Music Trade Review
Issue: 1916 Vol. 62 N. 5 - Page 10
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10
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REMINISCENCES OF FAMOUS PLAYER-PIANO PIONEERS.
Old Photograph Brings Back Memories of the White Family, Long Connected with the Organ
and Player Industry in This Country.
An interesting photograph of historic value
is that taken in 1878, and reproduced herewith, of
Henry Kirk White and his three sons, all of whom
were tuners of recognized ability at that time, and,
with Mr. Wilcox, were the original organizers of
the Wilcox & White Organ Co., in 1877, at which
time, it is believed, they were the first to introduce
ornamental tops on organs, which later became so
popular that they were used by all other organ
Henry Kirk White, Frank C. White, son of James
H., was placed in charge of the mechanical depart-
ment of the factory. Of him we read in Alfred
Dolge's "Pianos and Their Makers":
"Frank C. was always of a very decidedly in-
ventive turn of mind, and to him is due many
valuable improvements which have made the
Angelus world-renowned."
Frank C White's latest invention is the Angelus
Artrio, the rolls for which are perfect records of
the playing of artists and are made in the studio
of the Wilcox & White Co. by a special electric
recording machine, also an invention of his,
by which, when these special rolls are employed,
the Artrio Angelus will reproduce the playing of
the artist who made the record, with all the tempo
variations, phrasing, sustaining and soft pedal ef-
fects, together with the artist's peculiarities of
touch and blending of tone color. Rolls are now
produced by several professional artists, including
those of Harold Bauer. Mr. Bauer will not allow
one of his Angelus Artrio hand-played rolls to be
placed upon the market unless it contains the fol-
lowing :
"This composition was played by me expressly
for the Angelus, and this roll is the only author-
ized record of my interpretation and has been
approved and accepted by me.
"(Signed) HAROLD BAUER."
The Artrio is truly an instrument for the most
exacting music lovers and has only to be heard
to have its various merits appreciated by the critical
musician.
WATKINS BROSJ1OLD RECITALS.
(Special to The Review.)
HARTFORD, CONN., January 24.—The player-piano
recitals given by Watkins Bros, in their store at
Main and School streets here has attracted con-
siderable attention. J. D. Wooster, at the piano;
Raymond Vetter, violinist, and Miss Edith Aab, the
leading contralto of Hartford, appear at every re-
cital and render an exceptionally interesting class-
ical program.
SOLVED-
The Tracking Problem!
Henry Kirk White and Sons.
makers from that time until the present. Reading
from left to right shows Edward H. White, de-
ceased, inventor of the cabinet piano player in
1897, the first instrument of the kind placed com-
mercially before the public. "It was called the
Angelus.
Henry Kirk White, deceased (seated), in 1848
began the manufacture of melodeons in New Lon-
don, Conn., and in 1865 the great Estey Organ Co.
called him to Brattleboro, Vt., as superintendent
of its action and tuning department. He was
recognized as possessing unusual ability in the
voicing and tuning of reeds. In 1865 the largest
number of organs ever turned out by the Estey
Co. was sixty in one month. During the time
H. K. White was with that company the business
developed to as many as 1,500 organs in one month.
During that time H. K. White taught his three
sons, James H., Edward H. and Howard H., the
art of organ making and tuning, and they were in
the employ of the Estey Organ Co. James H.
(seated at organ) was given charge, under his
father, of the tuning department there, and
in later years gave his entire attention to the de-
velopment and instruction of new tuners—from
raw material, so to speak—in order to keep pace
with the rapid growth of the Estey Co. James H.
White has without doubt instructed more organ
tuners than any other man, some of whom are
to-day at the head of other factories.
James H. White has for many years been the
president and treasurer of the Wilcox & White
Co., of Meriden, which was organized in 1877.
Referring to his accomplishments, Alfred Dolge*
in "Pianos and Their Makers," said:
"He would ever search.for the highest in tone
production, and, together with his brothers, sup-
plemented the inventions of his father. The
United States Patent Office speaks volumes for the
valuable contributions which the White family has
made in the manufacture of musical instruments.
"Howard H. White, deceased, was the youngest
of these three brothers, and was, with his brother,
Edward H., entrusted with the management of the
tuning department of this industry, which in the
course of time grew to a huge establishment, turn-
ing out 500 organs monthly."
The Wilcox & White Co. discontinued the manu-
facture of organs some fifteen years ago, since
which time its facilities, including three large ad-
ditions to its factory, have been devoted to the
development of the celebrated Angelus.
After the decease of Edward H., Howard II. and
Such an announcement has been made more than once in various
quarters; so we shall not object if our statement is accepted with
reserve. Yet it is true.
Schulz Dealers are now being made acquainted with a new, efficient,
simple method for abolishing forever all tracking troubles, irre-
spective of the condition of the music roll.
The means whereby this method has been made possible consist of
what is called the
M. Schulz Company
Roll Centering Device
(Patented)
The depression of one lever at the moment the roll is ready to start
over the tracker-bar serves, in this wonderful system, permanently
to center the music roll between the chucks and on the tracker-bar,
in such a way that no difficulty in registration can occur when once
this has been done.
No Pneumatics
Absolute Certainty
No Perforations or Flanges
Absolute Simplicity
No Complication
Absolute Rightness
Schulz Dealers Have the Biggest Talking Point
in the Player Business Today. Get in Touch
With this Wonderful Development
Get full particulars from us: Send for Free
Booklet describing this revolutionary idea
and how it Was developed into practical fact.
M. SCHULZ COMPANY
CHICAGO
GENERAL OFFICES
711 Milwaukee Ave M Chicago
SOUTHERN WHOLESALE BRANCH
730 Candler Bldg., Atlanta, Ga.
10
THE MUSIC TRADE REVIEW
REMINISCENCES OF FAMOUS PLAYER-PIANO PIONEERS.
