced
by three of New York's shining lights. For the most
part there was friendliness and the boys fraternized
as though there had never been any hard feelings.
This was as it should be.
The statement that the amount paid by Lyon &
Healy for the cartage in their recent removal ap-
proximated $1,000 will not surprise many members
of the trade, but the moving of such an immense
stock without doing any damage, even to breaking
glass, is a matter for surprise. The moving was ac-
complished almost entirely outside of active business
hours, and although some sales were doubtless lost,
business was not interfered with. It is understood
that the total expense connected with the Lyon &
Healy removal foots up pretty closely to $25,000.
And now Mr. Healy can keep his notebook more
Heard Without a
Trace of Static
POLITEST MAN IS DISCOVERED
One day a few weeks ago Frank M. Hood, traveler
for the Schiller Piano Co., Oregon, 111., dropped into
the store of Lehman & Sons, St. Louis, to pass the
social greetings with Al Lehman and a group of
salesmen and the conversation took the inevitable
anecdotal turn.
The ability to tell a good story well seems to be
combined with the gift of salesmanship with the suc-
cessful piano traveler. A whole lot of people can file
good—even if old—stories in the yarn cells of the
brain and unloose them at the proper cue. A whole
lot of others can just as systematically file the gath-
ered yarns but, unfortunately, do not know the proper
gag sluice to open on occasions. That is why you
bear so many inappropriate stories; so many really
good ones that don't seem to fit in with the con-
versation.
It is the genius among raconteurs who can give
a new setting to an old story and do it in such a
way that it has the freshness of a new one. Frank
Hood is like that. He can take a medieval bromide
and give it a short-skirt up-to-dateness. The original
version may be pre-Victorian or even archaic, but
when it issues from his lips the narration has 1929
in evidence than ever before, and indulge his passion
for comparisons to his heart's content.
The new Jacob Doll Boudoir Grand has a number
of talking points that have attracted the attention
of all who have seen it. It has an excellent tone and
handsome appearance, and is built with the thorough-
ness that characterizes work coming from the Doll
factory.
At the annual meeting of the Briggs Piano Co.,
Boston, Mr. C. C. Briggs was elected president; Mr.
E. W. Furbush, vice-president; Mr. C. C. Briggs, Jr.,
secretary, and Mr. F. D. Irish, treasurer. The re-
ports presented were highly satisfactory.
On Tuesday morning of last week Mr. John C.
Freund, editor of the Music Trades, New York, was
arrested at the suit of the Sebastian Sommer Piano
Co. for criminal libel. Mr. Freund was within a short
time released on bail furnished by Mr. Hugo Sohmer,
and the examination was set for 2 p. m. Thursday last.
(From The Presto May 17, 1894.)
The Wonderful Weber.
The wonderful Weber tone, 'tis known
Is found in the Weber alone, all own,
And it ever appears
To most critical years,
No other can ever be shown, so prone,
To cure one of grief, or of groan, by tone,
The exquisite Weber,
The effluent Weber,
The mellow, mellifluent, musical tone.
C. C. DeZouche,
Waco, Texas.
Mr. J. D. Pease, of the Pease Piano, has been in
Chicago the past week. Mr. Pease is much gratified
at the success of the Chicago house which, under the
management of Vice-President Charles H. Mac-
Donald is making a record to be proud of.
A telegram received as we go to press informs us
that the report that S. Hamilton, of Pittsburgh, had
in contemplation the purchase of the Behr Bros'
plant, and that a number of 1 others were interested
in the scheme is altogether incorrect, and that such
a plan has not even been under consideration. This
denial may be accepted as entirely correct.
Mr. F. S. Cable, secretary of the Chicago Cottage
Organ Co., has engaged accommodations on the
Steamer Etruria of the Cunard line, which sails
from New York for Liverpool, Saturday, June 23rd.
The new Boston warerooms of the Mason & Ham-
lin Co., at 146 and 148 Boylston St., will, when com-
pleted, be as handsome as the most fastidious could
wish. The decorations, in particular, are superb, and
the external appearance will be fully in keeping with
the internal. The work is rapidly nearing comple-
tion.
World's Fair stockholders who have been pa-
tiently waiting for the long promised dividends with
some little fear that the dividends would be eaten up
before they could be paid, will get checks on June
9th for the amounts, representing 10% on the stock.
Mr. E. H. Story, of the Story & Clark Organ Co.,
who was elected on the Board of Trustees of our
beautiful suburb, Riverside, at the last spring elec-
stamped all over it. But, of course, the rouge of wit
and powder of invention cannot completely conceal
the wrinkles of age.
Mr. Hood told a great one. It was one of the
artistic kind with a climax when the hearty laugh
follows as appropriately as the amen at the end of a
prayer. Everybody roared. That is everybody did
except one salesman, Tom Pringle. who just smiled.
