Presto

Issue: 1929 2239

November 15, 1929
13
P R E S T O-T I M E S
died in 1890, and his widow succeeded to his interest.
On the death of DeWitt Gibbons in 1919, the business
was incorporated with Arthur J. Gibbons as president.
Gibbons & Stone has issued several piano catalogs
embodying a list of owners that reads like a directory
of notables in the musical, civic, business, and educa-
Oldest Music House in Rochester, N. Y., tional circles of Western New York.
Levis Music Store History.
Which Manufactured Pianos as Early
The history of the Levis Music Store, the new
as 1861, Changes Hands.
owners of Gibbons & Stone, dates back to 1903', when
The 68-year-old music business of Gibbons & Samuel H. Levis, for thirty years with the old Mackie
Stone, Rochester, N. Y., has been purchased by the Piano & Music Company, resigned as manager and
Levis Music Store, William H. Levis has announced. established his own business in West Main street.
This is the third Rochester music house acquired by Afterward he removed to South avenue, where the
the Levis Music Store in the last few years. The store has been enlarged several times. Upon his
Balcom Music Company was purchased in 1924 and death in 1912, his son, William H. Levis, and his
J. W. Martin & Brother in 1927.
daughter, Ruth I. Levis, assumed management. In
1921, the continued growth in business led to the
Gibbons Was Starr's Superintendent.
Founded in 1861, Gibbons & Stone is the oldest opening of a second store, at 412 Main street East.
music house in Rochester. Dwight Gibbons came
to Rochester in the early forties and entered the em-
OWENSBORO IS MUSICAL.
ploy of Comfort Starr, a cabinet maker and furniture
Owensboro,
Ky., known as the home of many
man, who, inspired by a series of concerts by such
celebrities of the day as Jenny Lind, L. M. Gotts- lovers of music, took definite steps last week to be-
chalk, Mine. Anna Bishop, Ole Bull, and the 9-year- come more widely known as a musical city when the
Civic Music Association was formed. Mrs. Ruth
old Adelina Patti, in 1851 began the manufacture of
the Starr piano. In those days pianos were made to Swarthout, of the Civic Concert Service, Inc., Chi-
order only. Dwight Gibbons was Mr. Starr's super- cago, was present at the formation meeting and ex-
plained the plan of procedure. The following officers
intendent.
were elected: President, the Rev. Howard Stephen-
Gibbons & Stone Formed.
son; first vice-president, Mrs. John Gilmour; second
In 1861, Mr. Gibbons formed an alliance with Ly- vice president, Charles C. Mitchell; third vice-presi-
man Stone of Spencerport under the name of Gibbons dent, Mrs. Virginia Duncan; fourth vice president, La
& Stone, and the manufacturing of the Gibbons & Vega Clenments; treasurer, Miss Mattie Cottrell;
Stone piano was begun. The original Gibbons & secretary, Mrs. Yewell Bottorf. These officers con-
Stone factory was a frame building on the site of stitute the executive board. The president appointed
the United building at Main and Water streets. the following chairman: Organization, Miss Mary
Afterward the factory was moved to South avenue Elizabeth Yager; assistant, E. W. Smith; appoint-
near Ely street, and then to the present building, 19 ments, Mrs. Henry Petit; publicity, Mrs. Virginia
Duncan, Miss Mabel Brown. The great advantage of
Industrial street.
When the factory was moved to Industrial street, the Civic Music Association plan is that it makes an
a general retail store was opened by Gibbons & Stone artist series a permanent thing, thus assuring the
in State street. This store was afterward removed to musical and artistic advancement of the city.
110 East Main street, the Edwards Store site, and in
1919 to 172 East Main street, and in 1927 to the
PADEREWSKI'S VILLA
present location at 76 Clinton avenue North.
Ignace Jan Paderewski, the pianist, owns a villa at
Sons Enter Firm in 1874.
Morges, above Lake Geneva, Switzerland. His cha-
The sons of Dwight Gibbons, Arthur J. and De- teau, four stories high, with a wooden chalet roof,
Witt C, were admitted to the firm in 1874. Mr. Stone was built bv the Count de Maaroes and stands on a
LEVIS MUSIC STORE
GETS GIBBONS & STONE
Choose Your Piano As The Artists Do
site first used by Joseph Fouche, Duke of Otranto,
Napoleon's Minister of the Interior. From the terrace
the ground tapers away into a shadowy skirt of pines,
cedar, lindens he laid out himself—the park. With
his Polish land sold, now that Pilsudski is in power
there, this place has become to the painist, far more
than his property at Nyon or his ranches in California,
important as the background of his comfort.
JESSE FRENCH ENSEMBLE SETS.
