10
P R E S T O-T I M E S
VISITED SOME
EUROPEAN ARTISTS
An Account of Impressions Received by A. W.
Greiner, of Steinway & Sons and His Wife
on Their Recent Tours in Europe.
Alexander W. Greiner, manager of the Concert and
Artist Department of Steinway & Sons, returned
recently from Europe, where he visited the Steinway
houses in London, Paris, Berlin and Hamburg and
attended the German Music Festival at Duisburg. He
saw many of the Steinway artists who were vaca-
tioning on the other side.
In Hamburg, Mr. Greiner met William R. Stein-
way, European General Manager of Steinway & Sons,
and Paul H. Schmidt, a director of Steinway & Sons,
New York.
Visited Rachmaninoff.
Mr. Greiner and Mr. Schmidt visited Sergei Rach-
maninoff and his family who live at Rambouillet near
Paris. This is a delightful place and Rachmaninoff
seemed very happy indeed there where he is taking a
old New Yorker in the person of Hermann Hans
Wetzler, composer and conductor and one time con-
ductor of the State (?) Symphony in New York. Dr.
Wetzler now resides in Cologne and is devoting his
whole time to composition.
In Cologne and Duisburg, Mr. Greiner also spent
considerable time with Dr. Schiff, director of the
Westdeutsche Concert Direction of Cologne. Dr.
Schiff is a very active manager, who has gained con-
siderable influence in Germany. He will visit the
United States for the first time in December of this
year.
Mr. and Mrs. Greiner's trip to Europe on board
the Steamship New York was made in company
of Miss Florence Kimball, assistant to Marcella Sem-
brich at the Juilliard Graduate School. Miss Kimball
has since become Mrs. Schuyler Smith, having mar-
ried Mr. Schuyler Smith of New York, in London.
Mr. Greiner says that during his visit to Europe
he heard several of the more prominent orchestras
(which he does not wish to name) but he says that
they compare very unfavorably with American or-
chestras.
Met Several Great Artists.
Among the European artists whom he met in Eu-
rope, who have not appeared in the United States as
yet but who enjoy tremendous popularity over there,
are the pianist, Edwin Fischer; the violinist, Nathan
Milstein, and the 'cellist, Gregor Piatigorsky. Mil-
stein and Piatigorsky will tour America during the
coming season.
INDIANAPOLIS NEWS
By HOWARD M. RUDEAUX.
A. W. GREINER.
complete rest before starting his preparations for his
forthcoming European tour w r hich will include all the
principal cities on the Continent and a tour of the
United Kingdom. After this tour, he will return to
the United States, in January.
A frequent guest at the Rachmaninoff home is
Nicholas Medtner, the Russian Composer and Pianist,
and his wife. Rachmaninoff is a great friend of Medt-
ner's, whom he considers one of the greatest com-
posers of our time. Medtner has just completed his
Second Piano Concerto, Opus 50 in C Minor, which
he will play in the United States during the com-
ing season, when he again returns for a tour of this
country.
It will be remembered that Vladimir Horowitz, the
famous pianist, fell ill during his American tour last
season, when he had a severe attack of la grippe and
was obliged to cancel several engagements, including
his appearance with the Philadelphia Orchestra. On
his return to Europe, as he w T as feeling slightly im-
proved, he started to fill his European engagements,
but after a few concerts, he had a relapse and was
finally forced to cancel all his European engagements.
After a good rest at Chamonix, France, however, he
recovered completely and when Mr. Greiner saw him
in Paris, he was his old self again. He has now gone
to the mountains of Switzerland to recuperate still
further and to prepare his programs for next season.
Met Alfred Cortot.
Mr. Schmidt and Mr. Greiner also saw Alfred Cor-
tot in Paris, who is very proud of the success of the
Ecole Normale of which he is a director. Cortot will
also tour the United States during the coming season.
When Mr. Greiner visited the Duisburg Music Fes-
tival, which he says did not offer anything very inter-
esting or important, musically, he saw a great many
Conductors, pianists, singers, etc. There he met an
The Marion Music Company has just sold one of
the Brinkerhoff grands to the instructor of music in
the public schools of Richmond, Ind. The Brinker-
hoff piano has been selling exceptionally well and it
is almost impossible to keep them in stock the com-
pany reports. The Schumann grand in the Sheraton
model that was on display at the national convention,
occupies the place of honor at the Marion Music
Company's store. The instrument is attracting much
attention.
Frank Wilking, president of the Wilking Music Co.,
is enjoying a week's vacation with Chas. Howe, the
Wurlitzer Grand Piano Co., representative, at the
latter's summer home in Quincy, Mich.
Recent visitors in Indianapolis, were Paul Fink, of
The Aeolian Company, New York; R. J. Cook, gen-
eral manager of the Cable Piano Company of Chicago,
and Jesse French, Jr., of the Jesse French & Sons'
Piano Co., New Castle, Ind.
John Pearson, of the Pearson Piano Company, has
returned to his summer home after spending two
weeks in the city. He will remain in Michigan until
September 1.
Miss Maude Kerr, in charge of the accounting de-
partment of the Wilking Music Company, has re-
turned from her trip through the Northwest and from
her conversation one would say she had a hectic time.
The general trend of Indianapolis business is toward
improved conditions, with prospects better than they
have been for several years.
