Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1933 2270

Page 3 Text:

P R E S T O-T I M E S
May-June, 1933
MUSICAL
TIMES
PRESTO
Established
1884
Established
1881
THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE JOURNAL
I Year. .. .$1.00.
6 Months. .. .60 cents
CHICAGO, MAY-JUNE, 1933
PIANOS AT INTERNATIONAL EXPOSITIONS
A Glance Back at the Great
Chicago World's Fair of 1893
COMMENTS ON ACTIVITIES OF TODAY
ANUFACTURERS' exhibits
of musical i n s t r u m e n t s ,
whether only for dis-
play or entered also for
awards, have been prom-
inently featured at all
great international ex-
positions of both conti-
nents, since the days of
the Crystal Palace Ex-
position of London on
to the present time. The
several Paris expositions have been notable
for the prominence of their musical sections
and particularly as to the foremost position
given pianos in their exhibits. Manufacturers
have heralded Paris exposition awards as sig-
nal triumphs for the prominence of their dis-
plays and the quality of their product.
Antwerp, Berlin, London, Madrid, Paris, Vi-
enna, abroad, and Philadelphia, Buffalo, St.
Louis, San Francisco, Chicago, in this country,
have matched each other in the prominence
given to music and the music industries.
But of all these exhibits, at home or abroad,
the climax of ensemble, of grandeur and im-
portance was reached at the World's Colum-
bian Exposition at Chicago in 1893 by the fa-
mous display in Section I of the Liberal Arts
Division; a location that became famous and
known the world over under the appellation
"Section I-L. A."
Section I probably contained the biggest
array of piano and reed organs ever made be-
fore by any one country. There were 58 Amer-
ican exhibitors and 314 pianos in the booths,
besides about 125 organs. Elsewhere on the
ground of the exposition there were not less
than 250 pianos of American make and prob-
ably 75 of foreign manufacture, besides the
regular foreign exhibit. The total value of
pianos in Section I was estimated at $280,000
and the expense of the exhibit $284,000.
THE CENTURY OF PROGRESS EX-
POSITION PIANO EXHIBITS
Now, on the opening of the Century of Progress
Exposition, forty years after the World's Columbian
Exposition of 1893 which has been heralded as the
"Greatest World's Fair of All Times," we are con-
fronted with the spectacle of an international expo-
sition limited in extent numerically the main display
in the Exhibit Building being made by one representa-
tive house, The Baldwin Piano Company of Cincin-
nati, particulars of which exhibit will be found further
along in these columns. This exhibit, which is ex-
tensive in the space occupied, is important as show-
ing the development of piano making, and like all
Baldwin exhibits it is constructive and educational.
Baldwin instruments are also to be found in the Ohio
building and a very beautiful Masterpiece grand in
the official reception room. Inasmuch as the Bald-
win is the official piano of the exposition other prod-
ucts of the Baldwin factory will be found on the
exposition grounds.
Other pianos may be seen in various buildings on
the grounds. State and individual concessions will
contain instruments, some of them to be supplied
with several pianos, grands and uprights. A notable
exhibit of model grands are the two Wurlitzer spe-
cially designed instruments, one for the Masonite
house and one for the model house built by the Na-
tional Lumber Manufacturers' Association. Further
reference to this exhibit also appears elsewhere in
this issue. A special Bechstein grand outfitted with
electrical devices is on exhibition in the Hall of Sci-
ence building.
Pianos have been purchased for some of the build-
ings and concessions and, naturally, many instruments
will be placed complimentary where social functions
prevail, for no place of social gathering or entertain-
ment can be complete without the piano, just as out-
door festivals and demonstrations cannot function
without drum, cymbal, and the brass and w r oodwind
instruments.
Just how it comes about that the music industries
did not set about to have a united exhibit appears
to be a tale untold. It has been suggested by persons
outside of musical circles that the exposition, desiring
to attract especially such lines of manufacture as show
features of marked progress thus conforming to the
thought of the name, "Century of Progress," did not
solicit doubly hard for a musical instrument exhibit.
