Classic Mode

Presto

Issue: 1936 2280

PRESTO-TIMES
to De Kalb that same year when he took a
position in the Wurlitzer factory, then under
the general management of E. S. Rauworth.
He was given a position in charge of stock
and supplies. Mr. Farny is now vice-president
of the DeKalb Division of The Rudolph Wur-
litzer Company and practically in entire
control of that great industry, at DeKalb.
* * *
Can it be that an enthusiasm among manu-
facturers in producing new and varied models
of that digression of the old American upright
piano called console, console-vertical and just
plainly "vertical," may work to serious neglect
in sales and production of the regular types,
the small and medium grands and in a lesser
way the larger grands and also the upright.
At any rate there was something like a
scramble among manufacturers to keep up
with each other in changing sizes and designs
of the little instruments that were put together
in various sizes and shapes as cut down from
the upright and selected from many submitted
drawings. Tt was hard to keep up with the
rapid changes and alterations that were taking
place, almost week after week until, for the
present a settlement seems t o be reached in
the "flat top," with variations, as now hold-
ing its own.
The metamorphosis through which the ver-
tical has passed and some of the models
brought forth were nicknamed "hunchback."
Mr. Cyril Farny, in his speech at the Wur-
litzer dealers luncheon given during the Music
Trade Convention at the Stevens Hotel last
summer mentioned this phase of vertical piano
building and indicated that manufacturers who
have not been overhasty in settling on the
form and size they would adopt were the more
fortunate ones. The manufacturer who has
consistently held to models he believed would
meet general approval and has carried on his
operations along consistent lines is the one
who has maintained normal demand for his
entire line ; grands, standard uprights, verti-
cals.
The piano manufacturers of England, al-
though they were making "low-down" and
"flat-top" vertical scale pianos a long while
before any were made in this country, have
not taken seriously to the "vertical" and cer-
tainly not in any such fashion of rapidity as
the space was set for production in America
a year and a half ago, an activity that con-
tinues with increasing production. A few
small pianos of the miniature type such as the
Minipiano made by Eavestaff & Sons, Ashfield
Road, London, and another make of the "Flat-
top" order called the "Minx" constitutes the
bulk of verticals made in Great Britain. Ger-
many and France make several models of ver-
tical scale small uprights which they call
"pianinos," but they have not yet experienced
a "vertical boom" in any form or shape.
* *' *
Reference is made in another column of this
issue of Presto-Times to the first appearance
of the late Ossip Gabrilowitch in this country ;
how he was induced to come to America by
Mr. A. M. Wright, to play a series of piano
concerts, using the Everett piano, then made
in Boston. This story of inducing him to come
here was one of the romantic episodes in the
life of the great pianist and conductor. Mr.
Wright, who had taken over the management
of the ambitious Everett Piano Co. went t o
Europe to secure a pianist for an Everett tour
of the United States. He had heard interest-
ing stories about this young Russian who had
gained considerable of a reputation as a young
pianist in his home country, but who was
hardly known of anywhere else. Mr. Wright
went direct to the Gabrilowitch home near St.
Petersburg where he remained until he finally
got the consent of the young man and his
Sept.-Oct., 1936
cation, Department of Interior, in accordance with the plan prepared by Commissioner
J. W. Studebaker and approved by the joint committee of the Music Educators' National
Conference and the Music Teachers' National Association; and be it
RESOLVED, That copies of this resolution be sent to the members of this associa-
tion with a request that they endeavor to secure the active support of their congressmen
in passing the legislation necessary to establish and maintain said Division of Fine Arts.
FEDERAL ACTION—FEDERAL INQUIRY
Inquiries have been made to secure data on the use of the word grand as applied to
the piano. This inquiry started because of the opinion held in some quarters of the
piano manufacturing industry that the term grand used with the recent so-called type of
vertical piano is not justified used as indicating the instrument to be a grand piano in
the common acceptance of the term and thus that its use as qualifying for classifying the
more recent vertical is not justified, even if not barred legally.
When a representative of Presto-Times was questioned on the information sought it
could only be suggested that it is by common usage that the three-cornered shaped
piano of the horizontal scale is known as the grand piano and not by any legal right,
trade-mark or copyright formality. Tn the same manner the word "grand" has long
been applied to the conventional upright and even on the old squares (horizontal scale)
to indicate greater piano magnitude and greater volume of tone. It is in this manner
that (barring any horizontals with vertical shaped case) our manufacturers use the term
"grand" to indicate super tone volume and greater carrying capacity of the three corner
triangular piano. The large conventional upright is the one called "upright-grand."
In continental Europe the term "grand," except sometimes and quite rarely, to indicate
comparative capacity (in volume or excellence) is not used tt) designate a type of piano.
