Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1931 2255

February, 1931
PREST O-T IMES
BUILDERS AND PLAYERS
OF THE STEINWAY PIANO
Apropos of the coming 100th anniversary of the
birth of Henry Stein way on March 27 next, Presto-
Times takes pleasure in presenting herewith a picture
of that gentleman as he looked in his prime. And also
on the front cover page of this issue, in connection
with the advertisement of Steinway & Sons, appears
another picture of Henry Steinway in his workshop.
The title of this picture, which is from one of the
paintings adorning the walls of the Steinway estab-
lishment in New York, is "Henry Steinway Making
His First Piano." One can imagine how delighted he
would have been if he could have visioned the present
Steinway & Sons offices at 109 West 57th street, New
York, and the Steinway big factories on Long
Island. For Henry Steinway came to New York in
1850 and worked there as a journeyman piano builder
until Steinway & Sons started their business and he
then became one of the original partners when the
firm began on March 5, 1853.
He was a native of Sessen, Duchy of Brunswick,
Germany, where he was born March 27, 1831.
It was his inventive mind that designed many of
the early improvements in the Steinway piano and
he is credited bv sonic with the invention of the first
to concentrate more on the musical expression of a
composition and would be less tormented by pure
finger exercises which, although necessary, are but
a "means to an end' and, if overdone, may often cause
an 'end to one's means'—musically speaking, of course.
"From my own experience, I find that too much
time is spent on purely technical preparation for some-
thing that may never materialize because technique
can be successfully applied to music only, if both, so
to speak, grow up together from their infancy.
"Although I do not like to speak about things which
1 can do, and less so about things I cannot do, yet,
were I a beginner and had the choice of any of the
existing music-making instruments, I would select
the piano."
INDIANAPOLIS PIANO MEN
DOING A FAIR BUSINESS
Business conditions are showing some improvement:
nothing to boast about, but much to be grateful for.
Music merchants have had a fair share of business
during the business depression, and when one stops
to consider this, there is little room for complaint.
The House of Baldwin reports conditions fair and
improving. In the near future some of the new mod-
els in grands, the very latest creations in piano con-
struction will be presented to the public, according
to Ray Coverdill, manager of the local house. Mr.
Coverdill, spent the week-end in Cincinnati at a sales
meeting.
The Marion Music Co. is doing a good business,
reporting the sales of several Schumann grands in
period models. The outlook is fair and anything
but discouraging is their report of conditions. Mark
Mayer, representative of the Brinkerhofr Piano Co.,
was a recent visitor at the company's store.
The Pearson Piano Co. is optimistic over the com-
ing spring and summer business. Business from over
the state is reported good, and mostly of high-grade
pianos. William Christena, formerly in charge of the
Orthophonic department, has severed his connections
with the company, and will hereafter represent the
Capehart Corporation, of Fort Wayne, Ind., in north-
ern Illinois and Indiana, with headquarters in Chicago.
George C. Pearson has left the city for the south-
land and will spend the remainder of the winter in the
Isle of Pines, Cuba.
HKN'KV STKINWAY
The new Farney grand piano has made its appear-
successful "Over-strung Scale," which was one of the ance in Indianapolis at the store of the Wilking Music
first great advances made in piano construction at Co. It is one of the Wurlitzer Co. products, desig-
that time and which differentiated the Steinway pianos nated as Style 7.
The Wilking Co. have taken the stock of the Rob-
from all others then manufactured.
Henry Steinway died in March, 1865, after a severe ertson Music Co., now extinct. The stock is composed
attack of typhoid fever, within a month of the death of Bush & Gerts and Haddorff grands.
E. M. Hewitt, well-known piano salesman in the
of his brother, Charles Steinway.
The picture of Henry Steinway shown in connec- central section of the state, will take over the post
tion with this article is a very good likeness of him— as manager of the Pearson Piano Co.'s store at An-
derson, Ind., filling the place made vacant by the
earnest, grave, intellectual.
death
of Ambrose T. Smith.
Josef Hofman, the distinguished pianist, who years
Recent visitors in Indianapolis were: George Mans-
ago was the pupil of Rubinstein, uses the Steinway
field, of the Everett Piano Co.; J. E. Shale, of the
Checkering & Sons Piano Co.; H. Edgar French, of
Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., New Castle, Ind.;
P. E. Mason, and Gottfred Johnson of the Haddorff
Piano Co.
