Music Trade Review
Issue: 1919 Vol. 69 N. 4 - Page 54
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54
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
JULY 26, 1919
EASY TO MAKE ELECTRIC ZITHER
SOLDIERS MAY KEEP INSTRUMENTS
BANJO GROWING IN POPULARITY
Thirteen-Year-Old Boy Tells How He Arranged
His Zither to Be Operated Electrically
Musical Instruments Furnished Entertainment
Units May Be Kept But Not Sold
H. L. Hunt, of Chas. H. Ditson & Co., Finds
These Instruments Very Popular—Large
Stock of Luthier Violins Now on Hand
Electrically operated zithers should soon be-
come common, according to present indications,
for it has been discovered that even a small
boy can so arrange his zither that it will operate
on that basis. As a matter of fact Carleton F.'
Maylot, a 13-year-old boy, sent to the Electrical
Experimenter the following description of his
electric zither and how to make it:
As shown in the accompanying drawing, A is
an ordinary harp having steel strings, B is a
A dispatch from Coblenz, Germany, to the New
York Sun says that according to the terms of
a contract announced by the music department
of the Y. M. C. A. musical instruments fur-
nished entertainment units playing in the Third
Army area may be taken back to the United
States, provided they are used for entertain-
ment purposes en route home. This means that
approximately 3,000 violins, banjos, cornets,
ukuleles and drums will become the property of
the doughboys.
Soldiers now using these instruments must
agree on returning to do their part toward en-
tertaining the troops in the embarkation area, on
the boat and at the demobilization camps. They
are forbidden to sell them, and in case they
desire to dispose of them after reaching home
instructions have been given to return them
to the local Y. M. C. A. where they are sta-
tioned.
For several months the "Y" took over the
total output of two German factories located at
Saxony and Mainz. About 150 complete or-
chestras were equipped and 100 received sup-
plies.
Diagram of Electric Zither
wood or fibre strip on which the required num-
ber of electromagnets, C, are mounted, i. e., as
many magnets as there are strings on the harp.
These are suspended so as to cover but not
touch the steel strings. Suitable electromag-
nets are made from telephone receiver pole-
pieces, which can be purchased from any supply
house. A corresponding number of push but
tons, D, are arranged on a separate board, E,
serving as a keyboard. The push buttons, D,
are lettered according to the strings they con-
trol.
I The connections are as shown, each magnet
being placed in series with its push button.
The other terminals of the magnets and buttons
being connected, the main wires are led to a
buzzer or other interrupting device, F, and bat-
teries, G.
It is a good idea to construct a special key-
board, as the push buttons cannot be played
very fast. Pivoted or spring-supported strips
arranged side by side can easily be assembled
on a baseboard, with suitable contact points
mounted under each "key" strip. These con-
tacts can be made from silver wire, platinum
points off old bells or buzzers, tungsten points,
or for that matter just plain brass points or
springs. The smooth action of such a hand-
made keyboard is really surprising.
The instrument can be used as_ an ordinary
piano, pressing the buttons as if they were keys.
LEEDY MFG. CO. WORK STARTS
It was reported last week that work has
already begun on the new three-story addi-
tion to the Leedy Mfg. Co., Indianapolis, Ind.,
makers of musical instruments, at Barth avenue
and Palmer street. The addition will increase
the floor space of the concern by about 7,500
square feet and is expected to be ready for
occupancy in ninety days. It is fireproof
throughout and will be equipped with a large
electric elevator.
BEST STRINGS
JOHNFRIEDRICH&BRO.
MTMUSHtD ISS4
JOctorDistributors
A. BURDWISE
BALTIMORE, MD.
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
Black Diamond
Strings
THE WORLD'S BEST
Attractive Specialties
M o d e r n Service
Buegeleisen & Jacob son
NEW
Exclusivity WhoUsml*
WHOLESALE MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Manufacturers
Largest Wholesale
Musical Merchandise
House in America
T H E OLDEST AND
LARGEST MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE HOUSE
IN AMERICA
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
Importer* and Jebbcn of
STEWART
RUNQ
The Walthall Co., San Antonio, Tex., a merger
of the Walthall Motor Car Co. and the South
Texas Music Co., has been incorporated with a
capital of $100,000.
