Presto
Issue: 1925 2051 - Page 5
PRESTO
November 14, 1925.
CHRISTMAN
"The
First Touch Tells t 9
And Every Touch Thereafter
Increases the Admiration for
Splendid Tone and Artistic
Qualities of the
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
with members of the committee concerning this tax
matter.
The following letter has been sent by the Chamber
to the individual members of the Ways and Means
Committee by the chamber in which it was said that
the "tax applies to a great variety of articles which
Equipment of the Nordlund Grand Piano Co. are operated by coin mechanisms, but it is especially
burdensome and unfair to the manufacturers of auto-
Is Being Installed in the Factory at
matic pianos. Congress in 1921 eliminated the excise
Muncie, Indiana.
tax on pianos, and since then has indicated its adver-
As was told in last week's Presto, the new Dela- sity to taxing musical instruments by making spe-
ware Piano Co., at Muncie, Ind., which succeeded to cific exemption in the case of other taxes.
"While we are interested primarily in the appli-
the Bell Bros, factory in that city, will install the
equipment of the Nordlund Grand Piano Co., of Chi- cation of this tax to pianos, nevertheless we believe
that the entire tax should be eliminated for the fol-
cago, and produce the "Delaware" pianos.
"The name of Delaware is so familiar in the vicin- lowing reasons:
"The revenue derived, amounting to only $368,000
ity of Muncie and, as the name of the county, it is one
of the best in Indiana, we thought it best to christen annually, is too insignificant to justify the contin-
our pianos with it," said Clarence Wood, manager of uance of this tax and the expense of collection.
"It is so vague in its application as to be unfair to
the new industry.
The new company was organized by Charles Hous- those industries who pay the tax. For instance, the
ton to take over the Bell Bros. Piano Co., and opera- attachment of a coin operating mechanism to a piano
tions have already begun at Muncie. Olie Bell is subjects the entire piano to the tax; why, then, should
now on the road for the company, and Max Rich- not the attachment of a coin operating mechanism
steig, who has been acting as superintendent for the to self-service restaurant equipment subject the en-
Nordlund industry in Chicago, has gone to the tire equipment to the tax?"
Indiana city to serve in the same capacity there.
NEW "DELAWARE" PIANOS
WILL SOON APPEAR
DUO=ART ARTIST IS
ESPECIALLY HONORED
IMPROVEMENTS AT
BALDWIN PIANO CO.
Chicago Branch Spending Some $50,000 in Re-
building the Fourth Floor at Its Chicago
Los Angeles Holds Huston Ray Week for Ex-
Store and Putting in Radio.
clusive Duo-Art Concert Pianist, and
Between $40,000 and $50,000 is being expended by
Mayor Presents Keys to City.
(only 5 ft. long)
This little Grand has no superior and it
presents the very qualities that win the
prospect and makes the sale.
CHRISTMAN
Grands, Players and Uprights
command the admiration of
the best class of music lovers.
The latest tr umph is the
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
Equipped with
"•jjignon.
THI
MASTER'S
FINGERS
O N YOUR
PIANO 1
A marvel of tone and expressive
interpretation of all classes of com-
position, reproducing perfectly the
performances of the world's great-
est pianists.
"The First Touch
Tells"
Reg. U. S. Pat. Oft.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
One of the many sensational high-lights of the
Pacific Coast tour of Huston Ray, exclusive Duo-Art
concert pianist, was Huston Ray Week at the Forum
Theater Beautiful in Los Angeles, Cal., during the
week of October 24. It was in honor of the talented
young artist and his playing with the Duo-Art. At
the beginning of the week he was presented with the
keys to the city by Mayor Geo. E. Cryer. The
Mayor's message to Mr. Ray follows:
"As presenting you with the key to Los Angeles
in welcoming your Pacific Coast debut in inaug-
urating October 24 as Huston Ray Week, am sure
the people will likewise welcome a real American
artist and also marvel at his art."
E. A. Geissler, of the Birkel Music Company,
headed a committee which met the pianist-composer
at the train. A special Sunday aid-day concert was
held at the Forum Theater—one of the leading play-
houses in the country, on November 1, featuring Mr.
Ray and the Duo-Art. He played ot capacity audi-
ences during his entire engagement.
