Presto
Issue: 1924 1967 - Page 5
P RE STO
April 5, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
The First Touch Tells
9 9
Only 5 Feet Long
No Instrument is Better Known for
its Distinguishing Features than the
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
Nor is there a More Remarkable
Development of Power, Expression
and Absolute Accuracy of Interpre-
tation than is found in the
JESSE FRENCH NOTES
PROGRESS OF NASHVILLE
President of Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.,
New Castle, Ind M Revisits Tennessee City
and Newspapers Print History.
Jesse French, president of the Jesse French &
Sons Piano Company, New Castle, Ind., visited
Nashville, Tenn., last week and was as much sur-
prised at the progress of the city since his previous
visit, as old friends there were delighted to meet him.
His appearance anywhere in the South energizes the
boys in the news rooms of the daily newspapers, and
as usual a flock of reporters greeted Mr. French
before he had alighted from the train. This is the
story printed in the Banner;
"Nashville has made greater progress than any city
I have seen."
Such was the declaration of Jesse French, a man
who has won his spurs of success in this city and
state, and now president of Jesse French & Sons,
piano manufacturers at New Castle, Ind., who is
here on a visit to his brother, H. A. French, after an
absence of nearly ten years.
The distinguished visitor says that he will always
feel kindly toward the people of Nashville and Ten-
nessee because they have always been so good to
him. He recalled with much feeling his start in busi-
ness here and spoke with pride of his numerous inti-
mate acquaintances all over the state.
When Mr. French came to Nashville he was about
ten years old. That was in 1856. While a boy he
did most everything, including carrying a paper route.
At one time he worked on the old Republican Banner
as a printer's devil, and says it makes him feel
young now to smell ink. Mr. French remarked that
the late Henry Watterson was a reporter on the
paper at that time.
Mr. French started in the piano business in 1872,
the name of the firm being Dorman, French & Smith.
He later bought out both his partners and changed
the name of the firm to the Jesse French Piano &
Organ Co., establishing branches at St. Louis, Mem-
phis, Birmingham, Montgomery and Dallas.
About twenty years ago he sold out the retail busi-
ness and began manufacturing pianos at New Castle.
He is now one of the largest manufacturers of high-
grade pianos in the country and perhaps the largest
exporter, sending the musical instruments to all parts
of the world.
Mr. French attributes his success to winning and
keeping the confidence of his trade. In referring to
this he spoke of the slogan of his company, "Quality
First and First Quality," and said that he had always
followed such principles in his business.
Mr. French took an active interest in politics at one
time and held the office of assistant secretary of state
for seven years. He is widely and intimately known
throughout the state and his many friends will lie
pleased to hear of him.
During recent years Mr. French has been traveling
extensively, but says Nashville always looks good to
him. At the present time he is visiting the dealers
who handle his instruments throughout the South,
the O. K. Houck Piano Co. having the agency in
Nashville.
C. J. HEPPE & SON'S TIMELY
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING
Appearance of Percy Grainger as Soloist in Phila-
delphia Theater Prompts Display.
C. J. Heppe & Son, 1117-1119 Chestnut street,
Philadelphia, had a splendid advertising display in
the newspaper last week on the occasion of Percy
Grainger, eminent pianist-composer as soloist with
the Fox Theater Grand Orchestra. Fine halftones
of the orchestra groups and portraits of Mr. Grainger
and Erno Rapee, the orchestra conductor, added to
the interest of the notable display.
Mr. Rapee, the managing director of the Fox
Theater Orchestra, was formerly conductor of the
orchestra at the Capitol Theater in New York. The
Fox Theater itself is reported to be one of the largest
and most beautiful in America.
Mr. Grainger appeared as soloist in the popular
Tschaikowsky Concerto No. 1, for piano and orches-
tra. This is one of the most difficult and best known
of the Tschaikowsky compositions and it is music
that is particularly adapted to Grainger's style. As a
unique feature of this extraordinary performance,
Mr. Grainger used the Duo-Art pianola, for which C.
