14
PRESTO-TIMES
OREGON, ILL, FAME
IN SCHILLER PIANOS
Historical Account of the Rise and Progress of
the Manufacture of Schiller
Pianos Makes Interest-
ing Reading.
esses of building up to the lines of perfection that
animated its founder, has enabled the Schiller Piano
Company to advance steadily to a position which is
at the forefront in the piano field.
Four Additions.
"The original Schiller plant comprised a tloor space
of approximately 35,000 square feet, to which has
been added four additions, making the total floor
space 175,000 square feet.
"The product is sold by the highest type of dealers
from coast to coast, and is also held in the highest
esteem in Australia, South America, Mexico and
Italy, where shipments have been made successively
throughout the year.
"The piano is recognized as the fundamental instru-
ment. There can hardly be a musical performance
without a piano. It is the most sensitively organized
musical instrument of the present day, yet it is true
that pianos generally have not kept pace with this
present era in the development of tone.
"The fact that the Schiller Piano Company has
continued to operate steadily without shut-downs,
may be attributed to the inventive genius of an old
December 1, 1929
EMIL W. WOLFF ELECTED
PRESIDENT OF M. SCHULZ CO.
World Traveler Chosen to Succeed the Late Otto
Schulz as Corporation Head.
At a meeting of the hoard of directors of the M.
Schulz Company, piano manufacturers, 711 Milwau-
kee avenue. Chicago, Emil VV. Wolff was elected
president to fill the vacancy caused by the death in
July of Otto Schulz.
In an article in the Rockford Register-Gazette,
Mr. Wolff, who is a brother-in-law of the late presi-
known as the "Rock River Prosperity Edition," the
dent of the company, has been vice-president for a
following record of the rise and progress of the
number of years. He has promoted the interests of
Schiller Piano Company, of Oregon, 111., was given:
the company in California and other parts of the
"Among the Rock River Valley industries it is
country and has been one of its larger stockholders
significant that there is found one of the oldest manu-
for years.
facturers of high grade pianos—the Schiller Piano
Mr. Wolff is an ardent automobilist and has trav-
Company of Oregon, 111.
eled extensively in this country in his machine. His
"The first Schiller piano was built nearly half a
wife accompanied him on a trip by auto from Los
century ago and since that time more than 80,000
Angeles to Chicago last summer.
Schiller pianos have been made and sold, the sales
Mr. and Mrs. Wolff have traveled extensively dur-
ing the last few years all over the world.
For many years Mr. Wolff supervised the construc-
tion of Schulz instruments in the Schulz factories, and
personally attended to the purchase of supplies. That
experience has given him a detailed knowledge of the
high standards of construction and the superior qual-
ity of the materials employed by the M. Schulz Com-
pany. He has been actively engaged in the activities
of the M. Schulz Company since 1902.
"I see no reason why there should not be a good
year ahead for the piano industry," was Emil W.
Wolff's forecast for the trade on the occasion of
his taking over the reins of the M. Schulz Company,
Chicago Mr. Wolff's optimism lacked the hollow
sound of so many who breathe optimism merely be-
cause that is expected of them; for back of his rosy
outlook for the future, there is sound reasons for his
opinion.
Mr. Wolff is firmly convinced that the expansion
being pledged by business leaders in response to
President Hoover's appeal will be a boon to the piano
industry. "Surely," said Mr. Wolff, "the expenditure
of the immense sums being devoted to the cause of
booming American industry should result in the bet-
tering of trade conditions in all lines of business.
That boom necessarily will be reflected in the for-
tunes of the piano trade.
SCHILLER PIANO CO
"Add to this," Mr. Wolff continued, "the fact that
OREGON, ILLINOIS
the elimination of a number of piano manufacturers
MANUFACTURERS OF GRAND.
during the past year will mean increased business for
UPRIGHT and PLAYER PIANOS
the survivors. The distress stocks which flooded the
market as a result of those crashes, are now nearly
disposed of, and there should exist, from now on, an
opportunity to sell quality merchandise at prices war-
lVKn PIANO CO. FACTORY AT OREGON. ILL.
ranted by manufacturing costs."