BOSTON. MARS.
AND
W. N. LeVanway, Sr., formerly with the Mc-
Dougal Music House, Portland, Ore., is now
with the Oregon Eilers Music House as man-
ager of the small goods department.
NEW INCORPORATION
OLIVER DITSON
DURRO
113 University Place
Three-story Addition to Indianapolis Factory
Begun—Completion in Ninety Days
The musical merchandise department of Chas.
H. Ditson & Co., New York, is steadily increasing
its stock of instruments of all kinds. There is a
growing demand for all instruments of the banjo
family and a large line of stringed instruments
for both retail and wholesale trade is now on
hand. The output of several factories has been
taken over and Chas. H. Ditson & Co. are ready
for the large demands of the trade. This week
there is being featured a new Ditson guitar
which is hand-made in all sizes, the special
model for ladies being one of the best. This
instrument is the result of over two years' ex-
periment in banjo manufacture.
The violin department has made rapid strides
and a large stock of instruments made by Lu-
thier is now available, due to improved manu-
facturing conditions. These violins are selling
fast and are proving popular with professional
and amateur violinists as well as with orches-
tras. Two Lyon & Healy harps were sold last
week and several big sales arc expected this
week. H. L. Hunt, head of the musical mer-
chandise department, is enthusiastic over the
prospects for fall trade and with the greatly
enlarged stock now on hand expects to do an
unusual volume of business.
ESTABLISHED IRM
YORK
National Musical String Co.
Nevs Brunswick, N. J.
WEYMANN
Superior Quality MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Victor Distributors
1108 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Established over half a century
I WILL BUY
FOR CASH
Sheet Music and Small Goods
Peate's Music Houo«,
Utica, N. Y.
54
THE
MUSIC TRADE
REVIEW
JULY 26, 1919
EASY TO MAKE ELECTRIC ZITHER
SOLDIERS MAY KEEP INSTRUMENTS
BANJO GROWING IN POPULARITY
Thirteen-Year-Old Boy Tells How He Arranged
His Zither to Be Operated Electrically
Musical Instruments Furnished Entertainment
Units May Be Kept But Not Sold
H. L. Hunt, of Chas. H. Ditson & Co., Finds
These Instruments Very Popular—Large
Stock of Luthier Violins Now on Hand
Electrically operated zithers should soon be-
come common, according to present indications,
for it has been discovered that even a small
boy can so arrange his zither that it will operate
on that basis. As a matter of fact Carleton F.'
Maylot, a 13-year-old boy, sent to the Electrical
Experimenter the following description of his
electric zither and how to make it:
As shown in the accompanying drawing, A is
an ordinary harp having steel strings, B is a
A dispatch from Coblenz, Germany, to the New
York Sun says that according to the terms of
a contract announced by the music department
of the Y. M. C. A. musical instruments fur-
nished entertainment units playing in the Third
Army area may be taken back to the United
States, provided they are used for entertain-
ment purposes en route home. This means that
approximately 3,000 violins, banjos, cornets,
ukuleles and drums will become the property of
the doughboys.
Soldiers now using these instruments must
agree on returning to do their part toward en-
tertaining the troops in the embarkation area, on
the boat and at the demobilization camps. They
are forbidden to sell them, and in case they
desire to dispose of them after reaching home
instructions have been given to return them
to the local Y. M. C. A. where they are sta-
tioned.
For several months the "Y" took over the
total output of two German factories located at
Saxony and Mainz. About 150 complete or-
chestras were equipped and 100 received sup-
plies.
Diagram of Electric Zither
wood or fibre strip on which the required num-
ber of electromagnets, C, are mounted, i. e., as
many magnets as there are strings on the harp.
