Presto

PRESTO
MUSICAL TASTE IMPROVES
SAYS HENRY L. MASON
Vice-President of Mason & Hamlin Co., Visit-
ing Pacific Coast Cities, Says He Sees
Changed Public Attitude.
Henry L. Mason, vice-president of the Mason &
Hamlin Co., Boston, is in California for his first visit
since 1913, and while in Los Angeles last week said
the public attitude towards music is undergoing a
rapid change in a progressive direction.
He was deeply impressed with the development of
musical life. While in Los Angeles Mr. Mason estab-
lished headquarters at Wiley B. Allen Company,
which has the representation of the Mason & Hamlin
piano in that city.
"If I say that the public attitude towards music has
well changed to advantage, I am thinking, for in-
stance, of the fact that more and more music study in
HENRV T>. MASON.
the high schools is included in the credit schedule.
Similarly public school music instruction has grown,
though there still is much room for improvement.
"Another angle of wider public sympathy toward
music is that the frequent prejudice of parents to per-
mit their children the study of music as the founda-
tion of their future livelihood is more and more being
overcome.
"Symphony orchestras of Boston, New York, Phila-
delphia, Detroit, Cincinnati, Chicago, St. Louis, are
doing much for American composers. These con-
ductors, 1 think, have realized that it is as much their
responsibility as it is their duty to stimulate creative
art among American musicians by presenting the
most worthy American compositions. True, not all
of these American compositions will have lasting
value. Not all of them are perfect. Yet undoubtedly
they are worthy of performance, not merely for the
sake of affording their creators that invaluable ex-
perience of having their works performed, but as an
exjjression of our own artists. This is an experience
which undoubtedly is stimulating growth of American
composition. It means encouragement and musical
advance.
Mr. Mason also visited Portland, Ore., making his
headquarters at the Wiley B. Allen store, the Port-
land representatives of the Mason & Hamlin piano.
Mr. Mason while there was the guest of Frank M.
Case, local manager of Wiley B. Allen, and was taken
by Mr. Case over the famous Columbia highway. Mr.
Mason expressed himself as greatly pleased with the
business outlook and remarked on the wonderful de-
velopment not only of the Pacific Coast cities, but
also of the advancement of the people, who appreciate
the better things and are willing to pay for them.
Mr. Mason left Boston March 7 and will not return
home until the end of May, after visiting all of the
most important Mason & Hamlin representatives in
the country.
Lancaster, Pa., music dealers are taking a prom-
inent part in Music Week from May 13 to 19. The
Kirk Johnson & Co., and the J. H. Troup Music Co.,
are active in preparations for interesting events in
their stores.
May 12, 1923
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, or
Other Subiects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
writer in order to receive attention. Answers thought
to be of general trade interest will be published. If an
answer is not of general interest it will be mailed pro-
vided stamp is inclosed.
PIPE ORGANS.
Petersburg, Va., May 2, 1923.
Editor Presto: Will you kindly furnish us the
names of pipe organ manufacturers?
R. C. BRISTOW & SON.
There are a great many pipe organ industries in
this country. Among the best of them are:
Coburn Organ Co., 220 No. Washtenaw Ave., Chi-
cago; Estey Organ Co., Brattleboro, Vt.; George
Kilgen & Son, 3817 Laclede Ave., St. Louis, Mo.;
W. W. Kimball Co., 300 So. W r abash Ave., Chicago;
Henry Pilcher's Sons, 908 Mason Ave., Louisville,
Ky.: Schuelke Organ Co., 522 16th St., Milwaukee,
Wis.
* * *
PLAYER ACTIONS.
Madison, Wis., May 1, 1923.
Editor Presto: We have an inquiry for an inner-
player; party wants to have same installed in a Hamp-
don piano, in very good condition at this writing,
but silent.
Kindly advise us if there is an action (player) in
the market that is a reliable one when installed in a
foreign piano.
Kindly advise us if there is a guarantee with these
actions that would assure a party the favorable
functioning of the action when installed.
BESTOR BROTHERS.
Among the best of the small player pianos actions,
designed for installation in used instruments, are the
"Adapto,"' manufactured by the Lindenbcrg Piano
Co.. Columbus, Ohio, and the "Chicago Player
Action," made by the Schumann Piano Co., Rock-
ford, 111. W r e believe that either the "Adapto" or the
"Chicago" would meet your requirements perfectly.
* * *
ABOUT GRADING PIANOS.
Pueblo, Colo., May 21, 1923.
Editor Presto: Enclosed find 25 cents in stamps
for which please send me "Presto Trade List No. 3."
Do you, or anyone else, publish an actual grading
of the many different pianos, both standard and
stencil or trade names?
L. H. W I N T E R M U T E .
It is very certain that no such arbitrary "grading"
as you suggest has been attempted, nor could there
lie with anything like honest purpose. Pianos, in the
material sense, as you know, are graded, first of all,
by the intention of the manufacturers themselves.
Quite a number of the better class of pianos use the
identical actions, so far as the quality of that essen-
tial feature of the instrument is concerned. Those
pianos are often made as good as they can be made.
The resulting effects of this care and good material
depend largely upon the character of the men who
produce the instrument.