Mr. Ray also gave a week-end recital at the home
of James Cruze, famous director of "The Covered
Wagon" and other well-known film productions, and
his wife, Betty Compson, who were so impressed by
the Duo-Art that they ordered one delivered to their
home, to be personally selected by Mr. Ray.
Over forty moving picture stars were present at
his Forum Theater premier and the entire city of
Los Angeles was placarded with Huston Ray week
banners and Duo-Art posters.
PROTEST TAX ON
COIN=OPERATED PIANOS
Plea Made for Manufacturers Before Ways
and Means Committee by Counsel for J. P.
Seeburg Co. Followed by Chamber Action.
The Ways and Means Committee have now about
reached in executive session consideration of the
excise taxes, many of which it is expected will be
removed. The only one now affecting the music in-
dustry is that on coin operated machines, which in-
cludes automatic pianos.
A strong presentation of the case of the piano man-
ufacturers was made before the committee in the
public hearings on Monday, Nov. 2, by Willis D.
Nance, appearing for the J. P. Seeburg Piano Co.,
Chicago. Mr. Nance based his case upon the fact
that past records of Congress showed that it did
not desire to tax musical instruments, and that the
use of the coin operated mechanism is incidental in
an automatic piano; nevertheless by attaching such
a mechanism the entire piano is subjected to the tax,
amounting in many cases to much more than the
value of the mechanism which makes it taxable.
Mr. Nance apparently made a deep impression
upon the members of the committee, and if any of the
minor taxes are eliminated this tax should be in-
cluded in the elimination.
Alfred L. Smith, general manager of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, also conferred
the House of Baldwin in rebuilding the fourth floor
of its store structure at 323 South Wabash avenue,
Chicago. This floor when completed will be one of
the finest retail rooms for pianos to be found in the
United States.
The company is also establishing its own broad-
casting system, which is in charge of Richmond Har-
ris, director of the reproducing division of the Bald-
win Piano Company.
"We are using the very latest equipment," said Mr.
Harris on Thursday of this week, "and broadcasting
from the house by sealed wires through our towers
in Oak Park, 111., and we've spent about $15,000 in •
insulating the studio ceilings and walls and floors, in
order to make the place sound-proof against all
foreign vibrations.
"We made an arrangement with the Illinois Cen-
tral Railroad to share in the programs and the ex-
penses. Our station is WGES. The programs are
listed as Baldwin Piano Co. and Illinois Central Rail-
road Company. We give operatic and popular and
instrumental music by radio, and we use the Baldwin
Reproducing Piano for this work."
MOVING CHARGES CUT
FOR CHICAGO PIANOS
Furniture, Piano Movers' and Expressmen's Associa-
tion Makes a Cut of Fifty Cents a Mile.
A reduction of fifty cents a mile in moving charges
was announced on Tuesday of this wek in Chicago
by the Piano Movers' and Expressmen's association
"in a sincere effort to speed the cost of living back
to normalcy." The mileage charge was cut in half by
the reduction which Daniel Healy, secretary of the
association, said is preliminary to further lowering
of the charges.
"The association has recognized that the cost of
moving is often a serious item in the annual budget
of the householder," reads the announcement telling
of the cut. "It is our earnest hope that the moving
public will assist in maintaining these reduced rates
and make further reductions possible by giving its
business to those firms which are responsible, repu-
table, reliable and reasonable, which employ only
careful, conscientious and experienced workmen as do
the members of this association."
The organization comprises 850 members, Mr.
Healy said.
GULBRANSEN FOR WOODMEN
The Thompson Piano Co., Portland, Ore., oper-
ating the piano department of Seiberling, Lucas Music
Co., at 151 Fourth street, Portland, Ore., furnished a
Gulbransen grand piano for the main hall of the
new $300,000 building erected in Portland by the
Multnomah Camp No. 77, Woodmen of the World,
which has a local membership of over 6,500 members.
FRANK EDGAR IN PORTLAND.
Sherman, Clay & Co. of Portland, Ore., the local
representatives of the Aeolian company, was visited
recently by Frank Edgar of New York City, man-
ager of the wholesale department of the Aeolian
company.
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/
November 14, 1925.
