Presto

June 20, 1925.
PRESTO
MORE OF LAST WEEK'S SPECIAL EXHIBITS
Manufacturers' Showing of New Styles Proved
to Be One of the Most Interesting Fea-
tures of Last Week's Convention in
Chicago.
pianos in various finishes. John H. Parnham, pres-
ident of the company; J. L, Barron, vice-president
and superintendent; W. A. Carlson, sales manager;
O. C. Stone, advertising manager, and the following
sales representatives: Cliff David, Bob Johnson, W.
W. Radcliffe and J. Gormly attended at the exhibit.
INTEREST DEALERS
BIG STRAUBE DISPLAY.
Dealers from All Parts of the Country Show Un-
usual Interest in Convention Activities and
Exhibits.
An interesting feature that added to the spirit of
the 28th annual convention of the National Associa-
tion of Music Merchants at the Drake Hotel, Chi-
cago, last week, was the exhibition of musical mer-
chandise which ranged from the smallest accessory to
the largest concert grand, and represented 133 firms.
Seventy-five Piano Exhibits.
Of the 133' exhibits, 75 were piano exhibits, and
every size, style and design was shown. Piano man-
ufacturers occupied elaborate suites, from the ninth
floor to the mezzanine. In some instances there were
as many as ten instruments shown by one manufac-
turer. The trend of the displays, however, was to-
wards the period design. Many manufacturers ar-
ranged their display rooms to effect a good showing
of some period design. Among the designs noted
at the convention were the Louis V, Louis VI, Queen
Ann, Italian Renaissance, Gothic. These period de-
signs created as much of a sensation as the leaders
of different manufacturers.
List of Exhibitors.
The following is a list of piano, phonograph, radio,
band instruments and supplies, as a matter of record:
Aeolian Co., Autopiano Company, Adler Mfg. Co.,
Auto Pneumatic Action Co., Apollo Grand Piano Co.
George P. Bent Co , The Baldwin Co., H. C. Bay
Co., Brambach Piano Co., Brinkerhoff Piano Co.,
Brunswick-Balke Collander Co., Buegeleisen & Ja-
cobson Co., Buescher Band Instrument Co., Bush &
Lane Piano Co., Bush & Gertz Piano Co., Behr Bros.
Co., Bacon Banjo Co.
Cable-Nelson Piano Co., Chase-Hackley Piano Co.,
Chicago Musical Instrument Co., Cole & Dumas,
C. G. Conn, Co., Inc., Consolidated Talking Machine
Co., Continental Music Co., Continental Piano Co.,
Christman Piano Co., Conway Securities, Hobart M.
Cable Co , Cleo Violin Strings.
Davenport & Treacy Co., De Kalb Piano Co., Ja-
cob Doll & Sons.
Estey Piano Co., J. B. Ferguson, Inc., Jesse French
& Sons Piano Co., Gibson, Inc., Geib & Schaefer,
Gretsch Mfg. Co., Gulbransen Co., Gretsch & Pren-
ner, General Phonograph Corp., William Gotsch &
Co.
Haddorf Piano Co., Hallet & Davis Co., Hazelton
Bros, Holland Piano Co., Holton & Co., W. P.
Haines Co.
Illinois Musical Supply Co., Ivers & Pond Piano
Co., H. G. Johnson Co., E. P. Johnson Piano Co.,
Jewett Piano Co., W. W. Kimball Co., Kohler &
Campbell Co., Kurtzrnan Piano Co.
Ludwig & Co., Leinge, W. L., Leedy Mfg. Co.,
Lester Piano Co, Lyon & Healy, Ludwig & Ludwig
Co., McPhail Piano Co., Martin Band Instrument
Co., Meissner Piano Co., P. G. Mehlin & Sons.
Nordland Grand Piano Co., Nelson-Wiggen Co.,
New York Band Instrument Co., Pan American Band
Instrument Co., Packard Piano Co., Pratt-Reed Play-
er Action Co., Premier Grand Piano Corp., Peerless
Pneumatic Action Co., Poole Piano Co., Ricca &
Sons.
Schaff Bros., Schumann Co., Schiller Piano Co., J.
P. Seeburg Co., Settergren Piano Co., Shoninger Pi-
ano Co., Sonora Co., Sigler Player Action Co., Chas.
