Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1931 2263

Page 14 Text:

14
PRESTO-TIMES
A NEW STORY ON Q. R. S.
November, 1931
H O W ONE GOOD SALE BROUGHT
ABOUT FOUR MORE
The Wyman Piano Co.. Chicago, representatives
and distributors of the Schiller piano, made a sale
A Chicago newspaper, in referring to the business business was debated and as no decision could be not long ago to that famous Chicago-North Shore
and present activities of the (JRS-DeYry Corpora- arrived at for a name to give the music roll enterprise club, the Onwentsia, which sale became the nucleus
tion, Chicago, noted that practically all of the in- it was suggested, as the story goes, by Mr. Charles of four other sales to distinguished members of the
dividuals recently connected with this business am! Burton, Melville Clark's patent attorney, that the hap- fashionable Onwentsia. The first sale attributed to
who were connected with the house in the early days, hazard letters "QRS" from the alphabet instead of, the Club was to an aristocratic family of Chicago's
have severed their connection with the business, with
for instance, "ABC," be taken temporarily until such north side, which was purchased largely on the rec-
the single exception of Mr. E. A. Kieselhorst of St. a time when a better name might be proposed. And ommendation of the pianist of the club's orchestra,
Louis, who for many years has been a stockholder
so, as time went on and many inquiries came in re- and the recommendation of this purchase led to an-
and on the board of control. This means that
garding the meaning of "QRS,'' what the letters other sale to their close friends. Then co/ne another
Thomas Fletcher, Earl Holland, Carl Sundberg, stood for, what it all meant, etc., no change was made sale recommended by a prominent amateur pianist
A. N. Page and Mr. Ames are no longer asso- and about this time Tom Fletcher came out with his who had taken great pleasure in using the club's new
ciated with the QRS. The origin of this busi-
flaming advertisement using "QRS" as his slogan Schiller. After this a sale was made to a college at
ness is an interesting story and is linked up with
and giving the meaning of the letters to be ''Quality Klmhurst on the recommendation of an Ontwentsia
the former Melville Clark Piano Co. which orig- and Real Service," which seemed to settle the per- club woman; four good sales as the result of one good
inated when the Story & Clark Organ Co. made
manency of the name. Thus "QRS" became a fixture starter.
and the legal and corporate title of the business.
Mr. Wyman has been very successful with the
As the trade generally knows, the Melville Clark Schiller agency and has received many testimonials
interests established their location at DeKalb, 111., from users of these instruments. Three extracts from
retaining a Chicago office which was in the old Van letters appear in a Schiller advertisement in this issue
Buren Street Theater building between Michigan of Presto-Times and to this list may be added the
boulevard and Wabash avenue. From there they following extract Iron a letter recently received by
moved to the Fine Arts building, then to the Kimball the Wyman Piano Co. from Geraldlne Seitz, a noted
building and finally to their last Chicago location, at pianist who writes Mr. Wyman as follows:
333 North Michigan avenue, after which the QRS "Words could never tell you how happy my
interests went on under the leadership of Mr. Tom Schiller grand has made me. I think it the finest
piano in the world. Every other musician who has
played it says it is perfect in every way."
JULIUS BLtJTHNER CO. OF AMERICA
Under the caption which heads this article a com-
pany has been formed with headquarters at 734 So.ith
Hill street, Los Angeles. Calif., for the distribut'on of
the Julius Bluthner piano, manufactured at Leipzig,
German}'. The concern is to take oxer the distribu-
tion of the Bluthner product in this country. The
officers and directors of this new organization are:
Louis Danz, Rudolf Schad. and Frederick W.
Schmidt, all well known piano men of the West.
Presto-Times' correspondent at Los Angeles says
that numerous inquiries have already been made by
dealers along the Pacific Coast and the Western
States concerning agencies and selling franchise. Our
correspondent also says that the first lot of pianos
that came from Leipzig to Los Angeles was soon
sold. Mr. Rudolf Schad, vice-president of the com-
pany, says that it is intended to establish headquar-
ters in New York soon after the first of the new
year and to have distribution centers at New York.
Chicago and Los Angeles. It is well known that the
Julius Bluthner piano is one of the leading instru-
ments of Germany and numbers a long list of artists,
composers, teachers, who give high praise to the
instrument.
KRNEST G. CLARK.
changes in its organization away back in 1899, when
it was located at Canal and 16th streets, Chicago
Mr. Clark had perfected the self-playing organ called
the Orpheus and for which instrument the music rolls
were supplied by the Aeolian Co.
