Presto

January 31, 1925.
CHICAGO'S MUSIC
MANUFACTURING
Making and Distributing of Musical Instru-
ments and Music Rolls Is Interesting
Topic of Charles E. Byrne in Radio
Talk Broadcasted Last Week.
FACTS IN THE CLAIM
Extent of P ; ano and Band Instrument Production
There Convincingly Told to Listening
Radio Fans.
An instructive radio talk was delivered January
20 under the direction of the General Publicity Com-
mittee of the Chicago Association of Commerce from
the Chicago Daily News Station WMAQ, by Charles
E. Byrne, vice-president, Steger & Sons Piano Manu-
facturing Company. Mr. Byrne's topic was "The
Manufacture and Distribution of Musical Instruments
in Chicago," and the subject particularly appealed to
all radio users. These are some of the interesting
facts in Mr. Byrne's talk:
MR. BYRNE'S TALK.
Chicago has the largest individual piano factories
in the world with a capacity of 180,000 pianos and
playerpianos per year. Chicago has twenty-four
piano manufacturing companies with factories in
the city limits and seven companies, whose main of-
lices are in Chicago, with factories in adjacent terri-
tory. Chicago-built pianos have received the highest
awards in this country and abroad.
Chicago leads the world in the manufacture of
piano stools and benches. Chicago leads the world
in the production of player rolls Chicago-made
harps, violins and brass instruments are recognized
the world over for their quality and tonal superiority.
Accomplished in Fifty Years.
This leadership has been accomplished in a little
over half a century—a comparatively short time. To-
day the Chicago district, comprising territory in and
around Chicago, is the largest musical instrument
manufacturing center in the world. In it are located
the largest band instrument plants, the largest
stringed instruments plants, the largest drum fac-
tories and the largest piano factories in the world.
Many years ago a leading piano manufacturer sent
a representative to Philadelphia to sell organs. He
was told by one big concern that the organs were
fine, but they couldn't think of offering them for sale
with the name "Chicago" on them. The manufac-
turer agreed to change the name, because he needed
the order, but he told the dealer that the time would
For a
Bigger and Better
Business
There is nothing to compare
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M. SCHULZ CO.
The Players are RIGHT in
everything t h a t means
money to the dealers and
satisfaction to the public
You will never do anything better
than when you get in touch with
M. SCHULZ CO.
711 Milwaukee Avenue
CHICAGO
OUTHF.RN BRANCH: 730 Gandier Bldfr, ATLANTA. GA
17
PRESTO
come when the name "Chicago" would prove to be
an advantage in making sales, which, as everyone
knows, has come true.
How rapidly musical industries grow in this section
is shown by a Chicago drum concern's history. In
1909 it began business in a back room in a little
cottage on a side street. Today it is known as the
largest concern of its kind in the world with a plant
that represents an outlay of half a million dollars.
Chicago's Banjo Industries.
More banjos are made, in Chicago than in any
other city. The costliest banjos are produced here.
Scarcely a vaudeville act of a musical kind travels
that does not use instruments made in the Chicago
district. Leading orchestras of the country use Chi-
cago-made equipment. The largest maker of cathe-
dral and tower chimes in the world is located in Chi-
cago. These chimes sell the world over. Chicago
leads the country in • harp * production and in the
quality of its harps. The modern playefpiano
mechanism had its birth in Chicago. Almost every-
thing in the musical line from pianos to ukaleles is
made in Chicago.
Advantages of Location.
At a meeting of the Superintendents' Club of the
New York Piano Manufacturers' Association, Mr.
A. K. Gutsohn, president of the National Piano Tech-
nicians' Association, who makes frequent visits to the
middle west, said that manufacturing and labor con-
ditions in the Chicago territory are entirely different
from those with which builders of pianos have to con-
tend in New York. Most of the factories in the west,
he said, are close to large transportation centers,
where it is possible to secure direct delivery of sup-
plies from railroad car to plant, and to make deliv-
eries of completed pianos from plant to railroad car,
thus entirely eliminating the heavy drayage charge,
both in and out, to which manufacturers in New York
are subject.
As for labor, there is a smaller labor turnover in
the west than in the east, Mr. Gutsohn said, prin-
cipally because, in most instances, the western fac-
tory man has his own home and is contented. This,
of course, is rarely the case in New York.
Chicago is a great music center, because of its won-
derful music schools, colleges and conservatories and
because of the marvelous work accomplished by
thousands of musicians and music teachers.
Radio and Music.
Chicago is indebted to the radio users for the fact
that its music industries are growing greater every
day, because radio users are music-lovers. They hear
the foremost artists and finest musicians play on vari-
ous instruments, and I would recommend that those
who are students of music should listen in on radio
talks and programs pertaining to music, because in
that way they will get a better understanding of the
proper interpretation, expression and technique of
music.
The radio, like the phonograph and phonograph
records, has found a natural and important place in
the music trade. It is sold by the majority of music
merchants and is a potent factor in cultivating a
greater appreciation of music. It may be of interest
to mention that the value of radio sets sold through-
out the Linked States has increased within five years
from $2,000,000 to $400,000,000 for last year—and there
are over 300,000 persons employed in the radio
industry.
OKLAHOMA DEALER IN
AUTOMOBILE COLLISION
C. B. Barnett, of Bartlesville, Victim of Wreck Near
Tulsa, Oklahoma.
C. B. Barnett, manager of Barnett Music Company,
of Bartlesville, Oklahoma, was taken to the Oklahoma
Hospital, Tulsa, Okla , January 10, suffering from
severe cuts about the face and on the head suffered
when a car in which he was riding was crashed into
by another driven by an alleged drunken driver. The
accident happened near Turley. Mr. Barnett suffered
a nasty cut on his lip, forehead and back of his head.
Surgeons at the hospital said he lost considerable
blood, but that his condition was satisfactory.
Mr. Barnett, his wife, another couple and their
child were driving north and Zahner, the alleged
drunken driver, was driving south in a coupe. Ac-
cording to the officers, the latter was jay driving and
the cars crashed head on. Zahner was hurled through
the windshield of his car and was still clutching the
steering wheel, which was knocked loose, when he
was picked up. Barnett also was thrown through
the windshield of the car he was riding in. Both cars
were demolished.
HONORING COL. HOLLENBERG.
Colonel F. B. T. Hollenberg, head of the Hollen-
berg Music Co., Little Rock, Ark., made the celebra-
tion of his 1925 birthday anniversary last week some-
thing of a "double header." He was given a luncheon
by friends in Chicago on Thursday noon and cele-
brated the same evening by attendance at the Chicago
Piano & Organ Association dinner at the Chicago
Athletic Club.
WEBSTER PIANOS
Noted for Their Musical Beauty
of Tone and Artistic Style
ATTRACTIVE
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PRICES
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The Good Old
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Sell Readily—Stay Sold
Send to-day for catalogue, prices and
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Smith & Nixon Piano Co.
1229 Miller St., Chicago
Weser Bros., Inc.
520 to 528 W . 43rd St., New York
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