F. Stein Co., Steger Bros. Piano Mfg. Co., Sigler
Cabinet Co., Schubert Piano Co., Steinert & Sons
Co., Straube Piano Co., Standard Pneumatic Action
Co., Story & Clark Piano Co, Strauch Pneumatic
Action Co., Simplex Action Co., Starr Piano Co.
Thermiodyne Radio Corp., United Piano Corp,
Waltham Piano Co., Weaver Piano Co., Western
Electric Piano Co., H. N. White Co., Wurlitzer Co.,
Winter Piano Co., Welte Mignon Corp., Zenith Ra-
dio Corp.
Most of the displays were described in earlier is-
sues of Presto. Following are references to some
others of the more important exhibits which added to
last week's interest at the Drake Hotel.
CABLE-NELSON EXHIBIT.
The Cable-Nelson Piano Co. of South Haven,
Mich., had an exhibit at Room M-H, where a com-
plete line of Cable-Nelson instruments was displayed
and demonstrated. The line included grands in ma-
hogany finish, reproducing grands in fancy walnut
finish, as well as a representative exhibit of upright
The Straube Piano Co. of Hammond, Ind., occu-
pied Suite 324, 325 and 326 at the Drake Hotel dur-
ing the convention with a display consisting of
Straube grands, player-pianos and uprights, as well
as the celebrated Hammond and Gilmore pianos and
player-pianos. The Straube Artronome player action
was on exhibition. The Straube exhibit was in charge
of E. R. Jacobson, president; C. H. J. Thorby, vice-
president; A. T. Schuldes, treasurer; J. R. Adams,
advertising manager, and W. G. Betz, general super-
intendent. Salesmen who were present were J. N.
England, James A. Terry, D. L. Sterling and Luther
Barnett.
ADAM SCHAAF IN WAREROOMS.
Adam Schaaf, Inc., Chicago, showed at the ware-
rooms, 319 to 321 S. Wabash avenue, a complete line,
including a new Grand, the Authentic Queen Anne
model. The force of wholesale travelers of the com-
pany who have successfully exploited the fine Adam
Schaaf line, were present at the company's ware-
rooms during the convention. Ira P. Nelson, I. M.
Douthit, George D. Field, Harry T. Sipe, Henry D.
Gearmen met old friends in the trade.
A SCHUMANN DISPLAY.
The Schumann Piano Co., Rockford, 111., had an
interesting display at the Drake Hotel, including
three styles of grands, one player-piano and two
upright instruments in mahogany, walnut and two-
tone finish. W. N. Van Matre, Jr., president of the
company; Charles B. Mclntosh, vice-president, and
Victor Hrdlicka were there to greet visitors.
BRINKERHOFF SHOWS.
The Brinkerhoff Piano Co., Chicago, featured its
new reproducing five-foot grand, as well as other
instruments, in Rooms 211-212 and 214 at the Drake
Hotel. W. T. Brinkerhoff, president and general
manager, assisted by W. J. Olson and W. Shanz,
greeted visitors. The company's warerooms on the
tenth floor of the Republic building also contained
special displays for convention work.
SCHAEFFER & CARLETON.
The Schaeffer Piano Mfg. Co., Suite 610 the Re-
public Building, displayed its various lines in its
warerooms, where pleasant facilities for showing
the goods made the showing more effective. Player-
pianos, grands and uprights were shown. The line
includes the Schaeffer and Carleton pianos and play-
er-pianos. W. B. Price and B. J. Heing were on hand
to greet visitors.
NEW WALTHAM PLAYERS SHOWN.
The Waltham Piano Co. of Milwaukee, Wis., ex-
hibited its new styles of Waltham player-pianos,
Waltham Harpenola, the Waltham Tone Resonator
and the new Waltham Ivorlith keyboard, in Suite 135
and 136 at the Drake Hotel during the convention.
In addition to these displays the company had on
exhibition eight Waltham player-pianos in new styles.
Paul F. Netzow is president of the company.
SCHILLER SUPER-GRAND.
Schiller Super-Grand piano in Gothic period design
was a feature of the elaborate display made
by the Schiller Piano Co. of Oregon, 111., and Chi-
cago during the week of the convention. Edgar B.
Jones, president of the company; Frank M. Hood,
vice-president, and Frank Jordan, sales manager, were
at the display rooms, Suite 854-855, the Drake, to
receive visitors. In addition the company kept open
house at its Chicago warerooms, 932 Republic Build-
ing, where the complete line was shown.