THE BALDWIN CENTURY OF
PROGRESS EXHIBIT
BALDWIN THE OFFICIAL PIANO OF
THE EXPOSITION
An episode which could well be considered of dis-
tinct and vital importance to any active, going man-
ufacturer of the day; peculiarly so for an establish-
ment whose activities in leadership point to an aus-
picious future, has just come to one of America's great
piano manufacturing houses. The Baldwin Piano Com-
pany. The story of this distinction is told in the cap-
tion :
"Baldwin the Official Piano of the Century of Prog-
ress Exposition."
The industrial products gathered for the Century
of Progress Exposition have been brought together
on the presumption that such products show progres-
sive development in manufacture, a proposition in
which the manufacturers of Baldwin pianos amply
qualify.
The Baldwin Piano Company brings to the Century
of Progress Exposition a unit in its group of exhibits
of more than passing interest and importance. They
make a display worthy the industry they are allied
with.
The Baldwin exhibit is in General Exhibits Build-
ing No. 3, booth 9, where, aside from their display
of pianos, they will depict the historical and edu-
cational development of the piano from the earliest
days of the instrument to the present time. In this
group will be shown a spinet of the early 17th cen-
tury; a piano manufactured in the early days of
American piano making (1823) alongside a modern
grand of today, a Baldwin Masterpiece model.
The Baldwin educational exhibit is, in itself, an
attraction to command attention. Dealers will be
interested and the general public will get an insight
into piano construction that will be well worth view-
ing. Here thev can see the parts that enter into the
construction of the piano, grands and uprights and
may visualize the operation of the action, hammers
and keys to the strings in producing tone.
The story of the development of the piano action
as it may be studied in the Baldwin educational ex-
hibit is interesting; indeed it is fascinating. About a
Fifteenth of Publication Moatfe
hundred years ago there started experiments on the
action which have culminated in the present day
highly responsive instrument. While the various
stages of this development have been too many to
enumerate here, their importance can readily be seen
by comparing the model of the piano action today
as shown in the Baldwin exhibit with the model of
the instrument built by George Charters in Cincin-
nati in 1823. The Spinet piano of this exhibit built
in the early seventeenth century, before the invention
of the real pianoforte, may be studied with exceeding
interest for these studies in comparison naturally
lead up to the beautiful examples in the development
of the present day piano illustrated in the Baldwin
models.
The public, the trade and musical people generally,
will say "hats off" to the house of Baldwin for their
display, an exhibit which illustrates the great strides
made in piano building during the past one hundred
years, culminating in the king of musical instruments
today, the Grand Pianoforte.
Many other Baldwin pianos beside the Exhibits
Building display are located in various buildings on
the grounds. In the Trustees' Reception Room there
is a modern Masterpiece grand installed for use at
official and social functions; there are several at the
Enchanted Isle playground and as referred to else-
where in this issue the Baldwin is the piano used in
the broadcasting studios on the exposition grounds.
In the Ohio State building there will be a fifteen-
minute motion picture showing how Baldwin pianos
are built.
"Baldwin at the Exposition" will be heralded to
the world by radio through several broadcasting sta-
tions. One message says: "See the Baldwin Piano
Company's Educational exhibit at the Century of
Progress Exposition, located in General Exhibits
Building Unit 3." Another air message says: "See
what happens inside the piano when you strike the
keys. Learn about this at the Baldwin piano exhibit
in building 3, General Exhibits Building, Century of
Progress Exposition."
EXHIBITS ELSEWHERE
However, regardless of exposition exhibits or pianos
on the Exposition grounds, numerous displays of
American pianos may be seen at the various Chicago
agencies. Many of the leading pianos are repre-
sented in Chicago by dealer agency or other repre-
sensation. Dealers and others in attendance at the
Music Merchants and Radio conventions are specially
invited by the manufacturers of these various pianos
to call on their Chicago representatives while they are
in the city.
WIDE RANGE OF MUSIC AT EXPO-
SITION
The proposed musical events scheduled for the A
Century of Progress exposition which take in a wide
scope of musical entertainment, vocal and instru-
mental, will offer many rare treats for the music lover.
