Presto

PRESTO
November 28, 1925.
WHERE DOUBTS ARE DISPELLED HELPS TO TUNERS
Under This Head Presto Will Answer Any Question Pertaining to Pianos, of
Other Subjects of Direct Interest to the Trade and Musical Public
Inquiries must bear the signature and address of
writer in order to receive attention. Answers thought
to be of general trade interest will be published. If am
answer is not of general interest it will be moiled pro-
vided stamp is inclosed.
CALFSKIN DRUM HEADS.
Baltimore, Md., November 3, 1925.
Editor Presto: I would like to know whether there
are any manufacturers of calfskin banjo heads in
Chicago besides M. Zumer and the Liberty Rawhide
Company. Thank you in advance for the favor.
A. Q. A. W.
According to our best information, the largest
manufacturer of calfskin banjo heads in Chicago is
Ludwig & Ludwig, 1611 North Lincoln street.
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PIANO ACTIONS.
Deerwood, Minn., November 12, 1925.
Editor Presto: Is there a piano action factory in
Chicago? If so, please, give me the address; and
can you also give me the address of the "Wesley
Nickle and Grose Action Co."?
A. E. BROOKS.
Chicago has one piano action industry—that of the
Piano & Organ Supply Co., 2100 North Racine ave-
nue—a fine concern. At Rockford, 111.—a short dis-
tance from Chicago—there is a large action factory
known as the Thayer Action Co.
The distinguished piano action industry of Wessell,
Nickel & Gross is at 457 West 45th street, New York
City.
J
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REGINA MUSIC BOX.
Galliopolis, O., November 21, 1925.
Editor Presto: I would like to have the name and
address of the people who make the "Regina" music
box. Kindly give me any information you can on
this good old concern. They should be in the Presto
and get more business.
A. L. FITZ GERALD.
The Regina Music Box Co. was for many years
located at Rahway, N. J. We believe that the con-
cern discontinued manufacturing the fine music boxes
several years back and went into another line.
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THE "WEILER" PIANO.
Milwaukee, November 8, 1925.
Editor Presto: We would like to get some parts
for the repairing of a Weiler playerpiano, and, as
the name Weiler is given in your Guide as one used
on a popular piano from a western factory, we ask
you to inform us what factory is using the name
Weiler on their instruments.
B. W. SELKE.
The Weiler piano was originally made by the late
B. F. Nysewander, who established the Weiler Piano
Co. at Indianapolis. Later Mr. Nysewander brought
his industry to Chicago, and some of his instruments
were manufactured by the E. P. Johnson Piano Co.,
Elgin, 111. In fact, Mr. Nysewander had instruments
made by several factories, but he produced very few
of them in any establishment of his own, so that it is
impossible to name the maker of the particular in-
strument to which you refer.
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CASES AND PICKS.
Baltimore, Md., November 15, 1925.
Editor Presto: We desire to purchase in large
quantities all classes of picks for musical instruments.
We are especially desirous of locating the manufac-
turer of a ukulele pick made of celluloid of some
similar material, with felt cemented on each side.
We also desire to purchase felt cases for musical
instruments, and other styles of cases as well. Can
you give us a list of manufacturers of these goods?
GEO. H. BUCHHEIMER & SON.
We are sending you copy of Presto Trade Lists
No. 3, in which you will find a list of musical supplies,
of the kind you name. Among the most extensive
manufacturers of felt cases for musical instruments
and others are: Walter M. Gotsch Co., 430 South
Green street, Chicago; Paragon Case Co., Oregon,
III.
You will find quite a list of other manufacturers of
these cases in the booklet to which we have already
referred. One of the most extensive manufacturers
of ukulele picks of the kind you describe is the Chart
Music Pub. House, 136 West Lake street, Chicago.
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THE ELLINGTON PIANO.
Sheffield, Ala., November 21, 1925.
Editor Presto: I have a couple of prospects for
Ellington pianos and they are also interested in a
Wing & Son.
I told them I would write you and see if you would
write them with reference to the two pianos, and then
let them decide for themselves.
If this isn't out of your line I would like for you
to write them and greatly oblige. Their names and
addresses are enclosed.
R. E. COBB.
It is against the principles of Presto to draw com-
parisons of the kind suggested. In this case we can
say, however, were we to advise your customers we
would say to them that the piano manufactured by
one of the associate industries of the Baldwin Piano
Co. is too thoroughly established to permit of ques-
tion. The Ellington has a reputation of long stand-
ing, and the House of Baldwin is far above discus-
sion with reference to the quality of their products
or the responsibility of the manufacturers either finan-
cially or commercially.
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SIXTY-FIVE NOTE ROLLS.
Merrill, Wis., November 11, 1925.
Editor Presto: We wish to get some 65-note piano
rolls for a playerpiano. Can you tell me where I will
be able to get these.
F. L. MEAD.
We do not know of any industry making 65-note
player rolls. The Goldsmith Piano Co., of Colum-
bus, Ohio, made a feature of supplying rolls of that
nature, but we do know that they are still doing it.
The Capitol Music Roll Co., Chicago, makes 65-
note rolls for electric players.
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SECOND-HAND PIANOS.
Dallas, Texas, November 17, 1925.
Editor Presto: You will please give me the name,
or names, of dealers or manufacturers in Chicago who
sell second-hand pianos in quantities. I am in the
market for a number of these instruments and would
appreciate this information.
