Presto

PRESTO-TIMES
EARLY DAYS OF THE APOLLO
Interesting Records of the Apollo Piano
THE LATEST WURLITZER PIANO
CREATION
The Wurlitzer announcement appearing on the first
Concerning the establishment cover page of this issue of Presto-Times will attract
of tlie Apollo piano in tru. attention because it announces a new model and
United States, which was con- newly developed Wurlitzer piano product, the WUR-
current with the starting of the LITZER & SONS piano. This is a Wurlitzer instru-
Melville Clark Piano Company ment that is constructed on the Herman Fischer prin-
by Melville Clark in 1900, after ciple; the inventions of Dr. Herman Fischer, a dis-
t h a t gentleman's withdrawal tinguished scientist of Germany and a former univer-
from the Story & Clark Organ sity lecturer in Europe. These pianos have been on
& Piano Company, inquiry has display at the Wurlitzer stores in various parts of the
been made from time to time, country for several months and eminent authorities
due perhaps to certain references to the Apollo piano have testified to the claims made by the manufacturers
and the inventor that the instrument has richer tones,
and the Apollo name which have been made.
After the death of Mr. Clark the Melville Clark greater range, and truer pitch than most other grand
Piano Corporation was succeeded by the Apollo pianos, even concert grands. This new piano which
Piano Company as now carrying on with headquarters has a completely different arrangement in sounding
at De Kalb, Illinois, where the factory had already board, bridges and ribs from the regular piano of the
day, is fully described and explained in the announce-
been located prior to Mr. Clark's death in 1917.
ment referred to on the first cover page of this issue
In looking over tiles of The Presto oi the year 1900 of Presto-Times.
numerous items concerning Mr. Clark's operations and
the important position which he gave to the name
Apollo are found. Some of these clippings are here- A NOTED "MUSICAL CRUSADER" OF
THE PACIFIC COAST
with reproduced, as follows:
Gordon Laughead, general sales manager of the
In its issue o\ December 20, 1900, appears the
Wurlitzer Grand Piano Company, while on a recent
following:
"The record of Mr. Clark in the line of piano visit to the Pacific Coast territory, enjoyed an espe-
and organ piano manufacture is interesting and at all cially interesting and delightful visit with his friend
times an example of what 'patience and well-directed Warren Frwin of the Collins & F.rwin Piano Com-
effort' may accomplish. Mr. Clark is recognized as pany, Portland, Ore., whom he speaks of as the
one of the first of the explorers in the realm of "mus : cal crusader." In referring to Mr. Erwin'.'.
dynamics and acoustics. He has been in the business talents and activities Mr. Laughead says:
of building organs ever since 1871. In 1876 he moved
"The piano industry can well be proud of its 'musi-
to San Francisco, California, where he manufactured
the Clark & Company reed organ. He went from cal crusader,' Warren Erwin of Collins & Erwin
San Francisco to Quincy, Illinois, where he also man- F'iano Company, Portland, Ore.
ufactured organs. The larger field at Chicago at-
"Two years ago Warren Erwin began his 'musical
tracted him and he began manufacturing in Chicago crusade' over KGW, the N. B. C. outlet in Portland.
in 1884. For sixteen years Mr. Clark was in control
Blessed with a natural radio personality, Warren
of the manufacturing department of the Story & Clark
Erwin is right at home at the microphone. His repu-
business and he was the genius of the product that tation as a vocalist extends over the entire Pacific
that establishment put on the market."
In the latter part of 19G0 the Melville Clark Piano Northwest and he is in constant demand as an artist.
Company bus : ness, which had been established in the Mr. Erwin also plays the piano, but it is his speaking
earlier part of that year, and upon the death of Mr. voice that wins the hearts of radio listeners. In a
Clark succeeded by the Apollo Piano Company, had soothing tone he pleads for the musical welfare of
little children. He has won thousands of parents over
made a good start as indicated by the following.
December 20 The Presto said:
to the correct thought that every child's birthright is
"The first lot of Melville Clark pianos will be a chance to study music.
shipped next week. The output, so far, is all taken
"Month after month on Mr. Erwin's radio hour
but by the first of January, 1501, the concern expects hundreds of child artists perform. The introduction
to be in a position to ship pianos with greater facility.'' of one of these little artists over the radio by Mr.