Choruses are expected from abroad, some from the
great universities of Europe and many gatherings from
various parts in the United States will make "music
at the exposition" a very prominent feature well worth
the attention of visitors who are planning to come to
the exposition. The first important chorus event will
be a presentation of Handel's Messiah by the com-
bined choirs and choruses to be given on June 4 at
the exposition. A chorus of 1,500 will also sing on
opening day, May 27, accompanied by the Chicago
Symphony Orchestra.
BRUSH MAKING EXHIBITION
An interesting showing of how paint, varnish and
other brushes are made will be found at the exhibit
of the Gerts-Lumbard Company, Chicago, leading
makers in America of this line of appliances used by
piano manufacturers. Their exhibit wlil be in the
home planning hall of the Century of Progress Expo-
sition where they will have a workman from their
factory explaining the process of the making of
brushes, a line of work little understood by the gen-
eral public, for few people realize today that the
bristles in even inexpensive brushes must be arranged
and set by hand, and that the brush maker is one of
the few craftsmen left in a world of machine in-
dustries.
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/

Page 4 Text:

P R E S T O - T I M ES
WURLITZER COMPANY SUPPLIES
TWO NOTABLE CENTURY OF
PROGRESS EXHIBTS
NATIONAL
May-June, 1933
ASSOCIATION OF MUSIC
MERCHANTS
Two Wurlitzer grand pianos of modern design and
exceedingly attractive, recently completed at the De
Kalb factories, will be shown in two buildings of the
Century of Progress Exposition—one in the Masonite
House, another in the Model House put up by the The Postponed Convention at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago, June 5,6, 7,1933
National Lumber Manufacturers' Association.
These models are designed by the noted New York
in the past; in other words the situation will be en-
artist and designer, Mr. Russell Wright, and were
tirely in keeping with present financial conditions. It
modeled especially for the rooms in which they will
is believed that the business side of the convention
appear, matching to a high degree of perfection the
will be productive of very worthwhile sessions which
furniture and decorations of the houses for which they
can be translated into increased sales by the members
were made. The designs have been noted by the New
who take advantage of the opportunity to attend.
York Times and the New York Evening Post and
criticisms contained in those papers have been, in-
President Weeks is to speak at the Oak Park
deed, quite favorable. One of the instruments is in
Rotary Club gathering on Wednesday beside his talk
ebony with chromium hardware; the other is in
at the Chicago Rotary Club Tuesday.
American walnut with copper hardware. Both are
This year's convention will be a model of enter-
exceedingly attractive and well worth the attention
prise and dispatch in bringing timely topics for action.
they will receive from the public, and they will well
It is a Music Merchants' convention pure and simple
repay a visit by aggressive piano dealers. The ebony
and the music dealers of the country are the ones
piano with chromium hardware strikes one imme-
vitally interested.
diately as being very beautiful in appearance; an
The big luncheon of the association is scheduled
instrument that "bears acquaintance." A critic who
to take place on Tuesday, when delegates and their
has looked at the engraver's designs many times says
friends will attend the meeting of the Rotary Club
he likes them (the style of cases) better and better,
The 33rd annual convention of the Music Mer- of Chicago. President Weeks of the Merchants' Asso-
for they are not so far fetched as to be just a stunt
but, on the contrary, instruments for today that will chants' Association convenes at the Stevens Hotel ciation will, on this occasion, be the guest speaker.
on June 5 for a three days' session, June 5, 6, 7. The His subject will be "Harmony in the Home."
sell and make customers.
program, so far outlined, is expected to be about like
The Weaver Piano Company, York, Pa., which
this: The opening sessions take the form of a Fed-
Less than one cent an exhibit building is the cost eral Trade Practice Conference, to be conducted by concern does not contemplate exhibiting at the Music
Trades Convention, says also that it is not "100 per
of seeing A Century of Progress—the Chicago World's the Federal Trade Commission, under the direction
cent sure" that Mr. C. D. Bond will be able to get to
Fair of 1933.
of Commissioner Garland S. Ferguson, Jr. Mr. Fer- Chicago for this year's convention.