The German equivalent of our grand piano is the "fluegel" and in France the "piano
a Queue." The uprights in Germany and France are called pianinnos. In Great Britain
and throughout the English speaking world the three-corner, triangular instrument is
known as the "Grand," but they do qualify the upright (vertical scale) under the term
"upright-grand."
* * * *
Further investigation by the Federal Trade Commission has brought out several cases
more or less identified with music and the music business. One of these was lodged
against the Griffith Piano Company of Newark, N. j . . charging "disparaging competi-
tors' products." This charge stated that using the term "colonial grand piano" was not
justified and which term the Griffith Company was directed to discontinue and also to
discontinue using pictures that had been altered in such a way as to "give an erronious
opinion of a square piano of colonial design." The matter of simulating advertisements
and illustrations was ordered to be discontinued.
A concern at Del Rio, Texas, was cited for misuse of the name "Major Chord," as
was also "Nu-Tone Laboratories, Inc.," Chicago, dealing in electrical radio and house-
hold specialties. The Meyercord Company of Chicago, makers of piano and other decal-
comania transfers was cited to make explanations.
Another case which is before the commission under a complaint of "Commercial
Bribery" is that of the Finishing Products Company, Inc. Indianapolis, Ind., which con-
cern manufactures lacquers, paints and finishes. This concern was directed to discon-
tinue "giving or proffering sums of money or other gratuities to employees of prospec-
tive purchasers without the knowledge or consent of such prospective purchasers for the
purpose of inducing said employees to recommend the purchase of respondent's prod-
ucts or of rewarding them for having protected the products against competing products."
Many questions of fact and law were raised by these respondents, some of them con-
tending that section 5 of the act violates the Federal Constitutional Mandate of separa-
tion of governmental functions, and the diK' process clause.
parents to visit America. He made a success-
ful tour of the United States and did more at
that time to bring the Everett piano to the
front than any other influence.
* * *
Two well-known traveling men engaged
themselves to a piano manufacturing concern,
each as sales manager. Both were hired and
fired within ten days and unknown to each
other until the "firing" was over, whereupon
they conspired to have a third party apply for
the job; and he was accepted. The two job-
less ones are now wondering if applicant num-
ber 3 will by any hook or crook hold the job
if he is engaged. If he does the two "outs"
say they will make this "luck}' guy" "divvy"
up.
* * *
Miami. Fla.. has a street named Zack and,
furthermore, it is reported that a new music
store is to be opened on that street. It ought
to be successful.
i|:
:j:
$
The considerable lineup of ex-piano men,
m u s i c a l merchandise representatives and
others formerly on the road was one phase of
the music trade convention last July that made
it appear like one of the big gatherings of the
past. There were travelers, managers, special
salesmen, and other specialists of the music
business ready and willing to start in again
and duplicate the big things that stood to their
glory in the past. This group of experts is a
mighty strong indication, too, of returning
prosperity and redoubled manufacturing ac-
tivities in music.
:':
*
*
A concern known as the W. F. Main Com-
pany, which was located at Iowa City, Iowa,
will be remembered as having been engaged in
an extensive piano mail order business. This
concern at the present time is listed at Cedar
Rapids, Iowa, as dealing in coin vending ma-
chines. Recently the business was cited by
the Federal Trade Commission on "alleged
misleading advertising relative to probable
earnings of agents."
Another concern, the National Publicity Bu-
reau, Inc., of Baltimore, which apparently has
had some association with music trade inter-
ests, has also been cited by the Federal Trade
Commission.
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/
Sept.-Oct., 1936
The report of W. A. .Mennie, executive secretary
National Piano Mfrs. Association, shows that ship-
ments of pianos for the month of July this year were
43 per cent ahead of July, 1935. Mr. Mennie's report
goes on to state that 32 manufacturers made reports;
five did not report. The estimate is made on the
basis that the shipments of these five who did not
report to be the same as what they shipped in July
last year. The appearance of several names of the
manufacturers who reported will be noticed with in-
terest. The name of the P. S. Wick Company, North
St. Paul, and Wissner & Son, Brooklyn, may indicate
headway where it had been thought no particular
activity is manifest today. The only item of negation
in the report is that July shipments this year were
below the shipments of the month preceding, that is
of June, by 810; 449 uprights (verticals and standard
uprights), and 311 grands. These figures are, how-
ever, offset in a way by the table of comparison of
the months of June and July as to unfilled orders on
hand as of July 31, showing nearly 500 more unfilled
orders July 31 than the previous month.
Mr. Mennie's table of percentages in production
since 1931 compared with the first seven months of
1936. is as follows:
1936 was ahead of 1931 41.81 per cent.
1936 was ahead of 1932 193.81 per cent.
1936 was ahead of 1933 208.00 per cent.
1936 was ahead of 1934 79.84 per cent.