THE PIANO ENNOBLES LIFE
Harry Edward Freund, of Chicago, who writes
occasionally about higher purposes in life, puts music
far to the front as a refiner of humanity. He says:
"Without a piano in use, a mansion is not even a
home. A modest apartment can be made a haven of
happiness with entrancing strains of good music from
the piano that enchant the ear and enthrall the heart
and soul. The piano in the home, with the interpre-
tation of fine music, is evidence of a love for beauty
in life, for inspiring things that make life worth while,
as thoughts are things enabling us, as the years go
by, to engender kindness, sympathy, appreciation,
helpfulness and service, bringing out the best in each
one of us."
uoiefnoftwv
THE PUPIL OF RUBINSTEIN
piano in his concerts and recital work. He believes
in the piano as the basic instrument of music, and in
a recent article from his pen which appeared in the
Musical Courier he centered approval of his drive
upon the new method of teaching children to play the
piano. Part of his words were:
"In piano study, as in golf, there is little use in
merely covering ground, one should aim always to
direct one's progress toward the ultimate goal—and
the goal, to a pianist, is the making of music on the
piano.
"It is my firm conviction that one can make good
music on the piano with comparatively very little
technique, and there is more artistic merit in playing
a simple piece well, musically, than attempting to con-
quer technically difficult pieces at the sacrifice of musi-
cal expression.
"Without meaning to advise, I would like to point
out that piano study would be far more popular than
it is, if students—average players—would be permitted
PHILADELPHIA STEINWAY
HOUSE ELECTS OFFICERS
The annual meeting of stockholders of N. Stetson
& Co. was held January 31 and the following directors
were elected: August von Bernuth, Luke H. Moore,
Theodore E. Steinway, Frederick J. Ziegler, Henry
Junge, W. Ernest Voltz, J. Clifford Povey.
The election of officers was held February 3 and
August von Bernuth was re-elected president, with
Luke H. Moore, vice-president and treasurer, and
Henry Junge, secretary.
OTTO HEATON'S NEW LOCATION
On February 1 the Heaton Music Store, Columbus.
Ohio, moved from its location at 33 East Long street
to 78 North High street. Otto B. Heaton bought the
59-year lease on the building. The fourth floor will
house Heaton Hall and there will be a broadcasting
studio there. The other three floors will house the
departments.
To Repair Men,
Tuners, and Re-
pair Departments:
COMSTOCK-
CHENEY
Products
are Used by Piano
[Manufacturers
Everywhere
HEN most conscientious
piano repair men and tun-
W
ers select parts with a view to
getting the best possible tonal
and mechanical results, they
turn very naturally to the house
of
THE COMSTOCK-CHENEY & CO
whose products have won a
reputation for excellence that
safeguards pianos in which
they are used. The quality line
comprises keys, actions and
hammers for all types of
pianos.
Since the early days of piano
manufacturing, A m e r i c a n
piano makers have made
the presence of Comstock-
Cheney parts in their products
a major selling point, and have
depended on them to retain
their beauty or utility. The
same high standards are em-
ployed in the production of
parts for repair work. Why not
get your repair supplies from a
house whose supremacy in its
line will enable you to achieve
uniformly good results and, in
addition, will reflect its excel-
lence and prestige on your
work ?
Keys, Actions and Hammers
Furnished Complete
Ivory Cutters Since 1834
THE COMSTOCK-
CHENEY & CO.
IVORYTON, CONN.
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All Rights Reserved. Digitized from the archives of the MBSI with support from NAMM - The International Music Products Association (www.namm.org).
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February, 1931
PRESTO-TIMES
OPEN FORUM
will keep a factory going on a profitable basis, if it is
established in or near Lawrence. This would be a
most practical move just in freight-saving alone to the
Spring Creek, Tex., Feb. 2, 1931.
dealer in the South and West, and even a savings East,
Presto Times.
besides other inducements the East has not got.
