Presto

Oct.-Xov.. 1935
P R E S T O-T I M E S
CORRESPONDENCE
to the M. Schulz Company, 711 Milwaukee avenue,
Chicago, for full and complete information.
INQUIRIES—REPLIES—MISCFXLANEOUS COMMUNICATIONS
Is the John Schaff Piano String Co. still carrying-
on business in Chicago? Who makes bass strings
in Chicago? Did the Bush & Lane piano factory
H I S correspondence b r i n g s to Ark.; Hazel Jones, Sioux City, la.; Mrs. Paul Lange, reopen? I would like to have a list of some medium
Presto-Times readers various let- Miltonvale, Kan.
priced pianos made in or near Chicago. So many
ters which are selected to reply to
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factories are closing that it is now difficult to know
and comment on others which are INQUIRY ON MARSHALL & TRAVER PIANO what lines are still being made, or at least made in
considered of general interest be-
their own original factories.
F. O. L.
side individually to the writers who
Inquiry has been made as to the probable age of
The re-incorporated Schaff Piano String Company
ask for information. Other com- a piano marked "Marshall & Traver," which instru- is carrying on business at the location occupied by
munications which do not convey ment was taken in trade at Indianapolis. "It was this business for many years, 2011 North Clybourn
some thought of general interest in presumed this piano might be 200 years old," says avenue. Yes, they make bass strings. The Bush &
their inquiries are given attention this correspondent. The probabilities are, however, Lane Piano Company is now owned and controlled
by replies direct to them or else turned over to busi- that it was made some time between the years 1830 by C. L. Beach and E. R. Clevey, who had been
ness houses or others that are able to give particular and 1840 by the firm of Marshall, James & Traver. officials of the Bush & Lane Corporation before it
and definite information.
Mr. Traver and Mr. James were not long members was liquidated and bankrupt, each gentleman carry-
of this concern, which was succeeded by Marshall & ing on business under the original name with produc-
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Wendell and the Marshall & Wendell piano has con- tion in New York City.
Can you inform me where to obtain hammers for
tinued for a good many years and the name is now
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a Geo. B. Norris upright piano purchased new in used and is owned by the Aeolian-American Corpo-
1927?
M. O. VOREND.
Will
you
kindly
advise
me where I can get in touch
ration whose factories are at East Rochester, N. Y.
Glen Ellyn, Til.
Mr. James went to New York and joined Andres with manufacturers of bass strings for pianos.
The Geo. B. Norris piano was made by the Holland Holmstrom in manufacturing the James & Holm-
M. D. HARDIN,
Piano Mfg. Co., Minneapolis, Minn., which concern strom piano. Probably, therefore, this Marshall &
Waco, Tex.
had its factory at Menominie, Wis. Advices indicate Traver piano is aged not far beyond a hundred years.
The above answers your inquiry concerning bass
that the Pfriemer keys were used in the Norris piano By the way, Albany was for several years distin- strings for pianos.
at that time. You can secure further information by guished as the center of piano making. John Osborn,
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=t=
>:•:
addressing Chas. Pfriemer, Inc., Wales avenue and who had been well known in Boston; Henry Hazel-
WANTS
INFORMATION
AND
DATA ON THE
142nd street, New York City.
ton, who established the Hazelton piano; Boardman
O R I G I N , DEVELOPMENT AND
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& Gray; James H. Grovesteen, who established the
TECHNOLOGY OF MUSICAL
Can you give me the address of the Everett Piano Grovesteen & Fuller Company; A. C. James (later
INSTRUMENTS
James
&
Holmstrom);
Mr.
Marshall,
Mr.
Traver
and
Company? I think it is Boston, but I am not sure.
When I subscribed to Presto-Times I expected to Mr. Wendell were all active at Albany, as was Myron
1 am writing a comprehensive book on the origin,
receive a Buyers' Guide but did not receive a copy. A. Decker, who started at Albany and later estab-
development and technology of musical instruments,
lished Decker & Son at New York City.
