Presto
Issue: 1924 2002 - Page 4
PRESTO
HARPENOLA AND RADIO
COMBINATION IS MADE
December 6, 1924.
MAKING BALDWIN TONE TEST
Instrument Devised by C. C. Russell Has Per-
sisted and Is Now Made at Celina, Ohio,
with Radio Attachment.
Nearly ten years ago it was announced that C. C.
Russell, at one time a prominent Chicago piano man-
ufacturer, had invented a new musical instrument. It
was of the self-playing reed-wind-orchestra type—a
pneumatic instrument in which several sets of reeds
were used. Tts musical effects were peculiarly pow-
erful, considering its small size. The instrument was
christened the "Harpenola" and a company was or-
ganized for the purpose of making and marketing it.
The first office and wareroom was in the Auditorium
building, Chicago. A very live gentleman, named
Murphy, was made president of the company and
effort was made to interest capital.
Later Mr. Russell retired, taking a good-sized
block of stock for his invention. The Harpenola
was exploited in several cities, particularly in Indian-
apolis, but until recently it did not seen to attract
the desired substance with which to make progress.
But now comes word that the radio eruption has
been the means of making the Harpenola popular,
and is is hoped that the instrument will now not only
help along the trade, but make hard-working Mr.
Russell as rich as he deserves.
The Harpenola is now made at Celina, Ohio, and
a local paper gives some particulars of its combina-
tion with the Federal Radio industry, as follows:
The experimental stage passed with, the radio
and its permanency assured, the Celina manufac-
turers decided that it should be made an adjunct
to the Harpenola. To this end a most harmonious
and successful combination has been effected at
the Harpenola works, whose output now consists
of a combined Federal Radio and the Harpenola.
The one amplifier answers both the purpose of the
radio and the Harpenola.
With the new combined Federal Radic and Har-
penola the possessor is afforded infinite variety
and entertainment. The cases for the Harpenola
are the skilled workmanship of the Celina Specialty
Co. Thence these are transferred to the Harpenola
works, the former Miami Tractor building, where
they are assembled, the radio features added, and
then made ready for the market. H. A. Beam is
the manager of the Harpenola works and he reports
a good business outlook for the new combination.
The building now occupied by the company has
been extensively remodeled. A new power plant
has been installed and a new office has been built,
together with other changes and innovations that
make the enterprise a model factory in all its work-
ing details.
EFFECT OF REMOVAL OF
McKENNA DUTIES NOTED
In Musical Instrument Imports Into England a
Heavy Increase Is Reported.
The effect of the removal of the McKenna rates of
duty on the imports of musical instruments in'.o Eng-
land is clearly apparent in the official trade returns.
In all classes of musical instruments there has oc-
curred a heavy increase since July.
During the last two months of the third quarter of
1924 the imports of organs, pianos, and other musical
instruments were considerably more numerous than
during the first half year, and the value of parts
and accessories was nearly equal thereto.
The numbers of musical instruments exported in
September; 1924, were in each instance above the
average for the nine months in 1923 or the current
year, while the value of accessories and parts was
somewhat lower than the monthly average of this
year but considerably higher than a year ago.
ADVERTISES SEATTLE "PIANO
SALE WITH A REASON"
Montelius Music House Prints Alluring Inducements
for the Thrifty Christmas Buyer.
The Montelius Music House, Seattle, Wash., is
holding a "piano removal sale," which the company
alludes to in its advertising as "A Sale With a Rea-
son." The store of the company at Third avenue
and University avenue has been "leased over our
heads," as the company phrases it so the stock must
be sold to prepare for vacating it. This is printed in
the newspapers:
"Our plan is to dispose of these pianos in the most
direct manner—that is to say—by applying the most
direct means known—and that is to give prospective
customers an incentive to buy by offering them lower
prices than prevailing and by giving them easier
This interesting cut commemorates an important
event for the Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati. It was
made from a photograph taken recently when twelve
•Baldwin concert grand pianos were selected from the
Baldwin factories at random and installed on the
stage of the Emery Auditorium, the leading recital
hall in Cincinnati, for a tone test. Each of these in-
struments was played separately by an experienced
musician and the tone judged by a group of twenty-
five experts in tone production from the Baldwin
factories. This was done in order that the pianos
might be heard under the same identical condition
as under which they will be played—an excellent
illustration of the extreme care which the Baldwin
factories take to insure that every instrument con-
forms to the highest standards and reaches artistic
perfection."
