Presto
Issue: 1924 1993 - Page 4
October 4, 1924.
PRESTO
MAKING THE PIANO HAMMERS
The hammer department in the factory
of the Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati, is
one that keenly interests visitors. The
making of hammers is an interesting art
and the intricate nature of the work
causes the dealers and musicians to linger
in the neighborhood.of the machines. The
accompanying cut shows a general view
of the hammer department in the Bald-
win Piano Co.'s factory.
Wood and glue and felt and reinforc-
ing wires go to make up the hammer
head and each of these must be specially
prepared. The glue is the strongest that
is made and yet is so treated that it "sets"
quickly and does not penetrate the felt
and affect the tone.
Why must nothing but wool be used
for the covering of the hammer? Exam-
ine a fiber of wool with the microscope
and you will see the little surface plates
like scales that interlock as the felt is
bent and hammered and worked in the
making of the felt and which readily ex-
plains why wool will felt and smooth
fibered cotton and silk and hemp will not.
Not every kind of wool is suitable for
MAKING HAMMERS IN
piano hammers. Climate and the breed-
THE BALDWIN
ing of the animal from which it comes
FACTORY.
are important. Some long fibers are nec-
essary and some shorter fibers must be
used for proper texture and elasticity. Hammer wool
the mold to hold the fibers in perpetual tension, sur-
is a blend of special selections of the most resilient
prising tension when you try to do with your hands
fibers.
what the press is doing in forming the felt around
the hammer molding.
The hammer must not remain in contact with the
string any longer than is necessary to set it into
The more you study this important part of the
musical vibration, so, above all things, the hammer
piano tone producing mechanism, the more you real-
must be elastic. That is why the men in the picture
ize that the piano hammer is an admirable work of
are using such force in crowding the felt down into
art.
P. A. STARCK PIANO CO.
VICTOR IN THREE SUITS
Cases in Which Copyrights to Advertisements
Were Claimed by Boston Piano Co. and
Union Piano Co. Are Dismissed.
Three suits against the P. A. Starck Piano Co.,
Chicago, by the Boston Piano Co. and the Union
Piano Co., operated by Samuel E. Moist, in the
same city, were dismissed in the Federal Court last
week. The basis of the suits was that the plaintiffs
held and owned copyrights to certain advertisements.
Damages in large sums were asked.
On July 21 Judge Wilkerson sustained the motion
to dismiss on behalf of the defendants in both cases,
and gave to the complainants sixty days to file an
amended petition.
Roy D. Keehn, attorney for the P. A. Starck Piano
Co., called the Court's attention to the fact that this
was a sworn bill and that no amendment could be
made changing the allegations as to prior publica-
tion. Mr. Carpenter told the Court that it was not
his intention to make any such change, but said that
he wanted to make some additional parties defendant.
In a letter of that date Mr. Keehn said: "I prom-
ised to send Mr. Carpenter some authorities to the
effect that jurisdiction could not be vested in the
Federal Court merely by making some one or more
non-resident parties defendant in these actions and
he told me that if that was the fact, he would dis-
miss these proceedings. I am satisfied that Mr. Car-
penter will determine, upon an examination of the
authorities, that I am correct and that these suits, to-
gether with the other suit now pending in the Federal
Court will be dismissed.
"I would suggest that you notify the newspapers
of the Court's action this morning in holding the
copyright as alleged in the bill of complaint invalid
and dismissing the cause for want of jurisdiction."
In a letter dated July 22, to the P. A. Starck Co.,
Mr. Keehn said:
"Sixty days was given to the complainants to
amend their bill, but inasmuch as the allegations of
this bill are sworn to, I do not see how it can pos-
sibly be amended."
In his letter dated September 23, to the P. A.
Starck Piano Company, Mr. Keehn told of the dis-
missal of the cases:
"We are pleased to inform you that in the Federal
Court this morning the following suits were dis-
missed on our motion:
"Union Piano Company vs. P. A. Starck Piano
Co., No. 34356.
"Union Piano Company, a corporation, vs. P. A.
Starck Piano Company, a corporation, Phillip T,
Starck, doing business as Cut Rate Piano House, and
Alfred L. Owen, No. 3965.
"Boston Piano Company, a corporation, vs. P. A.
Starck Piano Company, a corporation, Phillip T.
