Presto

May-June, 1933
ENTERPRISE OF A GREAT MUSIC
HOUSE IN ENTERING THE FIELD
OF PIANO MANUFACTURING
The history of industrial concerns and great busi-
ness establishments, like the achievements of indi-
viduals associated with these enterprises; individuals
prominent in the growth and development of trade
and commerce are ever interesting and worthy of
study. Particularly worthy of study by the younger
generation following in the footsteps of their prede-
cessors.
Our own trade offers numerous examples of partic-
ular achievement, records of those persons in the
music industries whose work and accomplishment
have made history and business houses that have
become industrial landmarks in our nation. The
products of many of these establishments have be-
come household words and many lines of manufac-
ture dear to the hearts of their possessors. Exam-
ples of this kind in the music trades and industries
are many and varied and worthy of exploitation. At
this time, however, we have a few words to say about
an especially distinguished American house.
The House of Wurlitzer
The Rudolph Wurlitzer Co. celebrated last year
the 76th anniversary of the establishment of Wur-
litzer in America. To secure essential facts about
the Wurlitzer name and particularly about the early
ancestors of the present generation who had been
musical instrument makers for many generations, we
applied to Mr. Rudolph Wurlitzer, now chairman of
the Rud. Wurlitzer Corporation, Cincinnati, Ohio, a
son of the founder of the house, for a historical outline
of the Wurlitzers from the time of their connection
with musical instrument making in Europe on to
the establishment of the business in this country. Mr.
Wurlitzer replied to this letter as follows:
(COPY)
"I have your letter of recent date. Rudolph Wur-
litzer established the musical instrument business in
Cincinnati in 1856. His ancestors had been musical
instrument makers since 1700 when the first and sec-
ond generations, Andreas and Nicolas Wurlitzer, made
lutes. Hans Adam Wurlitzer became a master violin
maker in 1732. John Wurlitzer was a violin maker in
1760, so that the family had been musical instrument
makers for more than two hundred years.
Rudolph Wurlitzer, the founder of the house in
America, was born in 1831 and died in 1914 at the age
of 83. The business since then has been headed as
president by Howard Wurlitzer, who died in 1928;
by Rudolph H. Wurlitzer, who was president for five
years, and for the past year by Farny R. Wurlitzer,
Rudolph H. Wurlitzer being chairman of the board.
Three generations of Rudolph Wurlitzer are active in
the business: Cyril Farny being the head of the
piano manufacturing end; Rembert Wurlitzer, son of
Rudolph H. Wurlitzer, and Eugene Farny, nephew
of Rudolph H. Wurlitzer and grandson of the original
Rudolph Wurlitzer, being in the general manage-
ment of the business.
"Yours very truly,
"RUDOLPH H. WURLITZER."
Conservative—Enterprising
Ever since the establishment of Wurlitzer in this
country the house has been noted as conservative but,
nevertheless, enterprising to a great degree. Public
spirited, enterprising, progressive and active in many
ways of music and music trade development. With
such a heritage from the past following Hans Wur-
litzer from 1701 when he was elected to membership
in the lute makers' guild of Saxony the Wurlitzer
family holds an enviable position in the music trades
and industries of the day for members of the Wur-
litzer family have been engaged in the making of
various types of musical instruments and in selling
instruments from those early days.
The manufacturing of various lines of musical in-
struments, notably the Wurlitzer harps and other
stringed instruments, was supplemeneed by more ex-
tensive operations. A great plant was secured near
Buffalo where the North Tonawanda factories are
today one of the great centers of the American music
industry; an assemblage of manufacturing facilities
that has become an important center for the produc-
tion of great organs; pipe organs for all requirements,
church, chapel, auditorium, theater and concert hall
and a famous line for movie and vaudeville. Fac-
tories for piano manufacturing were added where the
line of Wurlitzer produced uprights were made until
factory space at the DeKalb, 111., plant was provided
for this department, of piano construction.
Important Stroke of Enterprise
Rut, probably, the most important stroke of enter-
prise, certainly the most outstanding one affecting
their piano manufacturing activities, was securing
control of the Melville Clark Piano Company, em-
bracing the great factories which Mr. Clark had
erected at DeKalb in 1905.
When the purchase was made following Mr. Clark's
death in 1918 immediately after the signing of the
Armistice, the music roll business and all other ex-
traneous lines were disposed of and the factory given
over to the manufacture of grand pianos.