J. Hcppe & Son is representative both at the main
shore and the uptown branch at Sixth and Thomp-
son streets.
In certain passages of the Concerto, Mr. Grainger
stopped playing and the Duo-Art played the piano
part, using a music roll of his own recorded playing.
"To ascertain which is playing is a feat which baf-
fles the most sensitive musical ear," was the comment
of the advertisers.
Both Mr. Rapee, who conducts the orchestra, and
Mr. Grainger make records for the Duo-Art.
PETITION FOR RECEIVER.
A petition for the appointment of a receiver for the
Claypool Miller Music Company, Lafayette, Ind., was
filed in the Circuit Court last week by Randolph, Mil-
ford and Randolph, attorneys for George W. Switzer.
Dr. Switzer, who is a partner in the business, alleges
mismanagement. E. R. Claypool and the heirs of
Harry J. Miller are made defendants in the case. The
company conducts a store at 611 Main street.
Kinney's Music shop is now located at 401 Broad-
way, Bayonne, N. J.
FEBRUARY ROLLS IN PITTSBURGH
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
THE FULL LINE OF
CHRISTMAN
Uprights and Players
Are favorites with dealers who sell fine
instruments. They are as Perfect in
Operation as can be made, and they
are the True Christman in Tone and
Construction.
We Will be Glad to Send Particulars, Prices
and Terms to Live Piano Merchants
tt
The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U S. Pat Off
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
The above window display of the well known
Schroeder Piano Co., of Pittsburgh, Pa., certainly is
"some" window and one that brought results. Q R S
is very prominent and Mrs. Ruth Reed, as player
roll manager of this establishment, was as happy over
it as the lady is proud of her newly remodelled Player
Roll department, which by the way is Q R S exclu-
sively, and is much and most favorably commented
on by their large circle of customers.
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/
April 5, 1924.
CHRISTMAN
The First Touch Tells
9 9
Only 5 Feet Long
No Instrument is Better Known for
its Distinguishing Features than the
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
Nor is there a More Remarkable
Development of Power, Expression
and Absolute Accuracy of Interpre-
tation than is found in the
JESSE FRENCH NOTES
PROGRESS OF NASHVILLE
President of Jesse French & Sons Piano Co.,
New Castle, Ind M Revisits Tennessee City
and Newspapers Print History.
Jesse French, president of the Jesse French &
Sons Piano Company, New Castle, Ind., visited
Nashville, Tenn., last week and was as much sur-
prised at the progress of the city since his previous
visit, as old friends there were delighted to meet him.
His appearance anywhere in the South energizes the
boys in the news rooms of the daily newspapers, and
as usual a flock of reporters greeted Mr. French
before he had alighted from the train. This is the
story printed in the Banner;
"Nashville has made greater progress than any city
I have seen."
Such was the declaration of Jesse French, a man
who has won his spurs of success in this city and
state, and now president of Jesse French & Sons,
piano manufacturers at New Castle, Ind., who is
here on a visit to his brother, H. A. French, after an
absence of nearly ten years.
The distinguished visitor says that he will always
feel kindly toward the people of Nashville and Ten-
nessee because they have always been so good to
him. He recalled with much feeling his start in busi-
ness here and spoke with pride of his numerous inti-
mate acquaintances all over the state.
When Mr. French came to Nashville he was about
ten years old. That was in 1856. While a boy he
did most everything, including carrying a paper route.
At one time he worked on the old Republican Banner
as a printer's devil, and says it makes him feel
young now to smell ink. Mr. French remarked that
the late Henry Watterson was a reporter on the
paper at that time.
Mr. French started in the piano business in 1872,
the name of the firm being Dorman, French & Smith.
He later bought out both his partners and changed
the name of the firm to the Jesse French Piano &
Organ Co., establishing branches at St. Louis, Mem-
phis, Birmingham, Montgomery and Dallas.
