Presto
Issue: 1928 2209 - Page 11
December 1, 1928
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
SOME INTERESTING
FACTS ABOUT IVORY
Many Erroneous Notions About the Product
Are Inherited Ones in the Public Mind
and They Are Voiced Too Often to
Embarrass the Piano Dealer.
By A. G. GULBRANSEN,
President Gulbransen Company, Chicago.
There are many erroneous ideas and prejudices re-
lating to ivory piano keys. This is becoming a very
serious matter for the piano industry due to the con-
stant decrease in the supply of ivory. There is a no-
tion in the minds of many people in and outside of
the piano trade that ivory piano keys should be as
clear white as possible—in other words, without grain.
On the other hand, highly figured, flaky veneers for
use on the piano are looked upon with the greatest
favor. Highest prices are paid for figured woods and
very properly so because it is more beautiful in ap-
pearance. Yet when it comes to the picking of ivory,
a mental change seems to take place. Grained ivory
is looked upon with disfavor. There seems to be a
thought that it is inferior in some respects.
Serious Shortage of Ivory
If an unlimited supply of ivory were at our disposal
we could afford to humor this idea and pick clear
ivory for all of the pianos manufactured in this coun-
try. But the fact is that there is a very serious short-
age and an adequate supply of ivory will undoubt-
edly become more of a problem as time goes on.
In the ordinary elephant tusk there is a very small
portion of clear ivory. The balance of it—grained
ivory—is just exactly as good in wearing quality, in
appearance, as the clear ivory. But if the grained
ivory is waste, there is just one way to meet it and
that is to place an additional premium on the clearer
grades of ivory. The piano trade is now paying the
penalty for this foolish prejudice.
Every tusk of ivory produces all grades from num-
bers one to five. Number five is the ivory with the
greatest amount of figure in it. And there are sets
of keys made of this grade of ivory which are as
beautiful as any figured walnut veneer I have ever
seen.
No Greater Discoloration
As part of the foolish propaganda against grained
ivory the statement is frequently made that this grade
of ivory will turn blue or red or green or some other
color. This is absolutely false. All ivory will turn
antique yellow (the old ivory color so much praised
in ivory carvings) on account of darkness or age—
the fine ivory as well as coarser ivory. If there is
any other discoloration it is due to some other factor
such as the hand coming in contact with a stain of
some sort and this stain being transferred to the
piano key-board when the instrument is played. The
hands, clothing and stains due to grasping the bottom
of the piano bench, have all been found responsible
for discoloration of piano keys, except for the natural
and unescapable yellowing.
The decreasing supply of ivory has made it neces-
sary for the producers to cut it thin. An ivory key is
now probably one-half or less than one-half as thick
as it was formerly. This has resulted in readier chip-
ping and cracking of ivory keys—a condition that
could be overcome to some extent if the whole sub-
ject of ivory were viewed with sanity and use were
made of the complete elephant tusk.
Cast Prejudice Aside
It is in the power of the piano industry to change
this condition. If dealers and salesmen were willing
to face the facts without prejudice, they, through their
direct contact with the piano buying public could
very quickly change the foolish notions about ivory
that people now have.
I submit these thoughts to the earnest considera-
tion of piano manufacturers, dealers, salesmen and
service men. By discarding foolish prejudices we
can overcome a problem that is increasing in serious-
ness month by month.
NEW DEPARTMENT OPENS.
A new playerpiano roll and record department has
recently been opened at the Grand Leader, Battle
Creek, Mich. S. L. Scott has been made manager of
this department. Sam Blick, manager of the Grand
Leader, announces that the new addition to the store
will be opened about December 1.
11
NINE NEW DIRECTORS
FOR ILLINOIS ASS'N
President H. H. Fleer Announces Names of
Directors Who Will Assist Officers in
Work of Association.
Nine new directors of the Illinois Music Merchants'
Association have been appointed by President H. H.
Fleer. The new appointments followed a recommen-
dation by the officers.
In re-electing the officers of the association at the
last meeting in September it was recommended that
the president appoint nine members as directors to
assist in carrying out a larger program during the
corning year embracing many subjects and problems
in which the state association can take an active part
in handling them.