(Gentlemen:
In my travels over this field, I find it to be the
"Having noticed some articles in your Open Forum field of growing consumption, with some very exten-
department that set me to thinking, I feel constrained
sive and reliable piano houses established, and as can
to jot down a few of my thoughts for that section be seen every month in Presto-Times, of many new
of Presto Times. I feel inadequate to the occasion, people establishing themselves in the piano business—
as I don't care for publicity, and if what I say here which is saying enough.
interests you and you think it would any of the read-
Here in the Southwest, the better class of pianos is
ers, I cheerfully donate it; for my life is and has been always in demand; especially pianos with real tone.
for thirty years enwrapped in the piano game and 1
I believe a piano factory here would be practical,
expect to end it that way, for there will be salesmen
with good inducements, and the advantage of low
selling pianos long after we have checked in and are overhead and low cost of much of the material. Suffi-
standing in line at the gate of St. Peter.
cient business can be secured in Kansas, Nebraska,
Personality in selling pianos cannot be done away
Colorado, Texas and Arkansas to make it profitable,
with, for there are hundreds of pianos in the homes and in time with the kind of a piano I refer to, we
of the very best as well as the most humble all could reach out further.
over west Texas where I roam that would not be
Yours truly,
there if it were not for some salesman having en-
A. WEBER.
thused them into buying; and I have yet to find a
single customer who ever regretted putting a piano
in his home and being persuaded to buy it.
There is nothing that seems to add to any home
what a piano does; for when you step into a house, no
The Dallas-Ft. Worth division of the National Asso-
matter how fine or how humble, and glance around
ciation
of Piano Tuners held their annual banquet
and see a p'ano, it softens the very atmosphere and
is a token of pride, ambition, friendliness and culture. last month in the lounge room of the Baker Hotel in
Dallas, Tex.
If the piano salesmen had had the encouragement
This meeting was the realization of plans begun
from the factories that auto salesmen were given the
plan would have hatched out some salesmen that many months ago in bringing together besides its
would not now have been placing the pianos in grave- members, music merchants, radio managers and pro-
yards and persuading the angels to come each and fessional musicians.
The principal address was by Sam S. Losh of Ft.
every night and serenade us on them.
I think your paper is clean and sound, and in Worth, his subject being "Cooperation of Merchant,
future, as ideas come to me, I might pen them for Teacher, Radio and Tuner." Other speakers of the
evening were R. P. Patterson, of Ft. Worth Tuners'
vour use.
division; C. C. Miller of Miller Piano Co., Ft. Worth;
A WEST TEXAS SALESMAN.
Mr. Keyes, of W. F. A. A.; Robt. N. Watkin, of Will
A. Watkin, Dallas; T. C. Jones, of T. C. Jones Piano
Co., Ft. Worth; Mr. Dowel, of Sanger Bros., Dallas;
Mr. Hill, of Bush & Gerts, Dallas, and Mr. Rollwaye,
Lawrence, Kansas, Feb. 9, 1931.
of Baldwin Co., Dallas. The musical program was
Presto Publishing Co.
provided by Mrs. Albert Smith, soprano, Dallas; Mrs.
Gentlemen:
Keller, pianist, of Dallas; Mr. and Mrs. Paul Van
One drawback to securing a good piano is the price,
Katwijk, pianists of Dallas, and Mr. and Mrs. Sam
which is not in reach of the means of people that need
S. Losh, of Ft. Worth, pianists. Nearly all the music
good, high-class tone quality.
It is my honest belief that a piano with our sound- merchants of both cities and most of the association
ing-board and reinforced scale, producing such a won- members were present.
ROBT. MacDONALD, Secretary.
derful tone as we show, at a more reasonable price,
LETTER FROM A TEXAS HUSTLER
PIANO TUNERS BANQUET
WEBER WANTS A PIANO FACTORY
apartment houses and steamships. Mr. Johnson said
the Swedish American Motorliner "Kungsholm," a
luxurious 26,700-ton trans-Atlantic ship, which is now
In Order to Do This, Hardman, Peck & Co. Sold
making winter cruises to the West Indies and South
Pianos Without Profit for Six Days.