1936 was ahead of 1935 38.67 per cent.
Secretary Mennie in his September report names
the following manufacturers as the ones who sent in
reports on their August shipments:
Aeolian-American Corporation: The Baldwin Piano
Company; Bogart Piano Company; Everett Piano
Company; Jesse French Corporation: Grinnell Bros.;
Gulbransen Company; Haddorff Piano Company;
Hardman, Peck & Company; Janssen Piano Com-
pany; Krakauer Bros.; Kranich & Bach; Lauter-
Humana Company; Lester Piano Company; Mathu-
shek Piano Mfg. Company: Ricca & Son; Klein Piano
Company; Estey Piano Company; Sohmer & Com-
pany; I'. A. Starck Piano Co.; Charles Frederick
Stein; Steinway & Sons; Story & Clark Piano Com-
pany; Weaver Piano Company; Weser Bros.; P. S.
Wick Company; Winter & Company; Wurlitzer
Grand Piano Company: Rudolph Wurlitzer Mfg. Com-
pany; Straube Piano Company.
However, according to Secretary Mennie's Septem-
ber report, August shipments exceeded those of July
by 1,337 pianos; 527 uprights and 810 grands; and the
August unfilled orders exceeded those of July by 896
orders; 509 uprights and 387 grands. Mr. Mennie in
his report, therefore, makes this statement: "With an
indicated total of 46,318 pianos shipped the first eight
months of this year and using the year 1935 as a crite-
rion when 51.93 per cent of the shipments for the
year were made during' those first eight months of
that year, it would seem that the prediction of more
than 90,000 pianos for this year should still stand."
PRESTO- T I M E S
Helped Sell a Competitor's
Organ
An Incident in the Life of the Late
Curtis N. Kimball
This episode occurred on the day before Christmas
back in the seventies, a bitter cold day. After a
'selling siege" the night before lasting until long past
the customary bed-time hour the sale of the style "50,"
5-octave, 2 l / 2 sets of reeds, cabinet organ to Farmer
Riley had been closed, although husband and wife did
not sign on the "dotted line" until the next morning.
The organ dealer was going back to his store, 25 miles
away, and his companion, a special traveling man from
Chicago headquarters, who had gone out with him
to help make the sale so he could send in a "swell
report" as the agent was trying to do covering the
last quarter, was to be left off at a railroad station
where he would board a northbound train to Austin.
Minn., to participate in an invite for Christmas eve fes-
tivities that night.
The two were traveling in an organ and piano de-
liver}' bobsled drawn by a pair of spanking bay horses.
After about ten miles the dealer suddenly exclaimed:
"And here we are, right near the home of D. W. Kim-
ball, brother of W. W. Kimball, and who sells the
Kimball organs around in this part of Mitchell county.
We ought to call and pay our respects to a co-dealer.
1 know he would be glad to see us." The dealer re-
lated that the Kimball traveling man, E. S. Conway,
had called on him recently, and he suggested that they
call and meet this brother of W. W. Kimball.
The Kimballs were busy preparing dinner, and what
a dinner was in the making! What a repast it proved
to be! Two visitors were there, a lady and her 15-year-
old daughter. They had driven over to see about buy-
ing an organ and at the same time for a visit and a
pre-Christmas dinner. The "special" and his agent
were invited to "try" the organ which was a new
model Kimball called "Cymbella." They were thanked
and applauded for the demonstration "show off'' of
the instrument. After dinner and another stunt of
organ playing the two travelers continued their jour-
ney. In parting Mr. and Mrs. Kimball expressed
regret that their son Curtis was not home, "for," said
Mrs. Kimball, "he would be delighted and interested
to meet a music man from Chicago and especially one
who knows his uncle, W. W. Kimball." Mr. Kimball
remarked that he hoped he might meet the ''special
agent" sometime again, "maybe in Chicago," he added,
a suggestion that materialized years later when, in
1893, Mr. and Mrs. Kimball came to Chicago to visit
the World's Columbian Exposition. One day, dining
on the grounds of that exposition, Mr. Kimball was
asked about the incident of the organ demonstration
the day before Christmas away back in the 70's.
"I should say I do," he replied. "That sale was easily
made and the instrument delivered the same afternoon
for a Christmas eve party. Since then the young
lady, now married, purchased from me a fine piano."
Curtis Kimball became a great power; he labored
diligently, faithfully; progressed step by step, became
great, famed and now finally passes on, mourned by
those he loved and the ones who loved him—honored,
respected by all who knew him.
