Presto
Issue: 1925 2050 - Page 3
Presto Buyers' Guide
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
PRESTO
E.tabn.hej 1884. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
to cent..- $2.00 « r*a.
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1925
F. A. KNIGHT VICTIM
OF AUTOMOBILE
Former Piano Manufacturer and Owner of the
Ampliphone Co. Killed by Car at Brazil,
Indiana, Was Active in Many Lines
of Music Industry.
FOUNDED DENVER HOUSES
Last Visited His Chicago Offices, in the Republic
Building, in August and Had Been Expected
There This Week.
Frank A. Knight, owner of the Ampliphone Com-
pany, with factory at Brazil, Ind., and offices at 209
South State street, Chicago, was killed October 28
when knocked down by an automobile in the heart
pany, and with his nephew, George P. Atmore, he
organized the Knight-Atmore Clothing Company, in
Denver.
He was a life member of the Denver Athletic Club
and a Mason. Surviving him are his daughter, Mrs.
Henry W. Howard, of 400 South Gilpin street, Den-
ver; two brothers, G. H. of Denver and J. G. of South
Dakota, and George P. Atmore of Denver. His
wife died in 1906.
WILLIAM TONK'S NEW
BOOK NEARLY READY
"Memoirs of a Manufacturer" in Printer's
Hands and Will Be Ready for Delivery
Before the Holidays.
It will be of interest to members of the trade to
know that the book upon which William Tonk, the
head of the old New York piano industry of William
Tonk & Bro., Inc., has been engaged for some time,
will be ready for distribution before the holidays.
Mr. Tonk decided to call his work "Memoirs of a
Manufacturer" and it will contain the story of his
life as a manufacturer through all the varied ex-
periences in wareroom, office and factory, including
his long association as an importer of small musical
instruments and supplies.
An early chapter in Mr. Tonk's memoirs tells very
graphically the story of his experiences in the Chicago
fire of 1871, in which many characters and scenes in
the trade of that time have part. There is a pe-
culiarly crisp chapter describing foreign points of
interest, shorn of the detail which so often encumbers
narratives of travel.
In fact, Mr. Tonk's book will prove of interest to
all men of the music trade, as well as to others who
delight in going over the experiences of men who
have lived lives of action and usefulness. To piano
men there are many incidents in the "Memoirs of
a Manufacturer" which will prove surprising to even
close friends of the author. As a presentation volume
it would be difficult to think of a better opportunity
than the New York piano manufacturer's volume
affords.
ALENCO CLUB ENTERTAINS.
FRANK A. KNIGHT.
of the business district at his home in the former
city. Mr. Knight was crossing the street and appar-
ently did not see the automobile.
He was knocked to the pavement and his skull was
crushed. He died shortly afterward in a hospital.
He was very hard of hearing and did not hear the
automobile's horn, if it was sounded.
Started in Denver.
Mr. Knight was one of the most widely known
members of the musical instrument trade and busi-
ness. Until about twenty years ago he was conspicu-
ous in the music business at Denver, Colorado, where
he was one of the founders of the Knight Bros. &
Waterbury Music Co., now the Knight-Campbell
Music Company.
He left Denver to join the late Col. W. B. Brinker-
hoff in the manufacture of pianos at Charlotte, Mich.
The piano industry was the Knight-Brinkerhoff Piano
Co., and it soon was moved to Jackson, Mich., and
then, when a new factory had been especially built
at Brazil, Indiana, the industry was taken to that
city.
Enters Phonograph Industry.
When Mr. Brinkerhoff withdrew from the Brazil
industry, Mr. Knight took possession of a part of the
plant and established the Ampliphone Company, for
the manufacture of phonographs and cabinets, with
a Chicago office in the Republic Building on State
street.
Frank A. Knight was a man of peculiarly attractive
personality, and as a business man he was enterpris-
ing and broad. He was 75 years of age at the time
of his death. He was a native of Battle Creek, Mich.,
born there in 1850, going to Denver in 1874. With
his brother William he established the music com-
The Alenco Club of the Wiley B. Allen Co., San
Francisco, entertained the employes of the company's
Oakland branch at a Hallowe'en party, Saturday,
October 31, when 120 participated. The supper room
was cleverly decorated in yellow and black, with
black cats, grinning pumpkins and other Hallowe'en
trimmings. A large room was given over to dancing,
with an excellent string orchestra in attendance.
