Presto
Issue: 1925 2033 - Page 10
10
July 11, 1925.
PRESTO
upon the firm very shortly became simply Jesse
French.
As his own business it prospered, extending
branches to St. Louis, in charge of his brother-in-
law, O. A. Field, and to Memphis, in charge of his
step-nephew, O. K. Houck, and also branches at
Joyous Incidents Commemorate the Fiftieth Birmingham and Little Rock. These were consoli-
dated into the Jesse French Piano & Organ Company
Anniversary of His Entrance Into
in 1887, and in 1890 he and the other members of the
the Music Business.
tirm joined in forming the Starr Piano Company to
the business of James M. Starr & Com-
The fiftieth anniversary of the entrance of Jesse take over
so that the Jesse French Piano & Organ Com-
French, president of the Jesse French & Sons Piano pany,
would have goods of its own manufacture to
Company, New Castle, Tnd., into the music in- pany
market.
It is rather significant that Jesse French
dustry is being celebrated by the company, pianos were
made in this factory in the days of
and omang other incidents to commemorate Milo J. Chase, first
before it became the Starr piano plant.
the event was the distribution of the Jubilee
In 1902 the French family sold all of its holdings
Calendar which was a pleasing gift to visitors to
the Jesse French & Sons exhibit during the recent in the Jesse French Piano & Organ Company and a
little bit later disposed of the Starr Piano Company's
trade convention in Chicago.
holdings, to concentrate on the upbuilding of the
The celebration recalled the interesting history of Jesse French & Sons pianos at New Castle, Ind.
Mr. French which in the interval from a particular
This brief review brings events up to the Golden
date in 1872 to the present time is filled with incidents Jubilee, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Jesse
showing his activity of mind and thoroughness of French's entrance into the piano business proper,
action. Mr. French's first association with the music although he really has been connected with the music
business was when he bought out the sheet music business for fifty-three years.
business of J. A. McClure, Nashville, Tenn., in 1872.
It was a great disappointment to all of Mr.
But he got into the piano business in 1875 as a mem- French's friends that his health did not permit him
ber of the firm of R. Dorman & Co.
to attend the convention, but his family is glad to
Very shortly thereafter F. G. Smith made a prop- report that he is now regaining his strength and
osition that he would put some capital into the firm vitality.
and supply pianos "at a concession," so the firm of
Dorman, French & Smith came into being. Mr. Dor-
man looked after the local business at Nashville while
Mr. French was on the road, and the firm of Dorman,
French & Smith did business anywhere fram Pitts-
burgh to San Antonio.
Upon returning from Texas after a long, hard, but Automobile Trip to Pacific Coast of Well Known
Piano Men Began This Week.
successful trip, he found that the "concessions" made
by his manufacturing partner were all in favor of
There is only one regret in connection with this
the factory, and the collections made by his mer- story; no camera man was on hand to snap a picture
chandising partner, and which he had sent in as of the jolly party that left Chicago on the morning
result of his sales, had all been used to pay old of July 6, via motor car, for the Pacific coast.
debts for which he was not responsible, and of which
In the party were T. N. Rice and wife, who were
he knew nothing. This placed him in the usual piano the guests of Frank L. Jordan and wife. Mr. Jordan,
man's position of having a lot of experience, plenty who is general representative of the Schiller Piano
of liabilities and "very little working capital, where- Company, planned the trip several weeks ago during
the music trades convention at Chicago, and as Mr.
Rice had looked forward for some time to taking
just such a trip, the invitation to join the Jordans
came at a very opportune time.
They will go over the Lincoln Highway to San
Francisco, then up and down the coast, possibly
stopping at a number of other points.
The reason for regretting that we were unable to
obtain a photo of the globe trotters is due to the big
sign on the rear of the machine, which read: "Safety
First. Schiller Pianos Always," which will no doubt
do much to advertise the well known instrument. It's
a safe bet, and so they're helping along a good cause.
Incidentally it might be noted that this is Mr.
