August 15, 1929
THIRTY=FIVE YEARS AGO
(From The Presto, August 9, 1894.)
Mr. John Chapman of Wickham, Chapman & Co.,
plate founders, is one of Chicago's visitors this week.
He informs us that the plate business for July was
excellent and the prospects are very good.
There may not be anything absolutely new, but
• some of the old ideas in the piano trade are often
revived with variations, and with good results. Some
of the Sohmer agents are making effective use of a
series of large photographs of the factory, showing
the Sohmer piano in all its various stages as it passes
through the course of construction. The pictures in
effect enable the dealer to take the customer on a
tour of inspection through the factory, and the result
is that an interest is aroused which generally cul-
minates in the sale of the piano in question. Many
similar plans are devised to fasten the attention of
buyers, but this, while an old one, is one of the most
profitable because most interesting.
"May the Milwaukee Musical Society continue to
exist as long as the German tongue is heard in Amer-
ica and remain constant in its efforts to promote the
cause of genuine and true music. This is the sincere
wish from all his heart of your faithful honorary
member."—William Steinway. (Exhibit from letter
of William Steinway to the Milwaukee Musical
Society.
"L. B. Merrifield & Co. is, we understand, to be
the name placed on the new pianos which will bei
manufactured by the Western Cottage Organ Com-
pany, of Ottawa, 111. For several weeks past a force
has been at work on these pianos and the first one
was finished this week and sent to Homer, Mich.
(From The Presto, August 16, 1894.)
The many friends of Mr. C. Hinze, formerly of
Chicago, may be interested to learn that he has devel-
oped into what would be called in the West, a ranch-
man, at his home in Germany. He has a large farm,
a very handsome place, and has been employing a
large number of people to assist in harvesting.
Mr. Frank D. Abbott, editor of The Presto, in-
tended to sail for America by steamship "Augusta
Victoria," August 10, and by the time this reaches
the trade he has probably arrived in New York. He
will in all likelihood remain in that city for some
little time, his headquarters being at the Union
Square Hotel.
The fifty-seventh anniversary of the establishment
of the firm of William Knabe & Co. was celebrated
yesterday at Schuetzen Park, Baltimore, under most
auspicious circumstances by a grand picnic and fes-
tival given by the employees of the celebrated manu-
facturing firm. Every child who passed throuigh
the gateway got a great big, bulged-out bag of candy,
and many little hearts felt grateful for the gifts.
About 5 o'clock in the afternoon Ernest Knabe, Jr.,
W. Knabe, Ernst Keidel and Fred Reimann, repre-
senting the firm, drove to the picnic in a carriage.
Congressman C. G. Conn delivers an address in
Washington during the National Encampment of the
Knights of Pythias.
Mr. Holtzman of Holtzman & Sons, cover and,
scarf manufacturers, is in Chicago looking after cus-
tomers.
Mr. J. M. Hawxhurst, manager of the Chicago Brad-
bury warerooms, is in St. Louis. He returns the end
of this week and will then go for a holiday trip to
Mackinac, accompanied by Mrs. Hawxhurst and fam-
ily. While away he will make a business trip in
Michigan.
A. A. Fisher, the wideawake Kimball traveling
agent, who has been for some weeks past in Butte,
Mont., closing out the agency for Orton Bros., made
things pretty lively while there. During the thirty
days of his sojourn in Butte he sold 143 pianos, and
for about half of the time he had no stock on hand,
the instruments being delayed by the strike.
WARNING.
We desire to warn the trade throughout the United
States, as well as the public generally, against imi-
tations of the Hardman piano which have been put
upon the market by certain persons now using a firm
name which is somewhat similar to our own. The
Supreme Court of the State of New York has by in-
junction confined within certain limits the acts of
these persons, but there still remains danger of error
unless the buyer is on the alert. We therefore ask
all those who wish the Hardman piano to see that
not only its name "Hardman" is cast in large letters
in the plate, but that our name, as manufacturers, is
also cast in plain characters in the plate directly over
the center octave of charmers.—Hardman, Peck
& Co.
Bandmaster Sousa is creating a decided impression
at Manhattan Beach this season. The New York
papers are telling of his stunning appearance, as he
mounts the director's platform, in his new uniform
of white broadcloth. One correspondent refers to
him as "simply an alabaster dream." It is said that
PRESTO-TIMES
the tokens of feminine admiration fill his room every
evening, in the shape of almost countless bouquets,
which Mrs. Sousa takes care of with unruffled equa-
nimity. But Sousa is as unbending in his work as
ever Thomas could be, and his dark Spanish coun-
tenance usually wears a very stern expression as he
waves his baton in his quiet way. He is as deter-
mined and exacting as the least sentimental of band-
masters, and his will must never be questioned.