The following is from The Presto of December 6, Erwin is in itself almost a classic performance. He
1900:
"Mr. C. H. Wagner of the Melville Clark Piano not only inspires the child but fills the teacher's heart
Company, who returned from a trip to the Pacific- with pride.
"Thousands of children already owe their musical
coast last week, reports that his visit to the West was
highly satisfactory. He established Apollo agencies training to Warren Erwin's crusade. Such a crusade
in most of the principle cities of the West, including is valuable to all music merchants."
the Wiley B. Allen Company of Portland, Benjamin
During Mr. Laughead's visit to Portland a special
Curtaz of San Francisco, D. O. Calder & Company of broadcast over KGW was made in honor of his visit
Sail Lake City, Geo. J Birkel of San Diego, Orton to that city and as the guest of the Collins & Erwin
Bros.. Butte, Mont.; Carl Hoffman, Kansas City; A. Music House where the Wurlitzer line of pianos is
Hospe, Omaha; Kieselhorst of St. Louis, and many
handled in that territory.
others."
In its issue of November 22, 1900. The Presto
says:
SUCCESSOR TO DR. J. LEWIS
"The Melville Clark Piano Company, manufacturers
BROWNE NOT YET NAMED
of the Apollo piano, report a large demand for that
Up to this time no successor has been named to
popular instrument. Some important sales have been
made recently that will add much to the prestige of succeed the late Dr. J. Lewis Browne for the position
the Apollo. One of these was in mahonangy case sold of director of music in the Public Schools of Chicago.
to Russell A. Harding, general manager of the Mis- It will be difficult to secure one as thoroughly capable
souri Pacific Railway, St. Louis, and another to a for this position as was the late lamented Dr. Browne
member of the Drexel family in Philadelphia. One of who gave time, thought, energy and all his influence
the enthusiastic admirers of the Apollo is the big- to furthering the best interests of music as a public
New Orleans music house, the L. Grunewald Com- school study. Bands, orchestras, choruses, solo and
pany."
Concerning the Apollo abroad, The Presto of De- sight singing classes, piano, organ and all branches
cember 27 said: 'The firm of T. Herbert Marshall, of musical execution, were thoroughly and systemat-
known as among the extensive music dealers of Great ically advanced to the limit and even beyond the limit
Britain, whose establishment is now in Regent street, of such backing as he had by the School Board. Dr.
London, has taken the agency for the Apollo piano Browne's efforts and work will long be remembered.
and the Symphony organ." And, further on in the
same issue, with a lot of other Great Britain agencies,
This is the fiftieth anniversary year for J. P.
the following appears: "Melville Clark organs and Simmons of the Simmons Music House, Lexington,
pianos (including the Apollo piano and the Orpheon
Ky., in the musical instrument business. His entry
organ), Great Britain agency, F. Kaim & Sohn Com- in this line of work was at Louisville, Ky., with the
Baldwin store, which had just been located there.
pany, 6/ Berners street, London."
Later on Mr. Simmons went to New Orleans, La.,
These references to the Apollo p'ano away back in where
he operated as manager of the Junius Hart
1900 offer clear conception of the successful beginning Piano House from 1897 to 1922. Mr. Simmons has
of the Apollo piano business in America which has been a well-known figure at many of the music trade
continued to grow and prosper under the present man- conventions and has scores and scores of friends in
the trade. For several years past he has been located
agement at DeKalb, Illinois.
at Lexington where he has become an active figure
in the trade and industries of that citv.
"ZEIDLER SCALE" INQUIRY
Concerning an inquiry about "a piano with the
Zeidler scale," which came to Presto-Times recently,
we are informed that the Zeidler scales are now used
in all the grand pianos of the Lester production, that
is to say, the Lester, the Cable & Sons, Schubert and
Lindeman & Sons pianos. The A. B. Chase grands
continue to use the original A. B. Chase scale as does
also the Emerson grand. These "Zeidler" scales are,
of course, the designs of Mr. Paul Zeidler of the
Lester piano factory. Philadelphia.