A Trio of Jesse French Sellers
Presto-Times shows an illustration herewith of a
Jesse French model that has met with noteworthy
success. It is one of the new models shown in the
Jesse French exhibit during the July music trade con-
vention and it has been one of the group displayed
that has brought repeat orders from the first sample
ordered at the convention. This is certainly making
a good start in getting a new model upright into
the trade, but it took about all the "ready-to-ship"
"Castlegrand" Model of the Jesse French Corporation,
New Castle, Ind., Line of Vertical Pianos.
supply of "Castlegrands" and resulted in running out
of the instrument for a few days at a time. However
this obstacle is being overcome rapidly and if any
dealer has been "kicking" or complaining that his
"Castlegrand'' or his "Weegrand" or his "Elitegrand"
has not arrived on the hour expected, he may take
:ouragf in the statement of Mr. H. Edgar French,
president of Jesse French Corporation, that "delays
in shipments" are about to cease.
AN INTERESTING STATE ASSOCIATION
GATHERING
The Ohio Music Merchants did themselves proud
on the occasion of the silver jubilee convention of
the Music Merchants' Association of Ohio, held at the
At the annual meeting of the National Association of
Statler Hotel Sept. 13, 14 and 15.
Piano Tuners, held at Canton, Ohio, a resolution of
The jubilee feature was the result of the decision
marked distinction for the Gulbransen piano was passed.
made at the meeting last April, when it was decided
The Gulbransen Company had sent a piano to be tested
that a silver jubilee celebration should be held at
out and gone through in every way and Vice-Pres'dent
Cleveland while the Great Lakes Exposition was in
George A. McDermott and Roy Cook, technician of the
progress. Acting on this proposition the Cleveland
Gulbransen factory, went to Canton to assist in this
AN UNEXPECTED GOOD LUCK STORY
"dissection" of the instrument and at the same time to
A music teacher came from her home in Western convention committee, under the chairmanship of
George F. Schulte. set the date for the notable event.
talk to the tuners on Gulbransen piano construction.
Pennsylvania for a two weeks' vacation visiting
The report of the resolutions committee sanl: "The
The officers for the ensuing year are: President,
friends whom she had known before they located in
Gulbransen piano exhibited merited the approval of all
C. D. Anderson of Dayton; vice-president, George F.
Chicago. Arriving at her friend's home this teacher
T
of us and those who had here the first opportunity to
discovered that the entire family had become musicai- Schulte of Cleveland; treasurer, Clyde W . Knapp of
examine the latest product of your factory are gratified
Chillicothe; secretary and executive manager, Rexford
minded and that one of the family was about to start
to know the Gulbransen Co. is maintaining the same
studying music and wanted to begin piano lessons C. Hyre of Cleveland. Dayton was named as the
high standards of piano manufactur'ng that have been
meeting place for the next convention, the time and
right away.
traditional with it from its beginning."
dates to be arranged by the executive committee later
The music teacher's instinct for a piano sale was on.
The N. A. P. T. is really the parent body of the piano
aroused. The teacher's only musical acquaintance in
tuners' fraternity of this country and which during sev-
The following firms exhibited instruments: C. G.
Chicago was a distant relative and who was asso-
eral years cut a wide swath in the piano trade and the
Conn, Ltd., Elkhart, band instruments; Buegeleisen
ciated with music in the public schools. This was ah
public. Internal dissensions arose in the organization and
favorable for her purpose so within twenty-four hours & Jacobson. musical merchandise; Gretsch & Brenner,
competing bodies of tuners were organized, one of these
being the Piano Tuners' Association of Illinois, which L; of the teacher's arrival in the city a
grand musical merchandise; Grossman Music Company;
Sanborn Music Company, and the following piano
probably the most powerful of the seceding group.
piano was installed in her friend's home, the bargain
closed and the first of a dozen lessons of a ten-day manufacturers: Jesse French Piano Corporation, New
Castle, Ind.; Krakauer Bros., Kranich & Bach and
The Fleming Music Store at New Castle, Pa., is course of lessons, one each day, started.
Sohmer, New York.
conducted entirely by ladies. Mrs. E. Fleming is the
general manager and proprietor. Her bookkeeper,
The L. C. Wiswell Company have become distrib-
The music trade press was honored and likewise
head of piano sales and merchandise departments arc utors in the Chicago territory for the Stewart-Warner honored the association by its presence and addresses
young ladies well versed in their avocations and all radios. L. C. Wiswell, the head of the Wiswell Com- by two of its members, Mr. William J. Dougherty of
helping to make a well governed and successful gen- pany which has been in existence for the past twelve The Music Trades, New York, and Roy E. Waite of
eral musical Enhanced
instrument
establishment.
Piano Museum
Trade (www.arcade-museum.com).
Magazine, Chicago.
years,
was
vice-president
of Lyon
& International
Healy. Arcade
content
© 2008-2009 and presented by MBSI - The
Musical
Box formerly
Society International
(www.mbsi.org)
and the
THE GULBRANSEN PRAISED BY
TUNERS
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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