America, recently installed the latest and most ad-
Hardman, Peck & Co., 433 Fifth avenue, New York, vanced type of music and paging amplifying system
carried out a new idea in selling for six days—Janu- manufactured by the Western Electric Piano Co.
ary 20 to January 26 inclusive—in offering "absolutely
This sort of business being extensive, the company's
without profit" any piano its workers had created.
business with music dealers has been limited recently,
The full-page advertisements, which appeared in
as Mr. Johnson is chary about the music trade gen-
the New York Evening Journal, the Herald Tribune erally.
and the New York Evening Post, were headed 'The'r
However, he believes there is quite a field in the
Hands Shall Not Be Idle," and the copy said in part: general music business for the smaller electric lines
"Though we look forward confidently to a new
of instruments of the selective type, such as the
prosperity for our business, our craftsmen are not Phono-radio combinations. He is rather optimistic
now employed on full time.
about the trade in his line and allied devices, and he
"These men, through the magic of their hands, have said:
given, to dead metal and wood, a soul—the soul of
"Proof of the contrasting success of the automatic
the living Hardman tone. They have made the
Hardman one of the five great pianos. To this work musical instrument business may best be had from
the prosperity enjoyed by the manufacturers. Produc-
they have given twenty, thirty, even fifty years of
tion reports from the industry as a whole may be sub-
their lives.
stantiated by government department of commerce
"We cannot let their hands be idle. We will not statistics. Conditions must be judged by the country
take advantage of our financial security, and wait for as a whole including the export trade. When factories
business to revive. So that they may go on with their are shipping that means dealers and operators are buy-
work, we will sell, without profit, the pianos they ing. If they are buying—business is good.
have created. Those who have always wanted to
possess a fine piano may now have it easily and at
"Usually the determination to operate or sell rests
small cost.
with the individual. Frequently the manufacturer, due
"As the pianos now in our warerooms go to the to his close contact with all manner of personalities,
can judge very accurately just how to classify his
homes for which they were made, our craftsmen can
agent. There is no denying the difference. Many
return to full employment and create new instruments.
highly successful 'operators' would fail utterly in
"We make this move, therefore, that our resolve—
attempting a definite program of modern sales meth-
'Their Hands Shall Not Be Idle'—may become a
ods; and vice-versa, the dealer who has built around
realitv."
himself a clever sales staff might be sorely disap-
pointed in not being able to grasp the 'science' of
profitable 'operating.' "
FULL TIME AT HARDMAN PLANT
WESTERN ELECTRIC PIANO CO.
WORKING ON NEW DEVICES
There are Many Reasons Why the
M. SCHULZ CO.
Line of Pianos
GRANDS, UPRIGHTS
PLAYERS
Are Easy Sellers
They Combine Quality
with Appearance in a
Most Remarkable
Manner.
—A Line That Gives
Satisfaction to the Pub-
lic and Is a Money-
Maker for the Dealer.
Their G R A N D S Are
W o n d e r f u l . Their
UPRIGHTS Are Stand-
ards of Excellence.
M. SCHULZ CO.
711 Milwaukee Avenue
CHICAGO
WHEN TONE
IS DESIRED THE
F.RADLE
FULFILS THE
REQUIREMENTS
The piano is the result of long ex-
perience and ambition to attain a
position of eminence.
CLEAR, BEAUTIFUL TONE
is a distinctive feature of F. Radle
Pianos and the case designs are
always original.
F. RADLE, Inc.
ESTABLISHED 1850
609 - 611 W. 30TH STREET
NEW YORK, U. S. A.
Worry Over Player Details
is avoided by the manufac-
turer who uses the
A. C. Cheney Player Action
in his products. He knows
everything is all right and
that me best musical quali-
ties of his pianos are develop-
ed by the use of this player
mechanism.
Percy L. Deutsch, for many years associated with
the Brunswick-Balke-Collender Co. in Chicago, who
went to New York to take charge of the Sonora Co.
and became president of the Acoustic Products Co., a
subsidiary of the Sonora Co., has been more recently
associated with the World Broadcasting Corporation
CASTLETON, N. Y.
and the Francis Sinagan Co.
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).
A recent visit to the Western Electric Piano Co.'s
headquarters at 950 Blackhawk street, Chicago, by a
Presto-Times representative disclosed that the plant
is having an active output, mainly confined to specifi-
cation contracts for amplifying devices, as President
Johnson explained, such as supplying hotels, large
A. C. CHENEY
PIANO ACTION COMPANY
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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