Starck, doing business as Cut Rate Piano House, and
Alfred L. Owen, No. 3964.
"This disposes of all of the litigation against your
companies pending in the Federal Court, and leaves
pending only the matters in the State Court, one of
which cases will not be amended and but two cases
will be amended, and an endeavor made by our op-
ponents to try them."
FARMER'S INFLUENCE ON
SEASON'S PIANO TRADE
Edgar B. Jones, President of Schiller Piano
Co., Sees Good Crops as Potent Factor
in Sales.
Edgar B. Jones, president of the Schiller Piano Co.,
Oregon, 111., has taken keen interest in the conditions
of the farmers as it is generally conceded that pros-
perous farmers are the best piano customers.
The crop conditions of the middle west are in good
shape and piano merchants have noted a general
picking-up in the trade, due to the farmer's purchases.
Mr. Jones has acquainted himself with crop con-
ditions in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio, and is of the opinion
that the farmers were never in better shape to buy
pianos. When seen at the Chicago office of the
Schiller Piano Co., last week, he expressed an opti-
mistic viewpoint of future business conditions from
the agricultural standpoint and its relation to the
piano trade.
"Everybody knows that the farmers are the back-
bone of the country. Their condition influences gen-
eral business and the piano trade particularly. The
farmers of the middle west will have a prosperous,
year. Wheat and corn crops are good, especially the
wheat crops of Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas.
The influence these successful farmers will have on
the piano trade will be far reaching," said Mr.
Jones
Not only has the Schiller line had a good demand
in the aforementioned states, but a gratifying increase
is noted from the southwest and southern sections of
the country, where the Schiller line is popular seller.
OHIO BRANCH CLOSED.
The P. F. Sarver Music Store was closed at St.
Marys, O., this week, at the conclusion of a special
removal sale, and all unsold goods were removed to
the company's store at Wapakoneta, O. The P. F.
Sarver Music Stores will cpntinue to run in Piqua,
Sidney, and Wapakoneta as they have for the past
thirty-five years.
'jBl onduring"
GEORGE T. SMITH OPENS NEW
JOHN CHURCH CO.'S STORE
Experienced Piano Man Transferred from Peoria, 111.,
to Detroit, Mich., Last Week.
George T. Smith, manager of the Peoria, 111.,
branch of John Church Company, since its opening
two years ago, left last week for Detroit to open a
new store for this same firm. E. A. Elmer of Dan-
ville, 111., a man of wide experience in musical mer-
chandising, assumed charge of the Peoria store upon
Mr. Smith's departure.
Mr. Smith has been with the John Church Com-
pany's chain of piano stores for the past seven years,
and while he has always ranked among the best in that
organization, the record he has made in the Peoria
store has been exceptional. He started in a small,
one-room establishment on Liberty street, employing
but two men, and in sixteen months' time had built
up one of the largest piano businesses in central Illi-
nois. The growth of this store eventually necessi-
tated a move into the large double store room at 512-
514 South Adams street.
^'[Hardman
The Shfardman £ine
is a complete line
It comprises a range of artisti-
cally worthy instruments to
please practically every purse:
The Hardman, official piano of
the Metropolitan Opera House;
the Harrington and the Hensel
Pianos in which is found that in-
builtdurabilitythatcharacterizes
all Hardman-made instruments;
the wonderful Hardman Repro-
ducing Piano; the Hardman
Autotone (the perfect player-
piano); and the popular Playo-
tone.
KENTUCKY BUSINESS SOLD.
The stock of the Shaw Music Store, Bowling
Green, Ky., has been disposed of in retail sales and
the Brunswick phonograph agency transferred to
Bailey & Son, of that place. Will Shaw, the owner
of the store and also former editor of the Aledo Dem-
ocrat, and family, left last week Saturday via Santa
Fe for Coronado, Calif., where he will become man-
aging editor, and probably part owner of the Cor-
onado Journal. He made the trip by automobile.
GOOD REPORT FROM SOUTH.
A recent report from Henry P. Veatch, southern
representative for the wholesale piano department of
Lyon & Healy, Chicago, tells of a generous increase
in business. Mr. Veatch is now spending a week
with the Phonograph Shop, Corpus Christi, Texas,
conducting a special sales campaign for Lyon &
Healy pianos.
c
c
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/
PRESTO
MAKING THE PIANO HAMMERS
The hammer department in the factory
of the Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati, is
one that keenly interests visitors. The
making of hammers is an interesting art
and the intricate nature of the work
causes the dealers and musicians to linger
in the neighborhood.of the machines. The
accompanying cut shows a general view
of the hammer department in the Bald-
win Piano Co.'s factory.