Can you send one, please?
to embrace some 25 chapters. The treatise will in-
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H
MUSIC STORK.
clude (1) stringed instruments, (2) keyboard instru-
It is suggested that the name of this correspondent
PIPE ORGAN INFORMATION WANTED
ments, (3) woodwind instruments, (4) brass instru-
be not published. The only Everett piano of today
ments, (5) percussion instruments and (6) plectrum.
is made by the Everett Piano Company, South Haven,
Wiil you please tell me how and where to secure
I desire material on this subject, bulletins, pam-
Mich. The original Everett piano was established in the names of firms making pipe organs suitable for
Boston by the late John Church, Jr., of Cincinnati. medium sized churches? Three or four names of phlets, clippings, books, etc. I will appreciate any
Later on the factory and headquarters were established reliable firms will be sufficient if they are of the best reference to books, magazine articles, whether it be
on piccolo or piano, banjo or bass viol, bows, bridges
at Cincinnati (factory at Dayton, Ky.), but after a few and most reliable makers.
or strings.
years was discontinued. A new incorporation came
E. E. C., Boone, Iowa.
Be assured that any material furnished will be
about and now carries on at South Haven, Mich.,
There are a dozen representative and reliable pipe
being a part of the group of Cable-Nelson Piano organ makers, but to center down to three or four greatly appreciated.
ROBERT D. PERRY,
Company interests.
whose product might be "investigated," Presto-Times
Instructor Music 311, Western Kentucky State
* * *
suggests the W. W. Kimball Company, Chicago;
Teachers' College, Bowling Green, Ky.
Marr & Colton Organ Co., Warsaw, N. Y.; the M. P.
RENEWING SOILED AND FADED PIANO
Presto-Times
has sent as much information as it
Moller Company, Hagerstown, Md.; Kilgen Organ
KEY SIDES
is able to obtain for this correspondent, and the re-
Company, St. Louis, Mo.
quirements of Mr. Perry may attract the further at-
Ht
=i=
=K
Pittsburgh, Pa., Sept. 1, 1935.
tention of Presto-Times readers.
We
are
looking
for
a
pipe
organ
or
a
reed-pipe
Editor Presto-Times:
organ for a small church. Can you give us some
I have often noticed the dirty and faded sides of
information on such an organ that can be had at a An Accepted Line of Console Models
piano keys and how they do not correspond at all moderate price?
with the cleanliness of the top and front of the keys
A. B., Minnesota.
which are ivory or celluloid. If some kind of prepa-
In placing a restyled, modernized console piano
Two instruments of the organ type are now being
ration could be introduced such as a light enamel
before the critical eye of the piano dealer and the
paint or ivorine preparation that could be applied to placed on the market, the motive power of which is consideration of a piano-buying public the Story &
old pianos on which ivory or celluloid casings could by electric current. One is known as the Hammond Clark Piano Co. put out three distinctly restyled and
not be applied, such an article would be greatly ap- organ, the other the Orgatron. The Hammond is a remodeled instruments; the "Windsor," the "Cabi-
preciated by people who are having their old pianos two-manual organ (five octaves) with pedal board net," the "Colonial," embracing several modifications
repaired and keys renewed, and such a condition on and a power cabinet. The Orgatron is manufactured of Period styles and models of the Louis periods,
new pianos would be a fine feature and certainly by the Everett Piano Company, South Haven, Mich., and modern art designs. The announcement made
and the Hammond by the Hammond Clock Com-
would be a good selling point.
pany, Chicago. Both these instruments have been for these when they first appeared,
Truly yours,
"A complete line of console restyling,"
demonstrated in various parts of the country recently
JAMES WATKINS.
and have met with remarkable reception and have still holds true and correct, and the list prices, "From
Mr. Watkins has broached an interesting topic. The gained many friends. Presto-Times is informed by $295 up," still prevails.