The general admission—fifty cents for adults and guson will be assisted by George McCorkle, acting
There will be no united exhibit of musical instru-
twenty-five cents for children—will admit one to the director of trade practice conferences for the com-
twenty buildings erected by the Exposition itself and mission. This conference will be devoted to a dis- ments at the Stevens Hotel, all exhibits being as
to all the thirty-three special buildings put up by out- cussion of conditions in the musical merchandise field individually arranged by each exhibitor being con-
side interests at the Fair.
and it is understood it will be attended by one hun- fined as largely as possible to the fifth and sixth floors
The Hall of Science alone, with its comprehensive dred or more wholesalers in that branch of the in- at the Stevens Hotel.
range of action exhibits covering the whole field of
The following piano manufacturers have so far
dustry. Members of the National Association of
the basic sciences and their contributions to the ad- Music Merchants will also be invited to attend the made arrangements for a showing of their line of
vance of industry, is, in itself, if you saw nothing session which will probably occupy the entire day instruments.
else, worth a trip half way around the world.
Monday, June 5.
Mathushek Piano Mfg. Co.: Models of Spinet
The trade practice conference, as well as the other grands and Mathushek grands. Ben Strub, general
WILKING RE-INCORPORATION GIVES sessions of the convention will be held in private Western representative, in charge.
GREATER FACILITIES
Charles Frederick Stein line of grands, showing the
dining room No. 2 at the Stevens Hotel. The con-
Harmonic tone chamber.
The new amended incorporation of the Wilking ference will convene at 10 a. m.
Music Company, Indianapolis, Ind., is made to con-
B. K. Settergren Company: Suite 513. B. K. Set-
On Tuesday the Merchants' Association will meet
form to the new corporation act of the Indiana legis- at 9:30 a. m. for the first Round Table convention tergren and W. C. Hess in attendance.
lature which gives greater power and diversity to session. It is expected that after the noon recess this
Starr Piano Company: Exhibit of Starr-made
corporations. In the case of the Wilking Music Com- session will be continued at 2 p. m. Arrangements pianos, including Starr, Remington, Richmond, Tray-
pany, Mr. Frank Wilking, president, says: "Under will be made for a meeting of the board of control ser. Also electric refrigeration exhibit, Starr Freeze.
the new law we will be able to do bigger things. The of the association at 3:30 p. m.
C. R. Hunt in charge.
re-organization has nothing to do with the financial
One of the most interesting features of the con- Winter & Co.: Exhibit of Winter & Co. and Heller
status of the business." Mr. Wilking is president of vention will be a joint session of the Music Merchants'
grands and uprights. Wm. G. Heller in charge.
the corporation, J. M. Wilking vice-president, and Association and the National Association of Sheet
Apollo Exhibit: Apollo grands and uprights. Suite
Maude Kerr secretary.
Music Dealers, which will take place Wednesday
516.
morning at 9:30. It is expected that this will be the
The Baldwin Piano Company: Suite 552. Baldwin
FRANK HOOD RETURNS FROM FLORIDA
closing session of both associations.
Masterpiece grands, Hamilton, Howard, Ellington
Frank Hood, erstwhile piano man, now freelance
It will be noted that no evening sessions or activi- grands and uprights. Paul Smiley in charge.
and man of leisure and pleasure, and Mrs. Hood have
Wurlitzer Grand Piano Company: Wurlitzer line
been wintering in Florida, but have just now returned ties of any kind have been scheduled, the idea being
of grands and uprights. Gordon Laughead in charge.
by motor to their Chicago home. Mr. and Mrs. Hood to leave these periods free so that the delegates may
Cyril Farny, vice-president, and Charles Howe, spe-
motored many thousand of miles, going, coming and visit the Century of Progress Exposition, the exhibits
cial representative, in attendance.
side trips, with the result that the past six months in the hotel, or make other arrangements as they
may desire.
Among the merchandise exhibitors are Fred
have been a very delightful period for them.
This convention will be essentially a business af- Gretsch, S. Simon, Harmony Company, Targ &
Diner, Chicago Musical Instrument Company, Regal
At a called creditors' meeting of the Silver-Marshall fair, although there will be certain entertainment fea-
Musical Instrument Company, Tonk Brothers, and
tures which will be developed between now and the
radio windup the receiver made his final report.