TWO BEAUTIFUL STORES
IN NEW ROCHELLE, N. Y.
F. W. Baumer and the Bunswick Shop Both Have
Joined the National Association.
In New Rochelle, N. Y., one of the most attractive
and beautiful suburbs of New York city, there are
two active retail music merchants—F. W. Baumer
and The Brunswick Shop. The latter house is owned
by Cohen & Nathans, both members of this house
being young active music merchants.
Mr. Baumer has been in the piano business in New
Rochelle for more than twenty-five years. He con-
trols the agency in Westchester and Putnam coun-
ties for the Steinway piano, also represents the Aeo-
lian line of pianos, Duo-Art, and is agent for the
Brambach piano. Mr, Baumer has associated with
him in his business his son, F. S. Baumer. The com-
pany will move shortly to a much enlarged retail
wareroom at 552 Main street. They will handle in
addition to pianos, radio sets, Victor talking ma-
chines and sheet music.
At the Brunswick Shop, which has a large, hand-
some wareroom at 611 Main street, is the agency for
the Hardman piano. They also represent the Bruns-
wick, Victor and Columbia phonographs, the Atwater
Kent, Majestic and R. C. A. radio lines, and handle
sheet music and a full line of musical merchandise.
Both the above concerns are members of the Na-
tional Association of Music Merchants, making New
Rochelle 100 per cent membership in the association.
VICTOR PROGRAMS
FOR THURSDAY EVENINGS
No "Couvert Charge" as Smart Night Club Artist,
Leo Reistman, Plays for Nation to Dance.
During the broadcast of the Victor half hour of
modern dance music on Thursday evening, Aug. 15,
the nation will dance to the strains of the orchestra
selected by New York's newest and smartest night
club, the Casino in Central Park. But there will be
no "couvert charge" for those who tune in, according
to Leo Reisman, who will direct his Victor orchestra,
who are to play on this occasion.
Reisman and his musicians first earned the pub-
lic's plaudits when they played in the fashionable'
Egyptian Room of the Brunswick Hotel in Boston.
Recently, when a group of New York millionaires
retained Joseph Urban to redecorate the historic park
casino and turned it into what has become the most
exclusive place in New York to dine and dance.
Reisman was chosen to furnish the music.
Reisman's magnetic personality, as well as the soft
persuasive quality of his arrangements of current
dance hits have made him a nationwide favorite. He
records exclusively for the Victor Studios and during
his broadcast this Thursday evening will play nine
of his own recordings just released by Victor.
Reisman's performance will mark the fifth of the
popular series of half hours of modern dance music
presented by Victor each week in connection with the
introduction of the new micro-synchronous Victor
Radio-Electrola. Each program features a different
orchestra and an exclusive Victor star. They will
be heard each Thursday evening from 8:30 to 9:00
p. m., E. D. T., over the coast-to-coast network of
stations associated with the NBC. These include
forty-eight American cities.
....an all electric set
which features great
range, selectivity and
volume without dis-
tortion in the finest
cabinets offered to the
radio buying public.
Produced by the
manufacturers of the
world renowned
JESSE FRENCH & SONS
PIANO
and worthy of the
" n a m e well known
since 1875"
GHOST OF THE BLUES.
The Clark Orchestra Roll Company, DcKalb. 111.,
has sent out a shivery folder under the title of "The
Ghost of the Blues." It is illustrated with the picture
of a ghost, and announces melancholy, sobbin',
wailin', moanin', syncopation. A blue roll, full of
musical shoe-shakin' inspiration—sh-s-sh! that's "The
Ghost of the Blues." Ten of the "foot-warminest"
blues that ever rambled over ihe tracker-bar of your
automatic piano! "Blue-ingly" arranged for all stand-
ard 65-Note rewind pianos, calliopes and calliaphones.
Read 'em 'n weep! Graveyard Blues. Lonesome
Ghost Blues, Dying with the Blues, The Ghost of Mr.
Jazz, Funeral Blues, Dyiu' Crapshooter's Blues;
Chloroform Blues, Dead Sea Blues, Hangman's Blues,
Black-bordered Letter Blues.
THE JESSE FRENCH & SONS
PIANO CO.
NEWCASTLE, IND.
The Rev. Dr. Frederick Lucian Hosmer, noted
hymn writer of Berkeley, Calif., is dead.
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