The following are the directors who will assist the
officers in various promotional duties so that the
necessary work will not be confined to a few mem-
bers. In fact all members of the association have
been urged to co-operate to the fullest extent in car-
rying out an enlarged program of activities. The new
directors include Henry Weisert, Bissell-Weisert Co.,
Chicago; C. G. Steger of the Steger & Sons Piano
Co., Chicago; Geo. B. Wiswell, Joliet; Lloyd L.
Parker, Harrisburg; A. L. Bruner, Rock Island; C. A.
Lloyde; E. J. Justin, Justin Bros., Cicero; Henry
Hewitt, M. Schulz Co., Chicago, and F. W. Perkins,
Gulbranson Co., Chicago.
NEW OHIO BRANCH.
Grinnell Bros., Detroit, has leased the Storl Build-
ing on West High street, Bryan, O., and will put in a
store immediately. It will be a central store for eight
counties in that part of the country. Musical instru-
ments and music of all kinds are handled by the con-
cern and the addition of this business will be of
interest and value to the town. Location in Bryan
was selected after investigating in several places
nearby. The store has been remodeled, freshly
painted, new floors laid and heating provided and is
an attractive business room.
RADLE TONE
is the admirable feature which distinguishes
F. RADLE PIANOS
Manufactured by F. RADLE, Inc.
This Progressive Industry was founded in 1850 by the father of E. J. Radle, who is now its
president. Thus the Instruments made are the results of experience and the constant ambi-
tion to excel in piano construction.
F. RADLE PIANOS are made upon the most approved principles and possess the qualities
that appeal to both the trade and the public. Dealers in all parts of the country have built
up a dependable character in selling F. RADLE pianos. They are high grade in every par-
ticular and preserve their conspicuous place in the trade by reason of their unchallenged
merits of pure tone, tasteful case design and construction generally.
F. RADLE,
Inc.
ESTABLISHED 1850
609-611 W. 36th Street
NEW YORK CITY
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/
P R E S T 0-T I M E S
SOME INTERESTING
FACTS ABOUT IVORY
Many Erroneous Notions About the Product
Are Inherited Ones in the Public Mind
and They Are Voiced Too Often to
Embarrass the Piano Dealer.
By A. G. GULBRANSEN,
President Gulbransen Company, Chicago.
There are many erroneous ideas and prejudices re-
lating to ivory piano keys. This is becoming a very
serious matter for the piano industry due to the con-
stant decrease in the supply of ivory. There is a no-
tion in the minds of many people in and outside of
the piano trade that ivory piano keys should be as
clear white as possible—in other words, without grain.
On the other hand, highly figured, flaky veneers for
use on the piano are looked upon with the greatest
favor. Highest prices are paid for figured woods and
very properly so because it is more beautiful in ap-
pearance. Yet when it comes to the picking of ivory,
a mental change seems to take place. Grained ivory
is looked upon with disfavor. There seems to be a
thought that it is inferior in some respects.
Serious Shortage of Ivory
If an unlimited supply of ivory were at our disposal
we could afford to humor this idea and pick clear
ivory for all of the pianos manufactured in this coun-
try. But the fact is that there is a very serious short-
age and an adequate supply of ivory will undoubt-
edly become more of a problem as time goes on.
In the ordinary elephant tusk there is a very small
portion of clear ivory. The balance of it—grained
ivory—is just exactly as good in wearing quality, in
appearance, as the clear ivory. But if the grained
ivory is waste, there is just one way to meet it and
that is to place an additional premium on the clearer
grades of ivory. The piano trade is now paying the
penalty for this foolish prejudice.
Every tusk of ivory produces all grades from num-
bers one to five. Number five is the ivory with the
greatest amount of figure in it. And there are sets
of keys made of this grade of ivory which are as
beautiful as any figured walnut veneer I have ever
seen.