Mr. E. G. Clark, now head of the Clark Orchestra
Roll Co., DeKalb, 111., and in those days one of the
important factors in the development of the self-
playing instruments which his brother Melville was
getting ready for the trade, became greatly interested
in the music roll proposition aside from his work in
the factory.
To make a long story short, Mr. Melville Clark
and E. G. Clark and others of their associates de-
termined to open up a music roll industry, which in-
dustry soon became well established, Melville Clark-
being in charge of the manufacturing in the Melville
Clark Piano Co. and E. G. Clark taking on the duties
of developing the music rolls.
In the year 1900 a small factory on West Madison
street was secured and the Melville Clark Piano Co.
became a growing concern, while Ernest G. went to
Waukegan, 111., where for six months in another
brother's scale factory he was perfecting the first
perforating music roll machine and during which time
he was the prime factor in developing a master
punching machine with which to complete the master
rolls. When this was done the music roll business
was moved to Chicago where it occupied space in
the piano factory, thus enabling the two interests to
work in closer cooperation with each other, and dur-
ing the five years' existence of this business, while
Melville Clark was developing his grand piano, and
the well known Apollo piano player, the music
roll department of Ernest G. Clark made much
progress.
The question of a name for the new music roll
THOS. M. I'LKTrilKU.
Fletcher who gathered around him a wonderfully fine
organization, now a matter of music trade history.
It may be added here that after severing his connec-
tion with QRS, Mr. E. G. Clark purchased the auto-
matic roll equipment and rights to manufacture from
QRS and thereupon located in DeKalb where many
of the former employees of the QRS Co. were still
residing. The story of Mr. Clark's success at DeKalb
is well known. He has one of the most complete and
in many ways the most thorough equipment for music
roll manufacture in this or any other land.
At the recent annual meeting of the stockholders of
the QRS-DeVry Corporation the new officers and
directors formed an entirely new set of officials, as
follows: J. B. Kleckner, president; M. J. Peary, vice-
president; Paul Gilchrist, treasurer; W. W. Kiesei-
horst (son of E. A. Kieselhorst), secretary.
The capital stock is to be increased from 400,000 to
500,000 shares, no par value.
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They are Standard Instruments of
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KREITER MFG. CO., Inc.
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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).
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Page 15 Text:

15
PRESTO-TIMES
November, 1931
HANS R. GIESE TOURING
UNITED STATES
INDIANAPOLIS NEWS
Charles H. Kesler, formerly associated with J. L.
Hudson Co., Detroit, Mich , has been made general
manager of the Pearson Piano Co. Charles Meri-
Head of Giese Wire Works of Germany Visits Man- dith will remain in charge of the piano department.
ufacturers—Grandson of Founder of Company
The C. G. Conn, Ltd.. has closed its store in this
city and the entire stock has been bought by the
Hans R. Giese, president of the G!ese Wire Works
Pearson Piano Co.
of Westig, Germany, grandson of the founder of the
The Pearson Piano Co. are celebrating their fifty-
house, is making a tour of the United States and re-
cently visited Chicago, where he met many in the eighth anniversary. The house of Pearson has been
piano trade. He is calling especially on manufac- one of the few business establishments and the only
turers in this country and Canada and does not expect music establishment that has weathered the storm
for more than a half century in Indianapolis, and
to return to Westig until early next year.
has remained in business in the two squares on
Mr. Giese succeeded his father. Adolf Giese. as
Pennsylvania street north of Washington street since
head of the company, upon the death of the latter its inception. The founder, George C. Pearson, is
several years ago, his brother having followed the still taking an active part in the business affairs of the
founder of the concern, J. H. Rud. Giese, being his company.
oldest son. He is not by any means a stranger to
The Baldwin Studios, Tnc. are enjoying a very good
American piano manufacturers, for lie has made a business in their new quarters in Ohio street. Mrs.
number of trips to America, calling on t'.iem. His
Fish, president of the new concern, seemed more
company is one of the most important in Earope than pleased with the progress the organization is
among enterprises closely ailed with the piano indus- making. During the past month one of the outstand-
try. Mr. Giese believes in a revival of business and
ing sales was a Baldwin grand, style K, in mahogany,
forecasts a general return of the piano into its own sold to the American Central Life Insurance Co., and
before very. long.
will occupy a place of honor in the lounging room.