FIFTY-FIFTY FOR MATHUSHEK.
At the noon-day luncheon Wednesday, J. W. Stevens,
of the Mathushek Piano Manufacturing Company,
glancing along the line of faces at the speakers' table,
observed that of the dozen or so gentlemen occupying
this place of honor six were Mathushek representatives
—that is, six of the number at the speakers' table were
sellers of the Mathushek piano. "Fifty-fifty is some
proportion," remarked Mr. Stevens, and there was no
dissent.
JESSE FRENCH AND SON.
A good deal of regret was expressed around the
Drake this week that Jesse French and his son, H.
Edgar, of the piano industry at New Castle, Ind , could
not be present at the convention. Mr. French, Sr., has
been ill and could not leave his St. Louis home though
he is improving. H. Edgar French could not arrange
to get his complete removal from- his winter home
in Bourne, Tex., in time, though he had tried hard
to do so. It is expected that both gentlemen will be
back in New Castle in the near future.
JULIUS BRECKWOLDT IN CHICAGO.
One of the prominent supply men in attendance at
the convention is Julius Breckwoldt, head of the great
sounding board, and other wood supplies, at Dolgeville,
N. Y. Mr. Breckwoldt was greeted constantly by
friends and customers in the piano industry, and he was
a very busy guest a greater part of the time. He said
that the signs were pointing to a busy fall for the
piano manufacturers—and naturally, also, for the
dealers.
ELABORATE DISPLAY OF
THE M. SCHULZ CO. LINE
Bardini Italian Renaissance Reproducing Grand Was
a Center of Attraction at the Drake.
The M. Schulz Co., 711 Milwaukee avenue, Chicago,
displayed its extensive line of pianos, including grands,
uprights and players, in Suite M-15. At all times dur-
ing the convention the M. Schulz showroom was the
center of interest, and much enthusiasm was shown by
dealers who viewed the instruments on display.
A feature of the exhibit was the Bardini Italian
Renaissance reproducing grand, with the Aria Divina
reproducing action. This instrument, which has a length
of five feet, of burl walnut and finished in lacquer an-
tique, was a sensation. It received the praise of all who
inspected it and heard its tone.
NELSON =WIGGEN CO. STYLES
WERE SHOWN TO DEALERS
Oscar Nelson, President, and Lee Jones, Sales-Man-
ager, Explain Many Merits of Line.
The Nelson-Wiggen Co., Chicago, did not overlook
the opportunity to display the finest in its line of
automatics in Room 608 at the Drake last week. The
fact that three new styles were included in the exhibit
made it one of the best attended at the convention.
Dealers who have been in the automatic business for
a number of years expressed their interest in the new
styles, which are the latest achievement of the big
Chicago industry.
Lee Jones, sales manager, expressed his satisfaction
of the result of the exhibit and can see great possi-
bilities for the Nelson-Wiggen line in the trade.
BALDWIN LINE MADE
NEW FRIENDS AT DRAKE
Wide Line of the Cincinnati Industry and Pleasant
Reception Pleases Convention Visitors.
The Baldwin Piano Co., Cincinnati, chose an admir-
able location for the exhibition of its line at the Drake
Hotel last week. Instruments that exemplify the fine
construction and tone of the Baldwin were shown in a
well appointed suite on the mezzanine floor. The
exhibit ranged from the small school piano, in an
upright model, to a handsome reproducing grand in
period design.
A large electric sign Hashing the word Baldwin was
plainly visible from the mezzanine floor and the lobby
below.
Accompanying the exhibit were officials of the home
offices of the Baldwin Piano Co., and also from the
Baldwin Chicago branch.
EXHIBIT SWELLED LIST
OF WESTERN ELECTRIC
A. F. Larson and P. C. Waters Well Pleased with
Results of Convention Exhibit.
An immediate expansion of the line of automatic
instruments of the Western Electric Co., Chicago,
is assured by the fine results obtained during the con-
vention last week. Dealers who inspected the gen-
eral construction and finish of the three different
styles on display were convinced that the claim of the
company of producing the latest and finest in auto-
matic pianos was justified.
Knowing that its line contained novel features, the
Chicago industry anticipated a great deal of interest
on the part of visiting merchants. However, the
number of music merchants who were favorably im-
pressed with the line were far greater than expected.
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