Jesse French & Sons, piano and radio manufac-
turers at New Castle, Ind., chose a wise course a few
years ago when they began to manufacture complete
outfits for the piano room—giving with the piano a
set of furniture to match and making the charge mod-
erate. These sets were pleasing and as they were
matched the purchasers did not tire of them. Some
of the furniture makers have been running to the
bizarre and the freakish styles that have not given
permanent satisfaction. Forty men and women, with
almost as many viewpoints, met in the Furniture
Mart in Chicago on Thursday of last week at a con-
ference about furniture styles. Parker Norse Hooper,
editor of Good Furniture and Decoration, said: "Util-
itarianism, after all produces the most beautiful lines,
and we are getting away from the freakishness of
early modern furniture to the good solid lines of the
past."
R. A. BURKE STILL ON ROAD.
Shortly after returning from his trip to the Pacific
Coast states, R. A. Burke, sales manager of the
Story & Clark Piano Company, Chicago, left recently
for a visit to dealers in Texas and other states in
the Southwest. Trade there, it is learned from other
sources, is more than fair; and it is to be expected
that this veteran traveler will win many orders for
the Story & Clark Piano Company. When Mr.
Burke has completed his present tour, he will return
to plan for his annual invasion of Porto Rico.
NEW STORE AT GOSHEN.
V. H. Nelson, who was manager of the Templin
Music Store at Goshen, Ind., for the last six years,
has opened a business for himself at 307 South Main
street, Goshen. He will make a specialty of radios
and equipment.
Through Generations
Have Come Ludwig Ideals
HE Ludwigs, the Ericssons-
and the Perrys created,
nearly a century ago, the stand-
v
ards to which the Ludwig has
been built. Their ideas and ideals have been car-
ried forward by the present generation and today
the direct descendants of those early builders of artis-
tic pianos are the men directing the destiny of the
Ludwig Piano.
T
Ludwig &TCo.
THE BALDWIN PIANO COMPANY
Cincinnati
Chicago
New York
Indianapolis
San Francisco
Willow Ave. and 136th St.
NEW YORK
St. Louis
Louisville
Dallas
Denver
The Famous
Established IMS
STEINERT PIANOS
CAROL ROBINSON
Write for catalogue
(Forwnoat American Pianist) vrheai—
If H "takes great audiences to make great poets"... .It certainly takes
• treat piano to make great music. That piano Is the STEINERT I
M. STEINERT & SONS
ST1INKRT HALL
fhe distinctive features of
Mathushek construction fur-
nish selling points not found
in other makes of pianos.
BOSTON, MASS.
MATHUSHEK PIANO MFG. CO.
I32nd Street and Alexander Arenue
NEW YORK
Presto Buyers' Guide Analyzes All Pianos
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/
14
November 15, 1929
PRESTO-TIMES
R A D I O
GENERAL RADIO NOTES
The Graybar 600.
The Graybar 600 is a console of beautiful yet con-
servative des : gn. Constructed of 5-ply walnut veneer
and finished in a two-tone effect with artistic trim-
mings, it makes a sturdy piece of furniture that will
blend with any scheme of home decoration. The
highly colored tapestry grille is a welcome departure
from the drab and colorless grilles used in the past.
Balkeit Transmits Faithfully.
The Balkeit Radio Company, North Chicago, 111.,
explains the mission of radio distinctly in these words:
"The tone should be with the speaker, the singer,
the instrument—but not with the radio. Radio's job
is to receive sound as it is sent, and to transmit it
as it is. received. Balkeit Model C has no tone of
its own to denaturalize the sound. As the singer
sings, as the orchestra plays, as the comedian laughs,
as the organ swells, as the president speaks—so
Balkeit transmits faithfully, clearly, purely. Distant
stations as clean and smooth as your local programs."
Victor Radio with Electrola.
The Victor Talking Machine Company, Camden,
N. J., declares: "Victor radio alone gives you all
that broad-cast entertainment can offer. Victor radio
with the marvelous new Electrola gives you even
more! For this superb instrument reveals in recorded
music, power and beauty beyond anything you can
imagine."
The Bosch Radio.
C. S. Tay, Inc., 17 South Desplaines street, Chicago,
is .wholesale distributor for Bosch radio, produced
by the American Bosch Magneto Corporation, Spring-
field, Mass. Mr. Tay says: "It is a balanced set for
steady successful performance. You will be charmed
by the gracefully designed cabinets."
Eveready for Damp Nights.
The National Carbon Company, Inc., 30 East 42nd
street, New York, in speaking of the reception of
its radio, says: "Its tone is full, round and agreeable.
And because of the 'weather-proof principle incor-
porated in the new Eveready radio the reception even
on damp, humid nights is remarkably clear and free
from distortion."