sides of piano keys, being the only part of the piano the manufacturers of the Hammond that it is an in-
In all these models of case design and various
where the bare wood is exposed, soon become soiled. strument of which there are no pipes nor reeds. specimens of veneers, finish and case work, the Story
They not only become slightly soiled and discolored Vacuum tubes are used to amplify the tone though & Clark tradition, "Musical excellence, superior con-
but dirty, ragged and stained. But there seems to not originate the tone and the instrument is entirely struction," is rigidly lived up to. Story & Clark
be a remedy for all this, for Presto-Times has recent electrical in its operation.
dealers are always proud of an "S & C" distribution.
information that Froess Bros., Erie, Pa., manufac-
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turers of Key-Nu, have prepared a special Key-Nu
that will make a perfectly enameled side for the key.
Will you kindly give me some information which
Wurlitzer Correspondence
This is certainly very thoughtful and very timely on will be greatly appreciated about a particular baby
the part of Mr. Jacob Froess, who is an expert piano grand piano? This piano is manufactured in Phila-
The following is an example of the type of cor-
builder, that he is able to supply an article that will delphia, Pa., and has a Zeidler scale. What is the
overcome this matter of soiled and unsightly piano name of the manufacturer that manufactures this respondence which the Wurlitzer Grand Piano Com-
pany is now receiving from the trade with respect to
piano? Also tell me something about the quality of
key sides.
the instrument and what you think of it and its repu- the new pianos and new program which the Wurlit-
* * *
zer people are now operating upon:
tation.
Mrs. H. E. C, Brooklyn, N. Y.
MORE NAMES OF "WOMEN IN THE MUSIC
"You have certainly made a fine start toward the
Paul Zeidler is the superintendent of the Lester
TRADES"
Piano Factory, owned and operated by the Lester building of a great 'Dealer' organization, and I hope
Piano Co., Philadelphia, Pa. Some of the pianos your efforts in the East, South and Central States
In the little story in Presto-Times bearing the caption made at the Lester factory have a scale drawn by will be equally successful.
"I am sure it will please you to know, that when
Mr. Zeidler and known as the Zeidler scale. The
""Women in the Music Business" several names which
might have appeared in the list are omitted: Mrs. Lester Piano Co. is one of the leading piano manu- our first shipment of Wurlitzers were unpacked, we
Dorothy K. Engel, Sterling, 111.; Miss J. Schwankow- facturing concerns of America and their product is had our shop men go over them very carefully with
ski (Schwan Piano Company), Portland, Ore.; Amy recognized as high-grade and superior. You may instructions to criticize any features that appeared to
Hardy (Hardy Piano Company), Bay City, Mich.; depend upon superior quality and be certain of dealing be weak or faulty.
"We had our salesmen do the same; then we held
Mrs. Treva Reed (musical publications), Kalamazoo. with a first-class concern.
an evening meeting, at which we discussed very freely
Mich.
Yours truly,
* * *
FRANK H.
Where can I obtain player action parts for the the construction, tone and finish by the shop men
Thank you very much, "Frank H." And here are player pianos which were made by the M. Schulz and the case design, price, and terms by the sales-
men.
a few more names that have come to Presto-Times: Company of Chicago?
"The reaction of the meeting was gratifying to us,
Mrs. Myrtle M. Henry, Taylor, Neb.; Mrs. A. H.
(Signed) JOHN R. LEEKS.
Warner, York, Neb.; Mrs. Christine Cullen, Boonton,
The player actions used in some of the player pianos and I am pleased to tell you that our entire organiza-
N. J.; Mrs. Cecilia A. Benedict, Galesburg, 111.; Mrs. manufactured by the M. Schulz Company were man- tion is pepped up and enthused over the Wurlitzer
Nancy Payis, Marion, 111.; Minnie Clancy, Eldorado ; ufactured in the East but you better address a letter and its sales possibilities,"
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