July IS, 1929
again when the record was replayed. The snake
charmer, who used a pipe, had never seen a gramo-
phone and he was puzzled to know where the beauti-
ful strains of the organ came from. After the per-
formance the big cobra was killed and its skin used
Description of the Instrument Given Here by G. C. to make a pair of shoes for Mr. Bucknall's mother.
Kavanagh, President of Chickering & Sons.
NEW MODEL SMALL GRAND
BY MARSHALL & WENDELL
'
15
PRESTO-TIMES
TWENTY-FIVE BANDS IN
CONTEST AT DENVER
C. M. Tremaine Notes Advancement in Standards of
Programme and Rendition.
CELEBRATE FIFTIETH YEAR.
In addition to new models under its own make,
While
the
total of competing bands in the Denver
A third generation assumes an important part in
Chickering & Sons have announced a small grand hy
contest was only two under the total that took part
the
direction
of
the
activities
of
the
house
of
Zona
Marshall & Wendell, the design and manufacture of
in the national meet in Joliet, Illinois, in 1928, it was
which has been supervised by Chickering & Sons. Berg & Son Music Company, Superior, Nebr., as that considered a remarkable showing that twenty-five
This new mahogany grand piano is 4 feet eight inches firm, established in 1879, observes the fiftieth anni- bands should have been represented in a contest as
in size. G. C. Kavanagh, President of Chickering & versary of the company's foundation. Zona Berg, far west as the Rocky Mountain metropolis. Another
who was in attendance at the Chicago convention
Sons, in describing the new instrument said:
rushed home to help complete plans for the sale notable feature of the contest was the increased in-
"This new addition to the Marshall & Wendell line which was the feature of the observance of this strumentation, the Chicago high school band having
is really a sensational value. No competitive offering important event.
120 pieces.
at anywhere near the price possesses the quality fea-
Commenting on this, C. M. Tremaine said: ''The
tures it incorporates. Its tone is far richer, finer, than
striking thing in this year's contest is that the win-
RADIO A COMPLEX QUESTION.
that of most small instruments by reason of the
ning band had 120 pieces, and in the first six bands
"Radio is an exceedingly complex question,' 1 said
patented tone-free construction feature which it shares
in
Class A all were 100 per cent on instrumentation,
with the Chickering. Materials—wood, strings, mech- William Hedges, president of the National Associa- that is, a minimum of 72 pieces. Throughout the en-
anism, fittings—are of the quality found in pianos tion of Broadcasters, at the recent convention in
tire list I noticed a distinct increase in instrumenta-
selling for several hundred dollars more. The design Chicago. "It is practically inexhaustible. You can
tion in both classes A and B, and this fact, together
talk
about
it
from
one
year's
end
to
another's
and
is smart, graceful, appealing. The size is 4 feet eight
not begin to touch every phase of it. For that rea- with the apparent advancement in the standards of
inches—just right for the modern home.
program and rendition, strikes me as highly signifi-
"Already advance orders have made it necessary son I am going to speak on only one phase, 'Radio cant."
Promotion
and
How
the
Dealer
May
Profit
from
It.'
for us to advise our dealers to anticipate their re-
The solo contests on the various band instruments
quirements on this model as far in advance as pos- Well, I am not a dealer at all. My only idea of
how one could profit from radio is to buy radio was conducted by A. R. McAllister, president of the
sible."
National School Band Association, and director of the
sets cheap and sell them high. In fact, it reminds
Joliet High School Band, and the awards of trophies
me
of
the
story
that
they
tell
about
Mark
Twain.
THE SONATA MODEL STRAUBE PIANO He had been giving a reading of his own works. A and medals was made by C. M. Tremaine.
The Sonata Model is the smallest full scale high
The full list of competing bands, all of them win-
quality grand piano in the world, according to H. A. gushing young woman came up to him afterwards ners in their respective state contests held prior to the
and
said,
'Mr.
Clemens,
I
certainly
enjoyed
your
Stewart, sales, advertising and promotion manager of
national meet, together with their respective conduc-
the Straube Piano Co., Hammond, Ind. It contains readings. They were perfectly lovely, but why tors, is as follows: Class A—Chicago, two bands,
didn't
you
read
that
one
of
yours,
"Little
Breeches."