About twenty years ago he sold out the retail busi-
ness and began manufacturing pianos at New Castle.
He is now one of the largest manufacturers of high-
grade pianos in the country and perhaps the largest
exporter, sending the musical instruments to all parts
of the world.
Mr. French attributes his success to winning and
keeping the confidence of his trade. In referring to
this he spoke of the slogan of his company, "Quality
First and First Quality," and said that he had always
followed such principles in his business.
Mr. French took an active interest in politics at one
time and held the office of assistant secretary of state
for seven years. He is widely and intimately known
throughout the state and his many friends will lie
pleased to hear of him.
During recent years Mr. French has been traveling
extensively, but says Nashville always looks good to
him. At the present time he is visiting the dealers
who handle his instruments throughout the South,
the O. K. Houck Piano Co. having the agency in
Nashville.
C. J. HEPPE & SON'S TIMELY
NEWSPAPER ADVERTISING
Appearance of Percy Grainger as Soloist in Phila-
delphia Theater Prompts Display.
C. J. Heppe & Son, 1117-1119 Chestnut street,
Philadelphia, had a splendid advertising display in
the newspaper last week on the occasion of Percy
Grainger, eminent pianist-composer as soloist with
the Fox Theater Grand Orchestra. Fine halftones
of the orchestra groups and portraits of Mr. Grainger
and Erno Rapee, the orchestra conductor, added to
the interest of the notable display.
Mr. Rapee, the managing director of the Fox
Theater Orchestra, was formerly conductor of the
orchestra at the Capitol Theater in New York. The
Fox Theater itself is reported to be one of the largest
and most beautiful in America.
Mr. Grainger appeared as soloist in the popular
Tschaikowsky Concerto No. 1, for piano and orches-
tra. This is one of the most difficult and best known
of the Tschaikowsky compositions and it is music
that is particularly adapted to Grainger's style. As a
unique feature of this extraordinary performance,
Mr. Grainger used the Duo-Art pianola, for which C.
J. Hcppe & Son is representative both at the main
shore and the uptown branch at Sixth and Thomp-
son streets.
In certain passages of the Concerto, Mr. Grainger
stopped playing and the Duo-Art played the piano
part, using a music roll of his own recorded playing.
"To ascertain which is playing is a feat which baf-
fles the most sensitive musical ear," was the comment
of the advertisers.
Both Mr. Rapee, who conducts the orchestra, and
Mr. Grainger make records for the Duo-Art.
PETITION FOR RECEIVER.
A petition for the appointment of a receiver for the
Claypool Miller Music Company, Lafayette, Ind., was
filed in the Circuit Court last week by Randolph, Mil-
ford and Randolph, attorneys for George W. Switzer.
Dr. Switzer, who is a partner in the business, alleges
mismanagement. E. R. Claypool and the heirs of
Harry J. Miller are made defendants in the case. The
company conducts a store at 611 Main street.
Kinney's Music shop is now located at 401 Broad-
way, Bayonne, N. J.
FEBRUARY ROLLS IN PITTSBURGH
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
THE FULL LINE OF
CHRISTMAN
Uprights and Players
Are favorites with dealers who sell fine
instruments. They are as Perfect in
Operation as can be made, and they
are the True Christman in Tone and
Construction.
We Will be Glad to Send Particulars, Prices
and Terms to Live Piano Merchants
tt
The First Touch Tells"
Reg. U S. Pat Off
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
The above window display of the well known
Schroeder Piano Co., of Pittsburgh, Pa., certainly is
"some" window and one that brought results. Q R S
is very prominent and Mrs. Ruth Reed, as player
roll manager of this establishment, was as happy over
it as the lady is proud of her newly remodelled Player
Roll department, which by the way is Q R S exclu-
sively, and is much and most favorably commented
on by their large circle of customers.
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/
Future scanning projects are planned by the International Arcade Museum Library (IAML).