Sonatron Radio Tubes.
The National Union Radio Corporation, Newark,
N. J., says: "Sonatron manufactures the world's
largest radio tube line—44 distinct types, a Sonatron
for every socket."
Life-Tone of the Kennedy.
Colin B. Kennedy Corporation, South Bend, Ind.,
announces its radio as "for those who know the finer
things. Exquisite tone; the echoless voice of a Ken-
nedy; the rapturous paean of life-tone."
The Freed Is Impressive.
The Strauss Radio Company, 1424 Milwaukee ave-
nue, Chicago, advertises by using a Freed cut and
says: "Impressive to the last degree is this superbly
handsome Freed model. The latest Freed advances
in 1930 radio, enclosed in a magnificent cabinet of
exquisite workmanship and choice woods. As im-
pressive in its generous proportions as in its volume
and tone."
Bosch
Bosch Radio offered show visitors an exceptionally
wide choice of beautiful console cabinets. Each one
is a masterp : ece of cabinet artistry, designed by fur-
niture craftsmen who have built an enviable reputa-
tion as creators of fine furniture and exclusively de-
signed for Bosch Radio.
Kennedy.
The Kennedy, "Royalty of Radio," was shown in
two models. One employs the Kennedy high gain
Neutrodyne circuit, and the other the Kennedy power
detection screen-grid circuit.
Crosley.
• Crosley proudly displayed, at the recent Chicago
Radio Show, its new 31, the result of the determina-
tion of Powell Crosley, Jr., to bring the enjoyment
of modern radio within the reach of every income.
This seven-tube set may lie converted into a console
by the addition of legs, or with the speaker attached
underneath, the set becomes an end table and radio
combined.
New Colonial Cabinets.
The Colonial Radio Corporation, Long Island City,
N. Y., says: "The amazing performance of the new
Colonial chassis has inspired our master craftsmen
to create a line of cabinets worthy of Dr. Cutting's
latest achievement. Greatly improved design is made
possible by the absence of the speaker grille from
the front of the cabinets. The secret door disclosing
the control panel may be kept closed if desired while
the set is played."
Atwater Kent Cabinets.
The Adler Manufacturing Company, Louisville, Ky.,
is manufacturing the Atwater Kent cabinets which are
described as "distinctively individual, rich in figured
woods, superbly finished, a piece of furniture that
will endure in usefulness and charm throughout the
years."
DayL'ght Reception with Philco.
To radio owners who live in smaller towns at a
distance from good broadcasting, Philco Screen-Grid
Plus makes daylight reception available, often for the
first time, and offers in the evenings a far wider
selection of programs than ever before possible.
Baldwin.
The Baldwin receiver shown at the recent Chicago
radio show was designed with the viewpoint of best
audio quality of reproduction obtainable. DX re-
ception, this company's engineer decided, occasionally
gives a person a thrill, but real enjoyment is obtained
only from reception of local broadcasting stations,
where the background noise and static are minimized.
Working on that theory, this firm developed in its
receivers a tone "as colorful as the naming spires of
Bryce."
Fada.
The beautiful line of consoles exhibited recently at
the Chicago radio show added greatly to the reputa-
tion Fada has been building since the year broad-
casting began.
RCA Radiola.
Visitors to the Radiola booth were Gen. H. G.
Tlarbord, president of the RCA, Frank Brick of the
RCA show division, H. H. Ranier and Paul Pfohl
of the radiotron division, and K. T. Maltas, Chicago
sales representative.
Colonial.
Among Colonial representatives were: J. B. Haw-
ley, vice-president; A. Newcombc, director; C. A.
Verschoor, vice-president; Dick Steen, advertising
manager; W. H. Allen, district manager; Al. Fer-
guson, L. E. Holcomb and Glen Balcom, factory
representatives.
And the following representatives, C. A. Duntley,
H. H. Tishrock, V. F. Greaves, and F. W. Will.
Kolster.
Great interest was manifested by the public at the
recent Chicago radio show in the special features
of the new Kolsters. the selector tuner and remote
control. By means of these devices, Kolster provides
ease of operation to a degree that makes operation the
simplest factor of complete radio enjoyment—prac-
tically effortless and absolutely accurate. Brandes
and Columbia sets also are equipped with the Kol-
ster selector tuner.
RADIO RECEIVING SETS
RADIO PARTS
RADIO—PHONOGRAPHS
Freed, president; Arthur Freed, chief engineer, and
Leo Freed, sales manager. Spencer Rees, Kansas
City representative, was another visitor. Sales repre-
sentatives were: C. J. Brinkman, K. R. Reed, I. R.
Duffy, J. Walker, H. Faulk, W. Yates and Paul H.
Hittinger.