'
the patented Duplex Overstrung System which per-
Capt. A. R. Gish and J. H. Barbash; Marion, Ind..
mits of a string length and tonal effectiveness equiva- It just happens he did not write 'Little Breeches.' C. R. Tuttle; Council Bluffs, la., Lee M. Lockhart;
He
says,
'Madam,
I
am
afraid
you
have
got
the
lent to that of an ordinary grand piano at least a foot
Amarillo, Tex., Oscar Wise; Gary, Ind., H. S. War-
longer. In addition to ample string length, the Sonata breeches on the wrong man!'"
ren; Minneapolis, Minn., William Allen Abbott; 1
Model is a very high character instrument both mu-
Grand Junction, Colo., A. L. Strong; Montrose, Colo.,
SUCCESSFUL MUSIC PUBLISHERS.
sically and structurally. It will appeal most favorably
Loyde Hillyer; Canton, S. D., G. C. McClung; Port-
to the technician or critical musician, who will in ad-
More than half a century has passed since the in- land, Ore.; Salt Lake City, Utah, A. R. Overlade;
dition to examining the exterior appearance and ception of the Fillmore Music House, 528 Elm street,
Modesto, Cal., Frank Mencini. Class B—Belvidere,
equipment, also investigate the built up key-bed, lami- Cincinnati, and in that time this local concern has be- 111., Clarence F. Gates; Scottsbluff, Neb., Leo W.
nal post construction, built up rim, light responsive come known throughout the entire country as pub-
Moody; Hobart, Ind., William Renvelli; Lansing,' !
action, wcol felt hammers, pine keys covered with lishers of music books for orchestras, bands, churches
Mich., King Stacy; Cleveland, Okla., George W. Sad-'
genuine ivory, etc. Size, 4 feet 4 inches. Also avail- and Sabbath schools, which have been shipped to lo; Felicity, O., J. D. Naylor; Minneapolis, Kans., E.
able in any of the five period designs.
various organizations and institutions throughout the Thayor Gaston; Oberlin, Kans., H. Richardson; Pali-
United States. In addition to its activities in the pub- sade, Colo., Cleon E. Dalby; Albany, Ore., William
JESSE FRENCH QUEEN ANNE GRAND. lishing field, the Fillmore organization maintains at P. Nicholls; Magna. Utah, M. W. Strong; Heber
City, Utah, J. Dickson; Clay Center, Neb., Princeton,
The Jesse French Queen Anne Grand is a most its Elm street address one of the finest retail musical
Cal., E. P. Alewyn; Waterville, Mo., Mrs. Dorothy
handsome instrument. In it are combined sweeping instrument stores in that section.
Mardon.
curves of beautifully finished wood with exquisite and
GERMAN MOUTH ORGANS.
elaborately carved decorations in a design so perfect
The judges of the contest were: Will Earhart, Pitts-
the whole instrument seems carved from a single
The well-known mouth organ and accordion fac- burgh, Pa.; Edward W. Morphy, Madison, Wis.; N.
block. The capitols that surmount the graceful legs, tories at Trossingen, Germany, were occupied at or De Rubertis, Kansas City, Mo.: Captain Charles
the lyre which carries the pedals and the music rack near capacity during the greater part of 1928, but in-
O'Neill, Quebec, Canada; Carl Busch, Kansas City,
are all hand carved by Jesse French & Sons crafts- creased costs prevented realization of the desired prof- Mo.; A. A. Harding. University of Illinois, Cham-
men and, like those of the Spanish Renaissance its. From January to November, Germany exported
paign, 111., and Henry Sachs, Denver, Colo.
Grand, these decorations are exact copies of authentic 40,269 mouth organs as against 45,056 in the corre-
The assigned composition for Class A was "A Chant
models.
sponding period of 1927. Exports to some countries from the Great Plains," by Carl Busch, and for Class
increased, but to others, including the United States, B, "Two Oriental Sketches," by Burleigh. The com-
they declined. Exports to the United States num- ments of the judges noted many excellences, includ-
DUO-PIANISTS "AT THE BALDWIN"
Louise MacPherson and Claire Ross, distinguished bered 13,979 in the first 11 months of 1928, as com- ing praise for spirited and clean-cut performance, at
times brilliant reading, effective tone quality, high
duo-pianists, were the featured artists "At the Bald- pared with 19,294 in 1927.
degree of accuracy, correct interpretation, satisfactory
win" Sunday evening, June 30, over WJZ and asso-
intonation, careful regard for dynamics, fine drilling
ciated NBC stations. They were assisted by the
GRILLE-LESS SPEAKER INTRODUCED.
and excellent discipline.