Mr. Giese's extensive travels visiting piano manu- Tudor Hall, a very select school for girls, bought
facturers in all countries where pianos are made, one of the style K Baldwin grands and a Monarch
have given him a wide acquaintance in the music studio instrument for the gymnasium. The pianos
trades and industries in both Europe and America. were selected by Miss I. Hilda Stuart, princ'pal of
the school. An Ellington grand model 350 in ma-
hogany was sold to the United Brethren Church at
A VALUABLE CONTACT
A rather small location in a section of the Schiller University Heights, a suburb to Indianapolis, for the
piano factory at Oregon, 111., which, owing to dis- Sunday school room.
The Marion Music Co. report a very satisfactory
continuance of their piano player work, was vacated
lias been taken over by manufacturing interests in business. Their complete line of pianos is movinp,
which individuals of the Schiller l'iano Co. are inter- well and prospects are very encouraging.
Several sales were recorded recently to prom-
ested, to make what is known as the Aero-Thrill
inent Indianapolis residents. The Schulz piano, as
Coaster, a coasting sled for young folks for both
well as the Brinkerhoff, is moving well and mak-
summer and winter sport. Tin's coaster seems to
eclipse everything in the line of coasters, and the ing new friends daily. The company report an un-
orders coming in indicate a great future. By the way, usual activity with used pianos and their stock of
Mr. Jones, president of the Schiller Piano Co., says these is pretty well cleaned up.
Frank Wilking, president of the Wilking Music
that the contacts throughout tiie country with dealers
Co., who has been in New York on business,
and users of this new amusement vehicle are bring.ng
many inquiries and much correspondence on Schiller returned this week. Business at the Wilking store
is reported good, considering the times and the vari-
pianos.
To all appearances the Schiller household seems to ous difficulties encountered in interesting the general
have made a very successful "contact" in this Aero- public in pianos. However, some good sales have
been made during the past month.
Thrill coaster proposition.
The Jesse French & Sons Piano Co., Inc., have filed
notice with the secretary of state of change of name
PRIZES HIS EDISON PHONOGRAPH RECORD to Jesse French Manufacturing Co. by decree of
court.
The Farren Music House, 128 West Second street,
Visitors in Indianapolis recently included H. Edgar
Casper, Wyo., has a souvenir phonograph record of
Thomas Edison's voice which it prizes very highly French, Newcastle, hid., Jesse French III and Jesse
French, Jr. Charles Howe and Gordon Laughead
as it was a gift to Mr. Farren, sent to him from the
Edison laboratories in New Jersey several years ago. of the Apollo Piano Co., De Kalb. TIL, were recent
visitors at the store of the Wilkiug Music Co. P. E.
It was recorded on the occasion of a family reunion
Mason of the Haddorff Piano Co., Rockford, 111.
at Mr. Edison's home at West Orange, N. J., five
years ago. It was strictly a souvenir record, on the was in the city for several days, called to attend the
occasion of the distribution of a new machine con- trial of the defunct Robertson Piano Co., recently
structed at the Edison Talking Machine laboratories. bankrupt.
The annual meeting of the Rochester division of
A BRIEF SCHILLER STORY
the National Association of Piano Tuners was held
The array of automobiles parked around the
at McCIelland's furniture store at 130 West Main
Schiller piano factory at Oregon, 111., is a virtual indi-
street, Rochester, X. Y., the first week in November, cation of activity prevailing at that plant where work
and a fair gathering of piano tuners attended. The is going forward to something like normal activity.
New York state examiner was present to test candi-
President Jones is a firm believer in being prepared
dates for membership.
to meet emergencies and to be able to fill orders
W. C. Kester, formerly in the music business promptly; but, aside from the proposition of making
at Coeur d'Alene, Idaho, is opening a new masic store up goods in anticipation of demand, present require-
tin's week at South 211 \A Howard street, Spokane. ments and orders now on hand mean especial activ-
Wash. Mr. Kester says that indications are excel- ity in the factory. One day last week "fillable" orders
lent for increasing business and he is putting in a were received for five grand pianos, another day three
full line of pianos, radios and refrigerator sets.
grands and one upright, and so on through the week,
which means a fairly good weekly oatput. The term
"fillable" is used because a good many orders are
CLAYTON F. SUMMY CO. OPEN IN N E W turned
down these days; a good many orders that two
YORK
or three years ago would have been considered "gilt
Announcement is made of a New York branch of
edge"; laid aside today for "further attention."
the Clayton F. Snmmy Co. of Chicago, located at 9
And this is. in brief, a story of activities at the
Kast 45th street. New York.
Schiller plant at the present time.
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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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