terms than prevailing terms. This is simple, direct
and forceful. The way to get someone to buy some-
thing before one is really ready to buy, or before one
is in a receptive mood to buy, is to make an incen-
tive for one to buy—to offer an inducement, and it is
this known principle that is back of this sale, for we
are compelled to dispose of our entire stock of pianos
as quickly as possible. So give us twenty minutes of
jour time and we will convince yoa that we are offer-
ing real bargains—for we have a real reason for so
doing. Don't put fhis off—get your piano for Christ-
mas."
The new location of the company is not stated.
OLD NEW YORK HOUSE OF
WING & SON IS INCORPORATED
THOS. GOGGAN & BROS.
TO MOVE IN SAN ANTONIO
Progressive Texas Firm to Occupy New Three-Story
Building When Completed.
Thomas Goggan & Bros., San Antonio, Tex., will
soon move to a building recently constructed and
which is being made ready for the aggressive music
firm. The location of the new building is the inter-
section of Broadway and Travis streets, considered
the most desirable for music retailing purposes in the
city. The removal will be made at the conclusion of
a special sale now going on in the old quarters on
Houston street.
The new building is three stories high and of an
architectural type that will add to the attractiveness
of that portion of the business section. The pianos
and other music goods will be displayed in large
and artistically furnished and decorated warerooms
and convenient demonstration rooms will also be pro-
vided.
W. W. SMITH SERIOUSLY INJURED.
W. W. Smith, general manager of the J. W. Greene
Co., Toledo, Ohio, and president of the Music Mer-
chants' National Association, who was severely in-
jured in a collision between his automobile and a
heavy truck, on the Woodville road, near Toledo,
Thanksgiving Day morning, is still in the hospital,
where it is feared he may have to remain for some
time. Mr. Smith sustained a fracture of his left arm
and Mrs. Smith was badly shaken up and bruised.
WITH HOBART M. CABLE CO.
P. L Hanson, formerly manager of the piano busi-
ness at South Bend, Ind., known as Dependable
Music Stores, Inc., is now traveling in the territory
of Illinois and Missouri for the Hobart M. Cable Co.,
of La Porte, Ind. Mr. Hanson has moved his resi-
dence to Danville, III.
Instruments Which Have Borne a Good Name Will
Be Continued with Renewed Vigor.
Among this week's incorporations in New York
City is that of Wing & Son, to make pianos, with
capital of $151,200. R. D. and L. S. and T. D.
Wing, incorporators. (Attorneys, Spencer, Ordway
& Wierum, 27 William St.)
It will be recalled that Frank L. Wing, son of the
founder of the old industry of Wing & Son, died
suddenly on October 6. He was the last survivor of
the original firm and there has been interest in the
trade as to what the future of Wing & Son might
be. It is a satisfaction to know that the industry
will continue.
The instruments of Wing & Son have been good
ones from the start. The business has been largely
of the mail order and retail order, but there are a
number of good dealers who handle the instruments,
nevertheless. No doubt from this time forward the
Wing pianos will have a wider sale than ever before,
for the future of the piano trade looks promising.
GULBRANSEN COMPANY'S
ART CALENDAR FOR 1925
Three Handsome Designs Issued and Plans Already
Made for Issue of 1926.
The Gulbransen Co., Chicago, has issued three Gul-
bransen calendars for 1925. One is entitled "'Neath
Holland Skies," and two other designs, "Love's
Golden treasure," and "The Silvery Divide," make
up a trio of calendars which represent the Gulbran-
sen Company's first year's endeavor in a dealers'
art calendar service.
The reception by the trade has been so favorable
that plans are being laid to launch a very extensive
campaign for the use of Gulbransen art calendars
for the year 1926. A special Gulbransen design, fea-
turing the product iself in a multi-colored art calen-
dar, will be one of the novelties to be presented in
the trade.
SERVICE FOR PIANO OWNERS.
The Bergman Piano Store, Fort Madison, Iowa,
has added a service department where pianos and
players of all makes may be repaired. It is another
mark of the progressiveness of the store at 813 Sec-
ond street.