Under the leadership of Mr. Wolff the M. Schulz
coming almost entirely through the enthusiastic rec- master workman, who has developed a distinctive Company will keep up its aggressive fight all over
ommendation of Schiller owners.
construction in the Schiller grand, in which the vi- the nation to make sure- that the Schulz organization
"This inspiring business was established by the late brating section of the sounding board and back are receives an ever increasing proportion of the coun-
F. G. Jones, who was succeeded by his sons and independent of the case.
try's piano business.
grandsons, and is now headed by E. B. Jones, presi-
"This results in a liberated tone of marvelous depth
dent, B. F. Shelly, secretary, R. B. Jones, assistant and almost unbelievable singing quality. It is this
secretary, and C. F. Jones, treasurer.
distinctive feature which has made the Schiller one
Master Craftsmen.
of the most talked of pianos in the best musical cir-
"The Schiller organization consists of old master cles."
workmen, men who have devoted the greater part of
"Schillerville."
their lifetime at what might be considered more than
When a representative of Presto-Times approached Leaders in the Industry Co-operating in Industrial
a trade, as the building of a high grade piano is truly
Program.
an art. Many of these workmen have been with the the Schiller Piano Company offices in Oregon one day
last week he remembered an anecdote of years ago.
Schiller Piano Company for more than 35 years.
Radio
sales
now
are
increasing steadily after a.
"These men seem to have developed an additional It was about the answer given by a man who was
temporary
recession,
it
is
stated by President H. B.
sense in relation to their craft and they choose each driving toward Oregon and who, when asked where
piece with an inspired fidelity to purpose and work it he was headed for, said "Schillerville"—meaning Ore- Richmond of the Radio Manufacturers' Association,
into shape with a faith that motivated the guildsmen gon, of course. Anyway, if ever the name of the in announcing a call for a meeting of the asso-
progressive little city should be changed, it would be ciation's board of directors December 6 and 7, at
of an earlier day.
Briarcliff Lodge, New York. The directors' meeting
"Thus the same idealism that has kept the busi- natural to call it Schillerville, or some other name is incident to the industrial conferences initiated by
ness in the hands of one family and has kept the proc- suggestive of its leading industry.
President Hoover to stabilize and stimulate business
conditions. The radio industry leaders will consider
An interesting feature of his report called attention measures to co-operate in the industrial program of
to the announced purpose of the Interstate Commerce the President and will be represented at a meeting
Commerce
Commission to readjust, pursuant to the Hoch-Smith called by the United States Chamber of
1
resolution, the transportation rates and charges so at Washington just prior to the meeting of the asso-
ciation's board of directors.
that t'.ie maintenance of the transportation systems of
the country will be borne in greater measure by the
E. A. Leveille, of Traffic Committee, Makes products of industry and in lesser measure by the
E. P. JOHNSON PLANT BUSY.
products of agriculture.
E. P. Johnson, of the K. P. Johnson Piano Com-
Transportation Report at Chicago Piano
The Trans-Continental Lines have had several pro- pany, is having what may be called an excellent trade.
Manufacturers' Association Meeting.
posals affecting the rates on pianos which were re- A large number of grand pianos are being built and
an unusually attractive lot of orders are on his books.
At a meeting of the Chicago Piano Manufacturers' viewed by Mr. Leveille.
Attention was called to the manifold provisions of In other words, the E. P. Johnson factory at Elgin,
Association at the Great Northern Hotel, Chicago,
Rule 34 of the classification and the way it may be 111., is one of the busy piano factories of the country.
November 13, the following officers were elected for
the ensuing year: Frederick P. Bassett, president; operated and has been operated to the detriment of The E. P. Johnson Piano Company are now owners
John H. Parnham, vice-president; W. E. Guylee, sec- the p'auo shippers—together with suggestions on how of the old Foley & Williams and the Burdett names,
which names are utilized in the products of their
retary; E. A. Leveille, assistant secretary; Adam to best meet this situation.
The matter of minimum weights came in for con- factories.
Schneider, treasurer.
For the Executive Committee the following gen- siderable discussion due to the popularity of smaller
Princeton University, Princeton, N. J., opened its
tlemen were selected: H. C. Dickinson, Geo. J. and lighter types and to the consequent difficulty
Dowling. E. R. Jacobson. C N. Kimball, F. F. Story. in making the present minimum weight. These mat- music season on the night of November 19 with a re-
On behalf of the traffic committee Mr. Leveille ters are receiving active consideration in the interest cital in McCosh Hall by the Aguilar Lute Quartet.
made an informal but extended report on the recent of the members of the Chicago Association and in the During the winter 13 concert- and recitals will be
given.
developments and current trends in transportation. interests of the trade at large.
RADIO SALES NOW
ON THE INCREASE
MANUFACTURERS ELECT
F. P. BASSETT PRESIDENT
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