In other words, the grading of pianos with any-
thing like honesty is too delicate a matter for any
single individual to undertake. Presto Buyers' Guide
classifies all American pianos according to the abso-
lute knowledge of experienced piano men. It places
the instruments in their several grades, and it pre-
sents a list of stencil and trade-mark instruments.
That is about all any critic can do, in a general way.
Of course, it is easy enough to designate any piano
as good, bad or indifferent, but that cannot be done
in an unqualified grading such as you have in mind.
* * #
THE RETAILER'S PROTECTION.
North Platte, Nebr., May 4, 1923.
Editor Presto: Enclosed find check and order for
the Presto for another year. I would like to have
some information as to the working of the Retail
Piano Merchants' Association, in regard to what pro-
tection a retailer has in holding agencies for certain
lines of pianos.
I am threatened with losing an agency for a piano
for no reason at all. I have recently acquired this
agency and have been buying on a cash basis, and
the company is considering giving the agency to
another dealer with apparently no reason except that
the other dealer can show a bigger financial state-
ment.
M. L. HOLLEY.
There seems to be no regular rule of operation in
the matter about which you ask. It is altogether a
question between the dealer and the manufacturer,
based upon the idea that so long as the arrangements
are mutually satisfactory there will be no friction.
However, there has been some talk of the formula-
tion of some plan governing this matter which might
work to the benefit of the retail piano merchants
without working to the detriment of the manufac-
turers.
Such instances as you mention have been of com-
paratively frequent occurrence from the beginning of
the business, because it is natural that the manufac-
turer will do the best he can in placing his pianos in
any locality. There may be some injustice to the
retailer, but there is always a source of compensa-
tion should there be a compact or understanding
between seller and the source of his supplies.
* * *
ALBRIGHT MUSIC CO.
Kouseville, Pa., May 5, 1923.
Editor Presto: I want to know . where the Al-
bright Music Co. is located. Shaffer Music Co., of
Oil City, Pa., advised me to write you. Do you
know anything about the Albright Company's pres-
ent location? A money order for $1 was sent by me
to that firm and it came back.
II. P. COMPTON.
The Albright Music Co. changed hands shortly
after Mr. Albright's death, and is now owned by the
Xational Music Co., 207 So. Wabash Ave., Chicago.
As we understand it, all of the publications of the
Albright Mysic Co. are now with the concern named.
* # #
THE 'FISCHER" PIANO.
Morgantown, Ky., May 2, 1923.
Editor Presto: Would you please let me know if
the Fischer piano is manufactured by the old Fischer
Co. or by another company under the Fischer name?
MAUDE EBERMAN.
The name of Fischer is one of the oldest associated
with the American piano industry, and the house of
J. & C. Fischer was a prominent one until, something
like a year ago, it was purchased by the American
Piano Co. of Xew York City, of which it is now a
"division."
Pianos bearing the name of "Fischer" are now
manufactured at Rochester, N. Y., where are pro-
duced most of the instruments controlled by the
American Piano Co. and the various divisions of that
house. There is, at the present time, no Fischer in
the piano industry, the brothers who controlled that
industry having died.
* * *
THE WERNER INDUSTRIES.
Rochelle, 111., May 8, 1923.
Editor Presto: Will you kindly inform by return
mail, what is the meaning of Werner Industries? Is
this an incorporated company? Do they control the
Krell, Auto and Royal pianos and players? Would
like to know their financial standing.
Will you also give us the address of the National
Piano Tuners' Association?
D I E H L MUSIC SHOP.
The Werner Industries is located at Cincinnati,
Ohio, where, a good many years ago, it secured by
purchase the large factory and business of the Krell
Piano Co. The Werner Industries also controls the
Auto Player, the Royal, and other pianos and player-
pianos.
The Werner Industries is a corporation and its
financial standing has never been challenged. The
instruments produced in Cincinnati are of a very
attractive kind in appearance and musical results.
They are sold at very attractive prices to the trade
and are having a very large demand and sale.
^ The address of the National Association of Piano
Tuners is 22 Quincy Street, Chicago, and Mr. W. F.
McClellan is the organization's secretary.
* * *
SWISS ACCORDION COMPANY.
Berne, Ind., May 1, 1923.
Editor Presto: Ich moechte, Sie hiermit "hoeflich
anfragem, ob hier in dem Lande America, Accordions
factory sind, die von Grund auf, die Accordion
machen. Besonders die Schwyzer Accordion und
Itajenische chromatische und Piano Accordion. Wo
man eventuell das Materiall und Werkzeug kriegen
kann, fuer die herstellung der Accordion.
Ich bin vor einem Jah hier in s das Land gezogen,
habe mich mit einer Company gegeben, und wir
haben eine Accordion Factory gegruendet. Ich
arbeite schon ueber 15 Jah auf erstklassige Accor-
dions, unser speziali taet ist, die herstellung von
echten Schwyzer, Pianos und Chromatische Accor-
dions Italjenischer Systmen.
Wuerde mich sehr freuen um von Ihnen die Aus-
kunft erhalten zu duerfen. Und wie Accordion Fac-
tory heisen, und wo sie Alle sind in dem Lande.
Koennen sies nicht uebersetzen, also niclit duetsch
lesen, so bin ich genie bereit Ihnen diese Anfrage in
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