Kay Musical Instrument Company, Chicago; Elkhart-
McCoy's Music Store, Hartford, Conn., made a convention.
Buescher Company, Elkhart, Ind.; Holton, Elkhorn,
display of the Emicon Solotone instrument at the
The round trip railway rates, which are very liberal
Hartford Times Exposition held in that city. A cor- for travel to and from Chicago this summer, w r ill be Wis.; Martin Band Instrument Company and Henry
Pedler, Elkhart, Ind.; Carl Fischer, New York; V. C.
respondent says that the instrument received "many in force from June first on. The sixteen-day ticket
favorable comments."
will be desirable this year, giving opportunity for the Squier, Battle Creek, Mich.; The Vega Company,
Boston; Art Musical Instrument Company, Elkhart;
The Spence Music Company, Zanesville, Ohio, have radio convention at the Stevens Hotel, June 7 to 12 V
taken on the Majestic radio distribution for that dis- and for visits to the Century of Progress Exposition. Globe Musical Instrument Company, St. Charles, 111.;
and M. M. Cole (music publisher), Chicago.
trict. The Spence Music Company is one of Zanes-
Many prominent members of the music trades and
ville's oldest and most respected business houses.
industries will be heard during the round table dis-
SHEET MUSIC DEALERS' CONVENTION
The Nashville Radio-Kraft Corporation has been cussions. President Weeks has extended invitations
The twentieth annnual convention of the National
incorporated for doing business at Detroit. Mich.
to numerous leaders to take part in these discussions
Association
of Sheet Music Dealers will be held the
asking them to speak particularly on the topics in
which they are most individually interested. Among week of June 5 at the Stevens Hotel, Chicago. The
these are: Jay Grinnell, Detroit; C. H. DeAcres, San other organizations of the music industries will hold
Francisco; W. W. Bradford, Denver; Charles H. their annual conventions at the same time and place.
Yahrling, Youngstown, Ohio; Rcinhard G. Knuepfer, Joint sessions of the various music trade associations
Lawrence, Mass.; Robert J. Shackleton, Louisville, will provide an opportunity for the discussion of the
Ky.; Edward J. Walt, Lincoln, Neb.; William How- common problems that confront each and every music
THE PIANO
ard Beasley, Dallas, Tex.; Otto B. Heaton, Columbus, dealer in these unusual times.
Among the topics for discussion will be "The Sales
Ohio: W. W. Smith, Toledo, Ohio; Edmund Gram,
Milwaukee; E. E. Forbes, Birmingham, Ala.; Melville Tax and How to Handle It"; "Cooperation with the
American Society of Composers, Authors and Pub-
Clark, Syracuse, N. Y.; Ben F. Duvall, Chicago; Carl
lishers on Broadcasting"; "The Establishing of a
Wittich.
Reading,
Pa.;
S.
Ernest
Philpitt,
Miami,
Fla.;
Distinctive Back Construction—Open Sound Chamber
A. A. Klamer, Evansville, Ind.; Arthur E. Winter, Loan Association for the Financial Support of Sheet
Mathushek Method of Holding Strain of Strings
Music Dealers"; "How Can We Suppress the Sale of
Altoona. Pa.
Song Sheets Sold on the Streets"; "Ask Trade Papers
AMERICA'S FAMOUS
The round table discussion will bring out some ex- to Refrain from Printing Wholesale Prices Where It
ceedingly interesting topics.
Has a Retail Distribution."
SPINET GRAND PIANO
It is the belief of President Weeks and the other
"All music dealers, whether members or not are
MATHUSHEK PIANO MFG. CO. officers that the Century of Progress Exposition will cordially invited to attend this convention," is the
furnish a most important incentive to members to invitation of the officers of the association—John
Piano Manufacturers
visit Chicago at this time and they will be offered Harden, president; Robert A. Schmidt, vice-president,
much more for their monev than has been the case and Thomas J. Donlan, secretary-treasurer.
132nd St. and Alexander Av e .
New York, N. Y.
MATHUSHEK-
"KNOWN FOR TONE"
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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