These are suspended so as to cover but not
touch the steel strings. Suitable electromag-
nets are made from telephone receiver pole-
pieces, which can be purchased from any supply
house. A corresponding number of push but
tons, D, are arranged on a separate board, E,
serving as a keyboard. The push buttons, D,
are lettered according to the strings they con-
trol.
I The connections are as shown, each magnet
being placed in series with its push button.
The other terminals of the magnets and buttons
being connected, the main wires are led to a
buzzer or other interrupting device, F, and bat-
teries, G.
It is a good idea to construct a special key-
board, as the push buttons cannot be played
very fast. Pivoted or spring-supported strips
arranged side by side can easily be assembled
on a baseboard, with suitable contact points
mounted under each "key" strip. These con-
tacts can be made from silver wire, platinum
points off old bells or buzzers, tungsten points,
or for that matter just plain brass points or
springs. The smooth action of such a hand-
made keyboard is really surprising.
The instrument can be used as_ an ordinary
piano, pressing the buttons as if they were keys.
LEEDY MFG. CO. WORK STARTS
It was reported last week that work has
already begun on the new three-story addi-
tion to the Leedy Mfg. Co., Indianapolis, Ind.,
makers of musical instruments, at Barth avenue
and Palmer street. The addition will increase
the floor space of the concern by about 7,500
square feet and is expected to be ready for
occupancy in ninety days. It is fireproof
throughout and will be equipped with a large
electric elevator.
BEST STRINGS
JOHNFRIEDRICH&BRO.
MTMUSHtD ISS4
JOctorDistributors
A. BURDWISE
BALTIMORE, MD.
MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE
Black Diamond
Strings
THE WORLD'S BEST
Attractive Specialties
M o d e r n Service
Buegeleisen & Jacob son
NEW
Exclusivity WhoUsml*
WHOLESALE MUSICAL MERCHANDISE
Manufacturers
Largest Wholesale
Musical Merchandise
House in America
T H E OLDEST AND
LARGEST MUSICAL
MERCHANDISE HOUSE
IN AMERICA
Consult the universal Want Directory of
The Review. In it advertisements are inserted
free of charge for men who desire positions.
Importer* and Jebbcn of
STEWART
RUNQ
The Walthall Co., San Antonio, Tex., a merger
of the Walthall Motor Car Co. and the South
Texas Music Co., has been incorporated with a
capital of $100,000.
BOSTON. MARS.
AND
W. N. LeVanway, Sr., formerly with the Mc-
Dougal Music House, Portland, Ore., is now
with the Oregon Eilers Music House as man-
ager of the small goods department.
NEW INCORPORATION
OLIVER DITSON
DURRO
113 University Place
Three-story Addition to Indianapolis Factory
Begun—Completion in Ninety Days
The musical merchandise department of Chas.
H. Ditson & Co., New York, is steadily increasing
its stock of instruments of all kinds. There is a
growing demand for all instruments of the banjo
family and a large line of stringed instruments
for both retail and wholesale trade is now on
hand. The output of several factories has been
taken over and Chas. H. Ditson & Co. are ready
for the large demands of the trade. This week
there is being featured a new Ditson guitar
which is hand-made in all sizes, the special
model for ladies being one of the best. This
instrument is the result of over two years' ex-
periment in banjo manufacture.
The violin department has made rapid strides
and a large stock of instruments made by Lu-
thier is now available, due to improved manu-
facturing conditions. These violins are selling
fast and are proving popular with professional
and amateur violinists as well as with orches-
tras. Two Lyon & Healy harps were sold last
week and several big sales arc expected this
week. H. L. Hunt, head of the musical mer-
chandise department, is enthusiastic over the
prospects for fall trade and with the greatly
enlarged stock now on hand expects to do an
unusual volume of business.
ESTABLISHED IRM
YORK
National Musical String Co.
Nevs Brunswick, N. J.
WEYMANN
Superior Quality MUSICAL INSTRUMENTS
Victor Distributors
1108 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, Pa.
Established over half a century
I WILL BUY
FOR CASH
Sheet Music and Small Goods
Peate's Music Houo«,
Utica, N. Y.
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