Wood and glue and felt and reinforc-
ing wires go to make up the hammer
head and each of these must be specially
prepared. The glue is the strongest that
is made and yet is so treated that it "sets"
quickly and does not penetrate the felt
and affect the tone.
Why must nothing but wool be used
for the covering of the hammer? Exam-
ine a fiber of wool with the microscope
and you will see the little surface plates
like scales that interlock as the felt is
bent and hammered and worked in the
making of the felt and which readily ex-
plains why wool will felt and smooth
fibered cotton and silk and hemp will not.
Not every kind of wool is suitable for
MAKING HAMMERS IN
piano hammers. Climate and the breed-
THE BALDWIN
ing of the animal from which it comes
FACTORY.
are important. Some long fibers are nec-
essary and some shorter fibers must be
used for proper texture and elasticity. Hammer wool
the mold to hold the fibers in perpetual tension, sur-
is a blend of special selections of the most resilient
prising tension when you try to do with your hands
fibers.
what the press is doing in forming the felt around
the hammer molding.
The hammer must not remain in contact with the
string any longer than is necessary to set it into
The more you study this important part of the
musical vibration, so, above all things, the hammer
piano tone producing mechanism, the more you real-
must be elastic. That is why the men in the picture
ize that the piano hammer is an admirable work of
are using such force in crowding the felt down into
art.
P. A. STARCK PIANO CO.
VICTOR IN THREE SUITS
Cases in Which Copyrights to Advertisements
Were Claimed by Boston Piano Co. and
Union Piano Co. Are Dismissed.
Three suits against the P. A. Starck Piano Co.,
Chicago, by the Boston Piano Co. and the Union
Piano Co., operated by Samuel E. Moist, in the
same city, were dismissed in the Federal Court last
week. The basis of the suits was that the plaintiffs
held and owned copyrights to certain advertisements.
Damages in large sums were asked.
On July 21 Judge Wilkerson sustained the motion
to dismiss on behalf of the defendants in both cases,
and gave to the complainants sixty days to file an
amended petition.
Roy D. Keehn, attorney for the P. A. Starck Piano
Co., called the Court's attention to the fact that this
was a sworn bill and that no amendment could be
made changing the allegations as to prior publica-
tion. Mr. Carpenter told the Court that it was not
his intention to make any such change, but said that
he wanted to make some additional parties defendant.
In a letter of that date Mr. Keehn said: "I prom-
ised to send Mr. Carpenter some authorities to the
effect that jurisdiction could not be vested in the
Federal Court merely by making some one or more
non-resident parties defendant in these actions and
he told me that if that was the fact, he would dis-
miss these proceedings. I am satisfied that Mr. Car-
penter will determine, upon an examination of the
authorities, that I am correct and that these suits, to-
gether with the other suit now pending in the Federal
Court will be dismissed.
"I would suggest that you notify the newspapers
of the Court's action this morning in holding the
copyright as alleged in the bill of complaint invalid
and dismissing the cause for want of jurisdiction."
In a letter dated July 22, to the P. A. Starck Co.,
Mr. Keehn said:
"Sixty days was given to the complainants to
amend their bill, but inasmuch as the allegations of
this bill are sworn to, I do not see how it can pos-
sibly be amended."
In his letter dated September 23, to the P. A.
Starck Piano Company, Mr. Keehn told of the dis-
missal of the cases:
"We are pleased to inform you that in the Federal
Court this morning the following suits were dis-
missed on our motion:
"Union Piano Company vs. P. A. Starck Piano
Co., No. 34356.
"Union Piano Company, a corporation, vs. P. A.
Starck Piano Company, a corporation, Phillip T,
Starck, doing business as Cut Rate Piano House, and
Alfred L. Owen, No. 3965.
"Boston Piano Company, a corporation, vs. P. A.
Starck Piano Company, a corporation, Phillip T.
Starck, doing business as Cut Rate Piano House, and
Alfred L. Owen, No. 3964.