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/
HARPENOLA AND RADIO
COMBINATION IS MADE
December 6, 1924.
MAKING BALDWIN TONE TEST
Instrument Devised by C. C. Russell Has Per-
sisted and Is Now Made at Celina, Ohio,
with Radio Attachment.
Nearly ten years ago it was announced that C. C.
Russell, at one time a prominent Chicago piano man-
ufacturer, had invented a new musical instrument. It
was of the self-playing reed-wind-orchestra type—a
pneumatic instrument in which several sets of reeds
were used. Tts musical effects were peculiarly pow-
erful, considering its small size. The instrument was
christened the "Harpenola" and a company was or-
ganized for the purpose of making and marketing it.
The first office and wareroom was in the Auditorium
building, Chicago. A very live gentleman, named
Murphy, was made president of the company and
effort was made to interest capital.
Later Mr. Russell retired, taking a good-sized
block of stock for his invention. The Harpenola
was exploited in several cities, particularly in Indian-
apolis, but until recently it did not seen to attract
the desired substance with which to make progress.
But now comes word that the radio eruption has
been the means of making the Harpenola popular,
and is is hoped that the instrument will now not only
help along the trade, but make hard-working Mr.
Russell as rich as he deserves.
The Harpenola is now made at Celina, Ohio, and
a local paper gives some particulars of its combina-
tion with the Federal Radio industry, as follows:
The experimental stage passed with, the radio
and its permanency assured, the Celina manufac-
turers decided that it should be made an adjunct
to the Harpenola. To this end a most harmonious
and successful combination has been effected at
the Harpenola works, whose output now consists
of a combined Federal Radio and the Harpenola.
The one amplifier answers both the purpose of the
radio and the Harpenola.
With the new combined Federal Radic and Har-
penola the possessor is afforded infinite variety
and entertainment. The cases for the Harpenola
are the skilled workmanship of the Celina Specialty
Co. Thence these are transferred to the Harpenola
works, the former Miami Tractor building, where
they are assembled, the radio features added, and
then made ready for the market. H. A. Beam is
the manager of the Harpenola works and he reports
a good business outlook for the new combination.
The building now occupied by the company has
been extensively remodeled. A new power plant
has been installed and a new office has been built,
together with other changes and innovations that
make the enterprise a model factory in all its work-
ing details.
EFFECT OF REMOVAL OF
McKENNA DUTIES NOTED
In Musical Instrument Imports Into England a
Heavy Increase Is Reported.
The effect of the removal of the McKenna rates of
duty on the imports of musical instruments in'.o Eng-
land is clearly apparent in the official trade returns.
In all classes of musical instruments there has oc-
curred a heavy increase since July.
During the last two months of the third quarter of
1924 the imports of organs, pianos, and other musical
instruments were considerably more numerous than
during the first half year, and the value of parts
and accessories was nearly equal thereto.
The numbers of musical instruments exported in
September; 1924, were in each instance above the
average for the nine months in 1923 or the current
year, while the value of accessories and parts was
somewhat lower than the monthly average of this
year but considerably higher than a year ago.
ADVERTISES SEATTLE "PIANO
SALE WITH A REASON"
Montelius Music House Prints Alluring Inducements
for the Thrifty Christmas Buyer.
The Montelius Music House, Seattle, Wash., is
holding a "piano removal sale," which the company
alludes to in its advertising as "A Sale With a Rea-
son." The store of the company at Third avenue
and University avenue has been "leased over our
heads," as the company phrases it so the stock must
be sold to prepare for vacating it. This is printed in
the newspapers:
"Our plan is to dispose of these pianos in the most
direct manner—that is to say—by applying the most
direct means known—and that is to give prospective
customers an incentive to buy by offering them lower
prices than prevailing and by giving them easier
This interesting cut commemorates an important
event for the Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati. It was
made from a photograph taken recently when twelve
•Baldwin concert grand pianos were selected from the
Baldwin factories at random and installed on the
stage of the Emery Auditorium, the leading recital
hall in Cincinnati, for a tone test. Each of these in-
struments was played separately by an experienced
musician and the tone judged by a group of twenty-
five experts in tone production from the Baldwin
factories. This was done in order that the pianos
might be heard under the same identical condition
as under which they will be played—an excellent
illustration of the extreme care which the Baldwin
factories take to insure that every instrument con-
forms to the highest standards and reaches artistic
perfection."