Baldwin Singers. Three movements from Tschai-
Four screen-grid tubes and two 245 output tubes
kowsky's Nutcracker Suite were the principal offering are used in the new Colonial broadcast receivers. An
by the two pianists. Louise MacPherson, a native of
improvement in cabinet design is made possible by
ABOUT DEFECTS IN LUMBER.
Montreal, studied both here and abroad and toured the elimination of the speaker grille from the front
The laboratory experts say no tree produces lum-
Germany and Canada before making her debut in panel. The sound emanates from the back and bot- ber that is entirely free from defects and blemishes.
Aeolian Hall, New York. Claire Ross also studied in tom of the cabinet for radiation to all sections of the The same irregularities in the wood, natural and acci-
Europe. Her first public appearances were made as room. The designers contend that this method of
dental, are likely to occur in all species; and in all
accompanist to famous artists. She also did two sound distribution adds naturalness to the reproduc- woods used for the same purpose the effect of a cer-
piano recitals with Stuart Ross.
tion of either vocal or instrumental music, and re- tain defect on the strengtfTand quality is about the
creates the dimensional impressions received when same. The keen judges of lumber in piano factories
listening to an original performance.
TIMBER VALUE IN CANADA.
are also familiar with the admirable and undesirable
features of the stock they buy.
In Canada the forests are of perhaps greater rela-
VICTOR USES SLIDE RULE TUNER.
tive importance than in the United States, since a
MAKING 4,000 SETS DAILY.
third of the land area, some 1,151,500 square miles,
Slide rule tuning, an innovation in radio receiving
is absolute forest land, suitable primarily for wood sets, together with several other important depart-
At a meeting of the board of directors of the
production. The products of the forests, which con- ures in radio design, is utilized for the first time in Grigsby-Grunow Company, 5801 Dickens avenue. Chi-
tribute annually more than $475,000,000 to the wealth an improved Electrola developed by the Victor Talk- cago, 111., held recently, the regular quarterly divi-
of the nation, are second in value only to the agri- ing Machine Company. The new instrument, which dend at the rate of $4 per share per annum was
cultural products of the country, and in the external is built as a separate receiver or in combination with declared. The company's fiscal year ended May 31,
trade of the Dominion they also rank second, furnish- the talking machine unit, operates radically different and total sales for the fiscal year were $49,275,990.97.
ing annually a favorable trade balance of $245,000,000. from a standard broadcast receiver, in that it has no Operations have been begun in the new plants. Pro-
dials or revolving drum control for tuning.
duction is now proceeding on the scheduled basis of
4,400 sets per day, and the outlook in sales for the
PHONOGRAPH CHARMED A COBRA.
balance of the calendar year is extremely satisfactory.
NEW SCREEN-GRID SETS.
B. S. Bucknall, a South Indian coffee planter, tells
Two radio sets and a radio-phonograph combina-
how a "His Master's Voice" red leather Portable
WHO'LL INVENT MINE RADIO?
gramophone charmed a huge cobra two months ago. tion have been announced as the new Kellogg line
There are two obstacles to the feasibility of under-
A native caught the snake, a cobra over six feet long, for the 1929-30 season. The set chassis is of the
which had been known to be on the plantation for a screen-grid amplifier type, equipped with "power ground radio—penetration of the earth by the
waves and designing a set which, while light, will be
dozen years. When its poison fangs had been ex- detector circuits."
Two new receivers, a screen-grid and a neutro- powerful enough to receive the feeble signals after
tracted the monster dropped ten yards away from the
gramophone on which was being played "My Blue dyne employing the conventional AC amplifying penetration. Experiments are going on. Fame and
Heaven," as recorded by Jesse Crawford on a Wur- tubes, have been added to the Philco receiver line. fortune await the lucky man who solves the problem.
litzer organ. The reptile at once crawled to the
Targ & Dinner, Chicago, 111., have been appointed
portable and raised its head, fascinated by the music
Foster & W r aldo, 810-820 Nicollet avenue, Minne-
and making no attempt to escape. When the music apolis, Minn., is using a full-page ad. announcing the exclusive wholesale distributors in the West for the
stopped the cobra lay flat on the ground, but rose Majestic radio in its latest designs.
Kurt Gutter line of violins and bows.
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/