Rice's second honeymoon, for though he has been
married some months the occasion was none the
less fitting for a romantic trip. It never matters
how many milestones we pass on life's highway, love
A moderate priced reproducing piano,
is ever the same, and it keeps us young.
beautiful in design and rich in tone.
Write for our new explanatory Chart,
the most complete and simple treat-
ment of the reproducing action.
JESSE FRENCH IN
JUBILEE CELEBRATION
JORDAN=RICE PARTY
OFF FOR CALIFORNIA
The Lyon & Healy
Reproducing Piano
Wabash at Jackson - - - Chicago
Builders or Incomparable
[[PIANOS, PLAYER5\REPR0Dl)CING WANOS
THE BALDWIN
CO-OPERATIVE
PLAN
will increase your sales and
solve your financing problems.
Write to the nearest office
for prices.
AUSTRALIA ADOPTS
MUSIC MEMORY CONTEST
A Scheme of Promotion Now Being Agitated by the
Australian Musical News.
That characteristically American institution, the
Music Memory Contest, has lately been transplanted
in Australia. A scheme of such competitions through-
out that country has been agitated by the Australian
Musical News. That paper offered a prize of ten
pounds for a contest in connection with the South
Street Festival at Ballarat. In announcing the plan,,
the News cited the fact that similar contests had been
held in more than 12,000 cities and towns in the
United States.
The same project was broached in connection with
the Lismore Musical Festival in New South Wales,
being proposed by Dr. Cahill at a meeting of the
Festival Society.
ADDS LINK TO CHAIN.
A. C. Cavedo is manager of the new Greensboro,
N. C, branch of the Corley Co. Mr. Cavedo is man-
ager of the North Carolina district of the company
and will devote about half of his time to the second
link in the Corley Co.'s North Carolina chain of
music stores.
OPENS FLORIDA BRANCH.
CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS
LOUISVILLE
INCORPORATED
CHICAGO
DALLAS
ST. LOCIS
DENVER,
NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO
Edward C. Short is manager of a branch music
store of the Burton Music Co., of West Palm Beach,
Fla., recently opened in the Ingram Arcade, Holly-
wood, Fla. The store will handle Kranich & Bach,
Straube and Kroeger pianos as well as phonographs,
small goods and sheet music.
R. A. BURKE RETURNS
FROM NORTHWEST TRIP
General Conditions of Northwest States Good,
Reports Story & Clark Traveler After Suc-
cessful Invasion of That Section.
A post-convention trip was recently completed by
R. A. Burke, Story & Clark Piano Co.'s traveler, in
which the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, North
and South Dakota were visited and conditions ob-
served. The trade in that section is steady and has
caused dealers and manufacturers no worry as to
the summer and fall business.
"Business conditions in general are good in the
states I visited and the prospects are fine for a good
steady summer and fall trade," said Mr. Burke to a
Presto reporter this week.
The Story & Clark exhibit at the convention, which
pleased old friends and won many new ones for the
Story & Clark line, was attended by Mr. Burke,
whose principal objective in the Northwestern tour
was to call on the new dealers of the company.
The Hoskins Music Co., Cheyenne, Wyo., has
taken over the agency for the Zenith line.
SPENCER
The Intrinsic Qualities of This
Piano Command Attention
A High Grade Instrument at a
Moderate Price
First Class Factory and Equipment
Ample Production and Service
SPENCER PIANO COMPANY, Inc.
FACTORY: Thirty-FirsI St. and First Ave.
OFFICES: 338 E««t 31st Street, New York N. Y.
E. Leins Piano Co.
Makers of Pianos and
Player Pianos That Are
Established L e a d e r s
Correspondence from Reliable
Dealers Invited
Facfory and Offices, 304 W. 42nd St
NEW YORK
"Built on Family Pride"
Doll & Sons
Represent the Artistic
in Piano and Player Piano
Construction
JACOB DOLL & SONS
STODART
WELLSMORE
Jacob Doll & Sons, Inc.
Southern Boulevard, E. 133rd St.
E. 134th St. and Cypreu Ave.
NEW YORK
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/
July 11, 1925.