terms than prevailing terms. This is simple, direct
and forceful. The way to get someone to buy some-
thing before one is really ready to buy, or before one
is in a receptive mood to buy, is to make an incen-
tive for one to buy—to offer an inducement, and it is
this known principle that is back of this sale, for we
are compelled to dispose of our entire stock of pianos
as quickly as possible. So give us twenty minutes of
jour time and we will convince yoa that we are offer-
ing real bargains—for we have a real reason for so
doing. Don't put fhis off—get your piano for Christ-
mas."
The new location of the company is not stated.
OLD NEW YORK HOUSE OF
WING & SON IS INCORPORATED
THOS. GOGGAN & BROS.
TO MOVE IN SAN ANTONIO
Progressive Texas Firm to Occupy New Three-Story
Building When Completed.
Thomas Goggan & Bros., San Antonio, Tex., will
soon move to a building recently constructed and
which is being made ready for the aggressive music
firm. The location of the new building is the inter-
section of Broadway and Travis streets, considered
the most desirable for music retailing purposes in the
city. The removal will be made at the conclusion of
a special sale now going on in the old quarters on
Houston street.
The new building is three stories high and of an
architectural type that will add to the attractiveness
of that portion of the business section. The pianos
and other music goods will be displayed in large
and artistically furnished and decorated warerooms
and convenient demonstration rooms will also be pro-
vided.
W. W. SMITH SERIOUSLY INJURED.
W. W. Smith, general manager of the J. W. Greene
Co., Toledo, Ohio, and president of the Music Mer-
chants' National Association, who was severely in-
jured in a collision between his automobile and a
heavy truck, on the Woodville road, near Toledo,
Thanksgiving Day morning, is still in the hospital,
where it is feared he may have to remain for some
time. Mr. Smith sustained a fracture of his left arm
and Mrs. Smith was badly shaken up and bruised.
WITH HOBART M. CABLE CO.
P. L Hanson, formerly manager of the piano busi-
ness at South Bend, Ind., known as Dependable
Music Stores, Inc., is now traveling in the territory
of Illinois and Missouri for the Hobart M. Cable Co.,
of La Porte, Ind. Mr. Hanson has moved his resi-
dence to Danville, III.
Instruments Which Have Borne a Good Name Will
Be Continued with Renewed Vigor.
Among this week's incorporations in New York
City is that of Wing & Son, to make pianos, with
capital of $151,200. R. D. and L. S. and T. D.
Wing, incorporators. (Attorneys, Spencer, Ordway
& Wierum, 27 William St.)
It will be recalled that Frank L. Wing, son of the
founder of the old industry of Wing & Son, died
suddenly on October 6. He was the last survivor of
the original firm and there has been interest in the
trade as to what the future of Wing & Son might
be. It is a satisfaction to know that the industry
will continue.
The instruments of Wing & Son have been good
ones from the start. The business has been largely
of the mail order and retail order, but there are a
number of good dealers who handle the instruments,
nevertheless. No doubt from this time forward the
Wing pianos will have a wider sale than ever before,
for the future of the piano trade looks promising.
GULBRANSEN COMPANY'S
ART CALENDAR FOR 1925
Three Handsome Designs Issued and Plans Already
Made for Issue of 1926.
The Gulbransen Co., Chicago, has issued three Gul-
bransen calendars for 1925. One is entitled "'Neath
Holland Skies," and two other designs, "Love's
Golden treasure," and "The Silvery Divide," make
up a trio of calendars which represent the Gulbran-
sen Company's first year's endeavor in a dealers'
art calendar service.
The reception by the trade has been so favorable
that plans are being laid to launch a very extensive
campaign for the use of Gulbransen art calendars
for the year 1926. A special Gulbransen design, fea-
turing the product iself in a multi-colored art calen-
dar, will be one of the novelties to be presented in
the trade.
SERVICE FOR PIANO OWNERS.
The Bergman Piano Store, Fort Madison, Iowa,
has added a service department where pianos and
players of all makes may be repaired. It is another
mark of the progressiveness of the store at 813 Sec-
ond street.
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).