R. F. Wright, Flint, Mich., who recently secured the
agency for the Baldwin line of pianos for the Fl'nt
territory, says that the record of the Baldwin at A
Century of Progress exposition was the leading factor
in his desire to secure the Baldwin agency. Mr.
Wright says that he was especially attracted to the
Baldwin because of "A Century of Progress award of
pre-eminence." He said that he felt this position at
the exposition was "a guarantee of quality." Mr.
Wright is a well-known piano man and was the
former manager of the Cable Piano Store at Flint.
Nov.-Dec. 1933
STEINWAYS FOR NBC
Hie National Broadcasting Company at the New
York headquarters ot this institution has just pur-
chased quite a complete group of Steinway pianos
for the new quarters of the NBC at Radio City. This
addition to their equipment of Steinways numbered
twenty-two grands and the selection was made after
severe tests by the research department of the Na-
tional Broadcasting Company and after very close
examination from all angles; tone, responsiveness of
action and durability of the Steinway bad been taken
into consideration.
.MR. THEODORE CASHKBKKR AND MR FREDERICK
A. VIKTOR. DIRECTORS OF STEINWAY & SONS,
EXAMINING SIXTEEN OF THE
TWENTY-TWO
STEINWAY GRANDS BOUGHT BY THE NATIONAL
BROADCASTING COMPANY FOR THEIR STEINWAY
EQUIPMENT IN THEIR NEW QUARTERS IN RADIO
CITY.
(Photo by Tornello)
The illustration herewith shows sixteen of the twen-
ty-two instruments ordered, just prior to their deliv-
ery. The value of this order of twenty-two grands
was placed at $45,000.
This splendid order and the distinction implied by
the selection must be very gratifying to the house of
Steinway and it will be pleasing and gratifying to all
Steinway dealers. Yes, it can be truthfully stated,
interesting to the music trade everywhere.
STORY & CLARK PUT ON MORE MEN
A correspondent writing to Presto-Times from
Grand Haven, Mich., encloses a clipping from a local
paper telling a p : ece of news bearing the heading,
"Story & Clark Whistle Blows to Bring Men to
Work." This item tells of the good news of the many
workmen at Grand Haven, Mich., who are now called
back to their old jobs at the Story & Clark factory,
some of whom have been out of work for a long
while.
The revival of activity at the Grand Haven factory
was more than confirmed by President Frank F. Story
at his offices in the Story & Clark building, 173 North
Michigan avenue, Chicago, when he said: "Yes, busi-
ness is really picking up with us and it seems to be
quite general. We have started on a considerable out-
put and are very happy to say that the old Story &
Clark stock is entirely disposed of. Everything that
comes from the Story & Clark factory now is abso-
lutely new, fresh, and direct from the hands of the
little army of workers now happily plying the : r work
at the factory as of yore."
At Grand Haven Mr. Haack, superintendent of the
factory, said: "The factory has been operating on a
limited basis since August 1st and we anticipate con-
tinued improvement."
President Story and his son Frank are now making
a bus : ness tour of the East and the Southeast states,
visiting the trade. They expect to be back in Chicago
by November 15th.
BUSH & LANE FACTORY SOLD TO
FURNITURE COMPANY
The Bush & Lane factory at Holland, Mich., lias
finally been disposed of to a furniture manufacturing
company, the Baker Furniture Company at Allegan,
Mich. The Bush & Lane factory, which is located
opposite Prospect Park, Holland, is considered an
ideal location for the furniture business.
Speaking of "music stores and music stores" the
Roat Music Company, Battle Creek, Mich., says: "A
store's value to a community, no matter what its
business may be, is determined not only by the quality
of the merchandise it sells but also the service ren-
dered its customers." The Roat Music Company says
that it meets all these requirements.
Mr. McMackin of the McMackin Piano Service,
piano key recoverng and repair house, Des Moines,
Iowa, who has just made a contact for a big share of
the key repairing of one of the largest music houses
of the country, says: "We know that our work is
satisfactory for if we can please this house we can
please any other music house in the world." Evi-
dently McMackin's is a first-class place to have good
piano key work done.
The Mott Music House, Inc., has been incorporated
at Paterson, New Jersey. Capital stock, $50,000.
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