Old Photograph Brings Back Memories of the White Family, Long Connected with the Organ
and Player Industry in This Country.
An interesting photograph of historic value
is that taken in 1878, and reproduced herewith, of
Henry Kirk White and his three sons, all of whom
were tuners of recognized ability at that time, and,
with Mr. Wilcox, were the original organizers of
the Wilcox & White Organ Co., in 1877, at which
time, it is believed, they were the first to introduce
ornamental tops on organs, which later became so
popular that they were used by all other organ
Henry Kirk White, Frank C. White, son of James
H., was placed in charge of the mechanical depart-
ment of the factory. Of him we read in Alfred
Dolge's "Pianos and Their Makers":
"Frank C. was always of a very decidedly in-
ventive turn of mind, and to him is due many
valuable improvements which have made the
Angelus world-renowned."
Frank C White's latest invention is the Angelus
Artrio, the rolls for which are perfect records of
the playing of artists and are made in the studio
of the Wilcox & White Co. by a special electric
recording machine, also an invention of his,
by which, when these special rolls are employed,
the Artrio Angelus will reproduce the playing of
the artist who made the record, with all the tempo
variations, phrasing, sustaining and soft pedal ef-
fects, together with the artist's peculiarities of
touch and blending of tone color. Rolls are now
produced by several professional artists, including
those of Harold Bauer. Mr. Bauer will not allow
one of his Angelus Artrio hand-played rolls to be
placed upon the market unless it contains the fol-
lowing :
"This composition was played by me expressly
for the Angelus, and this roll is the only author-
ized record of my interpretation and has been
approved and accepted by me.
"(Signed) HAROLD BAUER."
The Artrio is truly an instrument for the most
exacting music lovers and has only to be heard
to have its various merits appreciated by the critical
musician.
WATKINS BROSJ1OLD RECITALS.
(Special to The Review.)
HARTFORD, CONN., January 24.—The player-piano
recitals given by Watkins Bros, in their store at
Main and School streets here has attracted con-
siderable attention. J. D. Wooster, at the piano;
Raymond Vetter, violinist, and Miss Edith Aab, the
leading contralto of Hartford, appear at every re-
cital and render an exceptionally interesting class-
ical program.
SOLVED-
The Tracking Problem!
Henry Kirk White and Sons.
makers from that time until the present. Reading
from left to right shows Edward H. White, de-
ceased, inventor of the cabinet piano player in
1897, the first instrument of the kind placed com-
mercially before the public. "It was called the
Angelus.
Henry Kirk White, deceased (seated), in 1848
began the manufacture of melodeons in New Lon-
don, Conn., and in 1865 the great Estey Organ Co.
called him to Brattleboro, Vt., as superintendent
of its action and tuning department. He was
recognized as possessing unusual ability in the
voicing and tuning of reeds. In 1865 the largest
number of organs ever turned out by the Estey
Co. was sixty in one month. During the time
H. K. White was with that company the business
developed to as many as 1,500 organs in one month.
During that time H. K. White taught his three
sons, James H., Edward H. and Howard H., the
art of organ making and tuning, and they were in
the employ of the Estey Organ Co. James H.
(seated at organ) was given charge, under his
father, of the tuning department there, and
in later years gave his entire attention to the de-
velopment and instruction of new tuners—from
raw material, so to speak—in order to keep pace
with the rapid growth of the Estey Co. James H.
White has without doubt instructed more organ
tuners than any other man, some of whom are
to-day at the head of other factories.
James H. White has for many years been the
president and treasurer of the Wilcox & White
Co., of Meriden, which was organized in 1877.
Referring to his accomplishments, Alfred Dolge*
in "Pianos and Their Makers," said:
"He would ever search.for the highest in tone
production, and, together with his brothers, sup-
plemented the inventions of his father. The
United States Patent Office speaks volumes for the
valuable contributions which the White family has
made in the manufacture of musical instruments.
"Howard H. White, deceased, was the youngest
of these three brothers, and was, with his brother,
Edward H., entrusted with the management of the
tuning department of this industry, which in the
course of time grew to a huge establishment, turn-
ing out 500 organs monthly."
The Wilcox & White Co. discontinued the manu-
facture of organs some fifteen years ago, since
which time its facilities, including three large ad-
ditions to its factory, have been devoted to the
development of the celebrated Angelus.
After the decease of Edward H., Howard II. and
Such an announcement has been made more than once in various
quarters; so we shall not object if our statement is accepted with
reserve. Yet it is true.
Schulz Dealers are now being made acquainted with a new, efficient,
simple method for abolishing forever all tracking troubles, irre-
spective of the condition of the music roll.
The means whereby this method has been made possible consist of
what is called the
M. Schulz Company
Roll Centering Device
(Patented)
The depression of one lever at the moment the roll is ready to start
over the tracker-bar serves, in this wonderful system, permanently
to center the music roll between the chucks and on the tracker-bar,
in such a way that no difficulty in registration can occur when once
this has been done.
No Pneumatics
Absolute Certainty
No Perforations or Flanges
Absolute Simplicity
No Complication
Absolute Rightness
Schulz Dealers Have the Biggest Talking Point
in the Player Business Today. Get in Touch
With this Wonderful Development
Get full particulars from us: Send for Free
Booklet describing this revolutionary idea
and how it Was developed into practical fact.
M. SCHULZ COMPANY
CHICAGO
GENERAL OFFICES
711 Milwaukee Ave M Chicago
SOUTHERN WHOLESALE BRANCH
730 Candler Bldg., Atlanta, Ga.
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