CHRISTMAN
"The
First Touch Tells t 9
And Every Touch Thereafter
Increases the Admiration for
Splendid Tone and Artistic
Qualities of the
CHRISTMAN
Studio Grand
with members of the committee concerning this tax
matter.
The following letter has been sent by the Chamber
to the individual members of the Ways and Means
Committee by the chamber in which it was said that
the "tax applies to a great variety of articles which
Equipment of the Nordlund Grand Piano Co. are operated by coin mechanisms, but it is especially
burdensome and unfair to the manufacturers of auto-
Is Being Installed in the Factory at
matic pianos. Congress in 1921 eliminated the excise
Muncie, Indiana.
tax on pianos, and since then has indicated its adver-
As was told in last week's Presto, the new Dela- sity to taxing musical instruments by making spe-
ware Piano Co., at Muncie, Ind., which succeeded to cific exemption in the case of other taxes.
"While we are interested primarily in the appli-
the Bell Bros, factory in that city, will install the
equipment of the Nordlund Grand Piano Co., of Chi- cation of this tax to pianos, nevertheless we believe
that the entire tax should be eliminated for the fol-
cago, and produce the "Delaware" pianos.
"The name of Delaware is so familiar in the vicin- lowing reasons:
"The revenue derived, amounting to only $368,000
ity of Muncie and, as the name of the county, it is one
of the best in Indiana, we thought it best to christen annually, is too insignificant to justify the contin-
our pianos with it," said Clarence Wood, manager of uance of this tax and the expense of collection.
"It is so vague in its application as to be unfair to
the new industry.
The new company was organized by Charles Hous- those industries who pay the tax. For instance, the
ton to take over the Bell Bros. Piano Co., and opera- attachment of a coin operating mechanism to a piano
tions have already begun at Muncie. Olie Bell is subjects the entire piano to the tax; why, then, should
now on the road for the company, and Max Rich- not the attachment of a coin operating mechanism
steig, who has been acting as superintendent for the to self-service restaurant equipment subject the en-
Nordlund industry in Chicago, has gone to the tire equipment to the tax?"
Indiana city to serve in the same capacity there.
NEW "DELAWARE" PIANOS
WILL SOON APPEAR
DUO=ART ARTIST IS
ESPECIALLY HONORED
IMPROVEMENTS AT
BALDWIN PIANO CO.
Chicago Branch Spending Some $50,000 in Re-
building the Fourth Floor at Its Chicago
Los Angeles Holds Huston Ray Week for Ex-
Store and Putting in Radio.
clusive Duo-Art Concert Pianist, and
Between $40,000 and $50,000 is being expended by
Mayor Presents Keys to City.
(only 5 ft. long)
This little Grand has no superior and it
presents the very qualities that win the
prospect and makes the sale.
CHRISTMAN
Grands, Players and Uprights
command the admiration of
the best class of music lovers.
The latest tr umph is the
CHRISTMAN
Reproducing Grand
Equipped with
"•jjignon.
THI
MASTER'S
FINGERS
O N YOUR
PIANO 1
A marvel of tone and expressive
interpretation of all classes of com-
position, reproducing perfectly the
performances of the world's great-
est pianists.
"The First Touch
Tells"
Reg. U. S. Pat. Oft.
Christman Piano Co.
597 East 137th St.
New York
One of the many sensational high-lights of the
Pacific Coast tour of Huston Ray, exclusive Duo-Art
concert pianist, was Huston Ray Week at the Forum
Theater Beautiful in Los Angeles, Cal., during the
week of October 24. It was in honor of the talented
young artist and his playing with the Duo-Art. At
the beginning of the week he was presented with the
keys to the city by Mayor Geo. E. Cryer. The
Mayor's message to Mr. Ray follows:
"As presenting you with the key to Los Angeles
in welcoming your Pacific Coast debut in inaug-
urating October 24 as Huston Ray Week, am sure
the people will likewise welcome a real American
artist and also marvel at his art."
E. A. Geissler, of the Birkel Music Company,
headed a committee which met the pianist-composer
at the train. A special Sunday aid-day concert was
held at the Forum Theater—one of the leading play-
houses in the country, on November 1, featuring Mr.
Ray and the Duo-Art. He played ot capacity audi-
ences during his entire engagement.