No Greater Discoloration
As part of the foolish propaganda against grained
ivory the statement is frequently made that this grade
of ivory will turn blue or red or green or some other
color. This is absolutely false. All ivory will turn
antique yellow (the old ivory color so much praised
in ivory carvings) on account of darkness or age—
the fine ivory as well as coarser ivory. If there is
any other discoloration it is due to some other factor
such as the hand coming in contact with a stain of
some sort and this stain being transferred to the
piano key-board when the instrument is played. The
hands, clothing and stains due to grasping the bottom
of the piano bench, have all been found responsible
for discoloration of piano keys, except for the natural
and unescapable yellowing.
The decreasing supply of ivory has made it neces-
sary for the producers to cut it thin. An ivory key is
now probably one-half or less than one-half as thick
as it was formerly. This has resulted in readier chip-
ping and cracking of ivory keys—a condition that
could be overcome to some extent if the whole sub-
ject of ivory were viewed with sanity and use were
made of the complete elephant tusk.
Cast Prejudice Aside
It is in the power of the piano industry to change
this condition. If dealers and salesmen were willing
to face the facts without prejudice, they, through their
direct contact with the piano buying public could
very quickly change the foolish notions about ivory
that people now have.
I submit these thoughts to the earnest considera-
tion of piano manufacturers, dealers, salesmen and
service men. By discarding foolish prejudices we
can overcome a problem that is increasing in serious-
ness month by month.
NEW DEPARTMENT OPENS.
A new playerpiano roll and record department has
recently been opened at the Grand Leader, Battle
Creek, Mich. S. L. Scott has been made manager of
this department. Sam Blick, manager of the Grand
Leader, announces that the new addition to the store
will be opened about December 1.
11
NINE NEW DIRECTORS
FOR ILLINOIS ASS'N
President H. H. Fleer Announces Names of
Directors Who Will Assist Officers in
Work of Association.
Nine new directors of the Illinois Music Merchants'
Association have been appointed by President H. H.
Fleer. The new appointments followed a recommen-
dation by the officers.
In re-electing the officers of the association at the
last meeting in September it was recommended that
the president appoint nine members as directors to
assist in carrying out a larger program during the
corning year embracing many subjects and problems
in which the state association can take an active part
in handling them.
The following are the directors who will assist the
officers in various promotional duties so that the
necessary work will not be confined to a few mem-
bers. In fact all members of the association have
been urged to co-operate to the fullest extent in car-
rying out an enlarged program of activities. The new
directors include Henry Weisert, Bissell-Weisert Co.,
Chicago; C. G. Steger of the Steger & Sons Piano
Co., Chicago; Geo. B. Wiswell, Joliet; Lloyd L.
Parker, Harrisburg; A. L. Bruner, Rock Island; C. A.
Lloyde; E. J. Justin, Justin Bros., Cicero; Henry
Hewitt, M. Schulz Co., Chicago, and F. W. Perkins,
Gulbranson Co., Chicago.
NEW OHIO BRANCH.
Grinnell Bros., Detroit, has leased the Storl Build-
ing on West High street, Bryan, O., and will put in a
store immediately. It will be a central store for eight
counties in that part of the country. Musical instru-
ments and music of all kinds are handled by the con-
cern and the addition of this business will be of
interest and value to the town. Location in Bryan
was selected after investigating in several places
nearby. The store has been remodeled, freshly
painted, new floors laid and heating provided and is
an attractive business room.
RADLE TONE
is the admirable feature which distinguishes
F. RADLE PIANOS
Manufactured by F. RADLE, Inc.
This Progressive Industry was founded in 1850 by the father of E. J. Radle, who is now its
president. Thus the Instruments made are the results of experience and the constant ambi-
tion to excel in piano construction.
F. RADLE PIANOS are made upon the most approved principles and possess the qualities
that appeal to both the trade and the public. Dealers in all parts of the country have built
up a dependable character in selling F. RADLE pianos. They are high grade in every par-
ticular and preserve their conspicuous place in the trade by reason of their unchallenged
merits of pure tone, tasteful case design and construction generally.
F. RADLE,
Inc.
ESTABLISHED 1850
609-611 W. 36th Street
NEW YORK CITY
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).