P R E S T O - T I MES
The location of the newly-formed Nusbaum & Kring
Music Store is at the corner of Tenth and Main streets,
Richmond, Ind., in the room formerly occupied by the
Ray B. Moore Company in the Wescott Hotel building.
Roland L. Nusbaum and Paul W. Kring are the pro-
prietors of the new store.
The stock of the Berryman Music Company at Brod-
head, Wis., was recently sold at public auction.
On stationery used by Kimball piano dealers throughout
the country is printed this enviable statement: "There
are more Kimball nianos in the American home than any
other single make."
May's Music Store at Albuquerque, N. Mex., is now
located in its new place of business, 514 West Central
avenue. May's Music House is a pioneer institution. It
was organized about twenty years ago by Mr. and Mrs.
O. A. May. An interesting entertainment took place on
the opening of the new store. Bernie May is the man-
ager of the Albuquerque store.
The Hall Music Company. 258 Pine street, Abilene,
Texas, has operated as one of the "leading business houses
of that section of the state since 1906. For a long time
the Chickering har, been the leading piano carried by
this house.
PICK=UPS
Tho Eastern Radio Company is the name of a new
concern recently established by Alan Steinert, son of
Alexander Steinert, president of the M. Steinert & Sons
Company Music House, Boston, Mass. Mr. Steinert has
had wide experience in radio as well as in the general
music business.
The list of new music rolls and novelties brought out
by the Clark Orchestra Roll Company, De Kalb, 111., in-
dicates that the Clark Company is pushing the music
roll business vigorously and successfully.
Norby's Music Store, Willmar, Minn., has changed lo-
cation and is now located in the Thorpe & Rykken build-
ing. Mr. Norby is quoted as saying that he has good
reason for believing the piano business will be greatly
improved with the opening of autumn trade.
In the matter of the Estey Organ Company receivership
it is stated positively that the Estey Organ Company is
in no sense bankrupt, having assets of $600,000, but
current conditions made it impossible to carry on, and
that a receivership would prevent a dismemberment of
the concern.
A. J. Davean, Inc., has been incorporated for carrying
on business at Fargo, N. Dak. Capital stock, $20,000.
The Sheffer Music Company has been incorporated at
Dayton, Ohio. The incorporators are Verlin J. Sheffer,
Joseph H. Colvin and Virgil Sheffer.
The Dallas Music Company has been incorporated at
Dallas, Texas, with a capital of $5,000. Incorporators
are Fred R. Wisman, E. G. Council and C. J. Schaeffer.
M. H. Fishman Music Store, Athol, Mass., has added
a department of sheet music to accommodate the many
demands required of an up-to-date music business.
Morris Nelson has opened a shop for repair of musical
instruments of all kinds. The location is in the Wedum
building on South Broadway, Alexandria, Minn.
The Will A. Watkin Company, Dallas, Texas, which
places on its 1933 publicity matter "50th Year in Dal-
las," also uses the slogan, "Where Piano Values Reign
Supreme."
The Lansford Piano Company, Chattanooga, Tenn., in
a postscript to a letter to a Chicago house says: "Busi-
ness looks favorable to us and we anticipate that con-
ditions will continue to improve."
George J. Birkel, who for many years was in the piano
business in Los Angeles, writes that his only reason for
cancelling a subscription to Presto-Times is "retiring
from business."
The Southwest Texas Music Association has been in-
corporated at San Antonio. Texas.
The incorporators of The San Antonio Music Company,
recently incorporated at San Antonio, Texas, are Isaac
Bledsoe, Emma Lee Bledsoe and Elmer Reinars. The
amount of the incorporation is $100,000.
The Edwards Piano Company, Jacksonville, Fla., has
moved from West Duval street to 15 West Monroe street,
which location provides additional facilities for a proper
display of their pianos and other musical goods. The
Edwards Piano Company has long been established at
Jacksonville and is still in the control of Walter Ed-
wards.
The recently established Casper Music Store at Casper.
Wyo., is heralded in that location as a "home-owned
and operated concern." The business is located at 633 E.
Second street.
The W. W. Kimball Company branch store at St. Paul,
Minn., is now located in the New York building at 64
East Sixth street. R. C. Bodine, manager of the St. Paul
store, is more than delighted with the new location.
The Vavro Music Company, dealers in band instruments
and musical merchandise, will occupy part of the store.
The Schmoller & Mueller Piano Company store new
location at Sioux City, Iowa, is described as one of the
finest display rooms in the middle west. Their new store
is at 414 Pierce street, formerly the Buck building, a
three-story and basement location, now known as the
Schmoller"& Mueller building.