PRESTO
upon the firm very shortly became simply Jesse
French.
As his own business it prospered, extending
branches to St. Louis, in charge of his brother-in-
law, O. A. Field, and to Memphis, in charge of his
step-nephew, O. K. Houck, and also branches at
Joyous Incidents Commemorate the Fiftieth Birmingham and Little Rock. These were consoli-
dated into the Jesse French Piano & Organ Company
Anniversary of His Entrance Into
in 1887, and in 1890 he and the other members of the
the Music Business.
tirm joined in forming the Starr Piano Company to
the business of James M. Starr & Com-
The fiftieth anniversary of the entrance of Jesse take over
so that the Jesse French Piano & Organ Com-
French, president of the Jesse French & Sons Piano pany,
would have goods of its own manufacture to
Company, New Castle, Tnd., into the music in- pany
market.
It is rather significant that Jesse French
dustry is being celebrated by the company, pianos were
made in this factory in the days of
and omang other incidents to commemorate Milo J. Chase, first
before it became the Starr piano plant.
the event was the distribution of the Jubilee
In 1902 the French family sold all of its holdings
Calendar which was a pleasing gift to visitors to
the Jesse French & Sons exhibit during the recent in the Jesse French Piano & Organ Company and a
little bit later disposed of the Starr Piano Company's
trade convention in Chicago.
holdings, to concentrate on the upbuilding of the
The celebration recalled the interesting history of Jesse French & Sons pianos at New Castle, Ind.
Mr. French which in the interval from a particular
This brief review brings events up to the Golden
date in 1872 to the present time is filled with incidents Jubilee, celebrating the fiftieth anniversary of Jesse
showing his activity of mind and thoroughness of French's entrance into the piano business proper,
action. Mr. French's first association with the music although he really has been connected with the music
business was when he bought out the sheet music business for fifty-three years.
business of J. A. McClure, Nashville, Tenn., in 1872.
It was a great disappointment to all of Mr.
But he got into the piano business in 1875 as a mem- French's friends that his health did not permit him
ber of the firm of R. Dorman & Co.
to attend the convention, but his family is glad to
Very shortly thereafter F. G. Smith made a prop- report that he is now regaining his strength and
osition that he would put some capital into the firm vitality.
and supply pianos "at a concession," so the firm of
Dorman, French & Smith came into being. Mr. Dor-
man looked after the local business at Nashville while
Mr. French was on the road, and the firm of Dorman,
French & Smith did business anywhere fram Pitts-
burgh to San Antonio.
Upon returning from Texas after a long, hard, but Automobile Trip to Pacific Coast of Well Known
Piano Men Began This Week.
successful trip, he found that the "concessions" made
by his manufacturing partner were all in favor of
There is only one regret in connection with this
the factory, and the collections made by his mer- story; no camera man was on hand to snap a picture
chandising partner, and which he had sent in as of the jolly party that left Chicago on the morning
result of his sales, had all been used to pay old of July 6, via motor car, for the Pacific coast.
debts for which he was not responsible, and of which
In the party were T. N. Rice and wife, who were
he knew nothing. This placed him in the usual piano the guests of Frank L. Jordan and wife. Mr. Jordan,
man's position of having a lot of experience, plenty who is general representative of the Schiller Piano
of liabilities and "very little working capital, where- Company, planned the trip several weeks ago during
the music trades convention at Chicago, and as Mr.
Rice had looked forward for some time to taking
just such a trip, the invitation to join the Jordans
came at a very opportune time.
They will go over the Lincoln Highway to San
Francisco, then up and down the coast, possibly
stopping at a number of other points.
The reason for regretting that we were unable to
obtain a photo of the globe trotters is due to the big
sign on the rear of the machine, which read: "Safety
First. Schiller Pianos Always," which will no doubt
do much to advertise the well known instrument. It's
a safe bet, and so they're helping along a good cause.
Incidentally it might be noted that this is Mr.
Rice's second honeymoon, for though he has been
married some months the occasion was none the
less fitting for a romantic trip. It never matters
how many milestones we pass on life's highway, love
A moderate priced reproducing piano,
is ever the same, and it keeps us young.
beautiful in design and rich in tone.