The Alenco (Allen Co.) Club, started last March,
now has a large membership. Miss May Mathews,
of the staff, is temporary president, and Roy B. Miller
is honorary vice-president. Members of the Oakland
staff were guests of honor at the party.
C. T. CARTER OPTIMISTIC.
The most optimistic anticipations for the fall and
winter business in pianos will be realized by the
energetic dealers, according to Charles T. Carter, vice-
president and treasurer of W. P. Haines & Co., New
York, who recently returned from a business trip
through New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and
North Carolina. Mr. Carter stated this week that he
was very agreeably surprised at the spirit of the deal-
ers and the business he secured was up to expecta-
tions. T. L. Floyd-Jones, president of the company,
will leave for a trip west this week.
"MAC"
IS COMING BACK.
Probably there is no music trade paper writer bet-
ter known or more personally popular than Henry
McMullan, who for more than twenty years was con-
nected with the editorial staff of Presto. "Mac," as
he is familiarly known in the trade, has been doing
newspaper work in Detroit for the last two years, but
he decided that he likes the music men better, and
to write about musical affairs best, and so is coming
back to Presto. He will be on his rounds again next
week.
CONTINENTAL PIANO CO.
EMPLOYS NEW FINISH
Satin Duco, the "Armor Plate Finish," Adds
to Beauty and Lasting Lustre of New
Small Uprights.
Simultaneously with the announcement of a new
four foot style "straight" and player, in their Hoff-
mann line, known as the Apartment Upright, The
Continental Piano Company announces that this new
style will be available in the beautiful new Satin Duco,
a finish entirely new to the piano industry.
Satin Duco, made by the E. I. DuPont de Nemours
Company, has already established its popularity
through its many advantages as an automobile and
furniture finish. The Continental Piano Company
of Boston is the first to bring to the consumer the
advantages of this new finish for the piano.
An attractive circular which The Continental Ad-
vertising Department has just completed for dis-
tribution to dealers and which will also be available
for consumer distribution by dealers handling the
new styles, enumerates the outstanding advantages
of the new Piano Duco finish.
The Continental Piano Company say that Piano
Duco is the hardest, most durable and most beautiful
finish they have been able to find. Bumps and
knocks which would dent or scratch other finishes,
do not affect this material. It can be washed re-
peatedly with soap and water, for it is absolutely
water-proof, not being affected even by boiling
water. With this finish it is not necessary to use
messy, smelly polishes.
Unlike other materials, Duco, the "armor plate
finish," does not check, crack or craze. In the
warmest weather it cannot print or become sticky.
Because of its hardness it will not peel like the
finishes used on ordinary materials.
The Continental Piano Company says: "We have
chosen Duco after careful test of all available fin-
ishes for we sincerely believe it to be the most per-
fect piano finish obtainable. It is washable, water-
proof, does not check, will not chip easily, resists
ordinary heat and cold, is unaffected by steam or
boiling water and cannot be readily scarred or
scratched. It is the longest wearing, most beautiful
finish procurable."
The new four-foot Hoffmann, built in answer to
the present trend for smaller pianos, is entirely mod-
ern in its design and is sure to meet with popularity.
In the straight model the fall-board is similar to the
popular Henry F. Miller, while the fall on the player
model is similar to the Strohber Diminutive fall-
board. The trusses are of modern design, being en-
tirely different than any other design of the Con-
tinental Piano Company.
THE JOHN CHURCH CO. IS
CLOSING BRANCH STORES
Old Cincinnati House Concludes to Withdraw
from Chicago and Has Shut Up
Shop in Detroit.
The policy of the John Church Co., of Cincinnati,
is to conduct fewer branch houses, if not to confine
its efforts wholly to the home establishment, which
was founded by the late John Church back in 1869.
The Detroit house was closed several weeks ago and
plans are under way for a special sale in the Chicago
house, with the purpose of reducing stock in prepara-
tion to discontinuing when the existing lease expires.
A prominent piano salesman has been engaged to
conduct the special sale, which will begin shortly, and
during which prospective piano buyers may have
opportunities of a kind not calculated to bring com-
fort to other established houses in Chicago's Piano
Row.
The Jason Piano Co. has opened its new store at
W918 Riverside, Spokane, Wash. L. M. Jones is
sales manager.
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/
Analyzes and Classifies
All American P i a n o s
and in Detail Tells of
Fheir Makers.