Howard.
The chassis of the new Howard screen-grid re-
ceiver is of the highest grade auto body steel—cad-
mium plated to prevent rust or corrosion—thus in-
suring perfect electrical contact, for all time, between
the various shielded compartments which separate the
important circuits, one from another. This thorough
shielding gives the receiver a sharp separation of
stations—not favoring any one sector on the dial, but
with astonishing accuracy across the entire tuning
range.
CHICAGO
The Davis Company, located at State, Van Buren,
Jackson and Wabash, is the exclusive distributor in
the "Loop" for the Bush & Lane, the radio that is
"built like a fine piano."
The Cable Piano Company, at Wabash and Jack-
son streets, is offering a 15-day test of the new
Erla screen grid radio without subsequent obligation
to purchase. This introductory offer is being made
in order to familiarize radio buyers with the excep-
tional performance of the Erla. A fee of $5 is
charged to cover the cost of cartage and installation,
but the amount is creditable against the purchase
price in the event that the deal is closed.
Red Lion cabinets for Atwater Kent sets are being
featured both in the advertising and on the display
floor of the radio shop at the Chicago store of A. G.
Spalding & Bros., 211 South State Street.
Zenith Asks Comparison.
The Kimbcrly Radio Corporation, 154 East Erie
street, Chicago, says: "Go right down the line and*
compare. Inspect Zenith automatic tuning and con-
trast its genuine 'press-the-button' action with the
half-way tuning contraptions on other sets. Note
the superiority of Zenith-built consoles."
Majesties 6,000 a Day.
The Harry Alter Company, 340 North Dearborn
street, Chicago, distributor for the Majestic radio,
says: "Remember, one swallow does not make a
summer and one talking point does not make a good
radio set. To be a good set, everything about it has
to be good. Majestic does not confuse the issue by
shouting one form of superiority and ignoring every
other important point. Everything about a Majestic
has to be good or we could not sell 6,000 a day. Is it
too much to say that nearly two million people cannot
be wrong?"
Zenith.
The crossing signals at the Zenith booth apparently
joined with Zenith prestige in arousing interest in
the Zenith line, for there was always a crowd inves-
tigating the automatic tuner and the remote control
units with which the Zenith sets are equipped.
Philco
Philco made its theory of "balanced units" under-
standable to the crowd at the recent Chicago Radio
Show by the use of two full-length mirrors—one of
the amusement park type, reflecting a distorted image,
Stromberg-Carlson.
and another, of smooth plate, giving back the normal
These
new
Stromberg-Carlson
art consoles are beau-
image. This idea was impressed on visitors to the
booth: "Philco balanced units allow no blur or dis- tiful receivers with a built-in electro-dynamic speaker
—designed to utilize three of the new A. C. screen-
tortion; it yields true, clear tone always."
grid tubes which make possible linear power detec-
tion. This linear power detection with automatic
Grebe for Small Apartments.
"For the small apartment, the new Grebe is built grid bias, is necessary to obtain full value from the
into a charming lowboy, which fits into small rooms new 100 per cent broadcast modulation.
without giving the impression of crowding," says the
Mills Novelty Sets.
A. H. Grebe Radio Company, 109 West 57th street,
The
Mills
Novelty
Company, Chicago, manufac-
New York. "Where the lowboy design is desired for
use in the larger apartment, model 270, with its verti- tures radio which it claims is "more than a receiver.'
cal panels and sliding doors is proving a very popu- Its Model 500 Highboy is an all-electric with eight
tubes. The cabinet is entirely hand carved in oak,
lar choice."
with mouldings of mahogany, walnut and oak.
RCA Screen-Grid Radiolas.
Trimmed in beautiful Japanese ash and Oriental
"Obviously you get your greatest guarantee of walnut, French doors with large drawer below.
screen-grid performance in the screen-grid instru-
Balkeit Handles Distant Programs.
ments designed and built by RCA Here in these
The Balkeit Radio Company, North Chicago, 111.,
great screen-grid radiolas you find the crystallization
of RCA's vast and superior knowledge of the screen- employs faithful ten kilocycle separation of stations—
grid principle," is a recent announcement by the uniform distance getting ability over the entire dial.
An achievement in modern radio unlike all others in
Radio Corporation of America.
its ability to reproduce distant programs with the
Freed.
same clear strength of tone ordinarily enjoyed only
Freed exhibited its Models 90, 95, 78, 79 and 55 on local tuning. Five tuned stages, with uniform sen-
at the Chicago radio show, under the auspices of the sitivity over the entire dial, give the Balkeit Model C
Telephone Maintenance Company, Chicago, distrib- surpassing selectivity and consistency of fine per-
utors. From the New York factory came Joseph formance.
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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