"What's the matter, Tom?" asked Mr. Lehman in
an aside to the salesman. "Are you sick? That story
was a corker."
"He told it well, but I heard it fifteen years ago in
Schenectady." was the whispered reply of the sales-
man as he blushingly moved away.
Thinking that Mr. Hood might be sensitive about
Tom's failure to come on with the hearty ha, ha,
Mr. Lehman volunteered an explanation:
"Tom was tickled at the way you told that story,
Frank, but he says he heard it the year of the big
wind in Pawhuska, Oklahoma, or some place."
"What! Heard it before and refrained from blurt-
ing out the freezing fact! Didn't expose the marks
of the cannery! Pretty nice, I say. He even smiled."
"Yes, that's just like Tom," said Mr. Lehman.
"Tom is the politest fellow in the world."
tions, is serving with a fine lot of confreres. Of the
five other members of the board, one is a millionaire
two or three times over; another the most probable
candidate, today, for United States Senator from this
State, while a third is a prominent railroad man. Mr.
Story is the Chairman of the Finance Committee of
the Board and a member of the Committees on Ju-
diciary and on Roads and Parks.
Sohmer & Co. have taken steps toward an appeal
in their suit against the Sebastian Sommer Piano Co.
They announce their intention of carrying the case
to the Court of Appeals if necessary.
Nathan Ford of St. Paul came to the city yester-
day, and he came on a mission of "must." He says
he must have some Conover grands at once. His
customers are clamoring for instruments, and he
wants the goods to relieve them with.
The Blanchard-Fitzgerald Music Co., of Los An-
geles, Cal., has purchased the entire stock of the
Bishop-Boyd Piano Co., of the same city. The stock
foots up to over $20,000.
Messrs. Kops Bros., the well known dealers of
Grand Forks, Dakota, have taken a departure that
will be looked upon as a novelty. The business of
this house extends over a large portion of North
Dakota, and away out to Montana. This territory is
worked by traveling men and very few of the pianos
they sell are shipped from their store in Grand
Forks, but from Chicago. Mr. J. O. Kops, therefore,
will have an office in this city and remain here the
greater portion of the time.
Mr. E. A. Francis has a large number of beautiful
Steinway pianos on exhibition in his rooms in the
Iliad. He thinks nothing is too good for the people
of Des Moines, and therefore arranged to make -\
stay of three weeks in our city to give the people an
opportunity of seeing and hearing his splendid in-
struments. That all may have a good opportunity
of judging the quality of the instruments, Mr. Fran-
cis will give a chamber concert in the dining-room
of the Iliad next week, at which the following artists
will appear: Mrs. Nelson, graduate of the Musical
College, Leipzig; Mrs. Genery Westerman and Miss
Marie Chambers of the Ames-Des Moines "Saturday
Review."
Another honor for Mr. William Steinway. They
come so frequently that he will soon have to engage
a private secretary solely for the purpose of express-
ing his thanks.
Hammacher, Schlemmer & Co., of New York, have
issued their 1894 catalogue of piano and organ ma-
terials, hardware, tools, etc.
The "Indicator" is to be congratulated on its spe-
cial issue of last week. It is in every way a very
handsome and well gotten up paper, and the adver-
tisements show that it is a pretty lively corpse.
BACK FROM THE WEST INDIES.
R. A. Burke of Story & Clark Piano Company, 173'
North Michigan avenue, who recently returned from
a trip to the West Indies, is as optimistic as ever
about the piano business. Mr. Burke will be found
wherever there is an order in prospect, and after
booking one he takes the trail just as eager for
another and another.
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/

Page 10 Text:

May 15, 1929
PRESTO-TIMES
10
easy to play as the inventor had intended; he had hit increasing the production of grand pianos. Its loca-
tion is at Chicago and Kedzie avenues.
it right the first time.
So remarkable was the performance; so elated were
Assistants Share in Gulbransen's Success.
those who heard it and tried it out, a stock company
Of course, the Gulbransen now is a vastly better
was formed for the purpose of making and selling instrument than the earlier models, for constant im-
registering actions to such piano manufacturers as provement has taken place and the Gulbransen busi-
would become interested. About $10,000 was se- ness long ago became much too large to be directed
Implicit Faith in the Correctness of an Idea cured; $5,000 of which Mr. Gulbransen had saved out entirely by one man. It is now a very extensive
Lifted This Company Out of Humble
of his salary as superintendent and the balance made organization in which Mr. Gulbransen has surrounded
Beginnings to a Place in World
up of smaller amounts from a number of friends.
himself with capable assistants, many of whom have
Leadership.