Write for our new explanatory Chart,
the most complete and simple treat-
ment of the reproducing action.
JESSE FRENCH IN
JUBILEE CELEBRATION
JORDAN=RICE PARTY
OFF FOR CALIFORNIA
The Lyon & Healy
Reproducing Piano
Wabash at Jackson - - - Chicago
Builders or Incomparable
[[PIANOS, PLAYER5\REPR0Dl)CING WANOS
THE BALDWIN
CO-OPERATIVE
PLAN
will increase your sales and
solve your financing problems.
Write to the nearest office
for prices.
AUSTRALIA ADOPTS
MUSIC MEMORY CONTEST
A Scheme of Promotion Now Being Agitated by the
Australian Musical News.
That characteristically American institution, the
Music Memory Contest, has lately been transplanted
in Australia. A scheme of such competitions through-
out that country has been agitated by the Australian
Musical News. That paper offered a prize of ten
pounds for a contest in connection with the South
Street Festival at Ballarat. In announcing the plan,,
the News cited the fact that similar contests had been
held in more than 12,000 cities and towns in the
United States.
The same project was broached in connection with
the Lismore Musical Festival in New South Wales,
being proposed by Dr. Cahill at a meeting of the
Festival Society.
ADDS LINK TO CHAIN.
A. C. Cavedo is manager of the new Greensboro,
N. C, branch of the Corley Co. Mr. Cavedo is man-
ager of the North Carolina district of the company
and will devote about half of his time to the second
link in the Corley Co.'s North Carolina chain of
music stores.
OPENS FLORIDA BRANCH.
CINCINNATI
INDIANAPOLIS
LOUISVILLE
INCORPORATED
CHICAGO
DALLAS
ST. LOCIS
DENVER,
NEW YORK SAN FRANCISCO
Edward C. Short is manager of a branch music
store of the Burton Music Co., of West Palm Beach,
Fla., recently opened in the Ingram Arcade, Holly-
wood, Fla. The store will handle Kranich & Bach,
Straube and Kroeger pianos as well as phonographs,
small goods and sheet music.
R. A. BURKE RETURNS
FROM NORTHWEST TRIP
General Conditions of Northwest States Good,
Reports Story & Clark Traveler After Suc-
cessful Invasion of That Section.
A post-convention trip was recently completed by
R. A. Burke, Story & Clark Piano Co.'s traveler, in
which the states of Wisconsin, Minnesota, North
and South Dakota were visited and conditions ob-
served. The trade in that section is steady and has
caused dealers and manufacturers no worry as to
the summer and fall business.
"Business conditions in general are good in the
states I visited and the prospects are fine for a good
steady summer and fall trade," said Mr. Burke to a
Presto reporter this week.
The Story & Clark exhibit at the convention, which
pleased old friends and won many new ones for the
Story & Clark line, was attended by Mr. Burke,
whose principal objective in the Northwestern tour
was to call on the new dealers of the company.
The Hoskins Music Co., Cheyenne, Wyo., has
taken over the agency for the Zenith line.
SPENCER
The Intrinsic Qualities of This
Piano Command Attention
A High Grade Instrument at a
Moderate Price
First Class Factory and Equipment
Ample Production and Service
SPENCER PIANO COMPANY, Inc.
FACTORY: Thirty-FirsI St. and First Ave.
OFFICES: 338 E««t 31st Street, New York N. Y.
E. Leins Piano Co.
Makers of Pianos and
Player Pianos That Are
Established L e a d e r s
Correspondence from Reliable
Dealers Invited
Facfory and Offices, 304 W. 42nd St
NEW YORK
"Built on Family Pride"
Doll & Sons
Represent the Artistic
in Piano and Player Piano
Construction
JACOB DOLL & SONS
STODART
WELLSMORE
Jacob Doll & Sons, Inc.
Southern Boulevard, E. 133rd St.
E. 134th St. and Cypreu Ave.
NEW YORK
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).