"This disposes of all of the litigation against your
companies pending in the Federal Court, and leaves
pending only the matters in the State Court, one of
which cases will not be amended and but two cases
will be amended, and an endeavor made by our op-
ponents to try them."
FARMER'S INFLUENCE ON
SEASON'S PIANO TRADE
Edgar B. Jones, President of Schiller Piano
Co., Sees Good Crops as Potent Factor
in Sales.
Edgar B. Jones, president of the Schiller Piano Co.,
Oregon, 111., has taken keen interest in the conditions
of the farmers as it is generally conceded that pros-
perous farmers are the best piano customers.
The crop conditions of the middle west are in good
shape and piano merchants have noted a general
picking-up in the trade, due to the farmer's purchases.
Mr. Jones has acquainted himself with crop con-
ditions in Kansas, Nebraska, Iowa, Missouri, Illinois,
Wisconsin, Indiana and Ohio, and is of the opinion
that the farmers were never in better shape to buy
pianos. When seen at the Chicago office of the
Schiller Piano Co., last week, he expressed an opti-
mistic viewpoint of future business conditions from
the agricultural standpoint and its relation to the
piano trade.
"Everybody knows that the farmers are the back-
bone of the country. Their condition influences gen-
eral business and the piano trade particularly. The
farmers of the middle west will have a prosperous,
year. Wheat and corn crops are good, especially the
wheat crops of Kansas, Nebraska and the Dakotas.
The influence these successful farmers will have on
the piano trade will be far reaching," said Mr.
Jones
Not only has the Schiller line had a good demand
in the aforementioned states, but a gratifying increase
is noted from the southwest and southern sections of
the country, where the Schiller line is popular seller.
OHIO BRANCH CLOSED.
The P. F. Sarver Music Store was closed at St.
Marys, O., this week, at the conclusion of a special
removal sale, and all unsold goods were removed to
the company's store at Wapakoneta, O. The P. F.
Sarver Music Stores will cpntinue to run in Piqua,
Sidney, and Wapakoneta as they have for the past
thirty-five years.
'jBl onduring"
GEORGE T. SMITH OPENS NEW
JOHN CHURCH CO.'S STORE
Experienced Piano Man Transferred from Peoria, 111.,
to Detroit, Mich., Last Week.
George T. Smith, manager of the Peoria, 111.,
branch of John Church Company, since its opening
two years ago, left last week for Detroit to open a
new store for this same firm. E. A. Elmer of Dan-
ville, 111., a man of wide experience in musical mer-
chandising, assumed charge of the Peoria store upon
Mr. Smith's departure.
Mr. Smith has been with the John Church Com-
pany's chain of piano stores for the past seven years,
and while he has always ranked among the best in that
organization, the record he has made in the Peoria
store has been exceptional. He started in a small,
one-room establishment on Liberty street, employing
but two men, and in sixteen months' time had built
up one of the largest piano businesses in central Illi-
nois. The growth of this store eventually necessi-
tated a move into the large double store room at 512-
514 South Adams street.
^'[Hardman
The Shfardman £ine
is a complete line
It comprises a range of artisti-
cally worthy instruments to
please practically every purse:
The Hardman, official piano of
the Metropolitan Opera House;
the Harrington and the Hensel
Pianos in which is found that in-
builtdurabilitythatcharacterizes
all Hardman-made instruments;
the wonderful Hardman Repro-
ducing Piano; the Hardman
Autotone (the perfect player-
piano); and the popular Playo-
tone.
KENTUCKY BUSINESS SOLD.
The stock of the Shaw Music Store, Bowling
Green, Ky., has been disposed of in retail sales and
the Brunswick phonograph agency transferred to
Bailey & Son, of that place. Will Shaw, the owner
of the store and also former editor of the Aledo Dem-
ocrat, and family, left last week Saturday via Santa
Fe for Coronado, Calif., where he will become man-
aging editor, and probably part owner of the Cor-
onado Journal. He made the trip by automobile.
GOOD REPORT FROM SOUTH.
A recent report from Henry P. Veatch, southern
representative for the wholesale piano department of
Lyon & Healy, Chicago, tells of a generous increase
in business. Mr. Veatch is now spending a week
with the Phonograph Shop, Corpus Christi, Texas,
conducting a special sales campaign for Lyon &
Healy pianos.
c
c
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).