A Practical Test.
been associated with him for years. They have
To be nearer the manufacturing center, space for shared with him in his success, for Mr. Gulbransen
a workshop (the first Gulbransen factory), was rented is a modest, unselfish man; they are doing their part
in an old building on Union Park Court. Chicago, to see that instruments leave the factory properly and
and the piano containing the first Gulbransen Action people learn to play them properly and to further
A. G. Gulbransen, Head of This Great House, Is Just was placed on display at the Great Northern Hotel Mr. Gulbransen's idea that personally-played piano
of that city, there to meet the test of piano manufac- music should be the enjoyment of every home.
as Modest Today as at the Beginning
turers,
musicians and reporters for the trade papers.
Next time you sec a piano look for the name. It
of His Work.
It was a triumph; though the design was unusual— may be a Gulbransen; the first one ever made is still
As interesting, perhaps, as any story in the history radical; yet the mechanism was so simple; so easy to in good playing order.
of American industry is the history of the Gulbran- play; so durably constructed, it won instantaneous
sen Registering Piano and the inventor, A. G. Gul- approval and enough business was obtained to keep
bransen. as told in the "Garfieldian." A more hum- the little workshop busy for a long time.
ble beginning could scarcely be thought of; yet,
Further introduction was merely a stepping stone:
because of implicit faith in the correctness of an idea;
hard work and an unselfish fairness in forging the among all players, the Gulbransen was distinguished
idea forward, the Gulbransen institution is believed to as easy to play and as "registering" individual
be the largest of its kind in the world, and is located "touch" many piano manufacturers including leading
on the Great West Side of Chicago. A. G. Gulbran- houses of the industry began using Gulbransen Regis- Trade Show of Radio Men to Be Spread Over
tering actions, and within ten years, the Gulbransen
Three of Chicago's Largest
work-shop and its working force (composed of Mr.
Hotels.
Gulbransen, a helper and one boy) had expanded to
the occupation of an entire six-story factory building,
Three of Chicago's largest hotels. The Stevens.
with a corresponding increase in help and the manu- Blackstone and The Congress, will be literally over-
facture of thousands of Registering actions.
flowing with radio visitors, exhibits of modern radio
Yet the ambition of A. G. Gulbransen did not and entertainment features during the Annual Con-
wane; this success did not satisfy him. Noticing the vention and Trade Show of the Radio Manufac-
shortcomings of the ordinary piano for player work, turers' Association during the week of June 3, accord-
he wanted to build a complete registering piano, so ing to final reports made to the R. M. A. Show Com-
that he could incorporate in the piano, as well as in mittee at a special meeting just held in Chicago.
the Registering action, those ideas which his earlier
Mr. Morris Metcalf of Springfield, Mass, chairman,
training at the bench, study and long experience had
and the R. M. A. Show Committee met May 11 at
taught him were correct.
the Stevens Hotel and made final plans for the great-
Present Location Chosen.
est trade show ever held under R. M. A. or any other
Early in 1915, the opportunity presented itself. At industrial auspices.
the intersections of West Chicago, Kedzie and Saw-
With all of the 30,000 square feet of exhibit space
yer avenues, Chicago, there was a large factory in the three hotels over-subscribed, additional exhib-
building. It had been used for piano manufactur- itors have been assigned hotel rooms for display and
ing; the firm had failed and the building was for sale. demonstration purposes. The radio hosts will use
Negotiations were entered into; the building was virtually every inch of space in the three big hotels
bought; the old Union Park Court plant released and on Michigan avenue and the elaborate plans for en-
the business moved to the new location, there to form tertainment of the visitors have been made by M:.
the nucleus for what later was to be one of the great- Henry C. Forster of Chicago, 111., chairman of the
est institutions of its kind in the world for the man- R. M. A. Convention Program and Banquet Com-
ufacture of grand pianos of outstanding merit and mittee.
A. G. GULBRANSEN.
popularity, upright pianos of every important type,
Those in attendance at the final meeting of the
sen is the president of it—and your own home is per- and. of course, the famous Registering Piano.
R. M. A. Show Committee, in addition to Chairman
Changes
in
factory
arrangements
were
made;
new
haps one of the thousands enjoying the pleasure of
Metcalf were: George H. Clark and Arthus Moss of
equipment was bought and the manufacture of pianos New York; Nathan P. Bloom of Louisville; A. J.
Gulbransen music.
was commenced on a basis which, for systematic or- Carter, Herbert E. Young, P. C. Lenz. Jr. of Chicago;
Mr. Gulbransen Is Musical.
ganization, factory arrangement and equipment, be- G. Clayton Irwin, Jr., of New York, trade show man-
Mr. Gulbransen is musical; he has made musical- came one of the wonders of the piano industry.
ager; M. F. Flanagan of Chicago, executive secretary,
instrument making a life study. He is a great be-
Things therefore considered impossible were a real-
liever in the benefit to be derived from having music ity; it produced better instruments; it reduced costs and Bond P. Geddes of New York, executive vice-
in the home and he has given to the public a most and the public evidenced its approval with a phe- president.
unusual instrument for this purpose.
nomenal demand for Gulbransen pianos.