PRESTO
E.tabn.hej 1884. THE AMERICAN MUSIC TRADE WEEKLY
Presto Year Book
The Only Complete
Annual Review of the
American Music In-
dustries and Trades.
to cent..- $2.00 « r*a.
CHICAGO, SATURDAY, NOVEMBER 7, 1925
F. A. KNIGHT VICTIM
OF AUTOMOBILE
Former Piano Manufacturer and Owner of the
Ampliphone Co. Killed by Car at Brazil,
Indiana, Was Active in Many Lines
of Music Industry.
FOUNDED DENVER HOUSES
Last Visited His Chicago Offices, in the Republic
Building, in August and Had Been Expected
There This Week.
Frank A. Knight, owner of the Ampliphone Com-
pany, with factory at Brazil, Ind., and offices at 209
South State street, Chicago, was killed October 28
when knocked down by an automobile in the heart
pany, and with his nephew, George P. Atmore, he
organized the Knight-Atmore Clothing Company, in
Denver.
He was a life member of the Denver Athletic Club
and a Mason. Surviving him are his daughter, Mrs.
Henry W. Howard, of 400 South Gilpin street, Den-
ver; two brothers, G. H. of Denver and J. G. of South
Dakota, and George P. Atmore of Denver. His
wife died in 1906.
WILLIAM TONK'S NEW
BOOK NEARLY READY
"Memoirs of a Manufacturer" in Printer's
Hands and Will Be Ready for Delivery
Before the Holidays.
It will be of interest to members of the trade to
know that the book upon which William Tonk, the
head of the old New York piano industry of William
Tonk & Bro., Inc., has been engaged for some time,
will be ready for distribution before the holidays.
Mr. Tonk decided to call his work "Memoirs of a
Manufacturer" and it will contain the story of his
life as a manufacturer through all the varied ex-
periences in wareroom, office and factory, including
his long association as an importer of small musical
instruments and supplies.
An early chapter in Mr. Tonk's memoirs tells very
graphically the story of his experiences in the Chicago
fire of 1871, in which many characters and scenes in
the trade of that time have part. There is a pe-
culiarly crisp chapter describing foreign points of
interest, shorn of the detail which so often encumbers
narratives of travel.
In fact, Mr. Tonk's book will prove of interest to
all men of the music trade, as well as to others who
delight in going over the experiences of men who
have lived lives of action and usefulness. To piano
men there are many incidents in the "Memoirs of
a Manufacturer" which will prove surprising to even
close friends of the author. As a presentation volume
it would be difficult to think of a better opportunity
than the New York piano manufacturer's volume
affords.
ALENCO CLUB ENTERTAINS.
FRANK A. KNIGHT.
of the business district at his home in the former
city. Mr. Knight was crossing the street and appar-
ently did not see the automobile.
He was knocked to the pavement and his skull was
crushed. He died shortly afterward in a hospital.
He was very hard of hearing and did not hear the
automobile's horn, if it was sounded.
Started in Denver.
Mr. Knight was one of the most widely known
members of the musical instrument trade and busi-
ness. Until about twenty years ago he was conspicu-
ous in the music business at Denver, Colorado, where
he was one of the founders of the Knight Bros. &
Waterbury Music Co., now the Knight-Campbell
Music Company.
He left Denver to join the late Col. W. B. Brinker-
hoff in the manufacture of pianos at Charlotte, Mich.
The piano industry was the Knight-Brinkerhoff Piano
Co., and it soon was moved to Jackson, Mich., and
then, when a new factory had been especially built
at Brazil, Indiana, the industry was taken to that
city.
Enters Phonograph Industry.
When Mr. Brinkerhoff withdrew from the Brazil
industry, Mr. Knight took possession of a part of the
plant and established the Ampliphone Company, for
the manufacture of phonographs and cabinets, with
a Chicago office in the Republic Building on State
street.
Frank A. Knight was a man of peculiarly attractive
personality, and as a business man he was enterpris-
ing and broad. He was 75 years of age at the time
of his death. He was a native of Battle Creek, Mich.,
born there in 1850, going to Denver in 1874. With
his brother William he established the music com-
The Alenco Club of the Wiley B. Allen Co., San
Francisco, entertained the employes of the company's
Oakland branch at a Hallowe'en party, Saturday,
October 31, when 120 participated. The supper room
was cleverly decorated in yellow and black, with
black cats, grinning pumpkins and other Hallowe'en
trimmings. A large room was given over to dancing,
with an excellent string orchestra in attendance.