Mr. Ray also gave a week-end recital at the home
of James Cruze, famous director of "The Covered
Wagon" and other well-known film productions, and
his wife, Betty Compson, who were so impressed by
the Duo-Art that they ordered one delivered to their
home, to be personally selected by Mr. Ray.
Over forty moving picture stars were present at
his Forum Theater premier and the entire city of
Los Angeles was placarded with Huston Ray week
banners and Duo-Art posters.
PROTEST TAX ON
COIN=OPERATED PIANOS
Plea Made for Manufacturers Before Ways
and Means Committee by Counsel for J. P.
Seeburg Co. Followed by Chamber Action.
The Ways and Means Committee have now about
reached in executive session consideration of the
excise taxes, many of which it is expected will be
removed. The only one now affecting the music in-
dustry is that on coin operated machines, which in-
cludes automatic pianos.
A strong presentation of the case of the piano man-
ufacturers was made before the committee in the
public hearings on Monday, Nov. 2, by Willis D.
Nance, appearing for the J. P. Seeburg Piano Co.,
Chicago. Mr. Nance based his case upon the fact
that past records of Congress showed that it did
not desire to tax musical instruments, and that the
use of the coin operated mechanism is incidental in
an automatic piano; nevertheless by attaching such
a mechanism the entire piano is subjected to the tax,
amounting in many cases to much more than the
value of the mechanism which makes it taxable.
Mr. Nance apparently made a deep impression
upon the members of the committee, and if any of the
minor taxes are eliminated this tax should be in-
cluded in the elimination.
Alfred L. Smith, general manager of the Music
Industries Chamber of Commerce, also conferred
the House of Baldwin in rebuilding the fourth floor
of its store structure at 323 South Wabash avenue,
Chicago. This floor when completed will be one of
the finest retail rooms for pianos to be found in the
United States.
The company is also establishing its own broad-
casting system, which is in charge of Richmond Har-
ris, director of the reproducing division of the Bald-
win Piano Company.
"We are using the very latest equipment," said Mr.
Harris on Thursday of this week, "and broadcasting
from the house by sealed wires through our towers
in Oak Park, 111., and we've spent about $15,000 in •
insulating the studio ceilings and walls and floors, in
order to make the place sound-proof against all
foreign vibrations.
"We made an arrangement with the Illinois Cen-
tral Railroad to share in the programs and the ex-
penses. Our station is WGES. The programs are
listed as Baldwin Piano Co. and Illinois Central Rail-
road Company. We give operatic and popular and
instrumental music by radio, and we use the Baldwin
Reproducing Piano for this work."
MOVING CHARGES CUT
FOR CHICAGO PIANOS
Furniture, Piano Movers' and Expressmen's Associa-
tion Makes a Cut of Fifty Cents a Mile.
A reduction of fifty cents a mile in moving charges
was announced on Tuesday of this wek in Chicago
by the Piano Movers' and Expressmen's association
"in a sincere effort to speed the cost of living back
to normalcy." The mileage charge was cut in half by
the reduction which Daniel Healy, secretary of the
association, said is preliminary to further lowering
of the charges.
"The association has recognized that the cost of
moving is often a serious item in the annual budget
of the householder," reads the announcement telling
of the cut. "It is our earnest hope that the moving
public will assist in maintaining these reduced rates
and make further reductions possible by giving its
business to those firms which are responsible, repu-
table, reliable and reasonable, which employ only
careful, conscientious and experienced workmen as do
the members of this association."
The organization comprises 850 members, Mr.
Healy said.
GULBRANSEN FOR WOODMEN
The Thompson Piano Co., Portland, Ore., oper-
ating the piano department of Seiberling, Lucas Music
Co., at 151 Fourth street, Portland, Ore., furnished a
Gulbransen grand piano for the main hall of the
new $300,000 building erected in Portland by the
Multnomah Camp No. 77, Woodmen of the World,
which has a local membership of over 6,500 members.
FRANK EDGAR IN PORTLAND.
Sherman, Clay & Co. of Portland, Ore., the local
representatives of the Aeolian company, was visited
recently by Frank Edgar of New York City, man-
ager of the wholesale department of the Aeolian
company.
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).