Began as Cabinet Maker.
The One-Price Policy Adopted.
A PIANO CLUB FROLIC.
Although the first Gulbransen action was built in
Monday night. May 27, the Piano Club of Chicago
Mr. Gulbransen sensed the situation; these purchas-
the fall of 1905. Mr. Gulbransen was even then a man ers and honest dealers must be protected and a "one announces a grand gala night. The event may be
of long experience in musical-instrument manufac- price" policy, then unknown and as yet unpracticed staged at Medinah Temple, but wherever it is given
turing. Beginning as a cabinet maker; then work- in the industry outside of the Gulbransen institution, it will be an interesting and noteworthy event. Aside
ing at the bench in various departments of reed organ, was adopted. Every instrument leaving the Gulbran- from the general festivities of the occasion, plans
piano and player-piano work, his ability, energy and sen plant did so bearing the Gulbransen name and already developed will be set in motion for staging
helpful co-operation with his associates become recog- the retail price (the same to everyone, everywhere in the grand Music Industries Convention the week of
nized and at different times he held important posi- the United States) was branded in the back of each June 3. The reception committee will be named at
tions with several of the leading manufacturers of
instrument at the factory. A campaign of national that time and plans fully developed for the music
that time.
advertising was then started in leading publications convention entertainment.
While superintendent for one of the foremost mak- to inform the public what they could expect in a Gul-
ers of player-pianos of that time, Mr. Gulbransen con- bransen piano and what the cost would be.
ceived the idea of an action infinitely more simple
Outside of the extraordinary merit of the instru- MUCH DEPENDS ON CHICAGO CLUB.
The Piano Club of Chicago has its hands more
than anything ever attempted before; a medium ment itself this policy of national pricing no doubt
through which a person could accomplish as capable contributed more largely to the success of the Gul- than full in providing the entertainment and the open-
musical results as through hand playing of the piano bransen piano than any other single factor. It gave ing luncheon on June 3 at the Drake Hotel—Monday
the people confidence; it eliminated bargaining; it noon. Equal to the occasion, the club will undoubt-
and with as much ease, comfort and satisfaction.
So confident was he that he was right, and much prevented trickery; the layman could purchase as eco- edly acquit itself with credit. Tickets are $2 and
to the surprise and against the advice of his friends, nomically as the shrewd buyer. The price was stand- further information will be cheerfully furnished by
he resigned his position as superintendent of a large ardized, and the public welcomed it, for they knew Mr. Brownell at Lyon & Healy's. The club gives a
piano and player-piano manufacturing plant, purchased that unless the price was fair and just, unless the stag party on Monday night. May 20, at which fur
a piano for experimental purposes and went to work value was more than usual, such a practice could not tber plans are to be made.
in the basement of his home at Sycamore, 111., to exist.
build the Registering Action of his ideal.
Wide Advertising.
CLUB CONDOLES WITH VOSE FAMILY.
The piano which he purchased was a somewhat
Today Gulbransen advertising appears in the Sat-
The passing of Willard A. Vose, president of the
unusual one; a very small upright only four feet, four urday Evening Post and forty other publications, as
Yose & Sons Piano Co.. Boston, Watertown, Mass.,
inches high and with a very narrow case.
well as in hundreds of newspapers; it is telling the was announced at the Piano Club of Chicago Mon-
A Successful Try-Out.
public of the happiness that a Gulbransen means, and day noon this week and a telegram of condolence
However, the Registering Action was small and prices are mentioned in each ad. The Gulbransen was forwarded to Boston.
when after much persistency as well as resourceful- plant comprises four factory buildings and a power
ness in securing and making the necessary parts and bouse. Four and one-half acres of ground are occu-
putting them together, the action was finally ready, pied; 400.000 square feet of floor space is used, and
THE KRAKAUER EXHIBIT.
it easily went inside the piano and the instrument was the annual capacity is 45.000 instruments. The com-
Krakauer Bros., piano makers. Cypress avenue.
pany back of the product is one of the largest and 136th and 137th streets, New York, will have an ex-
tried out.
It was amazing; Gulbranseu Action No. 1 was a most responsible, with authorized capital stated at hibit at the Drake Hotel during the National Music
success; practically every theory Mr. Gulbransen held $5,000,000.
Convention Week, in Suite No. 370-71-72. Al. S.
was proved correct. It played satisfactorily, it was
In 1914 the company built a six-story structure, Zeisler will be in charge for the company.
GULBRANSEN PIANO
COMPANY HISTORY
AMBITIONS REALIZED
R. M. A. COMMITTEE
COMPLETES PLANS
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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