The Fred J. Schamp Music Company has leased space
in the Schmoller & Mueller building, 414 Pierce street,
Sioux City, Iow T a. The Schamp Company deals especially
in band instruments and sheet music.
The Fowler Brothers' Furniture Store at Chattanoo-
ga, Tenn., carries quite an extensive line of pianos.
Miss Mary Payne, who has been in charge of the Fowler
Brothers' piano department since it opened in November
last, is well trained and experienced in pianos and piano
selling, having been associated with several music stores
prior to taking charge of the Fowler Brothers' piano de-
partment.
R J Wickman, who has been identified with the piano
business in Kansas City for a long time, has been ap-
pointed general sales manager of the West Music Com-
pany, Kansas City representatives of the W. W. Kimball
Company.
..„•,<-,,
^
William Goldman of Lincolnton, N. C, has opened a
piano salesroom at Hickory, N. C. Mr. Goldman has for
many years been a teacher of music and is now branch-
ing out into the piano and general musical business.
Laehn & Erickson, who opened a music store at 21
Forest avenue, Fond du Lac, Wis.. about a year ago,
have moved to a new location at 80 South Macy street,
where they have better facilities for all branches of their
business.
.
In the matter of continuing the business of the O. G.
Houck Piano Company, Memphis. Tenn., J. F. Houck,
president of the company, is quoted as saying: "We are
still working on a plan to refinance but have nothing
definite accomplished."
.
The newly-elected president of the New Orleans Music
Dealers' Association is James Aldige of the D. H. Holmes
Company.
Presto-Times is in receipt of a copy of a new song
by Maximilian Friess, whose home is in Carlsbad,
N. M., and who wrote the words—lyrics in English
and German—as well as the music. The title of this
composition is "Love's Longing" and the German text
bears the title "Liebes-Sehnsucht." The composition
is arranged for solo or duet, and includes a separate
leaf for the German text. The date of first publica-
tion was March, 10th, this year, and at the same time
appeared in London, England, through the music pub-
lishing house of the Lawrence Wright Music Com-
pany. Messrs. W. A. Quincke & Co., 430 South Broad-
way, Los Angeles, Calif., have taken over the ex-
ploitation of the song for the Pacific Coast territory.
Various music houses, band and rochestra leaders have
become interested in the composition and a very ex-
tensive sale is expected; in fact, the composition has
met with a reception by the public that insures a
large sale. The publishers and promoters of the piece
have met with great success in having it played by
bands and orchestras and accepted on radio programs
which is expected will aid materially in the distri-
bution of the song. Copies of the piece may be had
by addressing the publishers, Max Friess Publishing
Company, Carlsbad. N. M., or Messrs. W. A. Quincke
& Co., 430 South Broadway, Los Angeles, Calif., or
music houses generally.
GOOD PIANO MAN WANTS SPECIAL WORK
Otto M. Heintzman, well known piano man, whole-
sale, retail, "closing-up," and everything else in piano
selling, is open for an engagement. He would like
to represent a piano manufacturer at the Piano Mer-
chants' Convention, or would undertake a Century
of Progress job for a representative piano manufac-
turer. Mr. Heintzman's present address is 115 Eastern
Parkway, Brooklyn, N. Y.
WANT PACKARD LOCATION FOR PARK
Residents in the neighborhood of the old Packard
piano factory. Fort Wayne, Ind., have been circulating
petitions for the purchase of the property and to make
of it a plot for a beautiful park.
The office of the Packard Piano Company, Inc.,
of which Mr. W. B. Marshall is now president, has
been moved from the old factory premises to 833 West
Jefferson street.
THE NEW STARR COMPANY REPRE-
SENTATIVES AT INDIANAPOLIS
The newly established Covcrdill-Christena Music
Company, 662 East 38th street, Indianapolis, Ind.,
will handle mainly the Starr line of pianos and will
make a specialty of the Starr electric refrigerators,
known as Starr-Freeze. Both Mr. Coverdill and Mr.
Christena are enthusiastic and believe the piano busi-
ness is on "the comeback" because of the decided
improvement in recent months after years of a de-
pressed condition.
"Known for Tone"
The Art of fine piano building is steadfastly
maintained in the creation of
MATHUSHEK PIANOS
A SAFE AND PROFITABLE REPRESENTATION
Write
MATHUSHEK PIANO MFG. CO.
132nd St. and Alexander Ave.
New York
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