The Alenco (Allen Co.) Club, started last March,
now has a large membership. Miss May Mathews,
of the staff, is temporary president, and Roy B. Miller
is honorary vice-president. Members of the Oakland
staff were guests of honor at the party.
C. T. CARTER OPTIMISTIC.
The most optimistic anticipations for the fall and
winter business in pianos will be realized by the
energetic dealers, according to Charles T. Carter, vice-
president and treasurer of W. P. Haines & Co., New
York, who recently returned from a business trip
through New York, Pennsylvania, Maryland and
North Carolina. Mr. Carter stated this week that he
was very agreeably surprised at the spirit of the deal-
ers and the business he secured was up to expecta-
tions. T. L. Floyd-Jones, president of the company,
will leave for a trip west this week.
"MAC"
IS COMING BACK.
Probably there is no music trade paper writer bet-
ter known or more personally popular than Henry
McMullan, who for more than twenty years was con-
nected with the editorial staff of Presto. "Mac," as
he is familiarly known in the trade, has been doing
newspaper work in Detroit for the last two years, but
he decided that he likes the music men better, and
to write about musical affairs best, and so is coming
back to Presto. He will be on his rounds again next
week.
CONTINENTAL PIANO CO.
EMPLOYS NEW FINISH
Satin Duco, the "Armor Plate Finish," Adds
to Beauty and Lasting Lustre of New
Small Uprights.
Simultaneously with the announcement of a new
four foot style "straight" and player, in their Hoff-
mann line, known as the Apartment Upright, The
Continental Piano Company announces that this new
style will be available in the beautiful new Satin Duco,
a finish entirely new to the piano industry.
Satin Duco, made by the E. I. DuPont de Nemours
Company, has already established its popularity
through its many advantages as an automobile and
furniture finish. The Continental Piano Company
of Boston is the first to bring to the consumer the
advantages of this new finish for the piano.
An attractive circular which The Continental Ad-
vertising Department has just completed for dis-
tribution to dealers and which will also be available
for consumer distribution by dealers handling the
new styles, enumerates the outstanding advantages
of the new Piano Duco finish.
The Continental Piano Company say that Piano
Duco is the hardest, most durable and most beautiful
finish they have been able to find. Bumps and
knocks which would dent or scratch other finishes,
do not affect this material. It can be washed re-
peatedly with soap and water, for it is absolutely
water-proof, not being affected even by boiling
water. With this finish it is not necessary to use
messy, smelly polishes.
Unlike other materials, Duco, the "armor plate
finish," does not check, crack or craze. In the
warmest weather it cannot print or become sticky.
Because of its hardness it will not peel like the
finishes used on ordinary materials.
The Continental Piano Company says: "We have
chosen Duco after careful test of all available fin-
ishes for we sincerely believe it to be the most per-
fect piano finish obtainable. It is washable, water-
proof, does not check, will not chip easily, resists
ordinary heat and cold, is unaffected by steam or
boiling water and cannot be readily scarred or
scratched. It is the longest wearing, most beautiful
finish procurable."
The new four-foot Hoffmann, built in answer to
the present trend for smaller pianos, is entirely mod-
ern in its design and is sure to meet with popularity.
In the straight model the fall-board is similar to the
popular Henry F. Miller, while the fall on the player
model is similar to the Strohber Diminutive fall-
board. The trusses are of modern design, being en-
tirely different than any other design of the Con-
tinental Piano Company.
THE JOHN CHURCH CO. IS
CLOSING BRANCH STORES
Old Cincinnati House Concludes to Withdraw
from Chicago and Has Shut Up
Shop in Detroit.
The policy of the John Church Co., of Cincinnati,
is to conduct fewer branch houses, if not to confine
its efforts wholly to the home establishment, which
was founded by the late John Church back in 1869.
The Detroit house was closed several weeks ago and
plans are under way for a special sale in the Chicago
house, with the purpose of reducing stock in prepara-
tion to discontinuing when the existing lease expires.
A prominent piano salesman has been engaged to
conduct the special sale, which will begin shortly, and
during which prospective piano buyers may have
opportunities of a kind not calculated to bring com-
fort to other established houses in Chicago's Piano
Row.
The Jason Piano Co. has opened its new store at
W918 Riverside, Spokane, Wash. L. M. Jones is
sales manager.
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).