G. H. JACKSON.
Two regular dealers in second-hand pianos in Chi-
cago are E. E. Blake, 1101 Harrison street, Oak Park,
111., and Charles H. Bartholomee, 339 South Wabash
avenue, Chicago.
As a rule such houses as The Cable Co., P. A.
Starck Piano Co., Story & Clark Piano Co., and, in
fact, any of the large ones usually have second-hands
which they will sell in quantities.
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AND REPAIR MEN
A Weekly Series of Expert Articles on the
Methods and Mysteries of the Harmon-
izers, and Other Correction of
Playerpiano Difficulties.
TO REPAIR LEAKY MOTORS
Troubles of Practical Tuners, and Others, Are In-
vited for Discussion and Often Explanation
and Solution by Author.
By HENRY L. PELTIER.
Repairing Leaky Pneumatics on Motors and Oper-
ation of Same.
To detect a leak place reroll lever to position, hold
motor shaft with thumb and finger, at same time
pedaling somewhat hard. When the leaky pneumatic
comes into power you will hear air, or atmosphere,
rushing in through opening caused by worn corners
of cloth, which will cause a weak stroke of this unit.
Cut a piece of diaphragm leather, or rubberized silk
cloth (other thin rubberized cloth may be used, but
it must be thin), about the size of a half-dollar.
To Repair.
It is presumed that you have disconnected the
power arms from pneumatics to crank shaft, so that
you can more readily do the work properly.
Now, put glue on leather, or material you have, on
the edge of same, 3/16-inch wide; not all over patch,
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CHURCH REED ORGANS.
Loma Linda, Calif., November 12, 1925.
Editor Presto: Will you kindly give me the names
of a few companies that make organs of good quality?
I am interested in a two-manual pedal bass organ
suitable for church purposes, not a pipe organ.
I would like something like the Estey Co. makes,
but this territory has been assigned to one of the
large companies in Los Angeles.
SALESMAN.
H. Hogans, of Geneva, 111., is engaged in the pro-
duction of reed organs for church use, in a small way.
We know nothing about the merits of his instru-
ments.
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PIANO ACTION MACHINERY.
Chicago, November 13, 1925.
Editor Presto: We received an inquiry from Ger-
many concerning machinery for making piano actions.
We have a few firms in mind, but we do not know
whether they are still in business, and you could per-
haps advise us to whom we could refer these people.
M. N.
A few years ago the best known concern of that
kind was the Nilson Machine Co., Bridgeport, Conn.,
but we are not certain about the activities of that
house at this time.
At present a concern which seems to be in demand
as makers of piano action machinery is that of Redin
& Extrom, 1439 Railroad avenue, Rockford, 111.
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AN OLD "LUBITZ" PIANO.
Waukesha, Wis., Nov. 2\, 1925.
Editor Presto: We have an old H. Lubitz upright
piano made in Berlin, Germany, No. 5277, in beauti-
ful walnut case, and would like to know if you can
give us information as to how old it is.
W. T. LYLE.
Were the instrument of American manufacture
the number would indicate that it had been made
within three years, at most, of the establishment of
its makers. But the German industries do not turn
out pianos so rapidly, so it is probable the piano in
your possession was produced in about the year 1800
to 1885; therefore, it is not really a very ancient
instrument.
The house of H. Lubitz was established in Berlin
in 1875. Whether it is still in existence or not we
are not absolutely certain though it was in existence
just before the great war. It was never a very large
industry and the Lubitz pianos never arrived at any
point of special distinction.
PLATE I.
because if you do you will soon have trouble again.
For, when putting glue all over patch and putting-
same on pneumatic corners, they will crack open at
bend in cloth.
Put on glue as per dotted lines shown at top of
pneumatic, Plate No. 1, No. 5A. Put glue on edges
only, leaving center piece to form itself to conditions
of the pneumatic cloth.
If there should only be one pneumatic cut through,
it would be folly to remove all connections to pneu-
matic. Don't put on a patch when pneumatic is partly
closed.
After you have put on the patches, and connected
up motor as it was, your patches will be sufficiently
dry for you to use motor.
Pneumatic Motor.
A motor operates as follows—see Plate One:
No. 1 is slide valve; No. 2 atmosphere port; No. 3,
pumping system or depression chamber; No. 4, pneu-
matic (power); No. 5-A, edge of patch.
Plate No. 1 shows power pneumatic in open posi-
tion; port No. 2 being open to atmosphere causes
equal pressure all around, causing pneumatic to re-
main in its constructed position.
Number 3 is exhaust port connected to depression,
or exhaust bellows system.
When motor is in movement, slide valve No. 1
moves down over port No. 2; pneumatic No. 4 in
meantime has come to wide open position, then valve
No. 1 starts to pass edge 2-A, and immediately starts
to open port 2 at 2-B, to connecting chamber under
valve No. 1, to exhaust No. 3.
Of course one-power pneumatic will not run satis-
factorily, but, nevertheless, will run if a flywheel is
connected thereto to carry crankshaft one-half circle,
so power would be active again.
In order to have a satisfactory power plant three
or more units are employed, causing power impulses
every third, fourth, fifth or sixth of a circle, being
transmitted to crankshaft. Motors are constructed of
three to ten units.
Next week, Compound Valve Motor. Later I will
show how an action was made without pneumatics.
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