The Carlin Music Company says its business is
normal considering the period of the year. Pianos
are selling in no great volume, but very satisfactory
on excellent short time notes. The small goods
department, and sheet music section are having a
good volume for what might be called summer busi-
ness. Grand and upright pianos, including used
instruments are reported among the sales of the piano
department.
One of the unusual sales of the Wilking Music Co.
was the sale of the period model Tuscon Apollo.
The instrument was especially built of rare walnut
veneer, with bench to match, in a hand-carved case.
Rapp & Lennox are more than pleased with pros-
pects and business conditions. Mr. Rapp says, "Things
are looking better and the trend is upward."
Walter Timmermann, of the Christena-Teague
Piano Company, reports conditions improved over the
past months. Sales are better and prospects are very
encouraging.
T. M. McPheeters of Pearson's had a fine vacation.
Roy Burtch Dies.
Roy Burtch, one of the pioneer piano salesmen of
this city, died last Sunday at his home after a linger-
ing illness. He was well known all over the state,
and had written many songs. He was connected with
the piano business for more than thirty years in
Indianapolis. Burial was in Vincennes, Ind.
The Baldwin Piano Company is remodeling the
first floor of its building. Business is reported normal,
and prospects good.
Visitors in Indianapolis over the week were: Far-
ney Wurlitzer, of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Manufac-
turing Company, North Tonawanda, N. Y., Rudolph
Wurlitzer, of the Rudolph Wurlitzer Company, Cin-
cinnati, Ohio, who spent a day with Frank Wilking,
of the Wilking Music Company; George Mansfield, of
the Everett Piano Company; J. H. Shale, representing
September 1, 1929
CAPEHART ORCHESTROPE
IN AUSTRALIA CIRCLES
Two Sons of W. A. Crowle of Sydney Came
to Fort Wayne, Ind., for Sales
and Service Training.
That the demand for the Capehart Orchestrope,
manufactured by the Capehart Corporation, Fort
Wayne, Ind., is universal, is evidenced by the won-
derful reception accorded it in the foreign field.
Through the efforts of the company's export man-
ager, W. J. Platka, with offices in Chicago, is attrib-
uted the successful development of this great new
market. Prominent among the most recent new
dealers is the W. A. Crowle Company, Ltd., with
headquarters at Sydney, New South Wales,. Aus-
tralia.
During the week of the convention the company
had the pleasure of training and instructing the two
sons of W. A. Crowle, its Australian dealer, Cecil
N. Crowle and his brother Bill H. Crowle, who have
been in this country for some time and who were
primarily responsible for the Crowle Company, Ltd ,
in taking on the Capehart line.
These two young gentlemen were enthusiastic over
the Capehart line as outlined to them during their
stay in Fort Wayne, and they will return to their
country with renewed enthusiasm and a well-rounded
sales and service training.
Presto-Times acknowledges the receipt of a copy
of the current issue of "The Capehart Amplifier,"
house organ of the corporation.
CARLOAD LOTS OF PIANOS
LEAVING STRAUBE'S
Merchants Visiting the Hammond Plant Pleased to
See the Activity Going On There.
The Straube Piano Company's factory, Hammond,
Ind., reports a number of very fine orders received
during the last week, including a carload for eastern
Pennsylvania and a carload from western Pennsyl-
vania, together with numerous orders of lesser size
from various parts of the country.
The summer months are ordinarily a quiet time in
the piano industry, but the month of July was some-
what better than usual. Also from reports received
from representatives, the balance of the year will
show a very favorable improvement.
"A number of merchants visiting us have stated
it was encouraging to see the activity going on at the
Straube plant," said H. A. Stewart, the sales man-
ager, to a Presto-Times representative, last week.
"The increased activity which we are now enjoying
is undoubtedly shared by other manufacturers who
we presume have also noted a healthy increase in
business activitv."
MAHOGANY LOG IMPORTS.
Mahogany log imports were low in 1928, accord-
ing to Commerce Reports for August, and there has
been an increased import this year of Central Amer-
ican (chiefly British Honduran and Nicaraguan) and
Mexican mahogany.
African mahogany imports,
which led in 1928, have fallen off this year until they
stand second to Central American. Totals for six
months' periods from all sources were 19,504 M feet
last year and 23.097 M feet for 1929. Spanish cedar
log imports decreased, Philippine logs nearly doubled,
and other cabinet-wood logs more than doubled. Total
cabinet-wood logs, except mahogany, shown above,
were 6,684 M feet last year, 11,462 this year.
C. G. CONN, LTD., INCREASES STOCK.
C. G. Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, Ind., has filed papers
with Otto G. Fifield, Indiana Secretary of State, in-
creasing the capital stock of the corporation by 14,000
shares at $100 each. Here is a chance for a good and
safe investment for any one who may want some-
thing in industrials.
EDISON FELLOWSHIP ESTABLISHED.
An Edison Fellowship for Research has been es-
tablished by the General Electric Company in honor
of Thomas A. Edison and in commemoration of the
fiftieth anniversary of Mr. Edison's invention of the
incandescent lamp. The Edison Fellowship will give
the holder facilities for a year's scientific research.
the American Piano Company, and Jesse French, the
third, head of the radio section of the Jesse French
& Sons Piano Company, New Castle, Ind. Mr. French
came to Indianapolis, to complete arrangements with
the Wilking Music Company, to handle the French
radio for the entire state, and act as jobbers.
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